Vampire (2)
Vampire (2)
Eunha looked around with a sullen expression.
Adelange, who had said she would sponsor the Theater Troupe, wanted an after-party with Eunha, and the troupe leader, struggling with money, clung to Eunha's pants leg and begged her to go just once.
Unable to refuse such a plea, Eunha reluctantly followed her to the bar.
Perhaps because it was an expensive place, there were few customers, and even those present kept silent without being rowdy.
Seeing Eunha glancing around nervously, Adelange asked lightly.
"Why, can't you drink alcohol?"
"......Yes."
"That's good. Drinking alcohol makes the blood murky."
Adelange said that and raised her wine glass with a flushed face. Pretending to savor the aroma, she began to sniff Eunha's scent.
The intense body odor was so strong that she felt an impulse to sink her fangs in right away.
'No, can't do that, no.'
What if she sank her fangs into her nape? She could suck once, but twice would be tough.
The bitten girl would bolt straight to the temple or Guard Force, and then a subjugation party for vampire hunting would be formed.
Even though she was a sturdy vampire who had lived for hundreds of years, facing hundreds of subjugators charging to kill her wasn't exactly pleasant.
No matter how powerful the monster, it eventually falls, so there was no need to take on that kind of risk.
Above all, under blooming civilization, there were plenty of ways to manipulate someone without resorting to force.
Take Eunha, for instance—hadn't she said she couldn't drink alcohol, yet still followed her to the bar?
'For the day this glass fills with blood.'
Cheers.
She slyly raised her glass for a solo toast, then huljjeok-huljjeok gulped down the booze while eyeing Eunha.
No matter how many times she sniffed, it was sweet, a supreme delicacy of a scent.
And just as knowing a wine's history enhances its flavor, info on the other person seemed to upgrade the taste of their blood.
"You, do you dream of being a ballerina?"
"......No."
"—Really? Then why do ballet?"
"Because I want to become famous......."
"Famous, huh."
Heh, that makes it even easier.
Adelange thought that and handed her a glass.
"I can't drink alcohol...."
"You don't have to drink, just hold the glass."
Kkol-kkol-kkol, Adelange poured the wine, filled her own glass, then raised it toward her.
"For your dream."
"......For the dream."
Ching-!
The cheerful toast rang out through the shop.
After that, Eunha nailed a few more performances.
It was only a matter of time before her name spread across the whole city.
Small Swan.
Word of a ballerina in the Mera Theater Troupe with such beautiful dance lines passed from mouth to mouth, and eventually hit the newspapers, spreading worldwide.
In the midst of all that, Eunha was dealing with all sorts of nobles gunning for her and the troupe's obsession.
"Please! Just once in our troupe too!"
"No, how about coming to my territory altogether? I'll treat you no less than a noble lady."
Whether it was people clinging to her pants leg or nobles looking down with arrogance, Eunha—fed up with both—shook her head and turned them down.
Of course, there were those who felt anger and jealousy toward her, or tried to sabotage her for purely business reasons...
"......Another one?"
"Sorry—."
"No, it's not for you to apologize."
Ilone gave a wry smile as she eyed the men sprawled around Eunha.
These guys collapsed here were all back-alley criminals with some notoriety or mercenaries known for their brawn.
They'd come prepared with daggers, longswords, even crossbows, but to the girl in front of them, it was nothing more than kids' toys.
"......Shall I, help?"
"It's fine. Ha....... Hey, what're you doing? Arrest them already."
"C-Captain... an autograph...."
"......What?"
Ilone bulged her eyes and glared sharply at the subordinate spouting nonsense on duty. But he doubled down, like he wouldn't back off that easily.
"B-But she's the Small Swan, right!? Just a quick autograph......."
"I'll do it."
"Really!?"
At this point, Ilone couldn't exactly yank her subordinate away.
Still, they couldn't loiter at a crime scene.
"......First, arrest the guys, then."
Eunha had to head to the Guard Force anyway, so Ilone finally greenlit the autograph.
With the captain's okay, the subordinates swiftly subdued the criminals and marched to the Guard Force.
Following them there, Eunha wrote up her statement. Being formal stuff, she didn't go into too much detail.
The autograph session actually took several times longer than writing the statement.
"And this wraps it up—."
"Thank you!"
"No... you'll keep coming to watch from now on, right?"
"Of course!"
Watching Eunha wrap up the signing and plug her shows, Ilone fidgeted, unsure what face to make.
A subordinate passing by tossed out,
"Captain, if you want an autograph, just ask for it."
"......It's not like that."
"Come on, it's obvious. What's the point of saving face?"
"Wanna die?"
Ilone clenched her fist as she said it, and the spooked subordinates bolted from the spot.
And finally, only she and Eunha were left.
Ilone slowly lifted her head to look at Eunha. Her black pupils gleamed brightly, reflecting her own image.
"......Is Dojin doing well?"
"—Who are you to know Dojin?"
In that instant, her amethyst-shining eyes turned pitch-black like obsidian.
The inky pupils, seeming to harbor darkness, gave the illusion of spinning. Kulluk—Ilone felt killing intent blanket her body and gulped hard.
One wrong word, and she'd die. The thought hit her instinctively.
"D-Don't you remember me? That...... a while back, I helped with Dojin's investigation. Even visited him in the hospital!"
"......Ah."
Only then did Eunha pull back the killing intent, like she'd finally pieced it together.
Clutching her still-thumping heart, Ilone stared at Eunha.
'Whoa, was she always like this?'
She didn't remember clearly. The ice-using girl and the one who'd healed her stuck in her mind, but.
Eunha hadn't been very standout back then, so she had zero clue what kind of kid she was or her personality.
"—So, why are you looking for Dojin?"
"Ah, no. Just...... worried, y'know. Been a bit since we met."
"......Has it been long since you saw Dojin?"
"Huh? Yeah...."
"How long?"
"Since that hospital stay, haven't seen him."
"—Is that so? Dojin is doing well."
The moment Eunha beamed at her words, Ilone thought she might have a split personality.
And one thing she realized: with her around, no casual approach to Dojin.
'......Been ages, wanna see his face, hope some opportunity pops up.'
Dojin had become way too big a deal for her to just drop by without reason.
That was why she hadn't sought him out. Figured linking up with riffraff like her wouldn't do him any favors.
All while hoping he'd come to her first.
And conveniently, a perfect pretext to approach Dojin cropped up right away.
"Good tea, but you're not drinking?"
"I-I'll drink it now!"
Ilone said that and lifted the teacup in front of her. Steam wafted up gently, but she squeezed her eyes shut and gulped it down in big swallows.
Hot—. It scorched from tongue to palate to throat.
But even so, she couldn't scream from the pain.
"Oh my, that's not what I meant... hold on."
The veiled woman approached personally. Even facing the Dungeon Principality's lord or the kingdom's top general wouldn't tense her this much.
Ilone gripped her pounding heart and sneaked a glance at her.
'......Pretty.'
Saint Iris.
The otherworld's top beauty, certified by God herself, stood right there.
"Ah, give it a try."
"Ah, ahh...."
"Your mouth's all burned up. Must hurt. You okay?"
"I'mf fine."
"There— all done."
The Saintess lightly wagged her fingers in front of her mouth, then headed back to her seat. Ilone figured it was just playful teasing, but then realized her stinging throat was totally fine and jolted.
"I should've had them bring cold tea."
"N-No, it's fine. I'll sip slowly."
"Hmm— suit yourself."
The nun brought more tea. Vowing to sip carefully this time, she sniffed the aroma and let a tiny bit dribble onto her lips.
'Hot.......'
She wanted to ask the her from seconds ago what the hell she'd been thinking, chugging something that scalding.
As she nursed the tea like that—maybe thinking the tension had eased— Iris cautiously spoke up.
"You know why you're here, right?"
"Yes. For Saintess-nim's escort......."
"You really think that's the whole story?"
Ilone froze and eyed the Saintess. Sure, she was Guard Force captain, but she had zero real pull.
Just a grunt following orders from above.
Heck, during this year's thanksgiving festival, the Saintess hadn't even shown her face at the Guard Force once. She could've just told the Lord to assign an escort, same as always.
"......Not sure."
"Hmm, anyway. Heard rumors you're super tight with... Dojin-nim."
"Yes? Total nonsense."
"Really? Not even a little connected?"
"That's right."
Ilone found the Saintess prying a tad weird, but she had no reason to feel guilty.
They had been close, but now? Who knows if he'd even remember her.
Heck, Eunha—who'd actually been tight with Dojin—hadn't even recognized her.
"Hmm, fine then. Actually, it'd be smart to give the Guard Force your schedule ahead of time."
"What schedule......."
"Came to catch the Small Swan's show this time."
"Small Swan......?"
Eunha's nickname popped up again. She'd just grilled her on Dojin ties, and now this about Eunha's performance.
At this point, even a total airhead would suspect some link between her and Dojin.
"Yes, the pride of our Dungeon Principality. Saintess-nim's sure to love it."
But could a piddly Guard Force captain really grill the Holy Kingdom's Saintess on that?
Ilone just smiled and assured her not to worry.
"Whew......."
Exiting the Saintess's Mansion, Ilone let out heavy sighs.
What a heavyweight—now she was even tangled up with the Saintess.
'Someone like me? He must've forgotten completely.'
Even if she were Dojin, she'd have ditched a nobody Guard Force captain ages ago, no sweat.
That stung a little.