The group made their way along the path back to the city, intent on reporting what had happened with the vampire to the guild. Still, Velt couldn’t shake his discomfort—and the reason was obvious enough: Dash was carrying Puller’s lifeless body, pinned in place by an improvised cross driven straight through his chest.

  “Hey, Dash… is it really necessary to carry him like that?” Velt asked uneasily, avoiding looking at the vampire for too long.

  “Yes. It is,” Dash replied firmly, adjusting the weight on his shoulder.

  “And what if he wakes up?” Velt insisted.

  “Don’t worry,” Rosa interjected. “The cross is blessed. It’s not a proper church relic, but it’ll hold until we can replace it with a real one.”

  “Besides,” Luke added, “as long as the vampire doesn’t consume blood, he can’t regenerate.”

  “Yeah, I know…” Velt muttered. “Still doesn’t make this any less uncomfortable.”

  After a while, the group finally reached the guild. The moment they stepped inside, the receptionist greeted them with a smile—one that vanished instantly.

  “Welcome back, it’s good to see you—” she froze. “W-what is that?!”

  “A vampire,” all four answered in unison.

  “Yes, I can see that, but… why did you bring it here?” she asked, clearly shaken.

  “We found it in the mission cave. Oh, and by the way, the merchant is dead,” Velt explained, gesturing toward Puller. “He was eaten by that thing.”

  “I see…” The receptionist took a breath and regained her composure. “I’ll notify the church. They’ll take care of it. Leave the vampire in the back.”

  She motioned for two guild employees to come over.

  “For a moment, I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest,” she added. “Still, defeating a vampire is an admirable feat.”

  Velt was about to respond, but Dash spoke first.

  “Actually, Velt was the one who defeated it. The vampire separated us and went straight after him. By the time we arrived, it was already over. Thankfully, without any signs of vampirism.”

  “Heh, I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Rank A,” the receptionist said with a smile. “Very well. I’ll mark the mission as completed and officially record your feat, Velt.”

  “Feat?” Velt asked, surprised.

  “Defeating a vampire without sacred tools is extremely difficult. Only a handful of registered adventurers have ever managed it.”

  “Congratulations, Velt,” Dash said.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “I haven’t even spent a full week with you and you’ve already surprised me three times,” Luke commented thoughtfully.

  “It’s amazing,” Rosa added softly.

  “Thanks, but I have something to take care of,” Velt said, already heading for the exit. “If you’ll excuse me…”

  The moment he stepped outside, his emotions burst free.

  “I did it… I finally did it!” he exclaimed, clenching his fists. “Eivan, we’ll meet soon.”

  Inside the guild, Dash and Luke continued laughing, but Rosa remained silent. Her eyes, faintly glowing, followed Velt even after he disappeared from sight.

  “Rosa? Are you okay?” Dash asked.

  “S-sí… I mean, yes. It’s nothing,” she replied.

  “Oh, before you go—could you give this to Velt?” Dash said, handing her a pouch. “It’s his share of the money.”

  “Y-yes, of course,” Rosa replied, leaving the guild.

  Outside, she walked slowly, lost in thought. One question echoed endlessly in her mind.

  Velt… what are you really?

  Meanwhile, Velt wandered through the city streets.

  “Cero, this all happened faster than I expected,” he thought. “I need to prepare for any possible outcome.”

  Suddenly, he felt someone tap his back. He turned to see Rosa.

  “Oh, Rosa. Is something wrong?”

  “The others asked me to give you this,” she said, handing him the pouch.

  “Right… I guess I left in a bit too much excitement,” he replied with a smile.

  “Velt,” Rosa said suddenly, “why do you pretend to be human?”

  The world seemed to stop.

  “W-what are you talking about? I don’t know what you mean…” he tried, but Rosa continued.

  “You don’t have to pretend. My eyes can see the true nature of people. And you… you have too many natures inside you. That isn’t normal for a human.”

  Velt realized there was no escaping it.

  “Are you going to report me to the guards?” he asked.

  “No. I just want to know why you pretend… and whether what you said during the mission was true or a lie.”

  “It’s true,” Velt replied firmly. “I didn’t tell the whole story, but my desire to save the village that took me in is real. That’s why I need a feat—and an audience with the lord.”

  Rosa watched him in silence, then smiled.

  “That’s enough.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can see your natures, Velt. None of them are evil. That only means you’re something… very good. Still, I want to know what you truly are.”

  Velt thought for a few seconds.

  “Follow me.”

  They entered a nearby tavern, where Velt told her about the village, Eivan’s threat, and why he needed to meet him.

  “I see…” Rosa murmured.

  Then Velt remembered something.

  “Hey, Rosa… why are you hiding the fact that you’re royalty?”

  Her eyes widened.

  “H-how do you know that?”

  “Puller told me.”

  “Puller?”

  “That was the vampire’s name.”

  “I see…” Rosa sighed. “My full name is Rosa Cofert Tairan.”

  “Tairan… that means—”

  “Yes. I’m one of Eivan Tairan’s daughters,” she said sadly. “But I don’t want to be. I know about the atrocities he and my older sister commit. I’m the daughter of a concubine… nothing more. That’s why I use my mother’s name and work as an adventurer.”

  “Aren’t you afraid someone will recognize you?”

  “No one cares about children of concubines. Only the heir matters.”

  “Rosa… please don’t tell anyone.”

  Velt smiled.

  “Alright. I won’t.”

  “R-really? What’s the catch?”

  “There isn’t one. You know my secret, and I know yours. We’re even.”

  He extended his hand.

  “Let’s keep it between us.”

  Rosa hesitated for a moment, then took his hand.

  “Tomorrow’s going to be a long day,” Velt said. “I’m heading to my room. Want me to walk you back?”

  “N-no, it’s fine. My inn is close.”

  “Alright. Be careful.”

  He paid for the food and stood up.

  “Wait, let me pay half,” Rosa said.

  “Consider it the price of your silence,” Velt replied jokingly.

  Later that night, in her room, Rosa collapsed onto the bed, her heart racing.

  “What’s happening to me…?” she whispered, images of Velt filling her mind. “Don’t tell me that…”

  In another room, Velt stared out the window.

  “God… I want to sleep next to Rurhy again.”

  He lay down, closed his eyes, and fell into a peaceful sleep. Tomorrow would bring important matters… and his meeting with Eivan was still uncertain.