Chapter 94: She’s a Vampire
In the end, Jasmine had to carry Adele on foot, slowing down considerably. She couldn’t travel at her usual breakneck speed.
They could have rented a carriage, but those were only available for short distances, were slow, and most importantly, expensive.
Jasmine wanted to claim that she wasn’t stingy, that it was simply more cost-effective to walk.
Adele didn’t care how they traveled. Being carried by Jasmine was much more comfortable than riding in a carriage. She loved Jasmine and wanted to be close to her all the time.
As they passed through a city, Adele asked Jasmine to stop. She took Jasmine, still in her maid uniform, to a bank, withdrew some cash, and bought a few things, stuffing them into her suitcase.
Seeing Adele withdraw money without any difficulty, Jasmine thought, The Blake patriarch and the Lady are actually decent parents. They didn’t even freeze her account, worried about their daughter struggling out here.
Perhaps Jasmine’s expression was too strange, because Adele asked, “Jasmine, what are you thinking about?”
“I’m surprised that the Lady didn’t freeze your account.”
Adele chuckled. “Why would my account be frozen? It’s my card. Only I can freeze it, by going to the bank.”
Adele’s explanation made Jasmine realize that it wasn’t a supplementary card, but Adele’s own personal account. And a vampire’s personal assets were inviolable. Even if they were underage, as long as they had a card with money in it, no one, not even the king himself, could freeze it.
This is a good system, Jasmine thought.
At least it was convenient for Adele and her.
Adele didn’t withdraw all her funds. She only took out fifty thousand—thousand—silver coins. Jasmine gritted her teeth inwardly. The wealth of the feudal class is truly astounding, she thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for her own meager savings.
But then Adele announced that she was donating all the money to the Human Resistance Army, and Jasmine thought, Adele is truly a good person!
After withdrawing the money, they continued their journey. Because of Adele, Jasmine had to slow down considerably. Even so, they reached the human settlement on the evening of the third day. Jasmine transformed back into Lady Dawn, while Adele wrapped herself tightly in her cloak, even covering her eyes with a black lace blindfold.
A faint crimson glow still emanated from her eyes, but it was barely noticeable unless you looked closely.
Jasmine led Adele, disguised as she was, to the Human Resistance Army base.
The base was located in a large basin, surrounded by mountains. It was a naturally secluded location, accessible only through a series of winding mountain passes. Moreover, the climate was cold and damp, a place vampires hated. The Human Resistance Army had built several watchtowers and fences on the surrounding mountains, making it a highly defensible location. Jasmine had chosen this spot after careful consideration.
As they passed through a watchtower, their presence immediately attracted the attention of the guards. The Human Resistance Army was now accustomed to working during the day and sleeping at night, but they still had patrols and sentries at night.
Seeing Jasmine, even the guards were surprised. They recognized Lady Dawn’s attire, but she was so powerful, appearing and disappearing like a phantom. They had never seen her at their watchtower before.
And today, not only had she appeared, but she had also brought someone with her… This was even more astonishing. Lady Dawn always worked alone. Even when she rescued humans, she would arrange for the nearest outpost to take them, not bring them to the main base herself.
The guard immediately became alert, aiming his bow and arrow at Jasmine. “Who are you?!” he shouted.
Faced with the choice of either cringing inwardly or being shot with an arrow, Jasmine chose the former. Her voice was soft, but it reached the guard’s ears clearly. She said, “The anthem of humanity is a song of courage.” Hearing these words, the guard was overcome with emotion. He lowered his bow and arrow, his right fist pounding against his left chest. “The anthem of humanity is a song of courage! Welcome, Lady Dawn!”
Their exchange attracted the attention of other guards. Soon, Jasmine and Adele were brought before the Commander, the leader of the Human Resistance Army base.
Before the Commander, Jasmine had to listen to her own code phrase again.
It was even more embarrassing than usual today, perhaps because Adele was standing beside her. Jasmine felt like her embarrassing chuunibyou past had been exposed to her best friend. But when she turned to look at Adele, she saw that Adele’s eyes were shining, clearly thrilled by the “borrowed” code phrase.
Damn, Adele is also a chuunibyou.
The Commander was a woman in her fifties. Her hair was streaked with gray, but her eyes were sharp. She had been one of the first to join Jasmine in building the base, and her sharp mind had earned her the position of Commander.
Not only was she intelligent, but her observation skills were also excellent. She caught a glimpse of the crimson glow beneath Adele’s cloak when Jasmine turned to look at her. The glow was faint, as Adele was trying her best to conceal it, but the Commander was too perceptive. She immediately realized that the cloaked figure was a vampire.
She frowned, instantly alerting Jasmine. “Lady Dawn, that person… is a vampire!” There were others present besides the Commander, individuals holding high positions in the base. Hearing her words, they all drew their weapons, pointing them at Adele.
But to everyone’s surprise, Lady Dawn stepped in front of the vampire, shielding her.
“Lady Dawn…”
Everyone looked at her with confusion. Even the Commander’s eyes widened in disbelief. Jasmine said, “She’s not an enemy.”
“Lady Dawn! She’s a vampire! Our enemy! Why are you protecting her?!” Jasmine’s voice was drowned out by the others’ protests, followed by a wave of angry murmurs. Their gazes towards Adele were hostile, filled with the desire to attack.
Jasmine, unable to bear it any longer, slammed her hand on the table. She didn’t use much force, but it was enough. The wooden table crumbled into dust, and silence fell over the room.
They quickly realized that Lady Dawn had brought this person here willingly, not under duress. They were certain that Lady Dawn had been deceived by the cunning vampire, but under her intimidating presence, they remained silent.
Jasmine cleared her throat and spoke, “She’s not our enemy. She’s here with noble intentions, seeking peace and equality between vampires and humans.”
Hearing this, even the Commander wanted to protest, but she was a composed individual and managed to restrain herself. As Jasmine introduced Adele, Adele stepped forward, removing her cloak and blindfold.
Seeing Adele’s appearance, the room erupted in another wave of gasps and murmurs. Adele was a classic vampire, her silver hair a clear indication of her race, her pale skin, pointed ears, and crimson eyes confirming her identity.
The Commander’s previous suspicion was now a reality. A real vampire stood before them, and the atmosphere became even more heated. Everyone present had suffered at the hands of vampires. They had endured countless hardships, waiting desperately for Lady Dawn’s salvation. They harbored deep animosity towards vampires.
If it weren’t for Lady Dawn’s presence, they might have already attacked this audacious vampire. But Lady Dawn was protecting her. Even when someone spoke up, “Lady Dawn! Don’t be fooled by this cunning vampire! She’s lying to you!” Lady Dawn remained unmoved.
She simply glanced at Adele. Jasmine was worried. This was probably the first time Adele had faced such open hostility. She had been a pampered young lady. Even when she had argued with her mother, she had never been subjected to such glares.
These were looks of hatred and animosity. Jasmine worried that Adele wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Indeed, Adele was struggling. She stood beside Jasmine, slightly behind her, looking at the people before her. The middle-aged woman at the front had a stern expression, her eyes wary, as if expecting Adele to do something sinister. But that was already a relatively friendly gaze. The others’ eyes were even more difficult for Adele to describe.
They were all so hostile, their eyes filled with anger and hatred, making Adele feel uncomfortable. Their expressions were even twisted with rage, their eyes and faces screaming that she wasn’t welcome here.
Although she had prepared herself mentally, facing such hostility in person was overwhelming. She saw Jasmine glance back at her, her eyes filled with concern. Adele swallowed hard, trying to calm herself.
—Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. There’s nothing to fear. Even if they all attack, they can’t kill me! I’m strong! And Jasmine is here. She won’t let anything happen to me. Most importantly, what is my purpose here? Peace! If I cower in the face of hatred, I’ll never achieve my goal!
Adele straightened her back, meeting their gazes head-on. The once haughty young lady was now cautiously extending an olive branch. “I… I’m not your enemy. Although I’m a vampire, I admire your courage. As Lady Dawn said, the anthem of humanity is a song of courage. I truly admire your spirit, your willingness to fight against those stronger than you.”
“I’m not your enemy. Those who have compassion for the weak, those who dare to defy the strong, should not be enemies. I know you might not believe me now, but I believe that one day, we will achieve peace.”
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