Irin suddenly caught his wrist.
The red-eyed young man froze.
What just happened?
He could feel her breath nearby. There was another scent too.
Not blood.
The edge of Irin’s katana stopped directly beneath his throat.
"Don’t move."
A small crease appeared on Irin’s forehead.
For the first time in a long while, someone had actually managed to stop him.
His crimson eyes flickered with surprise.
"...Interesting."
Irin kept her voice calm.
"You still haven’t answered me."
"Who are you?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
His red eyes suddenly became brighter.
A crimson glow spread from his pupils, filling the space between them.
"Forget it."
"Forget everything that happened tonight."
The glow intensified.
The command reached Irin.
Yet she remained exactly where she was.
The katana moved slightly closer.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"You still haven’t answered my question."
His expression changed.
"My, my..."
He studied her for a few seconds.
She should have forgotten by now.
Could it be because she can’t receive the light through her eyes?
Interesting.
Looks like I may have to deal with that katana after all.
I’m not that merciful.
His crimson eyes stayed on her.
How do I get away from her?
Then he smiled.
"I’m surprised by your courage."
"You can’t even see me, yet you managed to catch me."
"That’s quite an achievement."
Irin tilted her head.
She had noticed something about his voice.
It sounded strangely familiar.
Almost like the voice of an anime character.
"Are you a voice artist?"
He blinked.
"A voice artist?"
Then he laughed.
"What an unexpected question."
His laugh was strange and unsettling.
"You’ve had enough of me tonight."
"If I wanted to leave earlier, I could have."
He glanced at the katana beneath his throat.
"Still... this is interesting."
Irin didn’t lower the blade.
"You’re my captive right now."
"I only wanted your name."
"Unless..."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"You’re a criminal."
His smile disappeared.
"Forget about trying to understand me."
"Forget trying to know me."
Without warning—
Whoosh!
His body broke apart into dozens of tiny black bats.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
Irin’s katana stopped in empty space.
"...What?"
The bats scattered through the alley.
Irin adjusted her veil.
"That definitely isn’t normal."
The swarm circled several meters away.
Then the bats gathered again.
Darkness surrounded the young man as he reappeared.
More bats circled above him, their red eyes glowing like tiny points of fire.
Irin listened.
"...So much noise."
"Are you still there?"
"Is telling me your name really that difficult?"
From somewhere inside the swarm, the young man smiled.
She surprised me.
I suppose she deserves at least that much.
His laughter echoed through the alley.
"Hahaha..."
Irin turned her head.
"So you are there."
"Listen carefully..."
The young man paused.
"My name is..."
SKRIIII!
The entire swarm exploded into the night sky.
Within seconds, the bats disappeared into the darkness.
The alley became still again.
The broken streetlight buzzed above Irin.
She slowly lowered her katana.
"...Zacula."
She repeated the name.
"Z-A-C-U-L-A?"
"What kind of name is that?"
"Is that some kind of pen name?"
No answer.
Far above, Zacula quietly gathered the metal containers he had used.
Then he disappeared into the swarm of bats.
Irin stood there for several seconds.
Finally, she slid the katana back inside the cane.
Click.
She turned toward home.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her brow furrowed.
"I have so many questions..."
"What just happened?"
She continued down the road.
Irin eventually reached the main road.
The night was still young, but most of the shops had already closed.
Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked once before going quiet.
The strange chill from the alley still lingered around her.
She organized the questions in her mind as she walked.
How can a human turn into bats?
Maybe he’s some kind of magician.
And that voice...
Why does it sound so familiar?
She tightened her grip around the cane.
Zacula.
She still had no idea who he was.
Police lights flashed at the entrance of the alley.
A late-night shopkeeper had discovered three unconscious men and called the police.
One of the officers crouched beside a thug and examined the injury on his palm.
"Sir..."
He looked toward his senior.
"It’s the same cut again."
Another officer stepped closer and shone his flashlight over the injury.
"A clean cut across the palm."
"Was there a message this time?"
His partner picked up a folded piece of paper.
At the bottom was a single letter.
Z
"Again."
The officer stood and looked around the alley.
There were no cameras nearby.
He looked toward the rooftops.
"This person..."
"Whoever they are, they keep using the same method."
"No witnesses. Almost no evidence."
"Only this mark."
A news van arrived at the end of the street.
Its camera lights switched on.
The next morning arrived.
Yemir’s alarm went off again.
He slapped it off and dragged himself into the kitchen.
He stood there eating toast while packing his bag.
The television was already playing the morning news.
Yemir glanced at the screen.
Then he returned to his bag.
The report was about three criminals found unconscious in an alley.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Another strange incident?
His body felt heavy.
Maybe I stayed up too late.
After stretching his arms for a moment, he grabbed his umbrella and left.
On the bus to college, Yemir sat beside the window.
Only one face kept appearing in his thoughts.
Black cloth covering her eyes.
That calm posture.
And that strange voice.
Irin...
She’s unusual.
He stared outside.
A group of people were arguing beside the road.
Then he noticed the sunlight.
"Too bright..."
Yemir pulled the window curtain slightly across.
He opened his Dracula comic instead.
A few minutes later, a woman’s voice came from nearby.
"Wait..."
"Is that Yemir?"
Yemir slowly lowered the comic.
Then he immediately raised it again.
Oh no.
Why is she here?
"Y-Yes, ma’am."
The woman smiled and walked over.
"So it really is you!"
"You expect me to see one of my students sitting right in front of me and not recognize him?"
Yemir reluctantly lowered the comic.
"Good morning, ma’am."
"Are you going this way?"
"I’m glad you recognized me."
She glanced at the comic in his hands.
"You’re still staying up late reading comics, aren’t you?"
Yemir cleared his throat.
"Nothing like that..."
She looked at the cover.
"Oh! Dracula?"
"You still haven’t gotten over your Dracula obsession."
She sat beside him.
Yemir turned toward the window, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Then—
"Hey!"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Vini.
He had just boarded the bus.
He looked around.
Then his eyes landed on Yemir.
"There you are!"
He walked closer.
Then he noticed the woman sitting beside Yemir.
His expression changed.
"Whoa..."
"Miya Ma’am?"
His biology teacher.
Vini quickly took the seat beside her.
Yemir looked at him.
Why does he look so shocked?
Before he could ask—
Another familiar voice came from behind.
"Hey, Yemir..."
Yemir turned.
His eyes widened.
Huh?
Who is this now?
The new arrival looked at the crowded seat and smiled.
"Why are you sitting there all alone?"
Yemir stared at her.
His morning had just become complicated again.