Volume 1, Chapter 47 – Necrosis (Part 1)

The streets were unusually quiet after the rain stopped. A cold wind blew against them, and Yisi couldn’t help but shrink into herself.

“It feels like it might snow soon…”

“Yes, winter begins tomorrow.”

“Is that so? What perfect timing.”

Tomorrow was the day of the hostage exchange, but she still hadn’t figured out how to persuade Count Pescia. The only method she could think of was to play the role of a spoiled daughter in front of him. Even if coaxing and pestering didn’t work, it would at least make it easier for her to simply walk away. If the count didn’t know where his daughter had gone, he naturally wouldn’t send troops against the church.

As for how to conceal her identity afterward, Yisi already had a solution. While the “Second Form Awakening” state couldn’t avoid the need to drink blood, it could make a vampire’s wings disappear. That alone would be enough for her to survive in the human world.

Of course, Yisi had also considered why she couldn’t just live among the blood clans, where she could drink blood freely. But when she thought about the striking appearance and fame of the count’s eldest daughter, she realized that living among the blood clans might lead to her being recognized by acquaintances. So, she dismissed the idea.

Surprises like running into her pet at a brothel were something Yisi didn’t want to experience a second time, even if the pet had indeed helped her solve some problems.

That said, why had all the demons in Niru City retreated outside the walls? Had they given up on attacking? She had originally thought they were planning something against the city—

“Achoo.”

A sudden sneeze interrupted Yisi’s thoughts. She took out a handkerchief from her storage and wiped her nose.

It seemed she really was catching a cold. She’d have to visit an apothecary later.

This world had no proper medical system. If she let it progress to a fever or pneumonia, there would be no effective treatment.

After all, magic could only heal external injuries.

As this thought crossed her mind, Yisi suddenly felt a wave of warmth around her. Turning her head, she saw that Camilla, who had been following behind her, had taken off her woolen cloak and draped it over Yisi’s shoulders.

“Onee-sama, didn’t you take the Winterbloom?”

“Ah, thank you.” No matter what, she expressed her gratitude first. “But that Winterbloom only blooms once every thousand years, right? It’d be such a waste to just consume it. I feel like I’d be taking away Camilla’s happiness.”

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Even if it was just a legend, Yisi couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“My happiness…”

As long as I can stay by Onee-sama’s side, that’s enough.

Though she thought this, Camilla couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud and could only lower her head.

Standing in the cold wind any longer might give Camilla a cold too, so Yisi headed straight for the brothel. Perhaps because of the recent rain, there were only a few customers at the entrance.

But just as Yisi was about to step inside, a familiar figure emerged from a carriage parked nearby.

“Long time no see, Lady Pescia.”

“Assef?”

Just like the first time Yisi had seen him, Assef wore a monocle with a gold rim and a loose robe. But for some reason, Yisi felt there was something off about him—his black eyes looked unusually murky.

It wasn’t just Yisi. Camilla, standing behind her, sensed it too and instinctively moved closer.

“The divine punishment that appeared a few days ago had me quite worried. Seeing you safe and sound today is a great relief.”

“What do you want? You ran away when I was in danger, and now you’re here with fake concern?”

Yisi narrowed her eyes slightly. Of course, she wasn’t actually angry. Running from danger was a natural instinct, and Assef wasn’t her guard—she had no right to scold him.

Assef paused, his face twisting into a pained expression.

“Well… there’s a deeper reason for that. To be honest, those demons were actually…” He trailed off, glancing at Camilla behind Yisi, then cautiously beckoned Yisi closer, stepping toward her as well. “You understand, some things can’t be said outright.”

Hearing that this involved the demons, Yisi frowned. But at that moment, Assef suddenly lunged at her, his murky eyes now a glaring blood-red.

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“Die!”

A flash of silver—the glint of a dagger—streaked toward Yisi’s throat almost instantly. But to Yisi, Assef’s speed might as well have been slow motion. Reacting on instinct, she raised her arm to block the strike.

Swish—

The dagger sliced through the fabric of Yisi’s sleeve but couldn’t penetrate further. Assef tried to pull back and reposition for another attack, but Camilla was already moving.

A longsword materialized from her storage magic, carrying an overwhelming force as it descended in a fierce slash. The sheer momentum alone forced Assef back, sending him tumbling to the ground. Even though he dodged the direct hit, he had already lost his chance to continue the ambush.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. By the time bystanders noticed and began screaming and scattering, the confrontation was already over.

Ignoring Assef, who was scrambling to escape, Camilla pulled Yisi close, her crimson eyes filled with panic.

“Onee-sama!”

“I’m fine.”

“How can you be fine?!”

Camilla forcefully lifted Yisi’s injured right arm, holding her breath as she pushed aside the sleeve to inspect the wound—a faint white mark on Yisi’s pale skin, so shallow it barely broke the surface. But against Yisi’s porcelain-like arm, the reddening scratch stood out starkly.

The moment she saw it, something in Camilla’s mind snapped.

A surge of fury unlike anything she’d ever felt flooded her thoughts. Her heart pounded violently, blood rushing to her head. The guilt of failing to protect Yisi and the rage at Assef’s betrayal shattered the restraints of reason in an instant, like a dam breaking, unleashing a torrent of uncontrollable emotions.

Unconsciously, Camilla’s grip on Yisi’s arm tightened. Her voice, when she spoke, was barely more than a hiss through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry… Onee-sama.”

“No, it’s nothing. This isn’t even a real injury. More importantly, stop him—he knows the demons’ secrets.”

“Understood.”

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What did Onee-sama just say? Camilla only caught the first two words before everything else blurred.

She could have pushed Yisi aside. She could have taken the dagger for her.

When Assef drew the blade from his sleeve, she had realized what was coming. But her body froze, some instinct warning her not to throw herself in harm’s way.

It was subconscious. In that split second, she didn’t understand why she hadn’t moved. By the time she regained her senses, the dagger was already inches from Yisi’s throat.

What if she hadn’t blocked it?

What if the blade had cut her open right in front of me?

The image of warm blood splattering across her face made Camilla’s vision darken, the world draining of color. Even when her parents had abandoned her, she had never felt fear like this. She couldn’t imagine watching Yisi die—couldn’t fathom how she’d face her lifeless body.

Only now did she understand why she hadn’t moved.

Her body feared death.

Not in the way most people feared it—not the fear of ceasing to exist.

But the fear that death would sever her connection to Yisi forever. That if she died, she’d never see Yisi again, never hear her comforting voice.

She was terrified.

Realizing this, Camilla’s entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Her gaze locked onto Assef, who was still crawling away. Never in her life had she despised someone so intensely. She loathed Assef for daring to attack Yisi—and she loathed herself for her cowardice.

Why didn’t I realize he was a traitor sooner?

Why didn’t I push her out of the way?

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Self-blame, regret, fear, and overwhelming fury drove her forward. Her grip on the sword tightened until her knuckles turned white, nails digging into her palms unnoticed. There was only one thing left to do.

Kill Assef.

The thought echoed in her mind like a chorus of screams. Teeth clenched, eyes burning with murderous intent, Camilla advanced.

By the time she reached him, Assef was too paralyzed by fear to even stand. He could only scramble backward pathetically, all his earlier bravado gone, his soul seemingly hollowed out.

“This is all… because of you… Bastard.”

“N-No! It wasn’t me! I was just… just their—”

“Camilla, stop!”

Swift.

A spray of red.

Assef’s face froze in eternal horror.

Then—

Clatter.

The sound of a sword hitting the ground.

As if all strength had left her, Camilla gasped for air, sweat beading on her forehead.

“Camilla?!”

Before she could collapse, Yisi caught her. Deliberately avoiding the corpse on the ground, she activated Advanced Teleportation, taking Camilla back to the mansion.

Even the dullest person could tell something was wrong with Camilla now, and Yisi was far from dull.