Sense of Kinship (2)

I put the magic herb into a small oval glass bottle and let it flow in waves. I frowned at the strong scent irritating my nose and lay down on the sofa.

[Didn’t you put in too much?]

“It doesn’t matter much since the difference isn’t big.”

I blinked with exhaustion and took a deep breath. Come to think of it, I did become low on blood.

It might be good to subtly ask the Director and find out the group’s location. Anyway, I need to kill time until the Behemoth combination formula falls into my hands.

I imagined its appearance for a moment. It would be big since it’s a monster.

I waved my fingers in the air. A red breeze followed my fingers, drawing a picture.

“Wing joints, two arms, two legs.”

Among the necro race, its form would be closer to a dragon. It has the shape of large wings extending along its arms.

And…

[Split purple skin with two horns, and prominent huge teeth are its distinctive features.]

I unconsciously drew the outline with red lines following Bloody’s words, then stopped.

“You know well. Even though it’s a necro race.”

Bloody also flinched. A moment of silence fell.

[D-don’t misunderstand! It’s natural for a Spirit Realm princess to be knowledgeable! I certainly haven’t been involved with them!]

“I didn’t say anything.”

It’s strange that you, who makes a fuss when killing people, are saying this.

[I’m telling you this so you won’t misunderstand. The princess is purity itself!]

I nodded vaguely and waved my hand. The red outline distorted and scattered.

Anyway, thanks to the materials harvested from the necromancer group, the plan is progressing.

I raised both hands to grab the crown on my head. As I lowered it onto my knees, a reddish tinge appeared.

There are three more stages. When the crown is finally dyed completely red, and all the blood in my body becomes even darker, I will finally become a vampire.

With rapidly depleting regeneration as nourishment, the heart falls into an oversaturated state. The transformed heart releases all its contained magical power, contaminating all life around it.

Everyone except me, or perhaps even including me, will be groaning in pain. I face Erica.

That sight would be so brilliant it might blind me.

“Hihi…”

[Are you alright? You should have taken your medicine for today.]

“I’m fi, ne.”

I closed my eyes as my mind blurred.

[Don’t you plan to go out today?]

“I need to go… But more importantly, who are you to decide such things…”

[You seemed to be in a good mood when you went to work, so I thought…]

The air fluttered with wing beats. I turned my head in that state.

[Also, that girl…]

“Erica?”

[Yes. Your expression seems to improve when you’re with her. The same goes for that girl.]

Suddenly, anxiety set in.

Erica’s interest in my sickly body has been increasing day by day.

Not only that. The occasional smile she shows is… pretty…

Get a grip.

The time has come to do whatever it takes for the goal.

Should I distance myself for a while?

Anyway, since Erica’s daily routine is going to work at the Association, if I don’t go, we won’t meet. In the midst of such days, if I commit acts of terrorism, she will have no choice but to raise her sword against me.

During the period of not meeting, our relationship will be rebuilt. As conversations decrease and we don’t see each other’s faces, we will realize each other’s positions.

Suddenly, I intensely felt the texture of the sofa through my skin.

But my home was discovered. Don’t I have nowhere to run?

It’s not running away, no, it’s not running away.

Come to think of it, I don’t need to worry particularly. After all, this house I modified has one more basement for research.

If I hide there…

Stupid.

Do you think Erica won’t find you just because you hide?

Now that she’s already come to your home, she could subdue you after searching under the pretext of arresting an awakened one who’s wanted.

It’s thrilling. I want to experience it.

“Hi, hihik. Hiuk.”

I’m crazy.

This isn’t love. It’s just filled with desire punctuated by pleasure.

I got up and looked around. After Erica helped with cleaning, much time had passed, and it had become a mess again. Books and clothes rolling on the floor. Dishes. Utensils.

When does she come to our house in the first place? Is that possible when the extent to which we think about each other crosses a certain point?

When we think our relationship has become deep enough, stuck together enough to share each other’s resting places.

In that sense, what about my relationship with her? Is it the kind that can be defined in clear words?

I couldn’t think of it lightly. That’s because I had long forgotten what emotions were. Because I’m so stupid that I can’t understand people’s glances, people’s touches, even the signs someone sends.

I opened my eyes again. Anyway, if this is the conclusion I’ve squeezed out, I should try implementing it.

After a quick wash, I left the house.

On the way to the Association, I suddenly heard noise. A familiar gunpowder smell tickled my nose.

A desolate street with no people. After several terrorist attacks and the Spirit Realm incident, people increasingly stopped appearing outside.

Perhaps because of that, my gaze was drawn to one place.

“Aaaargh!”

It didn’t take long before an agonized scream was heard from over there.

A man wearing a strange device on his face was staggering down the street, flailing.

His barely visible eyes seemed filled with terror.

I tilted my head.

“That must hurt.”

[Of course it hurts! Go help him!]

“He seems already dead though.”

Under the blazing sunlight, the man seemed to groan from the heat of the attached device, then after a short death rattle, he collapsed on the spot.

[He died…]

Is the princess quick to accept things too? Her dejected appearance seemed quite different from her fuss just before.

“Death is common for the necro race, isn’t it? Aren’t you used to it too?”

[How many times do I have to tell you I’ve never been involved with them! I’m really going to get angry!]

“Okay, okay.”

I approached and took out my knife. I thought I should at least collect blood since he’s already dead.

There was an explosion.

As I raised my head, I saw a thin, long missile coming straight down from the sky. I could also see a human figure on top.

“Kyaaaa!”

I took two steps to the side. Matching the scream I heard, I slashed the knife vertically. A line extended and the missile disintegrated.

The girl lost her balance and flailed in the air. Her green hair fluttered. The ground was getting closer.

“Ack! Ugh! Aack!”

“Fighting!”

Watching her faceplant on the ground and roll around, I put the knife back in my pocket. While my hand was in my pocket, I rummaged further and found a few red cubes.

Unfortunately, I don’t have anything like a cheering stick.

“Ow… Ack.”

After groaning a few more times, Jekyll touched her head as if in pain, then saw me and slightly bowed her head.

“Nice to meet you. We meet again.”

“Indeed!”

I twisted a lock of hair on the side. Her expression seems fine. Doesn’t it hurt?

After a moment of silence, Jekyll’s lower eyes and lips twitched. Her arms trembled.

“You don’t have to hold back the pain.”

“No, it’s fine. The strong should be able to endure this much.”

I smiled slightly. Still, if she wants to do that, I have no intention of stopping her.

Naturally, Jekyll’s gaze went to my knife and then to the man.

“Ah… he’s dead.”

The device attached to the man’s face made beeping noises. Jekyll took out a key, inserted it into the hole of the smoking device, and turned it.

“Is this Jekyll’s work?”

“Yes. He said he wanted to raise his magic stat. Hihi. I fitted him with an amplification device, but it seems he couldn’t withstand it.”

The device opened.

“When I explained about the device, he suddenly resisted, so I severed his tendons and forcibly put it on him. I didn’t know that would be his last…”

“Huk! That’s bad!”

“I-is it?”

“If you do bad things, you get punished.”

I nodded my head vigorously on purpose. In my case, if I do such things, my body gets pierced by Erica’s sword.

That would feel good.

“But it couldn’t be helped. He said he wanted to devour the metropolitan area, so I just gave him the power to match that.”

“Bad girl.”

I pointed my finger on purpose.

“Heh. You’re right in a way. I’m glad you say so, Aureli.”

“Oh…?”

Jekyll threw the device into the air. For a moment, the device flashed and exploded. Fragments flew everywhere.

“I’m aware of it myself. I accepted it at once.”

Her green eyes shone elegantly. I smiled slightly.

“I hope we can meet again. Where can I find you, Aureli?”

“Are you asking even though you know?”

“Hehe.”

I twisted a lock of hair on the side.

Should I subtly mention this to the Director?

“See you next time.”

Watching Jekyll move away with a fluttering smile, I lowered my gaze again. Anyway, let’s finish the blood extraction process.

I was about to strike near the heart with my knife. Just then, a voice was heard from afar.

“You crazy bitch! Did you kill someone again?”

I hurriedly hid the knife.

I tidied my hair while watching Erica approach. My hand was shaking, so it got messy. I smoothed my clothes. Sweat suddenly increased, making the fabric start to get wet.

A familiar scent wafted. I opened my mouth.

“M-misunderstanding. Erica. I didn’t kill him. Look.”

Avoiding her drowsy eyes, I pointed at the fallen man. He had long stopped breathing, and there were traces of burns on his face and mouth.

Around his neck was a ring-shaped device that Jekyll had forgotten to collect.

A moment of silence passed. I was about to make an excuse but closed my mouth.

Didn’t you decide to keep your distance? Are you trying to have a conversation while floundering in love again?

“Magic engineering…”

Erica muttered softly after looking at the device attached to the man, then grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.

“Did you do this?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

“Don’t know.”

“You really don’t know?”

I closed my mouth. Then I gently pushed away Erica’s hand.

Erica showed a perplexed look.

“…When did you see this?”

“……”

“You’re not answering?”

“…Just now.”

Erica let out a frustrated sigh, seemingly annoyed.

“I’ll contact the Association for now… You remember the characteristics and report on the corpse’s condition.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“What? No, I know you didn’t do it. You wouldn’t have killed him in the first place, you would have taken me hostage.”

“…Don’t know.”

Silence fell.

Erica turned her head to me again. I slightly averted my eyes.

As I stepped back, she approached. When her hand tried to touch my cheek, I widened the distance again.

An indescribable atmosphere flowed.

Cold sweat broke out.