At night, a town that appears calm always harbors unknown dangers.
This is Noelkan Town. The Mechanism Church has already set foot here, and the gear-built Clock Tower of lead and copper stands at the most conspicuous spot in the entire town, ten stories high—second only to the spire of the Church of Light.
Dong, dong, dong…
Every hour, the tower rings out once. Among these chimes, there are three time periods that are particularly special:
At six o’clock in the morning, the beginning of hope for the Holy Light Church. Legend says the Goddess of Light kindled the divine fire at this very moment, bringing light to the dark world of man. The church’s Priest will always preach to the faithful who arrive at this hour, and the Holy Water used for baptism is most effective only during this time.
At one o’clock in the afternoon, the moment of the Goddess of Bounty’s blessing. Legend has it she ascended to godhood at this hour, and at the same time, in the dark ages, every polluted land sprouted thick, verdant shoots that bore abundant fruit, feeding countless millions who suffered from hunger. Since then, 1 p.m. became mealtime for the vast majority of people in this world, unchanging as if set in stone.
At seven o’clock in the evening, the descent of the Goddess of Night. She does not ascend at this hour, but, disliking appearing at the same time as the Goddess of Light, she deliberately chose this moment. During this time, all races or creatures favored by the Goddess of Night receive a measure of grace, awakening various powers from deep within their bloodlines.
Now, the strange tone coming from the Clock Tower is haunting and mysterious. Some revere it as divine music, while others fear it as the voice of the devil.
Hill sat on the roof of her apartment, her light brown hair fluttering gently, her rose-colored eyes radiating an enchanting allure that could steal one’s soul, her cheeks still rounded with baby fat, her features carved on her face as if by a master’s hand.
A high, delicate nose, small lips, a flat chest… all these features said one thing—she was an adorable girl.
She wore an old black overcoat on her upper body, and because she was petite, the hem even covered her knees. Sitting on the cold stone tiles, she closed her eyes, swinging her legs wrapped in thick black stockings, her toes occasionally pointing up in time with the chimes, as if stepping along with the beat in midair.
Her short boots encased her calves, and the tiny gap between boot and leg, seen from a certain angle, was deep enough to spark all sorts of thoughts. One could hardly resist the urge to slip a finger in, feeling that warmth, while their gaze, filled with desire, wandered deeper still.
Of course, nothing could be deeper than the night’s shroud in this world, for that was the skirt of the Goddess of Night. As one of the races favored by the Goddess, even though in her previous life she had been an unbeliever, a staunch materialist “he”, Hill had to spend some time now, using the awkward language from her memories, praising the Goddess’s mercy.
Yes, Hill was not originally from this world. In fact, in her previous life, her appearance was nothing like this… nothing so endearing.
In her previous life, she came from a world called Earth, where technology flourished and entertainment thrived. Billions lived in a world not loved by any gods, and yet, it was only she—an ordinary man, mediocre and penniless—who received a god’s favor.
Let’s put it that way.
After all, transmigration is rampant in novels and games, but for a flesh-and-blood, real person, it’s all so absurd. Everything here looks just like Earth’s Western world in the 17th or 18th century.
But here, there is no industrial revolution, nor any of those famous scientists you’d recognize. Everything she could see—cars running on the ground, steamships sailing the seas, castles and airships floating high in the sky, and even the Clock Tower she gazed at now—were all masterpieces of the Mechanism Church.
The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. “Mechanism Descent”—a term that in her former life only belonged in entertainment dramas—was now colder and more real than the stone beneath her.
Alright, alright…
Hill smiled. Tonight was her twenty-seventh night in this world, bearing the name “Hill Hamilton,” living as a favored of the Goddess of Night, a child of blood and the undead.
Hm? So after all that, what exactly is her race?
Didn’t I already say? Child of blood and the undead—that’s the Blood Clan, isn’t it?
Of course, in this town—and not just here, but in the surrounding dozen or so kingdoms—there was another term for this race, a distasteful slur: Vampire.
Hill herself used to call these fantasy beings “vampires,” but after “he” became “she,” she grew to dislike, even resent, that name.
Blood Clan was the name granted to them by the Goddess of Night. Hill inherited the original owner’s memories, and was forced to accept the faith and feelings contained within. The situation was complicated, but after nearly a month, she’d finally adjusted and survived to this day.
What’s more, whenever she referred to herself as Blood Clan, her mind would trigger a kind of reward mechanism, a shiver of—pride—throughout her body.
She couldn’t control this feeling, and even found herself enjoying it. When it became intense, she would unconsciously squeeze her legs together.
Favored of the Goddess ●█▀█▄ Favored of the Goddess ●█▀█▄ Favored of the Goddess ●█▀█▄ Favored of the Goddess ●█▀█▄ Favored of the Goddess ●█▀█▄… Ah!
Forget it. These days, Hill was at least able to restrain her actions and certain… desires.
“The seven o’clock chime has sounded. Tsk tsk, just like before—no matter how lively things were earlier, at this time, the streets always fall silent.” Hill looked down at the scene below her feet and couldn’t help but sigh.
The streets, trampled by countless townsfolk, were now empty—their owners all hiding in their homes, since only then could they be sure not to become prey for those terrifying beings that moved in the night.
Besides the Blood Clan, there were Ghouls, Ghosts, and Liches…
Heh, all sorts of creatures who liked fresh flesh and sweet souls.
Hill waited for the chimes to fade and for lights to gradually flicker on in houses across the town. In the darkness, her vision was not hindered at all, even enhanced—she could clearly see the hands of the Clock Tower pointing to the next hour.
Eight o’clock at night. It was time for her hunt to begin.
Hill reached her fair, delicate hand behind her head and pulled up her hood. The long brim covered her forehead, nearly shading her eyes. Of course, such a simple disguise was hardly enough to hide her face. After all, when night faded, she would return to the identity so at odds with the title “Night’s Hunter”—a lively, beloved schoolgirl at the Public Magic Academy of Elio.
Heaven knows, Hill truly cherished her daytime identity. In her previous life, she—or rather, “he”—had been an utterly average person, with nothing outstanding about her looks or character.
She always stayed in unnoticed corners, always heard things like “Hey, what’s-your-name,” and always lived a dull, monotonous life. She was full of hope for her country’s future but pessimistic about her own… Maybe some Goddess had seen this, and so sent her to this world.
Ah, praise the Goddess!
Hill silently prayed in her heart, then slowly stood. The cool night breeze brushed over her hood like the pale, cold hand of the Goddess, gently stroking her delicate cheek and snowy, slender neck.
What a pity, Hill touched her own neck. If, as a member of the Blood Clan, she could bite into her own neck, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
She had lived in this town for nearly a month and had hunted more than a dozen times—her targets were either drunks or scavengers. Most were old, their skin rough and their blood tinged with a strange taste, like it had been mixed with alcohol and crushed tobacco.
If not to fill her belly, she wouldn’t drink from such people.
There were occasional exceptions, though. A few days ago, Hill “caught” a surprising prey—a young girl, still in her school uniform, though not from her own Public Magic Academy of Elio.
Where the girl came from, or what her name was, mattered not at all to Hill. Would you ask your bread what its name is every morning before eating it?
Of course not.
Hill equally didn’t care why the little lamb was wandering the streets after 9 p.m. The girl had still been wearing her uniform, the scent of a maiden mixed with the smell of books. From her fair, delicate neck, delicious blood practically called out!
But that was the only true feast Hill had enjoyed this entire month.
To describe it in terms from her previous life, that girl’s blood was like garlic-butter grilled lobster, while the blood of those drunks and vagrants was like milk about to expire, sour and unappetizing.
Ugh! Hill couldn’t help but gag. Would tonight’s dinner be the same? How boring!
Goddess bless her, let her encounter a cute and delicious girl again.
Hill sighed, then leapt from the rooftop.
It was a four-story apartment building. For an ordinary person, jumping down from here would most likely result in a broken leg. If unlucky, a blow to the waist could leave one paralyzed—something even the town’s Holy Priest couldn’t heal.
But Hill landed as lightly as a falling leaf, steady on solid ground, the heels of her boots striking with a crisp sound.
Hoo! Hill let out a gentle breath.
Perfect!
No need for a haystack for a leap of faith—this world of sword and magic, gods and faith, was truly convenient.
Before Hill’s eyes, only she could see a faint, shimmering screen:
Name: Hill Hamilton
Level: 1 (35/100)
Race: Blood Clan
Sequence: No Sequence
Skill: [Blessing of Night I]
[Blessing of Night I]: As a member of the Blood Clan, you are blessed by the Goddess of Night. Your actions become incomparably swift, your body as light as a feather, your face blurred in the eyes of mortals, and your mind hard to bewitch. Want more blessings? Go, follow in the Goddess’s footsteps, and kiss the toes of the Goddess.
Tsk, if only I really could.
Here’s a concept drawing of Hill—an elegant Blood Clan lady with brown hair and red eyes, meow!
