Chapter 74
“Your Highness.”
“…….”
“I think it would be good if you rested as well.”
Scarlett spoke politely. But Rix didn’t take his eyes off Ren and merely raised a hand to stop her. Understanding his intention, Scarlett bowed her head and left the room. She moved so carefully that not even the sound of the door could be heard.
Ren wore a pained expression, as if haunted by what she had seen in her dream. Between groans, she kept repeating, “I’m sorry.”
Who was she apologizing to?
Rix watched her anxiously.
At that moment, the sound of someone running hurriedly reached them. They dared to fling open the door of the room where the prince and the saint rested.
It was one of Count Mapla’s servants.
“Y-Your Highness! A-a monster has appeared!”
Of all times for this to happen…
Rix clenched his teeth and stood up.
“Where?”
“In the garden!”
“The garden?”
There had been nothing there before. Why had a monster suddenly appeared?
Frowning, Rix issued a command.
“Bring my knights.”
“Yes!”
The servant replied loudly but glanced nervously. Rix spoke coldly.
“Don’t expect any help from the saint.”
“Y-Yes, understood!”
The servant felt as though Rix were a wild animal. He hurriedly ran back the way he had come.
Rix brushed back his red hair and let out a small sigh.
From behind, a groan reached his ears. Rix turned his head automatically.
Ren had woken up and was sitting up, holding her forehead.
Rix hurried toward her.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah……”
Her head throbbed as if it would split in two. But Ren didn’t speak, pressing her head down as if to endure it.
“Just now—”
Her voice was hoarse when she spoke.
“A monster……”
Her pain was so severe she couldn’t lift her head, yet without realizing it, she began to pull off the blanket.
“Don’t move.”
Rix tried to stop her, but it was useless. She stubbornly tried to put on her shoes, but her foot slipped. Rix finally grabbed Ren by the shoulder to stop her.
“Just stay lying down.”
Ren barely lifted her head to meet his gaze. Even with the pain in her head, she couldn’t help but think how beautiful his golden eyes were and let out a small, wry laugh. Luckily, Rix seemed to think it was just a sign she was calming down and didn’t stop her from moving.
“I heard it.”
Ren wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and spoke in a small voice.
“I want to go too.”
Her determined gaze showed she wouldn’t be stopped, no matter what Rix said. In the end, Rix just watched her quietly, then knelt on one knee. Slowly, he helped her put on her shoes. Ren flinched slightly when his hands touched her ankles.
“What are you—”
“Stay still.”
Rix finished putting on her shoes. Slowly rising, he extended his hand toward her. Ren looked up at him, wondering what he meant.
“Can you stand on your own?”
Ren pressed down on the mattress and shook her head. Rix smirked, as if he expected that, and took her hand to help her up. He clicked his tongue at her unsteady stance.
“At this rate, you’ll be caught by the monsters before you can even run.”
Ren didn’t back down.
“I’ll shoot them and get rid of them before that happens.”
Finally, taking one careful step after another, Ren managed to walk on her own. She bent her knees, breath heavy. Rix moved to hold her again but froze midair as she muttered to herself, frowning.
“There was nothing in the garden. So why did it suddenly appear again?”
“…Maybe we missed something.”
Ren thought quietly for a moment, then shook her head firmly.
“I’m sure. There was nothing there.”
She sighed and got herself upright. Checking the gun at her waist, she forced her legs to move despite their weakness.
From afar, a horrific scream echoed: “Aah!”
Without hesitation, the two ran toward it.
Monsters turn humans into other monsters by biting them.
The newly transformed humans seem to follow the scent of living humans to convert more humans into monsters.
They don’t devour one another.
They only create more monsters.
This cruel scene unfolded in the garden, which was once full of flowers.
“What is… this…”
Ren staggered as she reached the front of the garden. Her legs weren’t fully steady yet. If Rix hadn’t held her, she would have collapsed.
But there was no time to thank him. A black monster stood before her, pale and fully transformed. Its eyes were completely black, no longer human.
As the grotesque creature moved toward her, ready to claw her, gunshots rang out: Bang, bang, bang.
Three shots struck the monster’s forehead in a triangle pattern. Black liquid—not even resembling blood—spilled as it collapsed heavily to the ground.
At the same moment, the door slammed with a bomb-like bang.
Rix grabbed Ren’s shoulder, forcing her to look at him.
“Focus!”
Ren nodded. She seemed to have been momentarily dazed.
“Your Highness!”
A familiar voice called out—it was Mable.
“There are too many of them. We need more troops.”
“How many?”
“Three appeared initially, then three gardeners who were putting out the fire in the garden were bitten, along with ten servants. Five more servants who didn’t evacuate in time were also bitten.”
“All entrances to the garden have been sealed.”
“And the rest?”
“They were all evacuated upstairs.”
Mable’s response was unwavering.
“But—”
He trailed off. Rix perked up to hear the rest. Footsteps and the sound of a cane approached. All three turned.
“Your Highness.”
Count Mapla approached, leaning on his cane. Despite the situation, he appeared unusually calm.
“Weren’t you going to eliminate the monsters before the fire started?”
“Yes.”
Rix stared at him.
“But there was nothing then.”
Count Mapla hummed and stroked his thick chin, seeming to ponder something.
“Is it the same for the saint?”
Ren nodded in response. He approached, smiling kindly, despite his awkward gait. The count gently shook off the servant’s support and bowed slowly.
“Count?”
“I take full responsibility for this mansion. Please forgive me.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Rix stopped him. Then, from behind, a thud—another monster threw itself against the door. It shook violently.
Count Mapla looked at Ren with a pleading expression.
“I’ve heard that the saint can restore humans who haven’t fully transformed back to their original forms.”
“That may be, but—”
“All of those bitten here are people who have worked with the Mapla family. Please help them return safely to their families.”
Ren looked at Rix, unsure. He watched the count with an unreadable expression. Meanwhile, the sound of monsters banging on the door grew louder.
“Count, if that happens, it will get worse. If the saint can’t shoot, the monsters we missed will cause more damage.”
Ren wanted to nod, but couldn’t. She was confused—should she finish off the monsters herself quickly, or restore those already caught to their human forms?
“Unfortunately, you must explain to the families of the eliminated monsters.”
Count Mapla nodded silently.
“You stay upstairs. We’ll handle it here.”
“…Understood.”
The count turned, and at Rix’s signal, two servants quickly followed him. Ren watched his departing figure.
At that moment, someone appeared at the top of the stairs.
It was Viola.
Her face looked worn and pale, a far cry from when the party had begun. Before Ren could tell her to move to safety, Rix grabbed her shoulder. Ren looked up, and he carefully guided her.
“Step back from the door.”
Ren nodded, falling into step with him. She now had some strength in her legs.
Gripping her gun, a white light followed the moonlight, converging at her fingertips. Even without turning on the lights, her hands glowed as if illuminated.
“Ready?”
Rix asked. Not only Ren, but Mable, Scarlett, and several of Count Mapla’s servants looked tense.
Rix and Ren’s eyes met. Without a word, Ren assumed a proper stance and aimed her glowing gun at the door.
“Open!”
At Rix’s command, the massive doors swung open. At that instant, the monsters poured out as if waiting.
