Transmigrated as a Ghost

"Now, what is it you want me to do? I assume that you are here to collect on the debt I owe you." Marcus said staring intently at Relia.

In contrast to Marcus' tense demeanor, she was completely relaxed and was eating grapes she had pulled out of her item box while laying down on the couch in the living room of the guest house they were in.

"Well, you are sort of right, and sort of wrong. I am here regarding your debt, but we do not need you to do anything right at this moment."

"What do you mean by that? If you aren't here to get me to do something for you, then why are you here right now?" Marcus said, his voice tinged with anger and frustration.

"I was getting there, no need to rush." Relia said, eating another grape from the bunch she was holding.

"My master figured that it would be inconvenient for you if we simply had you drop everything without warning. We want you at your best when you help us with what we need you for after all. Therefore, I have been sent to inform you to get your affairs in order and be ready in four months.

Well, it was supposed to be four months, but you were gone when I got here to originally tell you, so it is more like two and a half months now."

Marcus let out a sigh of relief to learn that he was not going to have to immediately do something for the vampires he owed. Currently his scythe was in no condition to be used and there were dozens of other issues he needed to deal with before feeling comfortable dancing to the whims of Relia and her master.

"I see, that is certainly generous of you." Marcus said sarcastically. "But if I only have two and a half months to prepare, could you at least tell me what it is you plan on having me do?"

"Sorry, but that is on a need-to-know basis. You'll find out the exact details of your mission when I bring you to see my master. She has been ever so interested in meeting you ever since you killed Vesairous."

Wincing, Marcus remembered his first encounter with a vampire. Ultimately, they came to blows and Marcus ended up killing him. Of course, this was what put him on the other vampire's radar.

"So that vampire's name was Vesairous. He was not a particularly pleasant individual. He had taken a whole town hostage and was slowly tormenting them as he drained the people of their blood. I'm glad that I put him down." Marcus said, watching Relia closely to gauge her reaction.

Unfortunately, she did not seem to really care much about Vesairous and did not give any sort of reaction. This left Marcus without any additional information on her nature or how she viewed her fellow vampire's actions.

'It is hard to get a read on her. She does not feel particularly evil like Vesairous did, but neither does she seem to be virtuous in any way. I can't figure out what she might do, and that makes her dangerous.' Marcus thought, staring at Relia warily.

"I will go as well. If you are going to be forced to help these vampires, then I will help you."

With a resolute and pleading expression, Lilia looked towards Marcus for his consent to accompany him on whatever sort of task the vampires would give him.

"Sure, you can come along if you want, the more manpower we can get the better." Relia said before Marcus had a chance to respond. She was perfectly fine getting another powerful asset for free.

Naturally Marcus was not going to allow Lilia to come with him into what was likely to be a very dangerous situation. He told her that she would not be coming with him under any circumstances.

"Anyway, what about your training with Ardea?" Marcus asked, wanting to change the subject.

"That is on hold for now. Around a week ago something urgent that she would not tell me about came up and she left me to practice on my own. After a couple of days working on my earth magic, I got a bit homesick and figured that I could train here as well as anywhere." Lilia said, putting an end to the subject Marcus wanted to distract her with.

She then tried again to convince him to take her along, but Marcus was adamant that she stay out of it.

"But I want to be of help to you. You've done so much for me and I want to do something to pay you back. What was the point of getting stronger if you still won't let me accompany you."

Lilia was incredibly obstante and Marcus could tell that she was not going to back down easily.

"Fine, there is something that I could use your help with soon, but not whatever I have to do for Relia and her master. I'll deal with the vampires on my own." Marcus said hoping to pacify Lilia.

She wanted to push him for more details on what he wanted her help with, but he glanced towards Relia and shook his head. He did not want her to know what he was going to be up to.

"Hm, I wonder what you mean when you said you would deal with us on your own. Did you forget that your foxy friend also made a deal with me as well? I fought pretty hard to stall that Cibor guy for the both of you. He tore me apart during our battle and I was sore for weeks afterward. So, I am expecting both of you to work hard to pay me back for that."

Grimacing, Marcus recalled the time Relia showed up and helped him and Lyra out with the former strongest Great Knight of Tralenstein. Up till this point he had been focusing on when she saved his life by giving him the mythic spirit gem. He had not exactly forgotten about the second time she had come to his rescue, but it was not at the forefront of his mind until she brought it up.

"You don't need Lyra, do you? I will take on whatever sort of job you wanted her to do." Marcus said, ready to put himself on the line for his closest friend.

"Sorry, but you can't take her burden as well. Plus, my master wants to meet her as well as you. I've already been by her home anyway and informed her to be prepared to go at the same time as you. We've got special jobs lined up for the two of you. And at least that means you will have a familiar face along with you." Relia said, rejecting Marcus' proposal.

She then pulled out an ornate golden flask that was etched with powerful magic enchantments and began drinking.

With his keen sight Marcus could tell that the liquid was bright red and viscous. Along with the distinct smell of iron there was no doubt that she was drinking blood.

"This isn't your house, so stop making yourself at home." Marcus said, his tone filled with irritation. "If you have already finished what you are here for, then go ahead and leave. I really don't want to have to deal with you any longer."

"Wow, is that anyway to treat someone that has saved your life twice." Relia said with a hurt expression on her face that was clearly exaggerated. "The sun is still shining down outside, and you want to send me out into it. How cruel can you be? Surely you must know that vampires turn to ash if exposed to sunlight."

"Yes, I am well aware of that fact. Though, you seemed to be perfectly fine earlier when you were fighting against Lilia. You were out in the sun for several minutes and did not seem to be affected by it."

"Ah, so you noticed that. Yes, I have a means of mitigating my weakness to the sun, but it is exhausting. I would prefer to wait until it is night. I will be sure to leave then, so just allow me to relax here for a few more hours." Relia said, taking another sip from her golden flask that contained blood.

However, Marcus was fed up with the Vampiress' presences, and wanted her gone immediately.

"I wonder if the power you use to prevent the light of the sun from burning you to ash works on light magic as well."

Holding up his right hand, Marcus pointed his index finger towards Relia and created a small glowing orb of light with his magic.

Immediately Relia's eyes went wide with terror, and she shot up from the couch she had been lounging on and hid behind it.

"Okay, I get it! I will go hide somewhere else until nighttime. Please stop pointing that at me. I really will die if you hit me with that."

Satisfied that he was able to get back at her a little, Marcus flicked his finger and dispelled the light magic he had been aiming at Relia.

Once the threat of being blasted was gone, the frightened Vampiress rose up from behind the couch and gave Marcus a genuinely aggrieved expression.

"Alight, I have given you your notice, so make sure that you are ready to leave within two and a half months. Don't even think about crossing us, it will not end well for you." Relia said intimidatingly.

Though, her attempt at being menacing lost its effect when she cowered behind a nearby chair when Marcus raised his hand in her direction.

After that she did not try to get in any last words and simply turned into a shadow and left the building.