Chapter 191: Azrael Kidnapped Leo!
After ordering the items he needed from the gun shop, he and Azrael parted with the old man.... While walking back to the car, Leo asked, "Are you sure he is not going to inform the police?"
Azrael shook her head slowly, strands of her hair swaying against her cheek. "Don’t worry... I’ve done more for him than most people ever would. This shop itself? I kept it. He knows better than to betray me. I don’t think he’d go out of his way to tell them. If anything, he’ll look the other way... as long as he keeps earning more than enough coin to quiet his conscience." Her gaze slid toward Leo’s pocket, where he had previously taken a diamond.
Her voice dropped, more weight in every word, "Listen, I won’t ask where you got it, but..." her face turned serious, her lips hardening into a thin line,
"Do not hurt Raphael."
Hearing that, Leo blinked softly before humming, neither denying nor confirming. He didn’t say anything, just kept walking to the car with steady, unhurried steps.
Azrael, even though she didn’t receive the answers she wanted, could feel that his silence was not ignorance.
As he had done before, she didn’t pry further about the diamond... but in return, all she asked—her only request—was that he never twist his tricks against Raphael.
Still, though, there was something she couldn’t hold back.
"Why twelve inches?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine wonder. He had demanded the bullet should at least penetrate through twelve inches of hard rock.
Why?
Leo stopped and looked at her, his eyes catching the faint glow of the street lamps. "Do you remember the katana I used to stab Nergal?"
"Yes," she answered, her tone cautious, as if replaying the memory in her mind.
"Well, when I drove that blade into him, it didn’t pierce him fully. His body... it resisted, like striking into twelve inches of stone. That’s why I asked for that measurement. Nothing less will do." His words carried no exaggeration, only the grave certainty of a man who had tested death with his own hands.
He said it as he came to stand before the car, his palm brushing lightly across the hood.
Azrael blinked, her lips parting before she whispered, "The hell... how did you calculate all this while your life was in danger?"
Leo simply shrugged, but his eyes glinted with a strange calm. "I don’t know... maybe a talent," he said, flashing a cheeky smile.
Azrael blinked again, unable to decide whether to scold him or laugh. Instead, she shook her head and reached up to pinch his nose gently... the gesture almost absurd in its tenderness.
For a moment, he was so unbearably cute~
Anyway,
"How long are you going to hold my hand like that?" Leo asked, tilting his gaze down at his right hand, still nestled comfortably against the soft press of her bosom—ever since she had claimed him as her fiancé.
Azrael blinked, feigning innocence, her voice rising with a playful lilt, "Oh? My goodness~ fu~fu~" She finally, though reluctantly, let go of his hand, drawing it away as she winked at him.
"Do you like it?"
"Like what?" Leo blinked, pretending to be clueless. He knew exactly what she was asking... the warmth, the softness. And truthfully, compared to Sakura... nothing could surpass her.
But that secret? He would never say aloud.
Azrael pouted, her lips curling downward in a sulk before she turned, swaying her hips deliberately as she slipped into the car.
Leo, meanwhile, blinked, his eyes betraying him as they flicked toward her ass the moment she leaned forward.
Yup, he definitely was not going to fall for that ass!
He slid into the driver’s seat, fastening the seatbelt with a soft click, when—
"So...?" Azrael’s hesitant tone filled the car, almost fragile in contrast to her earlier teasing.
Leo turned his head slightly, wondering why the sudden change now, "Hmm?"
Azrael blushed as her fingers twirled together like those of an innocent lady, her movements awkward yet endearing.
Leo frowned slightly, as if his instincts whispered that something dangerous, something he would rather avoid, was about to be asked... wasn’t it?
"D-Do I look like a whore?"
Damn it! She asked it!!
Leo inwardly sighed, his gaze drifting over her from head to toe... up and down.
He wasn’t sure how to even process the word "whore" coming from her lips. After all, he had barely shown interest in any women at all, let alone compared them to such a word.
His importance was something else!
Still, if anything, it wasn’t as though she was dressed provocatively. Her clothes were nothing more than a modern top and shorts—stylish, yes, but hardly scandalous.
There was nothing wrong with it.
The old man had called her that only because he was an outdated, bones and mind stuck in a time that couldn’t see beauty beyond tradition.
But Leo’s eyes...
"No," Leo said at last, his voice steady, his tone sincere, before locking his seatbelt in place.
Azrael blinked at him, then exhaled a heavy sigh of relief.
She had truly been worried, wondering if Leo had thought wrongly of her, if perhaps that single word had tainted her in his eyes.
Ever since the old man mentioned it, the thought had been gnawing at her mind... That fucking old man!!
But then, her expression shifted. She frowned faintly and asked, her voice small but edged with disappointment, "But I didn’t get any compliment from you either. You do not like this?"
Leo’s lips twitched as he glanced sideways at her. Her eyes—soft, sad, and shimmering with uncertainty—cut into him far deeper than any blade.
Leo sighed... he had fallen right into her trap!
Shaking his head, he forced the words out. "You look beautiful, Azrael."
Even though it felt like a forced answer, Azrael’s lips curled into the faintest of smiles. She got what she wanted, a reassurance.... but in the corner of her heart, she couldn’t fully believe it... It felt as though he had only said it to prevent her from feeling sad.
Maybe she was not making enough effort.
Maybe she wasn’t enough.
What did she need to do?
Noticing her half-baked smile, Leo sighed once more. She had done so much for him.... helped him many times, even saved his aunt. He couldn’t bring himself to be harsh toward her, not when she was giving so much. So he spoke softly, carefully,
"I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings—"
"N-No, it’s fine... I... I just—"
"Beauty comes from the inside... not from what you wear," Leo said in a gentle tone, his eyes locking onto hers.
"I can see your beauty... the selfless friend, the sharp tongue, the haughty mouth, those gentle yet trembling eyes. That’s the beauty I see in you. And if anything... these clothes are disgusting to me.
I don’t mean that generally, I mean it personally. For me... I like a woman who is simply herself.... And I’ll admit it—I’m a jealous man.
I don’t want to see my woman wearing something for the eyes of others... so I choose not to look at other women who dress like that either. Because if I did, it would make me a hypocrite."
He said the truth.
In simple terms, he wasn’t denying any woman the right to wear whatever she pleased.... that was their freedom.
But it was equally his right to hold his own preferences, his own type.
Honestly, he hadn’t wanted to explain all of this. He didn’t need to. But he did. He laid his thoughts bare only because of what Azrael had already shown him... her care, and her quiet feelings for him?
Azrael, on the other hand, blinked softly before letting his words settle inside her. A gentle smile curved her lips as she muttered,
"I see... you really have grown into a good boy." She nodded faintly to herself, then added,
"I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to wear this kind of clothes. I just wanted to look good in your eyes."
Leo hummed softly, his smile warm and gentle,
"The moment you saved Raphael... you already became good in my eyes."
Azrael stared at his innocent expression, and inwardly she screamed, ’Please don’t!!’ Her nerves burned, her entire body urging her to lean over and kiss him right then and there.
The way he spoke, the calmness in his tone, the maturity hidden behind that kid’s face—everything pulled her in dangerously.
She had seen boys before.... Boys who were nothing but pests, loud and shameless, creatures ruled by lust and arrogance. But this boy... this boy was not like them.
He was different.
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles paling as she restrained herself. She barely held down the storm rising inside. She couldn’t let her heart dictate recklessly—not now, not when she had come this far.
She needed to calm herself, to do everything responsibly.
She smirked, forcing the heat in her chest into a playful curl of her lips. Nodding, she said softly, "Let’s go home..." Her voice carried a softness, but then, with a cheeky twist, she added, "My home~"
Leo blinked in surprise, his mouth just beginning to form a response, but before he could utter a word, the car surged forward, speeding into the night.
****
Meanwhile, Ophis walked down a separate path, her face twisted in annoyance. "Damn bastard... he bought me off with just blood!!"
Arrh!
She screamed inside her own mind.
How could she, Ophis Dracula, fall for such a pathetic trap so easily?
The thought boiled her blood more than the blood he bet on it!!
The mighty Ophis, deceived by a single human?
She clenched her fists as rage spread through her veins. "Tch... that damned human," she hissed, "When he comes home, I’ll drain him dry... suck every last drop of his blood until he begs for mercy."
Her steps echoed on the empty path. Then—
"Tsk, asshole—"
Her words were cut short. Her eyes narrowed, a faint glow burning pink as she stopped. She realised, in that instant, she was no longer alone. Her nostrils flared, catching the faintest trace of blood.
Her lips curved into a predatory smile, "Come out... I can smell your pathetic blood."
Clap... clap...
A slow clapping echoed across the path.
From the shadows, a figure emerged.... a woman?
Her expression was sharp, serious, her hands tightly clenched behind her back.
A black skirt swayed in the cold night breeze, her gaze fixed unflinchingly on Ophis.
Ophis, however, showed neither fear nor surprise. She only looked... annoyed.
"I see... so it’s really you people. The shadow I glimpsed this morning. I thought it was just some pest... ahah."
Luna’s face remained serious, her tone cutting as she stepped forward without hesitation.
"Pest? That’s a bold word... coming from someone who crossed our borders." Her voice echoed sharply and seriously,
"As per the covenant... You should know this is our territory."
Ophis hummed, tilting her head ever so slightly. "So?"
Luna’s lips twitched, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Leave this territory at once... otherwise—"
"Otherwise?" Ophis interrupted suddenly. The entire area turned cold and deadly as the air itself trembled around her presence. Luna inwardly gulped in horror, her stomach twisting, but still she forced herself to hold a fearless face.
"M-Master of Valentine shall face you if you don’t," Luna stammered, her voice cracking even as she tried to keep it steady, slowly stepping back with trembling feet.
Ophis blinked, then tilted her head, her lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Master of Valentine? You mean... that arrogant fool who thinks he stands above everyone else just because he scrapes together a little more coin?" Her laugh was sharp, mocking.
"That useless maggot?"
Veins pulsed on Luna’s face, "How dare you—"
Before she could finish, Ophis’s eyes ignited with a furious glow. She lifted her hand lazily and waved down...
Thud!
In an instant, Luna collapsed, kneeling like a broken doll. The weight of unseen pressure crushed her body to the ground.
Ophis stepped closer, her gaze cold, merciless. Luna’s face was drenched in horror, sweat dripping from her skin. Her hands trembled violently, the knife she clutched behind her back useless, frozen, not even moving an inch.
"The nerve of a servant from Valentine to speak to me directly..." Ophis whispered. Her lips twisted into a wicked smile as she leaned closer.
"Tell me—where did this courage come from?"
Luna gulped, her throat dry, her muscles screaming to move. But it was no use—the crushing pressure held her in place, a power she could not overcome.
Ophis’s expression darkened as she muttered, "If your master wants me out of his precious territory... let that useless maggot crawl to me himself. Let him come and face me... okay?"
Luna’s lips parted, but no sound came... Fear suffocated her voice!
"I said... O. K. A. Y?" Ophis’s fangs gleamed dangerously close to her face, her breath brushing over Luna’s skin.
Luna’s eyes widened in terror, and she nodded frantically, her entire body quivering as she submitted.
"Good." Ophis’s face softened in an instant, her tone shifting to a humming calm as if nothing had happened.
Without sparing another glance, she turned and walked away, the deadly pressure fading with her steps.
Luna collapsed fully, panting heavily, her chest heaving as she leaned against the ground. Her teeth ground together in humiliation and pain. "I... I need to inform this to Master..." she whispered through clenched teeth.
She only came here to talk with that Vampire, even though that knife was for her safety only, but now this was serious!
That Vampire was here for them... to take over their territory?
She needed to absolutely inform her Master, no matter what!
Meanwhile, Ophis walked on without a hint of worry or fear. Her steps were light, almost casual, as though the confrontation had been nothing but a trivial distraction. When she reached home and stepped inside, she found Raphael already waiting for them.
"Big sis... aww..." Ophis sniffled, her nose twitching. She wasn’t actually crying, but her act was flawless.
Raphael, who had been sitting in wait, flinched at the sound. Her face paled as worry spread across her features. "What happened?" she asked urgently, her voice tight. Her heart raced, fearing something dangerous had occurred.
Did the Monsters attack them?
But...
"Leo ditched me and went with Azrael, big sis," Ophis said, her voice trembling with a defeated, crying tone... but the sly smirk tugging at her lips betrayed the performance.
Raphael’s face turned pale... paler than snow.
What?
Leo went with Azrael?
For what?
This... this was more dangerous than any monster.