Kathe’s House

  There was no use remonstrating her any further when she was feeling this low.

  And so I went about gathering the medals and magic stones from the fallen vampires.

  I also checked their weapons, just in case.

  “Hmm. They’re not bad……”


  “It’ll be about a million rucks at a store.”


  Goran said as I inspected one of the swords.

  Then he picked one up and swung it.

  “Six swords. Six million. Not too bad.”


  Eric said with a laugh.

  “Kathe, take us to this trash can of yours.”


  “Alright.”


  Kathe walked heavily down the corridor.

  I walked right behind so as to be able to help at a moments notice.

  This time, Eric took the rear.

  Kathe was strong.

  But in terms of experience in combat, she was even worse than Serulis.

  And novices had to be supported.

  “It was put in here.”


  Kathe said as she put a hand on the door.

  “Wait a minute.”


  “Hmm? Very well.”


  The surface of the door was burned. It was probably due to my fireball.

  However, it hadn’t been disfigured at all.

  “It looks like your palace really is strong to fire, Kathe.”


  “Yes, I am scared of it burning down, so measures have been taken.”


  “Even the Evil Dragon’s wind breath didn’t do anything.”


  It had been very strong. So the building was incredibly durable.

  “This door was definitely stronger than the others.”


  As Kathe said, some of the other doors were slightly melted.

  “So whoever built this palace must have intended for this room to be important.”


  “Oh, I see.”


  Kathe nodded.

  “And that would suggest that whatever is inside is also unharmed.”


  “Hmm.”


  “Which means that there may be enemies inside as well.”


  “Oh! That’s right!”


  I listened. It was a very thick door. And there was no sound to be heard at all.

  I tried using Magic Search.

  Something was moving inside. I could tell by the size and amount of magic.

  “There’s no trap. However, there is lock magic. And something is moving inside of the room.”


  “A vampire?”


  Eric said as he took out his Holy Sword.

  I nodded.

  “Two of them. They are probably Lords. And there are two magic machines as well.”


  “I see. How fun.”


  Goran said with a grin.

  “Oh, no-no-no……”


  Kathe said as she covered her mouth with both hands. She was such a coward, considering her strength.

  “Alright, let’s go.”


  “Yes!”


  I unlocked the door and threw it open.

  At the same time, Eric and Goran burst into the room.

  “Beep-beep-beep-beep……”


  The alarms of the magic machines went off at once.

  The two Vampire Lords tried to unsheath their weapons.

  But by then, both of their heads had been removed from their bodies.

  Eric and Goran had moved so fast that they could not even be seen.

  The two magic machines quickly turned around to face Eric and Goran.

  They were going to blast them with a torrent of bullets.

  And so I launched my own magic bullets at them.

  Two at the same time. And with a lot of energy in them.

  The armor of the machines caved in.

  This would have been enough to take down the machines that were in front of the palace.

  But it seemed that these ones were special.

  “Beep-beep-beep……”


  They continued to move.

  The small metal chunks flew at Eric and Goran at an incredible speed.

  I quickly put up a magic barrier to protect them.

  The bullets slammed into the barrier with a thunderous crash.

  The ones that missed hit the walls and caused sparks to fly.

  However, Eric and Goran weren’t even behind the barrier when the bullets hit it.

  “Hah!”


  “Ooomph!”


  Eric and Goran’s blades cut into the front of the machines.

  “Bee……p……”


  They were still trying to move.

  It took another hit for them to go completely silent.

  “They have really high durability.”


  “Aye, the fact that they won’t go down under such a hit is dangerous.”


  Eric and Goran said with serious expressions.

  I collected the magic stones and medals from the vampires and said, “What about the bullets? Can you deal with them?”


  It looked like they had no problem with that.

  But Eric and Goran shook their heads.

  “Maybe if it is from just one machine.”


  “Yes. Two is too much.”


  “And it’s one thing to dodge that attack, but it would be much harder to attack at the same time.”


  “Aye. You will need to get closer in order to cut them. Which makes our movements predictable.”


  It was rare to see Eric and Goran so hard pressed.

  The magic machines were a terrifying enemy indeed.

  “So, where is this all-purpose trash can?”


  “There it is.”


  “This?”


  I looked at it.

  I had no idea what I was looking at.

  “I suppose we will have to have Philly come and inspect it.”


  “Wouldn’t it be better to take it back with us?”


  “It would. Do you mind, Kathe?”


  “Hmmm. I suppose I have no choice.”


  “Thank you.”


  And so I put the trash can in my magic bag.

  Kathe watched me and said, “By the way, there is something I want to ask you.”


  “What is it?”


  “Didn’t Goran just call you Ruck a moment ago?”


  “He-he did?”


  “Yes. I heard it quite clearly.”


  I think she was right.

  “Well, I did mean to tell you sometime soon……”


  And so I told her that my real name was Ruck.

  “What!”


  Kathe’s tail began to slam up and down on the floor.