The Hero Party returned to the inn, where Bange was waiting. His sharp eyes scanned the group, then narrowed.
"Where is that girl? Isn't she with you?"
I sighed. "I'm not the kind of person to keep someone as a slave. I released Yevna to live her own life. It was sad to say goodbye, but it was the right thing."
Bange muttered under his breath. Becoming rich is now just a dream.
Night passed quickly, and morning arrived. We prepared to leave for the next town. Sanot unfolded a map, his brow furrowed.
"Our destination is Necto Town. It isn't drawn here, so we must tread cautiously."
Two days of travel brought us to a weathered signboard pointing toward Necto. We followed, and by the third day, we reached what looked more like a town than a city. A demonic aura hung heavy in the air.
I remembered something strange. A day and a half earlier, exhaustion had clouded my mind. I had mistakenly drunk poison. Last Minute Luck activated, guiding me to an antidote plant in the wild. At that same moment, a sudden gust of wind shifted the signboard's direction. Without realizing it, we had entered this cursed town.
Evening fell as we walked its streets. Rare-looking people moved in shadows, but my companions paid them no mind. We booked rooms at an inn, paying with D coins. The receptionist frowned. These coins… they don't look like dead man's coins. Still, he said nothing.
Morning came. I left for the forest to train, cutting down undead with Holy Slash. Sanot went to drink wine, but spat it out—the taste was foul, named "Warrior's Blood." Clever fought in the arena, unconcerned. Alovent visited a hostess club, only to collapse unconscious.
We regrouped later, unsettled. "This town is strange," I said. "We should leave." My companions agreed.
But fate intervened. A bandit group stormed through the streets, dragging kidnapped villagers in a cart. My blood boiled. I chased them, Holy Path carrying me faster than their spells. They tried to slow me with curses, but Holy Immune awakened within me, resisting all negative effects.
The bandits halted, pulling a girl from the cart as a hostage. "Stay back, Hero, or she dies!"
I stepped forward, calm. "If you dare to touch me, then kill me in one move."
They unleashed a concentration of powerful magic. Luck twisted fate. My Holy Shield turned invisible, confusing them. In the chaos, I saved the girl.
"You have committed countless evil deeds," I declared. "Now you die."
I struck with Holy Slash, catastrophic energy surging. The bandits fell, lifeless. Catastrophic points burned into my status, though I did not yet understand their meaning.
The girl's eyes shone with gratitude. "What is your name?"
"Deaver Dransart," I replied.
She hesitated. "Are you… the Hero of humankind?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "Do not worry. If you face trouble in the future, rely on me."
Her smile faltered, sadness flickering. "Thank you, Hero."
The townsfolk guided us. "Take the straight path. It will lead you to Necto Town." We bid farewell and departed.
But behind us, the girl's form shifted. Her eyes glowed crimson, her aura thickened. She stood tall, regal.
"My people," she whispered, her voice echoing in the night. "The Hero has come. But fear not. He cannot uncover our true identity. We are vampires, and our queen shall reign."
Thus, the Hero unknowingly aided the Vampire Queen. Necto Town awaits, but shadows deepen. Betrayal, monsters, and hidden truths gather around Dransart's path.