NAPE - 66

“I’ll stay exactly five more minutes. Not a second longer.”

“Hmph, you used to enjoy it so much.”

“Stop with the useless chatter.”

Doyoon shook his head as if disgusted and led Bibi to a secluded corner. In that corner, vampires were having a drug party. Compared to the group orgy, human hunting, and rampant blood-sucking happening elsewhere, this was... relatively less messy.

“Bibi. Don’t leave my side.” Doyoon instructed seriously. “Vampire society is as stagnant as it gets. When they see a new face, they want to taste them first. There’s no way they’d dare to do that to my partner, but there’s always a ‘what if’.”

Doyoon seemed displeased, so Bibi nodded obediently. He hugged Bibi tightly, as if asking what he should do.

“This is annoying. I’m never leaving you alone with Isabel again.”

On closer inspection, Doyoon seemed to treat her like a fledgling vampire. The group orgy scene was a bit shocking... but she felt like she might get used to it if she saw it more often.

“I didn’t want you to attend here. It’s too stimulating.”

Doyoon pulled Bibi, nestled in his arms, even tighter and rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. His chest was still warm and comforting. This was completely opposite to when he was wearing the crow mask and presiding over the ritual as the Executioner. Bibi gently pushed against his chest and asked, her eyes straight.

“Is it not for another reason?”

“Hmm?”

“The crow mask... Didn’t you want to hide that you’re the Executioner’s successor?”

At her sharp question, Doyoon’s expression changed. He chewed his lip, then let out a sigh of resignation.

“I’m sorry you found out this way.”

Bibi’s heart sank. So it was true. It felt even more despairing now than when she heard it from Isabel. Why... why Doyoon of all people? No, why did she have to be a descendant of the Servant family? A destiny where they shouldn’t be together. She felt like grabbing and throwing down Claireval, her mother’s brother, who had plotted the rebellion.

“Doyoon... you didn’t tell me because you thought I couldn’t handle it, right?”

“I didn’t want to burden you with more worries.”

“...Either way, you didn’t trust me.”

Bibi’s eyes and the corners of her mouth drooped. How had she hidden her emotions before? Oh, had she not felt anything then? Doyoon lowered himself, meeting her eyes clearly.

“Nothing will change, Bibi. Only you and I know you’re from that family. So trust me. I have no intention of harming you at all.”

“...Of course, I believe that. I don’t doubt Doyoon.”

Doyoon was quite surprised by her unexpected answer. It was a situation where he wouldn’t have been able to say anything if Bibi had been furious and pushed him away, saying she couldn’t trust him. Honestly, he deserved it. But... Bibi still trusted him. Blindly, even. A feeling of unease crept in.

“Why don’t you doubt me? You should be angry about being deceived. You should curse and demand answers.”

“If Doyoon intended to harm me, he would have already. Of course, not telling me sooner is... sad, but that’s not why I’m angry.”

“...”

“I already know Doyoon’s true feelings. I act based on what I see and feel.”

Fortunately, Bibi wasn’t trusting Doyoon based on some misguided belief, like a hunting dog. She was judging him based on his actions, words, and the time they had spent together so far. And quite maturely and strongly, at that. Seeing such a Bibi stirred a different kind of emotion in him.

“You know, there’s actually more I want to say.”

What more could he hide from someone like her? Now was the time to confess all his secrets. Doyoon placed his hands on Bibi’s shoulders.

“Actually...”

“Young Master, a package has arrived. You’ll need to verify it yourself.”

Just as Doyoon was about to speak, his butler River arrived, extending a large box. A package in the middle of the Blood Ritual? And wanting him to verify it immediately? It was out of line. However, Doyoon read an unusual current in River’s expression. He accepted the box without complaint.

He didn’t know what was inside, but he could feel the center of gravity shifting every time he moved his arms. He was certain it was a round object. Who could have sent it? Doyoon checked the recipient’s name.

To the last remaining descendant of the Servant family.

A name now forgotten. Bibi’s family name, remembered by no one. No one could have known why it was written there.

“...Strange. Did it come from the past?”

A sense of pressure was felt. Doyoon confirmed that no one was near him, then untied the ornate ribbon and tore open the wrapping paper. As he opened the lid and the contents were revealed, River, who was standing beside him, frowned. He covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

“It seems you’ve incurred someone’s wrath.”

Inside was Jack’s head.

________________________________________

Bibi’s mother, Servant Luna, was last seen in a small village in southern England. They decided to depart immediately on Saturday morning, the day after the charity event concluded.

Around 10 AM, Bibi, suffering from sleep deprivation, got into the car waiting at the main entrance. Staying until the end of the Blood Ritual because of Isabel was one thing, but she had missed her chance to sleep. Had she slept about four hours? Yawns kept erupting.

“Everyone’s in? We’re leaving.”

For once, Namwon was at the wheel today. Doyoon sat in the passenger seat, his black-brimmed hat pulled low, wearing a mask and sunglasses. He nodded to Bibi and buttoned up his thick coat.

They had slept together, so when had he come down already? More importantly, why was his face so covered?

“Bibi, are you okay?” Doyoon asked, his back to her. Bibi yawned and nodded.

“Are you okay?” Had he not seen her head movement? Doyoon asked again.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Are you, Doyoon?”

“I’m okay too.”

It’s a relief he’s okay. Is his thirst less today? His movements seemed better than expected. Last night, Doyoon had shared his blood with Bibi. Knowing he was experiencing thirst, Bibi initially refused. But when Doyoon himself offered his white neck to her lips, how could she refuse?

In the end, Bibi succumbed to the temptation and drank his blood. Bibi, having consumed a lot of sweet blood, was almost half-drunk and still hadn’t fully recovered from the lingering effects.

While she dozed off, the car, having left Longmelford, drove steadily down the road. The monotonous rural landscape gradually changed into a city packed with rural buildings and people. The round dome of Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, which she had seen on the first day, came into view. Looking out the window, Bibi knew she was back in London.

What was going on? She didn’t know the exact destination, but she had at least expected scenery as secluded and isolated as the Tudor family mansion.

Bibi subtly glanced at Doyoon. He was unusually quiet today. She wondered what he was thinking, but his sunglasses, hat, and mask obscured his face so much that she couldn’t even properly see his hair, which was frustrating.

“Alright, let’s get out.”

As her confusion mounted, the car crossed the Thames and finally stopped in front of a building. In fact, it was an old shop, too ambiguous to even call a building. Behind the shop was a railway, and the surroundings were filled with closed restaurants, car washes, and empty lots demarcated by barbed wire.

Perhaps because it was far from tourist attractions, there were few people even in broad daylight.

Bibi got out of the car. Doyoon and Namwon went ahead and entered the shop. They gestured to a staff member, then headed straight for the storage room. Inside the narrow storage room, filled with thick layers of dust, was a dark staircase leading to the basement. When a switch next to the door was flipped, the view brightened.

Namwon led the way down. Doyoon gestured for Bibi to go first.

“Where do these stairs lead?”

“To the London Branch Vampire Hunter Association.” Doyoon answered, looking around the storage room. Was it just her imagination? His voice... was different than usual.

“But where is this? We were supposed to go to the place where that woman was last seen, weren’t we?” Bibi whispered, referring to her mother as “that woman.”

“There’s no rush. There’s something I want to check.” Doyoon gestured towards the stairs again. Now she noticed he was wearing black leather gloves. Was it still cold even though the weather had warmed up? She tilted her head and carefully followed him down the stairs.

Upon reaching the basement, a large barrier wall was visible. Namwon casually identified himself through the intercom on the left. With a signal, the barrier wall slowly opened on both sides.

Bibi was surprised by the sight that gradually appeared before her. A large concrete space, like an underground parking lot, was revealed, and people busily moved about. She never expected such a place to exist beneath an old shop. It looked like a secret base from a movie.

“This is the London Branch Hunter Association. This way.” Namwon gestured, guiding her. Hesitating, Bibi stuck close to Doyoon and scanned her surroundings. Various hunters passed by: men with ominous scars, women cleaning firearms, and elderly people with hunched backs.