Daylight (8)

The aftermath of turning the barren floor into a lifeless red swamp was more bearable than expected.

Like a powerless child, I sat down on the floor and lowered my head. I stayed like that, silently, until the sense of helplessness soaking my body flew away.

My throat is dry. At times like this, an Americano would be perfect.

Cutting off my thoughts and opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was not the gray restraining suit, but a pitch-black gothic lolita dress.

As I stood up, my body felt light. The mark where the blade had pierced my abdomen had long since disappeared.

Letting out a small sigh, I swung my arm to gather the red blood scattered on the ground and walls, condensing it into small cube pieces.

Blood with 70% assimilation rate from ten corpses.

A small crown appeared again, and next to it, one sentence was engraved.

The glowing letters crumpled as if folding in the air, decomposed into dust and disappeared, and the floating red cube pieces dyed the white crown pale red.

Now that magic power has been imbued, I can hold the crown.

It’s small and cute.

Can I wear it?

As if comforting me who had been wearing only a coat outside for several weeks, the small crown I firmly grasped in my hand settled safely on my head.

It fixed naturally but feels light. It’s as if nothing is placed on my head.

Like an accessory, you might say.

I turned around like that once, and gave a small smile to Erica who was looking at me.

“How is it?”

Pretty, right?

“…..”

She said nothing. Still glaring at me.

Now, how should I put it, I only feel like I want to forcibly change that expression.

“No matter how you look at me, I did nothing wrong. The restraining suit being torn, it all melting away, it’s not because of me.”

Saying that, I gestured to the girl hiding in a corner of this vast plaza, watching me.

She opened her eyes wide and flinched once, then approached me hesitantly, repeatedly saying sorry.

Perhaps due to the aftermath of the battle, there were marks where the device on her neck had broken. And just like that, I grabbed her neck and lifted her into the air.

“The problem is that this girl was hiding a knife. A powerful knife strong enough to tear this restraining suit, right?”

“Kuk, kuhuk. Ugh!”

The magic power this criminal group was researching seemed to be of that kind. Not breaking down the structure of builds when attacking, but completely erasing them from space to the point where they couldn’t exist, that level of effect.

Of course, that would have been enough to damage the restraining suit directly made by the Magic Administration.

“Let… Let go right now!”

I smiled slightly.

“Originally, I was going to intentionally get it torn by the claws of the monsters inhabiting the third floor of this building, but I didn’t know there would be a much simpler method!”

Erica held her sword and infused it with magic power. The surrounding air currents shook and the ground trembled.

I let go of the girl who was constantly gasping for breath and choking for a moment, slowly stood her up and put a knife to her neck.

And whispered softly.

“From now on, beg me to save you.”

“P-Please save me….. Pl-Please, save me…..”

Erica ground her teeth and stopped in her place.

That was fortunate. I was worried what if she didn’t value life.

“If you move rashly now, I wonder who will be in danger.”

“…Let her go.”

“Me? Why? Is there any reason I should obediently listen to you? When I don’t have the restraining suit?”

I’ve obtained blood reaching 70% assimilation rate and completed the first goal. Thanks to this group being quite large, I was able to gather reserves too.

The second goal, which seemed to start with the number 2, was also slowly beginning to glow, showing signs of opening tonight.

Therefore, for me who had secured the basics, there was only one thing I needed now.

“S-Save, hic, hiuk, ugh.”

As I slowly inserted the blade into the girl’s neck, constant broken groans flowed out.

“Stop…. I said stop…!”

“You see, the restraining suit was too stifling. Actually, my irritation has risen to this point.”

Saying that, I put my hand next to my mouth.

“I was already at the point where even beheading this girl wouldn’t be enough, but I’ve calmed down a bit because I can have a pleasant conversation with you, you know?”

So it’s better not to provoke me.

Well, if you show a cute appearance, the situation might change.

Is it because of my relaxed demeanor? Surprisingly, Erica immediately dropped her sword and knelt down.

“…Please, let that child go.”

Oh my.

I didn’t expect her to go this far. Of course, given her personality, maybe it’s natural for her to do this much.

Is she the epitome of goodness?

“A child receiving your attention. I’m jealous.”

“…She’s an innocent child. She was just unluckily dragged into this group.”

Ah, come to think of it, that’s right.

Erica has a younger sister.

“Well? What should I do?”

“…..”

Silence fell for a moment.

As before, hostages are really convenient.

During the mass slaughter era, during the pre-Gate times, and even now.

I can get most of what I want in my hands.

Therefore, what I want now tickled the inside of my body.

“Erica.”

“…Yes.”

“Shall we make a deal with this hostage?”

“…What is it?”

She’s unusually compliant. Well, it doesn’t matter.

“What do you think my species is?”

Saying that, I pulled up one side of my lip to reveal protruding fangs.

“The origin is complicated, but to put it simply, it’s easier to think of it as a species rooted in vampires.”

Dhampir, actually not well known.

Most just think I’m a vampire because I handle blood.

“So sometimes, the urge to directly suck blood with these fangs boils up.”

An uneasy gaze was directed at me. I wanted to distort that face soon. Even the boiling sadism and impulse must be the instinct of this species.

Maybe it’s because it’s you.

I smiled slightly and opened my mouth.

“I want to suck your blood, Erica.”

Countless emotions flashed across her. Anxiety, tension, surprise, and doubt.

In a corner of the results of her 4 years of research on the Dhampir species, there was a brief record about this species directly revealing their fangs.

There was no meaning to be found in the act of piercing skin with sharp fangs.

It was natural. It’s not an act that gives pleasure, nor does it create a connection like servant and master between the species that sucks blood and the species that has blood sucked.

However, for Dhampirs possessing magic power, it’s said to give a slightly different effect.

“…Alright.”

Whether she trusted me, or believed in her regeneration stat of a different level.

At the end of my long, long explanation that it was safe, she quietly nodded.

“You’re not going to cling to me saying it feels good and beg me to suck more, are you?”

“…That will absolutely never happen, so wake up from your dream.”

With glaring eyes, she removed one layer of her uniform and revealed her shoulder.

The part above the collarbone. That is, the skin connecting the neck and shoulder.

“I didn’t expect you to comply so easily. Could this be your preference?”

“……”

If there’s a question,

It’s that she’s strangely following along too well.

It was different from the cold attitude she’s shown so far.

Because of one girl she just met? Is it a principle that if someone is going to die, she doesn’t mind suffering a small sacrifice herself?

Well, it didn’t matter.

Even if this act doesn’t bring me instinctual pleasure, I couldn’t help but salivate at the thought of freely taking the skin of the girl I’m deeply infatuated with.

Because I still had desires as a human.

“Excuse me.”

I temporarily bound the girl I was holding hostage with magic power, and slightly embraced Erica who was kneeling on the floor.

I could feel the stiffness of the crumpled uniform and her breath touching my face.

Smiling slightly, I opened my mouth.

And, I was about to pierce with my fangs.

If I hadn’t felt the magic power rising rapidly in that split second.

───Bang!

Consecutive explosion sounds rang out and rubble fell from the ceiling, then with a sudden dizzying pain, my body was pierced by a flashing sword.

I, who had been feeling pleasure at being so close to Erica without any distance, spat blood and flailed my arms wondering what was happening, but.

She, who had been embracing me until just a moment ago, was now forcibly holding the girl and running away.

“Urp, puhak!”

Impressive.

I almost said it out loud.

It might have been a split-second judgment. Did she think this was her chance, now that my body’s stats had dropped somewhat due to the after-effects of wearing the restraining suit?

Because a prolonged fight would be disadvantageous to her, did she decide to quickly inflict a fatal wound and at least save that girl?

But that won’t do.

It throws off my plan.

If I let you go like this, that’s what will happen.

Due to the aftermath of rolling around on battlefields for 4 years, I had become accustomed even to the pain of skin being crushed.

It was rather advantageous.

Still, I was going to be as gentle as possible with the blood-sucking act, worried that you might feel pain.

Now there’s no need for that anymore.

I reached out towards Erica and the girl who had already reached the door.

───Pung.

A slightly weaker, dull sound than the previous explosion rang out, and I quickly rushed towards them who were caught in the blast.

“Heurgh…!”

Did you forget that the magic power binding the girl was mine?

Even if you didn’t forget, you couldn’t have done anything.

When would you have time to undo all those techniques in this situation?

“Ugh…!”

She, glaring at me while fallen, was still beautiful.

“It’s your fault.”

With that, I grabbed Erica’s arm and pushed her against the wall,

Forcibly tore her clothes and pressed my teeth to her skin.

Feeling slight resistance and hair tickling my face.

With a squelch, as I felt the foreign sensation, the liquid flowing into my mouth began to warm my body.

“Hic, huuk…!”

Even her groans were cute.

This situation of tasting her while our bodies were pressed together was like an excessive play for me.

Her body occasionally twitching and the faint scent of skin stimulating my nose.

What do you mean it doesn’t give pleasure?

It’s only thrilling.

When I detached my teeth after unknowingly swallowing everything as the sweet and slightly bitter taste filled my mouth,

Her appearance, marked by a reddened face and pitiful breathing, aroused another desire.

“Y-You trash…!”

While listening to Erica’s abuse, I checked where my fangs had entered, and saw two small golden marks glowing.

I’ve accomplished the first plan.

Flowing my magic power into her body.

And the second plan will start from tomorrow.

I’ll have to keep taking action until she can handle and adapt to my magic power.

“Why, did it feel good?”

“…Shut that mouth.”

Watching you grab my collar and bite your lip, I smiled slightly.

Yes.

You must grow stronger while hating me.

To the point where you can destroy me on the day I become a complete vampire and cover the world in red.

To the point where you can brutally slaughter me, tear me to shreds, and make my form unrecognizable.

Justice triumphs and the radiant good person smiles.

The easily defeated villain is destroyed and the mixed being is rejected by life.

The beautiful world that I, who couldn’t find the light, wish for,

Is like that.