Chapter 71

Chapter 71

***

It was a vacant lot some distance from the city. Dry grass grew all around, and the sound of crickets chirping could be heard.

Only the moon floating in the night sky looked down quietly at the place where Rickart and his party stood, like a silent witness.

A bonfire crackled, and next to it, a bound man was begging, shedding tears and snot.

"I-I have a family! They were taken hostage! There was no other way, really! Please......"

The begging man was none other than the person who had betrayed Reckard. Like a double agent, he had informed the vampires in advance that Reckard was coming.

Listening to his words, it was a very pitiful story, but Reckard didn't answer and just quietly heated a silver dagger in the bonfire.

Rickart and Ice also wore indifferent expressions, as if they had no particular interest in the begging man's plight. All three were not the type to be swayed by human affection.

Above all, he was lying. He had no family. Even without using special abilities or interrogation, that much was obvious.

The only truth was that he was trembling in fear. That was all. And that was enough.

"You have two choices, Mally. Die painfully, or die at once. Confess everything you know. The hideouts of other vampires, if there are additional traitors, everything."

The flames reflected in Reckard's intelligent eyes flickered frantically, but the determination behind them was as hard as stone.

The traitor named Mally looked alternately at the heated dagger and Reckard with a trembling gaze.

Then, out of the blue, he started giggling. Human emotions were unpredictable when driven to fear. Whether he had given up on living or accepted death, it was unknown.

They say you can fathom water ten fathoms deep, but not a single fathom of the human heart, yet a human trembling in fear revealed the bottom easily.

"Hehehe, euhehehehe, kukkukkuk......"

Rickart, Ice, and Reckard just looked at him laughing like a madman with emotionless expressions.

"Reckard, Reckard, my friend. What remains from doing this? Killing vampires and killing them again, whether you kill a hundred or a thousand, who recognizes it? Do you think vampires will disappear from the world? In the end, it's a meaningless act, Reckard."

"Why do you think so?"

Rickart, who had been watching quietly and indifferently, asked. The man named Mally spoke, harboring laughter.

"Because life is too painful. If vampires disappear, will paradise arrive? Do you think there will be salvation? Not at all. What torments humans most devilishly is not vampires, but other humans. Even if I work for vampires, the world won't get any worse. What if I pocket some money in the meantime? That's all it is. Fuck. Fuuuck! That's all it is! Why are you all so serious!? Human traitor!? Fuck off! Fuck!"

Perhaps because his emotions intensified, Mally's chin trembled. But the three men neither agreed with his words nor denied them. That silence felt even more terrifying.

"You know nothing, Mally."

Reckard said calmly. He stood up from his seat and, holding the red-hot sword, approached Mally. Mally trembled in fear again.

"L-Look, wait. Money, I'll give you money. I have some saved up. Reckard, my friend. Listen to me for a second."

Mally squirmed like a bug with his whole body bound. He tried to get away by rubbing against the ground, but escaping from the slowly approaching Reckard was impossible.

Reckard pressed Mally's head down with his knee to fix him in place, then stabbed his neck with the dagger and cut. Since it was a blade heated in fire, a sizzling sound rang out briefly, but it soon cooled down.

"Cough! Keuk! Cough! Krrr......"

Mally convulsed and died quickly. Reckard pushed the corpse with his foot, rolling it over. Blood flowed onto the ground, forming a long trail.

He hid the corpse roughly in the grass, then returned to the bonfire.

The quiet night, the sound of crickets, the burning bonfire, the stars and moon in the sky, and the smell of blood. Only those remained.

"Depraved because of money. Absurd. Most people wish for eternal life and become a vampire's slave."

He said bitterly, wiping his dagger. Now, having disposed of the Normal Vampire's lackey, only informing them about the High Vampire remained.

Rickart and Ice just kept silent and didn't urge him.

Reckard opened his mouth after gazing at the bonfire for a while, as if lost in thought.

"As you saw today, Normal Vampires mainly live alone. Because if they make another vampire, their power decreases. So vampires are very cautious when making a 'child'. Increasing children carelessly seems to be treated as a crime among them, too. The punishment is being put in a coffin, nailed shut, and buried deep underground. Then they can't die either and live there forever, starving."

"Do they have their own rules?"

"There are rules, but basically they have no interest in each other. So don't expect any organized discipline. Anyway, vampires become weaker in power as generations repeat. Their lifespan is only a little longer than a human's, roughly 80 to 100 years."

"There is a lifespan? Weren't they immortal?"

At Rickart's question, Reckard answered by tapping his head with his index finger.

"The time the mind can endure is roughly that long. The body is immortal, but the mind doesn't endure, and eventually, they really become just monsters. They are called Ghouls. Have you heard of them?"

"Only heard. Monsters that eat humans."

"They are ferocious and fierce, but since they lack intelligence, hunting them isn't a big problem. Wandering the forest, they get killed by beasts or werewolves, or farmers flock together and tear them apart with farming tools."

They seemed to have clear weaknesses despite their strength. Indeed, if not for that, they wouldn't need to live in hiding.

In rural areas, something commonly called a witch hunt occurred occasionally, and vampires also got swept up in it and died.

Moreover, since people in rural areas knew everyone who lived next door and how they lived, if a gloomy guy like a vampire drifted in, they noticed in an instant.

So vampires mainly lived in big cities. Places where no one cared if someone died in the slums.

"But there are bound to be exceptions. Vampires close to the True Ancestor live well over a hundred years, and the power of their bloodline is very powerful. They form very closed families. This is called a Vampire Family, and they are commonly known as 'High Vampires'. They are qualitatively different from Normal Vampires. Famous families include Draken, Pasania, and Vanstein."

Vanstein was the target of this Special Grade Request.

"I know Vanstein is a Count's family. Did a vampire become a noble?"

"I don't know that either. Whether one among the ancestors was human then became a vampire, or a vampire family received a title. Impossible to know. But no one touches a family that has reached that level. The Emperor, the Holy Emperor too. Just neglecting them. Treating them as nonexistent."

"How can that be? I don't understand."

"They seem to investigate once in a while when they recall it, but I heard they couldn't find any evidence every time. So they just leave them in a useless frontier and forget about them. People like me also don't dare touch them."

The Emperor or Holy Emperor had more urgent and bigger threats than vampires. Local nobles, cardinals, and secular families.

If they made a slight mistake, they might lose power or be dethroned, so they didn't feel the necessity to invest manpower and money in such places.

Nevertheless, Rickart had a hard time understanding. But on the one hand, it made sense too.

It was just a bit... unpleasant. Like learning a secret of the world that one didn't need to know.

"The most important point to be careful of when dealing with vampires is not to let your mind shake. What makes those monstrosities truly scary is that they dig into the empty spots of the mind and corrupt you. Keep that in mind."

Saying so, Reckard stood up. He seemed to intend to leave.

"Regarding High Vampires, actually I also don't know much. However, I also seem not to have known you well either. I don't know for what reason you intend to kill a High Vampire, but I wish you martial luck."

And he just left. Step, step, the walking sound grew distant and soon was buried in the darkness of the night.

"Less useful information than I thought."

Rickart said, looking at Ice. Ice seemed to think deeply for a moment, then spoke.

"What will you do? Go back and report progress to Volca? Or......"

"Go meet the client like this?"

"Yeah."

"Mm, shall we send a letter at least?"

"Let's do that."

Originally they said they'd decide after returning to Volca and consulting, but they could just go to meet the client like this.

Even if they seemed a bit willful, originally adventurers were like that. What all Clan Masters in the world struggled with most was managing willful adventurers. Rickart and Ice were in a similar context.

Still, wouldn't it be better than killing people carelessly and causing incidents? There were truly many troublesome adventurers in the world. Since the job was what it was, the boundary with crime was faint.

Rickart stepped on the bonfire to extinguish it and left the spot. Only the corpse in the nearby grass remained.

But was he really depraved because of vampires? Greed for money existed in anyone.

Rickart sent a letter to Volca in Gates City. It stated that they had disposed of one vampire lightly, and listening to Reckard's words, there would be no need to worry greatly.

So don't worry too much. He wrote that he would leave for a place called Vanstein with Ice.

Vanstein was a territory belonging to the Netherslate Kingdom, a place far to the west from Ehrenberg.

According to what people said, if they stopped by villages or cities on the way, it would take about a week.

Rickart packed necessary goods in the city and set out on the road with Ice. Adventuring with only the two of them was a first.

The season was unmistakably autumn, and the wind was somewhat cold. Since it was chilly in the morning and evening, they had to be careful with clothing.

Rickart wore a red cloak, and Ice wore a black cloak. Ice carried the bag. Since he was older and knew how to handle mana.

Just because he wore a red cloak, no one recognized Rickart immediately. Because, as he became famous, the red cloak spread like a trend.

But since red fabric dyed with a mineral called cinnabar was expensive, mostly people wore red cloaks dyed with extracts from flower petals. So if washed a few times, the color faded quickly and took on a pink hue.

Rickart and Ice were once ranks 1 and 2 in the Academy; finding a match for just the two of them was hard. So there wasn't much worry about safety, but the weather couldn't be helped.

From the first day they set out, autumn rain fell, and their suffering was immense.

The sun set earlier than expected, and the two had to avoid the rain in a deserted house. But there were already people taking shelter there.

There were about ten people, men and women. Judging by their cheap fabric and accessories, they seemed to be wandering prostitutes and pimps.

"Welcome, stranger young men. Did you come to lose your virginity, perhaps?"

A pimp said. It was mostly intended to tease, and as expected, the prostitutes giggled.

Rickart and Ice didn't answer and took sits in a corner. They tried to light a fire with prepared dried leaves, but the pimp handed them a piece of firewood with fire already attached.

"Use this. Young travelers."

"Thank you."

Rickart took off his hood and conveyed his thanks. Then the prostitutes opened their eyes wide at Rickart's cute and handsome appearance.

"Oh? Cute?"

"Did you lose your way? Where is mom?"

"Shall big sister hug you?"

At the prostitutes' mischievous words, Rickart just laughed awkwardly. But the problem was when Ice took off his hood.

"Gasp!"

"Heueok!"

Seeing Ice's face, the prostitutes all inhaled sharply without exception.

Silver hair resembling moonlight on skin like white jade was wet and drooping; just that alone aroused a feeling of pity and regret.

A nose bridge like it was measured with a ruler and a face shape of perfect ratio. Above all, deep sadness could be felt in his eyes even when he was still.

It was an appearance that stimulated motherly love and a desire to embrace him simultaneously in women.

Even those who poured out vulgar jokes whenever they opened their mouths seemed speechless now. The place became quiet.

"Can't be helped. You just wear the hood."

"Yeah. Just dry my hair a moment."

"Okay."

Rickart lit a fire in the corner and, sitting down, leaned back against the wall. He put his sword on his knees or between his legs and cherished it like he was embracing it in his bosom.

"Are, are you swordsmen? I thought you were some princes."

Contrary to the women stealing glances at Ice and fidgeting, the pimp spoke up. His tone had changed compared to before.

"Accurately, adventurers. On the way to the Netherslate Kingdom."

"Ah, then you're on the way to the west. Kind indeed."

Kind? What was? No one did anything, but the pimp said they were kind. Somehow, Ice's appearance itself seemed kind.

Anyway, since Ice came carrying the bag, Rickart rummaged through it to prepare a meal. Since sprouts could grow due to moisture, he intended to process the potatoes or sweet potatoes first.

By the way, one among the prostitutes took the pot placed on their bonfire quickly and went out, received rainwater, and boiled something.

As time passed, a savory smell wafted out; it seemed to be corn soup. She floated a few pieces of salted meat there to season it, then put it in a bowl and brought it to Rickart and Ice.

"Try eating."

Seeing she couldn't meet his eyes properly, she seemed to have fallen for him quite hard. Indeed, Ice looked comfortable to live as in the world. Or conversely, it might be annoying too.

"Thank you."

Rickart received the bowl and handed one to Ice. Eating it with roasted sweet potatoes and potatoes, their stomachs were quite reassured.

On a day when autumn rain fell, the air was quite chilly, but the deserted house was not.

Even though it had lost its owner, since traveling people met by chance and filled the inside, along with the warm air, the mood also seemed to lift unknowingly. Even though an awkward silence hovered.

If you travel, you are bound to encounter strangers like this. Unless doing a sword fight with each other, it was all just passing karma. But that had atmosphere in its own way.

In the pimp and prostitutes' faces, and wrinkled hands, an unfortunate life seemed to be stained.

But even so, there was no appearance of being withered or cowed. Living while taking vulgar and rough jokes as a fever reducer, they made Rickart recall the soldiers of the Eastern Expedition long ago.

Whether them or these people, they were just soldiers living fiercely in the battlefield called life.

Even if bad days were the majority, people were satisfied if they could laugh when meeting good days occasionally. Ice's appearance was making it become a good day for them.

However, happiness and unhappiness were like two sides of a coin. Surprisingly, they flipped in an instant.

Footsteps outside grew closer, and other travelers entered the deserted house. No, they were not travelers.

Men who looked rough at a glance entered inside, then seeing the pimp and prostitutes, said:

"Here you were. These fucking bitches. If you flee without paying the seat fee, did you think we would say oh, yes, go ahead?"

"Taking us for total dog shit."

"If possible don't hit. They won't sell. Have to roll their bodies a bit until filling your seat fee."

Happiness was like a thin glass cup. Breaking so easily.

Rickart and Ice were staying still in the corner, but the gangsters saw Ice.

"Wow, what is this."

"Pennant, you sell men too now? But this is a real item?"

"N-No, those people are irrelevant to me."

"Shut up. Irrelevant or not, we decide."

Rickart said, looking back at Ice.

"Let's dispose of them quickly and rest."

"Yeah."

"You start?"

"I will take the left from the door. Ricky, you take the right."

"Okay."

While Rickart and Ice conversed, the gangsters grabbed a prostitute's hair and tried to go out.

"Aack! W-Wait! I will go! I will go!"

"No! Don't touch!"

"This fucking bitch is crazy!"

Crash!

He kicked the pot on the bonfire, creating chaos. That savory corn soup in the pot spilled on the floor.

At that time, Ice drew his sword and stood up.

"W-What? Want to try something?"

Seeing the cleanly trimmed blade, the gangsters felt a chill run down their spines. However, that momentary hesitation was a gap as long as eternity to Ice. So there was no display of skill or anything.

Whish! Pak! Whik! Whish!

Thud. Thuduk.

As the sword light flashed, the arms holding the prostitute's hair were cut and fell thud thud. Having released the prostitutes, he hit the head as it was. As the sword was swung horizontally, necks were cut off cleanly.

In the meantime, Rickart blocked the surprised gangster drawing a weapon from his waist with his hand, then just stabbed the neck deeply with a dagger.

He pushed with his foot to topple him, and only then tripped the leg of the guy trying to run away with hair standing on end, then put the dagger to the back of his neck and cut with force.

The gangster's neck bone was disconnected at once, and his body flopped like a fish.

It was a thing that happened really in the blink of an eye. There was no useless grabbing of collars, no shouting and arguing; it ended without even a moment to scream. For five sturdy men to die.

Blood was abundant on the floor, and because the work ended so fast, the pimp and prostitutes couldn't even accept quickly what the current situation was. The pimp just blinked his roundly opened eyes quickly.

"Uh, uhuh, uhuheu......"

The pimp and prostitutes trembled. Trembling uncontrollably against their will.

In the meantime, Rickart and Ice threw separate body pieces outside the deserted house casually. And said, looking back at the pimp.

"Let's move the remaining corpses together."

"No, I will do it."

Ice raised a Mana Drive and, lifting the sturdy adult men's corpses easily, threw them outside. What remained was only bloodstains on the floor and wall.

Rickart swept the floor with his foot and covered it roughly with soil.

Like that, the two people finished cleaning up everything, went to the corner again, and sat on their seats. And rested comfortably really as if nothing happened.

All this was bizarre beyond measure to normal people. Ghost-like sword skill was one thing, but how could they be so calm?

Eventually, that night, the pimp and prostitutes left the deserted house, braving the rain. Because spending the night together with two people was too fearful.

To them, Rickart and Ice were existences much scarier than vampires they might never see in a lifetime.

Like that, two monsters occupied the deserted house and spent the night. Listening to the sound of rain, sleep came easily too.

Anyway, they didn't act claiming to be apostles of justice, so it didn't matter whether others were scared or regarded them uncomfortably.

The smell of blood bothered them a little but was buried quickly in the autumn rain.