The Dhampir approached her at a brisk, casual pace. Eleanora couldn’t stop her heart from throbbing violently, and her breathing was becoming irregular.

He was within range for her to kick him. She felt a painful sensation in her chest. That’s right, I won’t finish him with a kick. My claws, I’ll dispose of him with my claws.

He was within range of her claws. My hands are trembling; he needs to be a little closer. But if he walks any closer, we’ll break eye contact. Sercrent and the others are in the way behind me, so I can’t step back.
Eleanora decided that there was no other choice but to lift the Dhampir up. She would simply need to grab hold of his head, thrust her fangs into his neck and drain his blood until he died.

And then Eleanora was staring into Vandalieu’s eyes at point-blank range.

There had been no change; there was still no light in these eyes. They were empty, devoid of anything.

But she sensed something that existed inside that emptiness.

Something that Eleanora couldn’t run from no matter how much she tried, something she couldn’t disobey no matter what she did, something that didn’t exist.

No! I must not disobey this person!

Instinctively, Eleanora became unable to move. She stood completely still, still breathing heavily, unable to pierce the Dhampir with her fangs.

At this moment, Sercrent shouted.

「Do it, you bastards! Dispose of the Dhampir and Eleanora as well! Just like we did to that piece of trash, Valen!」(Sercrent)

「Wha –?!」(Eleanora)

Swords were pointed at Eleanora and the Dhampir. Before they could pierce her back, she flew as if pulled forward by something.

She dived onto the bed that the Dhampir had been sleeping on and rolled forward.

「Tch, she avoided it instinctively. As to be expected of one of Birkyne’s bodyguards, even if she is rotten. But with that wound, it’s now impossible for her to defeat us.」(Sercrent)

There was a wound in Eleanora’s back so deep that it might have grazed her heart. Even though she was a Noble-born Vampire who wouldn’t die so easily unless her heart was completely destroyed or her head was cut off, her movements would be slowed from taking damage.

「If I kill you along with the Dhampir and seal your mouth, Birkyne and Gubamon will never know about my failures! Die!」(Sercrent)

Sercrent could feel that the Dhampir was emitting an unusual presence. Though it wasn’t as powerful as his or Eleanora’s, the reason he had been talking so much might have been to shake himself and his followers free of that presence.

However, those words would lead to Sercrent meeting the most terrible of fates.

「What did you say just now?」(Vandalieu)

Ah, the Demon Eyes weren’t having any effect after all.

Even as she stared at the Dhampir, petrified with fear, Eleanora forgot the pain of her wound and felt a strange sense of relief.

Relief at the fact that those eyes were not looking at her.