OJTTEG-Chapter 21: You Won't Believe How Twisted I Am

"Ha, I thought we wiped them out three years ago, yet here they are again? These Scholars' Church guys have such a short memory," Johnny says, clearly infuriated. His muscles start to bulge, shredding his clothes into tatters, revealing a robust physique unlike the typically slender vampires.

"It's time they witness the wrath of the ultimate being known as 'Father.'"

"Count me in."

"Wryyyyy—"

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask," Johnny suddenly remembers after his peculiar yell to the sky, "Didn't you take in a new... son three years ago?"

"Nephew, named Haunter."

"Well, I don't care who he is; he needs to get along with An, or he has no reason to exist."

"Hmm..." Ormond strokes his chin, a bit troubled as he shares what he had observed earlier.

"You say they know each other well but hardly speak, like they're telepathically connected?"

Johnny's face takes on an intriguing expression. "That reminds me of an old friend of mine, Joe. We understood each other well, but in the end, I won and took his inheritance."

"When was this?" Ormond asks, surprised. "You've done something like that? Disgusting."

"Must've been the 19th century? You have no right to judge me; there are plenty of vampires who've done worse." Johnny absentmindedly touches his neck. "Personally, I hope An and that Haunter kid can coexist peacefully. But their current dynamic seems a bit off."

"I think you should hold a family meeting for them," Johnny advises. "I don't want your two kids ending up like my son, sneaking off to become a gangster star in the western Arkham Federation. He's not even 20 and he's already a big shot there."

"Are you bragging?"

"Absolutely."

I really want to smack you, Ormond thinks, biting into a macaron on the table with resignation.

"Alright, I understand... I can assure you he won't cause any trouble," Ormond replies hesitantly. "When are you planning to start the attack?"

"Tonight. I don't intend to give them any chance to rest."

"The Countermeasure Bureau will intervene."

"I've got money."

Johnny puts on his clothes and sits back in the chair. "Let's take a break, and then we'll show those guys what we're made of."

……

Night, 7:50 PM.

Why am I planning to hunt a mysterious creature as an ordinary person? But there's no choice; I have to try, right?

Haunter opens his phone and carefully reviews the vampire knowledge he's gathered. Most of the information is rooted in myth and legend. By setting aside the exaggerated bits, Haunter identifies common threads among the tales.

By the way, he couldn't find any vampire-related books in Ormond's study. Either they never existed, or they've been hidden away. What a sneaky guy.

"I know you're watching me every moment, and I can't wait to take you down, but you'll never guess how twisted... no, how clever I am."

"Ah!"

Haunter suddenly hears a scream echo in his ears.

"Perfect, the prey has taken the bait."

Ormond was right; this kid is easily tricked by traps, losing his cool in the process.

He leans slightly out from the second floor and quickly spots his target. A dark figure struggles to free their foot from a trap, eyes glowing red like lanterns. Dressed in a black hooded jacket, they glance around warily.

The figure appears to be a strikingly handsome tomboy. With a face exuding a cool, heroic aura, she could easily pass for a man without seeming out of place. Over the past three years, An's body has matured significantly. Her muscles look firm, though they aren't as hard as they appear. Standing nearly 1.7 meters tall, her legs make up most of her height, giving her a perfectly balanced physique—except for her chest, which remains quite flat.

Nonetheless, she has great confidence in her body, and her strength is undeniable. If it comes to a fight, I might not even realize what's happening before I'm taken down, Haunter thinks.

"But I'm not one to just accept my fate. I'll push her to the brink to prove I can take down An," he muses. "Then, I'll have a chance for an equal conversation. If she insists on eliminating me, I'll have no choice but to strike back."

"As for the power behind An," he recalls, "it's the vampire king."

"If I provoke that vampire king, I'll have to face the consequences."

"I'm actually quite averse to killing, because once you start, it becomes a cycle that's hard to break."

The sky begins to rain, as if signaling the battle's progression into deeper territory.

"The door's ajar. Given your habits, you'll want to find me immediately, so you'll kick it open."

A shout echoes through the air.

Perfect, just as I thought, Haunter observes the figure before him, her body being slowly eroded by transparent droplets.

Those droplets are holy water, and they're quite potent. Unfortunately, Andrew's church only had these two bottles. Sister Ernest would never suspect that the thief she's been searching for is standing right in front of her.

I wonder how much these bottles are worth. If I survive this, I might have to work to pay her back.

I'm such a good boy!

Haunter descends the stairs from the second floor.

"I treat every challenge as a trial, something to overcome to grow stronger," he says with a wave of his hand. Suddenly, a hidden chandelier illuminates the room, revealing areas marked with red paint.

The red markings look suspicious, almost as if mines are buried beneath each red cross.

"You're finally here. I've been waiting for you." Haunter remarks.

" I'm going to fucking kill you today!" An roars, like a cat baring its sharp claws.

"Then come at me."

"What is this?" An halts, recalling the piercing pain in her left foot when she first entered.

"It's probably the same thing you stepped on at the entrance."

"I should've known you'd be the type to set so many traps!" An's eyes dart to the surrounding pillars, considering how she might use them to her advantage.

"Let me ask you, why do you harbor such malice towards me?"

"The Reed family, once one of the strongest exorcist families, even in decline, isn't a place for someone like you, who has stolen another's body, to infiltrate."