Jack, who had completely shed the label of “new sheriff,” happened to be patrolling nearby.
He was so sleepy that he kept yawning, since tonight was a rare, peaceful night.
Those sprawled haphazardly on the main street, whether scavengers or drunkards, showed no sign of anything unusual.
A few days ago, there had been quite a few ghouls, but under the sheriffs’ guns and bullets soaked in holy water, they were still no match.
All in all, though the weather tonight was bad, it was peaceful enough to set one’s mind at ease.
The sheriffs didn’t wish to encounter aberrations either; each sheriff was equipped with very few bullets, since those things were extremely precious.
Whether it was the holy water from the Church of the Radiant Light, the gunpowder and bullets from the Church of the Machine God, or even the pure silver bullet heads of silver bullets… Every year, the sheriff’s office spent massive amounts of money on these two things, gold coins flowing out as if they were worthless, like water pouring forth.
Yet without them, this small town could never be tranquil.
Especially after the young lady of the Viscount’s house was involved in that incident—ever since then, the chief, who used to act like a laid-back noble, had become as energetic as a rooster on stimulants for these past months, which was honestly a bit unsettling for everyone.
Following the usual routine, Jack only needed to slowly patrol his district until the first light of dawn broke the horizon.
If tonight could really pass just like this, that would be wonderful…
Suddenly, as Jack was passing a small alley, he wanted to hurry through.
The alley led to the edge of town, to the slums—the dirtiest, most rotten place in the entire town.
There was always a foul stench lingering there, even stronger than the stink of a ghoul.
But just then, from the direction of the slums, a miserable scream suddenly pierced the night—sharp and shrill, as if it could stab through one’s eardrums.
Out of habit, Jack swung his lantern toward the alley, the glow imbued with a hint of holy power sweeping across.
In his vigilant eyes was reflected a pair of striking rose-colored pupils.
Hiss!
A bloodkin…damn, a vampire!
Was that scream just now because of this creature?
Jack was instantly wide awake, swallowing the yawn that had just reached his throat.
Every hair on his body stood on end; the sudden appearance of a bloodkin made the already chilly night feel even colder.
Coming from the direction of the slums—had it just been hunting over there?
Such thoughts flashed through his mind, but after all, he was not a seasoned veteran, just a lucky rookie.
Usually, when aberrations showed up, he never had to act personally; but now, faced with the real thing, he froze for a moment, dropping the lantern from his hand.
Then both hands scrambled for the musket and the bullets at his waist.
Jack’s hand found the musket’s grip, but his trembling fingers fumbled in panic for the silver bullets that could deal with bloodkin, not forgetting to glance up nervously at the bloodkin’s movements.
Next, would it pounce and bite his neck?
Or would it slash his throat with sharp claws?
It was getting closer, raising its hand, moving so fast—there was no time to load the bullets!
Jack’s heart leapt to his throat; his hand on the musket trembled like a sieve.
Damn it! Damn it! There’s no time! That wicked vampire is about to—
Huh?
Why was the other’s palm glowing?
That was the light of gathering magic, quickly forming a magic circle he couldn’t understand.
Then, the other threw it into the air, right at Jack’s eye level.
Jack was stunned by this bizarre scene.
The next instant, blazing light exploded out—two or three times brighter than the midday sun, especially dazzling in the night.
His eyes burned, forcing them shut instantly, but the pain still made tears stream down his face and wrenched a cry from his lips.
“Ah! Aaahhh—!”
Jack hadn’t even had time to load his musket; in his panic, he waved it wildly in the air.
The moment Hill cast the Flash Bomb spell, she covered her eyes with her hand.
The light would last barely two seconds.
As soon as it faded, she removed her hand, looked at the flailing sheriff—he had even kicked over the lantern he’d dropped earlier.
“Now!” Hill held her breath, using her talent in the dark to its fullest, and slipped away with incredible lightness.
She couldn’t care what was happening behind her anymore—lich, poor fool, sheriff…
To hell with them all!
Hill went at full speed, ignoring even her current hunger, and within seconds she’d vanished into the night, like a drop of water dissolving into a lake.
Tonight, for quite a few people, would be a sleepless night.
Many were roused by the commotion from the slums; glancing out the window, they would sometimes see flares at the mouths of muskets.
Sheriffs’ angry shouts, the lich’s inhuman screams, the endless cries and pleas for help.
But that wasn’t all.
Crashing, fires, furious cursing, gunshots like thunder, the priests’ deep and icy prayers…
Not until dawn did the chaos slowly subside.
Most residents were unharmed, except for those unfortunates living near the edge of the slums.
Vicious scavengers seized the chance to break into these people’s homes, hoping to fish in troubled waters, looting food or valuables.
The homeowners fought them off, but the sheriffs’ full attention was on the wicked lich, leaving them no time to deal with this side of the mess.
Women and children’s weeping became a chorus; men’s shouts of rage spread far and wide in the night.
By morning, the area had been completely sealed off by the sheriff’s office.
The scavengers who’d profited in the chaos had long since fled, while the innocent townsfolk wept before the sheriffs.
Yet the latter were in no mood to care, listening absentmindedly, their eyes scanning the aftermath in the distance.
“Goddess above, what happened here!”
A tall man, his uniform markedly different from the rest, arrived, blowing smoke rings, his hawk-like eyes constantly sweeping the area.
“Sir!” A sheriff jogged over, lowering his voice: “The lich is completely dead; its corpse was doused in holy water several times, the flesh-alchemy array broken by the priests. It…that beast ate quite a few people!”
“In the slums?” The officer only cared about this point.
“…Possibly villagers from nearby, too.” The sheriff dared not guarantee it.
“Then it’s fine.” The officer took a deep drag from his cigarette, relaxing a little as he exhaled. “Most likely the work of that witch lurking outside town. No need to worry, the Templar Knights of the Church of the Radiant Light and the Demon Hunters of the Church of the Machine God are already after her. That wicked witch doesn’t have long left.”
He paused, then asked, “Who was the first to discover all this?”
“Seems like… a guy named Jack.”
“Who?” The officer’s voice shot up several pitches.
“Sir, it’s that guy—the one who first found the Viscount’s daughter, that lucky dog!”
The officer clicked his tongue: “Tch, Goddess above, can a man really have that much dumb luck twice?”
At four in the morning, Hill hurried back to her apartment and fetched some icy water.
After boiling it, she squatted on the floor, stripped off her clothes, and scrubbed herself vigorously with a threadbare towel.
She had to wash away that disgusting stench before school, or else she would surely attract attention.
An hour later, Hill had boiled two full basins of water, and though the smell seemed somewhat faded, to a bloodkin’s sensitive nose it was still noticeable.
But this should do.
After her last tutoring job, Mrs. Anna had not only paid her a gold coin but also given her a sachet.
Like brooches, sachets were gifts often exchanged among nobles.
With the scent of the sachet to cover her own, Hill’s heart finally calmed a little.
What happened last night still lingered in her mind—she tried to force herself to forget, but in its place was a violent hunger in her belly.
Last night, she hadn’t had a single drop of blood.
So hungry…
So hungry…
So hungry…
So…hungry…
Hill’s rose-colored pupils gradually took on a bloody tinge.