Within the shadowed halls of Nightglass Covenant, Liya stood quietly, her presence calm, gentle—almost fragile.
A group approached her.
They were known as Great Hunters.
One of them stepped forward and said,
"Hey, you can join us."
Liya blinked, pretending to be surprised.
"Seriously?" she said softly.
"Thank you so much."
A member named Harith smiled and spoke reassuringly.
"It's okay. And don't worry—we don't betray our teammates."
Liya clasped her hands together, eyes shining.
"Ohhh… you all are such good people. Thank you."
Inside her mind, however, her thoughts were completely different.
Ooh… I'm really happy, Liya thought.
You will all become my slaves as soon as possible.
She smiled warmly again and said,
"Hey, can you all come with me to my home?"
One of them replied,
"Okay. But first, let's go to a restaurant. After that, we'll go to your home."
Liya nodded gently.
"Okay."
The Restaurant
They sat together at a table, laughter and casual conversation filling the air.
Suddenly, Liya spoke.
"Hey… can you all give me some of your blood?"
The group froze for a moment.
Liya continued calmly,
"Because I'm searching for an adventurer whose blood group is B.
If I find him… I will marry him."
One member asked, confused,
"How do you know his blood group is B?"
Liya smiled.
"I have my own tricks."
They exchanged glances.
After a brief pause, everyone nodded.
"Okay."
Inside, Liya laughed silently.
Ooh… good, foolish humans.
One by one, they gave her small samples of their blood.
At that moment, Liya suddenly stood up.
"Oh—someone is calling me," she said casually.
She walked outside the restaurant, her expression changing instantly.
She activated her power.
Through their blood, the contract formed.
A slave contract—absolute and irreversible.
Their fate was sealed.
Liya returned to the table moments later and smiled.
"Nothing important."
Soon after, they all left together and arrived at Liya's home.
Liya's Home
The moment they entered, their expressions changed.
They saw them.
Slaves.
Many of them.
Silent. Obedient. Empty.
One of the Great Hunters whispered in shock,
"What… is this?"
Liya's eyes glowed faintly.
She activated the slave contract completely.
In an instant—
Their memories shattered.
A member looked around in confusion.
"Who… am I?"
Liya stepped forward, smiling sweetly.
"Ooh… you all are my slaves," she said gently.
"Don't you know?"
The member tilted his head.
"Really?"
Liya nodded.
"Yeah."
Her smile widened.
All the bodies lay scattered across the floor.
Silence filled the room.
Liya slowly moved among them, drinking their blood and absorbing their energy.
After a while, she exhaled softly and smiled.
"Now I feel fresh."
She walked toward the kitchen, her steps light.
"I think… curry is better for today," she said calmly.
Meanwhile — On the Road to Gargolos Village
Black ViSage traveled toward Gargolos Village inside a carriage with a merchant.
After some time, the merchant spoke nervously.
"Hey… can I know your name?"
Black ViSage did not reply.
The merchant laughed awkwardly.
"Okay, then I'll introduce myself first.
My name is Oliver Williams."
He paused for a moment, then asked again,
"And your name?"
Black ViSage finally spoke.
"My name is Black ViSage."
Oliver frowned slightly.
"Hey… tell me your real name."
Black ViSage replied coldly,
"I don't want to tell my real name.
And please, don't interrupt my personal life."
Oliver nodded quickly.
"Okay."
Bandit Ambush
Suddenly, several figures jumped onto the road.
Bandits.
One of them laughed loudly.
"Haha! I think we've captured something valuable today!"
Oliver panicked.
"H-Hey, Mr. Black ViSage—do something before they rob me!"
Black ViSage answered calmly,
"Don't worry."
He stepped out of the carriage and faced the bandits.
"I don't want to fight," he said quietly.
"So leave us."
One bandit froze.
"Hey… that's Black ViSage."
"We should go," he whispered.
Another bandit scoffed.
"Huh? What do you mean we should go?"
Black ViSage sighed.
He slowly drew his sword.
The air changed.
Suddenly, every bandit felt pressure crushing their chests.
They struggled to breathe.
"H-Huh… stop…"
Even Oliver, watching from the carriage, felt fear crawl down his spine.
Black ViSage's sword was not normal.
He looked at the bandits and asked calmly,
"Do you still want to fight?"
The bandits didn't answer.
They turned and ran as fast as they could.
Black ViSage sheathed his sword.
"Now we should go."
Oliver nodded rapidly.
"Y-Yeah… yeah."
He remained silent for the rest of the journey, his heart still racing.
Liya moved closer to the fallen bodies, her eyes scanning for any sign of life. To her surprise, one member, Harith, was still breathing.
"Are you alive?" she asked, her voice soft yet filled with a subtle curiosity.
"Yes… Miss Liya, I am alive. What… what would you have me do?" Harith replied, his tone trembling but loyal.
Liya smiled, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I am shocked to see such loyalty," she murmured. "For your devotion… I will reward you." She leaned closer, pressing her lips to his in a long, deliberate kiss.
Harith's eyes widened in shock and joy. "This… this is a great reward, Miss!" he whispered, his voice trembling with happiness.
"Ooh… your blood is delicious," Liya purred, savoring the taste. She pulled back slightly, her smile wide.
"Ah… I am so happy that my beautiful Miss drinks my blood," Harith said, his voice filled with admiration.
"Good boy," Liya said approvingly, before pausing. "But now… I want more. I want your meat. Can I have some of your body?"
Harith nodded without hesitation. "Of course, Miss," he replied calmly.
Liya's eyes gleamed with delight. "Good. Now, be naked. I will cut some meat."
Without any shame or hesitation, Harith complied. His loyalty and devotion outweighed any concern for his pride or reputation.
Liya observed him closely. "Do you not feel embarrassed being naked before me, your beautiful Miss?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.
"I am happy just to serve you, Miss. I don't feel shame because I am your slave." ," Harith replied sincerely.
"Good," Liya said, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Now… let me cut your meat."
"Okay, Miss," Harith said calmly, submitting entirely to her will.
Meanwhile — Gargolos Village
Black ViSage finally arrived at Gargolos Village.
He stepped down from the carriage and handed a pouch of coins to the merchant.
Oliver accepted it quickly.
"Thank you," he said.
Black ViSage turned to leave.
"When three days are over," he said calmly,
"come back here. Then I'll travel with you again."
Oliver nodded respectfully.
"Understood."
Without another word, Black ViSage walked toward the village, his presence as cold and heavy as ever.
Black ViSage walked into the old man's house.
The old man welcomed him warmly.
The old man's name was Harry Walker, and his son's name was Zak Walker.
Walker smiled weakly and said,
"Welcome, Fen—"
He paused and quickly corrected himself.
"Oh… sorry. I mean, Black ViSage."
Black ViSage replied calmly,
"I'm glad you're safe, Grandfather Walker."
Walker nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine. And thank you for coming."
"You don't need to thank me," Black ViSage said.
"It's my responsibility to take care of you."
They both sat down on the floor.
Walker looked around the small house and said apologetically,
"I'm sorry. I don't have a sofa or even a proper chair."
Black ViSage shook his head.
"No problem. I don't have chairs in my own home either.
Sitting on the floor is fine for me, so don't worry."
After a moment, Black ViSage asked,
"Where is your son?"
Walker answered,
"He's working on the farm. He's not home right now."
"I see," Black ViSage said quietly.
"Then tell me about the Ghost Dragon."
Walker lowered his head.
"The Ghost Dragon itself isn't my real problem," he said.
"The real problem is the villagers."
His voice trembled.
"They want to sacrifice my son."
Tears fell from his eyes.
Black ViSage spoke gently,
"Please don't cry, Grandfather."
Walker wiped his tears but continued,
"I hate this festival.
My relatives… my neighbors… many of them have already died because of it."
Black ViSage's voice grew colder.
"What is the name of this festival?"
Walker answered softly,
"The Night Dragon Festival."
Black ViSage asked calmly,
"So… how do the villagers perform this ritual?"
Walker took a deep breath and began to explain.
"They first wash the person chosen for sacrifice with water from the village well.
Ordinarily, the well's water is filthy, but when the Ghost Dragon comes, the water becomes pure—completely clean and crystal clear.
The villagers believe that this water is holy, and so they call it holy water."
He paused, his eyes dark with fear.
"The village leader then marks the chest of the person being sacrificed with a dragon symbol.
It doesn't matter whether the sacrifice is a man or a woman—the ritual is the same for both."
Walker's voice trembled.
"The person is then left alone through the night.
No one opens their doors, not even the neighbors.
By the next morning, the person has vanished.
The villagers believe the Ghost Dragon has eaten them… and in truth, they are not entirely wrong.
The Dragon is no ordinary creature—it is a zombie-like or ghostly being, neither truly alive nor fully dead."
Black ViSage listened silently, his eyes narrowing.
"Hmm…" he murmured.
Black ViSage's piercing gaze fixed on Walker. "Then… why didn't you leave this village long ago?"
Walker's hands trembled slightly as he lowered his head. "Because… the village leader warned me. If I ever tried to leave… they would sacrifice my ill daughter… Liriya."
Black ViSage's expression hardened. "How many children do you have?"
Walker hesitated for a moment, then spoke quietly. "Three."
Black ViSage's eyebrow rose. "Three?"
Walker nodded. "The first… Helen Walker. She was… sacrificed. The second… Zak Walker. And the third… my ill daughter… Liriya."
Black ViSage's eyes narrowed sharply. "You never told me you had three children."
Walker gave a faint, regretful shrug. "I… thought extra words might disturb you."
There was a heavy silence, the weight of unspoken fears hanging in the room. Black ViSage's aura pressed down like a stormcloud, but he did not speak immediately. He was calculating… planning… measuring how best to untangle the threads of this cursed village before more innocent lives could be lost.
Black ViSage's cold gaze bore into Walker. "Then… why didn't you leave this village?"
Walker's voice trembled as he lowered his head. "Because… the village leader warned me. If I ever tried to leave… they would sacrifice my ill daughter, Liriya."
Black ViSage's tone sharpened. "How many children do you have?"
Walker swallowed hard. "Three."
Black ViSage's eyes narrowed. "Three?"
Walker nodded slowly. "The first… Helen Walker. She was… sacrificed. The second… Zak Walker. And the third… my ill daughter… Liriya."
Black ViSage's expression stiffened. "You never told me you had three children."
Walker let out a faint, regretful sigh. "I… thought extra words might disturb you."
A tense silence filled the room, heavy with unspoken fear. The weight of Walker's secret pressed down, yet Black ViSage said nothing—for now. He was already calculating the steps he would take to save Liriya, to untangle the cruelty that had gripped this village for so long.