Chapter 119: She Wants to Suck Blood, Come Quickly!

“Hey… hey, Master!”

Lov jolted awake as Hall gently tapped her cheek.

She blinked, dazed—as if waking from a deep dream.

Her eyes focused on the black-haired youth in his short-sleeved nightshirt, the strong lines of his chest visible through the fabric’s gap.

Half… half-naked master…

“What is it? Why are you in my room so early?”

“I… I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry, Master! I thought it was just a dream…”

The young maid trembled, flustered beyond measure. Her neck flushed crimson—adorable, making Hall instinctively want to pinch her cheeks.

But Lov flinched away, nearly losing her balance and toppling over.

She’d just had an extremely inappropriate dream—of sneaking into Hall’s room at dawn, touching his blanket, searching beneath for that thing that grew larger.

So shameful…

If it were just a dream, Lov could brush it off. At her age, such fantasies weren’t rare.

But just now—if her senses hadn’t deceived her—she’d actually come here while he slept, almost attacking him.

No, no, what was she doing?!

Putting theory into practice? That was going too far! What if the Master discovered she wasn’t pure anymore…

No, no, no.

She often wore revealing clothes in front of him, teasingly showing off.

Lov blushed fiercely, covering her face with both hands, unable to look at Hall.

Yet she remembered—though Hall knew she flirted, he’d never truly touched her.

That meant the Master knew she was essentially a pure, good girl. That’s why he held back. If he thought her impure, he’d have already taken her to bed.

Her thoughts shifted rapidly.

But no matter how she twisted it, attacking him so early in the morning was wrong.

Still… the dream felt so real.

As if something had guided her.

Could it be her own suppressed desires?

The pure little maid dared not meet Hall’s gaze, nor speak a word.

“You sleepwalked?”

“I… maybe, Master? I must’ve sleepwalked. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Hall’s words saved her from spiraling guilt.

“It’s fine.”

The black-haired youth waved dismissively.

It really was fine.

Mainly because they were still inside Rohn Cathedral. Maria or Christine might arrive any moment to call him out.

If they caught them like this—

Then…

Given Christine’s behavior yesterday, he feared she’d go dark.

A clever spectator turning malicious? Extremely dangerous.

“Well then, Master, what would you like for breakfast?”

“As long as you make it.”

“Yes, Master!”

Lov instantly perked up, scurrying out with energetic steps.

But Hall noticed she paused at the doorway, motionless for a moment—as if speaking to someone—before finally leaving.

Shortly after, a golden-haired girl in a pale white lace dress and straw hat appeared in his view.

“Baron Hall, starting the morning with such delightful activities with your young maid~?”

You’re free today?

Tonight, we’ll perform the Blessing Ceremony. We leave the capital latest by the day after tomorrow, traveling across Bazelle Empire for more ceremonies.

Ah, I checked the itinerary. Wester Town is the most important stop, right?

Hall knew Wester Town well.

First, it was near Christine’s childhood orphanage, just outside that remote western village.

Second, Wester Town was the key border zone between the Papal State and the Western Demon Realm. The only railway to Sunset City passed through here, so Bazelle Empire stationed large military forces nearby.

But due to centuries of repeated wars and skirmishes, it remained just a small town—not rising to the prominence of Saint Orleans.

Security was mostly handled by adventurers.

And Wester Town was nearly a hundred miles from the nearest lord’s territory under the Western Demon King’s domain.

That hundred-mile stretch was barren mountains and wilderness—no strategic resources, no settlements—making it a buffer zone.

Even if the Demon Army attacked Wester Town, the damage to Bazelle Empire would be limited, since the nearest major city was a hundred miles away.

They could always retake it later.

Though the government was neglectful, citizens deeply cared. Adventurers who regularly ventured into the demon lands to monitor lords and the Demon King felt far more responsible than officials.

They often donated money and supplies, even awarding local adventurers with banners and honors.

The Adventurer’s Guild—a non-governmental official organization—functioned like a massive mercenary company. Recognizing this, they negotiated with Bazelle’s military to establish a special branch in Wester Town.

Administrative and personnel authority rested with the Bazelle Emperor, while the Guild managed operations.

Part of the funding came from the imperial family. After calculations, this was cheaper than maintaining a standing army of ten thousand in Wester Town—thus shaping its current state.

In the game, if players chose a peaceful solo path, this was a great place to settle.

Hall had once considered living here.

The heroines would never find him.

But judging from in-game infrastructure, Wester Town wasn’t great.

Entertainment options were vastly inferior to Saint Louis or Sunset City.

He wanted to escape and enjoy life, not spend every day staring at monsters baring their fangs—occasionally waking up to the bell tower’s alarm screaming about demon attacks.

True. Though vampires and the Bazelle royal family secretly colluded, they still performed public acts of minor conflict to maintain appearances.

“Yes, it’s my hometown, Baron Hall. Did you know?”

Christine’s eyes grew distant. Her memories after the orphanage fire were hazy.

But life at the orphanage itself was familiar—yet she felt something was missing…

Her head ached.

The golden-haired girl now sat with the black-haired youth in the café closest to Rohn Cathedral.

He’d deliberately ordered her strawberry shaved ice—a treat she supposedly despised in the game’s lore—but she was eating it happily.

“Not really.”

“Then I’ll show you.”

“Sure.”

Perfect. He wanted to go anyway. Now he had an excuse.

Even if the area was sealed by the Church, with Christine leading, access would be seamless.

“Oh, I thought Baron Hall would refuse~”

“How could I refuse such a beautiful lady’s kind invitation?”

Seeing Christine eyeing him suspiciously, Hall feared his ulterior motive was exposed, so he replied casually.

“Really? Weren’t you terrified last night of being discovered by the Church and burned at the stake?”

“If you’re not afraid, why should I be? Scoop me some ice.”

He said it with half a command.

“Oh? So Baron Hall has decided to flirt now?”

With such a perfect opportunity—and Leticia and my fiancée absent—it’s the ideal time to build our bond.”

Hall steadily dismantled Christine’s doubts.

“Have you eaten anything from Leticia?”

“Yes.”

His answer was flat.

“Then I won’t give you any.”

She yanked the strawberry ice toward herself.

Hall felt he’d successfully navigated the situation.

Next was to head to Wester Town, investigate the orphanage, and protect Christine along the way.

Hopefully, nothing would happen.

Just as Hall gazed out the window, lost in thought—

Christine stared at his profile, thinking of something else entirely.

“Princess Vier, should we watch from here, or act tonight?”

At noon, Parousia and Princess Vier Masala sat eating in an old restaurant northwest of Rohn Cathedral.

They’d been watching the cathedral’s entrance, having seen Hall and civilian-dressed Christine walk out together earlier.

Seeing those two chatting and laughing.

This guy is clearly a double agent.

Maybe even Man Dasha was deceived.

Damn bastard.

“No, we’ll just observe. Find the right moment to strike against Christine.”

Princess Vier Masala sipped bright red watermelon juice. Her delicate face showed little expression. She wasn’t tall, wearing a dark red, unusually elaborate Gothic dress for her kind—making her look like a younger sister accompanying an older one opposite Parousia.

But propping her chin on her right hand, her blood-red pupils shimmering, she looked far more mature and reliable than Parousia.

“But Your Highness, didn’t you send me to Saint Louis specifically to investigate Christine? According to you, she’s the saintess candidate with the highest sanctity among the seven. If she becomes the Saintess, our vampire clan will struggle to grow.”

Parousia didn’t know the cross that annoyed her so much originated from Christine.

If she did, she’d report it as critical intelligence immediately.

“Yes, she’s dangerous. Her sanctity directly counters our vampiric source magic, rendering blood magic ineffective on those she blesses.”

If blood magic was suppressed, vampire combat power would plummet.

“Ah, so should we seize an opportunity to eliminate her? By the way, was it your order that took out Bazelle’s previous saintess candidate?”

She had a mere employee’s mindset. About New Year’s Eve, Parousia had thoroughly reported everything to Princess Vier.

“No, not me. No need to target Bazelle’s former candidate. Rohn isn’t a threat. But that youth named William—he’s interesting. Was he the one who just walked out with Christine?”

“Ah yes, yes, that’s him.”

Parousia suddenly realized she’d forgotten to inform the Princess of this crucial detail.

“He carries a familiar aura. Though masked by Christine’s presence, it can’t escape my perception…”

As one of the five Vampire Princes, Vier Masala’s body carried the blood of the first vampire blessed by the Demon God—an unsurpassed magical talent in the game.

“Huh? Really? I’ve been around him so long and noticed nothing. Can Your Highness tell just from one glance?”

Parousia lacked self-awareness.

She just wanted to impress her superior.

“Go find a chance to meet him. Best if you can drink his blood.”

Vier commanded.

“Eh… Huh?!”

Parousia gasped in shock. “Your Highness, weren’t we pure-blood heirs taught from childhood never to drink human male blood?”

“Ahh, but there’s a condition.”

“What condition?”

“Ordinary males—he’s different.”

“I… I know he’s different! But Your Highness…”

Back in Saint Orleans, when Hall’s blood touched Parousia’s tiny wings, she felt a strange warmth—unwilling to admit it, but it felt good. Her magic circuits flowed smoother, and for hours, her magical perception skyrocketed. Now Vier wanted her to drink Hall’s blood?

What if she had an extreme reaction?

“You don’t need to worry. He might not even be human in the true sense anymore.”

Vier’s words made Parousia flustered.

Even her dull mind sensed the Princess was deliberately provoking her.

This was a lie. Being deceived by her most trusted superior hurt.

“Little Parousia, I swear upon the Empress—I’m not lying.”

“Waa… understood, Lady Vier.”

Parousia knew Vier was close to the Empress, so the oath meant little.

But she had no choice. For the sake of the vampire clan, she’d find a chance to drink Hall’s blood.

Just as Parousia prepared to rise and set up a “chance encounter” with Hall that night—

She heard the Princess across the table, gently tapping her glass of watermelon juice with a silver spoon:

“If you fail… I’ll do it myself.”

Absolutely not! How could such a vile baron taint the Princess?!

A sudden surge of mission-driven determination ignited in Parousia’s heart.

Hall had no idea his blood was now coveted by two vampire beauties.

He was still with Christine.

After dessert, Christine announced she wanted to go shopping.

Shopping was mundane for ordinary girls—but for a saintess candidate, it was a luxury.

Saintess candidates seemed idle daily.

In reality, they either translated ancient texts for the Church, deepened their theological understanding, studied more sacred arts to avoid falling behind competitive peers, or entertained visiting nobles.

Occasionally, they hosted tea parties for noble daughters.

High status, yes—but also exhausting.

Shopping was unlikely. It risked public uproar and gossip.

Those who saw her might praise the saintess candidate for mingling with commoners, so kind and approachable.

Those who didn’t might complain she idled on imperial funds, doing nothing useful.

In the game, only if a heroine maxed Christine’s affection could shopping events trigger.

Or if Christine left the Church.

Now, Hall realized Christine’s affection for him was quite high—fine, he’d accept it.

Anyway, no other main heroine was currently in Bazelle Empire.

As for Christine’s “bad route” events—they wouldn’t trigger in a solo scenario.

Besides, he couldn’t escape yet. He still had to follow her to the orphanage.

“Baron Hall, carrying all these bags—aren’t you angry?”

“How could I be? Miss Christine, are you underestimating the physique of Saint Louis’s新一代swordsmanship champion?”

He wasn’t tired, but he had to play the smug jerk.

Because Christine’s intent wasn’t genuine—given Maria’s devoted attitude, these items could easily be delegated.

“Hehe~ Pity I don’t get to test Baron Hall’s stamina tonight.”

Dusk approached. In January, the sun set early. She turned back, smiling at him in the fading light.

Suddenly, a gust of northwest wind swept through the alley, lifting the straw hat Christine wore to conceal her identity.

Her golden hair—more radiant than sunlight—fluttered wildly in the wind.

Beautiful.

Christine reached to press it down, but her hands were too small.

Instinctively, Hall cast a simple wind spell, guiding the drifting hat back in a graceful arc.

It landed somewhat awkwardly atop her head.

“Ahh… you did that on purpose, didn’t you? Using magic to tease me?”

“No, the first gust was natural.”

“Oh, you’ll never admit it. Baron Hall, you’re just playing hard to get. I understand completely.”

She adjusted her hat, then lifted the hem of her pale white lace dress slightly.

Her calves, heart-stoppingly fair, seemed to glow with a soft light.

“Miss Christine, please behave. I am a man with a future wife.”

Hall abruptly changed tactics. If this continued, things would get dangerous.

“You do have a fiancée, true. But I can be your lover~ The Church forbids a Saintess from marrying, but says nothing about lovers.”

You’re such a literalist.

He thought it, but didn’t reply.

Silence meant she couldn’t escalate.

“Okay or not~? If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as consent. Don’t worry, I won’t tell your fiancée.”

Christine cooed, using a tone carefully trained by saintess candidates.

After all, looking ethereal and holy was essential—imagine preaching, then suddenly blurting out a strange regional accent. A preaching disaster.

People would think, “She’s pretty, shame about the voice.”

“Miss Christine, let’s end the jokes here. We should return and prepare for tonight’s Blessing Ceremony.”

Hall checked his watch.

A new way to keep distance.

Douse her passion.

If Christine was just playing, this would bore her.

If she truly liked him, this would disgust her.

Who wants cold water dumped on their enthusiasm?

But unexpectedly—

She simply replied:

“Yay!”

……

Night fell.

A platform was erected in the square outside Rohn Cathedral.

Like Sophia’s visit to Saint Louis, the stage for the Blessing Ceremony was adorned with herbs and silverware soaked in holy water to amplify the ritual’s reach.

Cardinal Rohn seemed extraordinarily generous. Though this was just a trial run—with Christine returning to the capital next month for a grander ceremony—the scale and materials used tonight were anything but modest.

To prevent assassins or hostile races from attacking Christine, the two Deputy Knight-Captains of Rohn stood guard on either side of the platform.

The Cardinal himself—a man with a 【Warrior’s Heart】—stood sword in hand on a high balcony of Rohn Cathedral, ready to intervene at the slightest disturbance.

As for Hall, personally chosen by Christine as her guard, he stood at the very bottom of the elevated blessing stairs—right below her.

The second most prominent position.

Plus, Rohn had specially provided him a silver-white knight’s uniform to change into.

He looked sharp.

The gathered young women of Bazelle’s capital had their hearts racing, some noble ladies even tossing flirtatious glances his way.

They whispered about this young knight entrusted with protecting the saintess candidate.

Dreaming their future husbands would be just like him.

Indeed, knights assigned to guard saintess candidates or key Church women were dream partners for many Western Continent girls.

Status, prestige, romance, and the fantasy of becoming a saintess—all perfectly fulfilled.

So much so that a set of Church-marked silver knight armor fetched a high price on the black market—ownership granted near-priority access almost everywhere.

But soon, as Frida appeared, the girls’ dreams shattered.

Frida was known to every young woman in Bazelle.

A female trailblazer, praised in every major newspaper as the Crown Princess.

—Intelligent, rational, self-reliant, hardworking—every positive, inspirational label was attached to her.

She was the idol of most Bazelle Empire girls.

“Hey, Knight William, the blessing seems to be going smoothly. Free tonight to keep me company?”

Christine, atop the platform, stood with closed eyes and clasped hands, deeply focused on the blessing ritual, bestowing divine grace upon Bazelle’s capital.

Frida knew Christine was oblivious to the outside world in this state.

She intended to lure Hall away.

“Probably not free, Princess Frida. I must guard until Miss Christine finishes the ceremony.”

“But I have a troubling matter, ah… no one trustworthy to help me.”

“Princess Frida, please seek someone else.”

The black-haired youth gave her no room to negotiate.

But Frida didn’t anger. She simply said:

“No time today? Then next time.”

And left.

Seemingly doing nothing.

But Hall knew—she’d deliberately created the impression, before everyone’s eyes, that they were close, that she trusted him deeply.

This fox-like woman was indeed cunning.

But later, he and Christine would leave for the next city.

Though Frida was politically powerful, as a woman stabilizing the capital’s affairs, she had to remain.

So it didn’t matter.

After leaving with Christine, they wouldn’t return to the capital. Once Christine finished the potentially most dangerous stop—Wester Town—and investigated the orphanage—

He’d make an excuse, then quietly disappear with Lov.

……

“So annoying! There’s just no chance to drink his blood!”

Parousia grumbled.

Christine’s intense sanctity kept her from approaching.

If Hall returned to the cathedral with Christine right after the ceremony—

Then the task from the Princess would fail.

She didn’t want to be useless!

So she bluntly wrote in the magic book linked to Hall:

“By order of the Princess, the noble Vampire Count shall feast upon your mortal blood. Come swiftly!”

After sending the message—

Parousia suddenly felt something was… off.