As they made their way toward the southern caves, the group walked at an easy pace, chatting and slowly getting to know one another.

  “Wait, you actually slept in the forest?” Dash exclaimed when he heard Velt had spent several days there. “You’re crazy, man.”

  “Yeah,” Velt replied casually.

  “T-that sounds dangerous… Monsters could attack you if you’re not careful,” Rosa said, clearly worried.

  “Maybe,” Velt said calmly, “but if you know how to hide your tracks and your scent, it’s not a problem.”

  “You hide your tracks and scent just to sleep?” Luke said thoughtfully. “I have to admit, that’s a first for me.”

  “It’s not as strange as it sounds, guys. Really,” Velt added, brushing it off.

  The conversation continued as each of them shared bits of their life and their reasons for becoming adventurers. For Velt, however, it was more complicated. He couldn’t talk about the village or Rurhy, so he improvised an alternative story—one not too far from the truth.

  “So you want to gather as much money as possible to help the village that took you in?” Dash asked.

  “That’s right. I owe that place a lot. This is the least I can do,” Velt replied.

  “That’s very noble…” Rosa murmured.

  “Truly admirable,” Luke added.

  “I think you’re exaggerating,” Velt said with a faint smile.

  “Not at all,” Dash replied, clenching his fist. “Helping an entire village on your own is something to respect.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Velt said. “I haven’t done it yet. I’ll celebrate once I succeed. Celebrating too early brings bad luck.”

  “V-Velt… I think you’re really admirable,” Rosa said, looking at him sincerely.

  “You’re really overdoing it,” Velt replied, turning his gaze forward. “What about you guys? It’s not fair if I’m the only one talking.”

  “I come from a farming family, but that life wasn’t for me, so I became an adventurer,” Dash said.

  “You prefer fighting over the peace of the countryside?” Velt asked.

  “Farming just isn’t my thing. My strength is better used in combat—trust me,” Dash replied.

  “I see. And you, Luke?”

  “I come from a merchant family. I used to rely on my charm to scam people… until I met Dash,” Luke said with a grin.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “You scammed people?” Velt asked, surprised.

  “Yeah… until I scammed the wrong idiot,” Luke said, glancing at Dash.

  “Let me guess,” Velt cut in. “He took a while to realize it, and once he did, he chased you relentlessly.”

  “Exactly,” Luke laughed. “It got scary at some point. He just wouldn’t stop.”

  Everyone laughed—except Dash, who didn’t quite understand what was so funny.

  “And you, Rosa?” Velt asked.

  “W-well… mine’s pretty normal. I just want to help my family with some extra money,” she said nervously. “B-but that doesn’t mean it’s easy…”

  The three boys chuckled softly.

  “Don’t worry, Rosa,” Velt said. “Helping your family isn’t easy or hard. It’s important.”

  “I agree,” Dash nodded, and Luke did as well.

  “I-I think out of all of us, Velt has the most noble motivation,” Rosa added.

  “She’s right,” Dash agreed.

  “So we’ve got a guy too strong for farm work, an ex-swindler, someone trying to save a village, and a girl who just wants to help her family,” Velt summarized. “What a team.”

  Laughter erupted, and little by little, the group grew closer.

  After several days of travel, they finally arrived at the Red Mole Caves.

  “Finally…” Dash muttered, clearly tired.

  “From here on out, stay alert and don’t separate,” Velt ordered. The others nodded. “I’ll go second. Luke, you lead us. Dash, cover the rear. Rosa stays in the middle—behind me and in front of Dash. We protect you, you heal when needed.”

  The group entered the cave.

  “It’s way too dark…” Velt muttered, straining his eyes.

  “Red moles are blind. They rely on sound,” Luke explained.

  “That makes sense… did anyone bring a lamp?” Velt asked.

  Everyone shook their heads.

  “Then keep your eyes open,” he said, and they moved on.

  As they advanced, the silence grew unsettling.

  “This is strange,” Luke whispered. “They usually attack as soon as someone enters their territory.”

  “I’ve got a bad feeling,” Dash added.

  “I-is it just me, or is it cold?” Rosa said softly.

  Soon, they came across a shattered carriage.

  “That must be the merchants’,” Velt said.

  “They didn’t waste any time…” Luke commented, pointing at a lifeless body.

  “Oh my god…” Rosa gasped.

  “No visible wounds,” Velt said, examining the corpse.

  “Maybe he had a heart attack after seeing a red mole,” Luke joked while checking the carriage.

  “Hands off, Luke,” Dash scolded him.

  “Come on, he doesn’t need it anymore—”

  “T-that’s not right…” Rosa protested.

  As Velt continued inspecting the body, he noticed something strange: two small marks on the arm.

  “This is…” he murmured. “A vampire. Everyone, gather up and stay alert.”

  “A vampire here?” Dash said.

  “I should’ve known… no sunlight, no moles, a cold breeze… I’m an idiot,” Luke growled.

  “I-I don’t see anything…” Rosa whispered.

  Suddenly, shadows slid across the ground like living creatures.

  “What the hell—?” Velt exclaimed before the darkness dragged him away.

  “V-Velt!” Rosa screamed, but she was swallowed by the shadows as well, followed by Luke and Dash.

  Velt opened his eyes in a damp, rocky environment.

  “What the hell just happened…?” he muttered as he pushed himself up.

  “Analyzing… You were separated from your companions via teleportation,” Cero reported.

  “The vampire did this?”

  “Affirmative. Vampires enjoy separating their prey before consuming them.”

  “I have to find them…” Velt said—but something moved behind him.

  He reacted on instinct, throwing a punch and sending the figure flying backward.

  “Well now… I didn’t expect you to sense my presence,” a voice said as a figure emerged from the dust. “I knew I had to be careful with you. You looked like the strongest one.”

  “You came after me first? I’m flattered,” Velt replied, taking a combat stance.

  “I had to eliminate you first,” the vampire said. “But there’s something even more interesting… that priestess. Her scent is exquisite. Royal blood flows through her veins.”

  “What are you talking about?” Velt demanded.

  “She belongs to royalty. If I turn her into my servant, I gain influence over power itself. Today is my lucky day.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  “Hahaha… I’d be delighted.”