Chapter 49
Chapter 49
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Shake Shake
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thud—!!
With the sound of the mist shattering, light enveloped Sylvia. Dazzling light. The sun, a vampire's weakness, wrapped around her.
It didn't matter much to her as a progenitor, but the situation itself was far from welcome.
The black-haired woman in front of her was incredibly annoying. Without her, Sylvia could have taken Lee Seong-hoon away a hundred times over.
'She was flying off with one hand just moments ago.'
Now she was bombarding her with spells and interfering. And that expression on her face. Hidden by the skull mask, but Sylvia could tell. She was making a disgusted face.
As if Sylvia taking an interest in Lee Seong-hoon was repulsive in itself. Even the way he'd made excuses before running away.
All of it. None of it sat right with her. Not a single thing.
And then the man emerging from the light. She knew him. She had to know him.
The leader of a guild infamous among vampires, a gathering place for monsters.
Even one-on-one, victory was uncertain. She couldn't fight him with that black-haired woman thrown into the mix.
'Is this as far as it goes?'
Regrettable. So regrettable. After starting all this, all she'd managed was to touch Lee Seong-hoon's face once.
'No, I got cursed out too.'
That was good. Sylvia's face flushed red as she leaped backward. No hesitation. She fled before the man who'd just entered the mist could fully assess the situation.
"Ah?! Where are you going!!"
"Mind your own business. Unless Seong-hoon asks."
"Ugh. It's always that guy's Seong-hoon this, Seong-hoon that!!"
Dodging the somehow enraged woman's spells, she transformed her body into mist. In the midst of it, Lee Seong-hoon emerged from hiding now that it was safe, entering her view.
'I really like him.'
Making one woman fight for him because he thought she was in danger, then coming out only when it was safe. That demeanor was so lovable that she stared blatantly—
And their eyes met.
Lee Seong-hoon faltered for a moment, but Sylvia quickly moved her lips.
I'll. Come. Again.
It was too far for him to hear, so after mouthing the words, she slipped into the mist.
The mist enveloped her body, and she thought she heard a shout, but she ignored it. When she emerged from the mist once more—
It was a strange mansion.
A mansion large enough to call a grand estate. No different from a palace, but lacking any palatial elements, so it was a mansion.
"Huuung~ It's been a while~"
Whistling as she entered the mansion, which exuded an eerie aura and was surrounded by white mist. As she naturally stepped inside—
Her vision warped dramatically. Heaven and earth flipped, space twisted. When she opened her eyes again, she was in a strange room. A dark room where not a single ray of light entered.
"You're back."
"Yeah. I'm home."
"How did the cooperation with the 'Half-Demon' go?"
"Nothing much? Just released the apostles and done. I did my part."
"I see."
Sylvia naturally plopped down on the sofa in the corner of the room and swung her legs. Even so, her mouth didn't stop.
"I found something ~super fun. I want to suck his blood. Definitely. I'll turn him into my half-blood and keep him by my side forever."
"Sylvia. You found someone fun?"
"Yeah!"
"That's good. Where was it this time? Justitia?"
The voice seemed to ponder for a moment. Then, soon after, it spoke from the darkness again.
"Was Sophia not there?"
"Nope? I didn't wander much. It's been ten years already. You still haven't given up?"
The voice didn't reply. But Sylvia could feel it. Him nodding.
"Even after ten years, I don't want to give up on the sun."
"Crazy bitch. Crazy bitch. Crazy bitch. What was that 'I'll come again' crap."
Chicken skin prickled all over my body, so I hugged my arms and rubbed them furiously. Go away, goosebumps!!
"Whoa. That's some passionate love I've never seen before. Isn't it time you accepted her?"
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm seriously scared."
I clamped shut the mouth of the damn blonde who let out a mocking snort. If I left her, she'd spew something weird for sure. Self-defense. Absolutely.
"Her escape speed was top-class. Am I that famous? How did she recognize me just from my face and bolt?"
"Dad! You should've caught her right away!!"
"Sorry, sorry."
Ignoring the cheekily grinning man, I stared at where Sylvia had vanished. Did this girl have no pride as a progenitor? She bolted the moment she saw his face.
No matter how famous he was, this defeated the purpose of staking our lives to hold her back.
"You all did well too. The mist is gone, so let's head back. The apostles scattered around are mostly taken care of."
"Yes."
What's done is done. I regretted it to death, but no helping it. I learned nothing about the reason for the attack or her obsession with me, but I was grateful just not to be dragged off.
With those thoughts, I walked toward Isia, who had collapsed on the ground from exhaustion. The surroundings were bright now that the mist had lifted.
"You okay?"
"..."
Nod, nod.
Isia turned at my call and nodded. She looked drained, but of course she was. After unleashing that barrage of spells.
Still, she did great.
I didn't know why, but she'd learned 'Chant Severance' and fought Sylvia well.
Now Lucy Violet would crawl between my legs, and Ishiu would have no choice but to open the treasure vault. I wiped the drool already forming.
Then, recalling some carrot-and-stick theory I'd seen somewhere, I opened my mouth.
"See? What did I tell you? I said you could do it, right?"
"..."
What now. Her face was hidden by the mask, but she was definitely staring right through me. This called for praise; she'd go wild for it.
"Now you can beat Lucy too. Say it after you win. All those losses were just building momentum for now—!!"
"..."
Isn't that cool? Or not? Frowning at Isia's silence, I switched tactics.
"Fine, how about this. You're total trash. You can't even beat me. How's that? That's my secret move. I was saving it for Raphael but haven't used it once."
In response to my question asking what she preferred, Isia held up one finger. Meaning the first one?
"Are you mute?"
Shake, shake.
This time she shook her head to answer. She really seemed mute. Could she not speak?
Suddenly, a weird thought crossed my mind. Had the mask's purification not finished? I hadn't worn it long, but Isia had for quite a while.
Maybe a mute curse or something?
I quickly approached Isia and grabbed her shoulders.
"Hey. Stay still. What if the mask doesn't come off? I have holy water. Let's try removing it first."
Isia was precious manpower. Sure, a blue window said purification complete, but who knows with people.
The curse might have returned. I placed my hand on Isia's face to remove the mask.
Whoosh.
Huh? What? Did my hand slip? Okay. This time for sure.
Whoosh.
Haha. Slipping a lot? Did she apply oil? Why is this happening? I wiped my hand on my clothes and reached again.
But.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
"...What are you doing?"
"........."
She dodged this way and that with both hands clutching the mask, but no answer came. How hard was she trying? Her ears were beet red.
Put that effort into letting it come off. Please.
"If you keep dodging, I'll have to force it!!"
Shake shake shake shake.
Ignoring Isia wildly turning her face, I gripped her shoulders hard. Then as I reached for her face—
"Whoa. Wasn't that line just total trash?"
"Strangers would think you'd been to the police station."
"Ahem."
I stopped at the voices. Seizing the moment, Isia clutched the mask with both hands, shoved me away, and—
Bolted.
"Hey?! Mask thief!! Neighbors!! Mask thief!!"
"I-I'll give it back later—!!!!"
Having the mask snatched right in front of my eyes, I blankly watched her running back, then realized.
"She can talk."
"What can she talk?"
"No, I thought the mask cursed her or something—"
As I answered Raphael, someone popped up in front of me, cutting me off. A girl standing with hands behind her back, beaming.
A girl with brown hair and petal-like eyes.
"Don't you have something to say to me?"
Something to say? At the sudden remark, I rolled my eyes before opening my mouth. Had to be this, right?
"Thanks...?"
"Yep!"
Yang Min-ji beamed innocently at my words.
[An unfortunate incident has occurred at Justitia. The ranking matches are temporarily suspended. Even if resumed, outside spectators will not be allowed entry. We recommend departing by tomorrow—]
Ignoring the broadcast, Isia ran. She didn't know why or where to. She just ran.
Why?
She didn't know that either. She just felt like she couldn't stay there.
Before she knew it, she'd reached a park inside Justitia. No one around, even though it was still midday.
Guessing it was due to the earlier incident, she sat on a nearby bench.
Then easily removed the mask from her face and caught her breath.
'Hot.'
Her face was burning hot. So hot it felt like it might explode. But now it was cooling down bit by bit.
Why?
She didn't know. Bipolar disorder maybe? Tilting her head, Isia turned on her phone and searched for nearby psychiatrists.
Things had been off since learning 'Chant Severance'. Or after that?
Since the moment Lee Seong-hoon and Sylvia were exchanging heart eyes and talking—
"No. That's not it."
Yeah. Not it. Deciding firmly, Isia nodded.
This was bipolar symptoms. Definitely. Solid evidence too.
Her mood had soared after learning 'Chant Severance'.
But overhearing Sylvia and Lee Seong-hoon's conversation sent it crashing down, then it improved when she attacked.
Even during the fight. Casting spells felt good, but whenever Sylvia spoke to her about Lee Seong-hoon, her mood soured.
And after that?
"What 'our Seong-hoon'."
Pout. Isia pursed her lips and kicked a nearby rock. Sylvia had grated on her nerves right up to the end, making her angry.
Then Lee Seong-hoon came and spoke to her.
—See? I said you could win.
That one line lifted her mood again. If this wasn't bipolar, what was?
It matched the symptoms she'd searched up!
Bipolar at her age. They said lots of mages were crazy— was she one too—
Thinking that, she shook her head. Couldn't go mad, so she needed to check hospitals soon.
Her face settled, returning to its original pale white.
Holding the mask, she grinned goofily for some reason, staring blankly at the surrounding trees.
"You're no match for me. Ra."
Snicker. Imagining saying that to Lucy after beating her made her laugh for some reason. Then suddenly it hit her.
Could she really beat Lucy? She'd never won once.
No matter that she'd learned 'Chant Severance', Lucy would prepare counters—
"No. I can."
Isia looked at the mask in her hand. Recalled the line the man said when giving it to her.
"I can win."
She could. Sitting alone, Isia practiced the line she'd say after beating Lucy.