Iris continued making her way through the Black Ocean, the flaming lance in her hand serving as both a weapon and a source of light.
The darkness surrounding the crimson bridges remained thick enough that she could barely see more than a few feet ahead, forcing her to move carefully as she searched for any sign of her mother.
At least with her Curse restored, she no longer had to worry about being completely defenseless against the horrors lurking throughout this place.
“Oh my, to think a human would awaken a Curse in a place like this. How fortunate.” A familiar voice whispered from behind her.
“And to possess knowledge of magic as well… how peculiar.”
Iris reacted instinctively.
She spun around and swung her flaming lance, only for the weapon to stop against something solid.
Alexi stood directly behind her, smiling pleasantly as he held the blade between his sharpened fingernails.
He appeared completely unbothered by the flames licking against his fingers.
Iris’s expression darkened.
‘This bastard again.’
“Humans really are fascinating creatures,” Alexi continued, casually examining her.
“Though I must ask, why do you seem so much older than your physical appearance suggests? Your movements, your judgment, especially that look in your eyes…” His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
“A normal child would’ve broken down long before reaching this point, yet your combat abilities are far beyond what someone your age should possess.”
Iris tightened her grip around the lance.
“How about you answer one of my questions instead, Alexi Wallachia?” she snapped.
“What’s your plan? Who the hell is pulling your strings, you dirty knife-toothed bastard?”
Alexi blinked.
Then he laughed.
The sound was deafening.
Iris immediately clutched one ear as the laughter tore through the bridge, the sheer force of it making her vision blur.
Blood began trickling from her ears, and her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
She barely managed to remain standing by driving the end of her flaming lance against the crimson ground.
‘Fuck…
even his laughter?’
Alexi eventually stopped, looking down at her with renewed interest.
“My, my. What an arrogant little woman.” He smiled, revealing his sharpened teeth.
“Disgusting manners, an awful personality, and absolutely no respect for your elders.”
Iris glared at him.
Alexi’s smile widened.
“And yet… I must admit, you’d make quite an interesting bride.”
Iris froze.
For a moment, the nausea she felt had absolutely nothing to do with his laughter.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’
Iris slowly raised her flaming lance again.
‘Why do all the worst bastards in this world want to marry me?
At least Superbia waited until I was an adult.
This one’s even more disgusting since I’m sixteen right now.’
“Gross. Go die in a ditch,” Iris said, glaring at the vampire.
Alexi chuckled, seemingly more amused than offended by her response.
“Such a foul mouth. Well, I’ll humor you for a little while, seeing as you’re one of the Nine Miracles.” He placed a hand against his chest before offering her another polite smile.
“How about a game? We’ll take turns asking each other questions, and both parties must answer truthfully. Should either of us refuse to answer, the other is permitted to attack. Simple enough, wouldn’t you agree?”
Iris narrowed her eyes.
‘What kind of stupid game is that?’
Considering how their previous encounter had ended, she wasn’t particularly interested in playing anything with Alexi.
Unfortunately, he was still far too strong for her to fight directly, and she desperately needed information about the King, the Nine Miracles, and whoever this bastard was working for.
“Fine,” Iris muttered.
“But don’t complain when you don’t like my questions.”
“Wonderful!” Alexi clapped his hands together.
“Then I’ll go first. How did you learn my name?”
Iris blinked.
‘That was his question?’
“I asked my reflection in a bathroom mirror. She told me your name before trying to strangle me to death.”
Alexi stared at her.
For the first time since their reunion, his smile completely disappeared.
“…What?”
He remained silent for several seconds before slowly beginning to laugh.
“How peculiar. That wasn’t a lie, but it certainly sounded like the ramblings of a madwoman.” Alexi shook his head, clearly amused.
“Then again, I suppose nothing should surprise me in a world like this.”
Iris’s eye twitched.
‘You’re a fucking vampire playing twenty questions with a sixteen-year-old Witch in the middle of a supernatural apocalypse.
I’m not the weird one here.’
“Alright, my turn, you damn sun-ducker,” Iris said, pointing her flaming lance toward Alexi.
The vampire’s eye twitched.
“Again with the vampire slurs? Where on Earth did you learn such language?” Alexi muttered, sounding genuinely offended.
“Shut up and answer my question.” Iris tightened her grip around the lance.
“Who’s pulling your strings? Who’s your master?”
Alexi smiled.
“Stab me.”
Iris blinked.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Stab me,” Alexi repeated cheerfully, spreading his arms as though inviting her into a hug.
“The rules of our little game state that if one of us refuses to answer, the other is permitted to attack. Unfortunately, I have no intention of revealing my master’s identity, so please, feel free to exercise your right.”
Iris stared at him in disbelief.
‘What the hell is wrong with this bastard?’
She had expected him to dodge the question, perhaps give some cryptic answer that wouldn’t have made sense.
Instead, he was practically begging her to attack him.
‘This better not be some kind of trap.’
“Fine. Don’t complain when I take your head off.”
Iris swung her flaming lance directly toward Alexi’s neck.
The blade struck cleanly, tearing through his flesh as black flames spread across the wound.
For a brief moment, Iris thought she might actually manage to sever his head.
Then the flesh repaired itself.
The wound closed almost as quickly as her lance could cut through it, regenerating around the burning weapon as though the damage had never occurred.
Iris tried forcing the blade deeper, but every inch of flesh she destroyed was immediately replaced.
Alexi didn’t even flinch.
Iris’s eye twitched.
‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.’
His body wasn’t particularly difficult to damage.
That was the annoying part.
Her attack was working perfectly fine, but his regeneration was simply outpacing it.
She finally pulled the lance away, watching the last traces of the wound disappear from his neck.
Alexi smiled pleasantly.
“Are you finished, my lady?”
Iris glared at him.
‘Hey, imaginary friend, I really fucking hate vampires.
I had enough trouble killing a certain pair of siblings in my previous life, and now I have to deal with this bastard.
I really, really hate vampires.’
“Fine, ask your next question,” Iris said, reluctantly lowering her flaming lance.
“But if you keep dodging mine, I’m not playing this stupid game with you anymore.”
Alexi smiled pleasantly.
“Very well. How much do you know about your father?”
Iris froze.
Of all the questions he could’ve asked, that was the last one she’d expected.
“My… father?”
“Yes, your father. Surely you remember him?”
Iris’s expression slowly darkened.
“He died eight years ago. I was the one who found his body.” Her grip tightened around the lance as memories she preferred to keep buried returned.
“He left a suicide note. Only three words were written on it.”
I’m sorry, Iris.
“I don’t remember much about him anymore,” Iris continued quietly.
“Not besides that day.”
Alexi stared at her, looking genuinely puzzled by her answer.
“I see. What a shame.” He sighed before his cheerful expression returned.
“Then you aren’t particularly useful to me yet, are you? Though I suppose an ignorant Miracle is still a Miracle.”
Iris’s eye twitched.
‘What the hell does my father have to do with any of this?’
“Tell me, Iris Blackwell,” Alexi continued, offering her a polite smile.
“Would you consider joining me? Serving beneath my master? I imagine someone with your qualifications would be welcomed rather warmly.”
“You’re breaking the rules, leech.”
Alexi blinked.
“Pardon?”
“It’s my turn to ask a question, you arrogant bastard.” Iris raised her lance and pointed it directly toward him.
“And I think I know exactly what I want to ask.”
Alexi chuckled.
“Very well. Ask away.”
Iris took a breath.
“How many servants does your master have, and where exactly do you rank among them?”
She watched his expression carefully.
‘Most questions about his master would probably get me nowhere.
But a chance to stroke his own ego?
Yeah, this bastard will eat that right up.’
Her eyes narrowed.
‘Please tell me you’re at least in the top three.
I don’t want to imagine hundreds more monsters stronger than you.’
“The exact number of my master’s servants is beyond even my knowledge,” Alexi replied.
“His army is rather extensive, after all. However, if we’re discussing those of us who belong to his inner circle…”
His smile widened.
“There are nine.”
Iris’s expression tightened.
‘Nine?’
“Nine individuals who have been granted the honor of representing humanity’s greatest fears.”
Alexi casually lifted his shirt, revealing a large tattoo along the side of his body.
The number 3.
Iris stared at it.
Alexi placed a hand against his chest and offered her another polite bow.
“I am Drei.”
His crimson eyes met hers.
“The Third Scourge.”
He smiled.
“The Scourge of Love.”
Iris remained silent as Alexi lowered his shirt.
“Humanity fears love in all its forms, you see. The fear of falling in love, of being rejected, of losing those closest to us. Even the happiest of relationships carry the possibility of unimaginable suffering.” He chuckled softly.
“How wonderful that something humans desire so desperately can also become one of their greatest fears.”
Iris tightened her grip around the lance.
‘The Third Scourge…’
She had been hoping he was among the strongest.
Unfortunately, getting the answer she wanted didn’t make her feel any better.
‘So there are two more bastards above him.’
Alexi smiled at her horrified expression.
“Now then, Miss Iris Blackwell.”
He extended his hand.
“Shall we continue our little game?”