A normal day. The sun couldn't reach the buttocks.
The air wasn't gentle — it tasted of iron.
Kade Fubuster sat silently in the room, on a rickety bed. The same room that smelled foul from not being cleaned for ages.
He was holding the recruitment board's newspaper from the Heroes' League. Kade clicked his tongue in contempt when he saw that name.
"That damn place—bites and never gives back the bone. Bloodsuckers, disgusting."
Today the salvation system still hadn't sent any mission. A day so ordinary it was boring.
"How dull."
The news screamed in red across the page: ten heroes currently missing in a dungeon. The situation looked bad.
For the past few months heroes had been disappearing, and weeks later bodies were found. Yes — they had died in the most gruesome way. Their blood had been drained dry. Their bodies curled up, their skin lost color.
Those who saw the bodies vomited and were haunted. Expedition team members had insomnia for months. Some couldn't get past the trauma — they all quit at once.
Back then Kade had still been a low-level foot soldier in the guild and had heard of the case. But he couldn't intervene; the case was later upgraded to S+.
"Oh damn, I was just some E-rank brat then."
Rank E was basically a kid watching the doors at headquarters. You did whatever you were told.
"Ah, right. Complete missions and you get gold coins. Withdraw like a bank card, huh."
DING > DING > DING
The system's static sound rang out.
The familiar blue window appeared. Red text scrolled and flashed across the screen.
"Players can withdraw cash after each mission. Or hand it to the system to invest and earn monthly interest."
What? Oh fuck, the system works like a private bank? What's the interest rate?
The red text kept blinking: "1% per day."
OMG. This isn't a salvation system. It's more like a loan shark.
The system continued:
"Would you like to deposit? You currently have 2 gold coins."
Kade seized the chance immediately.
"Alright, deposit the two gold coins."
Kade clicked his tongue in resignation.
"No missions today to earn more gold, huh."
The system hesitated for five seconds, then typed back:
"The system scanned a 3 km radius — no one in need of help detected."
"It's so hard to help others.. How come life is so peaceful?"
The system replied;
"Actually, we can create people in need ourselves."
"How?"
"The system will give a hint. Do you see the ten hero characters who are missing?"
"So?"
"The Guild is offering a reward of 1,000 gold coins to anyone who rescues them."
In truth, this system was the real villain — a capitalist, an investor, a truly villainous boss.
Kade smelled a merciless moneymaking scheme.
"Haha, wait and see, Guild heroes. I'll take all your money. Each hero is worth a hundred gold coins."
The man, who could be called the century's villain, smiled with greed.
"I accept this quest."
Click. Click.
The system issued a mission to the player.
MISSION. MISSION
[Rescue the 10 heroes being drained by vampire monsters]
[Reward: 10 gold coins]
[Reward: +10 Humanity]
[New skill: Teleportation]
[Support: + Map] Do you want to open the map to the vampires' area? YES or NO?
Kade pressed "YES."
"You have 10 minutes to reach the location and rescue those 10 people. Their condition is not good."
Mount Fane. A place valued at 1,000 gold coins. No — it was 4 km away.
"Fuck, 4 km and 10 minutes. Sounds crazy."
"You can buy high-speed running shoes for 3 gold coins."
The system hesitated, then typed…
"Your current balance is 0 coins. You can take a 3-coin advance with an interest of 1 coin/day."
By the time he read that, Kade was certain: "This system is the real blood-sucking vampire."
"Fine, I accept."
A pair of bloody-red shoes appeared before Kade's eyes.
"I really hate red."
In an instant the shoes changed color to black.
"1,010 gold coins. I'm coming to save you."
—---------------------------------------------------
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At the cave on Mount Fane.
The 10 heroes to be rescued were hanging upside down. Chains bound their legs and pulled them up to the cave ceiling.
Around them lay many backpacks and gear, even some coins scattered on the ground.
Blood dripped from their bodies into glass bottles below. A slightly gruesome, haunting sight.
There were also some dried corpses around, their shapes hard to make out.
"What a beautiful scene. Heroes really do have the sweetest blood."
The vampire — today's main character — swung a glass of bright red liquid.
"How splendid. Human blood."
He sipped and ran his long tongue along his lips.
On his shoulder a bat gently flapped its wings as if being doted on.
"My good little one."
The vampire stroked it with a hand tipped in sharp claws.
The scene sent chills down anyone's spine. Anyone who saw it would shudder.
But surely this vampire felt it was a warm, cozy scene — like a father stroking his child.
He glanced at the clock. A hideous pocket watch, ugly as hell. It looked monstrous.
"Three minutes left before their blood is drained. Oh humans, become a part of my flesh."
Kiiii, Chuuuuu, Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii The bat screamed; it seemed excited.
"My little darling must like it too."
Kiiiiiiiiii, chuuuuuuuuuuuu
The bat's cry sounded so sweet. Should I taste your blood to see how you taste?
The bat felt danger; it "GRU GRU"d in its mouth — weak and a little scared.
—--------
At this moment Kade had reached the mountain base.
Time had been longer than planned. Few knew that our protagonist was terrible with directions. He ran off the map's guide a total of six times.
Now Kade had arrived at the map's marked location. The map vanished into thin air: "What a crooked merchant."
But he still couldn't find the cave.
Two minutes left.
"Open the map. Damn it, it disappeared."
"Even if I live a second life, my navigation skills won't be reliable."
The system, typing away, suddenly deleted the text and started over.
"You can ask me for directions for 1 gold coin."
"If you weren't a system, you could be a robber."
"Do you agree to pay 1 gold coin for directions?"
Kade grit his teeth. He had no real choice in the matter.
"I agree."
"Do you see that cave over there? The cave at the top of the mountain, with a willow tree at the entrance? Look straight and you can see it."
Kade looked straight ahead. It wasn't hard to spot.
"Holy shit, is that guidance worth 1 gold coin? What was I expecting?"
"You have one minute left to get there."
—---------------------------------------------------