On the Road (2)
The Red Ghost girl's name was Parasha.
She was a Performer, a low-ranking member of the Red Cartel.
She had been loitering near the hotel entrance on orders to scout for decent prey.
Then a carriage bearing the Kirchheis crest arrived, and adults and children disembarked.
Parasha frowned.
'The kids all look so-so. Taking on the professors would be insane...'
Should she report that there were no good targets?
But the moment the door of the third carriage opened.
"...!"
Parasha's pupils dilated sharply, and saliva pooled in her mouth unbidden.
An unbelievably sweet scent tickled her nostrils.
Her heart pounded endlessly.
'What is that? Which one is it? Why does it smell so intoxicating?'
Parasha's eyes widened as she approached the hotel entrance.
Disguised as a beggar girl, she ignored the staff shooing her away with frantic waves.
Then her gaze locked onto one boy.
'That's him! That one's it!'
A boy with shimmering platinum hair and blue eyes.
She knew at a glance.
As a Red Ghost, letting such prey slip away was unthinkable.
"Let me in! Please! I need to see the Kirchheis family's mages! I beg you...!"
"Hey, you!"
"Get out! Before the guests see!"
She could overpower these ordinary humans in an instant, but with professors around, Parasha kept up her beggar girl act.
Pretending to be shoved away reluctantly, she slipped into the alley behind the hotel.
In the dim shadows where the city walls met the building, red glints flickered.
Higher-ranking Red Cartel members.
"Parasha, any suitable prey?"
"Nothing worthwhile. Just a bunch of pompous nobodies."
"...Really?"
"Would I ever lie to you, Watcher?"
In the rigidly hierarchical Red Cartel, Parasha kept her head bowed low, not daring to meet their eyes.
Fortunately, the higher-ups clicked their tongues and turned away.
"The Kirchheis aren't what they used to be. We're heading back for tonight. Scatter, Trackers, and hunt elsewhere."
"Yes, Watcher."
They melted into shadows and dispersed. Parasha let out a sigh of relief.
A fierce glow ignited in her pitch-black eyes.
'Perfect. He's my prey now. I'll devour that one all by myself!'
Red Ghosts hunted mages and knights, absorbing the power in their blood to grow.
Devouring high-caliber prey could propel them up the ranks in one go.
If she took down that boy she'd spotted—
'I could become a Tracker. Maybe even a Watcher or Enforcer!'
If caught, she'd be demoted to slave labor, but she dismissed the risk.
Licking her lips, Parasha began scaling the hotel wall.
She knew exactly where to go.
The sweet aroma she'd caught earlier wafted from a wide-open third-floor window.
"Haaah...!"
The relentless scent turned her mind blank.
All self-control evaporated.
Parasha hurled herself through the open window... and came face-to-face with boys wielding swords.
"R-Red eyes! It's a Red Ghost!"
"Senior, you take right! I'll handle left!"
Her prey sat frozen a short distance away, his face drained of expression in shock.
Paht!
In the blink of an eye, Parasha's limbs were severed.
But that was nothing.
She was a Red Ghost, after all.
A clan sworn to the Progenitor, basking in eternal life from the shadows.
Her body regenerated in seconds.
"Come on, kids. Stab and slash all you want."
"...!"
These unripe trainees were easy pickings.
She just needed to finish them before seniors or professors arrived.
But then.
"Hmm."
"...?"
Her eyes met the blue-eyed boy's.
He rested his chin on his hand, smiling with utter nonchalance.
As if this were all amusing entertainment.
The observed target's movements are average.
Swordsmanship level assessed.
To be honest, Rafar and Nazel's swordplay left much to be desired.
Their handling of the blade and mana circulation talent were passable, but nothing more.
They hadn't overcome the limitations inherent to Eternalism swordsmanship.
'Teaching them the New Infinite Tool Sword would help, but oh well.'
On the other hand, the Red Ghost girl's movements were intriguing.
No matter how much Rafar and Nazel slashed her, she regenerated and charged right back.
Pure offense, with no regard for defense.
"You filthy pest!"
"Die!"
"Oh? Think you kids can kill me? You don't even have the skill. Kyahahahaha!"
She toyed with them, scattering and reforming repeatedly.
Thanks to her signature Instant Regeneration.
Of course, even that had limits.
'Red Ghosts are said to pale far behind true vampires in capability, so that makes sense.'
Yet she rampaged wildly, confident she could kill Rafar and Nazel anytime.
I watched the three clash before turning away.
The room's doorknob rattled.
A faint voice drifted through.
"Rafar! Nazel!"
It was Sapina Kuger, their homeroom professor.
Despite the soundproofing spell, she bellowed loud enough to pierce it, shaking the knob.
Tiberian, just going to watch? Surely you're not planning to let them injure or kill you out of spite for their rudeness...?
'Who do you take me for, some psychopath?'
I'd seen enough, and drained the enemy plenty.
With a flick of my fingers, I switched spells.
A deafening boom erupted.
Special spell 'Air Pressure' executed.
The spell inflated the air instantly, like filling a massive balloon, shoving targets aside.
Perfect for subduing non-mages in tight spaces.
"Hngh!?"
"Ack!"
"Kyaaah!"
The explosive shockwave swept the room, slamming all three to the floor.
Even the Red Ghost girl—and Rafar and Nazel—flailed helplessly, heads pinned.
To keep them from seeing what I did next.
I stood.
'Red Ghosts inherit vampires' physical prowess but amplify their weaknesses.'
Vulnerable to sunlight and silver.
No sunset left for sunlight, but I had silver coins in my pocket.
Sssizzle...
"Gaaahhh!"
A piercing shriek burst as I pressed one to her forehead.
'Even mid-tier Red Ghosts can endure this somewhat.'
She passed out instantly—not high-ranking, then.
Three coins later, her eyes rolled back, drool pooling.
"What happened?!"
"Kirian! Get the professor! Now!"
Rafar and Nazel yelled blindly, faces planted in the floor.
I quietly grabbed the Red Ghost girl's collar.
Staring into her trembling eyes, I mouthed.
'See you later.'
Valuable intel source—time to stash her.
Infusing mana into Iphril's ring warped space.
Space link activated.
The restricted area yawned open, and Dumroad emerged from the darkness.
An artificial lifeform, but closer to a true vampire than these amateurs.
"Oh ho..."
Dumroad's eyes gleamed with interest.
He knew Red Ghosts well enough.
I nodded silently and handed over the prisoner.
A 7-star Binding spell—even real vampires couldn't break free easily.
Space link dissolved.
The rift closed, mana receded, and silence returned as if nothing happened.
Only Rafar and Nazel groaned on the floor.
The door tore open like paper.
Bam!
"Rafar! Nazel!"
"Professor...?"
"Save us! Professor Kuger!"
—Sapina Kuger.
The professor I'd seen daily at the cafeteria since the new chef arrived.
A swordswoman who'd graduated a few years ahead of Professor Rapens and devoted herself to blade training—rare in Eternalism.
Drawing her crescent blade, she leaped in, sword tip sweeping every corner.
"What happened? Explain!"
"A R-Red Ghost! One appeared!"
"Red Ghost?"
"Yes! A really strong one climbed through the window and left us like this...!"
But it was gone now.
Kuger confirmed and sheathed her blade.
"Get up, both of you! How long are you staying down there?!"
They scrambled up, scratching heads sheepishly.
Her gaze turned to me.
She gripped my shoulder with her muscled arm.
"You explain, Kirian. What went down?"
"Ow, Professor."
"Talk!"
Tough one.
I met Kuger's eyes squarely and spun my tale.
"Some girl climbed in the window. Seniors Rafar and Nazel drew swords and attacked together—dead even at 2-on-1. Then she cast a spell pinning them and fled in a flash."
"Dead even against my students, 2-on-1?"
"Yes."
Kuger's face twisted.
She strode to the window, scanning outside.
Inspecting the frame closely for traces.
"Entry footprints but no exit. Means gliding capability. Blocked me during the fight with a sealing spell—adept in magic too."
"Oh, and it turned into a shadowy mass. Like a shadow."
"Damn. Intangibility too..."
One extra lie, and Kuger frowned but nodded.
Seemed convinced.
Then she glared at me.
"What were you doing while they fought? Didn't Rapens teach coordination? Kirian?"
Like teacher, like students.
Under her suspicious stare, I hesitated theatrically.
"Uh, I..."
Then muttered.
"No opening to join, so I couldn't step in."
"No opening?"
"The second the Red Ghost intruded, the seniors fought desperately. No chance for my spells. Thanks to them, I wasn't even scratched. Guess that's why they told me to take the inner bed."
Kuger's expression shifted oddly. Rafar and Nazel exchanged panicked glances.
Hierniorn tilted his head.
What? Defending those brats? Why?
'Just picking the simplest path for myself.'
Oh ho, I see.
My prediction hit the mark.
Kuger nodded approvingly.
Her grip eased on my shoulder as she turned to her students.
"Rafar! Nazel!"
"...Yes?"
"Think teamwork from now on! With a skilled mage's support, you can handle stronger foes. Remember that!"
"Y-Yes! Professor! We will!"
Rafar and Nazel's faces lit up.
Relieved—no scolding, even vague praise.
Simple kids.
Their looks toward you have changed a bit, no?
Irrelevant to me.
Anyway, Sapina Kuger rose, fists trembling.
"We need a new room and better security. Red Ghosts already?!"
But in the new room, Rafar and Nazel's attitudes were odd.
Unlike before, when they'd casually claimed the window bed—
"Ahem. That side's kinda chilly."
"Bathroom's closer here—more convenient."
"...?"
They'd strangely taken spots by the door.
Scared another Red Ghost might barge in, probably.