𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

三十九 | 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏

adulation (n.)
adoration. worship.
admiration. devotion.
reverence. favor.

「 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑹𝑻𝒀 𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑬 」
𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏

꧁꧂

I made it.

(Y/N) stood up, trembling, whilst her lips pulled up into a wide smile as she then surveyed the wall, looking for a way in.

Maybe...

    Just maybe...

     I can join the army and take back this world...

     Maybe...

     If I do this, I can go home.

     Content with her plan and with her new freedom, she walked the perimeter, sometimes jogging, until she reached a spot where she could enter. Upon noticing the guards at the top of the wall, she tried to do anything she could to gain their attention. Unfortunately, since they were so high up, they couldn't hear her hoarse voice. And if that weren't the worst part, they had their backs turned to her, so they couldn't see her anyways.

She sighed, stopping her action.

    How am I supposed to get them to notice me if this keeps up?

    Groaning in frustration and placing her forehead against the steel doors, she pondered over what to do next. Thankfully, she didn't have to ponder long when suddenly, a steel blade was pressed painfully against her neck. She gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief at the situation, desperately wishing that this wasn't where she met her end when she was so, so close to true freedom.

"Who are you?" A cold voice then asked—a man's voice, by the sound of it.

"I'm... (Y/N)," she answered shakily, swallowing thickly. "I-I'm a human, and I escaped from the vampires that were... keeping me."

Silence followed at that.

Then, "Turn around... slowly."

The sword shifted to allow her room to do without being cut, and when she finally stopped, facing the human group before her, her eyes widened when she found herself staring into very familiar eyes.

Guren?

Blinking in surprise, having not expected to see his face, she realized that he looked younger, albeit still hardened. His sword's design caught her attention first, it's dark edge gleaming in the light only accentuated by the line of red that ran down its middle. His eyes were next, as they were a gleaming mix between grey and blue whilst his hair was a stark contrast like that of the dark ocean. He, and everyone else in his group, were dressed in similar navy uniforms.

Woah...

I never expected to see him here.

Well, at least not right now.

He stared at her with cold hostility, as did the rest of the people behind him. She could feel a bead of cold sweat sliding down her back at their unnerving stares, as if they were sizing her up, her nerves catching up with her as she tried to calm down her erratically beating heart. When she shifted, they all tensed, and Guren's sword was once again pressed harshly against her neck. She flinched, squeezing her hands into her fists to stop herself from shaking and showing them her fear.

"Careful, Sergeant Ichinose," a woman in the back uttered. "This could be a trick from those loathsome vampires."

(Y/N) glanced at the woman, then back at Guren, her words floating around in her brain. Something about what she said had caught (Y/N)'s attention, and she wanted sure why, her brows furrowing in confusion until her eyes widened as a sudden realization dawned on her. Swiping her tongue over her dry lips, she tried to compress the sudden information that flowed through her mind.

She said Sergeant...

Guren isn't a Sergeant, but a Lieutenant Colonel, so... why would she address him like that?

Unless...

If we're talking about before the main events of the story, then... the time I transmigrated into is only right after 2012, and only right after the apocalypse...

That's why he looks so much younger.

Clearing her throat, (Y/N) continued softly, "Please... I need help. I had been living alone after everything, and when one of those monsters attacked me, I was kidnapped by the vampires." As she was explaining, she could see some hostilities raise and some drop, however her neck still being held a knife point by Guren whose expression never changed, making her more nervous whilst she uttered, "They kept me like cattle and like a pet, but when I was finally able to escape, I took my chance and found myself here. Please... help me."

The group stared at her.

(Y/N) let out a slow breath, wishing with all of her might that they believed her. Soon enough, Guren's grip on his sword eased before he eventually lowered it. (Y/N) couldn't help but sight in relief as she rubbed her neck, a small, thankful smile on her lips as she once again met Guren's eyes. He stared at her for a moment longer before his lips parted as if to say something to her. That is, until someone's sudden shout made him whirl around.

"Vampires!" That same woman yelled as she drew a battle axe over her shoulder. "Two of them! Be prepared to fight!"

(Y/N) inhaled sharply.

For there, in the distance, she could see two figures running towards her. Though she couldn't make out most of their clothing nor their expressions, she instantly knew who they were and what they wanted, shakily backing away. Guren glanced down at her once he noticed her change in composure, and instantly he connected the two dots: these two vampires were the same ones who had imprisoned her. Yet, there was something strange about the entire ordeal to him, as why would these two nobles track down a single human?

He quickly brushed the thought aside.

"Seems we were fools to even think of believing you," Guren addressed (Y/N) with a shake his head, disappointed in himself for letting down his guard, and disappointment for allowing (Y/N) to momentarily distract him the way that she did. "However, I doubt you were helping them on your own free will."

"No!" She shook her head vehemently. "I escaped them! They followed me because—"

"Silence," Guren cut her off.

She watched as he stalked forward.

    Shit.

━━━━━━━━ ꧁ ♥ ꧂ ━━━━━━━━

「 𝑻𝑶 𝑩𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑼𝑬𝑫 」