Chapter 13: The crimson eye Maiden 1
Ronan checked his stats again.
They had undergone massive changes.
The first was his title.
This was a huge problem. The fact that the Abyssal creatures knew he was a runaway slave meant he would be hunted for the rest of his life.
He had to become strong enough to survive, and he couldn’t rely on humans either.
Ronan had basically placed himself in the middle, with no background or support.
It had its disadvantages, such as being hunted by both sides, but it also gave Ronan more freedom.
For example, he was finally free and no longer had to stand on the front lines as cannon fodder for stronger Abyssal creatures.
Next was Ronan’s Realm.
At Transcendent Five Star, he had reached the peak of the Ghoul race.
Unless he evolved into a Ghoul Lord—a being capable of commanding an army of Ghouls like a Vampire—he could no longer gain Essence, no matter how many creatures he killed.
But the best part was that he had finally unlocked an ability from his Blood Sucking trait.
And it was a crucial one that would help him survive these desperate times.
"System, how do I evolve into a Ghoul Lord?" Ronan asked.
[To evolve into a Ghoul Lord, the host must prepare a ritual using a fresh human heart and draw a ritual rune with the blood of five humans. The host must then survive being baptized by their dead souls.]
"What the actual fuck? System, are you trying to turn me into a serial killer?"
Hearing the mechanical voice, Ronan couldn’t help but blurt out.
Alas, the System didn’t reply.
If it could, it would probably have told Ronan that he was already far worse.
After all, he was an undead creature.
Ronan pondered.
Practically speaking, he had never killed anyone before and then used their dead remains as sacrifice for a ritual.
But as a Ghoul, he had felt nothing when he tried to kill the commander.
Of course, adrenaline had played a part in it, but nevertheless, Ronan wouldn’t back down.
That was the mentality of a man who had died twice.
Twice in the span of a single day.
Now, the only thing Ronan could do was observe the people of this town, pick five assholes, kill them, and perform the ritual.
Although Ronan made it sound simple, it would be difficult.
The city was patrolled by guards twenty-four hours a day.
It would require meticulous planning.
Finally, Ronan’s race was the most surprising part.
He had become a Hybrid.
That explained his fangs and crimson eyes.
Possessing the abilities of both a Vampire and a Ghoul would definitely help Ronan in the future.
That much he was sure of.
The System was finally beginning to show its true value.
Eventually, the human army retreated to the inner city, giving Ronan the chance to come out.
He carefully sneaked around, checking the windows to make sure they were truly gone.
Only after he could no longer see any trace of them did he walk out in his disguise.
Back on the street, many people passed by him.
However, because of Ronan’s particular attire, several men took a second glance at him, making Ronan suddenly feel uncomfortable.
"I’m a straight man. Can’t they see my build through the dress? Don’t tell me the people of this world are blind."
Ronan couldn’t help but mutter as he searched for a bar—or, as they called it in this world, an inn.
That was the best place to gather information.
What Ronan didn’t know, however, was that one of the traits inherited from Vampires was their natural charm.
Even though Ronan’s build was noticeably masculine, the Vampire’s charm made him strangely attractive.
Following the crowd, it didn’t take long for Ronan to find an inn.
The instant he stepped inside, the smell of liquor hit him, while the loud laughter and chatter of men assaulted his ears.
Servant girls moved around the hall, serving food and drinks as conversations about all kinds of topics filled the air.
The moment Ronan entered, several people glanced at him.
But more than half of them couldn’t look away.
To them, the dress looked like the elegant attire of a noble lady, and behind the veil were some of the most beautiful eyes they had ever seen.
In fact, his slightly crimson pupils didn’t seem strange.
Instead, they looked unique.
The fact that only his eyes were visible added an air of mystery that made people want to uncover what lay beneath the veil.
Ronan frowned as he walked farther inside.
Only then did he realize something important.
Money.
He was an Abyssal creature.
A Ghoul.
How could he possibly have any money?
While running for his life, looting had been the last thing on his mind.
So...
How exactly was he supposed to pay for anything?
Ronan feared he might be thrown out of the inn.
But it was already too late to turn back.
Time was ticking.
So Ronan bit the bullet and walked toward the counter, where a young man sat behind it.
"Hel...lo..."
The young man’s voice trailed off as he stared into Ronan’s eyes.
They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
Combined with Ronan’s dress, he couldn’t help but imagine a beautiful young lady hiding behind the veil.
His voice became shaky as he spoke.
"I... wha... hrr... hm... What do you want?" the young man asked nervously.
The instant the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
What did he mean, what do you want?
Shouldn’t he have recommended the inn’s best dishes and finest liquor?
If she liked them, maybe he could even strike up a conversation with her.
"..."
Ronan’s mind went blank as his eyes widened.
What the fuck?
Why was he making so many mistakes?
He remembered trying to speak earlier, but only a growl had come out.
So...
Would he growl again if he tried to talk?
Fuck... fuck... fuck...
While Ronan was panicking internally, the young man grew even more anxious as his hands fidgeted nervously.
Seeing her remain silent, he couldn’t help but curse himself for being an idiot.
She must have expected him to recommend the inn’s specialties along with a good drink.
Instead, he had asked her what she wanted.
How was she supposed to know?
She must be a noble lady who had traveled here from another city.
Unconsciously, he had already begun making up a story about her.
Meanwhile, he wasn’t the only one.
Quite a few people inside the inn were secretly watching them.
Their eyes never left Ronan.
Just as Ronan was wondering whether he should leave, he suddenly sensed an aura he was very familiar with.
A Transcendent Realm human had entered the inn.
Worse...
That aura was heading straight toward him.
Pah.
Pah.
Steady footsteps echoed throughout the inn as the room gradually fell silent.
Everyone knew who this man was.
Finally, the footsteps stopped right behind Ronan.
Cold sweat instantly covered his body.
Had he been exposed?