Chapter 23

Splash.

The man stepped on a puddle that was beginning to form, its waters painted crimson.

The man, wielding a large sword in his hand, smirked cruelly as he gazed upon his satisfying handiwork.

Leaning against the wall, a woman and a child trembled in fear.

The woman, presumed to be the child’s mother, was covered in vivid red slashes from the blade.

“You fools should’ve been more careful, women. Who just wanders out in the middle of the night?”

“S-Spare us… Please… At least the child…”

The man delivered a kick to the woman who clung to his pants with trembling hands, then resumed cleaning his sword with a red cloth.

“Look at you, you ignorant bitches… You’ll regret crossing me, so just wait.”

This was quite the bounty indeed.

For the past few months, he had been entertaining himself by targeting only non-Awakened individuals and newly Awakened ones for his enjoyment and sport. The transformation of fear to resignation always gave him immense satisfaction.

Particularly with the weak, like women and children – the rawness of their terror when tormented provided a blissful pleasure that was indescribable.

“Wow, you’ve got a pretty face.”

Almost too pretty, promising a thrilling rush when she’d be killed.

“Mom… Mommy…”

“Ha-eun… It’s okay… please…”

The woman tried to push the child slightly away, attempting to divert the man’s attention to herself.

But it was useless.

“You little…”

The man slapped the woman who clung to his collar, breathing heavily as he yanked the child by the hair and slammed her onto the ground.

“A-ack! Ugh! Please… No… NO!”

SMACK.

With a quick kick-off of his apparently burdensome clothes, he approached the duo lying on the ground and gritted his teeth while grasping the sword in his mouth. He didn’t want any noise to attract attention.

“Hello.”

In this tumultuous situation, an unexpectedly calm voice echoed nearby.

The man instinctively turned his head and searched for the source of the voice, puzzled and uneasy.

A girl stood in the dim alleyway. Though something seemed hidden in the shadows, the prominent feature was her deep blue pupils.

“What is this… another nuisance?”

CHOKING.

At that moment, he felt an odd sensation. Liquid spewed out from his mouth with a rush of breath.

And immediately, his entire body was struck by a dizzying pain.

“My body… feels so heavy. The air feels so cold… so oppressive.”

As his vision faltered, the last thing he saw was his sliced abdomen, torn apart repeatedly, and the face of the girl bearing an indefinable smile.

Fear.

The primal fear started swallowing him whole.

—

The relentless screams battered his ears.

They merged together and agitated his entire body.

In such moments, I find myself longing to see Erica again.

“Please… it’s okay… Ha-eun… everything is okay…”

“Ma… Ma…Mom!”

As the man’s abdomen was repeatedly stabbed, I could see the child and her mother holding each other tightly, shaking.

[“It’s pitiful, isn’t it?”]

“Whatever.”

I casually answered, then broke the man’s knuckles. Another breath, another scream echoed in the distance.

“ARGH! AH! Please… SPARE…”

“Quiet.”

I cut his throat deeply, making the noises quieter as tiny moans started to reach my ears.

Well, it happens sometimes. After stabbing his heart, I realized he was one of the Awakened beings who were wanted—those who misuse their powers for evil.

Yet, I didn’t feel anger or sadness. It was simply how things went. Familiarity makes it normal.

“Ha… ha.”

I laughed hollowly, staring at the blood on my hands and the man clutching his stomach, lying on the floor.

Regardless, it was a significant evolution. My days of killing three people per day had turned into once every few days—or even a week.

My vision cleared as the red haze faded. With my breathing steady, I truly felt relieved.

I glanced down. The creature gradually heading towards death.

A man, no—maybe it’s better to call him a male. He wasn’t human, so neither was I.

An existence worthy of death. What was that term? Vampire? Dampier?

Nausea rose. I vomited helplessly. This was disgusting.

“KYAAAA… Hic… hic…”

Regaining some lucidity, I turned to the woman and the child, then grabbed a cigarette, placing it between my lips.

“Wow! Hello! Amazing you survived.”

“Please… please save us… We’ll do anything… ANYTHING!”

I had no intention of killing them. They’re just a woman and a child. Their blood likely wouldn’t be of good quality.

Hmm.

Let’s see.

What a joke. Here I am, being generous even though I’m not human.

It’s utterly disgusting. So tell me, when did you start pretending to be human?

Shouldn’t I just kill you?

[“Orolly.”]

“Excuse me?”

“KYAAAA!”

The trembling was quite pitiful.

“What do I look like?”

“Me… me?”

“I mean me. What do you think I am?”

I exaggeratedly swung my arms. A knife plunged into the man’s heart, producing a weak dying sound.

“Please! Please don’t hurt us…”

“trash, you’re trash! You cut people’s throats and rejoiced in it…”

“I’m sorry! Sorry! Please spare me!”

“Isn’t that right? While I’m stabbing you like this!”

His powerless arm dropped to the ground. The man groaned, then slumped forward, his head twisting unnaturally.

“Shouldn’t I die too? No matter if I were human or animal, I ended up becoming a wretched thing! A madwoman! A psychopath! A killer!”

My breathing was heavy. It’s difficult. My head hurts.

The chatty spirit beside me seems to be rambling.

“Kill me! I’ll give you this knife! Kill me now! Hurry!”

“Ahh… I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Please…”

It feels so suffocating. There’s pressure, and the nausea won’t stop.

“Why? Why don’t you stab me? Do I look pitiable to you? What am I? What am I truly?”

I lost the strength in my arm, and the knife clattered to the ground with a chilling sound.

I attempted to hold onto my self. I killed while trying to cling to my sanity.

And I wanted to understand who this self truly was.

I wanted to realize it. To break the unknown fears, even if they originated from within me.

Species.

Dampier? Vampire? Human?

Or something else entirely?

Mixed.

I agonized, I struggled, I suffered.

But I found no answers.

Until I met her.

She seemed as if she could find me.

I just wanted her to give me closure, be it good or bad.

Though I say aloud that I am trash, a madwoman, it’s exhausting to think that way.

“Stop it.”

What? What should I stop?

Picking up the knife and approaching them? Or maybe this meaningless struggle?

The stern voice made me turn my head.

The color of the street, like stars decorating the universe, turned emerald green, giving birth to flowers.

Vines grew, covering the walls and expanding upward, flying into the sky.

And at the center, amidst this transformed scenery stood a man cloaked in dark, somber robes that stretched from his head to his toes, his eyes flashing.

“A mere weak species… You don’t seem to belong here…”

I momentarily stood, coughing up blood from my mouth, then rose.

“Wow! Thank you for approaching me like this. Who might you be?”

For a moment,

I felt like I’d seen him somewhere before.

Our gazes met.

“Those eyes…”

The man in the robes stumbled as they fluttered.

“Surely… there’s no way…”

All the flowers and vines began to wither. The land cracked and dried up.

“If that’s true, I shouldn’t have come here in the first place…”

“What!?”

Far away, a small translucent spirit cloaked in red floated in response to the crimson aura.

[“Orolly! It’s Seraan.”]

Ah, Seraan.

It’s been a while since I’ve heard that name.

“Indeed… you’ve improved greatly over the years. Greetings, Orolly. I am Seraan, the Spirit King.”

He folded his cumbersome sleeve, placed one arm over his chest, and bowed his head respectfully.

“Your gender seems different compared to before…”

He still wears his crown, it appears.

The tall glass vial began to fill with crimson cubes.

“Wow, can I have this? Isn’t blood sacred in the Spirit World?”

“Haha. I’ll be more delighted if you accept it.”

“Then I shall.”

It’s a gift, after all. The more blood, the better.

“I wouldn’t have recognized you if your wings weren’t visible.”

“Eh? Oh, those red and cumbersome ones? I never even took them out.”

“But I can still see them in my vision.”

What does he mean by that?

I ignored it, shaking the glass bottle and observing the cubes.

[“You are still alive? Go on and poison yourself or something.”]

“You still dislike me.”

[“It’s not dislike per se, but your existence is physically repulsive. Could you imagine wanting to face someone who initiated a rebellion?”]

“The Choksal Incident was unavoidable. To destroy the corrupt hierarchy, I had to neutralize the brainwashed army first.”

That’s good. A radiant glow enveloped my body. It’s pretty and pleasing.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Princess? He wasn’t a king anymore. He was fond of women and liquor.”

“I don’t like alcohol.”

The pair looked at me, then turned their eyes away.

What, ignoring me?

[“The man may have deserved his downfall. Yet, even if it was justified, my life was still endangered!”]

“I apologize again for that. My subordinate spirits were also beyond control at the time. Fortunately, due to your intervention, Orolly, the scenario where commoners and the royal family were slaughtered by mere foot soldiers didn’t unfold.”

Their gaze shifted back to me.

Should I say something?

“Me? I am irregular, after all. It was tough saving Bloody back then.”

“Absolutely remarkable! You are a figure I admire deeply! Would you take me as your disciple?”

“Are you joking?”

“Of course.”

“Your drab robes suit your dull personality.”

“Haha.”

I stuck my tongue out in irritation.

—

The elongated glass vial grew filled with red cubes.

“Can I take this? Isn’t blood rare in the Spirit World?”

“Haha. I would be more delighted if you accepted it.”

“Then I’ll take it without hesitation.”

It’s a gift, after all. The more blood, the better.

“I wouldn’t have recognized you if your wings weren’t visible.”

“Eh? Red and cumbersome ones? I’ve never even taken them out?”

“Yet, I still see them.”

What does he mean by that?

I ignored it, shaking the glass bottle, inspecting the cubes.

[“Are you still alive? Why don’t you go off and poison yourself or something?”]

“You still dislike me.”

[“Rather, you are physically repulsive. Would you want to face a traitor?”]

“The Choksal Incident was unavoidable. To annihilate the corrupted hierarchy, I had to handle the brainwashed soldiers first.”

Neat, this thing. A radiant glow enveloped my body. It’s pretty, I like it.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Princess? He wasn’t a king anymore. He was too close to women and liquor.”

“I don’t like alcohol.”

Both looked at me then turned away again.

What? Why am I being ignored?

[“That guy probably deserved what he got, but if I recall correctly, my life was in danger too!”]

“I sincerely apologize again. My subordinate spirits were uncontrollable at that time. Fortunately, Orolly’s salvation prevented the scenario where foot soldiers slaughtered both the royal family and the common folk.”

They turned their glare back to me.

My turn to speak?

“Me? I am quite irregular. Remember how hard it was to rescue Bloody back then?”

“Absolutely remarkable! You’re an idol of admiration! Would you consider taking me as a disciple?”

“Just kidding?”

“Just kidding.”

“Boring as your robes.”

“Haha.”