Chapter 69 – 069. Vampire Detective
069. Vampire Detective
‘…I couldn’t kill her.’
Moon Ji-hyuk gritted his teeth. He had actually tried to snipe Doris with his revolver. He had aimed for the back of her head to kill her for sure, but instead, he had accidentally stepped on a fallen leaf, making a rustling sound.
‘I missed a golden opportunity.’
Doris used teleportation to get out of his sight. Fortunately, she didn’t move far, so he could immediately pinpoint her location. Moon Ji-hyuk aimed his revolver at Doris, who was behind a tree.
“A vampire hunter…? No, that reaction speed is closer to a vampire.”
Doris judged whether he was human or vampire based solely on Moon Ji-hyuk’s reaction speed.
‘She’s a Kantra executive… she’s not ordinary.’
Moon Ji-hyuk tensed his body and held a knife in his left hand. It was a silver-plated knife he had received from the Taker before.
“If you’re a vampire, why are you interfering with me? I am Doris Ziegler, the 14th True Blood of Kantra. Who are you?”
“I have no reason to tell you my name. I’ll take the Orb of Life.”
Moon Ji-hyuk sized her up. Even if he couldn’t kill Doris here, he had to take the Orb of Life.
“You’re showing excessive greed. Nameless vampire.”
Doris used teleportation to get behind Moon Ji-hyuk. Moon Ji-hyuk reacted quickly and swung his knife behind him, but Doris easily dodged and grabbed Moon Ji-hyuk’s wrists, pinning him against a tree.
“Ugh.”
“This strength… you’re not a True Ancestor. …How did you find out about the Orb of Life? Who’s behind you….”
Bang!
Moon Ji-hyuk’s revolver spat fire. He twisted his wrist to create an angle and forced the trigger. The silver bullet grazed Doris’s left shoulder.
“Kaaaaa…!”
Doris used teleportation to move away from Moon Ji-hyuk. Doris frowned as she looked at her left shoulder.
Silver bullets were too lethal for vampires. It had only grazed her, but the silver poison was eating away at her flesh. At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to move her left shoulder for at least 10 minutes.
‘Who is that guy? Where did the information leak from? Did Kang Wook-sung betray me?’
Her mind became instantly complicated. She had thought that the one who had been tailing her in the morning was a vampire hunter. But it wasn’t a vampire hunter? Then who was it?
‘A mere vampire knowing about the Orb of Life… there’s no way he’d know about me. Whether it’s a traitor or a new organization, I need to find out the information.’
An invisible organization. She had to find out the information for the future of Kantra.
Doris’s expression soon twisted. It was because that guy was rushing towards the Flower of Life without hesitation.
“Ah, no!”
Doris hurriedly used teleportation to appear in front of Moon Ji-hyuk. She kicked Moon Ji-hyuk in the abdomen, sending him flying far away.
Moon Ji-hyuk flew backward, crashed into a tree, and rolled on the ground. Doris was a True Ancestor. Leaving aside her superpowers, her physical abilities were on a different level.
“Since you’re also a vampire, you won’t die even if you lose an arm or a leg. After I retrieve the Flower of Life, I’ll slowly extract the information from you!”
“Hmm. I am curious about that young man’s background.”
“Who are you!”
Doris turned her head sharply to the right. There was someone else.
Rustle, rustle. He slowly revealed himself while stepping on fallen leaves. He was a man wearing a dopo. He had a sword at his waist. He had attire and weapons that didn’t fit the current era.
“……Baek Sang-gi?”
Doris muttered in disbelief as she looked at him.
“Do you know me?”
“……I heard about you from the boss. They said there was a monstrous vampire slayer in the Korean Peninsula. But the boss said he must have committed suicide because he couldn’t bear the passage of time. But… you’re still alive.”
“I’m about to die soon.”
Baek Sang-gi approached him. Doris took out a knife from her pocket and threw it at Baek Sang-gi. It was a knife imbued with the superior power of a True Ancestor.
A sword was drawn from Baek Sang-gi’s waist and lightly deflected the knife. As Baek Sang-gi tried to rush at her, Doris clicked her tongue and stepped back. Baek Sang-gi didn’t take his eyes off Doris and spoke to Moon Ji-hyuk behind him.
“Are you alright, young man?”
Moon Ji-hyuk leaned against a tree and forced himself to get up. His whole body ached from Doris’s kick. If he were human, he would have died instantly.
“Who are you?”
Moon Ji-hyuk asked politely. The man whom Doris had called a vampire slayer earlier.
“I am Baek Sang-gi. I have many questions to ask, but… let’s put them all aside and ask just one. What do you intend to do with the Orb of Life?”
“……I want to return to being human.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve met a young man I like. What is your name?”
“My name is Moon Ji-hyuk.”
“A good name. You will become human today. Watch from there.”
Baek Sang-gi moved. He, who had been walking leisurely, began to run quickly. Doris bit her lip and glanced at the Flower of Life.
‘The second one hasn’t even bloomed yet.’
She could use teleportation to escape with the Orb of Life. Her ability was unparalleled when it came to escaping.
But there was no way she could be satisfied with just one. How long had she been waiting for this day? She had to take at least two.
Safety and greed.
Doris chose greed.
The blades of the sword and knife clashed in the air. The sound of metal echoed repeatedly, and orange sparks flew.
The advantage in physical ability was with Doris.
‘But why am I being pushed back?!’
His combat experience was on a different level.
Whenever Doris tried to push with strength and speed, Baek Sang-gi’s sword moved exquisitely to deflect the power. And the sword, taking advantage of the gap, cut Doris’s body. She had dealt with it quickly, so it wasn’t a deep cut. However, it was clear that the wounds would increase over time.
Doris was grateful that Baek Sang-gi’s sword wasn’t silver. If that sword had been silver-plated, she would have had no chance of winning.
“Your left shoulder doesn’t seem to move well.”
“Why did a monster like you suddenly appear? Were you after the Flower of Life?”
“I’m not interested in the Orb of Life, but as a human, I can’t let you True Bloods get your hands on it.”
“A monster even more monstrous than a vampire.”
“I’ve heard that before, so I’m not particularly moved.”
Doris swung her knife and immediately used teleportation.
Appearing behind her while swinging was the perfect surprise attack. But this time too, the sword blocked it.
“Unbelievable, how….”
“True Blood. I saw your superpower earlier. If I know it, I can prepare for it, and if I can prepare for it, blocking it is nothing.”
That’s nonsense. This was an attack that couldn’t be blocked even if you knew it was coming. Baek Sang-gi had blocked Doris’s attack because of the tremendous experience accumulated in his body.
At that moment. Moon Ji-hyuk moved. He, who had been quietly approaching the Flower of Life, suddenly started running with all his might.
“This guy!”
Doris yelled at Moon Ji-hyuk.
“You’re looking away from me. You’re too relaxed.”
Baek Sang-gi’s sword sliced Doris’s left arm. Her left arm fell to the ground with a thud.
Doris used teleportation. Her left arm wasn’t important right now. Appearing above Moon Ji-hyuk, she grabbed Moon Ji-hyuk’s head with her right hand and slammed it into the ground.
“Die! You who doesn’t know your place!”
Just as Doris’s right fist was about to fall on Moon Ji-hyuk’s head to crush it, Baek Sang-gi jumped in and swung his sword. Doris hurriedly rolled on the ground and retreated.
“Baek Sang-gi!”
“Do I look so ridiculous that you can ignore me, True Blood?”
Moon Ji-hyuk placed his palms on the ground and raised his head. His face was a mess, with torn skin and a sunken nose. He trembled, but he raised his upper body.
Ten steps.
The Flower of Life was just ten steps away.
“Yes, young man. That’s the will. Go and take the Orb of Life.”
“You! Stop! The Flower of Life can bear up to four Orbs of Life! Don’t you know that?!”
Doris shouted.
Baek Sang-gi clicked his tongue. He wanted to go and shut her mouth, but if he left Moon Ji-hyuk’s side, Doris would surely try to kill Moon Ji-hyuk with teleportation.
“……Four?”
Moon Ji-hyuk paused.
He knew about the effects of the Orb of Life.
If there were four, even if he ate two, half would remain.
“Let me give you some advice as an old man. Greed only brings disaster.”
Baek Sang-gi said.
“……I will become human.”
Moon Ji-hyuk said, shaking off his greed, and Baek Sang-gi grinned.
“This foolish guy…!”
Doris was furious and glared at Baek Sang-gi, holding a knife in her one remaining right hand.
Moon Ji-hyuk staggered forward. He was getting closer to the Flower of Life. The distance of ten steps became five steps, and five steps soon became a distance where he could reach out and touch it.
“Stop! Detective Moon!”
A familiar voice. It was the Taker.
Moon Ji-hyuk felt a slight sense of relief and turned his head towards the voice.
“……!”
There, the Taker, Sung Yu-jin, was holding Yang Jung-min’s mouth shut with his left hand, and a red blade was pressed against her neck.
“Taker…?!”
Moon Ji-hyuk collapsed. His legs gave way at the unbelievable sight before him. His brain couldn’t process the information before his eyes.
Why was the Taker with Yang Jung-min? And that red sword he was holding.
“……That sword. Were you Red Light?”
Sung Yu-jin looked at Baek Sang-gi.
Then, Sung Yu-jin smiled slyly and said.
“That’s right. I’m Red Light.”
It was like a bolt from the blue for Moon Ji-hyuk.
•••
I knew from the original drama where Doris would plant the Flower of Life in Seoraksan Mountain.
I had even scouted the location three days ago and confirmed its position. Not only that, but I had also installed a bug under a nearby rock.
I looked at Yang Jung-min next to me. Yang Jung-min was wearing her police uniform since she had left work early. It was an outfit that looked uncomfortable for hiking.
“Ms. Yang Jung-min. This way.”
I focused on the sound of the bug through the wireless earphone in my left ear and moved with Yang Jung-min. The important thing was to time it right.
When Moon Ji-hyuk fought Doris, I would sneak the Orb of Life. If a variable occurred, I would take Yang Jung-min hostage. If there were no variables? As planned, I would get the Orb of Life, then kill Moon Ji-hyuk and violate Yang Jung-min.
But a variable occurred while climbing the mountain. This was a real, completely unexpected variable.
‘…What the hell. Why is that bastard here?’
I had discovered a man climbing the mountain quietly and quickly. I couldn’t see his face properly, but I could guess his identity from the black dopo he was wearing.
Baek Sang-gi.
A man who appeared fleetingly in the original drama. If you counted the video length, he wouldn’t have appeared for even a minute.
‘He was set to have eaten the Orb of Life 300 years ago.’
According to rumors, Baek Sang-gi originally had a significant role. However, there was a rumor that the male idol who played Baek Sang-gi was so bad at acting that his role was cut.
‘He was actually bad at acting.’
He was said to be a legendary vampire hunter of the Korean Peninsula. Honestly, I didn’t know much about him either. His role was so small, and there was no mention of Baek Sang-gi in the director’s or writer’s interviews.
‘……Shit, did something go wrong?’
“Mr. Taker?”
“Ah, Ms. Yang Jung-min. I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. Let’s go quickly.”
I could hear the sounds of battle through the bug. As expected, Moon Ji-hyuk and Doris were fighting. If I were to step in, now would be the best time. But I couldn’t step in. Baek Sang-gi was hiding nearby.
“Mr. Taker. Why did you suddenly stop? There’s no time to be spacing out. Right now, Ji-hyuk is… Ugh?!”
I covered her mouth with my left hand and brought the blade of the Hwaryeon Bido, which I had taken out of my inventory, to her neck.
“Be quiet if you don’t want to die.”
“……!”
Yang Jung-min looked at me in surprise. She must have realized that I was Red Light when she saw the red blade against her neck. But I didn’t have time to pay attention to her.
I focused on the sound of the bug, covered Yang Jung-min’s mouth, and quietly approached the battle area.
“You! Stop! The Flower of Life can bear up to four Orbs of Life! Don’t you know that?!”
I heard Doris’s shout. I paused when I heard those words.
“Ha….”
That was something I had no idea about. In the original drama, Moon Ji-hyuk gets his hands on the Orb of Life when only one has bloomed.
‘That kind of setting existed? Shit. Why didn’t the drama director or writer reveal that?’
A setting that the creators didn’t reveal. That was a gap that I hadn’t thought of until now.
‘Four! Four Orbs of Life!’
In the distance, I could see Moon Ji-hyuk trying to take the Orb of Life, of which only one had bloomed.
‘That idiot!’
I stepped forward. I had no choice but to step forward.
“Stop! Detective Moon!”
