Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: 070. Vampire Detective
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"Stop! Detective Moon!"
Moon Ji-hyuk looks at me. Amazement soon spreads across his face.
"Taker…?!"
Moon Ji-hyuk collapses to the ground with a thud.
He seems to have taken quite the mental shock upon learning my identity. Well, we had been getting somewhat friendly lately.
…Not just that—his condition looks like a total mess, too.
Moon Ji-hyuk's eyes shake violently as he stares at me.
"……That sword. Were you Red Light all along?"
I glance at Baek Sang-gi. I wondered why he'd suddenly stepped in—maybe it was because of me.
"That's right. I'm Red Light."
I answer with a smile.
From the conversations I'd overheard through the wiretap, Baek Sang-gi doesn't seem to have any greed for the Orbs of Life.
Feeding an Orb of Life to Moon Ji-hyuk to turn him human again—that's Baek Sang-gi's current goal.
"So you were human after all."
I ignore Baek Sang-gi's words and approach the Flower of Life.
The most important thing right now is the Flower of Life. I have to protect it so it can fully form its four Orbs of Life. Of course, the top priority is making sure no one else takes them.
I kick Moon Ji-hyuk with my foot to put some distance between us. He was too close to the Flower of Life.
"Mmph!"
Yang Jeong-min tries to wriggle free from my arms. I tighten my grip over her mouth even harder and press the blade sideways against her throat. The cold touch of the steel calms her down.
Moon Ji-hyuk can't get up easily. Even with a vampire's regenerative abilities, he'll need a few hours of rest before he can unleash his full power.
The ones I need to worry about here aren't Moon Ji-hyuk—it's Doris and Baek Sang-gi. Especially Baek Sang-gi. He gives off the most dangerous vibe of anyone I've met in this world.
Doris's eyes dart around wildly. He hasn't fully grasped the situation yet.
Baek Sang-gi, on the other hand, watches me calmly. When I kicked Moon Ji-hyuk, he didn't spare him even a glance.
……Wasn't Baek Sang-gi's goal to help Moon Ji-hyuk? Why's he staring at me like that?
Baek Sang-gi raises his sword, pointing it at me. I furrow my brow.
"What? Can't you see I have a hostage?"
"If one hostage lets me kill you, it's a bargain."
"Aren't you Moon Ji-hyuk's ally?"
"I was impressed by the resolve of a young man untainted by vampiric corruption. However, my target is you, Red Light. I never imagined you'd be human… but that makes you all the more dangerous."
Baek Sang-gi smiles.
The actor playing him was a male idol, so he's handsome, no doubt. But that smile carries an eerie chill.
Baek Sang-gi steps toward me and swings his sword. I extend the Hwaryeon Blade from Yang Jeong-min's throat to block it.
Clang!
Yang Jeong-min bites down hard on my left hand.
"Argh!"
My left hand goes slack. Yang Jeong-min slips out of my grasp and runs. Her teeth marks are vividly clear—damn, she bit down hard.
"Ji-hyuk oppa!"
"Ugh, that…"
I don't even have the leisure to chase Yang Jeong-min or complain. Baek Sang-gi starts swinging his sword at me in earnest.
Clang! Claaang! Clang!
I parry Baek Sang-gi's blade, grimacing. He's no ordinary foe. Whenever I deflect the tip and try to counter, he seamlessly disrupts my flow.
His physical stats are on par with mine. I doubt I can overpower him with raw strength.
I'll end this with Blue Stream.
I retreat from Baek Sang-gi and unleash Blue Stream.
"Impressive. A true master swordsman."
It gets blocked with ridiculous ease.
I see his eyes shake. Blue Stream definitely connected. But the result is the opposite.
Ki sense. He's sensing my presence through ki sense, not his eyes.
Right then, Baek Sang-gi's swordsmanship changes. The once ordinary movements now flow like a living thing. Sensing the unnatural shift, I forcefully deflect his blade and fall back.
"My sword art is the Principle Sword. Originally a technique for cultivating mind and body."
I hesitate. I recall what Jin Se-young once said: If your opponent reveals their martial art's name, you should do the same. It's the etiquette of those who walk the path of the sword.
Honestly, I didn't get what Jin Se-young meant. But in this world, naming my sword style isn't hard.
"Shadow Heaven Style."
I glance at Moon Ji-hyuk. Yang Jeong-min is helping him down the mountain. Good. This is deep in Seoraksan. Even on a proper path, it'd take her 3-4 hours to descend at her pace.
Yang Jeong-min followed me blindly, so she doesn't know the way back. She'll probably get lost soon enough.
Just in case, I'd attached a tracker to her clothing hem. Wherever she flees, she's in my palm.
"Worried about those youngsters?"
"They've seen my face. Can't let them live. And neither can you."
"Haha. It's been ages since I've crossed swords in a duel to the death… Excellent. The moon is bright tonight—perfect for meeting one's end."
Baek Sang-gi's sword traces a graceful arc toward me. I parry and attempt a counter, only to jolt in surprise. Somehow, his blade is coming from the opposite direction.
Did I lose track of his sword's movement for a split second?
I hurriedly respond, gripping my sword in reverse grip to deflect his. But I'm a beat too slow. His blade slices my left forearm.
Blood flows, but it's not deep. My arm moves fine.
Can't just keep taking hits.
Dawn Light.
My blade draws a red trajectory toward Baek Sang-gi's throat. He uses the pommel of his sword to bat mine upward from below.
"Haha."
Baek Sang-gi laughs aloud.
I can't laugh. In my current state, I don't think I can beat him.
Clang! Claaang! Clang!
I lose count of the clashes.
My body is drenched in sweat and blood. I look like I could drop dead any second, but all my wounds are shallow cuts.
Baek Sang-gi is sweating too. But unlike me, he's not bleeding much. I've been cut over 15 times; he's only taken 3.
Damn. No chance to pull a grenade or gun from my inventory—he's not giving me any openings.
Breathing raggedly, I search for a gap in Baek Sang-gi's defense amid my growing irritation. There are none.
The Principle Sword itself isn't anything special compared to Shadow Heaven Style. But its fundamentals are rock-solid, enough to make you puke. It's a thoroughly defensive art.
I'm holding back Acceleration… but he's not at full strength either. Even if I use it, I doubt I'll win… Huh?
My eyes widen. Somehow, Doris has appeared before the Flower of Life and is reaching out for it. I move faster than I can think.
Shadow Heaven Style Practical Technique: Flying Tiger.
I charge like a tiger, gripping my sword two-handed and swinging with all my weight behind it.
"Gaaargh!"
I don't stop there, aiming for Doris's throat. He teleports away.
"Gahk!"
A scream erupts from my right front. I turn to see Baek Sang-gi with his sword plunged into Doris's heart from behind.
"H-How did you know I'd come here?!"
"I figured it out after watching a few times. Every time you activate your power, your eyes shift toward your destination. Teleportation is limited to line of sight, after all. I just predicted and hid behind a tree. Die already, pureblood."
Baek Sang-gi pulls his sword down. Doris's body crumples to the ground. Even as a pureblood, survival in that situation is impossible.
"Pureblood taken care of. Now, where were we…?"
Shadow Heaven Style Practical Technique: Flying Tiger.
I boost my speed with Acceleration, adding weight to my swing for a massive cleave.
The surprise attack is nearly perfect, yet Baek Sang-gi reacts effortlessly, raising his sword to defend. The impact reverberates, slightly disrupting his stance.
I seize the opening and unleash a barrage of strikes.
Ten minutes pass, and Acceleration wears off. Even with it, I couldn't kill Baek Sang-gi.
"…Fuck. Why does nothing land?"
I spit the words amid hot breaths of frustration. A few glancing blows connected, but every decisive strike was blocked.
"Red Light. Your swordsmanship is exceptional. I could tell when our blades met. Your Shadow Heaven Style holds depths that are hard to fathom."
Baek Sang-gi approaches me. He's as exhausted as I am.
"But a sword art is just a sword art, Red Light."
I charge at Baek Sang-gi once more. He deftly twists his wrist, parrying my blade aside. No fancy technique—just a simple trick.
Baek Sang-gi thrusts his sword into my abdomen.
"It was a pleasure, Red Light. Thanks to you, I've severed my last lingering attachment to this world."
"……."
Instead of collapsing, I take one more step forward. I grab Baek Sang-gi's collar and stab my sword into his chest.
I grimace.
"……Why didn't you dodge?"
He could've simply released his sword and stepped back. But Baek Sang-gi doesn't.
"To be your companion in death, Red Light. Wouldn't the afterlife be lonely alone?"
His calm demeanor ignites my killing intent. I want to hack him to pieces right then.
"…Hah."
With a short sigh, I shove him off and pull the sword from my abdomen. He collapses to the ground, looking up at me.
"Thank you, Red Light."
Thank you for what? I scowl, unable to comprehend.
"Idiot."
I use Complete Recovery.
All the minor wounds across my body vanish, and the stab wound heals without a trace.
Baek Sang-gi's eyes widen, his mouth agape. His shocked expression is somewhat amusing.
But only for a moment.
Baek Sang-gi soon returns to a serene face and closes his eyes. A faint smile lingers on his lips.
He looks like an old man who met a peaceful death. Annoying.
I turn from Baek Sang-gi and approach the Flower of Life.
Seeing the two Orbs of Life hanging from it instantly dissolves my pent-up frustration.
Whoa~. The sheen is no joke. For real.
I stare blankly at the Flower of Life before snapping to my senses and changing clothes.
I can't touch the Orbs of Life in these blood- and sweat-soaked rags. Who'd take responsibility if they get tainted?
Four in total, right? Won't take long… I'll wait. Whatever.
I sit cross-legged right in front of the Flower of Life.
I don't let go of the Hwaryeon Blade. I can't be 100% sure there won't be another variable like Baek Sang-gi.
Oh, right. Where are Yang Jeong-min and Moon Ji-hyuk now?
I pull the tracker from my inventory. It's a palm-sized rectangular pad. Activating it reveals the transmitter's location.
As expected, they haven't gone far.
Moon Ji-hyuk and Yang Jeong-min are moving slowly. From the looks of it, they've definitely lost their way.
When stranded in the mountains, the best thing is to stay put and call 119 for help.
Moon Ji-hyuk and Yang Jeong-min probably won't call for help. They'd know calling people might lead to their deaths by my hand.
Even if they do report it, no big deal. My goal with the 'Vampire Detective' is nearly complete. I might have regrets over Young Hye-jeong, Hera, or Choi Sun-mi, but not enough to cling to the Vampire Detective side quest.
I gaze at the Flower of Life, replaying the fight with Baek Sang-gi. It pisses me off. But it wasn't without lessons.
My swordsmanship was superior overall.
Yet I lost.
I mull over the reasons, but nothing clicks. I'll have to ask Jin Se-young later.
Time passes.
Four Orbs of Life form on the Flower of Life.
I uproot the flower from the ground, and it rapidly wilts, crumbling to dust. All that's left in my hand are the four Orbs of Life.
I stuff the four rainbow-shimmering Orbs of Life into a plastic bag and store them in my inventory.
"Mission accomplished!"
Clap clap clap!
I even clap in celebration as I stand.
Checking the tracker, Yang Jeong-min and Moon Ji-hyuk aren't far. With my physical abilities, I could catch up in 30 minutes.
"Alright then. Time to tackle the side mission."
I dash through the dark mountains.
I spot Yang Jeong-min supporting Moon Ji-hyuk's shoulder as they walk. His steps are more stable than expected. He's recovered somewhat.
I quietly circle around and cut in front of them.
"…Jeong-min. I'm fine, so just run. My body will recover on its own given time."
"How could I abandon you, Ji-hyuk oppa? When dawn breaks, we'll call 119. By then, Taker… no, Red Light will have fled."
I chuckle and block their path.
"Why would I run away?"