Kael woke to the metallic smell of rust filling the stagnant air. Chains, cool against his wrists, clinked softly as he shifted, his ankles also bound. Across the room, Clementine crouched, her face cradled in her palms, a wide, gleeful smile on her face.
"Kael, you're awake," she said sweetly.
Kael scanned the room—there was no sign of Lumino. Instead, he found himself surrounded by grotesque tools whose purposes he could easily imagine. His body tensed.
"Don't worry, Kael. I just want to have a private little chat, just the two of us."
Kael's jaw clenched, muscles bunching. Rage, a scorching heat, clawed at his insides. Had he messed up? Again? The sudden silence was a familiar echo of Lumino's absence. A cold dread twisted inside him, whispering doubts: Was Alira truly gone, or was there a hidden story unfolding? Were unseen players involved?
"What did you do to Lumino?" Kael asked, his voice low but burning with unease.
"Lumino… you mean that man, that one who reeks of that awful Red Witch stench?"" Clementine scrunched her nose in disgust. "I don't know why, but his scent makes me want to vomit."
"Red Witch stench…?" Kael echoed internally, frowning. He thought of Caroline.
"What are you talking about? Caroline is dead, isn't she?"
"Caroline? No, no. Not that cursed witch." Clementine giggled. "I'm talking about the Red Witch. The one and only—Lady Seraphine."
Kael froze, his muscles locking in place. Lady Seraphine? He had heard the name before, echoed in the hushed tones of Alira and Phel. But never did he imagine her being connected to Lumino.
"Why did you bring me here?" Kael demanded. He wasn't about to sit still and let things unfold.
"I want to change you, of course," Clementine answered, her crimson eyes sparkling with anticipation. As her sharp fangs peeked out, Kael felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"I want to make you a vampire. You're strong. A perfect fit."
She stood, the vibrant pink of her hair a splash of color against the muted grey stone, a soft strand twisting between her slender fingers. Meanwhile, Kael's mind raced, the metallic tang of the chains a cold weight against his wrists, as he strained to find a way to escape.
"Why? Why turn me into one of your kind?" Kael growled, his muscles taut with resistance.
Clementine approached him slowly, trailing a clawed finger along his jawline. "Hmm… Let me think. You're strong, you're handsome… and your scent? Divine."
So that was it. She wanted to turn him simply because she was tempted by his blood. Pathetic. Kael couldn't fathom how, even after arriving in Litruish, he'd managed to let his guard down once again. And now, this.
Suddenly, a status window like a hologram appear inf ront of him.
[Warning]
[System has reawakened. Synchronizing with this world's data.]
[You are currently in Letruish.]
[Welcome, Shadow Hunter Kael Eros.]
Kael's eyes widened. The Hunter System? It's back?
If so, then—he could fight.
[Progress is being uploaded...]
[Congratulations. Your rank has advanced: Grade 3 → Grade 1 Shadow Hunter.]
[Compiling acquired skill list…]
A sly grin curled on Kael's lips.
Clementine tilted her head. "What's so funny?"
[Skills available:]
Drakeflamish Roar
Wind Blade
Lizardmen Camouflage
[Would you like to use a skill?]
"Yes", Kael answered without hesitation. "Use skill number 3."
[Activating: Lizardmen Camouflage]
The light caught his form as it shimmered, and then, scales replaced skin, limbs morphing with a wet sound. In an instant, Kael had transformed into a lizard.
Clementine gasped, stepping back in shock. Before she could process what happened, Kael slipped out of the shackles with ease. He reverted to his original form behind her, drawing his sword in one swift motion.
Clementine froze as the cold blade touched the tip of her nose. Kael's voice was calm, but firm.
"So? Still want to fight?"
Clementine slowly raised her hands in surrender.
"…Can I… give up instead?"
--
Alira rushed down the hallway, her footsteps echoing with growing urgency.
"Why is that terrifying Rosaria following me?" she thought anxiously.
Ever since she left the bathroom, Rosaria had been trailing her. Alira did look suspicious—she hadn't asked to use the restroom for no reason. She needed to examine Lady Seraphine's spellbook, but before she could even open it, an unsettling aura had started watching her.
Now, all she could do was try to shake off that ominous emo girl.
Alira turned a corner and suddenly stopped. Her eyes landed on a door—one that radiated with a thick, choking aura from within.
She found it alluring, curious, and cautious. But before she could take a step, Rosaria was already beside her, silent as a shadow.
"You're curious, aren't you?"
Alira swallowed. "Is it… okay if I open it?"
"Go ahead," Rosaria said, her tone calm—too calm. "If you want to."
Cautiously, Alira reached for the doorknob and opened it.
A stench immediately hit her—putrid and heavy, like rotting flesh. Inside, an old man lay on a bed. His skin had blisters and was decaying, and every bone in his gaunt body was visible. He let out faint groans of pain, too weak to move.
"Caroline's curse," Rosaria whispered behind her, clutching a worn doll tighter to her chest. "He can't heal. He'll suffer forever. And he can't die."
Alira's breath caught.
Then Rosaria added, almost too quietly, "You're Alira… the White Witch. From the old coven… right?"
"…Yes." Alira answered briefly, confused by her tone.
"Can you help him?"
A pause. There was something different in Rosaria's voice—something that sounded like hope.
Alira wasn't the strongest witch in combat, but as an alchemist, she was second to none. Still… she no longer had the Table of Blend, her ancient artifact stored far away in the Midway Library. She could attempt a potion without it—but to make a high potion? She needed that artifact.
"Caroline's curse must be incredibly severe… I'm not even sure a potion would work."
"…I'm actually a fan of yours," Rosaria muttered.
"Eh?" Alira blinked, completely thrown off.
"You? A fan?"
Rosaria nodded, her expression finally softening, a small spark of admiration in her eyes.
"Your research on sun-resistant potions—it helped my kind more than you'll ever know."
Alira didn't even remember working on that. But if Rosaria said so, maybe she had at some point. Maybe she had created something brilliant without even realizing it.
"Being a genius is such a burden."
She planted her hands on her hips, a prideful grin stretching across her face.
"Alright! I'll make you a high potion that can save this old man!" she declared, beaming.
"Really? Thank you! I knew you were the greatest alchemist of all time!"
"But… I'll need a little help."
"Anything," Rosaria said seriously.
"Do you have a library or reading room nearby?"
Meanwhile…
Lumino awoke with a sharp pain in his back. His head spun, and the surroundings appeared cold and metallic—bars, a cell. He realized someone had imprisoned him.
Trying to recall what had happened, he remembered Clementine… she had knocked him out, tricked him. A more pressing thought struck him: Kael. "Kael… we're separated again. Is he okay?"
A voice called from the adjacent wall. "You're awake?" It belonged to a young man, speaking from the other side of the stone wall.
"I saw you being dragged in by Agusta," the voice continued. "So I figured… you must be someone important."
"Are you also imprisoned here? What is this place? Is there a way out?"
"No point trying. You've seen the cuffs on your wrists, right? With those on, you can't use mana."
"Cuffs?" Lumino looked down.
But instead of panicking, he focused. A soft golden glow pulsed from his hands.
Click.
The cuffs snapped open.
"I've removed them," Lumino said casually.
"WHAT?! That's impossible! You're saying you used brute force?"
"Nope," Lumino tilted his head. "I used power."
He didn't fully understand where his strength came from—but he knew it wasn't mana. It was something else. Something purer. He'd long accepted that.
"Wow… then you can break out of here. Could you help me too?" the voice asked eagerly.
"Of course," Lumino said.
He glanced at the bars in front of him, then vanished in a blink—teleporting straight out.
Huh. That was easier than I expected.
He walked to the neighboring cell and peered in. A black-haired young man with brown eyes sat with his wrists shackled.
Without hesitation, Lumino teleported inside and broke the cuffs.
"W-Whoa… thanks! I owe you my life!"
Lumino raised a hand. "No need to owe me."
"I'm Bandi. Nice to meet you."
"Lumino," he replied, shaking the man's hand. "Nice to meet you too."
"So… why were you imprisoned, Bandi?"
The man's eyes darkened.
"They… they brought me here to use my body as a… vessel."
"Vessel?" Lumino echoed, frowning. That word—what were the vampires really planning? "Are you a vampire too?" he asked.
"I'm a half-vampire. Half human."
"Human? So there are still humans in Letruish?"
"Not that I know of."
Lumino's shoulders slumped a bit. 'Then… what are you, really?'
Bandi laughed nervously. "Ah… my brave rescuer, actually I wanted to ask you something."
"Huh?"
"You…" Bandi hesitated, eyes narrowing. "Are you some kind of Lady Seraphine's secret... lover?"
"…What?" Lumino's mouth dropped open. "What are you even talking about!?" For the first time, he seriously wanted to punch someone.
"I mean… you're soaked in her pheromones. Ugh."
"Phero—what?"
"Lady Seraphine's scent is all over you," Bandi said bluntly.
Lumino sniffed his shirt, trying to catch a familiar scent. "I don't smell anything!"
"Maybe only vampires and werewolves can detect it. Either way, walking around smelling like that is dangerous."
"Why?"
"It'll attract people with grudges against Lady Seraphine."
Bandi leaned back, thinking. "And… I happen to know one."
Lumino narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Bandi smiled. "Someone who really hates Lady Seraphine."