CHAPTER 98 – DETOUR TO THE LAND OF VAMPIRES

GAEUN MEDIZIN

The passing days felt like an eternity as I grappled with the realization that my belief in Prince Charming had been nothing but folly. With Kate's assessment echoing in my mind, I couldn't shake the feeling of foolishness that consumed me. After all, there had been no physical intimacy between us during our teenage years—not a single kiss, hug, or handhold to speak of.

As the third day dawned, the Daybreaker Squad convened at the Empire's Sanctuary Hangar, where the majestic Windwalker Airship stood docked, ready to embark on our mission. Madam Corasell and Eva awaited us there, their presence a reassuring reminder of the support we had from the Empire. Gathered in front of the entrance to the Windwalker, I couldn't help but admire Madam Corasell's casual frilly dress and Eva's enchanting magical girl attire, a costume I secretly yearned to emulate.

"Good luck on your quest to recruit the Fifth Dragon Lord, Daybreaker Squad," Madam Corasell wished us well, her tone filled with encouragement. "Rest assured, I will continue to search for any clues regarding Lysander. My troops are scouring the area for any signs of him." Her words offered a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty that lay ahead, reminding us that we were not alone in our endeavors.

"Thank you, Madam Corasell," Hiraya expressed her gratitude with a smile and a respectful bow.

Eva consulted her clipboard before addressing us with important information. "Your destination will be the Land of Dwarves, Kraghelm. I've heard that it remains unoccupied by the Republic of Dragonoids, so it's crucial for you to reach out to the potential Dragon Lord before Gazelle's forces do."

"We understand," Hiraya affirmed, her tone determined as she offered a reassuring smile. "We'll make our way to Kraghelm without delay."

"Godspeed, and good hunting, Daybreaker Squad," Eva wished us well as we prepared to depart.

With Eva's blessing, Hiraya turned to face us, her smile lighting up the hangar. "Daybreaker Squad, let's go."

"Roger!" We all responded in unison, saluting our captain as we prepared to embark on our mission. The anticipation of the journey ahead filled us with a sense of purpose and determination, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us in the Land of Dwarves.

We all boarded the Windwalker Airship, and as the hangar closed behind us, I caught a glimpse of Madam Corasell waving farewell while Eva remained engrossed in her documents.

Once inside, we made our way to the bridge of the airship, strapping ourselves into our seats. Hiraya assumed the Captain's seat and initiated communication with the ship's AI, ULYSSES, via the hologram globe.

"Windwalker, set course for Kraghelm," Hiraya commanded.

"Roger that, Captain Misteltein. Setting course for Kraghelm," the AI responded dutifully.

With a gentle hum, the Windwalker lifted off from the hangar, gradually ascending until we soared above the clouds, yet remained beneath the blanket of dark, starry space. It took approximately fifteen minutes for our flight to stabilize above the planet's surface.

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Hiraya's troubled expression didn't escape my notice as she sat with her arms crossed, a hint of agitation evident in her demeanor. Eventually, she turned to me, her request carrying a sense of urgency.

"Gaeun, can you cast a jammer spell around the airship?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"Huh?" I tilted my head in confusion. "I-I can do that. But why?"

"I want to make us invisible. Both to the Republic and to the Empire," Hiraya explained, her smile betraying a hint of mischief.

"O-Okay," I agreed, unbuckling my seatbelt and reaching for my magic wand. With a steady voice, I began to chant the incantation for my mystic spell. "Jammer Shield!"

In an instant, the entire Windwalker Airship was enveloped in an electrifying bubble, effectively jamming all signals both inside and outside of the vessel. Mariko, Kate, and Charlotte wore expressions of bewilderment, mirroring my own confusion, but I had a feeling I understood Hiraya's intentions.

"Thanks, Gaeun," Hiraya acknowledged with a nod of appreciation. "Now, Windwalker... change course... to the Land of Vampires—Nocturnia," she commanded with a confident smile.

"W-Wait, Captain!" I exclaimed, my concern evident in my voice. "A-Aren't we supposed to go to Kraghelm, the Land of Dwarves?"

"We'll go there, right after we recruit the Dragon Lord of the Vampires," Hiraya declared, her tone unwavering.

"Isn't this insubordination?" Mariko interjected, her worry palpable in her voice.

"Definitely," Charlotte affirmed, her gesture accentuated by a flick of her brown hair. "Why are we making a detour to the Land of Vampires, Cap?"

A somber expression crossed Captain Hiraya's face, and she muttered something under her breath before addressing us with a calm demeanor. "To be honest, I want to test my theory that there is a traitor among us."

Gasps of shock echoed through the cabin as we absorbed Hiraya's revelation.

"T-There's a traitor among us?" Kate exclaimed, her disbelief evident in her voice. "Then that traitor should come out of the closet immediately!"

"So, there's a disgusting rat in this airship. Ew!" Charlotte recoiled in disgust.

"Um, I've been betrayed by my ex-boyfriend, and now I'm being betrayed by a friend?" I lamented, my voice trembling with a mix of hurt and disbelief.

"Wait, I'm not the traitor! I'm new here!" Mariko protested, her distress palpable as she denied any involvement.

Hiraya offered a sorry smile before clearing her throat to address us. "Ahem! It's too early to conclude who the traitor might be among us, and it's premature to jump to conclusions. This detour to the Land of Vampires is simply an experiment of mine to identify the impostor."

"If there is a traitor among us, then why did you share your plan with us?" Kate questioned, her skepticism evident in her tone.

"It's because I trust you girls," Hiraya replied, her smile genuine. "You've been by my side since the Neo Arcadian raid. And Mariko couldn't be the traitor, considering she just joined us. I merely wanted to ensure that no information would be leaked from this airship, hence the Jammer Shield."

"Um, I understand," I murmured, tightening my grip on my magic wand before setting it down. "Given Gazelle Lockwood and Johnny Wolvesbane's appearance in Onishira, it's clear that someone leaked the information on this top-secret Dragon Lord recruitment plan."

"That's right," Hiraya affirmed. "And by taking this detour, I aim to narrow down the list of possible traitors among us."

"I still don't understand why you had to cut off communications, but I trust you've got an amazing plan, Cap! So count me in!" Kate declared, slinging her sword over her shoulder with determination.

"Yeah, with that poor brain of yours, you're better off just swinging your big sword," Charlotte quipped sarcastically.

"Ain't that the truth," Mariko chimed in.

"I thought you loved me, Mariko," Kate teased, feigning hurt.

"Don't worry, we'll restore communications once we reach Nocturnia," Hiraya reassured us. "The journey will only last four days, so we just need to remain under the radar for that time."

"Well, it's not like I'd be receiving any romantic texts from a boyfriend anyway," I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of the situation.

I glanced around at the troubled expressions of my squadmates before Kate interrupted my thoughts. "Gaeun, can you stop being so pessimistic? I'll help you find a handsome vampire that sparkles under the sunlight once we get to Nocturnia."

"I think vampires die in sunlight," Hiraya pointed out, her tone tinged with amusement.