Chapter 4 – Emergency

R​ead​ on Ka​tReadin​g​Caf​e

As the interior of the facility flashed red and an ear-splitting siren blared, even someone completely clueless could tell that things had gone to hell.

On top of that, for some unknown reason, dust was falling from the ceiling, making it feel as if the facility would collapse at any moment.

Yet, I didn’t really feel a sense of crisis.

I mean, there was no way I’d die just because of some explosion and a collapsing facility. At worst, I’d get a little scorched and feel some pain—that’d be about it.

…If only this weren’t an underground lab.

Recovering from injuries was one thing, but breaking through solid ground would be a different story.

I had no desire to meet my end by being buried alive, so I decided to grab whatever I could from the director’s office and get the hell out of here.

I didn’t know what was important, but I grabbed everything I could and wrapped it up in a makeshift bundle using a lab coat I found in the corner.

No idea if it would hold, but I could only hope. If it didn’t, well, that’d be unfortunate.

After checking that there were no breaches in my immediate surroundings, I stepped into the hallway—only to find that the steel blast doors had already begun sealing the facility.

For a brief moment, I regretted not leaving sooner, but there was no time for that now.

“You think a lousy metal door can stop me?”

I always wanted to say that. Sure, I might get buried underground if I messed up… but if I didn’t, it wouldn’t be a problem, right?

I had enough confidence in myself.

I could do it. If it was me, I could.

Stretching out my wings and steadying my stance, I took a deep breath, held the bundle tightly against my chest, and charged straight at the metal door.

The blast doors were thick as hell, but that wasn’t nearly enough to stop me.

Maybe if I were that cockroach monster, but otherwise? Not a chance.

With some effort, I smashed through every blast door in my path, using nothing but my own body.

My shoulders and arms ached a little, but the fact that I had rammed through solid steel at full speed and only ended up “a little sore” showed just how absurdly tough my body was.

I continued breaking through the facility without much trouble when—by pure coincidence—I passed by what looked like a cafeteria, the same place where I had slaughtered those wicked scientists.

I had no intention of stopping, but then…

I caught sight of her.

A female scientist, still collapsed in the corner.

There was no reason for me to take her with me. Even if she was innocent, she worked in this hellhole of a research facility—she was hardly a saint.

“Even if they have done nothing, if their heart is wicked, they are wicked.”

A phrase surfaced in my mind. I wasn’t sure who had said it, but it sounded familiar.

So, this must be your fate.

With that thought, I turned away—

And stopped.

Leaving her behind just didn’t sit right with me.

I promised I’d spare her. A vow is a vow.

I never thought I’d have to clean up after her like this, though.

“You, woman! Wake up!”

I was already busy escaping, so what the hell was I doing?

Still, I shook her awake.

A promise was a promise.

I didn’t know why, but I had this vague feeling that keeping it was the right thing to do.

“A… Ah… Huh?! W-WAAAH—”

She was about to start screaming again, so I clamped my hand over her mouth and quickly summarized the situation.

“The lab is about to self-destruct. Do you want to live?”

Live or die.

Her answer was just as brief.

“Please save me!!!”

Tch, what a hassle.

I told her to hold on tight, then slung her over my shoulder and shoved the bundle into her arms.

“Uh… U-Uh…?”

Now, the problem was—how the hell was I supposed to get out of here while carrying her?

Smashing through the doors like before wasn’t an option. She’d die from the impact.

But I also couldn’t just open each door manually or have her follow behind me.

I had no idea how much time was left, but if I did that, I’d definitely be too late.

I needed a way to escape quickly, even while carrying her.

Which meant… I needed some kind of tool.

Damn it. Should I just leave her behind? She was still an accomplice to this place.

Do I really need to save her?

As I was getting irritated over the lack of proper tools, I suddenly felt blood flowing from my hand—and before I knew it, a crimson rope was in my grasp.

Huh? When did I…?

I knew this wasn’t the time to be curious, but I couldn’t help examining it.

And then I realized—this rope was made from my own blood.

“Blood Manipulation…”

Vampires could naturally control their own blood, as well as unclaimed blood.

Even though I had no memories as a vampire, I was still a vampire in the end, huh?

I had no idea how I did it, just like I had no idea how I absorbed blood… but that didn’t matter right now.

I wrapped the woman and the bundle tightly in my blood rope, cocooning them together, then thought of a weapon to break through obstacles.

Oh… so this is how it feels?

I didn’t have any memories of being a vampire, but I could instinctively tell what to do.

A brief moment of fascination later, a weapon materialized in my grasp—

A massive lance.

It was covered in sharp, jagged spikes, with a spiraling blade coiling around it. It looked anything but normal.

And yet, somehow… it felt familiar.

…Why does this feel so nostalgic?

I stood there, lost in thought, until the shrill alarms snapped me back to reality.

I could ponder this later.

First, I needed to survive.

“Hey, woman. Try not to die.”

With those parting words, I aimed the lance forward and charged.

“There’s no better weapon than a spear for breaking through obstacles!”

I didn’t remember who had said it, but I wholeheartedly agreed.

“MMMPHHH!! MMRRGHHH!!!”

The woman screamed muffled protests, but I was already being as considerate as I could.

I made sure she didn’t slam into anything, kept her from biting her tongue by gagging her, and even immobilized her neck so she wouldn’t snap it from whiplash.

If she didn’t like it, she should’ve been born tougher.

Or better yet, she shouldn’t have come here at all.

With that thought, I charged forward, my lance piercing through every steel door in my path.

Weapons really were better than bare fists.

Even in this dire situation, I had time to learn a valuable life lesson.

Humans need tools. Barehanded fighters are just monkeys.

Finally, I reached the elevator—the only exit.

I released the woman and asked, “How do you activate this?”

She fumbled for a key card and swiped it.

“…Huh?”

After several failed attempts, she slumped to the ground in despair.

“The lockdown protocol… We can’t get out.”

“So, it doesn’t work?”

“N-No… It’s over…”

If it won’t work, I’ll just force it open.

Without hesitation, I tore off the elevator doors.

No ceiling. Just open space.

Good.

“Hey, woman. What’s above us?”

“U-Uh… Nothing, I think…?”

Good. No need to slow down.

I tied her back up and positioned myself at the center of the shaft.

As I spread my wings wide, the researcher started struggling violently, probably realizing what I was about to do. But now wasn’t the time for that.

“Stay still unless you want your neck to snap.”

I had no idea how to use my wings.

It hadn’t even been thirty minutes since I got them.

But right now, I had to fly.

It wasn’t a matter of whether I could or not. I had to.

I could try wall-jumping, but why settle for that when I could fly?

Failure was not an option. It wasn’t even worth considering.

Besides—I’m a dragon and a magical girl, right? No way I can’t fly.

I bent my knees, channeling every ounce of strength into my legs, and leaped upward, flapping my wings with reckless abandon.

No technique. No control. Just raw, desperate flailing.

Yet somehow, I was rising.

Every beat of my wings scattered glowing crimson dust. It didn’t feel like proper flight, but it didn’t matter.

I was flying.

As I soared higher, a thunderous shockwave and deafening explosion erupted from below.

So it finally went off.

I briefly considered glancing down but decided against it. The air was thick with blood and shredded flesh, making it hard to see.

I didn’t need to.

I could feel the heat creeping closer.

Not yet.

Not yet.

…Almost.

The exit was in sight.

And so was the approaching inferno.

Instinctively, I recreated my lance and aimed it skyward. With one final burst of power, I flapped my wings as hard as I could.

BOOM!!!

The resulting blast was just as powerful as the explosion below.

The sealed elevator exit was blown open, soaring into the night sky.

The crisp night air and brilliant full moon were the first sights of the outside world I had seen since coming here.

For a brief moment, I was overwhelmed with relief and awe.

But only for a moment.

Because then, I remembered the raging inferno chasing me.

With a sharp turn, I veered away from the exit—just as a pillar of flames erupted from the opening.

Like fireworks celebrating my escape.