A magic circle formed on a door in an alleyway as they walked out.
"We're finally clear!" Varin celebrated.
He then turned to Diana.
"We're getting closer to finally getting rid of those Elders." He gave her a thumbs-up.
Diana froze for a moment.
"Oh… that's good to hear," she responded quietly.
"Where are we heading from here?" Varin asked.
"From that last vampire's memories, we aren't far from the target's office," Dracula responded.
The closer they got to the exit of the alleyway, the more sunlight began to illuminate the path ahead.
Rebecca suddenly came to a stop.
She began sweating profusely, unable to hide her fear any longer.
Diana took her hand.
"You don't have to do this. We could get you a place to stay until nighttime. I'll come back for you," she said, trying to comfort her.
"You don't understand," Rebecca responded, her voice shaking.
"It's not that I'm trying to undermine your hatred or your need for revenge, but… the revolution was my family. They gave me a life."
Rebecca clenched her fists.
"They all risked their lives trying to find a way to bring down those Elders. They had hopes and dreams, but it was all quenched by those monsters pretending to be leaders."
Dracula watched silently, his face expressionless.
Varin simply stared at Dracula with a smirk.
Rebecca collapsed to her knees.
"There's nothing more I want than to walk into that sun and burn away…"
Her voice trembled.
"But I have to live. I need to. I must live for all of them—for their dreams."
She wiped her eyes.
"Even if I can't kill any of the Elders, I have to witness at least one of their deaths. I need to see the fate of Sanguinastra and its people after the death of the Elders."
Diana tried to say something, but nothing could leave her lips.
"That was quite sad and entertaining," Varin spoke up.
Rebecca looked up at him.
"But Rebecca, could you do me a favor?"
Varin reached down and grabbed her by the hands, pulling her to her feet.
"Um… sure."
"Try to hold in your scream."
He grinned.
"And forgive me."
Before Rebecca could react, Varin threw her into the sunlight.
The moment her skin touched the sun, it began to burn.
Rebecca closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable.
"Eureka! It worked!" Varin yelled excitedly.
Rebecca hesitated.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Rebecca's eyes began to glisten as she touched her face and skin. She then turned toward Varin, tears filling her eyes.
"Am I dreaming?"
Varin threw up a peace sign.
"Definitely not a dream."
Diana sighed as her legs gave out beneath her.
"What a relief," she muttered.
"But how?" Rebecca asked.
"Do you remember that magic circle Dracula drew on your hand?"
Rebecca and Diana turned toward Dracula.
Varin stared at Dracula for a moment.
"Personally, I'm not good with spells. But when I saw a spell being drawn on you, I thought to myself, it can't be a spell of protection because that would be an insult to my strength. And there's no way he would draw a spell for you and not Diana. So it had to be a spell that would benefit you."
Varin grinned.
"And my guess was right!"
"Are you done?" Dracula asked.
"Yes, you big softy," Varin replied with a smile.
"Thank you," Rebecca spoke up.
Dracula glanced at her.
"I genuinely don't know how I could repay you."
Dracula squatted down in front of her.
"Do you remember how the spell was formed?"
"Um… yes."
"If you want to repay me, find people like you and give them that spell."
"Y-yes. I will."
Dracula stood up.
"Let's be on our way now."
He began walking forward.
Rebecca got back on her feet, wiped away her tears, and followed behind him.
Diana was about to follow when Varin placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Jeez… he's so freaking tall," Diana muttered as she glanced at him.
"Could you lead the next negotiation? Dracula seems to be in a foul mood," Varin whispered.
"But what upset him?" she whispered back.
"I'm not sure, but if we don't want to turn an organization into a blood pool, just do it."
"O-oh… okay."
"Good. Now run along."
Diana walked toward Dracula.
"Is anything wrong?" she whispered.
Dracula turned his face away.
"I'm fine," he responded.
He doesn't want to look at me, Diana thought.
Varin silently watched them from behind.
ONE HOUR LATER — SILICON EDEN
The air began to crack like a mirror, splitting apart as Eun-Jae stepped through.
"Now, what's all the commotion about?" he muttered to himself.
Three Divine Visionaries immediately ran over and bowed.
"Sorcerer Supreme Eun-Jae, what gives us the pleasure of being in your presence?"
Eun-Jae remained silent, scratching his elf ear as he yawned.
Why is a Sorcerer Supreme here in Silicon Eden? Is Dracula really that much of a threat? And why isn't he responding? one of the Divine Visionaries thought.
Eun-Jae glanced at them.
"You guys should honestly stop bowing to us. It's weird, it's old-fashioned, and… it's weird."
They chuckled nervously.
"Yes, sir," they said in unison.
"So, what brings you here? Could it be because of Dracula?" one of them asked.
"Oh, no. That case is in Val Hellsing's hands. I'm here because there has been a great disturbance in the peace between Silicon Eden and the Auravine authorities. It's our job to maintain peace among the realms. Unfortunately, I was the only one on Earth."
He sounds like he doesn't want to be here, they thought.
"Do you have footage of the incident?" Eun-Jae asked.
"Yes. We were bringing it just now."
Another Divine Visionary walked in and handed him a tablet.
Eun-Jae glanced at his hand.
"What happened to your hand?"
"Oh… I was assaulted by some man in Silicon Eden," he responded.
"Because you tried to assault his wife," another Visionary chimed in.
"I thought she looked familiar."
"Just stop with that bullshit."
Eun-Jae suddenly began laughing hysterically.
"Is something funny?" the injured Visionary asked.
"If Val saw this footage, he would have blown your head smooth off."
He continued laughing.
"What do you mean?" the Divine Visionary asked, his face filled with concern.
"You're a lucky little fucker, aren't ya?"
He wiped a tear from his eye.
"So, you're telling me you all fell for such a mediocre illusion technique?"
"Please, could you elaborate?" another Visionary asked.
"Just tell the Divine Visionaries to pull out of Silicon Eden."
"But why?"
"Dracula is already long gone. The man that held your hand could have ripped your skull off with ease."
Eun-Jae grinned.
"That man was Dracula."
The Visionaries fell silent.
"I have to smooth things out with the people," Eun-Jae continued.
"But that means the people aided in the escape of a cosmic criminal," one of them argued.
"He's a criminal, but he's not a cosmic criminal. And what will it say about your incompetence if the people find out you guys fell for the illusion?"
Eun-Jae shrugged.
"Just leave and let me handle it."
They hesitated before eventually agreeing and sending the message to withdraw from Silicon Eden.
Eun-Jae watched them leave.
My, Dracula… you aren't the man the legends make you out to be.
He smiled.
I wonder how your mind operates.
His expression became slightly more curious.
How annoyed will Val be if I interfere?
Eun-Jae chuckled.
But I can't help but stick my nose in this.
He looked toward the direction Dracula had gone.
Dracula… you have my attention now.