Codename Vestia

Chapter 29

“Leave.”

Gamal spoke suddenly.

Ivan wasn’t surprised. The “others” never let anyone stay close to them. Perhaps because it was a world where even surviving alone was difficult, they were utterly individualistic. At least, Gamal wasn’t selfish, but most of the others were.

It was more surprising that she had allowed him to stay by her side for half a month.

Without hesitation, Ivan packed his belongings and stood up.

“Take care.”

Gamal extended a pocket toward him.

“Here.”

When he took it and looked inside, it was filled with flowers. It seemed as though she had given him everything she had.

Ivan asked, “Are you planning to die?”

“No. I won’t die.”

Her tone was resolute, as if there was no need to even consider the possibility.

“Because I’m not worthy of meeting Marti and Tawa.”

The names were unfamiliar, but he guessed from context that they were probably her parents.

Ivan looked at Gamal, who had a determined expression as if she had made a great decision, and asked abruptly, “Who’s chasing you?”

Gamal flinched.

He had figured as much a while ago. Gamal exhibited every behavior of someone on the run. However, she didn’t seem to be a criminal pursued by any country; when the presence passing through the forest was human or someone in official military uniform, she even appeared relieved.

So, it must be an individual chasing her.

“If you become my wife, I’ll protect you.”

It wasn’t because Gamal suddenly looked like a woman to him, but rather because this was the first “other” he could communicate with so well.

Gamal looked at Ivan. Her eyes were deep and dark, as though submerged in despair that had long ceased to feel despair itself.

“Then you’ll die.”

With that, Gamal turned away.

“Promise me. Don’t look for me. That person will find you. And then they’ll find me.”

“You’re living a tougher life than I expected. It would be easier if you just killed that person.”

“Taking a life is the work of God. When humans try to do God’s work, He delivers punishment.”

Ivan looked at the pocket of flowers.

“Haven’t you already been punished enough?”

After all, both of them had ended up in this miserable state.

In any case, she had refused his offer, and there was no reason to linger any longer. Ivan spoke and turned to leave.

“Good luck.”

Gamal instinctively opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. She stared at Ivan’s retreating back and finally asked, “What’s your name?”

Ivan turned around. Gamal wore a composed expression, but whether she realized it or not, she looked like an abandoned puppy.

“Alexandros.”

It was his real name, one he hadn’t shared with anyone in a long time, but for some reason, he felt it was fine to reveal it now.

Gamal stared into the air. She wasn’t certain, but she vaguely recalled there being a king with that name in the not-too-distant past…

She had little knowledge of the world’s news, as she constantly hid in uninhabited places to avoid Kunis. However, the memory of that king was unmistakable—his conquests were so thunderously widespread that forgetting him was impossible.

But as far as she knew, he had died young. Likely around the age of thirty.

Gamal looked at Ivan, who appeared to be in his early thirties.

Ah, I see.

He, too, had been cast aside, left behind from the life he once knew, the one he had considered a given. Just as she had been. Just as so many “others” had been.

“What about you?”

Ivan asked. Gamal turned and answered as she walked away.

“Gamal.”

Then, she disappeared beyond the thicket. Ivan chuckled faintly and turned away. For some reason, he felt they would meet again soon.

* * *

“This is the first time I’ve met Gamal,” Ivan concluded his story.

But no one spoke right away. The silence stretched until Ivan looked at Gamal and asked, “So you’ve been living on the island all this time?”

“That’s right. But no. I fell asleep in a cave. A typhoon woke me up.”

Ivan’s expression turned intrigued.

“That tone of yours hasn’t changed.”

“I’m better at Latin now. But modern languages are still tricky. By the way… is it true Kunis is in prison?”

“It’s true.”

Gamal fell silent for a moment before asking, “Was he hurt?”

Doyeong’s brow twitched ever so slightly. It was almost imperceptible, but Tora knew that gesture well—it was a subtle yet unmistakable sign of irritation.

The fact that Gamal dared to ask such a question clearly annoyed him.

“He lost both legs,” Rex answered in a detached, factual tone, devoid of any emotion.

“But considering the number of casualties caused by the Grand Duke while running his terrorist group, it’s hard to count them on two hands,” Rex added.

Gamal’s face clouded with guilt, as though she were personally responsible.

“I’ve heard what Kunis did,” she murmured.

Later, when Ivan met Kunis face-to-face, he immediately understood what kind of “bad dream” Gamal had been running from. After all, Kunis had the same face as Gamal.

And yet, his behavior couldn’t have been more despicable. It was impossible not to realize that this man was the source of Gamal’s PTSD.

Not that Ivan had to piece it together alone—Kunis had openly declared it himself.

“You’ve lived a long time, haven’t you? Then you wouldn’t happen to have seen a female vampire who looks just like me, would you? Her name’s Gamal.”

Ivan exhaled deeply.

“You disappearing didn’t make him any better. On the contrary, he only rampaged more, scouring everywhere to find you. In the process, he amassed followers and ended up becoming the leader of a terrorist organization.”

“I….”

Gamal stammered, struggling to speak.

“That wasn’t Marti’s fault.”

Tora interjected in an angry voice.

“Marti did the best she could at the time. Are you saying she should have just died back then?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m saying she should have been more proactive in seeking help instead of hiding.”

Doyeong, speaking in place of Ivan, sounded disdainful. Tora, who had been brimming with fury, suddenly seemed to accept it easily.

“That’s true.”

“She probably just wanted to avoid involving anyone else.”

When Doyeong spoke nonchalantly, Gamal looked at him with eyes full of gratitude for understanding her feelings.

“Doyeong.”

At that, everyone except Tora looked at Doyeong, then at Gamal, as if they had noticed something peculiar. Doyeong, sensing he had said too much, decided to change the subject.

“For now, it’s best to get some rest.”

Rex chimed in.

“I’ll prepare rooms for you.”

Yeonha was the first to stand and leave. Her movements carried an air of frustration, which left Gamal puzzled. Ivan sighed and followed her out.

From outside, snippets of their voices could be heard.

“It’s a story from before you met Rex.”

“I know.”

Yeonha said she understood, but her emotions didn’t seem to calm easily.

“But how many others have you said those things to? How many women…?”

“Gamal was the only one.”

Suddenly, Gamal grabbed Yeonha’s arm and said,

“Back then, Alex was lonely. That’s all.”

Yeonha turned to look at Gamal.

“He’s not Alex. He’s Ivan.”

Gamal smiled and nodded.

“Right. Ivan.”

Yeonha then shot Gamal a wary look, as if struck by a sudden thought.

“Then why are you using informal speech with me?”

Gamal blinked at Yeonha in confusion.

“I’m much older than you.”

“Still, it’s our first meeting….”

“Then you do it too.”

When Gamal said this, Yeonha seemed to take the suggestion eagerly.

“Fine, I will.”

Doyeong rolled his eyes.

“Idiots.”

As he turned to leave, Gamal called out to Yeonha and then hurriedly followed Doyeong.

“See you later.”

Yeonha watched her go and turned to Ivan with a suspicious look.

“Is that…?”

“Looks like it,” Ivan replied, sounding just as surprised. Yeonha couldn’t hide her shock as she stared in the direction Doyeong and Gamal had disappeared.

“What has the Major done?”

Meanwhile, Doyeong walked down the corridor and stepped out onto the deck. The sun was setting. Suddenly, Doyeong stopped and turned to look at Gamal intently, his expression devoid of his usual mischief.

“You should have married the Director. Then you wouldn’t have had to live on that island all this time.”

Gamal fidgeted with her fingers and murmured,

“Ivan was like Mars.”

Doyeong felt his temple throb as if a vein were about to burst.

That guy?

But then Gamal shook her head and added earnestly,

“But he’s not my type.”

Doyeong crossed his arms and leaned against the wall with a smirk.

“Then what’s your type?”

The wind tousled her hair, still damp and air-dried from a shower, and made her clothes ripple like waves. The setting sun painted the horizon in deep hues, its light intensifying the strange gleam in Doyeong’s grayish-blue eyes, which seemed even darker now.

It was peculiar. Doyeong was human, inherently weaker than a vampire, yet not once did Gamal think of him as less formidable. On the contrary, he gave off an odd sense of invincibility, as though death couldn’t touch him.

Even though she knew how futile such faith could be, she couldn’t help but believe in Doyeong, overwhelmed by the sheer vitality he exuded.

Besides, he was handsome.

Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she appreciated a good-looking face. She felt a twinge of guilt toward Rantu and Adawi but thought perhaps her lack of attraction to them had a reason after all.

To be fair, if it was just about looks, no one could rival the almost surreal beauty of Rex or Ivan, whose features seemed chiseled from ice. But that kind of cold, statue-like beauty didn’t stir her heart.

“There’s something about it,” Gamal murmured.

Doyeong let out a long sigh and unfolded his arms.

“I’m tired. Let’s just sleep.”

He turned and walked off. But as he approached the room he’d been assigned, he noticed Gamal still following him. He stopped, turned, and asked,

“Why are you following me?”

“You said let’s sleep.”

“So?”

Gamal pointed at him, then herself, and said, “Let’s sleep together.”

As he had feared, she seemed to be thinking of sharing a space just like they had on the island. Doyeong, incredulous, replied,

“That’s not happening here.”

“Why not?”

Gamal asked with genuine confusion. Doyeong sighed.

“I’m a man, and you’re a woman.”

Gamal tilted her head. “Weren’t you before?”

“This is the civilized world.”

Only then did Gamal realize that sleeping together wasn’t an option. Her face turned sullen.

“I don’t care. I want to sleep with Doyeong.”

Doyeong gestured dismissively and turned on his heel, heading for her assigned room. Gamal obediently followed him, albeit reluctantly. When they reached a room, Doyeong gestured toward it.

“Go in.”

Gamal entered as instructed.

“Here?”

“Yeah.”

Doyeong remained outside and pressed the close button on the door panel.

“Good night,” he said before turning to leave.

As expected, Gamal didn’t know how to open the door. Moments later, he heard loud thuds from across the hall as she banged on the door.

“Open up!”
As Doyeong walked to his assigned room, the sound of banging echoed faintly from afar. He ignored it and continued, reaching his room and beginning to take off his jacket—when a deafening bang reverberated through the ship.

Startled, Doyeong froze.

Immediately, an alarm blared.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

In the distance, a commotion erupted, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps rushing toward him.

Before he could process what was happening, his door burst open, and Gamal stormed in, throwing herself at him. The sheer force of her embrace sent Doyeong stumbling backward until his back hit the wall.

“You…!”

“I’m sleeping with you!”

Clinging to him like a lifeline, Gamal shouted her defiance.

Outside, curious crew members peered into the room, gawking at the scene. Their murmurs soon turned into hushed gossip.

It wouldn’t take until the end of the evening for the entire ship to hear about this.

Doyeong stood there, stunned, as one thought flashed through his mind.

‘Dear God in heaven.’

Now he understood why Tora had said, “It’s a pointless effort.”

This was exactly what it felt like: trying to handle a wildly uncontrollable, stubborn, and absurdly strong mad dog that followed no one’s rules but its own.