4.5

“No, I am a sinful being. I never wanted to end up like this.”  

Helena poured the water infused with horse chestnut fruit into a cup and handed it to Dennis. He liked it, claiming it tasted faintly of blood. Even this small gesture made Dennis feel as though he had the whole world. So, he decided to say something Helena might want to hear.  

“Is that why you were looking for ‘Uncle’? To get revenge? If that’s the case, I could’ve done it for you.”  

“As if. And do you think you could even defeat this ‘Uncle’?”  

“Of course not. I can’t defeat him as a vampire.”  

“…What are you talking about?”  

Helena’s eyes, resembling a dense forest, swirled as if a storm had passed through them. Watching her reaction, Dennis smiled even more deeply. Seeing her shaken gaze made him feel that the time he had spent apart from her, searching for the vampire called ‘Uncle,’ hadn’t been wasted.  

“Curious?”  

“Speak properly. That wasn’t part of the deal.”  

“Then give me a kiss, Lena.”  

Dennis made his demand, already aware that a necessary audience was approaching. Helena instantly realized what he was planning. The slightly ajar door, the kitchen scene visible through the gap, and the sound of someone’s footsteps drawing near.  

“Such an obvious ploy.”  

“A ploy? Lena, aren’t you curious? Or are you worried about your little brat?”  

Dennis was testing her now. He likely hadn’t realized her true feelings yet. If she hesitated any longer, it was only a matter of time before he figured it out. Helena approached him, knowing that Isaac misunderstanding was less important than Isaac’s life. She couldn’t predict what the crazy vampire would do to Isaac if he discovered her feelings.  

As she leaned toward Dennis, he pulled her onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around her gently, he kissed her deeply, their tongues intertwining. Isaac’s presence grew closer to the doorway. Helena hadn’t intended to go this far, but Dennis was persistent, knowing she couldn’t use her full strength with someone watching. His breath, filled with desire, explored her lips and tongue.  

Finally, when Isaac’s presence began to fade, Helena quickly pulled away, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as if something filthy had touched her.  

“Happy now? Speak.”  

Dennis tightened his embrace, preventing her from getting up.  

“My love, the ‘Uncle’ you’re looking for has become human.”  

“What… You’re not lying, are you?”  

It was a possibility she had considered, but Helena still couldn’t believe it. She was so stunned that she forgot to leave his arms and remained still. 

Could it really be that ‘Uncle’ had found a way to turn back into a human? But then, why hadn’t he told me?  

“Would I ever lie to you? His actions and appearance all match. However, he’s lost his memories. He’s forgotten everything about his time as a vampire, as if someone had cut it all away. But one thing he did remember was that he needed to tell ‘Helena.’ Even though he barely remembers you, he still knew he had to tell you something. …What could it be, Lena?”

Helena, snapping out of her thoughts, calmed her chaotic mind. She had to ensure that Dennis never found out about ‘Uncle’ until she located him. If the sharp-witted Dennis became blinded by his obsession with her, he might kill this ‘Uncle.’  

‘…I need to win this bet quickly.’  

“I don’t know, and get off me.”  

Despite her irritated warning, Dennis didn’t budge. Helena pushed him off her lap and stood, brushing herself off with an annoyed gesture. Dennis, who found even her irritation endearing, spoke playfully.  

“If you treat me like a pest, I’ll get hurt, Lena. I came here to protect you, after all.”  

“Who? Who are you protecting me from?”  

“Me. Protecting you. From the Central Holy Order.”  

“Did you forget why they’re coming in the first place?”  

The Central Holy Order wouldn’t have come all the way to this rural village if not for Dennis. If he hadn’t hunted Helena’s prey so openly, they wouldn’t have had any reason to act.  

Helena passed through the living room and stood by the door, opening it wide. Her expression made it clear she wanted him gone. Dennis, understanding her unspoken demand, walked out reluctantly, his footsteps echoing as he left.  

“There’s still time left in the bet. Don’t even think about interfering.”  

“Lena, there was no condition saying I couldn’t interfere, was there?”  

Damn it. 

Helena cursed under her breath. She hadn’t expected Dennis to stoop so low despite agreeing to the bet. Although the bet wasn’t binding, Dennis had always followed the rules and accepted the results of their past wagers over the long years they had known each other. Because of that, she hadn’t thought to add a clause against interference. Watching Dennis act so shamelessly now, she clicked her tongue in frustration.  

“…Go ahead and try.”  

And within just two days, Helena regretted those words.  

* * *  

Dennis introduced himself to everyone in the village as a young man who had traveled all the way from the capital because of his unrequited love for her. Thanks to him, Helena ended up with even more visitors than when she had first arrived. Unable to tolerate the situation any longer, she left her house before sunrise and headed to the chapel. But when she arrived, Dennis was already there, chatting with Johann and Fred in the treatment room.  

“Hello. I’ve been indebted to this village for the past few days. My name is Dennis.”  

“Ah, hello. May the Goddess’s blessing be with you. I’m Priest Johann. Come to think of it, didn’t you visit the chapel late at night a couple of days ago?”  

Johann, remembering Dennis’s distinctive appearance—his unusually handsome features and unique eye color—brought up their previous encounter. Dennis smiled in response. Johann thought that his smile bore an uncanny resemblance to Helena’s.  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

“You’re Helena’s lover, I hear….”  

“No, he’s not.”  

Before Dennis could respond, Helena entered the treatment room and cut Johann off with a firm denial. She positioned herself between Dennis and Johann, as if to shield the priest from Dennis’s gaze.  

Fred, who had been wary of Dennis since the first time he saw him, reacted the same way now. Seeing that, Helena felt strangely unsettled. It seemed Fred wasn’t only wary of her; he was also cautious of Dennis. The young priest appeared to have a heightened sensitivity to vampires.  

‘Kids like him would make great Holy Knights….’  

Helena, feeling that she had grown somewhat closer to Fred in the short time they had known each other, briefly considered changing his profession. However, upon seeing his frail and slender frame, which was as delicate as her own, she abandoned the thought. Someone like him would likely tremble and falter, unable to even lift a holy sword.  

Johann, noticing Helena’s pitying gaze directed at Fred for some reason, spoke to her.  

“Dr. Helena, may the morning be filled with the Goddess’s grace.”  

“Yes. Priest Johann, I hope your morning was also blessed with the Goddess’s grace.”  

Dennis, standing behind Helena, let out a mocking laugh as he watched her casually mention the Goddess she so despised. Helena turned her head to glare at him before turning back to Johann with a smile.  

“Let me introduce him properly. This is Dennis, just… someone I know.”  

“Lena, that hurts. Just someone you know?”  

“…Ha, fine. He’s a friend. A friend.”  

“Ah, I see! So you’re friends. Somehow, you do look alike when you smile… or not. Never mind.”  

Johann, who had been about to say they looked alike, quickly changed his words when he saw Helena’s fierce glare for the first time. Fred, as usual, simply nodded his head in silent greeting. Helena found his consistent, mouse-like demeanor somewhat endearing.  

After the introductions were roughly finished, Helena began to sense Isaac’s presence growing closer. She decided to get Dennis out of there before Isaac arrived. Nothing good would come from the two of them crossing paths.  

“I have work to do. Get out… just go.”  

“Alright, Lena. I hadn’t visited the chapel yet, even though I’ve already greeted everyone else in the village.”  

Helena, almost letting her usual sharp words slip, corrected herself and pushed Dennis toward the door. He allowed himself to be pushed and stepped out of the treatment room.  

At that moment, Isaac arrived at the treatment room and came face-to-face with Dennis. A tense atmosphere filled the chapel corridor.  

Isaac, looking into Dennis’s golden eyes, suddenly recalled the battle from that night. Though the figure had been unclear, Isaac, who had confronted the vampire at close range, could tell. This man bore a striking resemblance to the vampire he had fought.  

However, Dennis acted as if he didn’t see Isaac and smiled brightly toward the treatment room.  

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. Priests, I hope to see you again.”  

“What do you mean, see you again? It looks like it’s going to rain soon, so just leave quickly.”  

The sky had looked ominous ever since Helena arrived at the chapel. If it rained, Dennis’s abilities, including all his heightened senses, would be reduced to those of a human. It would be better for him to return and rest quietly.  

‘He mentioned he’s staying at the Village Chief’s house.’  

Dennis, pleased by what seemed to be Helena’s concern for him, leaned in and kissed her cheek.  

“Well then, I’ll be off. See you tonight, Lena.”  

Helena wiped her cheek with the back of her hand where his lips had touched and glared at him. Judging by the humid air, it seemed like the rain would last all day. Dennis’s displays of affection, despite not truly loving or liking her, were nothing but a nuisance to Helena.  

All his actions were shallow imitations of real feelings. Perhaps he even believed those imitations were genuine. His scent carried nothing but lust.  

‘His mind is probably filled with thoughts of pheromone amplification.’  

Unaware of Helena’s scornful thoughts, Dennis waved goodbye and left the chapel.  

Isaac, who had awkwardly witnessed their interaction, silently stared at Helena. The wicked emotions he had tried so hard to suppress two days ago began to stir uncontrollably in his chest once more. Jealousy, possessiveness, sinfulness, and love.  

“Hello, Isaac.”  

“Ah, yes… Dr. Helena, may the Goddess’s grace be with you as well.”  

Isaac felt a bitter taste in his mouth as the noble words left his lips, making him uncomfortable for some reason. Johann, meanwhile, sensed the strange tension between Helena and Isaac. For reasons he could not understand, Helena suddenly seemed upset, while Isaac hung his head low like someone weighed down by guilt.  

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Johann turned to Fred and spoke.  

“Fred. We should hurry. The priest is waiting for us.”  

“What? But there’s still time before we need to leave—”  

“Where are you two going?”  

It was rare for the priests to leave the chapel, so Helena asked curiously after overhearing their conversation. Johann glanced at Isaac, who seemed like a broken doll, before smiling at her and replying. 

“We’re attending a prayer meeting in the neighboring village.”  

“A prayer meeting?”  

“It’s something you wouldn’t find in the capital. It’s a gathering where priests from small villages come together to pray.”  

“Interesting.”  

Hearing about this unfamiliar tradition, Helena momentarily set aside her heavy mood and listened attentively to Johann. Seeing that her spirits seemed to lift slightly, Johann continued with a smile.  

“It’s something that started a few years ago. It’s held once a year. Last year, Isaac and Fred accompanied the High Priest, but this year, Fred and I are going. Ah, Fred isn’t experienced enough to manage the chapel on his own yet, so he gets assigned to tasks like this every time.”