Chapter 57: I’m Shirara

The short doctor.

A panacea, curing all ailments.

That’s how people described Shirarai.

“This should be enough…”

I used the “Yoho’s Mischief” skill and disguised myself as a patient.

…The reason I’m doing this is to meet Shirarai.

If I knock on her door looking healthy, she’ll just tell me to come back later.

To meet this doctor, I have to pretend to be sick.

So, I’m going to visit the panacea and be healed.

“…Ugh…it hurts…”

…I look like I’m in a lot of pain.

Both my ankles are twisted, and my wrists are bent at unnatural angles.

A perfect image of a critical patient.

…But…

I’m not actually in pain.

It’s all an illusion…

A false image.

Yoho’s Mischief.

Again, it’s a skill that deceives others.

I can transform into any appearance I desire.

It’s a one-time use, but…

I can transform into any form, male or female, to play a perfect prank.

And the form I chose is this.

A critical patient with twisted ankles and wrists.

This is…my disguise.

“Isabel Pretending to Be Sick” Ver…

Now, the disguise is complete.

All that’s left is to knock on the door of that cabin.

Shirarai lives in a peculiar cabin on the outskirts of the village.

It’s not because she’s poor.

She’s lived for a thousand years, so she’s wealthy…

And probably has several hidden houses.

But the reason she’s here is to conduct experiments on living beings…

She’s hiding in this cabin, playing the role of a kind doctor.

…I’ll deceive her just like she deceives others.

With that in mind, I stood in front of the cabin.

“At this door…”

I smiled faintly and shouted,

“Owwwwww!”

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

She’ll definitely hear this…

I rolled around, pretending to be in pain.

Then…

The door creaked open.

“Owww! Doctor! Help me!”

A woman quietly stepped outside.

Pure white hair.

Heterochromia: one blue eye, one red eye.

Wearing a doctor’s outfit, a short girl stepped out.

She adjusted her round glasses with a serious expression and asked,

“…A-Are you alright? You seem to be in a lot of pain!”

“Owww, you’re Dr. Shirarai, right?! It really hurts!”

“How do you know my name?”

“Who in this village doesn’t know Dr. Shirarai!?”

You’d be a spy if you didn’t know Shirarai.

Especially this legal loli, legal…well, anyway…

The rumors of this thousand-year-old granny loli, this cute and beautiful girl, are widespread.

“Ah, we’ll talk later! Lean on my shoulder!”

“…How can I lean on those small shoulders?”

I thought that, but I rolled around even more.

“Owwww!”

“Oh dear…I’ll just drag you inside!”

W-What…?

Such strength from such a small body?

It’s not superhuman strength, but she’s managing to lift me.

Perhaps…

Her current form is just a disguise…

She might be able to exert the strength of an adult woman.

She can transform into a more beautiful woman, after all.

“There, let’s get you on the bed!”

Shirarai laid me on the bed and crossed her arms.

“…Hmm!”

Her signature sound.

Shirarai’s verbal tic.

A cute sound she makes when she reaches a conclusion.

It makes my heart race.

She was cute like this in “Lilith Tycoon” too…

“Your arms and legs are badly twisted! This is the best for this!”

Of course, they’re twisted.

She stated the obvious and took out a syringe from her pocket.

The syringe was filled with a red liquid.

And the bluish needle looked sharp and menacing.

“…Then, let’s begin the treatment. Once you get this shot, the anesthetic will kick in, and I’ll repair your entire body!”

No, I have to stop her here.

It’ll be dangerous if she continues.

I appear to have twisted ankles and wrists…

But in reality, I’m perfectly healthy.

So, if she tries to fix my limbs…

The disguise will be undone, and I’ll actually be in pain.

It’s time to get to the main point.

“This injection will sting a little!”

“Haha, just stop.”

I smiled and stood up, perfectly fine.

Shirarai’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You…! Are you alright?!”

“Hahaha! Yes, I’m perfectly fine!”

“…Th-This is…impossible…”

It must be impossible.

Twisted ankles and wrists.

But I’m fine because it’s just a transformation.

Like a Halloween corpse.

I smiled and deactivated the skill, revealing my true form.

“…N-No! I-Is this magic?”

“Hahaha, it’s a magic only known in the Eastern world. Amazing, isn’t it?”

“You…now I know who you are…You’re the Black Hound, the noble’s watchdog, right?”

Shirarai recognizes me…

…I’m so honored!

But there’s no need to show it.

I tipped my hat, folded my arms politely, and bowed.

“I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Isabel Leonhardt. People call me the Black Hound.”

“Why is the Guild Leader of the Black Doberman here…?”

Black Doberman.

I didn’t create that…

Seraphina established it and spread strange rumors.

“I’m honored you recognize me so accurately.”

“…What’s your business?”

“Hmm.”

It’s time for the main point.

My business.

The reason I came to see her.

I clasped my hands together and looked at her.

“Shirarai Erzebet. A monster who has lived for a thousand years…no, a vampire, right?”

I asked with a smile, getting straight to the point.

Shirarai looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“…Is there something wrong with your head?”

“Well…I’m perfectly fine.”

Shirarai sighed at my answer.

“Just leave…There’s no need for a healthy person to be here.”

“If I leave, you’ll be in trouble, Shirarai.”

“Why…?”

“…Because you’re a vampire. If I spread rumors…it’ll be dangerous for you.”

Shirarai chuckled softly, finding this situation absurd.

“Haha…This is ridiculous. I told you, I’m not a vampire.”

“…Shall I show you the proof?”

“What proof…?”

I pointed at the refrigerator.

“That refrigerator…and the liquid in that syringe…human blood, right?”

“Human blood…? That’s medical solution.”

“…”

Her nonchalant acting is impressive.

I smiled faintly and walked towards the refrigerator.

“W-Wait…where are you going!?”

“…Just testing something. I wanted to see what would happen if I mixed blood from different blood types…Isn’t that what you were doing?”

…I said that and opened the refrigerator.

If I open the refrigerator…

I’ll find the dismembered bodies of Shirarai’s victims, frozen…

And capsules filled with their blood, neatly organized.

…As expected.

Just as described in “Lilith Tycoon”…

A woman’s head was stored in the freezer, her eyes wide open.

“Oh my, oh my…I didn’t think it was real, but it really is stored like this.”

I looked at her, feigning surprise, with the refrigerator door still open.

Shirarai’s face darkened.

“…Dr. Shirarai?”

“…Sigh. Nothing ever goes right…nothing…”

Shirarai took off her glasses and chuckled softly.

She shook her head and murmured,

“…I should have just killed him…”

Shirarai put her glasses back on and walked to her desk.

She sat down and crossed her legs.

Despite her harsh words, was she intrigued by me?

She rested her chin on her hands and stared at me.

…An arrogant, villainous look.

[The villainous heroine, Shirarai Erzebet, has appeared before you!]

…Is the system finally notifying me?

“To think a lowly human…would recognize this great Vampire Count…Shirarai Erzebet…

…How…pathetic.”

She finished speaking, then put her hand to her forehead and shook her head.

…Whether in the game or in reality…

Her chuunibyou personality remains unchanged.

Calling herself “this great Vampire Count”…

She seems to be aware of her status as a noble vampire queen.

Seeing her childish behavior…I want to flick her forehead…

But it’s also kind of cute…

“…As expected of Lady Shirarai. It’s an honor to meet you…”

The key here is to play along.

I knelt on one knee, like a butler, and bowed my head.

“Greetings once again. I am the Black Hound, and I wish to serve you, Lady Shirarai.”

“Oh…? A lowly human like you serving me? That’s impossible…”

“…Are you doubting my abilities?”

“…”

Her silence means yes.

I defended myself to the silent Shirarai.

“I’ve already shown you…haven’t I already proven my abilities by deceiving the Vampire Queen?”

“Oh…? Are you talking back to me?”

Shirarai glared at me, resting her chin on her hand.

Knowing her personality, she might summon bats and attack me.

In that case, I can use the skill I received from Layla.

Emergency Escape.

I can use it when my life is in danger.

But that’s only for worst-case scenarios…

…She probably won’t attack me recklessly now.

Deceiving her is no small feat.

Even though the girl in front of me looks like a chuunibyou…

She is, as she said, a vampire.

A pure-blooded vampire, a candidate for the next Demon Lord.

She won’t be fooled by just any trick.

However…

If it’s the power of the Yoho Divine Being, Lunari Evergrace…

Playing a prank on this vampire is no problem.

So, by showing her that ability…

She must have realized that I have the power to oppose her.

“I’ll be useful to you in the future. I want to be of service to Your Majesty’s grand future.”

“Do you know what future I dream of?”

“…Well.”

I put my index finger to my lips.

“Even if I did, I can’t tell you, can I?”

“…You…I’ve heard you’re a shady character. You speak as if you know everything.”

Shirarai pondered for a moment, humming.

Then she stood up and murmured with a solemn expression,

“…You’re quite something for a human. But I can’t let you go. I’ll give you the honor of becoming a test subject for my new world.”

Oh, so that’s how it is…?

I calmly stood up and smiled.

“I don’t mind if you kill me…but I’ve informed my noble friends in the village.”

“What…?”

“That if I don’t come out of this cabin within two hours…it must be a vampire’s den.”

“Hmph…That’s a bluff.”

“…Shall we see if it’s a bluff?”

This is where it gets real.

If she still doesn’t care and tries to kill me…

I’ll have to escape.

All or nothing…

Please fall for it, Shirarai!

I waited for her answer, thinking that.

Shirarai sighed deeply and shook her head.

“…It must be a bluff.”

“…?”

I-Is she…

Is she going to kill me here?

Then, I have to activate the skill…

“However…”

“The fact that you deceived me and pretended to be a patient…means you must be a powerful mage. So I’ll use you…especially since you’re the infamous Black Hound.”

“…So…?”

Shirarai crossed her arms and smiled confidently.

“I’ll grant you a special honor…I’ll allow you to become my…pet. Consider yourself honored.”

“…”

“I’d rather be a s*ave.”

…Well, at least I’ve successfully made contact, so I should be satisfied.

Anyway…

This is how my encounter with Shirarai began.