Upon entering the store, I casually gnced around, careful not to seem suspicious. Nothing seemed particurly out of pce—just an old-fashioned used bookstore with an appropriately antiquated interior.

  But the moment I started scrutinizing everything with suspicion, the entire shop suddenly seemed designed to accommodate a vampire's existence. The towering bookshelves blocking sunlight from the windows. The magical mps illuminating the store instead.

  This interior was deliberately arranged to avoid a vampire's weaknesses.

  And then—

  "Welcome."

  A young shopkeeper's voice came from the counter.

  At first gnce, he appeared to be an ordinary bck-haired young man—but his face was exactly like the vampire I'd seen in the game.

  "—!"

  I nearly gasped aloud but barely managed to suppress it.

  Hold it together, hold it together.

  If he sensed my hostility and struck first, there was no way I'd walk away unharmed. And if Misha was still alive, she’d be in danger too. Until the perfect moment arrived, I had to py the role of a harmless, clueless child.

  "Um, do you have any books for learning letters?"

  "I do, but do you have money?"

  "Yeah! Daddy gave me some!"

  Was my acting convincing enough? Probably. I doubted he was suspicious yet.

  As proof, the vampire pulled a book from the shelf and walked right up to me, handing it over without hesitation.

  He wouldn’t approach an enemy so carelessly.

  "Have you never studied letters before?"

  "Nope!"

  "Then this one should be good. It’s simple, so you’ll pick it up quickly."

  With that, the vampire smiled—a gentle, reassuring smile.

  Had I not known his true nature, I’d never have doubted it. That kindness, indistinguishable from a human’s, made my resolve waver slightly.

  Because even though he was a vampire, his appearance was entirely human. Right now, he looked—no, was—just like a person.

  Killing a bug doesn’t evoke guilt, but sughtering something so close to a human? That resistance was hard to shake.

  —No. Even that hesitation might be part of the vampire’s pn.

  Suddenly, I remembered the lore from the official setting materials.

  A vampire’s ability to mimic humans so perfectly existed for one reason: to blend seamlessly into human society and hunt without suspicion.

  This kindness was just another tool. If so, then I had no reason to hold back.

  Get it together, me. You already decided—you’d fight to save Misha.

  Besides, I didn’t have time to waste. If the kidnapper wasn’t this vampire, I needed to resume my search immediately.

  No matter what, I couldn’t afford to wallow in pathetic hesitation.

  "Thank you! Um, wallet, wallet—"

  I reached into my pocket, pretending to fumble for coins, and instead grabbed my canteen.

  Then, without a word, I hurled its contents—river water—straight at the vampire.

  I wasn’t sure if something like this would work on a monster, but in Alque’s main story, vampires recoiled from water.

  Creatures with an aversion to water feared even harmless amounts of it.

  "Ghk—?!"

  The vampire flinched as the water spshed across his face, stumbling back a few steps.

  In that instant, I rushed through the incantation for a holy spell and unleashed it at full power.

  "Hollow Lier—Divine Radiance!"

  A burst of white holy light erupted from my hands. Normally harmless, but for demons—especially vampires—it was agony. Their bodies would blister and burn on contact.

  Unless they had resistance, which this one clearly didn’t. Even a decade ter in the game’s events, Hollow Lier remained effective against him.

  Sure enough, the vampire screamed as his flesh scorched.

  "GYAAAAAAAH?!"

  For a moment, I froze.

  Everything had gone according to pn so far, but I wasn’t experienced enough to improvise in real combat.

  This is my first actual fight!

  Where the hell is Schnauzel?! If he doesn’t show up soon—

  "Guh—goddamn brat! You’ll PAY for that!!"

  The vampire’s gre hit me like a physical force. My entire body broke out in goosebumps, limbs locking up in terror. My legs trembled, refusing to move.

  "Ah—"

  I tried to cast another spell, but my voice cracked.

  What… what is this?

  Was this what killing intent felt like?

  I didn’t know.

  But one thing was certain—I’m in trouble.

  This dread was bad.

  "Spirits of wind, lend me wings!"

  I bsted the ground with wind magic, propelling myself backward just as a crimson bde sliced through the space I’d occupied.

  —If I hadn’t dodged, would I be dead right now?

  "Tch."

  With a click of his tongue, the vampire struck again. A blood-red sword extended from his hand, sshing relentlessly.

  "Hey! It’s my turn now, damn it!"

  "Shut your damn mouth, you little shit!"

  I sidestepped an overhead strike, scanning the shop for escape routes.

  In this cramped space, running blindly would only get me caught.

  I weaved between furniture and bookshelves, using them as shields while barely dodging each ssh.

  "General Schnauzel! Hurry up already!"

  "Sorry, sorry. Got held up a bit."

  BANG!

  The door burst open behind me.

  Just as relief flooded in, something bzed past me at terrifying speed—

  —and smashed straight into the vampire, crushing him against the wall.

  "Hah. Look at him fly."

  Schnauzel grinned, and I finally realized what had happened.

  He’d kicked the door off its hinges to use as a projectile.

  …Wow.

  "Better make sure with another hit."

  Grabbing the vampire by the head, Schnauzel drove a fist into his gut.

  "GAH—?!"

  The vampire vomited blood, foamed at the mouth, and colpsed in convulsions.

  The enemy I’d fought for my life against had just been reduced to a twitching wreck in seconds.

  This guy is terrifying.

  "Alright, that should keep him down. Let’s find your maid."

  "R-right."

  Leaving the unconscious vampire behind, I headed for the back room.

  "Miss Misha!"

  There she was—the girl I’d been searching for.

  Bound at the wrists and ankles, gagged, but alive. Though exhausted and unfocused, she didn’t seem critically injured.

  Just to be safe, I cast a healing spell.

  Unless the wounds were severe, this would stabilize her—but maybe I should cast a few more, just in case.

  "Don’t waste your magic. She’s fine. Look at her."

  If Schnauzel said so, I could rex. Peering closer, I saw Misha’s dazed eyes slowly sharpen.

  She squinted—probably at the spell’s glow.

  "I’m so gd you’re okay. I’ll get these off you now. Stay still."

  Whispering reassuringly, I severed the ropes with magic and carefully removed the gag.

  "Young… master?"

  Thank goodness. Her memory wasn’t damaged from shock or anything.

  "Yes, it’s me. I came to save you. The vampire’s gone, so you’re safe now."

  She gave a small nod before closing her eyes again.

  The fatigue and fear must have caught up—now that she felt safe, she’d lost consciousness.

  "General Schnauzel, help me carry her, please."

  "Sure. Also, you keep calling me ‘General,’ but I’m still just a corps commander right now."

  "Ah—"

  Right. Schnauzel only became a general in the game’s main story—eight years from now.

  He was still young. Of course his rank would be different.

  Mulling over trivial thoughts, we made our way back to the Endenberg estate.