March 22, 2022
Ji-Kai and his companions finally managed to escape through a hidden passage they'd discovered. When they emerged, dawn was already close—the clock read nearly four in the morning.
Ji-Kai thanked Yasmine for her help, and she did the same in return. As soon as she left, he made his way to a secluded spot where he could rest for a bit, with Camistra accompanying him.
« Ahh, my body hurts all over… I wish I'd brought a healing potion with me, » Ji-Kai muttered, rubbing his right shoulder.
« That's because you're an idiot. If you weren't, you wouldn't have forgotten something that basic—especially in a situation where you don't even know what you might face, you pathetic weakling, » Camistra scolded him, though her tone was calm—showing neither annoyance nor concern.
Ji-Kai shot her a sour look. Being called weak so casually didn't sit well with him, but he didn't argue.
After all, if not for Camistra's intervention earlier—or more precisely, if not for her very presence—he would've already been among the dead.
« Ah, right. I forgot to ask—can you explain why you did that? I mean… when you drank my blood? » Ji-Kai asked plainly, still feeling a faint chill at the spot where she had bitten him.
« Simply put, I was restrained—unable to use my power, my speed, or even my energy. I couldn't do anything because of the contract's seal, » Camistra explained, her calm mask hiding clear irritation.
« What do you mean by that? » Ji-Kai asked, curiosity piqued.
« I don't want to talk much, so listen carefully. In that situation, even my fists were powerless. The only way to break part of those restraints was to accept the contract—making you my master. Drinking your blood was the required ritual for that. » Her voice twisted with disgust as she spoke the last few words.
« So, you're saying your ability to use power depends on your connection to your master—or, in other words, the person who summoned you, right? »
« Exactly. And that connection also ties my body and soul to this world. It allows me to move freely, to touch things. Before that, I could only make contact with you—the summoner, » Camistra confirmed, adding a detail that caught Ji-Kai's attention.
« Wait… you mean, to Yasmine, you were basically… a ghost? » Ji-Kai asked, bewildered.
« Visually, I appeared normal to her. I told her I was just an eccentric woman who liked pretending to be a vampire queen. » Her tone turned sharp—clearly irritated.
How am I supposed to make her forget what I just said… damn it.
« Physically, yes—I was intangible to her. Even when parts of her body passed right through me, she never noticed. But as for you, since you're the summoner, you could touch me normally. And once the contract was completed, I became tangible to everyone, » she added.
Ji-Kai thought about it for a moment. It made sense in a way. He understood it as a kind of tether linking her to this world—his existence, and their bond, acting as the bridge that allowed her to exist here.
My brain's going to explode if I keep thinking about this…
Ji-Kai turned his gaze aside. The sun was nearly rising now—the nights were getting shorter, and the days longer. That reminded him of something important he'd overlooked earlier.
« Ah, I forgot to ask—how are you going to handle sunlight? I move around a lot, and if you're with me, you'll probably end up exposed to it. How will you deal with that? Should I buy you something to protect you from it? And what about your appearance? You can't just walk around looking like a vampire—it'll draw too much attention. »
He kept talking and talking, his thoughts spilling faster than his mouth could keep up.
Camistra, clearly annoyed, finally reached out and covered his mouth with her hand to stop the stream of words.
« You're insufferably chatty, you know that? After drinking your blood, I gained the ability to alter my appearance to look human—that's settled. And as for sunlight, once again, drinking your blood granted me immunity to it. Meaning… I'm fine! »
She pronounced the last words in a rising tone, making it crystal clear to Ji-Kai that he should stop thinking out loud so much.
My god… this queen's patience is shorter than a matchstick.
Still… her hand's actually soft. And small.
After Ji-Kai regained some strength, he and Camistra—now in a simple human form—headed to a women's clothing store.
Ji-Kai decided to make up for his earlier behavior by buying her new clothes she could wear in public.
His intentions were good. Her response, however, was devastating. After all, she was a woman—and she took full advantage of the situation.
She bought tons of stylish, expensive outfits—most of them distinctly masculine in design, with only a few feminine pieces among them.
Even so, Ji-Kai couldn't deny the obvious—she was stunning. No matter what she wore, she carried herself with striking grace and allure.
Yet, his admiration didn't go beyond that. Deep down, his mind remained preoccupied with Park Yun-Seok and the special mission awaiting him.
« I'll take this one too~ And this~ Oh! I have to get this one! » Camistra's excitement was off the charts, which left Ji-Kai bewildered.
Just hours ago, she had been the proud, regal queen—and now she was acting more like a giddy teenager.
My money~ my poor money is crying for help~
Ahh~ my wallet is suffering~
Is she really the Queen of Vampires? It feels like I summoned a twenty-something shopaholic instead!
At this rate, I'm going to end up broke! I have to stop her—now!!
After much struggle, and after nearly dragging her away to keep his finances intact, Ji-Kai finally managed to board a plane back to South Korea—after a difficult time finding a direct flight.
Because of Camistra's sudden childish behavior, Ji-Kai had to book first-class seats. Comfortable for his body—but excruciating for his wallet.
He didn't even know how to feel—happy because he could rest, or miserable because of how much money he'd spent when he already didn't have much.
Ahh~ finally, it's all over… I feel completely drained.
These seats are comfortable, but way too expensive. I'll need to work a lot to make up for what I spent.
Or maybe I should focus on strengthening myself and retaking the rank exam. If I can reach a higher tier, I'll earn a bigger reward.
Yeah, that's what I'll aim for.
As he was finally starting to relax, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Curious, he checked it—and smiled slightly when he saw who had messaged him. Park Yun-Seok. His smile carried both warmth and worry for the mission that still lingered over him.
( Yun-Seok : Hello, Mr. Kim Ji-Kai. How's your trip in Egypt going? :› )
( You : It's good. Kind of fun, actually. I have to admit—I even bought some souvenirs. )
( Yun-Seok : Really?! That's very thoughtful of you! )
( You : You sound pretty excited lol )
( Yun-Seok : Haha, I guess you could say that lol. I've only ever traveled between China, Japan, and Korea. Never anywhere else. )
( You : Seriously? That's surprising. I thought you'd been to way more places. )
( Yun-Seok : Not everything is as it seems, my friend. )
Ji-Kai smiled as he continued chatting with Park Yun-Seok, while Camistra slept soundly beside him—as if she hadn't rested in days.
( You : So, how are you feeling? Any better? )
( Yun-Seok : Yeah, though I still feel a bit of pain in my chest. But I'm fine. )
The effects of the transformation… looks like that serum has started to take hold. I just hope it doesn't get worse.
I just… don't want any unnecessary changes to happen.
( You : Glad to hear that. Keep up with your treatment, man. )
( Yun-Seok : I will, I will~ )
After a brief pause, Ji-Kai remembered Kim Nina and decided to ask.
( You : So… what about Kim Nina? How's she doing? )
( Yun-Seok : Miss Nina? She's okay—well, a little. The treatment's going well, but she's still shaken by what happened. It wasn't something easy to go through. )
How could it be? I can't even imagine having my arm torn off like that…
( Yun-Seok : Don't blame yourself for what happened. I know you're doing that right now, so stop. As you already know, it was caused by a demon—something we've never faced before. Considering your experience and your rank being lower than Kim Nina's, no one's pointing fingers at you. There was nothing you could've done. )
Yun-Seok…
( You : Thank you, Park Yun-Seok. I'm on my way back to Korea. I'll visit you as soon as I can once I'm back. )
( Yun-Seok : I'll be waiting then~ I can't wait to see the souvenir you got me! )
After that, Ji-Kai sent one final message before locking his phone and leaning back in his seat.
He glanced up at the cabin ceiling, then to his right, where a flight attendant was speaking with another passenger.
Finally, his gaze settled on Camistra, sleeping peacefully beside him.
I can't shake this feeling…
Something's going to happen. Something I'll hate… but I don't know what it is.