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Chapter 249

“I’m sorry, but may I intrude?”

“What in the world…?”

With a bright smile, Delain walked confidently into Double D’s residence. Bald stood there, dumbfounded, muttering to himself. He never imagined he would end up living under the same roof as a vampire.

Red felt the same unease. Not just any vampire, but a vampire lord—a creature that had fought and won against such a monster. If this thing decided to attack, they would be helpless.

“I understand your anxiety, but please bear with me. I assure you, I will never harm you. I was simply told by your employer to stay here for a while.”

“…Did you hear that?”

“No, I didn’t…”

Bald was about to speak, but his smartphone rang, cutting him off. It was a notice about Delain being sent over, in accordance with the clause stating they would follow Yeon-woo’s instructions as long as their lives were not in danger.

The two exchanged glances, pondering if this was a timely arrival or more of a posthumous report, and let out a heavy sigh.

The strange notion of whether this situation was truly non-threatening crossed their minds, but Delain was so confident while laying down the terms that they could only assume there was much more going on.

“Well, if the boss says so, I suppose it’ll have to be like that… But if there’s anything uncomfortable, please let me know. We’ll do our best to accommodate.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t drink our blood, if possible.”

“…Hahaha!”

Delain burst into laughter at the awkward attempt of the two to express their hesitations. The surprised faces of Bald and Red made him stifle his laughter further.

With a wave of his hand to calm himself, Delain said, “No, it’s nothing. I appreciate your tolerance despite any discomfort it may cause. If you have any issues, please bring them up. We aim to coexist with humans.”

As he spoke, Double D, who was giving Delain a wary glance, decided to break the ice.

“Then shall we go have a meal together? We’re both under the stress of dealing with the boss after all, so let’s have a drink and talk openly.”

“Haha, I’m not officially affiliated yet, though. Is that alright with you?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. It looks like you’ll be in a similar position soon anyway.”

“Did I make a wrong choice, perhaps?”

“Well, if you have a goal, it means you’ve come to the right place….”

Delain scratched the back of his neck awkwardly at Bald’s evasive answer, but it did seem like he was resolved, even if there was something unsettling about it.

The determination on Delain’s face suggested he would sacrifice anything for the freedom of his kin, whether that was the intent or not. Not bothering to correct this notion, Double D patted Delain on the shoulder and led him outside.

“By the way, can vampires eat anything other than blood? I’m curious.”

“What about it, Mr. Delain? I’m starting to wonder.”

“Of course, it’s fine. Actually, blood is just a means to gain strength; we can live normally with regular food too.”

“Oh-ho, so it’s like human mana.”

The three of them left the residence, chatting cheerfully. Delain felt a strange mix of emotions between the two. How should he put it? The two gave off a comforting vibe, balancing caution and openness toward him.

It felt strangely reassuring, like an ideal representation of a vaguely benevolent human, as he trailed behind the rugged-looking pair.

Unbeknownst to Yeon-woo, a phenomenal talent known as the “worst copybara of humans” from the distant western lands was awakening…

Or maybe not.

*

“Alright, things are shaping up nicely.”

Although he’d rushed back after his vacation, that didn’t mean he had left things in chaos. Especially the matters concerning the bright-green-bearded person.

After hearing promises of future treatment, wandering around and engaging in some leisurely activities, those fools had started whispering around Yeon-woo’s ear, saying “kill… me….”

Their penance would be postponed. Amir had been informed of this. They were bad, but perhaps they had a chance to turn things around, so he thought of putting them to use reasonably.

Since Yeon-woo wouldn’t often be going out to sea, he’d told them to work under Old Man Kim Hang-po in their usual time.

They seemed to find the city of Gangneung somewhat agreeable, so he hoped they would gradually build bonds with the local citizens…

Likely, he wouldn’t have much chance to put them to work until revisiting the Chenghae during winter break. So, letting them be until then didn’t seem a waste either. Talents ought to be utilized effectively.

Aside from that, he received a letter from Dang Sa-ryeon, which contained nothing, as well as a letter from Delain.

Dang Sa-ryeon’s letter was written in the poison ink of the Chaos Garden. It was a letter that might only be legible to someone with a magical synesthesia.

Chaos Garden could create colorless, odorless poison if the composition and concentration were adjusted, making it perfect for delicate conversations.

It was somewhat amusing that they had hastily scribbled greetings and a brief note for possible spies.

The information in the poison ink was simple. They had identified the villains within their faction. How fortunate.

He had worried about what would happen if that letter swayed someone’s mind, but it appeared there were indeed some who resisted even after receiving it.

As it should be. Otherwise, it would be disappointing.

Dang Sa-ryeon’s letter was practically a message of trust in Yeon-woo’s words. If that was the case, things would be easier. It meant they could eliminate any traitors among their ranks before they acted.

Yeon-woo sparked a flame with his fingertips and burned the letter, then unfolded Delain’s message.

He wanted to meet you; he hoped to talk, and would wait with Double D, something along those lines.

Oh my, so many places to reply to. The reason he could leave a lord-level vampire in the care of Double D without worry was that Delain was a staunch advocate for coexistence between humans and vampires.

Before his regression, the perception of vampires had sunk to rock bottom due to the Transylvania incident, yet Delain had been a prominent vampire cooperating with humans, instilling trust.

If Chepes, the former lord, sought to dominate the world by enslaving humans, then Delain was someone who valued the free lives of his people above his own.

He wouldn’t hesitate to bow his head to humans for that cause.

Thanks to this, avoiding the Transylvania incident wasn’t hard. An individual capable of single-handedly confronting a lord was effortlessly dealing with the situation.

Wasn’t this the true thrill of automatic hunting?

Before his regression, the reason he couldn’t prevent the chaos was simple. No one believed him, and the high-ups in the stronghold were already thoroughly corrupted.

Chepes had sold his kin as pets to them, who then engaged in human trafficking to fill their appetite for prey. And as they operated behind the scenes, Chepes was growing stronger.

In such circumstances, the hunters failed to believe Delain, so no matter how powerful one lord was, he couldn’t tackle the lords and their aristocratic supporters alone.

As Yeon-woo sorted through the letters with a satisfied smile, the door burst open with a bang! Who could it be? It was Lucrecia.

“Hey! Let’s throw down!!”

“Whoa, what is it this time as soon as you walk in….”

“Are you unhappy that your senior wants to teach you a lesson?”

“I was just about to say it’s a delightful thing to hear. Let’s hurry up and go.”

Saying that, Yeon-woo hurriedly led Lucrecia to the Department Head’s Office. Yuri looked at Yeon-woo, who brought in someone she didn’t recognize, with a sardonic expression.

“Is it easy to just walk into the Department Head’s Office?”

“How could entering the master’s room be difficult? I feel so comfortable with my master.”

“Smooth talker, aren’t ya? Hurry up and go in. I’ve got work to do, you know? And I don’t know who that dignitary is, but introduce me on the way out.”

With a scoff, Yuri gestured toward the Gate. Yeon-woo rubbed his palms together and crossed over, with Lucrecia following closely behind.

“Phew, what’s up with that old hag? Is that monster really your master?”

“Looks like you find my master a little monstrous too, huh?”

“I can’t believe I’m being taught by someone like that…? I suddenly feel my confidence slipping away.”

Lucrecia was scratching her eye patch nervously, revealing how tense she was as Yeon-woo grabbed her arm to stop her.

“Don’t scratch your eye under the patch; it’s not a good look.”

“What? Was I doing that again? Thanks. You’re quite assertive, our junior.”

Feigning surprise, Lucrecia patted Yeon-woo on the shoulder while looking around the Gate’s interior. It was as peaceful as ever. They spotted a figure in the distance.

“What? Noel hasn’t left yet?”

“Noel? Wait, that kid….”

“You’re right in your assumptions; she’s a hero from the neighboring dimension.”

“What? Is it common for heroes to be around…?”

As Lucrecia looked confused, Yeon-woo smiled vaguely. It seemed even for her, an ex-hero, three heroes gathering in one place was an odd occurrence.

Noticing the presence of Yeon-woo and Lucrecia, Noel whipped her head around, and with a bright wave, greeted them.

“Yeon-woo! And to the unknown sister! Hello!”

Her excited sprinting was reminiscent of a golden retriever bounding over. As Lucrecia stared blankly at the rapidly approaching Noel, she muttered to herself.

“What’s with her? She’s adorable.”

“Hahaha….”

Yeon-woo had nothing much to say. It was hard to sympathize with such remarks. While he thought she was cute, it felt too hasty to say it out loud.

“It’s been a while, Yeon-woo! What brings you here today? Who’s this person with you?”

It was a difficult question to explain. How could he even begin? As he hesitated, Lucrecia stepped forward.

“I came to help this kid practice a bit. If it’s uncomfortable, we can do it somewhere else.”

“Aha, I see! Yeon-woo, you’re really lucky to have a mentor like her. Of course, it’s fine! If it’s not a bother, may I ask if you could watch me a little too?”

“It’s not impossible, but I don’t know if my advice will be helpful. The wall of mastery can’t be breached by someone else’s advice.”

“Even so, I can fix my shortcomings with your help! Please, I would appreciate it, sister! What’s your name?”

“Lu, Lucrecia.”

“Then can I call you Lucy sister?”

“Uh, uh, sure.”

Caught off guard by the suddenly close familiarity, Lucrecia found herself swept along by Noel’s pace.

Was this how a proficient fighter was to finally step into the realm of Aura Masters, the last barrier standing? Yeon-woo could only stare in awe as his conversation flowed fluidly, just like a natural stream.

Thus commenced the unintended three-hero training session. Compared to Claire, it felt minuscule, yet Noel was still the type of trainer who could passionately roll around her members, so Lucrecia had her work cut out for her.

(To be continued in the next installment)

 

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