Chapter 41: No Need to Hold Back Then

The girl scoffed at Chloe’s words.

“Talk it out? Forget that you just ambushed me—I’ve got my own score to settle with you vampires.”

Her voice made Chloe pause.

‘Why does she sound familiar?’

‘Like I’ve heard it somewhere, but I can’t place it.’

As Chloe pondered, an ice arrow shot toward her. She barely dodged it.

“I just want to get back to Tarrilberg. Can’t you spare a sip of blood? I wasn’t going to hurt you…”

Realizing her words sounded suspicious, Chloe added, “Look, my ice shield was third-tier magic, but the fireball I used to ambush you was only second-tier, right? Doesn’t that prove I didn’t want to kill you?”

“Even so, I’m not letting you off. I told you, I’ve got a score to settle. And what if you just thought a second-tier fireball was enough to take me out?”

The girl hurled another fireball as she spoke.

“What did I ever do to you?!”

Chloe wailed, dodging again, though the blast left her covered in soot.

She’d stayed in the palace since becoming a loli, only going out with Sheffield. How could she have crossed a human?

“It’s not just you—it’s all vampires.”

The girl’s voice was icy.

“Then what’s that got to do with me?!”

The girl didn’t answer, just kept throwing fireballs.

Realizing she couldn’t reason with her, Chloe dodged another fireball, gritted her teeth, and glared.

‘Fine, don’t blame me for not holding back.’

‘I’ll knock you out, drink your blood, and rip off that veil to see who you are!’

‘I’ll beat you every time I see you!’

Chloe gathered mana in her hands, forming a massive fireball and hurling it at the girl.

The girl dodged it effortlessly as it reached her.

She sneered. “No wonder you didn’t fight back. You—”

Her words cut off as she sensed something wrong.

An ice arrow, hidden in the dust from the fireball’s explosion, shot toward her new position.

Her face paled.

“Tch.”

She barely dodged the arrow, realizing her opponent wasn’t as weak as she’d thought.

As she adjusted to attack again, her body sank.

Looking down, she saw she’d fallen into Chloe’s trap spell.

‘Damn.’

‘This one’s way more experienced than I thought—stronger too.’

The girl clenched her teeth, her face grim.

“Bet you won’t trash-talk mid-fight again!”

Chloe stood above the trap, chin raised smugly.

“I’ll give you a chance. Let me have some blood, and I swear I won’t hurt you!”

She paused, adding, “If you’re worried, you can bleed yourself for me!”

“I surrender, I surrender!”

The girl’s expression shifted, shouting in panic.

“That’s more like it!”

Chloe leaned down.

She could keep fighting and win, but with pursuers nearby, she might not have time to drink her fill.

‘Tch, if I weren’t so hungry, I wouldn’t have dragged this out…’

She brought her mouth to the girl’s pale neck.

Unexpectedly, the girl broke free from the trap, slamming her staff into Chloe’s stomach.

Chloe doubled over in pain.

“Childish.”

The girl sneered, swinging her staff at Chloe’s head.

‘Playing dirty, huh?!’

‘No more acting!’

As the staff neared her head, Chloe tilted her body, perfectly dodging the blow.

Before the girl could attack again, her hand felt light—her staff was now in Chloe’s grip.

By the time she realized, Chloe was charging, staff raised.

“Here’s how you use a staff!”

Chloe shouted, the staff slicing through the air with a sharp whistle, swift as lightning.

The force alone seemed enough to cut skin.

One second, six strikes!

Several muffled thuds rang out. Chloe nodded smugly at the unconscious girl.

“Serves you right for not listening.”

She knelt, leaned in, and gently bit the girl’s neck, drinking her fill without causing lasting harm.

Then she reached for the veil.

‘Let’s see who you are!’

But when she lifted it, she froze.

The girl was stunning—long lashes, a slightly upturned nose, glossy lips.

But that wasn’t why Chloe froze.

“…Lena?”

Lena Bryant, her sister.

Good thing she hadn’t drunk too much.

That blood loss would heal in a few days.

‘So, her grudge against vampires was to avenge me?’

Realizing this, Chloe was overjoyed.

‘Knew my sister was just being tsundere!’

‘Hehe, since it’s you, I won’t hold back!’

‘Nice staff—mine!’

‘This magic cloak looks good—yoinked!’

‘All your food—taken!’

‘Money? Nah, don’t need it.’

Lena’s clothes were nice—better than Chloe’s tattered linen—but as a girl and her sister, Chloe left them alone.

‘Got everything worth taking…’

Looking at Lena, Chloe pouted.

‘Haven’t seen her in years, and she’s this grown?’

‘Bigger than her brother!’

Comparing her flat chest to Lena’s, Chloe felt a pang of envy.

“Chase her! The sound came from here!”

Hearing the pursuers, Chloe knew it was time to go.

‘Run!’

‘Full stomach, full power!’

“Wake up! Miss, wake up!”

Lena felt someone shaking her shoulders.

Groggily opening her eyes, she saw armored soldiers.

“What are you doing here, miss?”

Lena sat up, leaning against a tree, her head throbbing.

“I’m Lena Bryant, the Sword Saint’s sister. I heard a vampire fled to this forest, so I came to investigate. I want to avenge my brother.”

“Sword Saint?”

The soldier looked shocked.

Noting her clothes’ quality, he realized she wasn’t ordinary, and his demeanor turned respectful.

“What happened, Miss Bryant?”

“I know what you’re asking, but sorry, I don’t have useful info. I… lost badly to her.”

The soldiers exchanged glances.

“Your strength…?”

“Third-tier mage.”

They fell silent.

Someone who could easily defeat a third-tier mage was beyond them. Some felt lucky they hadn’t found her.

“Miss Lena, come back to town with us. I understand your need for revenge, but she’s too strong for you alone.”

They escorted her toward the town.

“That move… Brother?”

Recalling the last thing she saw before passing out, Lena murmured softly.

From a tree dozens of meters away, Chloe watched, relieved, then left.

She’d gone some distance but, worried, came back to keep an eye on Lena.

If those soldiers dared mistreat her sister, she’d teach them a lesson.

‘My sister’s mine to bully!’

‘Hmph.’