Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Ameris's Night
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Cellus and Erina chatted idly as they made their way toward the village.
"But why do you and Celluna have such similar names?"
"Oh, that's because Dad named them!"
"Ooh, what do they mean? I'm curious."
At Erina's question, Cellus pressed her fingers to her temples as if trying to recall.
A few seconds later, she answered with a grin.
"I remember! Celluna means 'the first one.' And Cellus comes from some god Dad believed in, but I don't really know."
Erina laughed and asked,
"You remember what Celluna means but not your own name?"
"Ah, originally my name was Celluna. Since Celluna didn't have a name, she got my original one. Dad was exasperated, but he made up an even prettier name for me, so whatever... What does your name mean, Erina sis?"
Erina flinched at Cellus's question.
Her expression visibly darkened.
'It's rare to see Erina like that.'
As I thought that, Erina soon smiled and replied,
"My name doesn't mean much."
"Really? It sounds pretty."
"Thanks for thinking so, Cellus."
They get along well.
As I walked along listening to their conversation, the village outlines came into view.
Baek A-rin, spotting the village too, approached me and asked,
"What are you planning to do, Kim Si-woo?"
"What else? Beat them up."
"W-what do you mean?"
Baek A-rin blinked in surprise at my answer.
I shrugged at her and replied,
"You know. The ones Cellus mentioned."
"So you're saying we go and beat them?"
"Yeah."
At my words, Baek A-rin looked at me with a headache-inducing expression for a moment before asking Erina,
"What do you think?"
"What else? We beat them first!"
Erina clenched her fist and answered crisply.
Good job!
"See? Majority rules, my side wins."
"Fine."
"We don't really have other options anyway, right?"
"True, but still."
I approached Baek A-rin, who sighed and clutched her head, and whispered,
"Don't worry too much. I'm not doing this without thinking."
"Huh?"
Baek A-rin looked at me.
"You can feel it too—something's definitely going on. Plus, I want to get more info from the village if possible."
"That makes sense. Alright, we'll follow the section chief's lead."
Baek A-rin nodded at my words.
Of course, about the 'Pureblood' Cellus mentioned.
I had a ton of questions for Celluna herself.
Logically speaking, from Celluna's red eyes and pale skin.
To her mysterious healing ability and vampire traits, everything lined up with Ameris.
'If this dungeon was made from Ameris's memories, then Celluna is Ameris.'
But the stories Cellus told about her felt off somehow.
Before approaching Celluna again, there was something I wanted to check in the village first.
If it was just needless worry, that'd be great.
Well, if not...
I wasn't doubting Cellus's words, but there might be clues in the village info.
'If it's not needless, then it's a problem.'
Lost in thought as I walked, the village came back into sight before I knew it.
"So, what's the plan?"
"Right. Are we asking Cellus who to beat up?"
Baek A-rin and Erina looked at me and asked.
Where to go, huh.
Obviously.
The place that stuck out most from Cellus's story.
Best to start there.
"Let's hit the temple first."
At my words, Cellus asked worriedly,
"I-is that okay? If you go with me, you'll definitely get..."
Cellus trailed off.
Baek A-rin looked at her and smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry. You saw how tough that uncle is, right?"
"Exactly. If anything, this big sis will protect you."
Erina raised her sturdy shield confidently in front of Cellus.
Well, among the fake vampires in this village, not many seemed combat-ready.
Sure, there were a few soldier types wandering around in armor, but if we avoided them, it should be fine.
Of course, I'd sneak around preparing for the worst.
But if needed, we'd fight.
I turned to look at Baek A-rin and Erina.
No way I'd think these two would drag me down.
"Alright, temple first."
......
About ten minutes after entering the village to approach the temple.
The temple's back door started coming into view.
Cellus looked at me in amazement and asked,
"You didn't even ask, so how'd you sneak in like this?"
At her words, Baek A-rin looked at me too.
"Come to think of it, how do you know? And in such detail."
"I memorized a bit when we first came here. I chased after you through all those alleys, right, Cellus?"
Baek A-rin looked surprised at my words.
"You memorized the surroundings in that rush?"
"Nah, just the big buildings and noteworthy spots."
From the moment we entered the dungeon, I'd observed my surroundings in case of trouble.
Spaces useful in fights, escape routes.
The temple was one of them.
Baek A-rin stared at me blankly at my explanation.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No, just... you seem to know a lot of random useful stuff."
"Mostly habit."
Yeah, habit.
Maybe from all the part-time jobs and experiences.
These weird habits make my body react on autopilot.
'When I did the escape room job, the boss made me tag along to every room for benchmarking.'
That's why I end up memorizing landmarks and paths without thinking.
"Habit?"
"Yeah, something like that."
I brushed off Baek A-rin's puzzled question and pointed toward the temple.
"Back door's in sight."
Baek A-rin looked at the temple.
"It's more intact than I thought."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
Erina and Baek A-rin sounded impressed.
Compared to the building where Celluna was hiding, this one looked well-maintained and clean.
Still, size-wise, the abandoned temple seemed bigger.
Celluna's place was too rundown to tell, but if properly maintained, it would've been far grander than this one.
'But why was it abandoned...'
Baek A-rin said curiously,
"But there are way too many people."
"Right! Even for civilians, that's too many to handle."
Sure enough, more people crowded the temple than expected.
It definitely wasn't this packed earlier.
Why?
'After the Pureblood disappeared, is there reason for this crowd at the temple?'
Some prayer time?
Are these guys that devout?
As I watched the scene, Cellus looked at me anxiously and said,
"Th-there's no way that many people would gather... Something's off."
"Wait here. I'll check it out."
I soothed Cellus and gestured for the three to stay put.
Then I pulled on a hood to avoid notice and cautiously approached the temple.
I could hear people shouting something, but it didn't come through clearly.
Then the crowd's voices grew louder.
-Pure... to me too...!
-Blood... blood...!
...!
Damn, bad feeling confirmed.
Blood, Pureblood.
No way...
Pushing through the crowd desperately, what I saw made me doubt if it was real.
The mob held all sorts: small knives like scalpels, swords, awls.
The common thread? All sharp tips.
Blades sliced the girl's skin, awls tore her flesh, hammers crushed her frail bones.
The girl's body was twisted everywhere, unrecognizable.
Bleeding, she knelt on mangled legs.
Her eyes welled with pain, breaths growing faint.
Her body rolled limply under the press of bodies.
The ground around was soaked in blood—impossible to tell how long this had gone on.
Some dipped their bodies in it, rubbed their hands, even shoved faces close to lick.
'This is...'
Then a voice leaked from the girl's broken jaw.
"Pl...ease. Stop... It hurts. H...urts..."
The crowd surged excitedly at her voice.
-Ahh! Pureblood! Blood for me too!
-Me first...!
-Move! My body's already rotting. If you don't, I'll stab you!!
The first emotion surging in me: rage.
My fingers itched for my dagger, ready to activate a skill.
The second: worry.
'Damn, I have to stop Cellus from seeing this.'
Fine for a no-holds-barred brawl, but protecting Cellus while fighting all these? Tough.
And if Cellus lost it... game over.
'Get Baek A-rin for long-range support on Cellus...'
As I turned back toward the group,
Oh no.
"Cel, Celluna?"
There was Cellus, eyes wide in shock, mouth agape.
Somehow hearing Cellus's voice, Celluna's mangled body twitched.
Then her lips moved faintly.
A voice too weak to hear.
But Cellus murmured as if understanding.
"Cel...lus, run...?"
Before I could stop her, Cellus had already charged in, reason gone.
A woman who seemed to recognize Cellus swung her arm hard at her and yelled,
"Get lost! This isn't the time for a thief bitch like you!"
"Damn it, Cellus!"
Completely lost to madness.
Better this way. Rather than drawing eyes, grab her and bolt.
The moment I grabbed her arm to pull the fallen Cellus up,
Cellus mumbled strangely.
"Huh, what's this? Why does it hurt here."
Cellus's torn clothes were soaked in blood.
"Cel...lus?"