OJTTEG-Chapter 23: The House Collapsed

"Thud."

An's body hits the ground, landing within the area marked with red-painted symbols, but none of the traps activate.

"Where would I find the time to dig so many holes?"

"Only the one at the entrance is real."

An struggles to turn her gaze, her blood-red pupils constantly dilating and contracting. Her spinal injury is slowly healing, which requires time. Her clothes are torn, mostly from her rapid movements, and her fair skin is smeared with dust.

She looks like a dessert sprinkled with Oreo crumbs.

Feeling a bit hungry, I could grab a late-night snack.

Wait, I remember victims in TV shows who say things like this usually end up in trouble.

Then I won't grab late-night snack anymore.

"Click."

"Does it hurt?"

The man in front of her disengages the safety on his gun and places it back in his sleeve, casually pulling at his collar and pointing to the bleeding wound on his body.

"Civilian-grade bulletproof plates. Spent half a year's pocket money on them. If they're unused, I can return them."

He lifts his sweatshirt, revealing black plates tightly strapped to his body.

No wonder the hoodie looked loose; he’s wrapped up like a dumpling inside.

"You really help me save money. Instead of grabbing my chest, you go for my arm. Your combat experience is lacking; a strong physique alone isn't much use."

"The outcome is decided. Honestly, if you had attacked me directly, I'd be the one dead. But you didn't choose to risk your life against me from the start, unlike me," Haunter says, though he's drenched in sweat, clearly not as composed as he appears. The near-synchronized speed drained much of his stamina, likely causing muscle damage, and his body aches all over. Especially his right hand, scratched during the bullet firing—it was sliced open like tofu with just a light graze.

"What a cliché plot... but I bet right, and no matter what, I've won."

"If you rely solely on your physical strength, you're no different from a beast. Humans, as the pinnacle of primates, use tools—that's why you lost."

"Ugh," An manages to utter a single sound from her mouth.

"Listen, whew," Haunter exhales deeply, the intense battle clearly exhilarating him. He stands to calm his wildly beating heart. "I've shattered the part connecting your brain and spine, so you can't control your body now. We can finally have a chat, although it might be one-sided."

Finally, he can make his own choices. It's best not to keep someone who secretly kills him.

"..." A tear slides down An's cheek.

Does this guy think she's going to die? Haunter, feeling mischievous, suddenly presses his gun against An's head.

"Oh no, I'm going to pull the trigger!"

"I'm going to pull it right now!"

"Ugh!" An trembles, recalling the moment years ago when her heart was ripped out, facing imminent death.

Alright, maybe scaring her isn't the best approach.

For the sake of long-term peace, it's better not to leave her with too many psychological scars.

"Alright, calm down. Don't make me out to be the villain here."

Haunter holsters his gun and stands over An, leaning slightly to observe the healing progress of her wounds. The bones aren't mending quickly; it seems the more complex the structure, the slower the recovery.

He's read enough vampire lore to know that legends are often rooted in reality, minus the exaggerations. If a vampire's hand is severed and reattached immediately, it can heal quickly. But regrowing a limb takes much longer.

Despite his victorious demeanor, Haunter is genuinely worried that if she recovers and stands up, she might take him down in an instant.

He glances at the wall nearby, where An had casually swiped her hand, leaving deep scars as if slicing through tofu. The cement is cut through. Even though it's an old building, her strength is undeniable.

Is this considered teasing a mythical creature? That unreliable deity didn't set any clear standards—has he accomplished his task or not?

"Listen, I'm not going to kill you. Though I don't feel guilty, I don't want Ormond to be upset. So, I have a win-win proposal..."

"Listen, you have two choices now."

"First, I kill you."

"Second, I head home, and once you recover, you can follow. Together, we can explain to Ormond that we can't get along and persuade him to let me return to the northern Arkham Federation. That way, we won't have any further contact."

From Haunter's observations, An just wants to ensure Ormond's safety, not wanting to lose him again. Her intentions aren't problematic. As a vampire, she doesn't harm humans, only occasionally stealing blood bags from hospitals. Compared to directly attacking humans, the loss from stolen blood bags is negligible.

This simplifies things considerably. Solving this issue is straightforward. His aspiration to attend Miskatonic University isn't necessarily tied to living with Ormond. He can reach out to other Miskatonic University professors—though challenging, he should be able to persuade them to write him a recommendation. After all, who would refuse an outstanding student?

Then, he can return to Bryant University, achieve decent grades, and secure a spot in Miskatonic University's graduate program. With the ID card in hand, he becomes an investigator, freeing himself from living with this nuclear-level sister.

An can return to her life, and he can pursue his own endeavors without worry. He's a genius! If he can't handle it, he can avoid it. This way, he achieves a no-kill success, avoids the vampire king's wrath, and Ormond doesn’t lose his daughter. A win-win.

A true man knows when to escape without hesitation.

"Answer me, which option do you choo—"

Just as Haunter is about to continue, a section of the ceiling loosens above him. Before he can react, the entire derelict building starts making strange noises.

"What's that sound?"

The building is collapsing—literally. The word "dangerous building" flashes through Haunter's mind. Maybe it was An’s earlier kick, or perhaps it’s because this abandoned building was declared unsafe two years ago. Who knows? This world is always full of surprises.

A massive slab of concrete is falling towards Haunter. The first floor of this abandoned building was likely intended for shops, standing over three meters high. Given its thickness and height, it could easily flatten a person. Haunter can run away.

But the problem is, there's a vampire beneath him. If a vampire gets crushed into two dimensions, they probably can't survive either.