Vampire Princess Guide in Progress - Volume 1 Chapter 75

Chapter 75: The Girl Who Blooms in Pure White

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“Always like this, always like this! Always looking down on me!”

“Even though my strength is on par with the Crimson Moon Princess, and I’ve nearly beaten her several times, why are they so unwilling to believe in me? That position clearly can only be filled by me, right!?”

After leaving the Iris Knights guild, the girl wearing a white iris cloak walked angrily through the town streets.

After finishing the strategy meeting, it was already 3 AM.

But even at this late hour, most residents had already gone to sleep, the streets were quiet, yet the city lights remained on throughout the night. Occasionally, one could see a few players still busily running between various quest points in the middle of the night.

Susie walked with her head down, feeling dejected on the street.

Even though the final raid strategy had been confirmed, with her as the primary DPS to intercept the World BOSS and control it within a certain area, Guildmaster Calen’s reluctant expression and tone — as if this was a last resort — left her feeling unable to let go.

It had been like this since she was little.

Despite barely being present during her growth or communicating with her, not understanding her at all, they always seemed to think she was inferior to others, and didn’t trust her with anything, even with those school competitions in the past.

Yet in the end, she did better and was more impressive than everyone else!

She won many honors for it and gained attention.

Even in the game, she wasn’t inferior to anyone else. First participating in the closed beta, and then in the current public test, she had been known as the “Pure White Blooming Holy Sword Maiden” and had proven herself in front of almost every player who knew her.

“Really, so annoying,” Susie muttered with dissatisfaction.

Trying to dispel the gloominess in her heart, instead of returning directly to her residence, she wandered around town thinking, and unconsciously arrived in front of a grand and sacred church-like building.

Before climbing the church steps, there was always a wishing fountain pool in an open space on the plaza.

Usually, whether players or residents, people could often be seen throwing coins into the wishing pool, then standing in front of the church facing the statue of the Ice Snow Goddess, closing their eyes and making wishes in their hearts.

But now in the deep night, there was no one around.

Susie’s feet had become sore from walking, so she simply sat down on a bench beside the wishing pool.

It was at this moment that a blue-haired girl wearing a magic hat and a robe, holding a green magic staff, walked out of the church. As she descended the stone steps, her gaze happened to catch the solitary figure sitting there.

“Excuse me… is something wrong? Do you need any help?”

“Damn it, it’s all because I lost to that Crimson Moon Princess during the closed beta, that shameless woman who has humiliated me several times…”

Susie was recalling and muttering resentfully.

Suddenly, the soft and gentle voice of a girl broke her train of thought. Susie immediately raised her head and looked at the petite blue-haired girl standing before her, clearly stunned for a few seconds.

After seeing the green arrow player indicator above her head, Susie confirmed that she hadn’t triggered some hidden quest.

But at this late hour, was there another player who, like her, couldn’t sleep and was wandering around town?

“Who are you?” Susie asked in a soft voice after coming to her senses.

“Ah, I’m sorry, did I disturb you?” The petite and cute blue-haired girl showed a timid expression, then continued explaining in that gentle voice: “It’s so late, I saw you sitting here alone, so I wanted to ask if you needed help?”

“Oh… I see, well, I’m Susie.”

“I’m Cross.”

“Miss Cross, thank you for your concern…” Susie’s gaze inevitably softened. She hadn’t expected to meet such a beautiful, cute, and kind young lady who approached her out of goodwill even in the middle of the night. Her heart suddenly felt a bit more at ease.

Moreover, since the other person was also a player rather than a town resident, it gave her a sense of having someone to talk to with a common language, someone who could be a confidant.

“May I sit beside you?”

“Ah, of course.”

Susie quickly shifted her position, making more room on the bench for Cross.

As her gaze swept over the other girl, she couldn’t help but admire how young and cute the blue-haired young lady’s face was, with her large watery eyes, delicate little nose, and cherry-like small mouth, looking so youthful.

Could it be… she’s even younger than herself, a middle school student?

Seeing the expression Susie had just shown, Cross became more certain that she must have encountered some trouble.

“What happened? Would you like to tell me about it?”

“Ah… if Miss Cross is willing to listen, I would really like to find someone I can talk to and confide in.” Susie revealed a rather pretty but bitter smile, “Unfortunately, I don’t have such friends at the moment.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be wandering here alone.

The pure white cloak she wore had an Iris Knights emblem imprinted on it, and a pure white sword sheath was attached to her waist, clearly showing that this girl named Susie was a raid player. Therefore, Cross also roughly guessed the reason.

After all, tomorrow night would be the decisive battle against the World BOSS.

“What about you, Miss Cross? Why are you near the church so late at night?”

“Ah, well… because tomorrow my friend will also participate in the World BOSS raid. After learning some of the details, I couldn’t sleep, so I came to chat with the nun sisters at the church and to pray a bit.”

“Eh… the church nuns aren’t asleep this late either?”

“They seem to work in shifts, with different nuns on duty during the day and night. But I get along well with all of them. When I came here with my friend before, I already got to know them.”

How nice, to be able to become friends with NPC residents in the game. This was something she had never thought of before.

However, from what Miss Cross was saying…

She also knew some frontline raid players who would participate in the raid tomorrow with others, and she came out to clear her mind and pray because she felt anxious about it? That sounded somewhat similar to her own situation.

So, considering that the strategic plan had already been announced to other players and was no longer confidential…

Susie spent a few minutes telling Cross about what had been bothering her tonight.

“So, even though I use a one-handed sword, which is a melee weapon, I can slash out ranged sword energy attacks, and I have skills with both physical and holy dual attributes. As the core DPS for the initial phase strategy, no one is more suitable than me.”

“But the Guildmaster hesitated repeatedly on this issue, even primarily wanting to rely on the Crimson Moon Princess’s power. I was just a backup plan. I’m not inferior to her in any way, so why can’t they give me more trust and support? Besides, argh… just thinking about the Crimson Moon Princess makes me angry. During the closed beta map raids, her figure was everywhere!”

“Even when I wanted to solo the Winter Ice Wolf King BOSS on the third floor, she had to come and interfere! And then she relied on her beautiful appearance, wearing sexy revealing clothes, showing off her beautiful legs, gaining a large group of fangirls. All the flowers and praise were possessed by her alone!”

This was unacceptable for someone with Susie’s competitive nature.

All the glory was taken by someone else. Being thoroughly defeated in the gaming field she considered herself good at, and even falling behind in female charm which she was very confident about, it was like having an arch-enemy!

She had barely managed to even the score in a PVP event, but fell just short.

What made it more infuriating wasn’t the Crimson Moon Princess’s dominance, but her nonchalant attitude, she didn’t even consider Susie as an opponent worth her attention. What was the meaning of that elegant and composed demeanor, that pretend-innocent expression?

“Ahaha… I-I can tell Miss Susie has quite an issue with that Crimson Moon Princess.”

It’s not just the difference in strength, but personality, appearance, and all other aspects seem to have been set up as competitive factors.

It really seems like they’re archenemies~

Cross looked at Susie’s tooth-grinding angry expression and quickly tried to laugh it off. Somehow, listening to her description, Cross couldn’t help feeling that the girl mentioned sounded somewhat similar to Tilia… S-surely not?

But she felt that in terms of female charm, Miss Susie was simply too competitive. Her appearance was definitely at the level of a beautiful, rich, and elegant young lady.

But even if she said so, this spirited young girl probably wouldn’t listen.

“A-actually, I also have a beautiful female friend,” Cross said, thinking of Tilia’s figure. “But, maybe because she’s my good friend? Even though she’s so beautiful, I like her even more.”

“Is that so? That’s enviable. Well, I’m also more tolerant and fond of girls… but that woman is the exception!”

Well, that failed. Cross had originally intended to use this to persuade and guide Susie toward becoming friends with the Crimson Moon Princess. But Miss Susie’s last sentence completely ruled out any such possibility.

“But, things have changed now,” Susie said, her brow gradually smoothing out.

“In this death game now, the once-dominant Crimson Moon Princess has vanished without a trace. Hmph, she’s probably hiding in some corner, too scared to show herself. Instead, a true hero has emerged — the Dark Night Swordsman Nolan.”

“That Nolan uses a one-handed sword just like me, which embodies the character and beliefs we have as swordsmen! He’s the pioneer of swordsmen!”

As Susie said this, light seemed to sparkle in her eyes.

Oh my… Nolan has indeed become something of an idol figure, which isn’t surprising.

Although this statement applied to Cross herself as well, and she also admired Nolan deeply, it now seemed that the inheritance of that courageous spirit had gradually surpassed his actual existence and become a symbol.

If Susie’s words earlier showed that she practically hated the Crimson Moon Princess…

Then now it was almost a complete shift to the opposite extreme. Her light, graceful, yet passionate tone revealed her reverence for the Dark Night Swordsman.

“Thank you, Miss Cross. I feel much better now.”

“Eh? I-I don’t think I did anything…”

“No, just the fact that you were willing to listen to my complaints is enough. That’s right, I understand now, this is my chance to completely defeat the Crimson Moon Princess. I will prove myself with my sword, just like the Dark Night Swordsman Nolan!”

Though unsure what had happened, it seemed Miss Susie had somehow found her resolve as she spoke, her gaze becoming increasingly determined, quickly rediscovering her original purpose.

From what Cross heard, Miss Susie’s assigned role in the Iris Knights was quite crucial and dangerous. Cross quietly expressed her concern and worry, praying that everything would go smoothly tomorrow.

After all, Tilia had mentioned something similar.

She was supposed to be in the first attack position to intercept the BOSS… which would definitely be very dangerous.

“Don’t worry, Miss Cross. I’ll protect you all tomorrow! You, and your beautiful friend!” Susie suddenly stood up.

“Yes! Good luck, Miss Susie. We’ll do our best too!”

Cross gripped her magic staff tightly, showing a joyful and cute smile. Her slender legs sitting on the chair came together, and the little white pompom on her magic hat bounced adorably in the air as she nodded.

After that, they added each other as friends and became acquainted.

— And so, at this moment.

On the night when the World BOSS was 2 hours away from reaching the town.

At the moment when dozens of player guilds had taken their positions, and all the town’s residents were eagerly waiting outside the city.

“Huff…” The Holy Sword Maiden wearing a pure white cloak took a deep breath. Her neatly tied high ponytail fluttered in the snow and wind. Holding the pure white sword sheath at her waist, she stepped forward with her long white legs beneath her skirt, standing alone on the snowy plain.

— In front of this World BOSS, the Ice Crystal Colossus Golem.