OJTTEG-Chapter 19: The Duel Begins

"Alright, I understand." An opens the door, speaking calmly. "It won't take long."

...

...

Night.

St. Andrew's Park is part of a construction zone, located at 128 Peace Street. It used to be a completed area, but for unknown reasons, much of it was destroyed in recent years and is now being rebuilt. Next to the park stands an unfinished building, reportedly halted due to poor quality during inspection. Across the street was once a bustling commercial area, now closed due to mysterious disturbances.

"Tap."

A figure in a black hood stands at the park's entrance, surveying the surroundings before focusing on a trail of footprints imprinted in the dirt. The footprints lead into the adjacent unfinished building, whose door is ajar.

"It's February... Hiding in the building to escape the cold, perhaps?"

Just an ordinary person. Even with the identity of a resurrected, it doesn't change much. It seems he lost quite a bit of memory upon revival, and what remains likely has nothing to do with combat. He must have prepared extensively, but unfortunately, from a racial standpoint, he stands no chance of winning.

"What should I say later?" An muses to herself. "Maybe I should think about how he'll plead before dying?"

Or perhaps start with a classic movie confession: We've known each other for three years, and today our personal vendetta can finally be settled. The sword hanging over the Reed family can finally be removed today. A resurrected with memories of a past life is not to be trusted; keeping him around is a huge risk, who knows when he might betray us.

"What a pity. If you were just an ordinary person, we might have gotten along well."

She never expected to find someone whose brainwaves matched hers so closely. They could both effortlessly leave enough space for each other, no matter where they were. During cooking class at school, she and Haunter were almost like two hands of the same person, understanding what the other wanted to do without any communication.

Is it true that your enemy knows you best? She was thoroughly investigating Haunter, and he was doing the same with her. Today, they both independently thought of using the murderer incident to eliminate each other.

The reason is simple: Ormond is not only a professor at Miskatonic University but also an investigator. If she were to die in a straightforward incident, his research and the team behind him would eventually lead to her capture. But this murderer is different; he's been lurking for three years, making it the perfect excuse.

What a pity. If you were just an ordinary person, perhaps we could have been friends, like Dilandra...

"Let's begin our duel, like true rivals."

An, filled with excitement, is about to push open the door when she suddenly steps into thin air, causing her to plummet unexpectedly.

"Huh?"

Her mind goes blank for a moment, and she lets out a startled cry, followed by a scream.

"Ah!"

The sound is piercing; it's been ages since she made such a loud noise. In disbelief, she looks down.

Someone had maliciously dug up the soft soil and planted bamboo skewers, which are now deeply embedded in her foot, causing blood to seep out instantly.

Damn it! Do you think these petty tricks can take me down? How could you resort to such underhanded tactics?

A duel should be honorable!

I shouldn't have underestimated him! Even if he's weak, he's still a resurrected. I shouldn't forget he's the kind of person who fights with a mop soaked in toilet water.

"Haunter!"

An calls out, as blood from her heart quickly fills her body. Her teeth and nails sharpen, and her eyes turn crimson.

She lifts her foot lightly, and the wounds heal rapidly.

Her scream must have served as a warning bell, alerting him to her presence. Surely, he's prepared now.

Clever tricks abound, but they're not enough to decide the battle.

"After all, I'm a vampire who can't be killed even with a bullet to the head. These tactics are useless against me."

Rain begins to fall from the sky, and the air turns colder, urging her to quickly enter the abandoned building. She strides to the door and kicks it open.

"Clang!"

A bucket filled with water falls from above, drenching her completely. The initial icy sensation quickly seeps through her coat, followed by a burning sensation, as if set on fire.

What is this? Acid? Gasoline?

Neither. These liquids burn her skin upon contact, leaving painful wounds. An frantically strips off her soaked outerwear, thankful that she wore multiple layers.

"Holy water! Where did you get holy water?"

When she activates her vampire heart, her body temporarily transforms into that of a vampire, susceptible to holy water's harm.

"How did he know?"

But more importantly...

"Are you insane!?" An rips the bucket apart, the metal scattering like paper scraps around her. She momentarily loses her usual calm demeanor, forgetting all her bold declarations.

"Click." The emergency lights on the first floor flicker on, casting a dim glow that reveals a figure slowly descending the stairs.

It's Haunter. He's dressed in athletic wear, with only a hoodie added despite the February chill.

"You're finally here. I've been waiting for you."

"I'm going to fucking kill you today!"

……

……

A light rain begins to fall tonight, prompting Ormond to return home for an umbrella just after stepping out. He skillfully hails a taxi and heads to a quaint teahouse.

The teahouse is small, accommodating only three or four people at a time; any more would make it crowded.

"Have a pleasant evening," the driver says politely as Ormond opens the car door, nodding before driving away.

It's always a bit of a hassle having the butler disguise himself as a taxi driver.

"Coming out so late, it's really a bother for you, Ormond. It's been almost three years, hasn't it? Human life is so short; you're already starting to age."

"Well, I'm not dead yet."

"Human life is limited. If you ever decide you don't want to die, I could turn you into a vampire."