episode_0031

Christmas, white snow falls from the sky and frost forms on the roofs.

Children make snowmen with the piled-up snow on the ground and engage in snowball fights.

In homes, Christmas trees are decorated, stockings are hung over the fireplace, and houses are adorned.

Today was meant to be a harmonious day spent with family, listening to the crackling sound of logs burning in the fireplace.

But through the gates, demons are attacking.

The screams of people can be heard, and the snow on the ground starts to turn red with blood.

Even though it’s a small city with a low population, it is still a city.

Due to people coming out early to start their work since dawn, the streets have turned chaotic.

“What about the city walls? What happened to the guards?”

Although it’s a small city, it is very close to the mainland.

Demons are more active on the mainland, so there should always be guards posted.

Due to occasional demon incursions, there are always personnel stationed on the city walls.

Despite the aging city walls being somewhat fragile, there has never been a breach by demons.

Especially now in winter, with scarce wildlife, sourcing food here is truly challenging.

Our city, however, has made preparations well before winter and continues to trade, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

But with the accumulated snow and limited food supplies, various constraints will arise due to the demons.

No matter how much power they possess, ultimately, they are just creatures.

Suddenly, attacking the city?

There’s no time for this now.

People are getting hurt.

“First, we need to save the people…!”

The unique magic of the family, learned through various experiments since childhood.

By using blood magic capable of controlling vampires, lives can be saved.

However, blood magic is too potent and difficult to control.

What if I can’t handle it properly and end up hurting others?

Or worse, what if I die?

Will I be left all alone again?

No, there’s no time for such thoughts.

Whatever happens, we must save them first.

I bite my fingertip, creating a small wound.

A red liquid flows from the torn wound.

Extending the bleeding hand forward, I awaken something within me.

Something unpleasantly writhing inside me.

I don’t want to rely on it, but I have no choice if I want to save lives.

I focus my mind and regulate my breathing.

As a result, my body begins to transform, turning as white as snow falling from the sky.

My nails and teeth grow longer and sharper.

Subsequently, my once black eyes are now tinged with blood, like crimson jewels.

A slight dizziness and nausea wash over me.

But it’s okay. All preparations have been made.

I draw upon my mana, preparing the magic.

No, it’s more appropriate to call it a power.

Something diverging from the usual path of magic.

The blood and mana flowing from the wound begin to rise into the air instead of falling to the ground.

Soon, my blood and mana intertwine, forming a red spear.

The red spear, pulsating with an eerie energy, splits into several parts and swiftly shoots towards the demons targeting the people.

-Shwook!

-Bang!

With a dreadful sound, the red spear pierces through the bodies of the demons.

The demons impaled by the red spear disintegrate into dust.

The demons keep advancing towards the city.

The knights have yet to arrive.

Since there are few who know magic in this city, I am the only one who can stop these demons.

I continue to kill the demons, one after another.

Piercing with the spear, smashing, crushing, tearing apart, draining blood to create mirages, killing repeatedly in an endless cycle.

-Screams!

Intermittently, whether it was the sound of monsters or people.

Pleasant sounds began to be heard.

Everything that entered the city were just beings who had lost their reason and were rampaging.

However, there were still too many things that needed to be killed in order to protect the headmaster and the siblings.

Come to think of it, it makes me angry.

Why are they ruining my family’s day?

Why won’t they leave me alone for a moment?

I just wanted to become ordinary.

The world does not leave me alone.

Ah, perhaps it’s because of the blood I’ve consumed after so long. I momentarily became excited.

Unlike other vampires, being a hybrid, my blood-sucking impulses are not as strong, so I usually manage to restrain myself.

“I have to stay strong for my siblings.”

I continued to kill something.

It has been a long time since any hesitation remained in the act of killing.

Those threatening my family, I killed them all.

While doing so, a sweet smell began to spread around.

Ah, how many years has it been since I smelled this blood scent?

A scent this sweet is truly rare.

Monster blood was bitter and unpleasant, but the air was filled with a sweet smell.

My mood improved and I started getting more excited.

Is it because of the smell that I can’t resist it anymore?

In an excited state, I brought the sweet juice on my palm to my tongue.

“Ah~. How sweet.”

Truly uplifting sweetness-.

Wait, something is off.

A sweet fragrance?

Something is wrong.

When I came back to my senses, the surroundings were already stained with blood.

It wasn’t monsters but something else bursting.

Human body parts were scattered around, eyes that were once piled up now soaked in blood.

The ground was drenched in blood, and blood was trickling down the cheeks.

“Ugh! ..Wha, what is… this…”

A mountain of corpses.

Yes. It was a mountain made of corpses.

“What… what have I done… Ugh….”

Perhaps due to the bloodsucking after a long time, I momentarily lost my sanity.

Looking around, it seemed like the monsters no longer existed.

But I had killed a person.

I killed a person.

To the half-vampire who wanted to become human, to become…

That day, like today, it was snowing.

The snow only brought nightmares to me.

I ran and ran to escape reality.

To where the orphanage was.

Shoes off, coat flying away.

I ran and ran.

To where the headmaster was, where the siblings were waiting.

When I arrived home, I could only despair.

The door was broken, the surroundings stained with blood.

“Haa, haa.”

Calming my trembling heart, I crossed the broken door into the interior.

-Creak, creak, creak

Due to the wooden floor, a continuous unpleasant sound echoed.

With each step, a sound that imprisoned me.

Please, please.

Praying for everyone’s safety, I moved forward.

The living room I arrived at was already in ruins, with cold wind blowing in through the broken windows.

It seemed like the fire in the stove had gone out, making the inside very cold.

Blood was splattered all over the living room, making it hard to distinguish if it was monster blood or human blood.

There was no sweet smell, only a metallic scent in the air.

I moved forward.

I couldn’t think of anything else but moving forward.

No, I probably didn’t want to do this.

The place I arrived at was the room where children slept.

With trembling hands, I opened the locked door and entered.

-Creak

The door slid open.

I was afraid to look beyond the door.

Afraid to be alone.

Afraid that the children and the headmaster might be lying there cold.

Afraid of losing and being left alone.

Did I ask for too much as a half-vampire who wanted to become human?

Vampires are disgusting, and I am disgusted with myself.

I want to be human. I wanted to be born as an ordinary person.

Raising my head with determination, I looked ahead.

Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness.

Fortunately, both my younger siblings and the headmaster were alive.

The children were unharmed.

Seemingly relieved that the crisis had ended, they slept huddled together.

However, the headmaster appeared to be injured.

There seemed to be internal bleeding in his abdomen as he clutched his bleeding stomach.

“Headmaster!”

“Child, you’ve come…? What’s wrong with your face? Are you hurt anywhere? And why are you dressed like that? Aren’t you cold?”

“Headmaster… Please don’t speak… What in the world happened…?”

“I dealt with the demon. Even though I may look like this now, I used to be a renowned sorcerer in my prime, didn’t I?”

“…Sniff, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Truly sorry. Oh, Headmaster, I’ve committed unforgivable acts. I’m sorry…”

Tears that hadn’t shown themselves since that day began to flow endlessly.

What could these tears possibly signify?

Tears for failing to protect the headmaster?

Or tears of guilt for committing murder?

“Child, don’t cry… Making mistakes is part of being human. The key is to correct them.”

“Sniff… B-but… I can’t fix this… I’ve committed such a grave sin. Someone like me… Someone like me shouldn’t have been born.”

“No one should never have been born into this world. You are more precious than anyone else.”

“Headmaster…”

Am I truly allowed to live?

Is it permissible to live despite committing unforgivable sins?

“Luna, no… My daughter. Take this. I understand your situation. For now, leave this place.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

Knitting her brows, she handed me a blood-stained envelope and a bundle of money.

“This is a recommendation letter.”

“A… recommendation letter?”

“A letter for admission to the academy. With this, you can easily enroll based on your abilities.”

“What are you saying… Leave my mom and siblings behind and go where..”

An academy recommendation letter?

And leave this place?

What are you saying, Mom?

I don’t want to be alone.

I want to be with my family.

“Daughter, staying here could become dangerous. So, please go. Our beloved daughter.”

Mom, I don’t want to leave.

Being alone again is lonely and scary.

“It will be tough, but you must endure. You have to leave this place to survive. Somehow, you must stay alive. Then, someone will come to rescue you.”

“I love you. Our dear daughter,” she said, gently caressing my bloodstained face.

Despite my inadequacies, my inability to control my strength, hurting my mother, frightening the children.

Why does my mother still love me?

I hugged my mother once and then left the house, running.

Past pools of blood, past mountains of corpses.

I left the village.

It was a snowy day.

As time passed, the accumulated snow melted, flowers bloomed, and leaves sprouted on branches.

The sun and moon passed by tens, hundreds of times.

Two years went by.

When I turned 17 after those two years, I entered the academy.