The crimson moon hung high in the sky, and the night breeze brushed through the woods, kicking up a few withered leaves. The orange flames flickered, making a crackling sound.
Kaila sat cross-legged in the tent, while Sophie was sleeping soundly, shamelessly resting one leg over Kaila’s thigh and wrapping her arms around Kaila’s waist.
“Whew... Zzz...”
A soft, rhythmic snoring sound came from the silver-haired girl’s nose.
“She is a vampire, yet she sleeps at night?”
Kaila muttered to herself as she looked at the defenseless Sophie.
Vampires were children of the night, sleeping in coffins during the day; the night was their time for revelry and hunting.
But Sophie didn’t have even the slightest shred of awareness as a noble of the night.
Being held like this by an octopus wasn't exactly comfortable, but Kaila didn't push her away.
She simply let Sophie cling to her.
In Solitude, the moonlight was cursed, and people had to huddle together to avoid the fate of being consumed by it.
But in truth, as long as one wasn't directly exposed to the moon, the curse wouldn't take effect.
I should probably tell her about that tomorrow, Kaila thought silently.
The Hero’s body felt no trace of weariness.
Her resistance to the [Fatigue] status had long since grown into a complete immunity.
Even without closing her eyes for twenty-four hours, her body remained in a high-energy state.
Although she could pass the time with meditation, Kaila still missed the feeling of sleeping.
Especially when a companion was sleeping so soundly beside her.
She pulled a thin parchment notebook and a charcoal pencil from her travel pack.
By the light of the fire, the charcoal pencil slid across the paper, making a scratching sound.
Kaila wrote slowly, her handwriting so neat it was almost rigid, much like her rarely changing expression.
【Year 1453 of the New Calendar, October 15th.】
【Miss Hill, I have followed the original plan to become a sacrificial offering for the New Moon Sect and have entered the dungeon.】
【Today, the full moon arrived. The plan to slay the New Moon Witch at the New Moon Sect altar failed; no battle occurred.】
【I encountered a very strange vampire. Her name is Sophie.】
At this point, the charcoal pencil paused on the paper. Kaila’s gaze fell once more on Sophie’s profile.
【Sophie stopped me from drawing my sword. She said the New Moon Witch who appeared today was merely an illusion and promised to lead me to the real Witch.】
【The Hero’s Eye tells me she is not lying.】
【The New Moon Sect has been wiped out, and I have currently lost all means of finding the New Moon Witch.】
【I have decided to trust Sophie and wait for her to lead me to the Witch’s true body.】
【In the meantime, I can take on commissions if needed.】
Kaila tore off the parchment and crumpled it into a ball.
When she opened her hand again, a dove made of light flapped its wings and flew out through the tent.
A few minutes later, accompanied by a surge of magical energy, the dove flew back.
The dove transformed back into parchment in her palm.
The handwriting in the reply was elegant and fluid, a sharp contrast to Kaila’s rigid style.
【Year 1453 of the New Calendar, October 15th.】
【A vampire? That is a rare companion indeed. Is she trustworthy? Even though you have the Hero’s Eye, I still suggest you maintain a certain level of wariness toward such Abyssal creatures.】
【For clever liars, they only need to conceal a fraction of the truth to guide you toward a wrong conclusion while technically speaking the truth. Few people are willing to deal with Witches; your new friend might just be trying to use your strength to achieve her own goals.】
【No one does a deal that isn't profitable—either that, or they're just after your body.】
【Also, if you still intend to return to your hometown in the end, please hurry. Do not linger in Solitude for too long.】
【I have attached the latest list of commissions for Solitude; act within your means.】
【And, I know you don't need to sleep now, but I do. In the future, please, please, absolutely do not send me letters in the middle of the night.】
Kaila finished reading and put the letter away.
“Wariness, huh...”
Kaila looked down at the sleeping Sophie beside her.
She reached out a finger and poked Sophie’s cheek.
“Mmm...” Sophie muttered in her sleep before continuing her rhythmic snoring.
This was just an innocent, kind, simple vampire who lacked any sense of boundaries.
Would a vampire who used so much precious Blood Essence to perform scar removal surgery on her really be after her body?
Kaila shook her head.
Miss Hill was overthinking it.
Besides, they were both girls. What would there be to be “after”?
Withdrawing her gaze, Kaila fell into contemplation.
What else could she do to pass the time?
...
The next day.
The morning sun pierced through the forest canopy, casting mottled patches of light on the leaf-covered ground.
The warmth of the day gradually dissipated the cold, sticky sensation left by the red moon.
Kaila opened her eyes from her deep meditation.
The heavy weight beside her was gone.
A vampire waking up earlier than her...
Kaila picked up an umbrella, stood up, and walked out of the tent.
She quickly spotted Sophie’s location.
The silver-haired girl was currently sprawled out on a flat, massive grey-blue rock.
She had no cover at all.
The stinging sunlight shone directly onto Sophie’s fair, translucent skin. Instead of charred smoke or cries of pain, it gave her cheeks a healthy rosy glow.
“Photosynthesis feels so good.”
Sophie gave a long stretch and rolled over, rubbing her cheek against the sun-warmed surface of the rock like a well-fed cat.
【Log: You have entered Light Sensitivity (Reversed) state: While in direct sunlight, you continuously recover a massive amount of Health. All attributes are increased by 100%.】
“Praise the sun.”
Sophie performed a kip-up from the ground and threw her hands high in the air.
She was now a Warrior of Light.
Even the stiff neck caused by her poor sleeping posture last night gradually recovered under the sun’s rays.
Moreover, she was now terrifyingly strong.
Sophie glanced at her attribute panel.
【Strength: 2; Agility: 2; Physique: 2; Intelligence: 2; Perception: 2; Charisma: 2040】
Such immense power!
Sophie turned her head and saw Kaila nearby.
The Hero lady was currently holding an exquisite oil-paper umbrella, standing there with a blank expression.
Oh, she had collected a super rare dazed expression.
“Morning! Hero lady!” Sophie waved energetically at Kaila. “Did you sleep well last night?”
“You... are not afraid of the sun?” Kaila asked dryly.
“Actually, I’m a vampire from the Warrior of Light clan...”
“That is a lie,” Kaila said.
“Heh, just a joke. It’s hard to explain, but I really am not afraid of the sun.”
Sophie utilized her staggering 2 points of Agility to close the distance to Kaila in a few quick steps.
Her Galgame expert radar was pinging.
Sophie looked at the oil-paper umbrella in Kaila’s hand and asked curiously, “Is that for me?”
“Yes,” Kaila nodded. “Since vampires find it inconvenient to move during the day, I made a parasol for you... as a return gift for the healing.”
“Now, it seems a bit redundant.”
Wow, a milestone affection gift.
She knew the Hero lady was a good girl.
However, an umbrella was indeed useless for Sophie; it would only block her from getting her Light Sensitivity buff.
Besides, in this crappy forest, where did she find the materials? Did she just will them into existence?
“I appreciate the sentiment, Hero lady, but this umbrella...” Sophie turned her gaze toward the umbrella.
【Oil-paper Umbrella (Mythic). A piece of equipment handmade by the Hero with heartfelt intent. Possesses the [Indestructible] trait.】
“...But I’ll gladly accept this umbrella anyway,” Sophie said, abruptly changing her tune. “I absolutely love it.”
Goddamn indestructible oil-paper umbrella.
It’s basically a Thousand-Machine Umbrella.
Sophie took the umbrella and tested a thrust.
The tip was blunt.
But she could use it for shield poking.
“I thought you were not afraid of the sun?”
“Regardless, I have to accept the Hero lady’s kind intent.”
Never had such a wonderful start, honestly.
Rate on N.U.
