Matan’s Shooter

Although Bathory’s figure was not visible, after all, the purpose isn’t her.

Leeha’s only goal is one thing – to prevent Chiyou from wielding her strength!

In that case, shouldn’t we handle Chiyou first?

“Wait!”

Chiyou couldn’t hide the surprise in her eyes.

“Chiyou! You can’t read Jellypong’s attacks now, can you?”

Following Jellypong’s tentacle attack, Leeha’s Mana Bayonet plunged into the space.

Chiyou twisted her body, biting her lip.

The Mana Vaporizing Shot did not cancel the currently used skill, but it rendered skills connected to it unusable. Moreover, skills that required continuous use of mana became completely useless once the mana hit zero.

[That girl who shot that bullet, it was 20 years ago.]

“Huh? Where did she come from-“

Leeha was startled and swung Black Bass behind her.

Woosh, a sound echoed as light illuminated the space, but there was nothing in the spot where the voice seemed to have come from. Meanwhile, Jellypong and Chiyou were engaged in a fierce battle.

Each strike was powerful, and Jellypong boasted a merciless force with its fifteen tentacles, but it couldn’t overpower Chiyou.

Chiyou managed to evade all of Jellypong’s attacks merely with pure movements and even successfully counterattacked by bending Jellypong’s surface.

[Mana Vaporizing Shot, right? I remember you couldn’t use it consecutively.]

Leeha quickly fired a bullet towards the spot where the sound originated.

However, despite the explosion and the light illuminating the space as the bullet hit the wall, Bathory’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

‘She knows the skill too? No, no. If she had faced Elizabeth…then she might know.’

Leeha pondered. How should he kill the monster that turned into mist?

The answer was right in front of him. Leeha rummaged through his bag quickly.

“Let’s give it a try! How long are you going to hesitate like that!”

With Black Bass slung over his shoulder, Leeha took out a stick with a hose attached to it.

[What’s that…?]

Bathory’s voice trembled slightly at first. It was an item that even she had never seen before, but did it instinctively make Bathory anxious? On the contrary, it fueled Leeha with energy.

“We can’t just block the mist with something as light as this stick!”

Leeha pulled the trigger attached to the stick.

Thud—clank—!

When the switch rose from the small pouch connected to the hose, the tip of the lower rod snapped.

Fwhoaaa—shhh—kk!

Flamethrower utilizing Blaugrunn’s scales!

The weapon that had been used to burn Chimeras to a crisp in the past once again shone brightly.

“W-what’s this—”

As soon as the flames burst forth, Chiyou immediately leaped out of the way.

The attack was an unavoidable one, with a tremendous range of 700, making it impossible for Chiyou to dodge, yet even then, Leeha couldn’t bring himself to aim the nozzle towards Chiyou.

“Jellypong, come back!”

[Myong, myong?]

Chiyou’s movement direction was right behind Jellypong. Furthermore, with the flames burning too fiercely, Jellypong couldn’t even approach Leeha, who had to consider the possibility of accidentally setting fire to Jellypong amidst the chaotic situation.

‘Damn it, now that it’s come to this— Leeha indiscriminately sprayed flames into the relatively confined indoor areas.’

Whether the flames were directly hitting Bathory, whether they were dealing damage properly—those weren’t concerns at the moment. Since causing damage over a wide area was imperative, the interior was quickly engulfed in flames.

With the crackling of flames mixing with screams, it was clear that the attack was effective.

“Excellent! 3,000 damage per second! It might only last a hundred seconds, but just hitting for a few tens of seconds is enough!”

Leeha felt like his heart was about to burst with excitement.

The screams were an indicator that the attack was making an impact! Although unintentional, the flamethrower was undoubtedly one of the best choices.

While the mist transformation effect could evade nearly all physical attacks and many magical attacks, it was evidently vulnerable to attacks that engulfed the entire area or precluded evasion.

“Just because he’s a cute guy, I tried to go easy on him but nooo—”

Fwooosh!

The figure of a woman engulfed in flames leaped out from behind Leeha.

Just by revealing herself, it was clear how much damage she had taken. Exposed to more flames, she would soon feel the threat to her life.

Eeeek—!

As the flames spewed from the flamethrower, igniting various parts of the wall, the indoor space was now brightly lit up, allowing Leeha to see Bathory and sense her presence.

The issue was how incredibly fast she moved.

Despite being able to see and sense her, finding a way to stop her was proving difficult. He couldn’t turn the muzzle of the flamethrower, nor could he manage to raise the Black Vase and shoot it.

Hearing Bathory’s shout, he eventually threw the flamethrower towards Leeha and turned his body at the same time. Before he knew it, Bathory was charging towards him, aiming for his neck and heart. Her nails were larger and sharper than those of the fangs.

“I will drink your delicious blood!”

A crimson fingernail, stretched out from her pale hand, targeting Leeha’s eyes.

“I must dodge, no matter what. If I can just avoid the vital points, I can turn the tide.”

Leeha did his best to focus and twisted his body.

Meanwhile, Bathory’s hands were still moving.

Swish…!

“Eeeek!”

The sound of flesh being torn apart and screams almost rang out at the same time.

Blood was dripping from the end of Bathory’s nails. Although Leeha barely managed to dodge by the narrowest margin, his health bar filled up to 100% before was now left with only 30% in no time.

However, her attacks were merely ‘brushing past’.

Then where did the sound of flesh being torn come from?

“B-Bathory!”

Chiyou’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. Leeha could barely smile upon hearing her outcry.

“So, you were Bathory after all! How about my attack? Or rather, the attack of a comrade who was quite close to you… Is it worth tasting?”

Leeha’s left hand was attached to Bathory’s chest.

More precisely, what Leeha was holding onto was the ‘handle of a dagger’. The blade of the dagger, in fact, Toon’s claw, had completely penetrated Bathory’s chest.

“Grrr-…”

Leeha pulled out Toon’s claw dagger and stabbed it again.

Swish!

The horrifying sensation of flesh being pierced was transmitted to his fingertips, but in his excitement, Leeha did not notice that detail.

One thing only!

“I must kill Bathory right here and now!”

That thought was the only thing in Leeha’s mind.

Toon was one of the three pillars of Bluebeard. If he recalled the suffering of all the users in Middle Earth because of this one Toon, what would happen if Bathory, the second in command of Bluebeard, were to be released into the world?

“Aaargh!”

Leeha did not stop swinging Toon’s claw dagger.

He stabbed, stabbed, stabbed, and stabbed again. Exposed to the attacks of the flamethrower, Toon’s claws, which were granted immense agility, shredded Bathory’s body repeatedly.

“Ba, Bathory-nim! Ha Leeee-haaaa!”

“Jellypong!”

[Mongmong!]

Chiyou finally came to her senses and dashed towards Leeha, but Jellypong was not standing still either. Jellypong blocked her path, and Bathory was frozen in place!

Leeha quickly pulled out Black Bass, took three steps back, and raised the rifle.

“Don’t move, Chiyou! I’ll shoot if you do!”

Chiyou on the left, Bathory on the right. Chiyou could be shot the moment she moved. But what about Bathory?

It would be difficult to subdue her with the level of attacks so far if she was at least Toon-grade.

Leeha threw a threatening glance at Chiyou and turned the rifle towards Bathory. Just as Chiyou was about to speak, Leeha’s finger moved.

-ㅡ |

The bullet hit Bathory’s heart and slammed into the wall. The smoke emanating from Bathory’s chest wasn’t blood but black smoke, a familiar form. Kaztor? … Vitality Jar? Leeha knew. Bathory wouldn’t die.

‘Too easy of a thought. Damn it! She’s the second in command of Bluebeard, stupid! Where is she—Where the hell is she?’

Leeha looked around. But if it was Vitality Jar… searching like this was impossible.

Wasn’t that like moving the source of life itself? The chance of Bathory’s body and that being in the same place was unlikely. So, moving was necessary, but Leeha’s thoughts didn’t go that far. And that moment was the last chance for Chiyou.

“Bathory can’t die. It must not happen!”

Chiyou’s quest success condition is to persuade Bathory. The failure conditions are if Chiyou dies inside the Bransylvania Castle and Bluebeard’s Call item is lost — just two cases.

In other words, Bathory’s death doesn’t directly lead to quest failure!

“But logically speaking, once Bathory dies, this quest disappears. It’s not about success or failure but automatic annihilation!”

What then is the best course of action for Chiyou to take?

Chiyou assessed Bathory’s condition. Black Bass’s bullet holes and the rising black smoke from the impacts were visible. The severity of the fatal injury was evident even at a glance.

“Damn it, am I dying? No, dying is fine! But even if I die, she must express her agreement and then die,” Bathory emphasized. In that moment, it would be like achieving the ‘quest success condition.’

However, due to Jellypong in front, Chiyou couldn’t approach Bathory.

Chiyou: Bathory!

Chiyou called out, looking at Bathory.

It was a silent movement, but Bathory knew how to read even that. And she responded, Bathory: Save me… help me. I’m running out of blood. I can’t run out of blood. When will the sun set?

Chiyou: The sun? Ah, there’s still about an hour until sunset. But… about the blood? How can I supply it to you?

Bathory’s lips were gradually drying out. Even though it wasn’t the injured area, parts of her body were withering and drying up, falling apart into the air.

Bathory: I can’t use any strength, quickly, quickly, the blood- if it’s delayed further, recovery will become difficult.

Chiyou: So, how do we get the blood? Are you asking for my blood?

Through the telepathic conversation, the two could communicate sufficiently. Although Bathory didn’t nod in response to Chiyou’s question, Chiyou understood.

Bathory’s expression was desperate yet strangely resigned. And from observing how the other Blue Whiskers found strength, Chiyou put the pieces together easily.

‘Toon was fully revived by Bluebeard’ power… So, maybe Bathory isn’t completely revived yet?’

Was Bathory seeking strength not through Bluebeard but by consuming blood? Or did she mean to consume blood first, then seek strength from Bluebeard? Whatever it was, one thing was certain- when Chiyou arrived at this place, she was the only one from whom Bathory could drink blood.

Who should Bathory drink blood from?

“Bluebeard… that bastard?”

Chiyou’s mind grasped the idea that Bluebeard intended to use her as a sacrifice. That must be the ‘persuasion of Bathory’ that Bluebeard mentioned before!

“Were they planning to sacrifice me to gain points from Bathory, recover her strength to some extent, then pull her to his side and proceed with his plan?”

Chiyou shuddered. It seemed like Le was trying to use her as a ‘disposable pawn’ instead of ‘sacrificing’ her!

Bathory observed Chiyou as her expression changed rapidly. The dry lips of the Blood Maiden trembled.

“Quickly, the blood- quickly! If it’s delayed further, my body will collapse. Once that happens, even with blood, it’ll be useless! When the sun sets, the creatures will awaken, and I won’t be able to control them anymore!”

“Creatures?”

“You! Didn’t you say that Le sent you!?”

Bathory’s expression became more direct and intense.

Chiyou realized the urgency of the situation. But how could she persuade her?

A vampire who only seemed intent on devouring her!

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