“I’m being targeted by a vampire.”
It was a cold statement.
The expression on the girl’s face while she delivered such a condensed explanation was almost indifferent. It was not the demeanor one would expect when conveying the news that a woman’s life had come to an end.
‘Senior Elsi’ had somehow taken a leaf and was chewing on it.
It was a long, narrow blade of grass. While the purpose was unclear, the fact that Senior Elsi had been chewing on it for quite some time meant it was unlikely to be just any ordinary weed.
In fact, after several minutes of chewing, she had yet to finish half of it.
What kind of grass is like that?
There were many questions, but I did my best to suppress my curiosity.
I believed Senior Elsi would surely explain it to me in due time.
Plus, I was also somewhat concerned about the two women walking far away.
The two of us were hiding behind rocks and trees, tailing the two women. Naturally, we needed to refrain from any actions that would draw attention to ourselves.
Even our conversation needed to be limited to exchanging only essential information.
As if to meet my expectations, Senior Elsi added an explanation in a disinterested tone.
“The vampire has the ability to suck the blood of others and create their bloodline. The bloodline vampires born from that will also suck the blood of other victims to gain power.”
“Are you saying that ‘missing person’ is one of them?”
“Yes, just by looking, it’s obvious that the balance of the five elements is disrupted.”
Senior Elsi responded as if it were a given, but the doubts flickering in my eyes remained unresolved.
Meeting my gaze, Senior Elsi cocked her head slightly.
“What’s with that look? The balance of the ‘five elements’ is disrupted.”
“How do you know that?”
“Why don’t you know?”
Her retort left a small scratch in my heart.
No matter how much my soul had been transferred, that body belonged to ‘Senior Elsi.’ Could it be that Senior Elsi looked at me like I was pathetic?
As I looked downcast, the girl finally touched her forehead as if realizing something.
“Right, right… you’re still mere Perkus.”
“Mere… what?”
I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected insult.
Regardless, Senior Elsi merely scoffed and shrugged.
“If you really dislike it, I’ll just say ‘useless Perkus.’ Tch, people really are bothersome…”
It was then that Senior Elsi’s finger tapped the leaf she had been chewing on.
My eyes unconsciously directed to Senior Elsi’s lips, which were currently moving to resolve my questions.
“The five elements refer to the five fundamental elements. All things exist under the balance of these five elements. While the specialized elements may differ, it shouldn’t be to the extent that the balance is broken.”
“I’ve never heard that before.”
“If you’re curious, go ask our teacher.”
I had nothing else to say.
‘Senior Elsi’s’ teacher was none other than the Great Witch.
As I swallowed my silence for a moment, Senior Elsi pointed once more at the leaf she was holding.
“What allows us to examine the balance of the five elements is this ‘young sprout of the World Tree.'”
Only then did I nod, as if in understanding.
I had thought it strange that Senior Elsi practiced a vegetarian diet, but under those circumstances, it was understandable.
I naturally extended my hand.
“Then, please give me one too.”
“None, kid.”
Exhaling like smoke from a cigarette, Senior Elsi gave me a mischievous smile.
“Do you think this is something easily obtainable? It’s a herb that can only be found near the World Tree. Most scholars don’t even know how to process this young sprout.”
“Then how did Senior Elsi obtain it?”
“I wandered around the market all day, you know? They said they would only meet with me if I did…”
At that, Senior Elsi suddenly began to gauge my reaction.
The way she glanced at my face showed she was apprehensive about whether I would keep that promise.
In truth, it wasn’t even a promise.
It wasn’t necessarily a wish I could grant just because I wanted to.
The request for me to meet ‘Senior Elsi’s junior.’
I deliberately averted the gaze of Senior Elsi.
“… I don’t really understand what ‘useless Perkus’ means.”
“Hey… tsk, you’re just as narrow-minded.”
Even as she teased me, Senior Elsi didn’t insist on a concrete answer.
It might have been her way of being considerate.
Or maybe she just didn’t want to give up her last hope.
The more I pondered, the more uncomfortable my heart became. So I pointed to the leaf that Senior Elsi was holding.
“But that leaf is still there, isn’t it?”
“Huh? Of course, I can use it for another hour… no way?”
I shrugged my shoulders and pretended to jest.
Senior Elsi’s face instantly twisted as she prepared to raise her voice.
Meanwhile, my hand pointed towards the two women happily walking ahead.
The ‘missing person’ and Emma.
Our goal was to follow those two as discreetly as possible, away from crowded places.
In the end, Senior Elsi had to swallow the curse that rose in her throat.
“… Don’t, really. I’m already taken.”
“Just break that leaf in half and give it to me, right? Who’s going to notice which part you were chewing on?”
“What if our ‘junior’ gets the wrong idea? Huh? Are you going to take responsibility for that?”
It seemed like someone’s first love was at stake.
I had to acknowledge her heartfelt feelings for her boyfriend.
The sight of it made me subconsciously miss my companion Senior Elsi. I also thought of the Lady Virgin Saint who was likely struggling in the Holy Kingdom and Senior Delphine, who remained in the Northern Region.
Of course, there were still two or more precious people left in the academy for me.
Ceria and another one.
Suddenly, my expression darkened.
“… Then, just tell me one thing. Out of those two, who has their balance of the five elements disrupted?”
“Why?”
As if genuinely puzzled, Senior Elsi looked at me askance and asked again.
“Do you know someone among those two?”
“To the right, there’s ‘Emma.’ She’s one of my precious companions.”
Nevertheless, Senior Elsi’s curiosity was still not fully satisfied.
With her eyebrows slightly furrowed, a strange sound escaped from Senior Elsi’s lips.
“First time hearing… Hmm, no. Now that I think about it, I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere…”
“Well, it’s not really my concern!”
It was by no means my interest.
I was worried that innocent Emma might fall for a heinous trick.
“Who between the two has collapsed? It’s true that only one of them has, right?”
“Oh come on, I was about to remember something… Yes! Only the woman next to her has collapsed.”
That was a relief.
Slowly, the narrow path came to an end, just before reaching an open area.
It would be better to make our move here.
As I fiddled with the hatchet at my waist, Senior Elsi looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Well, you seem fully prepared to exert some effort!”
“I’ll ask just one more thing.”
Before stepping outside, I turned to Senior Elsi and asked.
“Is there a possibility for someone who’s fallen victim to a vampire to return to their original state?”
It was a very important question.
Depending on her answer, my future course of action would have to be reconsidered. Although I had fought against Adella before, she had made the first move, while now the situation was the complete opposite.
The retinue of a vampire was dangerous. And I had no intention of placing such a risk next to Emma.
Naturally, they had to go.
But what if there was a means to revert the vampire’s retinue?
I had to refrain from indiscriminate killing.
It was best to prioritize subjugation, even if it was more difficult.
Senior Elsi was not one to be uninformed about this.
Uncharacteristically, Senior Elsi hesitated to respond.
She fumbled and opened and closed her lips for some time.
In the end, the conclusion she came to was just two syllables.
“… There isn’t.”
In that case, what I had to do was essentially determined.
One step, two steps.
I deliberately walked without hiding my body. It didn’t take long to catch up to the two women leisurely strolling ahead.
As planned.
If I suddenly saw blood, timid Emma might get startled. So, I would separate Emma as much as possible and eliminate the ‘missing person’ who had become a vampire’s retinue.
Just as I was once again reviewing the plan.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of familiarity about the backside of the ‘missing person.’
That can’t be right.
I had meticulously combed through the missing person list. Of course, I wasn’t particularly bright, so I had memorized simple features and surnames rather than names.
The first to notice my presence was Emma.
The woman with auburn hair turned her head, and soon a bright smile lit up her face as she called out my name.
“Ian!”
I greeted Emma with my usual light smile.
But soon, when the woman standing next to her turned her head.
Memories from months ago flooded back like an incoming tide.
Golden hair, voluptuous curves that even the academy uniform couldn’t conceal, and that haughty, annoying expression.
The flood of memories that once crossed the threshold suddenly filled the blood vessels of my brain.
Naturally, I couldn’t remember her name.
I had only recalled her surname.
And golden hair was a color that could be found anywhere in the world.
The only one who stiffened was me.
As soon as she saw me, the other party’s eyes widened in surprise, and her breath caught in her throat. After that, a few seconds of silence followed.
Emma scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
“Ahaha… You two know each other, right? In fact, they’ve become pretty close since then.”
The first one to regain her wits was the golden-haired woman.
Once she came to her senses, she slightly bowed her head and delivered a polite greeting.
“It’s been a while, Sir Ian.”
“Yes, that’s right…”
I muttered, almost in a daze.
“… Lady Lupeisia.”
I thought about the strange connection between us.
The woman who had had her limbs severed as the price for slapping Emma.
I once again found myself at the mercy of fate to slash her.
This time, it would be the woman who had become Emma’s friend.
What an ironic fate it was.
