Side Story 30

Side Story 30

02. Breath

Although the task of compromising with humans regarding the vampire integration into human society still remained, it seemed that for the time being, no one would challenge the Enforcer and the Executioner. After all, the key figures of the Vampire Economic Alliance were all going to be sleeping for a hundred years in coffins in the Elder Council’s basement.

Lord Schauer also bid farewell to Bibi and entered a coffin placed in the Ratanakiri Arboretum. Now, she wouldn’t see him for another 100 years. Her heart ached, but she found comfort in the fact that at least he wasn’t dead.

The Corpse Flower seeds and cultivation methods that had been grown in the Golden Triangle were entirely disposed of. Most of the hounds who had been exploited in the factory left to find freedom, and some of them expressed their desire to pledge loyalty to Bibi. Richard decided to take them in and train them alongside the Volpithon.

Lau Yuan, who had recovered, actively wanted to follow Bibi, driven by a strong desire to find his father in Korea. Having lost his mother, he seemed to be pinning his hopes on his remaining father as a family member. Honestly, it was obvious he would get hurt, but Bibi allowed it, believing that painful truths were better learned early.

The longer one clings to a false illusion, the more the victim suffers. Bibi knew this intimately.

No sooner had she gotten off the private jet than Bibi scooped Lau Yuan onto her back. She pushed Namwon, who suggested a leisurely meal, into a taxi and headed straight for his house.

“Why are you suddenly running away like a dog that needs to poop?”

Namwon, who had been dragged home without even eating, demanded, exasperated.

“Doyoon’s angry. I drank a few drops of Richard’s blood. It was a complete accident. He’s furious. He probably hasn’t cooled down yet.”

Bibi shuddered, recalling Doyoon’s terrifying, blade-like glare on the plane. The quick-witted Lau Yuan trembled with fear.

“Why don’t you just go make up with him?”

“Make up? I have to wait until he cools down. I’ll have to sleep here for a few days. Let me stay.”

Namwon sighed in exasperation.

“Hah. But why my house? Seriously, it seems like these situations happen often since you became a vampire. First, senior entrusts me with a rabbit, and now you, Bibi, are bringing a kid and wanting to sleep over... What do you take me for?”

“Namwon’s the best at raising things among us, though.”

Bibi deliberately complimented him to appease his mood.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. Might as well make a second job change. To pet sitter.”

“How do you even know the term ‘second job change,’ you... Never mind. And hey, Doyoon was clearly the first one to start raising something, alright? Know your facts.”

“Doyoon was the first to start?”

“Yeah.”

“Who did he raise? Where are they now? Did he abandon them?”

“I think he’s still raising them...”

Namwon looked Bibi up and down intently, then turned away, deciding not to elaborate.

Bibi couldn’t grasp what he was talking about. Doyoon didn’t even water simple plants, let alone keep pets. He even created an ID for the game Bibi often played, only to stop at level 3.

She wanted to ask what Doyoon was raising, but it was mealtime, so she put it off. The important thing was to decide on dinner.

Namwon insisted on having a very, very spicy gamjatang (pork bone soup). Bibi, however, wanted sweet bulgogi (marinated beef). After a heated debate, the two handed the decision over to Lau Yuan. The boy had never eaten either dish, so he decided to choose by looking at photos and videos. After comparing the pictures for a long time, he chose bulgogi.

Namwon, unable to get his desired menu in his own house, was thoroughly annoyed. He grumbled about calling Kwon Doyoon, but once the food arrived, he ate the most heartily.

Lau Yuan seemed to enjoy his first taste of Korean food and ate diligently. In the full and comfortable environment, he smiled brightly like a child for the first time. Seeing him smile made Bibi feel good.

She could vaguely guess what Doyoon’s intentions were when he first took her in and showed her attention. Oh, come to think of it, she hadn’t checked if Lau Yuan’s injuries had healed properly or what his mental state was. In England, Bibi had been busy with Lord Schauer’s safety, and Lau Yuan had been trembling in fear, holed up in the hotel.

“Come here.”

“Why?”

“Just stay still.”

Bibi had never cared for anything warmly. She didn’t know how to be gentle and kind to a weaker being. Without proper explanation, she roughly grabbed Lau Yuan and almost held him upside down. She checked his bitten limbs and opened his mouth to confirm his fangs.

Were other parts okay too? She lifted his clothes to check inside everything and then found a black mark on his side. Was it a natural mole, or something smeared on him? She put saliva on her palm and rubbed it hard.

“What are you doing, gross!”

Lau Yuan, startled, struggled and kicked the living room display cabinet. Crash! The display cabinet tilted, and the glass ornaments on the shelf fell mercilessly to the floor, shattering into pieces. Surprised, Bibi and Lau Yuan quickly scattered and hid in different places.

Namwon, who was sorting trash in the kitchen, heard the noise and rushed out. He witnessed the messy living room and picked up his phone.

“I can’t take this anymore! I’m calling senior to come get you right now!”

“No!”

Bibi, who had been hiding under the sofa, sprang out and dashed towards him. She grabbed his phone, trying to snatch it away.

“Oh, no you don’t!”

Namwon quickly pulled his hand back.

“Don’t. I can’t meet Doyoon now! Give me the phone!”

“Don’t stop me.”

“Doyoon’s angry right now!”

“Then you should just go make up with him!”

Bibi and Namwon glared at each other, panting. Lau Yuan, who had been hidden behind the curtain, watched their tug-of-war with an intrigued expression.

“Why should I hover around someone who’s angry? It’s not like I want to get struck by lightning. It’s best to stay out of sight.”

At Bibi’s last words, Namwon, who had been red and blue with anger, uncreased his brow. He looked slightly conflicted, chewing on his lip.

“Bibi, you...”

Just as he was about to say something, his phone rang. Bibi and Namwon looked at each other in surprise, then at the screen with tense eyes.

Korean Vampire Hunter Association Head

The three simple characters that popped up brought immediate relief to both of them. Namwon snatched the phone and went to answer the call.

In the meantime, Bibi and Lau Yuan cleaned up the broken glass on the floor and tidied the surroundings. Since Namwon kept nagging her as the homeowner, staying there comfortably was out of the question. She needed to find another refuge until Doyoon’s anger subsided. Where would be good...? What was Doyoon doing right now?

Since he hadn’t contacted her, he must still be angry, right? Oh, drinking Richard’s blood really was a mistake...! But even if it was a mistake, his anger was unavoidable. Bibi would have been furious too, if their positions were reversed.

“Hey. Your internship is over. They want you to take the final exam tomorrow.”

As she tore at her hair in self-reproach, Namwon said after finishing his call.

“Internship?”

Bibi asked, bewildered.

“Yeah. Remember how they said your trip to Thailand would count as your hunter training internship? The Association head just received the report and wants you to take the qualification exam tomorrow.”

“Who submitted the report?”

“Senior.”

“...Doyoon?”

Far from being resolved, her curiosity only intensified. Namwon and Bibi couldn’t understand Doyoon’s intentions at all. Regardless, the conclusion was that Bibi wanted the job of a hunter, and she had received that opportunity. She would find out the details tomorrow.

The next day, Bibi took a taxi alone to the notified location to take her final exam. The final exam site was a wild mountain in Gangwon Province. As she looked around the deserted hiking trail entrance, a woman with a deep-set hat approached her and spoke.

“Kim Bibi-nim?”

“...Kim Bibi? Bibi is correct. But what’s with the Kim?”

“It was written that way on the list I received today.”

The woman showed her the list in a file. Ah, right. Kim Bibi. She had decided to use “Kim” as her surname when making her ID last time. “Kim” was the surname of the Kim Suro family, and it was the most common surname in Korea. She had chosen it because it seemed like a very powerful family.

“That’s right. I’m Kim Bibi.”

“Please come this way.”

The exam supervisor headed towards a side path next to the hiking trail. The place she led them to was a hidden bunker in the mountains. About a dozen humans stood with their arms crossed. All of them were intern hunters who had come to take the final exam.

The majority were men, with only two women. The gender ratio was the exact opposite of vampire society. The people, who had been chatting amongst themselves, exchanged glances as Bibi approached.

“Looks small...”

“Doesn’t look like hunter material.”

“Ugh, I hope I don’t get assigned to the same group. Is she going to play queen bee? Like, whine for help. Just so you know, I’m not helping her.”

“But why haven’t we seen her before? Didn’t you all see her during basic training?”

“She probably failed and is taking a re-exam.”

Small, hushed whispers and gossip could be heard, seemingly displeased with the small and thin Bibi. They all seemed to have bonded during basic training. Following Namwon’s advice, Bibi waved and greeted them. Even when their eyes met, they all pretended not to see her.

“Alright, I’ll hand out the safety-related documents, please sign them. Everyone, gather over here.”

The exam supervisor, who had handed out the papers to be signed, opened the old bunker door.