Newbie Initiation: Katarina's Fierce Killing Intent Meets Siyeon's Stoic Resolve

A tense standoff unfolded: Katarina radiating a murderous aura, Siyeon calmly enduring it and staring right back.

Why the hell are these two like this! And me, watching it all unfold.

I'd become the shrimp caught in a whale fight, sweat pouring down my face in cold streams.

Why were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they doing this? Then it hit me.

...Ah. From Katarina's perspective, she might feel a bit slighted.

It made sense.

One of the bastards who'd just tried to slit my throat had suddenly been welcomed as a familiar.

Up until moments ago, they were enemies; now we were all cozy under one roof as family.

I'd explained the situation, but from the first familiar's standpoint, it was bound to sting.

Still, I couldn't treat the freshly "born" newbie Siyeon too harshly.

We'd be living together from now on, so they needed to get along.

I cleared my throat lightly and stepped in to mediate.

"Enough of that, both of you."

At my word, their gazes snapped to me in unison.

"Katarina is the firstborn, and thou, Siyeon, art the second. Henceforth, forgo needless friction and foster sisterly bonds."

Wasn't sorting out the hierarchy an essential step in any family merger?

I laid out the senior-junior order as sternly and arrogantly as possible.

Thanks to Noble Bearing, my words came out like an untouchable sovereign's decree.

Hmm. Handy in moments like this, huh?

"As you command."

"Understood, Master."

Siyeon immediately bowed her head in perfect obedience.

Katarina, now officially recognized as the eldest, seemed somewhat appeased.

But she glanced at Siyeon, then timidly spoke up.

"M-My Lord. Then... might I humbly request a favor as well?"

"A favor?"

"Yes. Though I am unworthy, may I henceforth serve you as 'Lord'?"

Ah.

So she was jealous of Siyeon calling me 'Master' in that special way.

No, 'Master' or 'Lord'—both sound ridiculously burdensome in everyday use!

'My Lord' felt less awkward than 'Master,' at least.

I sighed inwardly but couldn't ignore those pleading eyes.

After all she'd done for me, I couldn't be petty over a title.

"Very well. I grant it."

"Thank you! And, um, if I may ask one more thing...?"

"......What else?"

Katarina blushed faintly and continued cautiously.

"Might you... bestow upon me your noble surname as well, my Lord?"

No, that's what you were jealous about?

She must've been bothered that I'd given my name to Siyeon.

But there was a problem.

Yujin Katarina sounds way too weird...!

Not some East-West hybrid—it just clashed horribly.

Yet with those sparkling, expectant eyes, I couldn't say no.

"So be it... I bestow upon thee the surname of the True Ancestor."

I glossed over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠actually prefixing it to her name, framing it as full acceptance into the clan.

"Ahh! I am eternally grateful, my Lord!"

Katarina prostrated herself in overwhelming emotion.

Siyeon's eyes flickered with a strange spark of rivalry at the sight.

Then she too flung herself down and bowed deeply before me.

The loyalty contest between my two familiars had ignited.

Haa. Better than them fighting, I guess.

Anyway, that issue was more or less settled.

I turned my gaze to the four corpses sprawled on the floor.

The most pressing real-world problem remained.

But how the hell did these guys find my address?

Katarina had said she'd handled the CCTV and hidden the bodies well on the way here, so how had they tracked us?

As the question crossed my mind, Siyeon astutely reported.

"Master. They pinpointed this location thanks to the 'Shaman,' no doubt."

"Shaman?"

"Yes. The organization's chief shaman, who uses special sorcery. He's the one who cursed me with brainwashing."

"Hmmm..."

"He appears as a sycophantic executive on the surface, but he's the true puppet master, brainwashing assassins like me and controlling the group from the shadows."

So said Siyeon.

Her face remained expressionless, but her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knuckles, white from clenched fists, betrayed her deep-seated hatred.

She then asked sharply.

"Master, do you have any of their items?"

"Indeed."

I pointed to the bag of cash and gold bars in the corner.

"That must be it. There's likely an item inside enchanted with a tracking spell."

Ah...

A GPS tracker in the money bag, huh.

Katarina had checked it physically, but a special sorcery would've evaded detection.

She was a combat powerhouse, not a magic expert.

Katarina immediately dropped to her knees.

"My Lord...! I failed to detect the vermins' petty trick, allowing their filthy footprints ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in your domain. Pray, strike off this head!"

She hung her head low. Since she'd brought the "spoils" that caused this mess, guilt must've welled up.

I stopped her at once.

"Enough. 'Tis not thy fault—raise thy head."

"My Lord, but..."

"Tsk. Katarina, dost thou defy my command?"

"N-No! I... I shall raise it."

"There, there."

After soothing the mopey, mentally fragile Katarina, I sank into thought.

My address was exposed.

And once Black Cow learned I'd wiped out their hit squad, they'd go berserk.

Moving in a panic wouldn't help now that they'd locked on once.

Full-scale war was inevitable.

Sigh. Somehow I've ended up picking a fight with one of Seoul's three major underworld guilds.

But I obviously don't wanna go out and fight myself...

As I pondered options, Siyeon spoke up firmly.

"Master. I'll handle it."

"You, Siyeon?"

"Yes. I know their base location and the residences of the boss and key executives. One night will suffice."

Oho?

Right—she was formerly Black Cow, so she'd have the intel.

If she took care of it, I'd be thrilled.

Just one issue...

"Siyeon. Canst thou manage it?"

It was her capabilities.

"Better I handle it—I'm stronger. Share the intel with me."

Katarina's cold interjection.

She was right.

From the earlier Appraisal, Siyeon's level and stats were high—A-rank hunter level, maybe.

But I hadn't seen her in real combat, aside from getting one-shotted by Katarina.

What if I send her alone and she dies?

She was a precious new familiar—I couldn't lose her right away.

I cast Appraisal again to double-check her stats.

Eh? This...

It was the same as with Katarina.

The system blocked Appraisal on far stronger foes.

So had Siyeon gotten way stronger post-vampirism?

The Embrace tooltip hadn't mentioned power boosts, but turning vampire could've upped her level/stats inherently.

In novels and anime, vampires always got insane physical enhancements and new powers—that was standard.

But why am I still such a weakling...?

As bitterness crept in over being the soft one among vampires—

Whoosh—

An ominous aura erupted from Siyeon's body.

It matched the killing intent Katarina had unleashed earlier—a tremendous presence.

She met Katarina's sharp gaze head-on, unflinchingly.

This wasn't snarling rivalry; it was pure resolve to prove her worth and determination.

Their eyes clashed in midair.

After a silent exchange, Siyeon spoke in a quiet but resolute voice.

"The grudges from my human days... I wish to sever them with my own hands. Grant me this, Lady Katarina."

Her gaze was steadfast and unyielding.

A will to step into her new life as a familiar on her own feet, shedding her past chains.

"...Very well."

Impressed by that unwavering demeanor, Katarina fell silent a moment, then gave a faint nod of approval.

"Then, my Lord, I'll accompany her to assist."

What?! If you go too, who's guarding the house? What if they attack again? You're my bodyguard!!

I wanted to shout it down, but such hysterics were utterly unbecoming of nobility.

......What to do?

Ah, got it.

I tilted my chin up and spoke in my most arrogant, leisurely tone.

"Fufu. Katarina, shouldst thou not grant Siyeon her chance as well?"

I turned to Siyeon.

"My second familiar. Reborn in great blood, go forth and test thy power to thy heart's content."

With my full endorsement for Siyeon, Katarina backed off without further protest.

Siyeon bowed deeply, visibly moved.

"Thank you, Master. Then... I'll be off. I'll return before dawn breaks."

After a respectful salute, she leaped out the open window.

Though I'd approved, I was still anxious sending our newest family member alone into enemy territory.

As I peered worriedly out the window—

Huh...? Vision Share?