Chapter Text
Yoo Joonghyuk had been walking through the forest for almost an hour. The morning sun barely filtered through the thick canopy, and the air was cool and fresh. He was on his way to pick up his younger sister, Yoo Mia — he had finally decided to bring her to the manor. No matter how strange everything there was, he now had money, and the girl no longer had to live in that old, cold shack.
Suddenly, he heard voices ahead.
Joonghyuk silently moved closer and hid behind a thick tree trunk. In a small clearing stood five men. Experienced, well-equipped, with expensive gear. Silver crossbow bolts, blessed blades, high-quality amulets. These were no amateurs.
A tall man with a scar across his cheek — clearly the leader — spoke calmly and businesslike:
“If the information is accurate, this Kim Dokja is ancient. The guild is offering eight hundred gold for his head. Plus, everything we find in the manor will be split equally. No emotions, no heroics. We go in quietly, get the job done, and leave rich.”
One of the hunters, a burly bearded man, nodded. “The main thing is to calculate the risks. If there’s a witch too, the price goes up. But so does the reward. I say we keep it professional. No point risking our lives for nothing.”
Joonghyuk stepped out from behind the tree calmly, hands visible. The hunters instantly tensed but didn’t attack. The scarred man looked him up and down appraisingly.
“You here for the same job?” he asked, without unnecessary aggression — purely businesslike.
“Yes,” Joonghyuk replied evenly. “I know the manor. I was there recently. I know the layout, where the vampire sleeps, and the weak points.”
The group exchanged glances. The scarred man narrowed his eyes slightly, but with practical interest rather than suspicion.
“Useful information. We wouldn’t mind extra hands, especially from someone who knows the place. What about your share?”
Joonghyuk answered directly: “A third of the total bounty. And anything I personally find in the manor is mine.”
The bearded man snorted but didn’t argue.
“A third is a lot,” the scarred man said, though without anger. “Let’s do this: a quarter plus whatever you take yourself. And you go first, show us the way. If everything goes smoothly, no one will be stingy. We’re here for money, not glory. Deal?”
Joonghyuk thought for a second and nodded. “Deal.”
They quickly discussed the details. The hunters spoke clearly and professionally: who would go first, who would cover, how much silver to bring, how to neutralize the witch, what to do with the werewolves. No patriotic speeches or oaths — just cold calculations of profit and risk.
“In three days, at night,” the scarred man concluded. “We meet here. Don’t be late. Time is money.”
Joonghyuk nodded and turned to continue on his way.
When the hunters’ voices faded behind him, he kept walking toward the village, but a strange emptiness filled his mind.
He felt neither pity nor excitement. Just the old, familiar routine. Arrive. Kill. Take the money. That’s how he had lived for the last ten years. So why did it feel… wrong this time?
In the village, Mia threw herself at him with a joyful cry. Joonghyuk hugged her, lifted her into his arms, and smiled — genuinely, for the first time in days.
“Pack your things, little one. We’re going to a new home. A big one. It’ll be warm there.”
While Mia happily gathered her belongings, Joonghyuk stood by the window, staring toward the dark forest.
In three days, he was supposed to lead these men into the manor. In three days, he was supposed to help kill Dokja.
He clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Yet somehow, the thought no longer brought the old cold satisfaction.
Yoo Joonghyuk returned to the manor in the evening, when the sun had almost set. Walking beside him was Yoo Mia — small, with big eyes and a heavy bundle of belongings on her back. The whole way, the girl excitedly chattered about how everyone in the village was jealous that her brother was taking her to a “real palace.”
When they entered the main hall, Dokja was just coming down the stairs. He was wearing his favorite silk shirt, hair slightly messy, eyes still sleepy from his daytime rest. Seeing the unfamiliar little girl, he stopped halfway down.
“Who’s this?” he asked, trying to sound authoritative but mostly sounding surprised.
Joonghyuk set Mia’s bundle on the floor. “My sister. Yoo Mia. She’s going to live here now.”
Dokja blinked several times, then shrugged. “Well… fine. The manor is big. Half of it’s yours — so put whoever you want there.”
Mia did a small curtsy and said softly: “Thank you, Mr. Vampire.”
Dokja blushed and quickly turned away. “I’m not… well, whatever. Eat whatever you find. I’ll… I’ll be in the library.”
He disappeared down the corridor. Joonghyuk smiled faintly. Mia immediately ran off to explore her new home, while he headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Later, after Mia had gone to sleep in one of the small rooms on the second floor, Joonghyuk brought Dokja a plate of warm meat and a glass of wine. The vampire was sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, wrapped in a blanket, looking tired.
“Sit,” Dokja said quietly when Joonghyuk placed the plate on the side table.
They didn’t speak. Dokja ate slowly, occasionally glancing at him. When the plate was empty, he leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Don’t go yet,” he muttered. “Just… stay for a while.”
Joonghyuk sat in the chair opposite. He watched as Dokja slowly fell asleep — his head tilting slightly to the side, breathing becoming even and quiet. In the firelight, the vampire’s face looked almost peaceful — without the usual tension and hunger.
Joonghyuk sat there, unable to look away. This scene — sleeping Dokja, warm light, the quiet of the manor — suddenly felt too right. Too… much like home.
He didn’t even hear the footsteps.
Only when the cold blade of a dagger lightly touched the back of his neck did he flinch.
“Quiet,” whispered a familiar voice. It was one of the hunters — the same burly bearded man they had met in the forest. “Don’t move. We came a little early. To check.”
Joonghyuk slowly raised his hands without standing up.
“I said three days.”
“Plans changed,” the bearded man replied just as quietly. “Our people are already inside. The rest are waiting for the signal. You still with us?”
Joonghyuk stayed silent. Behind him, the bearded man breathed evenly, professionally. No hatred — just calculation.
“Answer,” the hunter whispered. “A quarter of the bounty is still yours. But if you change your mind now, we’ll do it without you.”
Joonghyuk slowly turned his head. Dokja continued sleeping peacefully, suspecting nothing.
At that moment, quiet laughter and the muffled sound of a kiss came from the corridor. The bearded man heard it too and grimaced.
“Those two…” he muttered. “In the pantry again. Saying they’re ‘checking the supplies.’ Damn fags. Instead of watching the vampire, they’re making out between the shelves.”
Joonghyuk remained silent. He knew who he meant: the two younger hunters from the group — the slim blond and the dark-haired one with the tattoo on his arm. He had noticed how they kept looking at each other in the forest.
The bearded man pulled the dagger away from Joonghyuk’s neck.
“Make your choice by tomorrow night. Either you’re with us, or we do it ourselves. And then no one will ask about shares.”
He melted back into the shadows and disappeared as quietly as he had appeared.
Joonghyuk remained seated. Dokja was softly snoring in the armchair, knowing nothing. From the pantry on the first floor, the quiet sounds of laughter and kisses could still be heard.
Joonghyuk rubbed his face with his hand.
He thought about Mia sleeping two floors above. About Dokja, who trusted him enough to fall asleep in his presence. About the money. About how in two nights this manor could become a tomb.
He stood up, carefully adjusted the blanket over Dokja, and quietly left the room.
The night in the manor suddenly felt very cold.