The Ball (4)
Seowoo had no choice but to turn his head sharply.
After all, he had just fought that nosy vampire today.
Since she had clearly provoked him and then fled, he feared retaliation.
Wait, when he had spoken into the microphone, hadn’t everything been exposed?
While wrestling with the rising unease, he turned back.
The sharp alcohol scent stabbed at his nose.
“...”
Faye was quite the drinker; she was choosing what to drink while grabbing a waiter to pour drinks onto a round tray.
It was truly fortunate.
“...”
“Can’t even rest here.”
It was better to avoid this side before things escalated.
Since he hadn’t eaten anything today, he was just at the right time for hunger, and the timing was perfect.
Thud, thud.
Seowoo slowly walked to the table set up luxuriously like a buffet, scanning the food.
“...”
“The blood smell is pungent.”
The interior of the ball was mixed with various perfume scents, so he hadn’t noticed, but when he got close to the food, the familiar dog-like scent became clear.
Among them, the most popular was the steak made from human flesh.
“...”
“Beyond the taste, it was disgusting.”
“Barbaric bastards.”
Muttering that to himself, he looked for the Hugun corner.
Since there were so many vampires, it was likely to exist.
After looking around, he found it in a corner.
The foods arranged modestly, like human realm foods.
Unlike the human flesh steak that couldn’t be eaten, the food piled high was almost the same in shape, and most importantly, it was cold.
“...”
“Even if it gets cold, it tastes good.”
As expected, beef is beef.
It was raw but had a sweet sauce, and when paired, it was quite good.
While eating the food and glancing around, Seowoo realized he was in trouble.
The Hugun corner was where the drunk vampire Faye was.
Seowoo, who hadn’t been to the ball, didn’t think he had circled the place once.
“Hey, you.”
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind.
Naturally, the owner of that voice could be known without looking back.
Seowoo, startled, calmly placed the plate down.
Then, pretending not to hear, he naturally left the place.
“Hey...! Ah!”
Faye, chasing after him, didn’t hear his words and followed the man heading somewhere.
Clack, clack!
Since the shoe heels were quite high, even without speed, she didn’t give up.
Thud, thud!
Clack, clack!
“Please don’t follow me...! Please!”
In the chase that broke out in the ball, Seowoo’s mouth was parched.
Even if he hid in the crowd, she found him like a ghost, making his determination even scarier.
“Is there no terrace or something...?”
The urgent gaze found a path leading outside.
Surrounded by gorgeous curtains that made it hard to tell directions, Seowoo’s survival instinct found the terrace.
At that moment, a throbbing pain spread from his chest.
“Kugh...! T-this!”
It was the premonition symptom when turning into a vampire.
Why now?
While wondering, Seowoo, struggling to move his body, reached the terrace.
Clutching his chest, his body twisted.
“Hey! Why are you always calling out and running away?”
Faye, who had followed belatedly, asked nervously.
Ignoring people’s words was one thing, but she was already irritated by the human she met on the train, and she had no intention of letting this go according to her personality.
Whether it was some trick or not, pretending to be suddenly sick was useless.
“Hey...! Mother... .”
Seowoo slowly raised his head, and Faye covered her mouth.
“...”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Uh... ah, that’s not it... .”
“You didn’t call me, did you?”
At that time, it seemed like she had seen the human in front of her and chased him.
It turned out to be another vampire.
As a result of Faye drinking heavily in a fit of excitement.
Even when Seowoo and Lucia arrived, she didn’t know that a human had come to the ball.
“Y-yes.”
“The ball noise was loud, so it wasn’t heard well. If my actions displeased you, Faye-nim, I apologize.”
But what was this?
It was a man vampire with a decadent taste that was exactly her preference.
Looking at the ID hanging on his chest, it was even from the Earlgrey family.
The family was beyond outstanding, passing.
“...”
“No! No! It’s fine! I’m sorry I kept chasing you! But how did you recognize me?”
“Haha, is there anyone in this ball who doesn’t know Faye-nim? It’s someone who contributed to the technological development of Nectar, so of course everyone knows.”
Even the courtesy to make the other person feel good.
Faye was genuinely moved by his manners.
After all, she was a vampire who wanted to be recognized more than anyone else, despite having good abilities but being labeled as lacking manners.
“Then, can you dance one song with me? Ah! What’s your name before that?”
“My name...?”
“Yes! I hope this connection doesn’t end here.”
“Um...”
Perhaps he didn’t like her?
The man in front of her looked like he was pondering something.
Unlike her, whose heart was a flower field.
Seowoo was creating a character in his head in real-time, which was a hardship.
While eating the food, he was a vampire at the right timing, and while spinning his head, he had no leisure to calm his pounding heart.
“If you don’t want to, it’s fine.”
With regret, Faye’s gaze went down.
She wrapped her green hair around her index finger.
This was bad.
The instinct of a 3-year veteran of eye-catching was saying so.
“...”
“No. Of course I should say it. My name is ‘Arus Earlgrey’.”
Seowoo, who had been forced into a vampire claimant, recalled Lucia’s name and instantly fabricated an identity on the spot.
Since he had even impersonated the family for details, it was too late to take it back.
“Arus...! That has a nice ring to it. Then, how about dancing one song with me?”
“...”
“It’s fine, but since this is my first time here... It’s quite embarrassing to dance with you. I hope for another chance next time.”
Seowoo’s polite refusal, Faye nodded her head.
Nice ring?
Dance?
It was too much to act out the tone and expression.
This woman in front was interesting.
When in human form, she was a lowly bastard, spitting out slang, but with her own kind, she couldn’t be so sharp.
“Too bad... Then, please accept this instead. It’s my way of apologizing.”
Faye took out a nameplate with the family emblem from her pocket.
It was something like a free pass for all transportation in Nectar.
“...”
“No, even if it’s an apology, I can’t accept something so precious.”
“No, if you don’t take this, I’ll consider it as dancing one song now?”
“Hoo... Understood. I’ll use it gratefully.”
Why was she trying to give something so burdensome...?
Since Faye had no intention of backing down this time, Seowoo reluctantly accepted.
At a time when a topic change was needed due to considerable burden.
Seowoo opened his mouth again.
“Ah, have you tried the food here?”
He asked back, only answering the questions asked to him.
Thinking that interest had sparked in him, Faye took the opportunity.
“Um~ I don’t like humans, so I don’t eat blood or meat.”
“Then, do you eat animal blood or Hugun food...?”
“Yes! Unless it’s an unavoidable situation, I only drink a little of human blood.”
“Your taste is a bit unique...?”
“Well, it’s not normal.”
Faye, touching her lips with her index finger for a moment, gave the answer.
Seowoo, with a very surprised expression, said it was unbelievable.
Drinking animal blood makes one a good vampire...?
“...”
“Um... Actually, the thing I wanted to ask isn’t this, but I’ll say it straight without beating around the bush. Is there any food mixed with our kind’s blood in the Hugun corner...?”
“Ah, yes. I think it’s something that went into some sauce... It’s quite maniac, so opinions may differ.”
“...”
“Was the taste a bit off?”
“Haha... Yes. It was a bit off.”
Thanks to that sauce, the crisis was averted.
At that moment, a cool breeze swept between them.
A perfect run-in was visible.
“The weather is nice.”
“Yeah... Ah, Faye-nim. I think I should head in soon. I have to talk a bit with other people too.”
“Ah! Arus-nim...! Before you go, could you tell me where you work...?”
“I work at the Ambrosia Research Institute.”
“Could I visit sometime...?”
“...”
“There’s no problem. Although it might be a bit difficult because there are many things to do... If I’m lucky, I might be able to see you.”
The man named Arus left such uncertain words and disappeared from the place.