Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Team That Lost Trust
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“Sophia?”
No answer came, so he rolled his eyes around. It was Sophia. Moonlight streamed in through the open tent flap, illuminating her clearly.
With the moonlight at her back, she smiled at him. A bright, beaming smile as she simply gazed at him.
For some reason, it terrified him, and he instinctively backed away. Her smile cracked slightly, as if displeased by his reaction.
“Sophia? How are you here?”
He pretty much knew without asking. He could see the crow and the rune in her hand.
Especially the way the crow trembled—it was obvious what had happened to it. Still, he asked anyway, just to buy time.
“You should've kept sleeping. I was fine.”
“I just spoke in Korean, right?”
“Yeah. We're talking to each other in Korean.”
But why is the response like that?! Before he could say anything, Sophia's smile vanished.
Her expression froze in an instant, flooding his mind with a whirlwind of thoughts. Could he fight a pureblood vampire in his current state?
Sophia wasn't one to commit treason, but this was during the exam. She might have come to steal his points.
Opening [Inventory] would be fine, but could he actually reach an item? Could he fight without Leviathan?
If worst came to worst, [Reaper's Robe]? No, too close-range. As if reading his mind, Sophia spoke up.
“Hm.”
Not even words—just a nasal hum as she scanned the surroundings.
“I'm on the same team as Isia.”
“Oh, really? That's great. You two made up.”
Good for them. Maids should get along. Right, right. No more fighting from now on—
“Yeah. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Our team name is 'Send Lee Seong-hoon to Hell Training Camp.'”
“What?”
He nodded along until he heard something he shouldn't have. Wasn't this treason? You're supposed to be her maids.
He tried to speak, but then he noticed his own situation. Naked body, no hamburger ingredients around.
Before him stood a pureblood vampire. Even pulling something from [Inventory], at this distance, she'd overpower him instantly.
In other words, he had no choice but to listen silently to Sophia.
“Had fun? Playing with Raphael all day?”
She approached. Closer and closer, until she braced her arm against the tent wall behind him, cutting off his escape. The crow she held flew out of the tent.
“Huh?”
The question came again, and he shook his head frantically without thinking. It was actually pretty fun. Leviathan's cute, you know.
But he didn't say that, just shook his head, and Sophia looked down at him with even greater annoyance.
“Two tents, huh? That crow earlier too.”
She stared with red eyes. When their gazes met, she smiled. Was it the moonlight from behind? The atmosphere of the night air?
Or was it something Sophia inherently possessed?
He didn't know, but her smile up close was mesmerizing. He gripped his racing heart and forced it to calm.
“Isia did all that for you, didn't she? And you didn't tell me. How sneaky.”
How did she know? Did she dissect the crow's spell? The tents made sense, but the crow was suspicious.
Sophia drew closer. He backed away instinctively until he hit the tent wall.
“Originally, I was going to rip off your bracelet the moment I saw you. Make you pay dearly for not teaming up with me. But I changed my mind.”
Sophia stepped back from him. She clasped her hands behind her back and turned to continue.
“Instead... how about a night stroll by the sea—”
“No.”
The sudden voice made both Lee Seong-hoon and Sophia turn toward the tent flap. Standing there was...
“Sophia. Didn't we agree to signal if we found him?”
The savior.
Or not?
“Tweet...”
Isia was utterly drained right now. Her body was a wreck of fatigue. Leaves even clung to her hair.
Yet she kept walking without rest, without washing, without eating.
“Th... that crow...!!”
She'd spent the whole day searching for the crow, but it was nowhere. Crows were usually omens of ill fortune, but now their absence filled her with dread.
What if Sophia found it first? And now it was night. Darkness blanketed everything, making it hard to spot a crow.
People were scarce enough; a all-black crow was impossible to see.
“Can't even find the spot with two tents...”
Before coming, Lee Seong-hoon had asked her to buy an extra tent. It was pricey, a burden for Isia, but she'd gritted her teeth and swiped her card.
What if she hadn't? Raphael and Lee Seong-hoon would share a tent. She absolutely couldn't allow that.
Another reason: the tents were distinguishable even at night. The plain one from Justitia Academy versus the luxury one she'd bought.
Visible from afar. That's why she'd splurged nearly a month's allowance—
“Why can't I see it~~~~!!!”
Frustrated, she yelled toward the mountain. Bug chirps echoed back in reply.
Isia pouted. She'd scoured nearly the entire island all day without rest. Why couldn't she find it?
“Did we miss each other?”
If so, she'd want to die. All her effort down the drain.
She planned to check the last spot and sleep. She hadn't hit the beach yet, so she headed there.
“!!”
She found it. A crow perched on a rock, scratching its head with its foot like a living bird, preening its wings.
But Isia knew. She'd watched this crow for days. It was definitely the one with her modified magic rune.
Overjoyed, she started to run toward it but stopped. She sensed faint flows of mana.
“That rock... and those rocks.”
Connected. Like security threads strewn everywhere. A setup so Lee Seong-hoon could detect intruders.
To Isia, it was child's play. She swiftly tampered with the runes, disabling the alarm, and entered the beach area.
“I'm such an idiot.”
How much easier if she'd come straight here. Humming unconsciously, she strolled along the beach.
The crow spotted Isia but stayed put, as if entranced.
A strange dissonance. Had a vampire been here? Was it under Charm Eyes or something? It seemed dazed.
Not the clever crow she knew. But that wasn't important now. She skipped forward lightly.
Time to reap her reward. She'd agreed to signal Sophia upon finding him, but surely she wouldn't either?
Isia didn't even consider signaling. Her mind was filled with something else.
‘What do I say when I get there?’
Is he asleep now? Wake him? Waiting until he wakes would make her look like a creep.
‘Do I really have to eliminate him?’
On the way here, she'd wanted to tear off his bracelet on sight. But humans are strange creatures.
Finding him made that urge vanish. Maybe keep it secret from Sophia and team up from tomorrow.
She regretted handing over her phone. Humming as she neared the tent...
—And you didn't tell me. How sneaky.
—I changed my mind.
—How about a night stroll by the sea...
“That damn woman...”
Isia ran. Full speed to the back of the tent. Approaching, she saw a fox with hands behind her back, chatting away.
“Sophia.”
Isia called in a calm voice. Strangely, her head was clearer than ever.
“Didn't we agree to signal if we found him?”
“Coo.”
The first sound from Sophia as she turned.
“Betrayal.”
“...”
Isia and Sophia were pitching a tent. Isia pouted in protest, but no response came.
Sophia didn't look sorry—just regretful.
“If you hadn't come, we could've strolled by the sea at night.”
“Is that something someone sorry would say?!”
“Not really sorry. You wouldn't have signaled either if you'd found him first.”
She had no retort. She actually wouldn't have.
“...”
Silence fell over the trust-broken team.
Even as they silently pitched the tent, Isia replayed the earlier scene.
—Isia!! You came!! So glad!!
—Temporary alliance? You two are teamed up!! Great. Perfect.
—You came at the right time!!
She'd burst out of the tent, greeted more warmly than Sophia.
But her flushed face paled, her upturned lips drooped soon after.
She remembered what happened next.
—Kyaa!!! Don't come closer!!
—No, that's not— But don't come any closer!!
—Kyaak!! I'll use magic if you do?!
“...”
It couldn't be helped. After roaming all day unwashed, how could she let him near?
She'd used protective magic, and she didn't smell bad.
But it was a matter of feeling. She absolutely couldn't let him close.
“What're you doing?”
Sophia eyed Isia, who flushed and paled repeatedly, with exasperation.
“Ahem. Anyway, don't think about leaving the tent until morning.”
“Bathroom?”
“Use magic.”
“Magic isn't all-purpose! And those spells are all holy magic!”
“Don't know. Don't go out. Hold it.”
A wordless battle of wills passed between them. It continued inside the tent, where neither slept, vigilantly watching each other.
“Not sleeping?”
“Not until you sleep first.”
“...”
Once bitten, twice shy for Isia.
“Sleep?”
“No.”
“Sleep a bit.”
“No.”
The tent echoed with nothing but “Sleep?” and “No” for ages. Sophia offered a compromise first.
“I won't go, so sleep. You haven't slept all day. Points keep rising anyway.”
She raised her hand and shrugged—a gesture full of sincerity that she wouldn't go. Isia was exhausted; she could sleep the moment her eyes closed.
But—
“Not falling for it.”
“Tch.”
Back to the “Sleep?” and “No” hell. The noisy tent eventually quieted.
“Not sleeping.”
“Sleep already!!!”
“Gasp!!”
Isia jolted awake with a scream. She'd even bitten her tongue to stay awake, but sleep claimed her anyway.
Spilled water couldn't be gathered; she looked around.
“Phew...”
Fortunately, Sophia was asleep. She must have been exhausted too.
Sighing in relief, hand on chest, Isia slipped out of the tent quietly. She winced at the blinding morning sun.
Then she walked the beach a bit, feeling the sea breeze. Maybe Lee Seong-hoon would come out. She lacked the courage to barge in...!
“Where?”
“Eek!!!”
The sudden voice made Isia scream and turn. Sophia squinted at her.
“B-bathroom~”
She hadn't been doing anything suspicious, so no real excuse needed. Still, she felt guilty and blurted one out.
Sophia hummed and headed toward the tent.
“W-wait a sec!!”
“You said bathroom.”
“No, that's not—”
Isia followed Sophia's brisk steps. She could stop her but didn't bother.
"Why? Going to wake him. Sleeping late is dangerous."
Sophia had her own justification as she strode confidently. By the time they reached the tent...
Nothing. The open tent was empty. Bathroom break? Their eyes widened when a voice came from nearby.
Not far. A close tent.
—No, it's morning!!
—Morning or not, I'm not a morning person. If anything, I'm a night owl.
—That's bragging. Bragging. Hurry out and pack the tent. Isia and Sophia are outside, so be aware.
—Okay, okay~
Two people emerged from Raphael's tent.