NAPE - 102

Side Story 13

So many hounds. Her heart pounded wildly. Claireval, her uncle and the enemy of her parents.

Seeing the traces left behind by her trainer, still breathing, something boiled within her. Was it still unresolved hatred, or... the thrill of being able to destroy what he left behind?

It didn’t matter. What mattered was her current action. For now, judging by the opponent’s bewildered expression, it was clear they weren’t the ones who attacked her on the cliff. They were a different faction. Who on earth was managing the trainer’s hounds? It must be the same person as the factory owner in Heeya Forest, right?

If she followed them, she might meet the hounds’ master. With luck, she could ask how they got their hands on the Corpse Flower. With great luck, she might even learn Lord Schauer’s current whereabouts.

After a moment of thought, Bibi quickly made her decision.

“Meow.”

Bibi blinked innocently and made a high-pitched sound towards the approaching hound. She intended to camouflage herself. She wanted to convey that she was a lost hound, just like them, and asked them to take her in. Anyway, she looked so scruffy and almost dead that she wouldn’t exude an unrealistic pureblood aura, so it was worth acting.

When Bibi didn’t use human language, the opponent looked confused, then lowered their guard and began to examine her more closely. They sniffed her, roughly dug through her hair, and even licked her neck. She wanted to jump up and get angry, but Bibi endured it.

Finally, the man who seemed to be the leader... that is, the hound, seemed to conclude that Bibi wasn’t a suspicious vampire. He nodded for her to follow and turned away.

What? Is that all it took?

Bibi, recognized as a comrade, followed the pack of hounds with a bewildered expression. She briefly wondered if it was okay to move, but she considered the possibility that she might not be a priority.

Doyoon was someone who favored efficiency. He would know that pureblood vampires don’t die. He would probably prioritize investigating the factory and the hounds over her, who had been pathetically swept away by the river. Bibi wanted to do something useful while she was separated, to prove her worth.

________________________________________

The rain began again. It was a fierce downpour, just like when she first met Bibi. Wandering near the water at such a time was life-threateningly dangerous. It was common for the usually shallow streams to swell enough to engulf people. It was common sense and normal to wait for the downpour to pass in a high-altitude area.

The lower reaches of the Ruak River surged like the sea. Standing in the middle of that river, Doyoon desperately searched for Bibi. The muddy water made the riverbed pitch black, and the swift current made it difficult to even stand.

“Ugh...!”

A large log, carried by the current, struck Doyoon squarely in the waist. He lost his balance and almost fell and was swept away by the river. Doyoon staggered slightly then regained his footing. Desperately searching the water again, he cursed roughly, then belatedly made a call.

“Bibi is missing. Everyone, gather in the Golden Triangle now. I don’t care if my mother finds out. Prioritize finding Bibi above all else.”

Damn it, if I was going to call the Volpithon anyway, I should have moved faster from the start. Trying to handle it quietly for no reason... it was a misjudgment. Doyoon bit his lip, then frantically searched the water again, screaming Bibi’s name as if in agony.

“Senior, Senior!”

Namwon, unable to watch any longer, splashed into the river, grabbed him, and forcibly dragged him to the bank.

“You can’t find her like this right now. Until reinforcements arrive...”

“Wait? Don’t make me laugh.”

Doyoon pushed away Namwon’s restraint and tried to jump back into the water.

“Wait, Senior, Senior! Get a grip, you idiot! And answer your phone! I think the Association President is calling... at least give a situation report...”

“Report or whatever, is that the problem right now?”

“Senior! Calm down and think rationally, please! You haven’t been thinking straight for a while now!”

Namwon, unable to bear it, grabbed Doyoon’s shoulders and shook him. The usually impeccable Kwon Doyoon looked utterly miserable.

His hair was disheveled as if he had torn it out, his clothes were ripped in places, and the gun he always carried was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, his eyes were blank, like a drug addict’s. In the ten years they had been together, she had never seen him so disheveled.

“Aren’t you worried, you asshole? Just because she’s a vampire and won’t die doesn’t mean anything? She could be seriously injured. She could still be stuck underwater. She feels pain just like us.”

“You know what I mean! Do you think I’m comfortable right now? I’m worried to death too! But in times like these, we need to stay calm to find her quickly! You know that best, Senior!”

Namwon was right. Doyoon ran a hand through his hair nervously, clenching his fists.

“Have you checked Bibi’s phone GPS?”

“It’s dead.”

“Let’s search downstream along the river for now.”

“Damn it... really... Ha, if I had known...”

Doyoon lowered his head, cursing under his breath.

“Don’t blame yourself right now.”

“I shouldn’t have been so strict with her... Ha...”

“So you were intentionally like that, weren’t you? Senior, you’ve been unusually cold since we got here.”

“...I couldn’t help it. Bibi needs to adapt to our reality quickly.”

Doyoon bit his lip. Being cold to Bibi was truly difficult. Every time he saw her get disheartened because of him, it was a bone-gnawing pain. But he had no choice. If he acted soft in the field, Bibi, not him, might have to deal with the consequences. Like now.

“By the way, about punishing Lord Schauer, is that true? Bibi seems quite fond of him.”

“Bibi has no power and lacks understanding of vampire society. With attention focused on the Executioner’s actions, it’s better to appear ruthless than lenient. I need to show that I mercilessly cut off anything that gets in the way. Rumors spread quickly.”

While vampire society was stirring, he couldn’t just coddle her like a chick in his arms. Someone had to teach Bibi the harsh realities, how to act with her head, not her heart. Doyoon was beginning to understand a parent’s feelings about raising a child.

“But shouldn’t we at least hear Lord Schauer’s side of the story?”

“What for? Just kill him.”

“You’re cold. I guess I really shouldn’t betray you...”

“Do it if you want. I won’t stop you.”

“Ha! For whose benefit?”

“Enough. If Bibi kept floating downstream, she’d be further downstream.”

Doyoon continued to move. He took each step with only one thought in mind, like a drug addict searching for their fix. In the current situation, Lord Schauer’s betrayal, the Executioner’s duty, the Elder Council, and vampire integration into human society all meant nothing. Doyoon thought only of getting Bibi back, his cherished one.

________________________________________

The sun gradually pushed away the night. The air slowly grew warmer, and the water that had soaked her clothes evaporated warmly. The leader hound continued straight through the tall grass. Bibi, who had walked without complaint, subtly scanned the ten-member hound formation.

Most of them looked emaciated, as if they hadn’t properly consumed blood. Their ribs were clearly visible through their torn clothes. Both men and women had their heads shaven, and their eyes were lifeless and dull, like frozen fish. Like a dried-up well, they seemed devoid of thought, emotion, or anything else.

Bibi pondered if she had been like that. But she thought she had at least a shred of loyalty, or pride as a hound. She didn’t think she looked like these wraiths.

While she was lost in reflecting on the past, the pack of hounds finally reached the end of the thicket. Pushing aside the umbrella-like grass that had blocked their view, a considerably wide flat area appeared. A branch campus-shaped building, ten times larger than the factory in Heeya Forest, came into view.

There was only an entrance in the center of the building, and no windows. A large river was visible behind the building, and an old boat approached, spilling out a group of humans.

The humans were consumed by despair and confusion, like cattle being led to a slaughterhouse. They seemed to have been forcibly abducted. Only boat transportation was visible, and there was water all around... Bibi suspected she might have been washed ashore on a small island by the rapid current.

If that was the case, it would be difficult for Doyoon to find her. Even if she turned on her phone, there was a high possibility that the GPS wouldn’t provide an accurate location. When she left here later, she would have to take a boat or swim.

As the sailor yelled in an unknown language, a few of the hounds quickly rushed to the front of the boat and dragged the humans away somewhere. The hounds who had been standing dazed quickly moved towards the building.

What should I do? Should I follow them in? If I do, will I be able to get out in time? Bibi was at a loss, wandering back and forth.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.”

The leader hound approached and poked her side with his finger. He gestured for her to come with him, while frowning and pointing at the people guarding the building entrance.

“......?”

When she tilted her head, not understanding what he meant, he sighed as if very frustrated. Then he made more active gestures. He made his fingers into the shape of a gun, extended and retracted them, and also gestured towards the hounds. Bibi, who had been tilting her head, then exclaimed, “Ah!”