novelraw Chapter 106 : Until We Meet Again (2)
Chapter 106 : Until We Meet Again (2)
Until We Meet Again (2)
Scarlet also hated the demonic humans, just like Ian.
Those creatures had stolen from her: her blood relatives, her nest, her strength... everything.
Thanks to Ian, she had regained some of her power, but her nest and blood relatives still remained in their clutches.
Therefore, Scarlet's immediate top priority was just one thing.
To kill those demonic humans, and reclaim her home and family.
"So then..."
Scarlet looked at Ian.
"Our goals are the same, in the end."
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all.
― Nod.
Ian nodded his head.
"Alright. Then, the third question."
Scarlet uncrossed her arms and leaned forward.
"How did you get into where I was? ... A little kid like you."
That hideout had eight fairly skilled demonic humans living there.
Among them was even a master-class, and Scarlet had been sealed away under all kinds of concealment talismans.
It wasn't a place some kid like that boy could waltz in and wander around—and even if they somehow entered, finding Scarlet would've been nearly impossible.
"That was... a coincidence."
"A coincidence?"
One of Scarlet's eyebrows arched.
"That's a pretty half-hearted answer, isn't it?"
"Just listen. I'll keep explaining."
Ian began to recount the story, organizing his thoughts as he combed through his memories.
"Someone important to us was kidnapped by the demonic humans. Chasing after them, we ended up at that hideout."
"... And?"
"We killed all the demonic humans. Freed our important person, too. Before leaving the place, while rummaging around the hideout..."
"What? Hold on."
Scarlet furrowed her brow, interrupting.
"What is it?"
"You killed them all? Who did the killing?"
"... Were they not supposed to be killed?"
"No, that's not it."
Each one of those individuals was a late-stage Expert or above.
Compared to top predators like Grandmasters or Ancient Vampires, they were nothing. But on a global scale, those guys were considered quite strong.
And the one acting as their leader had actually reached the master level.
They were hardly the kind of opponents any ragtag bunch could handle.
"Who helped you? I'd like to see the faces of your companions."
"Ah, that's what you meant."
Ian replied awkwardly.
"... I don't know if you'll believe me, but I didn't have any companions. I killed them alone, and while poking around the vault before leaving, I found you..."
"What...?"
Scarlet's eyes narrowed.
"And you expect me to believe that? A kid like you?"
"I'm not lying."
"How many demonic humans were there?"
"Eight."
"Their ranks? The gender ratio?"
"The strongest one was about a early-stage Master. The rest hovered around the peak of late-stage Expert. Two women, six men."
"... Huh."
It was all accurate.
But even so—
That alone wasn't enough to make it believable that this kid wiped out eight demonic humans by himself.
"How old are you, anyway?"
"..."
Ian knew this would make Scarlet even more suspicious, but answered honestly.
"... Fourteen."
What's inside is nearly thirty now.
He couldn't possibly explain about his past life, so he could only say he was fourteen.
"What?"
Scarlet ran a hand down her face, looking dumbfounded as she laughed.
"That's way too young. Really? You're really fourteen?"
"Do I not look it?"
"No, I mean... it's not just your looks..."
The atmosphere, his way of speaking—
He wasn't fidgety, nor did he boast arrogantly after saving her.
She had assumed he couldn't be just a simple kid.
She'd thought his young appearance was just a façade.
But he really was a fourteen-year-old boy?
"What's your skill level? How far have you trained your aura?"
"I can't say. Sorry."
He couldn't divulge his aura rank.
Scarlet still wasn't a confirmed ally.
She could possibly leak Ian's information outside, so he couldn't answer about his trump cards.
"... Well, I figured."
Scarlet bit her lower lip.
"... From the middle on, it's been hard to believe anything you're saying. At this rate, there's no point in asking."
"I won't ask you to believe me. These things are hard to accept, even from my perspective."
However—
"But right now, aren't things about me the least important?"
"... Then? What's important?"
"The fact that you're free now. That's what matters."
"... Hmm."
What mattered was that Scarlet was free from the demonic humans' chains.
And she had regained some of the strength that had been stolen from her.
Now, Scarlet could do as she wished.
She didn't need to care about Ian.
She just had to save her family and reclaim her nest as she wanted.
"That's true."
― Swish.
Scarlet slowly rose from her chair.
"Anyway... I can't believe much of what you've said, but I just wanted to say thank you. It's true you saved me, after all. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. No need to thank me."
"Is there nothing you want from me? You could ask for a reward."
"... A reward?"
Suddenly, Ian recalled the first time he met her.
Wasn't it a similar situation back then?
Scarlet had received help from Ian, and Ian had the right to demand a reward from her.
But both then and now, Ian said the exact same thing.
"I don't need a reward. The blood of the demons is enough for me."
In his past life, those very words had marked the beginning of their connection.
Even in this life, Ian wanted to become her close comrade, just as before.
With that intent in his heart—
Ian spoke the same words again.
"..."
Scarlet gazed quietly at Ian.
"... Hmph. That's pretty cool."
She smiled.
The atmosphere got a little awkward, so Ian quickly changed the subject.
"If you want, you can stay here as long as you like. This place is safe—only I have access. I'll provide you with fresh blood every day. You still need to recover more strength, right?"
"You care this much? I'm touched."
Scarlet turned around and strolled behind the chair.
"But I don't have the time. I'll be leaving right away."
"..."
Ian pressed his lips together bitterly.
He understood why she was in such a rush.
She probably wanted to save her family—who were still suffering under the demonic humans—as soon as possible, even a second sooner.
But he didn't let on that he knew.
If he pretended to know too much, she'd only question how he could possibly know that.
"Will you be alright? Wouldn't it be better to recover a bit more first?"
Scarlet slowly shook her head.
"Don't underestimate a vampire's healing power. I've rested enough. What's left is just rehabilitation."
"If you say so... there's nothing I can do."
Ian hesitated before speaking again.
"If you need help, just send a letter here anytime. Address it to 'Lunabreeze of the Heavenly Sword Palace'."
Scarlet's smile grew warmer.
"A letter, huh. Cute. Still, I've already imposed enough."
"Even so, there might be times you need help—whether it's strength or information, there are many ways I can assist you."
"..."
Scarlet slowly ran her crimson eyes up and down Ian.
"Come to think of it, I haven't asked the most important thing."
Her blood-red gaze fixed gently on Ian.
"You. What's your name?"
Ian returned her gaze and spoke clearly.
"Ian Greysel."
"Ian... Greysel..."
Scarlet slowly repeated the boy's name.
"Greysel?"
Greysel.
She had heard that name here and there, long ago.
Where had she heard it?
Ah...!
One of the highest vassal families of Hisperion.
One of the Seven Pillar Families.
"You... were you a noble of Hisperion? I thought you were an outsider, seeing as this was just the guest annex."
"That's true, but it's a bit complicated. I was expelled from my family. Now I'm just a guest resident."
"... I... see."
Now that she knew the boy's name, his identity became even more confusing.
He was a scion of the Greysel family.
A force wholly unconnected to the Noxcar bloodline, the vampire clan.
So how did this boy know her name?
It continued to bother and frustrate her, but she knew she wouldn't get an answer now, no matter how much she asked.
"Well... I get it for now. I'll remember. Ian Greysel."
A precocious boy.
Were all human children these days this advanced?
No way.
She had lived for thousands of years, and humanity didn't change so easily.
This boy was just special.
"Then, Scarlet. Take this before you leave."
"Hmm?"
Ian got up from the bed and walked to his desk.
He took out a pencil and paper, and quickly drew a simple map.
It was the location of the information guild Nightingale, in the sewers beneath the Hisperion main estate.
"It's an information guild. You'll need information no matter what you're planning, right? And..."
Ian pulled out a pouch, previously placed in his drawer.
"This is some money for your travels. There's plenty in there. You'll need it at the information guild. If they ask how you found them, just say I sent you."
There, the branch staff knew Ian as the Nightingale executive 'Dark Moon.'
If she claimed Ian sent her, they would treat her with great care.
"..."
Scarlet received the map and pouch, her expression growing complex.
"These are actually exactly what I need."
To find her family, she'd first need to locate the demonic humans.
This information guild and the cash would be a huge help.
"... I've never owed so much to someone your age in all my life."
And for her, 'all my life' meant thousands of years.
"Ian Greysel. Shall this big sis give you a kiss?"
Ian responded flatly.
"No, that's alright."
"... What."
Scarlet was caught off-guard.
"That's a pretty firm rejection."
Still, she wasn't hurt.
Maybe he liked another girl. Or maybe he was gay. Or religious.
Usually those who refused had those kinds of reasons.
"At any rate, I really owe you. I'd like to smother you with kisses, but it looks like you'd hate that, so I won't."
"..."
"You saved my life, and you helped me with my own affairs. I'll never forget this favor."
Tucking the map and money into her clothes, Scarlet slowly walked toward the door.
It seemed she really was leaving right away.
As she grabbed the doorknob, she turned and looked at Ian.
"I'm leaving to rescue my family now. They're being held just like I was."
― Nod.
Ian simply nodded without a word.
"They're all powerful vampires."
At least elder-class. At most, Lord-class.
Compared to aura ranks, that was minimum master-rank—maximum grandmaster, peak-stage.
"When I save my blood relatives, I'll tell them about you, Ian."
And, further—
"If you ever need help, just let me know. I'll leave traces at this information guild. If you ask, my family and I will help you together."
"Ooh... That's pretty reassuring."
Her clan, the Noxcar bloodline, was an immense force.
They might be few in number, but when compared to even two or three of Hisperion's Seven Pillar Families combined, they were not outmatched.
Not just master-rank—several grandmaster-rank powerhouses would be standing behind Ian.
'Honestly, just having Scarlet on my side would be incredible support.'
In her previous life, she alone was powerful enough to stand against an army of ten thousand great demons, due to her terrifying blood arts.
She could form chakrams with her own blood, tossing them like boomerangs to completely sweep through the battlefield.
The more blood-red chakrams she hurled, the more enemies they slaughtered, and the larger they grew, eventually becoming so massive that they resembled blood tsunamis.
Against her blood arts, demonic beings fell like wheat at harvest.
Unless one used sunlight-forged steel or blessed silver, which were deadly to vampires, there were few ways to stop her.
'Scarlet alone was like that; if her family joins in, too...'
In his past life, her blood relatives were all deceased by the time he met Scarlet.
So he didn't know the details, but he'd heard from her now and then.
Among her bloodline, there were vampires even stronger than Scarlet.
They were scattered after falling prey to the Cult Leader of Greed, but even that had happened due to trickery, not force.
In terms of raw strength, they were never the type to fall to the likes of demonic humans.
If he could receive their help, it would be a huge boon—not only when opposing the Demonic Human Cult or the great demons but even facing demon grand dukes.
"Scarlet. I'll say it again: if you need help, send a letter anytime. I can back you with the strength of at least five swordmasters."
That strength of five swordmasters was Ian himself.
Scarlet smiled and looked at Ian.
"There might really come a time I need that. I'll remember, Ian. Whether you call for me, or I call for you—let's meet again."
― Whoosh.
With those words, Scarlet vanished like a red wind.
At some point, the door had opened, and her presence swiftly faded into the distance.
Ian sat quietly for a while, wishing her good fortune.
For her sake. For Ian's sake.
And for Yuria, Sophia, and all of humanity.
Her family absolutely had to be rescued, every last one.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Hopefully, she won't get captured again...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】