“…….”
Fortunately, the demons’ brief attention faded quickly.
Demons who commanded thralls were rare in the castle, but not nonexistent.
“Then I’ll be off, too.”
The guard returned to the gate with a pleased smile.
“…….”
Hamel and his companions stood frozen, as if their breaths had turned to ice.
However.
“Let’s go.”
Hamel hurriedly moved.
They had to find Chepesh before nightfall.
Above all, staying in one place would draw attention.
Hamel scanned his surroundings and slipped down the street.
For a district where demons lived, it was surprisingly ordinary.
A merchant pulled a cart of wine. An innkeeper swept in front of his inn. A line of guards marched past.
Most were in human form.
Of course, there were frogs haggling over prices and men with goat-like lower bodies carrying loads.
‘At least this scene is possible because it’s daytime.’
At night, the number of demons shedding human forms would be countless.
Even now, the group kept drawing stares.
It was probably, as the guard had said, because they looked too “human.”
At times like this Hamel would quicken his pace and melt into the crowd.
How long had they been wandering the city like this?
‘I need to hurry.’
Hamel glanced up at the sky.
They’d been roaming for a while. A yellowish sunset was already falling.
They had avoided contact with demons to stay unnoticed, but now it was no longer a time to hide.
Hamel stopped a passing gentleman.
“Excuse me.”
“Oh. What can I do for you?”
A pleasant-looking old man halted and looked at Hamel.
“I’m looking for someone.”
“My, I hope I can be of help.”
Relieved by the man’s kindly expression, Hamel asked, “Do you happen to know where Lord Vlad Chepesh is?”
“…….”
For a moment Hamel felt something off.
The old man’s face hardened at the question. He narrowed his eyes and muttered, “…Chepesh, is it.”
“…….”
“It’s strange you wouldn’t know that.”
Hamel had nothing to say; he lacked enough information to bluff.
The old man stepped closer. “Isn’t it natural that Lord Chepesh resides in the castle?”
“…Ah, of course.”
Hamel nodded calmly.
He realized why he had found no clue about Chepesh on the streets all day—the owner of that great castle was Chepesh himself. Of course locals found it odd to look for him in the market instead of the castle.
Hamel bit his lip.
“…Who are you, and why are you looking for Lord Chepesh?” the old man asked, suspicion in his voice.
‘Damn.’
They had aroused suspicion.
Hamel answered as naturally as he could. “An acquaintance.”
“Oh. An acquaintance of Lord Chepesh? You must be quite distinguished.”
“I’m not that important… but thank you for telling me.”
Hamel subtly turned to leave; there was no point prolonging the conversation.
Now was the time to withdraw.
But then—
“Wait a moment.”
The old man’s features began to change.
White hair flowed down, his nose and mouth lengthened into a snout. His pointed nose sniffed like a dog.
‘Damn.’
Hamel glanced at the sky.
Thick clouds covered the sun. A faint moon rose on the opposite side.
Night.
Night had come earlier than expected.
─crack, creak
Nearby demons began to contort one by one.
The merchant hauling the cart became a cow-headed beast and pulled the cart on four legs. The innkeeper stood on his hands and swept with his hair. Children who’d been playing with a ball were now pulling off their own heads and tossing them at each other.
─Auuuuu
A wolf’s howl sounded in the distance and was answered from all around.
The half-human, half-beast gentleman before them stretched his neck and howled back.
The monster’s yellow eyes flashed. “I’m talking about those standing behind you…”
“…….”
“You smell too delicious for demons, you know.”
“…….”
“Are you emergency rations or something?”
The old man’s mouth widened. Drool leaked from the wolf-like red maw.
‘…Are we too late?’
Hamel’s body tensed.
Having been noticed, escape seemed impossible. Soon not only the old man but the others would react, and flight would be harder.
Hamel decided.
He would cut down the monster before him and run.
Just as he reached for his sword—
“Who is this!”
“…?”
“……”
Someone stepped between Hamel and the gentleman.
It was—the guard from the castle gate.
“You were the one from earlier?”
He approached Hamel with a smile. “Good to see you again. But with the etiquette officer—did something happen…?”
“Ah, well…”
Hamel hesitated and glanced at the gentleman.
The etiquette officer was the administrator in charge of protocol—a fairly important post.
‘I chose the wrong person to question.’
Just as Hamel began breaking into a cold sweat, unexpected words came from the gentleman.
“…Captain of the guard, is he someone you know?”
The etiquette officer stepped back, his tone subdued, and asked Hamel.
‘Captain of the guard?’
Hamel inwardly blinked at the unexpectedly high rank mentioned.
The man called the captain of the guard nodded confidently. “He’s the master of the thralls. He’s a guest personally invited by Lord Chepesh.”
“Oh… then those behind you are—”
“Yes. That’s right. They do give off a scent that’s easy to misunderstand, though. Haha!”
“…I made a mistake. Please forgive me.”
The wolfish gentleman in formal wear bowed elegantly.
Hamel returned the courtesy like a noble. He felt ten years added to his life.
He stepped back with relief—no, tried to.
“Wait, wait. Surely you don’t intend to go into the castle now, do you?”
No. He actually wanted to leave the city.
Hamel stifled the reply and simply nodded. “…Yes.”
At that, the captain of the guard let out a troubled sigh. “It will be difficult to enter. Of all days, today entry to the castle is forbidden.”
Hamel didn’t care; he only wanted to be allowed to leave the grounds.
The captain brightened as if struck by a good idea. “Then how about staying at my house tonight?”
“That would be… too much of an imposition.”
To be honest it would be a burden, but the captain waved his hand. “Nonsense! You are very polite. Don’t worry—I live in quite a nice house, after all!”
“…Well, that’s fortunate.”
Hamel clenched his teeth. Refusing would only raise suspicion. The etiquette officer was already narrowing his eyes.
Hamel wiped cold sweat from his brow and nodded. “Then, excuse me.”
“Very well! You won’t regret it. Haha!”
The beaming captain greeted the etiquette officer, who wore a strange expression. “We’ll be going ahead then.”
“…All right. Do come in carefully.”
The etiquette officer’s gaze remained fixed on Hamel as they replied.
Hamel gave a casual nod as if unaware, then quickly followed the captain down an alley.
The etiquette officer watched Hamel and his companions until they turned away.
But nothing else happened.
‘Whew.’
Hamel exhaled in relief as he rounded the corner.
One could call it fortunate.
The captain’s home was very close.
“We’re here.”
It made sense—he’d met the man returning from work.
Thanks to that, Hamel relaxed a little.
─screeeak thud
A huge garden and guards.
True to his boasting, a mansion impossible to believe as an ordinary home welcomed them.
“……“
Maybe following him here had been a mistake after all.
Hamel swallowed as the captain looked at him expectantly.
Could it be…?
‘Is he fishing for praise?’
Hamel offered a light compliment. “Your house is magnificent.”
“Haha, is that so? It’s nothing… but thank you for the compliment.”
“……“
Apparently that was the right move. The captain nodded in satisfaction. “Please unpack first. The servants will help. Is having dinner in about an hour all right?”
“Yes.”
It no longer mattered. Hamel would go with the flow—naturally, confidently.
“Good. I’m looking forward to it!”
The captain smiled and left first.
They were led to a room by servants.
“Is everyone all right…”
Hamel turned to check his companions and fell silent.
Ono and Daniel, and even Lena, had faces drained of color.
Seeing them look almost like corpses, he realized something.
Perhaps the reason they hadn’t been caught yet was because they looked so ill.
“…I thought I was going to die.”
“…Do you think we’re alive in your head? Didn’t that werewolf say earlier we’re emergency rations?”
Daniel and Ono exhaled, pale-faced.
As soon as the group entered the room, they spat out the blood they’d held in their mouths.
“What do you plan to do now?”
Ono glared at Hamel.
Hamel answered calmly. “I’ll go down alone to eat. The others can say they have no appetite.”
“It’s true we have no appetite… but will that excuse work?”
“……”
He didn’t know. To be honest, he was uneasy. It was odd that all three introduced as thralls had stayed out of sight.
Then Lena, who had been silent, slightly raised her hand.
“Um.”
“…?”
“Father. May I go down with you?”
“What do you mean…”
Hamel was about to ask, but then he understood.
Her brilliant purple eyes, pale, bloodless skin, and sharp fangs—Lena looked unmistakably like a vampire.
“Lena… could it be?” he asked cautiously, hand on his sword.
If she had a moment, he intended to subdue her quickly; they couldn’t cause a commotion in enemy territory.
But it wasn’t necessary.
“I’m fine. I don’t particularly want to drink blood.”
Lena shook her head with a matter-of-fact expression—clearly different from Aileen. Maybe it was because she was a mage.
After a moment, Hamel nodded.
From the moment they had stepped into the mansion, there was no turning back.
They had to use everything they could.
“Then come with me. Let’s go eat.”
