Chapter 87: The Rooftop Sniper

“Watch out! That one is coming!”

Her previous strategy was almost certainly doomed to fail; there was no more time. Lovelenica immediately commanded the two to prepare for battle.

Attestor had almost completely lost her combat ability. Without Lovelenica’s Divine Lure and defenses, Imeline would be vulnerable.

“Bang, bang, bang—”

Before they could even glimpse their assailant, three purple arcs of light, trails left by the projectiles, streaked across the night sky. The bullets hurtled towards Lovelenica and her companions.

Imeline raised her Wand, and a massive ice wall instantly surged forth before them. The three projectiles shattered the ice wall, yet their kinetic energy dissipated in the process. As the bullets clattered to the ground, everyone finally realized what they were.

Imeline voiced a question, mirroring the Black-robed Mage’s earlier bewilderment.

“These are… bullets? Is our assailant using firearms? Aren’t these weapons developed by the Hillebach Duchy? Could they be an infiltrator sent by the Hillebach Duchy?”

It was not without reason that Imeline, the Black-robed Mage, and even the minor figures from the Monster Hunter Guild had suspected the Hillebach Duchy upon seeing firearms.

The Hillebach Duchy was also a human nation. However, its people possessed relatively weaker inherent talents. Their top combat strength consisted of merely three Sixth-tier professionals.

Consequently, they continuously sought breakthroughs in other areas, developing Arcane Technology driven by magic.

The arcane streetlights in the Arcadia Kingdom, along with the arcane chandeliers and candles found in noble residences, all originated from the Hillebach Duchy.

While the Hillebach Duchy might not have been a powerful nation, its ingenuity was such that no other human kingdom ever considered attacking it.

Occasionally, even some Fantasy Creature nations engaged in trade with the Hillebach Duchy.

They also attempted to apply Arcane Technology to combat, and firearms were among their creations.

However, professionals from other human nations generally disdained firearms. They believed that creating magic bullets was an inefficient endeavor, yielding minimal results for substantial effort.

Thus, whenever firearms appeared, people instinctively assumed they belonged to the Hillebach Duchy.

In the original plot, after Attestor’s demise, the Arcadia Kingdom investigated the Hillebach Duchy. Their efforts yielded nothing, leading the Arcadia Kingdom to conclude that the Bloodkin must have purchased firearms from the Hillebach Duchy.

The dual Gun-swords used by the original body after its true nature was exposed seemed to confirm this, intensifying Lucia’s hatred for her former self.

Although the original novel ended with a complete victory for humanity, the author seemed to hint at an ensuing civil war among human nations after the defeat of the Fantasy Creatures. The ultimate outcome, it seemed, was known only to the author.

****

After the initial volley was repelled by Imeline’s ice wall, the assailant finally revealed themselves on the rooftop.

A girl with raven black hair, clad in a uniform and a short skirt, stood upon the roof. Her scarlet eyes, cold as frost, fixed intently upon the group.

“Another Incomplete Bloodkin?”

Lucia glared at the black-haired girl poised on the rooftop. She had witnessed such intensely scarlet eyes, almost bleeding with their color, twice before. The Fallen Nun and Rachel were the previous two, and according to Church intelligence, both were Incomplete Bloodkin. Never had she seen such crimson eyes in a normal human, which meant the black-haired girl before them was, in all likelihood, also an Incomplete Bloodkin.

In truth, before encountering these Bloodkin, Lucia had only ever seen one person with red eyes—a slightly brighter, more vibrant crimson. That person was her teacher, Lovelenica.

‘However, her teacher’s eyes were merely unique, and entirely different from those of these Incomplete Bloodkin.’

The black-haired girl’s expression shifted to slight surprise at Lucia’s question, before quickly returning to normal. “So you can tell, can you?” she stated flatly, acknowledging her identity. “That makes sense, given they died by your hand.”

Lovelenica’s eyes narrowed. From the black-haired girl’s words, she detected a peculiar undertone.

The “they” the black-haired girl referred to undoubtedly meant the Fallen Nun and Rachel. Moreover, her tone suggested she considered them subordinates. It was highly probable that she possessed more clues regarding Lovelenica’s Primal Power.

“Hey… you really hit the mark, Lovelenica…”

Imeline stared intently at the black-haired girl, maintaining her guard.

“Mm.”

Lovelenica responded, taking a step forward.

“From your tone, it seems you don’t particularly care if we call you an Incomplete Bloodkin,” Lovelenica observed. “Rachel, on the other hand, seemed quite bothered by it.”

“A mere title means nothing,” the girl replied.

“So, who sent you? And by what method did you become a Vampire?”

“I have nothing to say.”

As the black-haired girl spoke, she aimed her hunting rifle at Lovelenica.

“Bang!”

The instant her words faded, the black-haired girl pulled the trigger. A purplish-black projectile shot towards Lovelenica. Yet, Lovelenica remained perfectly still, her gaze fixed solely on the bullet.

She knew the black-haired girl was firing Magic Bullets. If she wished to manipulate its trajectory with magic, the girl could only fire one shot at a time.

Just as the projectile was about to strike Lovelenica, Imeline conjured a new ice wall in front of her. True to expectation, the bullet arced in an unsettling trajectory, now hurtling directly towards Imeline’s head.

The black-haired girl still intended to eliminate Imeline first. Even with Attestor incapacitated, Imeline’s ice walls provided effective defense.

“Eh!?”

Imeline gasped in alarm as the bullet’s trajectory abruptly shifted towards her. She had no time to conjure another ice wall.

However, a figure had already stepped in front of her.

A spark flashed before Imeline. Lovelenica, wielding her Gun-sword, had already split the Magic Bullet in two. One blade pointed at the black-haired girl, while the other was held horizontally before Imeline.

Witnessing Lovelenica’s astonishing speed, the black-haired girl’s brows furrowed in a frown.

“It seems this one can control the bullets’ movements,” Lovelenica stated. “Imeline, don’t worry about defending us. Focus on protecting yourself and Attestor first.”

“Alright, alright…”

“Lucia, let’s go!”

“Yes, Teacher!”

With that, both gripped their Gun-swords and charged swiftly towards the black-haired girl.

The black-haired girl fired several shots at Imeline, then immediately executed a backflip, disappearing over the rooftop and out of their sight.

“Trying to escape again!? I won’t let you!”

Lucia was utterly incensed. Whether it was the black-clad figure from earlier or this black-haired girl, both harbored the secrets of Fantasy Creatures and sought to harm her and her friends. How could Lucia tolerate these individuals escaping time and again?

“Lucia, be careful!”

Ignoring the warning, Lucia immediately followed, vaulting over the rooftop. To her surprise, the black-haired girl hadn’t landed; instead, she clung to the eaves. Her hunting rifle was temporarily put away, and a pair of scarlet claws were poised, ready to strike.