The Weeping Serpent (Part One)

The lingering gunpowder smoke dispersed, swept away by the heavy rain.

A foul stench of carbonized flesh hung heavy in the air.

Disgusting monster remains lay scattered, painting the street a gruesome canvas. On the district, now almost flattened, no other signs of life could be found.

Yet, the Beast Tamer still clung to life. His black robe, once draped over him, had been incinerated in the violent explosion, leaving only his torso. He thrashed weakly in the ankle-deep rainwater, a grim testament to his resilience.

“The vitality of you cultists never ceases to amaze me,” Ewan remarked, tilting his head. He drew Elizabeth, the pure white short blade, tracing its edge along the Beast Tamer’s mangled form.

“What does it take to truly kill you? A severed head? A pierced heart?”

“Guh-guh…”

The Beast Tamer coughed out several mouthfuls of dark, foul-smelling blood, his gaze fixed on Ewan. In his eyes, beyond the hatred and malice, there was a flicker of perverse satisfaction.

“My… objective… has been achieved. Without those… external aids… you are, after all… merely an ordinary man…”

“So that’s it,” Ewan nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “You’re just cannon fodder, meant to deplete my tools? So, even the Siren fears such things.”

“Guh-guh… Go on… the Great Sacrifice awaits you… You will… become the sustenance… in her mouth…”

The Beast Tamer’s eyes suddenly bulged. His body twisted as he shrieked with狂热 fanaticism.

“Heh-heh… sustenance… you will all be sustenance… The Moon lives eternal… The Moon lives—”

“The Moon is about to die.”

Ewan, his face devoid of emotion, plunged the pure white short blade into the Beast Tamer’s heart. He watched the life drain rapidly from the man’s eyes, murmuring softly, “And you are no exception…”

****

Ewan continued forward, following the chilling aura that was the complete antithesis to the warmth within his own body.

However, upon rounding the next corner, Ewan found the scene before him eerily familiar.

The chilling aura no longer pointed to a passable road, but rather to an unassuming family restaurant by the roadside.

Glancing at the familiar restaurant sign, Ewan remained impassive as he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

A sensation of warmth, starkly contrasting the cold outside, washed over him.

Inside the narrow yet cozy family restaurant, soft candlelight flickered. A young woman, her hair styled in thick twin braids and wearing oversized black-rimmed glasses, sat at a dining table. Chin propped in her hand, she softly hummed a sweet melody.

An exquisite feast had already been laid out on the table. The young woman’s cheeks were flushed, her beauty akin to a blooming peach blossom, as if she were eagerly awaiting her lover’s return.

Ding-a-ling.

The opening door chimed the bell.

The young woman looked up, and upon seeing the youth enter, her eyes sparkled with genuine joy.

“Ewan, you… you actually came.”

Ewan observed Sally’s unmistakably genuine joy and remained silent.

“You… why aren’t you speaking? Are you shy?”

As she spoke, it was the young woman herself who blushed. Like a first date with a beloved, she shyly waved him over.

“Quickly… come sit here, Ewan.”

Ewan remained quiet, simply taking the seat prepared specifically for him. He lowered his gaze, silently examining the lavish dishes on the table.

The food boasted vibrant colors and an enticing aroma. Even Ewan, accustomed to the finest cuisine, found his appetite stirred, a thought of grabbing his cutlery and digging in quickly surfacing in his mind.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

Sally’s eyes were fixed on Ewan as she asked expectantly, “I made it specially for you. Do you like it?”

The candlelight flickered, illuminating her rosy cheeks. Soft music drifted from the corner, enhancing the intimate atmosphere.

Ewan quietly observed the young woman.

Her expressions, movements, and every detail showed not a single flaw. The person sitting before him truly seemed like an innocent, adorable girl.

‘Huh? No. What do I mean, ‘seemed like’? Isn’t Sally already an innocent, adorable girl?’

In a daze, an invisible force seemed to spread, making Ewan feel as though he truly was enjoying a romantic candlelight dinner with a lovely girl. The blood, monsters, and cultists from earlier felt like nothing more than a tiring dream.

Now that the dream was over, why dwell on its unpleasantness? A beautiful reality awaited him. Why not quickly savor the exquisite meal lovingly prepared by his charming girlfriend and enjoy this carefree, leisurely time?

Ewan shook his head. In his hazy state, everything from the dream had receded. ‘That’s right, Sally is my girlfriend. I should focus on enjoying this wonderful dinner with her. Why bother with such chaotic thoughts?’

‘Perhaps something even more delightful awaits me after dinner.’

Ewan subtly shifted his gaze, looking at Sally’s smooth thighs hidden beneath her skirt. Imagining the pleasantries to come, his Adam’s apple bobbed. A surge of… heat… flashed through him. ‘Hmm? Why isn’t it getting hotter? It feels like something is missing.’

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Ewan hesitate to eat, Sally clutched the hem of her skirt, biting her lip, her expression utterly pitiable. “Is… is what I made not to your liking, Ewan?”

“No, not at all.”

Ewan looked up, staring at Sally, his eyes filled with genuine adoration. “It’s just that everything you made, Sally, looks so beautiful, I don’t know where to begin.”

“Oh, Ewan, you certainly know how to talk.”

Sally covered her flushed cheeks, utterly shy. Her eyes, as she looked at Ewan, shone with exceptional brightness.

“Alright, no more of these annoying words. Hurry and eat.”

Sally’s tongue flicked across her rosy lips, her gaze playful. “After you finish, there’s an after-dinner program, you know.”

“An after-dinner program?”

Ewan’s eyes lit up. “Then I must eat faster.”

However, just as he picked up his knife and fork, his movements paused. He irritably patted his head. “Ah, look at me. I was so busy looking at you, Sally, that I forgot something important.”

“Important?” Sally looked a little confused. “What is it?”

“Of course, it’s saying hello. When you’re a guest in someone’s home, how can you not properly greet them?”

Ewan put down his cutlery, narrowing his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. “So, Sally, your father… is he doing well?”

The music screeched to a halt.

The romantic atmosphere was instantly shattered.

Sally’s flushed, pretty face stiffened immediately.

“Fa… father? He…” Sally stammered like a broken doll, unable to form a coherent sentence. But before she could say anything more, Ewan, still maintaining that eerie smile, continued, “Since I’ve greeted your father, then, Sally, we should also have a heart-to-heart talk, shouldn’t we?”

As his words fell.

It was as if a video playing had suddenly frozen a frame. One moment, Ewan held his knife and fork, ready to enjoy the meal. The next, what he held was no longer cutlery, but… the pure white short blade. One end of the short blade was gripped in Ewan’s palm, while the other was accurately and precisely plunged into the young woman’s heart.