The World They Live In (2)
The borderlands between Kashan and Jaive.
In the middle of a sun-blasted desert, a man in priestly robes was reading a book.
Wavy black hair fell like a curtain over his face beneath a black fedora.
Perched on a rock with his long, stork-like legs bent at right angles, he looked up at the sun and exhaled.
"Haa."
A dry puff of smoke billowed out.
"Again?"
When he lowered his gaze toward the horizon, an old man holding a black parasol approached through the heat haze.
"You still won't put down the Bible?"
As if God Himself had placed him there, the old man was suddenly standing before the man.
"A life without mercy is like an endless desert."
"You abandoned God," the old man added.
"To become a god." With a snap, the Bible closed.
"What brings you here?"
"The Lord requests your presence." The priest's name was Nike, a vampire called the strongest Almas in history.
"The weather's fine."
Contrary to common vampire traits, his skin was a tawny brown as he tilted his face up to the sun.
"…Are you all right?"
Vampires are vulnerable to ultraviolet, but their innate, powerful regeneration lets them endure for a while.
An Almas-class could typically hold out for about four hours, though their activity would inevitably decline.
"Haaaah."
Brown skin steamed and then quickly knit back together as Nike exhaled hot vapor.
A monstrous man.
His regenerative power was at least ten times stronger than other Almas—almost approaching the Lord's.
"Just because you can endure doesn't mean it isn't painful."
Nike split his lips, entering a biting state; the gums around his canines rose.
"Without pain, there is no immortality."
They called the act of sinking teeth into someone "biting"; from that state one could perform suction and injection.
Suction drew blood; injection delivered prions to subjugate the target.
"What's the mission this time? Hunting hybrids?"
Across the world, one tenth of the half-vamps had been captured by Nike and subjected to brutal experiments.
"The True Demon has arrived."
For the first time, Nike's gaze fixed on the old man.
"He claims he will remove every weakness of vampires and seize this world. He's currently collecting blood to awaken two Lords."
"I see. And my role?"
"Come to Jaive. We will find you."
The old man's face shifted into a grotesque bat's visage, and in an instant he burrowed into the ground.
U 99
Nike looked toward where Jaive lay.
"The promised land, huh."
When Rian arrived at the Public Security Bureau, Benov had been waiting for him so long he probably had a sore neck from staring.
"Something happen last night? You look pale."
"You don't look too good yourself, Chief. Have you heard about the blood bank incident?"
"Don't even mention it. The Shinjang fooled us completely. Even the Inspector didn't hear a thing."
"I was at the scene."
"You were?"
Rian recounted what had happened the previous night.
"What? You met a hunter?"
"Yes. Someone who could tell vampires apart. That explains why they were always faster than us."
"Where are they hiding?"
Rian shook his head.
"They're unauthorized actors, obviously. So what do you intend to do? Join them?"
"I'm an outsider. I don't want to get involved in palace affairs. And personally… it was an opportunity to learn Smille's secret."
"You say so, so I can't stop you. But let's exchange information sometimes."
Benov's suggestion was unexpectedly straightforward.
"What are you thinking?"
"Honestly… I understand how you feel. It seems there's a mole inside the palace."
Benov made a discreet proposal.
"Soon the palace will hire hunters from all over the world. To flush out a hidden rat, you release a cat."
"The people I know won't attend. They—"
"No, that's not what I mean. The hunters you know said they could find vampires' locations, right?"
Rian caught on.
"If the terms are right."
"There'll be hunter recruitment interviews at the palace. High-ranking officials will watch too. It's the perfect chance to expose an internal mole. Help us with this, and that hunter's affairs will be dropped."
It was mutually beneficial, and if Rian mentioned it to the hunter he knew—Jenia—she'd likely accept.
"Talk to her, then. But you must guarantee security for her. She won't come out herself."
"Understood. I only need to know who the mole is. It'll be between you and me; it won't be leaked."
After parting with Benov, Rian, wary of being followed, arrived at the Genocide hideout.
As people stirred awake that morning, Rian gathered everyone.
"…We've got a proposal." Grain rubbed his chin as he spoke.
"An internal mole, huh. If there really is a vampire attached to the palace, things get complicated."
Passet said.
"It's unnerving to feel like they're watching us. But it's related to our work anyway."
Most agreed in spirit, but the final decision fell to Silver-born Jenia.
"I don't trust anyone."
Those who knew her fell silent.
"Should I be blunt? I'm annoyed that Rian even told them about our work," Katarine protested.
"They already knew about hunters. Even Silver-born. He only said he'd met them."
"You said Silver-born was here!"
Pauer snapped.
"I didn't say where. Jenia, that's forced logic. We're still wandering because we can't find the vampires' hideout. The palace is publicly hiring hunters. Maybe this could be our breakthrough."
Jenia stood her ground.
"I know it's a good offer for us. That's precisely why it's my problem. It's a matter of feeling."
Rian said, "If you were offended, I apologize. I'm not forcing you. If you want, I'll cut contact with them."
"Don't treat me like a child! I said it's a good offer! It's just that I—"
"Right, it's scary."
Jenia was neither fully human nor vampire.
"What?"
"Isn't it frightening to join hands with people you don't trust? But you don't have to hold hands."
"Hmph, easy to say. What if they try to use me? What if I become a human's dog and have to fight?"
"In that case I'll cut you down."
Everyone turned to Rian.
"The king of Jaive, the Shinjang, the Public Security—if they break their promises, I'll fight them in your stead."
Jenia couldn't understand him.
"How can you say that so easily? You're human too, aren't you? You'd kill humans for me?"
"Thinking with the sword is too late. The thought must finish before that."
It was Rian's philosophy.
"Wielding a sharp blade isn't about love or sacrifice. It's about taking responsibility for every death I cause. I've already made that decision."
"You—"
Jenia had lived as a vampire hunter and had caused countless deaths herself.
Perhaps she had turned away from some of those deaths.
But Rian said he would take responsibility.
"You said there's someone you truly want to protect, right? What if that person has to run forever? Will you still fight for me then?"
"Don't make me say it twice."
He'd already made that decision.
"That's my belief."
It felt so far away that Jenia could find no longer reason to be stubborn.
"Humans… I don't trust them."
"Jenia."
Just as Passet stepped forward, she raised her head.
"But since you say you'll take responsibility, I'll help this time. You must stay by my side."
"All right."
When Rian nodded, Jenia turned with a petulant expression.
"I'm hungry. Let's eat."
A small corner of Grain's mouth twitched upward.
'You met a good person, Jenia.'
Everyone carries painful memories, but the agony of living as a half-vamp had lasted longer for her than most.
'If it's Rian, maybe he can shoulder her cursed life.' No—only Rian could. Night after night the Genocide team prowled Rodenin Street, searching for vampires' hideouts.
They captured a few Vesica-class vampires, but even they had no information about those above them.
"Damn! Sneaking around like rats!"
In the infirmary, Grain carried out brutal experiments to learn everything about vampires.
"Aaargh! I'll kill you!" Though Jenia inhaled her Blood Q expressionlessly, the group took their cue from her.
'Did Jenia ever scream like that…?'
"I still can't do it."
As if she hadn't considered it, Jenia stood and said, "We'll have to team up with humans."
"You're still hesitating? You already decided, remember? The hunter interviews are tomorrow."
"There's a difference between being ordered and acting on your own. Rian, are you sure you're ready?"
Rian handed her a hood.
"Wear this when you go in. There won't be identity checks; we just need to watch from the highest point." It was the limit of what Benov's authority could provide, but with Rian at her side, she had to trust him.
Passet escorted them as they left.
"Be careful. No deployments today, so if it goes well, have something delicious afterward."
"You think we're on a trip?"
"It's just the two of you. Enjoy some cozy time."
Passet's whisper made Jenia hesitate in a way that suggested she didn't dislike it.
"Heh, cute anyway."
On the way to the palace's hunter interview hall, Rian asked the hooded Jenia, "You okay?"
"I can handle it. The sun isn't too strong today."
Even so, where others couldn't see them, she kept taking her Blood Q.
"They're here."
Rian felt it the moment they arrived at the palace.
"Vampires."
"How many?"
Jenia rolled her eyes.
"Not that many. Three or four. But they're all Almas. Can you handle that? At that number you wouldn't last."
"Who said I couldn't?"
Rian had given his all in every battle since coming to Rodenin—but within human limits.
His nature was Yacha.
If he intended to obliterate the area, even Almas-class might not be able to stop Jenia.
After a formal inspection from Benov, the two entered the coliseum carrying weapons.
They sat where the guard contingents were posted; palace officials took the opposite seats.
"Do you see them?"
"Yeah, two."
Jenia inhaled her Blood Q again.
"There—young secretary over there. He's a vampire. And the old man in the VIP box. He's a vampire too."
They instinctively sheltered in the shade.
"His Majesty will appear!"
Mayer, King of Jaive, took the stage.
The Shinjang—the palace guard—formed up behind him, standing with their legs together and hips twisted at a forty-five degree angle in their distinctive stance.
'They're all strong.' Mayer declared.
"With a swarm of demons infesting the kingdom's capital, we have gathered skilled hunters from across the lands. Please use your abilities to their fullest and help restore Jaive's peace."
The iron gates rose, and a hundred hunters entered the center of the coliseum.
Watching them, Rian noticed a rough intake of breath and turned to Jenia.
"What's wrong?"
Her hooded face was frozen in shock.
'That guy.'
The sight that met her was a priest with hawk-like features and black hair hanging to his shoulders.
He had two iron bars curled over his shoulders and a cross tattooed beneath his jaw.
"Nike…!"
Jenia's teeth ground together.
He was the enemy who had killed her parents and shoved her into a laboratory for experiments.