Zero waited patiently outside, concealed within the shadows, keeping a vigilant watch on the inn. He was curious to uncover who had drugged their food and the motive behind it. After several hours, he observed the innkeeper and a group of townspeople stealthily entering the inn. They carried ropes and gags, and it was evident to Zero that their intentions were far from friendly.

As the group approached the rooms where Pia and the women were sleeping, Zero harnessed his shadow form to silently shadow their every move. Finally, the group arrived at the room where the women were resting and attempted to force the doors open. Yet, the doors remained sealed shut due to the barrier Zero had set in place.

Emerging from the depths of the shadows, Zero revealed himself to the group of townspeople and the innkeeper who had been attempting to access the room. Startled and taken aback by Zero's sudden presence, they tried to feign innocence, with the innkeeper pretending to be oblivious.

"What's going on here?" Zero inquired in a calm but resolute tone.

The innkeeper stammered for a moment, then feigned surprise. "Oh, nothing, sir. We were just checking on the guests to ensure their comfort."

Zero raised an eyebrow, skeptical of their explanation. "Really, and you need ropes and gags to do that? So why are you carrying them?"

The innkeeper's charade of innocence rapidly crumbled, and he cast nervous glances at the other townspeople. "Well, uh... we, uh... we heard some strange noises and suspected there might be burglars in the room."

Zero's smile, though chilling, revealed nothing of his true intentions. "Well, you're obviously lying, but shouldn’t you put in more effort? I observed the way you were skulking around and attempting to access those rooms. What were your true intentions?"

Cornered and exposed, the innkeeper attempted to defend his actions, though it was evident he had been caught. "Okay, okay. We intended to take the women and sell them to some buyers. It's strictly business, nothing personal. So now we'll either eliminate you or perhaps sell you too since you're also top-class merchandise."

Zero's countenance grew cold, and he advanced toward them, the shadows around him deepening and shifting ominously. "Hoh, so you have the audacity to look at me with those eyes. You know I had planned to let you all go since this wasn't a major issue for me, but now I suppose I'll have to deal with you."

Zero summoned his shadow powers, a cold, menacing smile on his lips. He transported the group of townspeople and the innkeeper to the forest inhabited by the two ghouls. The group's screams of terror echoed as they found themselves in the eerie, dark woods, surrounded by ravenous ghouls who had just acquired fresh prey.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As the ghouls descended upon their hapless victims, Zero observed from a distance. His expression bore no interest as he witnessed the abject terror in their eyes. The group and the innkeeper attempted to fight back, but they proved powerless against the relentless undead beings. The ghouls' swiftness and strength rendered their struggle futile, and soon, the only sounds that filled the forest were the agonized screams of the victims and the menacing growls of the ghouls.

Zero returned to the inn, dispelling the barrier that sealed the doors, and entered his room as if nothing unusual had occurred. He shut his eyes and settled down for sleep. When he awoke early the next morning, he roused the well-rested women.

"Good morning," he greeted them with a faint smile. "Let's restock and hit the road. We have a long journey ahead." Pia and the women awoke feeling revitalized and rejuvenated. They swiftly gathered their belongings and made their way outside.

Once they stepped outside the inn, they promptly went about replenishing their supplies for the arduous journey ahead. They visited the nearest marketplace and procured sufficient provisions to last them for the next few days.

The group continued their journey, leaving the town quickly to avoid any potential fallout from the previous night's events. Zero did not want to let anything or anyone slow them down. The women, although a bit confused by the sudden departure, trusted Zero's judgment and followed his lead. They traveled down the road, with the sun shining brightly above them and a gentle breeze at their backs.

For the next five days, Zero, Pia, and the women continued their journey until they reached the bustling city of Amesworth. Finally, they had the opportunity to hire a carriage for the remaining part of their journey to the Northern City under Earl Torin. However, they encountered a new challenge – they were low on Deisi, the currency used in the human kingdom.

They needed four silver Deisi to pay for the carriage ride, but they only had six iron Deisi, which were worth significantly less. Deisi could be broken down into different values, ranging from bronze to iron, silver, and gold, with each being ten times more valuable than the previous. They were in need of four silver Deisi, but their current currency wasn't sufficient.

Zero approached Pia and the group, explaining his plan. "I have an idea to get the money we need. You take care of the group and find a place to stay in the city. I'll handle the rest and meet up with you once I've secured the funds."

Pia agreed, "Okay, we'll be waiting for you, but how will you find us?"

Zero assured her, "Don't worry; I'll find a way."

Zero headed to the adventurer guild and used his vampiric abilities to hypnotize the receptionist, making her believe that he was Nikolaus Auer, the previous owner of the guild card. With his identity altered in her perception, he requested a B-rank quest.

The receptionist responded, "Very well, Sir Nikolaus Auer." She handed him a quest for hunting Terrafaun, each fetching a reward of 5 iron Deisi coins.

Zero accepted the quest and left the guild, teleporting back to the forest where he had previously hunted Terrafaun. The hunt was not overly challenging, but it was tedious due to the creatures' speed. Zero's vampire senses came to his aid as he tracked the Terrafaun, even in the darkness. He stealthily stalked his prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.

As the first Terrafaun charged toward him, Zero sprang into action. The creature's hooves created earth spikes as it moved, but Zero's quick reflexes and shadow powers allowed him to dodge and teleport behind it. With a precise strike to the neck, he swiftly dispatched the Terrafaun, which let out a final screech before falling.

Zero continued his hunt, taking down Terrafaun one after another with growing ease. His movements became fluid, and he honed his skills throughout the hunt.

After successfully hunting eight Terrafaun, Zero collected the meat and stored it in his shadow before teleporting back to Amesworth. He handed over the pelts to the receptionist at the adventurer guild, who remained under the influence of his hypnosis. He collected his reward of four silver Deisi coins and promptly returned to the group, handing the currency to Pia.

Pia looked at him in amazement and asked, "How did you manage to get this much money so quickly?"

Zero simply replied with a smirk, "Let's just say I have my ways. Now we can finally leave this city and head to the Northern City under Earl Torin."