Chapter 94: A Calculated Pursuit

Lucia, still rushing to the scene, naturally witnessed the clash between Lovelenica and the black-haired girl. Two slender arcs, one scarlet and one silver-white, traced paths through the air. As the figures brushed past each other, Lovelenica collapsed to her knees.

“Teacher!!!”

Seeing Lovelenica fall to her knees, Lucia’s heart instantly tightened. She roared out in alarm, accelerating her pace once more.

This time, even with the Vampire about to escape, Lucia had no intention of pursuing them. Her gaze was solely fixed on Lovelenica, who lay crumpled on the ground.

Lucia was willing to disregard her own safety, or even that of civilians, to pursue the Vampire. She would even deliberately step into the Vampire’s traps, allowing herself to be attacked if it meant delaying their escape. But to pursue the Vampire at the cost of Lovelenica’s safety? That, she could not do.

Lucia quickly rushed to Lovelenica’s side, catching her as she knelt.

“Teacher! Are… are you alright?”

Lucia supported Lovelenica, preventing her from falling completely, while simultaneously examining her for injuries.

Yet, after a thorough inspection, Lucia was astonished to find Lovelenica utterly unharmed. Not a single scratch marred her skin, nor was there any bruising; only a torn opening in her nun’s habit hinted at the struggle.

Convinced she had overlooked something crucial, Lucia reached her hand into Lovelenica’s nun’s habit once more, searching for any hidden injury.

“Lu-Lucia! Stop touching me, I’m not hurt…”

Lovelenica quickly extricated herself from Lucia’s embrace, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. While Lucia’s intent was merely to check for injuries, her exploring hands had, in their thoroughness, brushed against some rather sensitive areas.

“Huh?”

“I blocked her attack with my Gun-sword just now. She was simply too strong and threw me to the ground.”

It was only after noticing Lovelenica’s embarrassed struggle that Lucia truly registered her teacher’s remarkable strength. Her breathing remained steady, a stark contrast to someone who was injured or utterly exhausted.

“Phew—I’m relieved you’re alright. I’ll go after them now!”

With Lovelenica confirmed unharmed, Lucia let out a long, relieved breath. Now that her teacher was safe, the most crucial task at hand was the pursuit of the Vampire.

“Wait!”

As Lucia prepared to resume her pursuit of the black-haired girl, Lovelenica swiftly pressed a hand to her shoulder, halting her.

“Lucia, calm down. Look behind you. Your companions are very weak right now.”

“Are you going to leave them here and chase the Vampire alone?”

Lovelenica directed Lucia to turn and look towards Attestor and Imeline. Both appeared utterly exhausted: Attestor leaned heavily against her Holy Shield, while Imeline used her Wand as a crutch. Their state was clearly dire.

“Th-they…”

Only then did Lucia truly register their plight. One had nearly depleted her magic and mental energy, while the other had sustained significant injuries.

Her duty was to protect her companions. Yet, if she did, the Vampire would inevitably slip from her grasp once more.

“Go protect your friends.”

Lovelenica patted Lucia’s shoulder, her voice imbued with earnest, guiding advice.

“You’re not fast enough to catch them. Leave the pursuit to me.”

“Go back.”

“Teacher, are you truly alright on your own?”

“It’s fine, leave it to me.”

Lovelenica reassured Lucia with a comforting tone.

“She doesn’t have much strength left. My fall earlier was just a misstep, and I’m not injured.”

“She can’t hurt me now.”

“Alright.”

Lucia fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, ultimately trusting her teacher’s judgment.

“Teacher, I trust you. You must eliminate them!”

“Don’t worry.”

With those words, Lovelenica set off in pursuit of the black-haired girl, vanishing in the direction she had fled. Lucia, meanwhile, turned back to Attestor and Imeline.

Imeline had expended vast amounts of mental and magical energy, while Attestor, despite her injuries, had forced herself to defend with her Holy Shield. Both had completely lost their combat capabilities; at this point, they likely couldn’t even contend with Contaminated-level Specters.

Fortunately, the aftershocks of their earlier battle had already cleared the Specters from the vicinity. Even if the creatures wished to regroup, it would take some time. Thus, in short order, Lucia rejoined her companions.

****

Meanwhile, Lovelenica continued her pursuit in the direction the black-haired girl had fled.

She had, indeed, possessed an opportunity to decapitate her opponent moments ago. However, such an act would have precluded her from gaining crucial intelligence and absorbing the girl’s power. Thus, she had deliberately allowed the black-haired girl to escape.

In her final clash with the black-haired girl, Lovelenica had held back considerable strength, maintaining a defensive stance throughout. As they brushed past each other, she had even whispered a quiet warning to the girl to flee. Immediately afterward, she had dropped to her knees, feigning a complete defeat.

This was why the black-haired girl had regarded Lovelenica with such a strange look.

The black-haired girl’s escape was swift, and Lovelenica could no longer discern her figure. Lovelenica glanced back, and once Lucia and her companions were out of sight, she immediately transformed into her Bloodkin form.

Lovelenica continued to race across the rooftops, her form entirely enveloped by a swirling red mist. A swarm of bats whirled and flew around her, yet this did not hinder her impressive speed. As the bats dispersed, a small figure materialized on the rooftop.

It was Nikola.

Upon transforming into her Bloodkin form, Nikola immediately felt a powerful pull from her inherent bloodline. She could distinctly sense the black-haired girl’s exact location.

It turned out the black-haired girl had already changed direction. Although Lovelenica had urged her to flee quickly, the girl didn’t believe Lovelenica wouldn’t pursue her. She harbored some unspeakable secrets, and knew that even if Lovelenica spared the Church Saintess, she wouldn’t let her go. Thus, after escaping a certain distance, she had immediately altered her course.

Unfortunately for her, she had stolen Nikola’s power. Within this proximity, Nikola could perfectly sense the black-haired girl’s exact position.

The black-haired girl had now hidden herself in an abandoned house. She casually tore apart the Specters within the abandoned structure, then crouched in a corner to rest, her chest rising and falling slightly. The recent battle had indeed exerted considerable pressure on her.

A sigh of emotion escaped her. ‘No wonder the Arcadia Kingdom has grown so arrogant lately,’ she mused. ‘It seems they’ve cultivated a new generation of prodigies within the kingdom.’ ‘That Church Saintess even instilled a hint of fear in me. If she truly cultivates to a certain level, perhaps humans really could overcome Fantasy Creatures.’

Furthermore, the Nun who had let her go also struck the black-haired girl as rather peculiar.

“Hey.”

Just as the black-haired girl was pondering the true meaning behind Lovelenica’s peculiar actions, lines of blood began to seep down from the room’s ceiling, appearing as if from nowhere.

A pool of blood gathered on the floor, immediately putting the black-haired girl on high alert. A childlike voice reached her ears. This ability to manipulate blood was certainly not something a mere human could possess.

From within the coalescing pool of blood, a figure slowly ascended.

“You’re quite the runner, aren’t you? Even deliberately changing direction. I almost couldn’t find you.”

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