Chapter 445 - 444: Love Too Deep, or Too Shallow?

The Hamster was also in the mausoleum; he had witnessed nearly the entire process. The power of those Blood Shadows was terrifying. If it had been any other High-level Beastman, they would have been torn to pieces by now, with not even a bone left!

But Mr. Hei Yi had slaughtered every last one of them...

Now, seeing the two of them standing together, the Hamster found the sight incredibly pleasing.

The sound of footsteps to the side broke their gaze.

Dracula snapped back to reality, realizing what he had just done. He looked at the spot where his arm had been reattached. The little rabbit had used her Healing Ability to connect his arm back, and everything was as good as new.

Just as Yu Zhizhi let go of his arm, intending to check the injuries on Dracula’s wings, she found that he had already fully retracted them, hiding them from view.

"Did you get it?" Dracula asked.

Zero smiled. "Yes, thanks to all of you."

The Hamster spoke up. "Let’s find a place to rest first. Mr. Hei Yi’s injuries still need to be treated."

Aside from his arm, Mr. Hei Yi clearly had other injuries.

"Since the mission is complete, I’ll be heading back," Dracula said, not intending to remain in Sun Ridge.

Yu Zhizhi was a little surprised. "You’re leaving already?"

’I thought we would get to stay with Dracula for a few more days.’

"Your injuries..." Yu Zhizhi was still worried.

Dracula glanced at her. "It’s nothing serious."

Zero suddenly spoke up. "We haven’t examined the bones yet, so we can’t be sure they’re the parts we’re looking for. Stay for two more days. After that, I’ll escort her back to her territory."

Yu Zhizhi looked at the young man from the Cat Clan. ’Is Zero helping me convince Dracula to stay?’

Dracula didn’t reply, apparently accepting Zero’s proposal.

The Hamster led them back to his small burrow.

He hadn’t expected another guest.

And this guest was from the Divine Hall Alliance, an organization he deeply admired. Seeing the easygoing attitude of the young man from the Cat Clan, the Hamster thought, ’He seems like a really nice person.’

It was just...

The living space was too small. If the two gentlemen were willing to undergo Beastification, they could probably squeeze in.

Seeing the Hamster’s hesitation, Zero pointed to a lid on the side. "What’s that?"

"It’s a cellar," the Hamster replied.

"Could I stay in there for two nights?" Zero asked.

The Hamster was stunned for a moment. "You could, but... wouldn’t that be too rough for you, sir? Maybe my family and I—"

"It’s no trouble at all." Zero smiled, skillfully opening the cellar door and sitting on the edge. "I used to sleep in cellars all the time when I was a kid."

With that, he jumped in.

Yu Zhizhi watched the cellar door close. She hadn’t expected Zero to just move right in.

’Didn’t he just say they still couldn’t be sure if the bones were the ones they were looking for?’

’I thought he and Dracula would take this opportunity to examine them carefully.’

’It seems I didn’t misunderstand him earlier.’

’Is Zero really helping me?’

「Inside the cellar.」

The talisman slowly materialized behind the young man from the Cat Clan. "Tsk, tsk," it said. "The you I used to know would have rushed back to the Divine Hall at the first opportunity. Why would you be willing to waste two days? Zero, you’ve changed. You’re not yourself anymore."

As his long-time partner, the talisman knew Zero quite well.

It had noticed that ever since this Miss Rabbit appeared, Zero had changed in many ways.

But he always seemed to be holding back.

He was always avoiding something.

After going inside, Yu Zhizhi met the Hamster’s wife, and the two exchanged a smile. The female squirrel was holding a tray with a plate of nuts and two cups of hot tea.

After thanking Miss Squirrel, Yu Zhizhi returned to her room.

She placed the plate and tea on the table.

Dracula was leaning against the side of the bed, his face pale. A trace of weariness hung on his sharply defined features. He sensed the little rabbit approaching but didn’t make a sound.

Yu Zhizhi checked his injuries. The rest of his body was fine; the most severe damage was likely to his wings.

’Unless he undergoes Beastification right now...’

Suddenly, Dracula’s voice came from above her. "How... did we meet?"

Dracula’s eyes were open. He lowered his gaze to the little female of the Rabbit Clan sitting before him, and the question slipped out before he could stop it.

’Am I curious?’

’Maybe a little.’

After all, every record only detailed things that had happened in the public eye. As for the very, very beginning... his memory was a complete blank.

Dracula hadn’t cared before, but for some reason, he suddenly felt curious today.

Yu Zhizhi’s hands stilled. She looked up into Dracula’s deep eyes and murmured, recalling, "In the K family’s territory... you were badly injured, even worse than this time... I... I saved you."

Her voice lacked confidence.

’Back then, I only found Dracula’s hiding place because of a mission prompt.’

’And I took advantage of him while he was gravely ill...’

The mere thought of it made her cheeks burn.

Dracula saw the little female’s cheeks flush crimson, as if she had a high fever. It seemed their first meeting was something that made her feel very shy.

’...So that’s how it was.’

’That seems plausible.’

If he hadn’t been gravely ill and unconscious in enemy territory, he never would have let anyone get near him, not even a female of the Beast Clan with zero combat ability.

"And then?" Dracula asked again.

"A-and then... you were recovering in a church, and I... I went to take care of you every day."

’A church.’

Dracula had heard from his subordinates that when he was seriously injured, he had indeed recovered in a church within the K family’s territory.

"Who made the first move?" Dracula’s tone was even, as if he were asking about someone else’s affairs.

At this, Yu Zhizhi stammered for a long moment before finally admitting the truth. "...Me."

Dracula wasn’t surprised by that answer.

’The missing memories were slowly filling in, though I can’t shake the feeling that this little rabbit is hiding something...’

But he had the general idea.

’When I was on the brink of death, this little rabbit saved me. I must have developed feelings for her because she took care of me day and night.’

’Or maybe, the little female was just my type to begin with.’

"Does it make you sad that I’ve forgotten?" Dracula asked, gazing at the young woman from the Rabbit Clan before him.

Yu Zhizhi froze for a second. She looked at Dracula and slowly shook her head. "No. Just seeing you alive makes me happy."

Seeing Dracula safe and sound in the Underground City had filled Yu Zhizhi with joy. He didn’t remember her, but what did that matter compared to him being alive?

Besides, he had taken great care of Little Snow Eagle.

Even though the final mission from the system had become incredibly difficult now that Dracula had amnesia and she had to raise his affection level, Yu Zhizhi didn’t feel sad...

A flicker of emotion appeared in Dracula’s otherwise calm eyes. It was an answer he hadn’t expected.

’Alive?’

’Is her love so deep that she asks for nothing more?’

’Or is it so shallow that she simply doesn’t care?’

’To be forgotten by the one you love... would you really not be sad?’

This little rabbit... she seemed to be hiding a secret...