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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Azantu (3)
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There were several iron doors in the basement, with a desk and chair placed in front of them.
And keys hung neatly on hooks along the wall.
'No one's guarding it. The bastards must have slacked off.'
Peering through the peephole in one of the iron doors, I saw that most of the cells were empty.
All but one.
In the corner, a small boy huddled with his knees pulled to his chest.
He must have heard me coming, but he didn't stir.
Clank, creak—!
I unlocked the door and stepped inside, feeling the boy's tiny body flinch.
"Ahem... Hey, kid. Your sister sent me. You're Aaron, right?"
I kept a safe distance and spoke softly. He trembled violently before slowly lifting his head.
Tear tracks stained his face, making him look even younger than his age—just like Diana.
"My sister? For real...?"
"Yeah. Diana was worried sick about you. Come on, let's get you out and head home."
"Hic—sob, waaah..."
Hearing Diana's name, Aaron seemed to relax, and the tears came flooding out.
"There, there. Good boy. Calm down now. No more crying—we gotta go see your sister."
"Sniff, hic... Okay, mister."
I soothed Aaron until he settled, then scooped him up and headed out the door.
"We're going outside now. There are scary things behind that door, so close your eyes tight, alright?"
"Okay..."
Not wanting to traumatize the kid, I covered his eyes and carried him out.
To be safe, I pulled his head into my chest so he couldn't see a thing.
"Smells like booze..."
Aaron muttered softly, but I pretended not to hear.
Better than the stench of blood, right?
As I exited the Barcolak hideout, Diana came running from where she'd been watching from afar.
"Aaron!"
"Sis—!"
The siblings embraced, sobbing uncontrollably.
I couldn't bring myself to interrupt, but time was of the essence.
"Kids? Sorry, but can we save the crying for later?"
"Sniff... Sorry, mister. Thank you for saving Aaron. Are you okay? You're not hurt too bad, are you?"
Diana had calmed a bit and hugged Aaron while thanking me.
"I'm fine. I told you, it was nothing."
"But your clothes are covered in blood..."
"It's okay, really. This isn't my blood."
A white lie.
But I really was fine, so I got straight to the point.
"Anyway, I've still got work to do. Diana, take Aaron and go home."
"Huh? You're not coming with us?"
"I'll swing by after I'm done. Until I say otherwise, act normal, got it? Oh, and take these. Use them if you need to."
I handed over all my money and a few items. Diana looked up at me for a moment, then nodded reluctantly and whispered,
"...You have to come back, okay? Promise?"
"Yeah. Even if it's late, I'll be there within three days. Be good and wait quietly. And remember, stick to back alleys where no one's around."
I gave them a smile, soothed the pair, and sent them off before heading back into the hideout.
The real work starts now.
'The problem isn't solved yet.'
The reason they kidnapped Aaron.
'Some vampire specifically named him.'
That was the info I'd gotten while interrogating one before killing him.
Of course, the guy didn't know it was a vampire—just thought it was orders from some big shot.
'And he said they'd come tonight.'
If the bastard lived, nothing would be resolved. I had to kill him.
No chance winning head-on, but luckily, I had the materials for a plan.
"Phew... Time to prepare for our guest."
Not much time left.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Deep into the night.
I sat in a chair amid the wreckage of the hideout.
Truth be told, I didn't expect everything to go perfectly.
I'm no genius strategist, and this was a hasty plan thrown together in hours—how flawless could it be?
'Still, I did what I could. The last piece is up to luck.'
I'd weighed the odds and prepped accordingly, but failure was possible.
'If it flops, it'll be tougher, but I'll switch to Plan B.'
As I waited idly, someone opened the door.
I glanced over and knew my lucky break had arrived.
'See? Gotta live right! Now it's all on me.'
The figure strolled through the blood-soaked mess without a care.
"Hmm, lovely aroma. Did you prepare this to welcome me? I like it."
The vampire smirked as he approached, then stopped, face hardening as he looked down at me.
"These look like my dogs, though. You know what you've done, right?"
Curiosity stayed his hand—he wasn't attacking yet.
I stood to face him.
"I just got to town, and these guys tried to shake me down. Pissed me off."
"Oh? So you came here and slaughtered them? Why stick around instead of running?"
"The dog's fault is the master's, right? Wanted to see your face."
I bullshitted freely—believe it or not.
He didn't seem to care about details anyway.
"Fine. But I had them on a job. This is inconvenient."
"Oops, my bad."
"It was dinnertime, too. Ruined my appetite."
He eyed me like roadkill, chatting casually.
Arrogant and talkative.
"So, where'd you stash the kid?"
Damn, busted.
"I roughed up everyone here and let the one kid go. Why him, though?"
I considered denying it, but he knew. No point.
Instead, I probed how he'd targeted Aaron.
This blabbermouth might spill, and knowing the source mattered.
"Hm, no big reason. I like kids' blood, and I smelled a tasty one at the apothecary. Told them to grab him."
So that's where it started.
Diana avoided danger well, but limits exist.
Especially with Aaron sick—no choice but the apothecary.
"Sigh... Guess I'll send others tomorrow. For now, you'll do."
Blood veins shot from his fingertips toward my limbs.
"Hup?!"
Tense the whole talk, I barely dodged.
Drew my weapon and charged.
Clang—!
My swing met red-grown claws.
His other claw slashed my gut, shredding my battered armor.
"Whoops, almost diced you. Tougher than you look."
"Gah! Careful—I'm premium merchandise!"
I ducked the onslaught.
Red energy closed in on my face.
Crash—
I rolled aside, chilled to the bone.
"Tch, slippery one."
Good—he wanted me alive for blood, not dead yet.
Didn't mean I had a shot, though.
Shing—!
I gritted and swung—blocked easily.
Blood veins from his claws sliced me everywhere.
Aimed to immobilize, but I don't drop that easy.
Swing after swing, all blocked, but I kept at it.
"Regen like that? Fresh treat. Exciting."
My enhanced body couldn't bridge the gap.
His red claws and blood shots were untouchable.
If he wanted me dead, I'd be meat already.
"Regen too fast—too feisty. Gotta butcher you first, even with waste."
His attacks intensified.
Faster, sharper red claws.
"Urk!"
I resisted with my sword as best I could...
But couldn't block everything.
And finally.
Slice!
Even Sturdiness had limits—my sword arm flew off.
'Right arm again. Whatever—it's ending soon.'
I charged with final desperation.
Crunch—
His arm pierced my chest.
"What? Delivered yourself gift-wrapped? Great service. I'll use this place more."
If I survive, maybe.
He muttered low, sinking fangs into my neck.
Ignoring blood drain for the first time, I grinned cheekily.
"Sir, impatient tonight? First-customer special—enjoy the fireworks."
Words done, I bit down on the ring artifact hidden in my mouth and activated it.
Whoosh!
Sparks flew; my body ignited.
Fire spread to the clinging vampire.
"Gah?! You mad bastard!"
He panicked, trying to shake me off, but I clung like a cicada with my remaining arm and legs.
His arm shredded my guts and heart.
His other hand ripped my left arm; when I held, he reached for my legs.
'Too late.'
Flames leaped from me, turning the room into an inferno instantly.
Not just any fire.
"You! Planned this from the start! Mutual destruction!"
To die with him, I'd set the stage.
Oil from kitchen and storage, spread everywhere.
Bloody mess hid it, but overt would tip him off—so I baited the fight to smash barrels.
Oil smell amid battle? With a psycho charging while shredded and bleeding? Nah.
Sprinkled light trails between barrels like fuses.
Roar! Boom!
Central blaze hit oil, chain-reacting.
Whole building a bonfire pyre.
'Whoa, spectacular.'
Limbs gone, I bit his shoulder, hanging by teeth, admiring casually.
Oil vials in my clothes; chest pierce soaked me into live kindling.
'Ignite with fire artifact—done.'
Put it in mouth lest arm loss nix it.
"Gaaaah—!"
He thrashed aflame; I detached, rolling away.
Eyes burned blind.
Boom!
Explosions echoed.
My tenacious life force clung stubbornly.
'Good it worked.'
Lucky all around.
He outclassed me physically, but that's it.
Superior body and blood weapons—no fancy magic.
Low-tier vamp, probably.
'Not surviving this blaze.'
Fire's a vamp weakness.
'Maybe not here, but this firepower? Nah.'
Thud—
Ears gave out as he collapsed, regen failing.
Only heat and shakes left.
Vamp who ordered Aaron nabbed: dead.
His crew: wiped.
'Play dumb from here—problem solved.'
Biggest worry: him not entering.
Blood-sensitive vamp sniffs trouble, bails or calls backup—plan dead.
'Pure luck there, but cocky bastard helped.'
Complacency: worst enemy.
Made me check my Avatar overconfidence.
'Test real death now. Couldn't with Hans. ...Might be limit soon.'
Heart gone, still hanging on? Miracle.
Sturdiness and Super Recovery burning last dregs.
Felt debris crush down as life ebbed.
'Was fun, though. [Mission: Help the unfortunate girl find her brother.] ...Success...'
✅ MISSION COMPLETE ✅ Help the unfortunate girl find her brother.
And so, Heinz met his end in this otherworld alongside the vampire.