CHAPTER 123: WHY DID THEY COME AND TAKE DRACULA?

Sitting on the couch, Leo lowered himself beside Ophis and Valra... the latter still clinging to him tightly, refusing to let go, her grip trembling with a desperate kind of need. Valra’s eyes stayed fixed on him as he spoke, listening carefully as he explained everything that had happened.

Honestly, Valra wanted to shout at him for his recklessness, to call out his idiotic choices, to let all her fear explode into anger. But... she didn’t.

Because her Leo had come back alive.

That was all she needed. That was all she felt in that moment.

She had been so terrified, so desperate, that she had even gone so far as to contact her father... to ask him for the residence of Dracula. She had never, not once in her entire life, reached out to her father for anything.

Yet she had done it, all because of Leo.

Even though she was angry, even though she wanted to scream at him for not trusting her, as soon as her eyes landed on his exhausted face, on his body marked by burns and torn clothes... her anger shattered. She didn’t have the heart to shout. She was only worried.

Just... purely worried.

Hugging his arm tightly, she leaned down, her voice breaking into a whisper as she asked,

"Y-You could have taken me... I... I could have helped you, right?" Her eyes trembled, shimmering with pain.

She didn’t understand. Why hadn’t Leo, her partner, her lover, asked for her help? Instead, he had placed his trust in someone who wouldn’t even show their face.

Was she that untrustworthy?

Was she... that useless?

Just when she thought they were getting closer, building something real together... now it all felt wrong.

Wrong and painfully sharp inside her chest.

Leo shook his head immediately, his expression honest, his eyes steady.

"No, I didn’t mean to leave you... I... I just couldn’t bring myself to ask more of you," he said as he cupped her face gently, making her look at him. "You have done so many things... even without me asking. I... because of me, you lost your champion. Because of me, you almost died there. I... I... couldn’t have the heart to put you through that again."

"No... I would never regret that. And I am not sorry for it," he said firmly, his eyes trembling with sincerity.

Seeing her cry, seeing her shoulders quake, it made him feel fear, it made him feel lost—as though he had committed a terrible mistake.

Valra’s lips trembled. She clenched her fist tightly around his arm, her teeth gritting as tears welled in her eyes. "I am not weak!" she cried out, her voice breaking with both fury and heartbreak.

She loved the way Leo spoke the truth to her—without hesitation, without sugarcoating. She understood his thoughts, his pain, the weight behind his choices. He only wanted to protect her.

Just like any other lover would do.

But... what about him?

Didn’t she want to protect him too? Why was he not understanding that?

Leo gave a weak smile, his lips curving with bitter honesty.

"Yes, I know you’re strong... stronger than me... but... I am weak. Weak enough that I’ve already lost more than necessary. I couldn’t handle losing again," he whispered, his hands tightening gently around her fingers.

His eyes carried apology, sorrow, and pain, but he wasn’t voicing them aloud. He made it clear in his silence that he believed what he was doing was right.

Valra bit her lip before letting out a shaky sigh. She turned her gaze toward Ophis, who clung to Leo’s left side without shame. "So... what are you going to do with her?" she asked, her voice sharp as her eyes flicked back to Leo. "Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about what comes after this."

Leo smiled awkwardly, scratching his cheek as his words stumbled out. Of course, he had thought about saving Ophis... but after that? After what? He hadn’t thought so far.

"She could stay with me," Leo muttered with a small shrug.

He really didn’t mind.

Wouldn’t the house be more lively with one more person around?

Valra’s lips twitched violently. "W-With you? She?"

The very thought horrified her... the idea of a random vampire lying under the same roof as her lover.

In his room. No, it was too wrong. Too shameless!

Valra stammered, her voice cracking, "L-Leo, it’s not that easy for her to stay here... there are rules. Rules that say humans cannot coexist with vampires!"

Leo blinked innocently. "But... I’m not exactly human, right? I mean... I’m a mage, aren’t I?"

Valra’s lips twitched harder. "Well, technically, you’re not a mage though..."

"But I did do some magic—"

"Those aren’t considered magic!"

"Are they not?"

"Y-Yes!" she snapped, her cheeks reddening further.

"Even so, what kind of—"

"Why are you trying so hard to let her live in your place?!" she suddenly exploded, her voice rising to a shout that barked through the room.

Leo flinched, covering one ear with a wince. "I’m not trying hard, you know," he replied, rubbing his ear awkwardly.

Valra’s face flushed crimson, her lips parting as if she wanted to shout something more, but her voice faltered, the words choking in her throat.

"Fu~Fu... if anything, it’s you who’s trying hard," Ophis commented slyly, her tone dripping with amusement as her lips curled into a faint smirk. She could already guess what was going on here, and she wasn’t about to miss her chance to make it worse.

Surely, Ophis had no intention of leaving his place. Not now. Not ever. She pressed herself closer, hugging his arm with bold determination as she tilted her head and muttered sweetly,

"Will you take care of me? Even though I was abandoned by my father and almost killed... will you take care of poor little me?"

Leo blinked, dumbfounded. What... what was she doing now?

Whatever.

"It’s fine, I will talk to my aunt, and I’m sure she would be happy to welcome you," Leo said softly, reaching out to ruffle Ophis’s hair with gentle affection.

"Grrrt!!"

The sound of teeth grinding echoed through the room as Valra glared daggers at Ophis, who smirked back in open defiance. ’This little witch!’ Valra thought bitterly, her fist clenching so tightly her nails dug into her palm.

Valra was already struggling with competition she couldn’t possibly handle. She could not, absolutely not, allow another rival to be added to her growing list.

’Arrgh!’ She groaned inwardly.... But then, suddenly, an idea struck her.

"Wait! I have a huuuge house, you know? She could live there," Valra declared, her voice laced with sweetness but her eyes gleaming with cunning.

Leo blinked in surprise.

Of course—Valra’s house was enormous, practically a mansion, with more rooms than one person could ever use. And considering Ophis was once a royal girl, raised in a castle, Leo knew deep down that it would be hard for her to grow accustomed to his small, modest home.

His entire place couldn’t even compare to a single chamber in her old life.

Just as he was about to agree to Valra’s idea—

"Nah, I’m fine here," Ophis cut in, smiling slyly.

Valra’s lips twitched violently.

Leo tilted his head, confused. "Are you sure? Her house is huge, not like mine... you might even get a big room and all sorts of things I honestly cannot afford."

Valra nodded quickly, seizing the chance. "Yeah, yeah... he can’t afford anything, so just come to my house!" she blurted without thinking, her words slicing into Leo like a blade.

It hurt... Like an arrow stabbing right into his chest.

’I-I think it’s not easy to satisfy her...’ Leo thought with a worried heart. If Valra needed so much wealth and comfort to feel secure, then what about him?

Did he... need to continue his stealing just to keep up with her expectations?

Ophis, however, only smiled faintly. "Afford? Please. I am fine with even this couch. I’ve been lying in places far worse than this. It’s not about the size of the house... no matter how many rooms you have, if you feel lonely, then you are still... alone."

Her words carried a strange, aching sadness.

Leo’s heart stirred. He leaned closer without hesitation, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace. Ophis flinched at the sudden warmth, her eyes widening in shock as if she had forgotten what such closeness even felt like.

"Don’t worry. I’m here for you now," Leo whispered with quiet certainty. "You are not alone anymore."

Ophis’s eyes trembled, her heart pounding as unfamiliar emotions surged inside her. Then, almost instinctively, her expression shifted into a sly smile. Her gaze turned toward Valra, who looked ready to burst, her body trembling with fury as her teeth ground together.

Leo, however, pulled back slightly, his expression turning serious.

"Now... why did they come and take Dracula?"

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

Everyone frowned!

Meanwhile, somewhere deep in the underground of the city—

Thud!

"Arhh!"

Dracula groaned, his breath ragged through parted, broken lips. His body twitched weakly on the ground, flesh still torn and bruised, his regeneration crawling far slower than it ever should have.

His dim eyes lifted, staring at the three figures that stood before him.

Camazotz frowned, his bat-like face darkening, "Just what happened to him to be reduced to this level?" His gaze shifted toward the woman clad in black armour.

"Are you certain leaving that boy alive is the right choice?"

The black-armored woman did not answer. She only stared at Dracula with cold detachment, her expression unreadable as she asked,

"What’s your goal?"

Dracula’s face trembled, his lips twitching as though to form words, but no sound escaped him.

The woman’s blank stare did not waver. For a single tense moment, the silence itself seemed to choke the chamber. Only the rats and water drops echoed... and the way her hand drifted toward the hilt of her sword carried a clear message—if he didn’t speak, she would cut him down where he lay.

"O! Okay, calm down!" Camazotz exclaimed quickly, his tone almost pleading.

"He’s the only ticket we have to reach the relic! Don’t forget that!" His eyes darted toward Nergal as if begging for support, but the other figure only bowed his head low, silent, obedient... as though the armoured woman was his queen.

’Tsk, coward,’ Camazotz thought bitterly, but before he could press further, he froze.

Because at last, a broken voice rasped into the air.

"I... I need... him."

The words were weak, but they carried enough weight to make the underground grow colder.

"Who?" the woman asked, her presence pressing down like a blade against his throat.

Dracula’s eyes flickered, his lips moved once more, this time with a chilling steadiness,

"L... Lucifer."