Volume 2, Chapter 30 – The Deal

Without keeping her attention solely on Sera, Yisi held Gungnir in one hand—retrieved from storage—while stroking the fangs with the other, revealing an unusually cruel expression.

“I can offer you two choices: all of you die here, or submit to me.” Yisi swept her gaze over the four fallen girls huddled in the corner. Only after seeing the hesitation in their eyes did she continue, “If you choose death, I’ll grant you a painless end. But if you submit to me, not only will I provide you with safe shelter, but I can also remove the fallen marks from your bodies.”

“Don’t joke around!”

One of the girls shouted. Yisi paid no mind—it was common knowledge that the fallen marks were irreversible. For someone to suddenly claim they could cure them was naturally met with disbelief.

The only way to make them believe was to let them witness it firsthand.

With a scornful sneer, Yisi activated [Short-Range Teleportation], appearing directly in front of the girl who had challenged her. Since she was still floating, Yisi could look down at the girl’s face—filled with terror.

“Very well, I’ll allow you to witness a true miracle.”

Grabbing the girl by her collar, Yisi teleported again, this time in front of the girl named Sera, then released her grip.

At first, the girl struggled, but when Yisi dispelled [Undine’s Whisper], revealing Sera beneath, the girl who tried to escape suddenly froze in place, her eyes widening, her mouth gaping open wide enough to fit an apple.

“Impossible…”

On Sera’s withered, sallow skin, the dark red markings that had once spread all the way to her forehead were now gone. Though Sera had not regained consciousness, her steady breathing showed her condition—she was safe now.

Likewise, the few Fallen girls huddled in the corner of the wall also witnessed the scene. Their reactions were the same: eyes filled with disbelief, their breathing turning much heavier.

“It… it’s really gone…”

“This must be some trick! An illusion! Don’t be fooled by the vampire!”

The cat-eared girl’s words drew a cruel laugh from Yisi.

“Why not verify it yourselves? I’m merciful enough to allow my prey that much.”

To give the fallen space, Yisi took a few steps away from Sera. As if unable to wait any longer, the remaining three girls scrambled forward, frantically lifting Sera’s clothes to check her skin. They seemed to forget Yisi was even there, even bringing the lone oil lamp closer to inspect Sera’s body.

“The marks below her neck are still there.”

Reаⅾ оn КаtRеαⅾiոɡСαfе

“But the ones on her face really are gone.”

“Hey, Sera! Sera! Are you awake?”

The anxious girls began shaking the sleeping Sera. Though Yisi found this disrespectful to a comrade, given their desperation to escape the curse of the fallen, such behavior was understandable. From Mary’s treatment and the citywide hunts for the fallen, it was clear how much injustice they had endured.

Under their shaking, the girl named Sera slowly opened her eyes.

“Mmm… Shinku… Fran? Why are you all here…?” Gradually, tears welled up in her eyes. “Did… did you all die too? I’m sorry… I couldn’t help you escape in the end… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

Her words dissolved into sobs.

Yisi, feeling somewhat neglected, began to feel a headache coming on. But the other fallen girls interrupted Sera.

“Don’t say such ominous things! We’re not dead, and neither are you. How do you feel?”

Though they had already seen the marks vanish with their own eyes, they couldn’t help but seek confirmation from Sera herself.

“I’m… not dead?”

“Tell us how you feel first.”

“Ah… I feel… lighter.”

“The fallen marks on your face are gone.”

“…Huh?”

A soft, age-appropriate gasp escaped Sera’s lips. She instinctively looked at Shinku’s cheeks, but found nothing there except seriousness—meaning Shinku wasn’t lying.

“R-really? Shinku, you’re not lying to me?”

Ahem. Yisi, who had been ignored until now, cleared her throat, making all the fallen girls stiffen.

“Now that you’ve confirmed it with your comrade, I’ll ask again: submission or death? I have no intention of making you slaves or my kin. The reason I sought you out is simply because I have a small task that requires assistance. Once you complete it, you’ll be free to do as you please and no further ties to me.”

Reαԁ оո КаtRеaⅾіոɡСafe

Unlike before, the girls no longer doubted Yisi. They fell silent, exchanging glances. Having witnessed the disappearance of the fallen marks firsthand, their hearts were now filled with shock, awe, and a swelling hope.

The reason they had been forced into a life of wandering, despised like vermin, was solely because they were the fallen. Simply for that, they had been cursed from birth. At first by neighbors, then even by their own parents, who drove them from their homes. They lived in rotting alleyways, scavenging for scraps of food, cursing their fate while secretly praying for someone to pull them from hell.

In the past, that person had been Shinku, who united them and sought shelter. Now, that possibility stood before them.

Someone who could remove the fallen curse.

It was something they had never dared to dream of. Yet the miracle had happened before their eyes, and the one saved was their own comrade. The chance to break free was within reach, like sunlight glimpsed from the depths of an abyss. They wanted to believe Yisi’s words.

Finally, they all turned to Shinku, their leader. From her face, they read hesitation and doubt.

To add the final weight to the scales, Yisi waved a hand impatiently.

“My patience is limited. The task I have in mind isn’t something only you can do. After I drain your blood, there will be plenty begging to take your place.”

“How can we trust you?”

“I’ve said it before—even if you refuse, I can find others. And given your strength, do you really think you’re in a position to negotiate? I’ll tell you what I need done—”

Yisi paused, turning to gaze solemnly out the window.

“I once wronged the owner of this tavern. I came here to atone for that, but if I approach her directly, she’ll refuse to see me. So I need others to repay the debt in my stead—no, to protect her. She plans to run this tavern but lacks hands.”

This was all fabricated on the spot.

Yisi stuck out her tongue inwardly. She turned away to hide any telltale expressions.

The short loli girl with red cat ears named Shinku asked.

“So you want us to work as servants?”

“Not just servants. You’ll also need to care for the others in this tavern and do whatever you can to repay her.”

The “others” referred to Camilla and Mary.

“I need to discuss this with my comrades. Please… no, my lady, grant us some time.”

Rеаⅾ οո КαtRеаdіոɡСαfе

“Don’t take too long.”

With Yisi’s permission, the girls huddled together, chattering excitedly. Though it was called a discussion, the outcome was practically decided. Aside from the cat-eared Shinku—who, despite her youth, was as calm as an adult—the others all spoke in hushed, eager tones, supporting the proposal.

A decision was quickly reached.

“We accept your terms. But on one condition: you must remove the fallen marks from all of us at once.”

“No.”

Yisi refused immediately.

Her plan was to remove the marks gradually, only fully erasing them when she was ready to leave Celtic Town. This was for the safety of herself, Camilla, and Mary.

Magic that could resurrect the dead was far more troublesome than magic that killed. The same went for curing the fallen marks. If she healed them all at once and they immediately fled, spreading the secret, she’d be swamped with endless trouble. Forget being targeted by powerful factions—just the hordes of the fallen begging for treatment would be a nightmare.

Yisi’s refusal made the girls tense, their anxiety palpable. Some even gripped their clothes tightly.

Shinku quickly interjected.

“If the marks aren’t fully removed, we might be caught by patrols. If they find out your friend is harboring the fallen, she’ll be implicated too.”

“I don’t trust you. You know how valuable someone who can remove the fallen marks is. If I heal you and you run off to spread the news, not only will I be in trouble, but the tavern owner will be dragged into it too.”

Still, Shinku’s reasoning was sound. Earlier, Yisi had encountered patrols conducting forced inspections on the streets.

“We would never betray someone who helped us.”

“I won’t take your word for it. Maybe you wouldn’t betray a benefactor, but the others might.”

“But—”

The conversation reached an impasse.

Just as Yisi thought she’d have to take the risk, Shinku’s face hardened with resolve—though her subtle trembling betrayed her fear. She swallowed hard, her voice shaking.

Rеad οո КαtRеadiոɡСαfе

“I… I can oversee them for you. As proof of sincerity… I’ll become your blood slave. If any of us betray you… you can do whatever you want to me.”

“Oh?”

Yisi’s eyes lit up. It was a good proposal. Though Shinku would become her slave, if Yisi gave no orders, she’d effectively remain a normal person. Of course, to prevent Shinku from fleeing, since escape would mean she couldn’t hear orders, and thus wouldn’t need to obey. Yisi would still restrict her from leaving the city or revealing the secret until she departed the tavern.

After a moment’s thought, Yisi raised two fingers.

“Two. I need two slaves. Fran, the one who argued with you earlier, must be included.”

“No.”

“I accept.”

Before Shinku could refuse, Fran—who seemed of noble birth—agreed immediately.

“Fran, you—”

“Good. Since you’ve accepted my terms, I’ll fulfill your wish. But before we formalize the master-servant contract, I must warn the other three.” Yisi swept a cold, authoritative gaze over the fallen girls, the killing intent of a count’s eldest daughter making them shudder.

“If any of you even think of betraying me, Shinku and Fran will kill you on the spot. If they don’t, I’ll execute all of you. No matter where you flee.”

“I… I swear I won’t tell anyone.”

“Me too…”

Once all had sworn, Yisi nodded in satisfaction and stored Gungnir back in her inventory.

“Later, I’ll take Shinku and Fran to the slave market. Until then, decide the order in which you’ll be treated.”

At these words, the girl’s expressions brightened. They embraced each other in joy, then graciously let Shinku and Fran go first.

It was going to be a busy night.

Yisi could feel it. But she was also a little excited. With these batches of the fallen, she could test whether the low-grade recovery potions in her inventory could heal their marks.