As we left the Imperial Palace, I strolled along humming cheerfully to myself.
A hefty certificate for my reward money sat safely in my pocket. The Emperor’s ceremonial dagger rested at my hip. And beside me trudged Damian, looking as though half his soul had already packed its bags and fled.
“Come on, Partner. Cheer up a little,” I said. “We just saved the Empire. Why do you look like someone died?”
“We did save the Empire,” Damian replied with a weary sigh, “but I feel as though my own lifespan has been significantly shortened.”
He shook his head as he looked at me.
“I never imagined you would pull out a baton in front of His Majesty. Honestly... how are you this unpredictable?”
“Just wait,” I said with a grin. “Things are only going to get more spectacular from here.”
Then I glanced at him.
“By the way, you heard what Cassius said while they were dragging him away, right?”
“About the Northern Rift?”
“Exactly. And that mysterious ‘He’ he mentioned.”
My instincts were screaming.
The archbishop had only been a middle boss.
The real mastermind was waiting somewhere in the North.
“I think we’re due for a business trip.”
Damian frowned.
“A business trip? To where?”
“The North. Beyond Everhart territory. The borderlands where monsters supposedly swarm.”
His expression darkened immediately.
“The North is dangerous. Demonic energy is dense there. Even holy knights avoid the region. And with winter underway, the blizzards alone are—”
“All the more reason to go.”
I slapped his shoulder.
“The more demonic energy there is, the more work there is for my club.”
Then I flashed him a smile.
“Besides, I’ve got you. My personal space heater and walking holy relic.”
“I would really prefer not to be referred to as a relic.”
He grumbled, but he didn’t refuse.
Because he already knew.
Unless we uncovered the force operating behind Cassius, the Empire’s peace would only be temporary.
“Pack your bags, Commander.”
I pointed northward dramatically.
“We leave tomorrow.”
Later that day, inside the weapon supply depot of the Inquisition, I stared at the racks of terrifying weapons with the excitement of a child entering a candy store.
“What do you think?” I asked. “Spiked? Or silver-plated?”
The quartermaster looked at Damian with cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
His expression clearly said:
Commander... what exactly is this woman?
Damian merely nodded with the resigned look of a man who had accepted his fate.
“Give her whatever she wants.”
“Excellent!”
I beamed.
“Put it on my budget.”
“Wow. Capable and generous. How attractive.”
I immediately picked up a massive silver-plated anti-demon sledgehammer.
The weight settled perfectly into my hands.
The expandable baton was convenient, sure.
But its impact lacked a certain... satisfaction.
This beauty, on the other hand?
This could probably crack an upper demon’s skull like a watermelon.
“I’ll take this one.”
I hoisted it onto my shoulder.
“As for the name...”
I smiled warmly.
“Elegant Conversation No. 2.”
A new identity.
A mountain of gold.
A reliable partner.
Everything I needed for revenge and exorcism was finally in place.
“Just wait for me, North.”
The next day, aboard the magical engineering train Snow Piercer, I sat comfortably in the first-class compartment, happily chewing on a peeled boiled egg.
Across from me, Damian sipped tea while staring out the window at the endless snowy wilderness.
He looked deeply concerned.
“Mm.”
I swallowed.
“Nothing beats boiled eggs on a train ride.”
“Lady Violetta.”
Damian lowered his teacup.
“Can you truly afford to be this relaxed? We have no idea what dangers await us on the road north.”
“Exactly why I’m eating.”
I washed the egg down with sparkling water.
“You need carbohydrates before battle.”
Thanks to the Emperor’s generous reward, we had rented an entire luxury carriage for ourselves.
Velvet seats.
A warm fireplace.
Unlimited snacks.
This was the power of financial therapy.
Unfortunately, peace never lasted long around me.
Click.
The compartment door slid open.
A conductor in uniform stepped inside.
“Tickets, please.”
Damian reached into his coat to retrieve our Imperial travel passes.
But I slowly narrowed my eyes.
...That smell.
A pale mist drifted above the conductor’s shoulders.
Not cigarette smoke.
No.
It smelled like an ancient grave.
Damp mold.
Rot.
The scent of something long dead.
My gaze shifted to his hands.
His fingers were twisted at unnatural angles.
And beneath his sleeve, loose skin dangled around his wrist.
Underneath it—
Black fur.
“Excuse me, Mr. Conductor.”
I wiped egg yolk from my lips.
“Yes, miss?”
“You must have terrible working conditions.”
The conductor blinked.
“What?”
I pointed politely.
“Your skincare routine is a disaster. Your skin is literally peeling off.”
“...”
Slowly, he raised his head.
Beneath the shadow of his cap, his eyes were completely black.
No whites.
No pupils.
Just empty darkness.
Damian immediately sensed the shift in my mood.
His hand moved to his sword.
“Lady Violetta?”
I stood up and grabbed Elegant Conversation No. 2.
“Damian.”
“Yes?”
“Duck.”
“What?”
“There’s a fare dodger on board.”
I swung the hammer.
Full force.
“Who gave you permission to ride my train for free?!”
CRASH!
The silver-plated sledgehammer smashed directly into the side of the conductor’s skull.
A normal human would have died instantly.
Instead, the conductor merely staggered.
Then his head rotated a full one hundred and eighty degrees.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Until he was staring at us upside down.
A horrible grin spread across his face.
[Hehehe... You noticed? I smelled fresh meat and thought I’d have a little snack.]
His mouth split open to his ears.
Rows of jagged fangs emerged.
His body swelled grotesquely.
The uniform burst apart.
The human skin tore away.
Beneath it stood a hideous flesh-red ghoul.
Damian drew his sword in shock.
“A monster?!”
“Don’t be so surprised.”
I adjusted my grip on the hammer.
“Must be complimentary service for passengers heading north.”
Smoke hissed from the creature’s flesh where the silver hammer had struck.
The plating was clearly working.
[GRAAAAH! I'LL KILL YOU!]
The ghoul lunged.
Claws extended.
Unfortunately for it—
It had overlooked one important detail.
The strongest holy knight in the Empire was standing right beside me.
Shhk.
A blue flash sliced through the compartment.
The monster’s arms fell to the floor.
Damian stood between us now, sword raised.
His gaze was ice cold.
“Do not touch my partner.”
His voice dropped dangerously.
“You filthy thing.”
Oh.
That was a pretty cool line.
I barely had time to appreciate it before I planted my hammer squarely into the ghoul’s face.
THUD!
[GAAAH!]
Its skull exploded.
Black blood sprayed everywhere.
The corpse collapsed.
I shook blood from the hammer and clicked my tongue.
“Great.”
I pointed at the velvet seat.
“Now there's blood on the upholstery. Somebody's paying the cleaning bill.”
“Lady Violetta.”
Damian's voice sharpened.
“Don't relax yet.”
He pointed toward the corridor.
I listened.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the train.
And beyond the glass windows—
Dozens of glowing red eyes stared back at us.
[Hungry...]
[Give us meat...]
[Open the door...]
The passengers.
Or rather—
The things wearing passenger skin.
An entire horde was approaching.
Like something straight out of a zombie movie.
I couldn't help smiling.
Most people would have fainted.
My adrenaline, however, was skyrocketing.
A narrow corridor.
Enemies lined up single-file.
Which meant—
Bowling pins.
“Partner.”
“What?”
“Do you know what's better than a sword in a tight hallway?”
Damian sighed.
“I suspect you're about to tell me.”
“A hammer.”
I slipped my arm through his.
Not because I was scared.
Obviously.
I just needed a quick recharge.
“Lend me some energy.”
A surge of holy power flowed into me.
The silver hammer burst into blue sacred flames.
“Ready?”
Damian stared at me for a moment.
Then sighed.
“Honestly...”
A tiny smile tugged at his lips.
“You're unbelievable.”
He unlocked the compartment door.
“Let's go.”
The latch clicked.
The door slid open.
And the horde surged forward like a tidal wave.
[ROOOAAAR!]
I grinned.
“Welcome aboard!”
I raised the hammer.
“This is the express train to Hell!”
BOOOOM!
My swing connected.
The lead ghoul's head launched down the corridor like a baseball.
It smashed through the monsters behind it, knocking them over like dominoes.
The impact felt incredible.
Bone fragments flew.
Black blood erupted everywhere.
“Strike!”
Laughing like a maniac, I charged into the corridor.
This narrow passage was my kingdom.
No room to dodge.
No room to hide.
Only room to get hit.
Behind me, Damian cut down anything that slipped through my attacks.
Together, we advanced through the blood-soaked train like dancers performing a perfectly rehearsed routine.
THUD!
CLANG!
CRACK!
“Lady Violetta!”
“Yeah?”
“Twelve o'clock! Ceiling!”
“Got it!”
I stepped on Damian’s shoulder and launched upward.
A ghoul crawled across the ceiling.
One swing.
Its spine shattered instantly.
Then the train suddenly lurched.
Darkness swallowed everything.
A tunnel.
Long.
Pitch black.
Damian cursed.
“Damn it. I can't see.”
Even a holy knight was at a disadvantage in complete darkness.
The monsters, meanwhile, thrived in it.
[Hehehe... Lights out.]
[Time to hunt.]
Their breathing echoed from every direction.
“Partner?”
“What?”
“Can you see me?”
“No!”
Damian raised his sword defensively.
“I can't see anything! Stay behind me!”
“No.”
I smiled.
“You should be behind me.”
Thanks to my spirit sight, dozens of glowing red eyes shone clearly in the darkness.
“Damian.”
“Yes?”
“Hold me tight.”
Silence.
“...What?”
“Quickly.”
I grabbed his collar and pulled him against my back.
Our shoulders touched.
Our warmth mingled.
“I'll be your eyes.”
I tightened my grip on the hammer.
“You be my battery.”
For a moment, Damian was silent.
Then he answered.
“...Understood.”
His voice was calm.
Trusting.
“I trust you.”
A strange warmth spread through my chest.
I focused.
“Three o'clock. Low!”
SHHK!
His sword flashed.
Something screamed.
“Nine o'clock! Jump and smash its skull!”
BOOM!
My hammer connected perfectly.
In the darkness, we moved as one.
Back to back.
His holy power coursing through my veins.
His presence reassuring against mine.
This wasn't a horror movie.
It was our own violent action film.
Finally, a sliver of light appeared ahead.
The end of the tunnel.
As sunlight flooded the corridor, it revealed the aftermath.
Mountains of ghoul corpses.
Broken limbs.
Black blood everywhere.
And at the center of it all—
The two of us.
Breathing hard.
Still standing.
I looked over at Damian.
His silver hair was damp with sweat and blood.
And somehow—
He looked more handsome than ever.
“Still alive, Partner?”
“Of course.”
He gave me a tired smile.
“Thanks to you.”
I planted the bloodstained hammer on the floor with a heavy thud.
Then grinned.
“So.”
I looked ahead expectantly.
“What’s the next stop?”
My stomach growled.
“I’m starving.”
