Chapter 11: Not suitable for children!

“These are all excuses… Do you want to betray the Church?”

Wrapped in the black mist, Damus felt his strength ebbing away.
He glared at Ina with eyes that seemed to spit fire.
“And you’ve been contaminated by this dark power?!”

“First of all, I have not betrayed the Church.”

Ina was enveloped in a similar black mist to the one around Damus, her power steadily growing.
“Secondly, this power has always been mine.”

“Then why are you with that monster?!”

“…Well.”

Ina’s body suddenly stiffened, her eyes wavering uncertainly.
“I… I’m responsible for monitoring her.”

‘Well, yes, that’s a good reason.’

Damus clearly wasn’t satisfied with the excuse, but the encroaching black mist blurred his consciousness.

On the brink of fading, Damus’s lips moved faintly, mustering his last strength to whisper:

“Witch… you won’t have a good end…”

Then, he completely lost consciousness.

“Huh… whatever you say… I’m not going back anyway.”

Gazing at the unconscious Damus, Ina let out a long sigh and slowly dispelled the black fog surrounding them.
“It’s been so long since I used [Eternal Night]; I’m a bit rusty.”

As the black fog dissipated, the original surroundings gradually reemerged.

But to Ina’s surprise, the moment visibility cleared, she spotted Cynthia standing at the cellar entrance with arms crossed, staring at her oddly—unaware of when she’d arrived.

“Cyn… Cynthia-chan? When did you get there?!”

Cynthia’s sudden appearance startled Ina, her expression freezing.

Though [Eternal Night] blocked sight and magic, its sound-dampening wasn’t as strong.

‘If Cynthia heard my earlier conversation with Damus…’

‘The consequences would be disastrous!!!’

“Chan?”
Cynthia blinked, her face puzzled.
“Probably from the ‘Witch… this won’t end well for you…’ part?”

‘It’s terrifying!!!’

“Please don’t sneak up like that next time; you’ll scare someone to death!”

Ina even felt as if her head wasn’t on her neck anymore.
Though Cynthia hadn’t heard the prior exchange, she broke into a cold sweat.

“You’re so timid and want to be a witch? You’re totally unqualified!”

Cynthia glanced at Damus, sprawled on the ground with a deathly pallor, kicked him aside, and approached Ina.
Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe and patted Ina’s head.
“But for a witch, your strength’s passable.”

A faint fragrance tickled Ina’s nose, leaving her stunned by the gesture.
She looked down at the vampire girl, a head shorter but with earnest eyes.

“Are all vampires so forward?”

After a brief silence, Ina replied weakly.

“I don’t know about others, but the old hag at home loves patting my head like this.”
Cynthia lowered her hand and stepped back.
“Why, do you hate head pats?”

“Well… not really, but who’s this old hag you mentioned?”

“Theoretically, my mother.”

“Eh…”

Cynthia’s brief words left Ina’s mind reeling.

She suddenly thought vampire family dynamics might differ from humans’, so it was best not to pry.

‘Well, respect and blessings.’

Far in the imperial court, Alicia, basking in a moonlit hot spring, suddenly sneezed.

She rubbed her nose tip and gazed north:

“You brat, badmouthing me behind my back again, huh?”

“When you return, we’ll settle this!”

As she prepared to rise and leave the spring, her maid Lilith appeared at the edge.

“Oh, Lilith, finished handling the northern matters?”

“Your Majesty, after issuing orders to each territory, border guards acted swiftly. The abducted children will soon be freed.”

“Does the investigation link to the Holy Church?”

Alicia stood and exited the spring, her curvaceous form faintly visible in the mist.
As she walked, she questioned Lilith.

“Interrogating today’s captured poachers revealed bounties tied to Barlia Kingdom’s slave traders.”

Lilith trailed behind, responding measuredly.

“Hmm… Was the intelligence wrong?”

“No, Your Majesty. Our spies in Barlia Kingdom noted suspicious activity at the branch cathedral, but we’re unsure if the Holy Church backs those traders.”

“Keep monitoring. By the way, where’s Cynthia now?”

“In a northern border town, seemingly intent on heading to Barlia Kingdom.”

“Then let her. Ensure the girl’s safety.”

“Yes.”

“Come on, watch your step.”

Ina carefully helped the last injured child out of the cellar.
Most bore minor wounds, which she’d treated simply to prevent infection.

“Big sister… thank you…”

Some children remained terrified, slow to recover, while others who’d steadied themselves thanked Ina and Cynthia politely.

“I’ve notified the mayor; guards should arrive soon.”

Cynthia leaned against the wall, addressing the children calmly.
“Don’t wander until they get here. Understand?”

“Y-Yes…”

For some reason, Ina sensed the children seemed wary of Cynthia, wondering what she’d done below.

“Let’s go, Ina.”

“Huh? Just leaving like this?”

“What else?”

Cynthia eyed the sky, faint dawn breaking.
She hadn’t expected rescuing the children to take so long.
“I don’t want to be swarmed with thanks—that’d be torture.”

“Your idea of ‘torture’ differs from normal people’s.”

Ina grumbled inwardly, but with Cynthia’s word, she couldn’t argue.
“Where to?”

“Barlia Kingdom. By the way, know where the Holy Church’s Barlia branch cathedral is?”

“I think in the capital, but what are we doing there…”

“Something.”

Branch churches were the last places Ina wanted now.
Her journey had shown she wasn’t obscure within the Holy Church.

Plus, trailing Cynthia—the ‘monster’ Blood Princess—might truly turn her into a witch over time.

Yet, on second thought, human territory could offer escape chances.
Once there, she’d have ways to slip away.

“Then I’ll lead. I’m more familiar with it than you.”

“Appreciate it.”

“By the way, what about this priest?”

Their gazes fixed on the unconscious Damus, both falling silent.

Damus was a liability for both Cynthia and Ina.

After a moment, they exchanged looks, Cynthia noting Ina’s reluctance and resolve.

Seeming to understand, Cynthia stepped forward, addressing the children:

“Kids, close your eyes.”

“The next scene might be… inappropriate for children…”