At 6 a.m., Hill changed into her youthful and vibrant academy uniform and once again set out on that familiar road.
Most of the townsfolk’s lives seemed untouched by what had happened the night before. Shopkeepers opened their stores as usual, vendors set up their stalls, workers headed off to their jobs…
Everything looked so peaceful and lovely. If you ignored the patrols of passing sheriffs, this morning seemed no different from any other.
Hill, though famished, was caught in a fierce struggle between her vampiric nature and her rational mind. The countless living humans she passed by were an overwhelming temptation. In her rose-colored eyes, each sweet blood meal seemed to sprout wings and fly right past her.
She walked a good distance, yet no one noticed anything odd about the beautiful young girl. Her legs, wrapped in thick black stockings, trembled now and then, but any onlooker would simply blame the gradually cooling weather. No one would ever imagine that the girl was shaking because she was hungry, imagining the blood flowing in their veins.
By all rights, she could only endure for one more day at most. Otherwise, the bestial side of her vampiric nature would gradually overpower her rationality.
Such was the hidden danger of being a monster among humans.
Hill’s gaze swept over the faces of the patrolling sheriffs. Among them, she did not spot the unfortunate rookie she had run into last night. Not that it would have mattered even if she had. After all, with her 【Night’s Favor】, her face should be a blur in the eyes of ordinary mortals.
Of course, this had no effect on supernaturals. But judging by how flustered that rookie was last night, he was probably a new recruit—barely a year on the job. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fumbled about for half the night without managing to fire a single shot.
Luckily for him, he’d met her. If it had been one of those truly ruthless vampires, just a little delay and he’d have been killed a hundred times over—every last drop of blood squeezed from his body!
As she reached the town center, the place grew even more bustling. Rosy-cheeked noblewomen wrapped in scarves clustered together, heading to the Holy Light Church for prayer. Some were devout, others more interested in the charming, witty, and elegant priests inside.
There were also some young noble scoundrels among them—unmarried, idle, and living off their titles. The nuns of the Holy Light Church were their favorite targets for teasing. Those serious, adorable girls, bound by doctrine, had to listen to all their nonsense confessions—this drama replayed every few days.
The tailor’s shop, the general store, the blacksmith’s forge…
All sorts of people, each with their own way of life.
Watching this calm and harmonious scene, Hill couldn’t help but ask herself: where did she belong?
A vampire hidden among humans, a monster whose true nature would be exposed the moment hunger struck…
Hill finally arrived at the academy and met her two friends in the classroom—she was rather late today, but thankfully not tardy.
A typical dull day began, starting with Elven Language class.
As expected, Helena was fast asleep at her desk, her peaceful little face tinged with a healthy flush in the warm classroom. Hill stared, dazed, her mind running wild imagining how sweet the blood would taste if she bit into that face.
Perhaps Hill’s gaze was just too blatant, too raw. Helena, even in her sleep, made a cute gurgling noise and turned her head away.
Hill felt disappointed—there went her view.
But perhaps that was for the best. If she kept watching, she was afraid she might suddenly lose control, fangs bared as she leapt to bite that face.
“Hill?” Otis’s voice came from beside her.
Although her friend often spaced out during Elven Language class, today Otis couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Hill. She’d arrived later than usual as well.
Despite her destitute circumstances, Hill always behaved impeccably at the academy—no one could fault her manners. But today, Otis’s ever-sharp intuition told her something was different about Hill.
“What’s wrong?” Hill replied with her usual smile, her lips curving, dimples showing on her cheeks—she looked the same as ever.
“You seem off today?” Otis asked worriedly.
“Off? As in…?”
“Did something happen at the edge of town?”
Otis knew the outskirts of Norcan Town could be dangerous at times—vagrants, scavengers, drunkards…all unstable elements. Not to mention the monsters lurking out there!
Hill responded smoothly, “There was indeed an incident last night. The sheriffs seemed to have found a pesky monster—probably a ghoul or a lich stirring up trouble again?”
She even wore a troubled expression, and this was no act. “It’s really troublesome. Those guys have been restless since a few months ago. I heard it’s connected to the witches who’ve drifted into the neighboring towns.”
“Is that so?” Otis believed her somewhat, but still had a sliver of doubt.
The morning passed like this. Hill’s head felt foggy, and at noon she sat in the cafeteria. When the nun finished the prayer to the Goddess of Plenty, the teachers signaled that students could begin their holy meal.
Hill sat at the table, thinking she could pretend to eat the tasteless food as she always had. She cut off a piece of bread with cream, brought it to her mouth with a fork, and it felt like stuffing a handful of dew-covered hay into her mouth.
Suddenly, she found her situation ridiculous—a wolf pretending to eat grass to blend in with the flock.
Even describing the taste as “chewing wax” was too generous. An unprecedented nausea filled her throat, triggering spasms down her esophagus, and finally her stomach churned violently.
Ugh!
Hill hadn’t expected her reaction to be this intense, but soon realized why: the blood she’d consumed lately was far too low quality, with barely any nutrients, and today she was starving. Eating human food triggered a chain reaction, like lighting a fuse—thus the result.
It was completely unexpected, and in front of so many students and teachers, she instinctively covered her mouth. But the food remnants still rolled inside, making her feel even sicker.
Etiquette, etiquette, etiquette…
Hill desperately didn’t want to lose her composure, so she grabbed a napkin and spit the contents from her mouth into it.
“What’s wrong, Hill?” Helena leaned over, full of concern.
Hill forced a weak smile. “Maybe I’m ill.”
“Maybe you should go to the confessional,” Otis’s eyes showed the most worry. “You haven’t been yourself all day, Hill. Maybe you should go to the chapel.”
Hill wanted to refuse, but on second thought, staying here and facing the repulsive food might only make things worse. So, she nodded at Otis, and together they explained to a teacher and received special permission to leave the cafeteria for the chapel.
There were many delicate noble heirs at Elio Public Academy of Magic, and the chapel existed for students like them. It was luxurious, secluded, and peaceful. Accompanied by Otis, Hill arrived at the chapel, where they were greeted by a graceful elderly gentleman in Holy Light Church vestments.
In this world, thanks to the Holy Light Church, priests had nearly replaced doctors. Nothing a Holy Healing couldn’t fix; if it didn’t work, just cast it again.
It could burn monsters, heal wounds, treat everything from scrapes to grave illnesses. The only downside was the steep price, but the results were immediate—and the church got to harvest faith along the way.
For Hill, though, she’d rather they send a Paladin to behead her than hit her with a Holy Healing!
The divine arts of the Holy Light Church posed a serious threat to monsters. Vampires wouldn’t burn to ash like the undead, but the outcome was still torture. And if the priest discovered her true nature, she wouldn’t get healing—she’d get Holy Smite!
“My dear lady,” the old priest said kindly, “please cleanse yourself with holy water first, so I may perform the divine ritual.”
“No, that won’t be necessary!”
Hill’s voice rose a pitch, though she kept her expression calm. “Sir, I’m just tired. I’m not ill, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself with divine arts.”
She pushed a bewildered Otis forward. “This lady can vouch for me.”
The old priest looked at Otis. The graceful young noblewoman didn’t understand her friend’s actions, but chose to protect her anyway.
She gave a proper curtsy, then said, “It’s just as she says, sir. My friend is only tired and wishes to rest here for a while. You must know she’s an apprentice valued by Instructor Inks—she must have stayed up all night studying magic again.”
The priest was satisfied with this explanation. His smile grew gentler. “So that’s it. Mages have it hard, indeed. But the Goddess has warned the world that bodily and spiritual purity are our anchors in this world. We mustn’t neglect them.”
With that, only the two girls remained in the chapel.
Hill breathed a sigh of relief, then saw Otis turn around, her face plainly asking for an explanation.
In that moment, the air seemed to freeze and time to stand still. Hill fought a battle in her heart as hunger gnawed at her like a devil.
Finally, Hill slumped, looking at Otis with desperate hope in her eyes. “Will you always be my best friend, Otis?”
“Of course. Our friendship needs no explanation, Hill.” Otis worried that her expression had scared her friend and quickly clarified, “It’s just, you really haven’t been yourself today. I’m worried, but I don’t need an explanation…everyone has secrets, right?”
“Then would you like to hear mine?”
“…What?”