Hunter and Trap (2)
For most people, night was a time for rest.
It was a time to forget the exhaustion of the day, to rest comfortably without any worries, and to recharge for the next day.
However, that wasn't the case for everyone.
"Damn it! Night duty of all days!!"
Sergeant Gerald, a soldier belonging to the Security Guard, an organization comparable to the police force of 21st century Earth, clutched his head in disbelief.
"You've been slacking off a lot lately, Sergeant. It's not just any other day, it's Fitz's wedding. Cut me some slack."
"Don't make me laugh! I'm not even married yet, and a Private like you is getting married first!? You think I'll let that slide!?"
"Yes, sir~ Yes, sir~ You're so scary."
Private Jenkins, also a soldier of the Security Guard, narrowed his eyes as he replied perfunctorily to Gerald.
"Ah~ I wish I could just find a deserted spot and sleep~"
"I'm leaving you behind."
Jenkins said to the grumbling Gerald, pulling out a map.
"Our assigned area today is the Back Alley."
"Ugh… I don't want to go there."
"We can't just do what we like, Sergeant. Stop whining and follow me."
Jenkins snapped at the disgusted Gerald and started walking, and Gerald followed him with unsteady steps.
"By the way, did you hear the news?"
"What is it?"
"What else? The Back Alley serial murder case."
"Ah, that."
Jenkins nodded as if he remembered, following Gerald's words.
The recent serial murders in the Back Alley had become quite a hot topic among people.
A serial murder case targeting only unidentified vagrants and illegal immigrants.
The Security Guard was also planning to deploy manpower to the case soon.
"According to the investigation, it seems like it's the work of a vampire."
"A vampire? Then shouldn't the temple be handling it?"
Hunting down creatures that roam the darkness of night, avoiding the light, had been the temple's job since ancient times.
"Well, that's the thing… The temple declared that they wouldn't intervene in this matter."
"The temple? That's really suspicious."
The temple had always been passionate about matters related to undead and demons.
Beings that defied the natural order set by the gods.
There could be no greater blasphemy for the temple, which served the gods.
"Exactly! It's the first time I've seen the temple react like this to a vampire-related case since I started working for the Security Guard."
It was at that moment, that Gerald agreed with Jenkins and continued the conversation…
-Rumble!!
"Wh, what's happening!?"
"It feels like the ground is shaking!"
"I know that, you idiot!!"
With a sudden roar, the ground began to shake, and Gerald and Jenkins grabbed onto a nearby streetlight for balance.
People with surprised expressions poured out of the surrounding buildings, and the tremors gradually subsided.
"Phew… That was a surprise. What was that earthquake all of a sudden…"
After confirming that the tremors had stopped, Gerald let out a short sigh, released the streetlight, and began to assess the surroundings.
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any noticeable damage, perhaps because the tremors weren't that strong.
"Everyone, be careful! There might be aftershocks!!"
Like a seasoned veteran of the Security Guard, Gerald shouted to the surrounding citizens, trying to calm the situation.
And then…
"S, Sergeant…?"
"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?"
Gerald turned his head at the sound of Jenkins' voice coming from behind him.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
He then asked Jenkins, who was staring blankly into the distance, with a dumbfounded expression.
Instead of answering his question, Jenkins slowly raised his hand and pointed somewhere…
"L, Look over there…"
"What is it now?"
Grumbling, Gerald looked in the direction Jenkins was pointing.
"Wh, what is that…?"
And…
What he saw was a sight of a giant crystal, as black as night, rising towards the sky.
* * *
"Phew…"
Feeling a slight dizziness, Rudell wiped the sweat from his forehead.
And in front of him were the giant shadow crystals, towering over ten stories high, and the corpse of the Chimera impaled on them.
A maximum output shadow spear that poured out most of his magic power.
Even a Chimera based on the Mad Lion couldn't withstand such a massive attack, which could be categorized as siege magic.
"But I somehow managed to catch it…"
It was truly a close call.
If the shadow curtain had been pierced a little faster, or if the activation of the magic had been even slightly delayed, it would probably be him lying there now.
Calming his pounding heart and letting out a sigh, Rudell looked around.
"I should get out of here quickly…"
People would soon flock to the scene after such a big commotion.
Muttering to himself, Rudell pulled up his mask and turned around to leave.
But. That was the moment.
-Hiss!!
"What…!?"
At the sharp sound coming from behind him, Rudell turned his head with a startled voice, and at that moment…
"Ouch!?"
A low groan escaped Rudell's lips as he felt pain in his shoulder.
What he saw when he turned his head was a large snake with its sharp fangs sunk into his shoulder.
It was the snake head attached to the Chimera's tail.
"This…!!"
Did it cut off its own tail like a lizard?
It was an absurd situation, but at this moment, no other possibility came to mind.
-Hiss!!
"Ugh…!!"
The snake that had sunk its fangs into Rudell's shoulder tightened its grip, and Rudell let out a low groan and drew up his magic power.
At the same time, thorns that sprung from his shadow pierced the snake's body…
-Hiss…
With a low sound, the light disappeared from the snake's eyes.
Rudell stomped on the snake's head, which fell limply to the ground, and grabbed his bleeding shoulder with a groan.
"Damn it…"
The aftermath is always the problem.
Recalling the memory of being shot in the heart with an arrow, Rudell clicked his tongue.
And…
"Ugh…!!"
Rudell staggered and grabbed his head as dizziness suddenly washed over him.
Could it have been poisonous?
As his vision blurred, Rudell gritted his teeth to stay conscious.
However, his fading vision was not something he could control with willpower.
'This is bad.'
Thinking so, he started rummaging through his robe pocket.
What he pulled out next was a neatly rolled scroll.
"I really didn't want to use this…"
It was a magic scroll he had bought after emptying his allowance and emergency funds for a year.
He had prepared it for times like this, but the fact that he had to use it for something like this made his stomach churn.
Still, it was better than dying.
After a few seconds of brief contemplation, Rudell tore the scroll with his blurry vision…
And at the same time, his vision began to be filled with bright light.
* * *
"Hmm~ Hum~♬"
A room in the first-year dormitory.
In a room that looked more like a storage room than a dormitory, a girl was humming a tune.
In front of her was a large suit of armor.
It was like a fortress for her, completely isolating her from the outside world and herself.
"Wipe~♬ Tighten~ Oil~♬"
Humming a song that someone might find familiar, she was taking care of her armor.
There was a special reason why she seemed to be in a good mood today.
"Finally~♬ Finally~♬"
The girl, who had finished taking care of her armor, headed to her desk, which was filled with various experimental tools, including flasks, lamps, and extractors.
The alchemy experiment tools she had prepared before entering the academy had finally arrived today.
With these, she could say goodbye to the boring days of just taking care of her armor.
She could further immerse herself in her own world.
"Hehehe…♬"
Showing a sloppy side that she never showed to others, she carefully wiped each experimental tool.
That was when…
-Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Huh?"
At the sudden knock, she opened her eyes wide and turned her head.
It was already eleven o'clock at night.
It was way too late for anyone to visit.
"W, Who is it…?"
"…"
She spoke cautiously towards the door, but there was no answer.
"What…?"
Confused by the unknown situation, Silfier tilted her head.
Then, she carefully got up from her seat and approached the door.
Hesitantly reaching for the doorknob, she slowly opened the door…
"H, Hello…"
"Y, Young Master Weinstein!?"
She exclaimed in surprise at the sight of Rudell behind the door.
His face seemed to say, "Why?"
"Uwaaaa…"
All sorts of thoughts mixed in her head, and she felt as if the world was spinning, letting out a low groan.
-Thud, Thud…
"Hi, Hiii-!? B, Blood…!?"
"S, Sorry, but my head is ringing… Could you be quiet for a moment…?"
Silfier exclaimed in surprise at the sight of the red blood dripping from his shoulder.
At the same time, Rudell spoke, holding his forehead, and Silfier gasped and covered her mouth.
"Excuse me… If you have any antidote, could I get some…?"
"Young Master!? A, Are you alright!? Open your eyes!!"
As Rudell smiled at her, his body collapsed.
Silfier, with a panicked expression, rushed towards Rudell and began to check his condition.
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