Chapter 66
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Savior's Blood
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Blood.
*Lick.*
Vampires.
A race once called bloodsuckers in the distant past.
It was a truly insulting title for the prideful vampire race, but in a way, it was only natural.
Back then, vampires, especially those of the lower and middle classes, regarded all other races as mere food, indiscriminately sucking their blood.
This custom changed only when the entire world was consumed by the Labyrinth.
When the Ancient Kingdom fell.
And only Odobaekryeong remained.
The cataclysm of that era drove most intelligent species to the brink of extinction.
Vampires, who had preyed on other races, were either marked as public enemies and faced annihilation or were driven to the verge of starvation.
Thus, they devised a solution.
A measure called the 'selection of blood.'
While punishing excessive blood-sucking as a vulgar and dissolute sin…
They imbued the act of blood-sucking itself with a more significant meaning, transforming it into a noble practice.
This change was possible because it was led by the highest-ranking vampires, who had maintained such a culture since the era of the Ancient Kingdom, and because of the strict hierarchical nature of the vampire race.
*Gulp.*
The result was a success.
By collecting blood from their subjects…
Reducing their taxes by the amount collected…
And giving additional rewards for good blood…
People grew desperate to offer their blood, even coming to take pride in it.
Being chosen to offer one’s blood, especially by a high-ranking vampire, became something that even nobles considered an honor.
*Slither.*
And the one who had led this change was the apex of all vampires, the ruler who inherited the purest True Blood ancestor’s lineage—the Vlad family of the Blood-Night Mountain.
As a direct descendant of the Vlad family…
Elise was pickier than anyone.
Her unique trait made even the highest quality blood, handpicked by her family, taste utterly bland and murky.
The blood of the high-ranking vampires she had taken as vassals was barely palatable, and she would only drink a few drops mixed with wine to keep from starving.
She believed she would never experience the pleasure of tasting blood in her life.
So Elise had thought.
And she had been proud of it.
To be unlike other vampires, never to be swayed by the instinct to drink blood.
She believed this itself was an act of utmost dignity and nobility as a vampire.
“Haah, haah…”
…Yes.
That was how it had been until a moment ago.
But now, in her mind…
Such trivial thoughts no longer remained.
Only the crimson drops of blood, flowing one by one, captivated her entire gaze, mind, and body.
*Lick.*
Her body burned.
Her consciousness grew hazy.
Her heart pounded as if it would burst.
It was dizzying, like being drunk…
But it was an ecstasy that couldn't be compared to something so mundane.
As if floating on clouds, she slowly extended her tongue.
The moment her soft tongue touched the drop of blood pooled in the palm of a hand as fair and fine as a young girl’s…
“Ha, euh…”
Lightning shot through her body.
Her vision turned white.
Her toes curled.
And from between her slightly parted red lips…
Escaped a feverish moan, carried on a breath that seemed to melt.
So sweet, so deep, so intense, so vivid, and so pure.
A stimulation she had never even imagined in her life; a single drop was enough to make every cell in her body cry out in a joy that was close to a scream.
*Lick.*
Her brain, unable to withstand the excessive stimulation, grew hotter still, and her body trembled continuously.
Yet her tongue moved on its own.
Lapping up the blood on the palm.
As if it didn't matter if her brain melted…
As long as she could taste just one more sip of this blood.
It couldn't be helped.
The ecstasy that made all the delicacies, fine wines, and fresh blood she had ever tasted feel like garbage…
Was more than enough to completely shatter the life philosophy of a woman who had always scorned such epicurean pleasures.
*Drip.*
“Ah…”
Was it because she had been panting too much?
The moment a drop of saliva fell from the tip of her extended tongue into the blood…
What surged was guilt and regret for having sullied such precious blood with her own saliva.
And so, she lapped it up faster, deeper, leaving no time for more drool.
That blood.
That wound.
That palm.
“Haak.”
But why?
The more she licked, the deeper the thirst grew, beyond the surging sense of fulfillment.
It went beyond just tantalizingly licking the blood seeping from the wound.
An impulse to sink her teeth into the flesh itself, to directly suck the hot blood flowing through the artery.
She did not act on that impulse.
No, she could not.
Her instincts told her.
Just a light lick…
Was enough to scorch her brain with its sweetness.
If she were to drink this directly, her brain might truly melt.
And even if she were lucky enough to survive, she would be thoroughly broken.
*Clench.*
Her long nails tore through his sleeve.
And dug into tender skin.
As she tightened her grip on his arm…
Was it out of fear, or was it a desire so unbearable she would risk ruin?
Elise couldn't understand.
Nor did she want to.
She only knew that the lifeblood dripping from his arm, cut by her own nails…
And staining her thighs red was a terrible waste.
Yet she couldn't tear her lips away from the blood right before her, and so she could only shed tears of sorrow, drop by drop.
*Lick, lick.*
“…Lady.”
“Haah, heuh.”
“Young Lady.”
“Heu…?”
Was her reason paralyzed by the transcendent bliss and satisfaction?
She let the sound that reached her ear…
Flow out the other.
For a long while, she focused only on savoring the blood.
Unable to tear her mind from the welling blood, Elise’s consciousness was finally summoned by a whisper.
“—It’s alright.”
*Swoosh.*
“I won’t take it away. Drink until you are satisfied.”
“…!”
In that moment.
Elise froze.
The hand that slowly stroked her head, as if caressing a kitten lapping up milk…
The whisper that seeped clearly into her ear…
And above all, the mask that was so close she could feel his breath…
Managed to restore a sliver of the reason that had been paralyzed by a bliss she had never before felt.
As she belatedly realized…
What she was doing.
*FWOOSH!!!*
As if on fire.
Her face flushed crimson.
Elise let go of Dion’s arm and scrambled back as if fleeing.
“I, this is, no, well…!”
From his arm, clearly marked with scratches, to his palm, sticky with a mixture of blood and saliva…
Her pupils trembled for a moment as she took in Dion’s disheveled state.
Finally, Elise cried out.
“I-It’s just that you begged so earnestly for me to drink, so I only tasted a few more sips!”
“Yes, of course.”
“…!”
His ready agreement made Elise’s face burn even hotter.
She, more than anyone, knew her words were nothing but a pathetic excuse.
Tasting a strange man’s raw blood directly was shameful enough.
That was why she had intended to take just one sip.
Just a taste, for formality’s sake.
But to be consumed by a vampiric impulse, to have frantically craved blood like a common bloodsucker…
Elise was so ashamed she wanted to find a hole to hide in.
‘This isn’t like me…! That’s right, a drug! He must have put some strange drug in his blood!’
She wouldn’t have lost her senses unless he had used some trick.
Besides, for blood to taste like that without some kind of drug was simply impossible.
With that conviction…
And amidst her humiliation and shame…
Elise glared at Dion.
But her gaze naturally drifted to his palm, where blood still pooled.
‘…If I drink a little more to test it, I should be able to know for sure.’
*Gulp.*
It still had no scent.
But just thinking about it…
Was enough to make her swallow dryly.
So utterly ecstatic and sweet.
Looking at the blood, Elise thought.
Even if there was a drug mixed in it, it clearly wasn’t fast-acting, since she felt no immediate effects.
So, drinking a little more probably wouldn't change much.
No, in fact, to determine what kind of drug was mixed in, it would be wiser to drink more.
That’s right.
So, just one more sip.
Purely for confirmation.
Just one more sip of that blood…
“Young Lady.”
“Yes?”
As if possessed by something…
Having moved away only to find herself right in front of him again, Elise snapped back to her senses.
Her already hot face flushed even brighter as she nonchalantly asked.
“Wh-What is it?”
“How are you feeling?”
“Well, I…”
As she was about to answer reflexively…
Elise’s eyes widened.
Then, as if in utter disbelief…
She touched the arm that had been burned by the sunlight and muttered with a dumbfounded expression.
“…It’s all, healed?”
Impossible.
The thought crossed Elise’s mind.
The damage she had received from the holy relic was severe.
Even if she drank the blood of thousands, it would have taken at least ten days to recover.
But in that short time…
She had completely recovered.
The lethargy that had filled her body was gone as if washed away, and she even felt overflowing with energy.
It was something Elise couldn't believe even seeing it, but…
“I’m glad.”
*Rustle.*
“Ah…”
“What is it?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
As if he had expected it all along.
Dion finally withdrew his hand.
He wiped the wound with a handkerchief…
Then simply bandaged it to stop the bleeding and even put on his glove.
Seeing this, Elise had let out an unconscious sigh of disappointment for a moment.
But she quickly steeled her wavering heart.
Then, after rising to her feet…
She gently lifted the hem of her dress and bowed her head respectfully.
“I, Elizabeth Vlad, wish to express my belated gratitude for the kindness you have shown me, Young Master.”
“It was nothing worthy of thanks.”
“No. It was indeed worthy.”
As elegant as a flower on a cliff.
As noble as the midnight moon.
That was the Vlad family motto.
To ignore the help she had received multiple times would be unworthy of a direct descendant of the Vlad family.
Elise declared this haughtily, then asked calmly.
“In that regard, may I know the name of my benefactor?”
“I thank you, but my name is not one worth revealing. I shall accept your sentiment alone.”
“…I see. If that is your wish, it would not be polite of me to insist.”
As if she had expected it.
Elise gave a slight nod and took out her jade fan.
She then snapped the gold thread attached to it and offered him the ruby engraved with her family crest.
“Please take this instead. If you ever need the aid of the Vlad family, come find us at any time.”
Whatever it may be.
If he were to ask for help, she would repay his kindness under her family’s name.
Declaring this without a hint of hesitation, Elise looked straight at Dion’s pure white mask and finished her words.
“—Benefactor.”
***
A short while later.
After Dion had left.
Elise, now alone in the room, was lost in thought.
‘To think he truly came here purely to help me.’
From his appearance to his method of entry, every aspect of him had been suspicious, causing Elise to doubt him until the very end.
But not anymore.
Of course, there were countless bizarre schemes and machinations in the world…
But he had paid no mind to her suspicion.
He had risked injury and danger.
He had even offered his own blood.
And then left without accepting any reward.
She wasn't so much of a psycho as to suspect even a benefactor like him.
Especially since she could guess his identity and, to some extent, his purpose.
Among the high-ranking Awakened Ones, only a handful could use black magic against a holy relic and fight against the hunting dogs of the Hunting City.
And among them, a multi-class Awakened One, a noble in a white mask…
Above all, there was only one person with such a special bloodline.
“The White-Masked Young Master… I see. The rumors seem to have downplayed his abilities.”
Why he, who was active in the Deformed City, was in a place like this…
It was a question, but it didn't matter.
What was important was that he was her benefactor.
For that reason, Elise let out an unwitting sigh.
“If only that fool Dion could follow even in the White-Masked Young Master’s footsteps.”
A hawk who had been hiding his claws.
Yet the moment he revealed his abilities, he caused all sorts of trouble, then took the money he borrowed and ran away. That was her fiancé.
In contrast, a nobleman who had offered his help without hesitation despite having never met her before.
As she lamented the comparison between the two, who were truly polar opposites…
Elise suddenly recalled something.
‘Come to think of it, he did recommend the Calamity Princess as a second wife.’
‘Which means he’s secretly searching for a partner for a political marriage to form an alliance for the succession competition.’
‘In that case, could the reason he came here be…?’
There was still something she didn't understand.
Why he had gone to such lengths to help her.
But what if there was a reason?
What if the White-Masked Young Master had come here in search of a bride and had taken a liking to her…
*Thump.*
For some reason.
Just recalling the image of the brave and gallant nobleman…
Who had blocked the sunlight…
And fought to protect her…
Made her heart pound.
Amidst an inexplicable sense of bewilderment and anticipation, she couldn't help but blush slightly.
***
“Um… Young Master?”
“What is it?”
“Why didn’t you reveal your identity? The Blood Princess would have seen you in a new light.”
“That’s why I didn’t.”
“Pardon?”
“As her fiancé, it would just be repaying the debts I’ve accrued. But as the White-Masked Young Master, I can make our little sucker pay me back next time.”
“…”
“Hmm, for some reason, I feel like someone’s looking at me like I’m a son of a bitch.”
“I-It must be your imagination.”
“In any case, good work.”
Amidst all the chaos.
Naru had discreetly pocketed something.
Looking at the reason they had infiltrated the jewelry vault, their very purpose for coming to the underground city…
Dion smiled faintly.
“—Finally found it.”