“Newcomer, let me tell you something: everything in this city was bestowed by the great City Lord Kachar. Without him, the tens of thousands of us here would probably have died in last year’s beastman invasion, frozen to death in that bitter winter.”
Edel was surprised by this. “You were also... captured by the saintlight vampires last year?”
“Captured? No, this was a blessing from the Goddess of Luck,” the forty-year-old security officer replied with great pride.
“If you ever come to understand what this city has, and what it can offer you, trust me, one day, you too will be willing to lay down your life for it, just like I am.”
After saying that, he gave a deep look at Edel, who, though outwardly respectful, inwardly remained unconvinced, and spoke with solemn sincerity, “Young man, I once doubted the saintlight vampires too.”
Edel’s expression shifted, and he hurried to explain, “No, I was just…”
“No need to explain. Whether you doubt them or not is irrelevant.
City Lord Kachar once said, ‘Time is the best tool to verify the truth. Facts will prove who speaks the truth.’
The saintlight vampires are not afraid of doubt.
Get some rest. Someone will come around midday to distribute food.
Your room has already been fitted with running water and a private bath. You won’t need to fetch water from outside.
Using the tap is simple, just press the handle and turn it clockwise. But remember, always turn it off when you're done. If you use too much water, City Hall will come knocking.
I’m heading out. If you need anything, you can always reach out to the Security Squad downstairs.”
With that, the security officer turned and left, leaving Edel standing dumbfounded in the clean, tidy room, speechless for a long while.
But the more he thought about everything that had happened today, the more unreal it all felt.
Could the saintlight vampires really be different from the evil vampires of legend?
Was… this the so-called ‘running water?’
Edel looked at it with deep skepticism. This thing could produce water on its own?
Hmph. If they wanted to lie, they could at least make it more believable.
He was just about to turn and go downstairs to fetch water when he stopped in place, conflicted. There was no harm in trying.
He took two steps forward, stared blankly at the metal pipe, and tried to recall the officer’s instructions.
He reached out and pressed his hand on the faucet’s handle.
“Clockwise.”
Ssshh~
Under high water pressure, a strong stream of bright white water burst forth, crashing into the basin and splashing droplets everywhere.
Startled by the loud sound, Edel jumped back with a shout, recoiling in panic.
In the process, he kicked over the wooden bucket behind him.
He then stared at the faucet in alarm.
“W-What’s going on?! How, how is there so much spring water?!”
Feeling like he had triggered a catastrophe, he rushed forward, grabbed the handle, and twisted it again.
SSSHHH~
The water flow became even stronger.
Now Edel was completely panicked. In a frantic scramble, he tried to block the spout with his hands, but the torrent splashed all over him, soaking him from head to toe.
Finally, as if remembering something, he turned the handle counterclockwise.
Only then did the water shut off.
By that point, Edel was drenched, as if he had just taken a full bath.
After catching his breath a few times, he gradually calmed down, staring at the now-silent faucet with an expression that was hard to describe.
“W-What kind of alchemical artifact is this? How can such a small iron pipe release so much spring water??
Could it be that there’s some kind of legendary spatial magic hiding an entire lake inside?”
He then glanced around. Seeing that no one was nearby, he bravely turned the faucet on again, this time only slightly.
He had learned his lesson.
Ssshhhh~~ This time, the running water flowed out slowly, no longer spraying with force. The clear, pure water came from the cleanest mountain springs, untouched by any pollution.
Edel stared blankly at the sight, his eyes full of awe, frozen for a long time.
It was unbelievable. There truly was a spring that never dried up, that never stopped flowing.
It was nothing short of a miracle!
Summoning his courage, he leaned down and took a sip. The sweet taste filled his mouth, and he immediately bent over and began gulping it down frantically.
Only after drinking to his fill did he remember what he was originally planning to do. He quickly picked up the bucket and began filling it with water. Even when it was full, he was reluctant to turn the water off, he wanted to see if this running water could truly keep flowing without ever drying up.
Then he recalled the security officer’s warning and obediently turned it off. He definitely didn’t want to get in trouble.