Chapter 95: Reflections on the Past

In a world steeped in tragedy called Mythologia, I was born a Vampire Princess. More specifically, I was born possessing the Scripture of a True Ancestor—a rarity manifested in only one member of my clan every few generations.

It was a gift that doubled as a curse, one that ultimately drove me into a life of isolation.

Vampires.

We are a race little different from monsters, feeding primarily on the blood of other species. We wield powerful magic and abilities, but in exchange, we are a cursed lot, unable to survive without depending on others. Yet I, endowed with the power of a True Ancestor, had no need for such dependency. I lived my life as an object of worship, an outcast, and a foreign entity.

The mother who gave birth to me had said, “You are the one chosen by God.”

The father who raised me had said, “You are the pillar who shall support the vampire race.”

I was never permitted the luxury of friends among my own kind. I was expected to be a paragon of strength at all times, living a life utterly devoid of freedom. I was kept in solitary existence for the sole purpose of opposing the Demon King, who sought to rule the world and subjugate its very myths.

Above all, I was constantly feared. I was perpetually exposed to gazes that treated me like some alien creature.

That was the memory of my childhood, and my beginning. This is the record of the early years of the vampire known as Laura Dracula.

“...La... Lau... Laura!”

A voice called out to me. It sounded desperate, almost as if the speaker were clinging to me, on the verge of tears.

My body was shaken, and as I drifted awake from a light slumber, I found Reima’s face inches from mine. He looked anxious from the bottom of his soul.

“...Mm. What is it, Reima?”

“You’re finally awake? You suddenly collapsed... You’re clearly not yourself.”

He attempted to sound composed, but his voice trembled. He was obviously shaken. Since he had no reason to lie about me losing consciousness, I had to accept it as fact. I found myself at a loss for words, regretful for making him worry and for dragging him into the seizures that had plagued me recently.

“...My apologies, Reima. I don’t know the cause either.”

“That’s a lie. You’re doing that thing with your right hand again.”

“............Show some tact and ignore it.”

“I can’t. Tell me what happened. For you to collapse like that, it has to be serious.”

He poked right where it hurt.

Lufel had pointed it out as well—apparently, I had a habit of covering my right hand whenever I was being deceptive. I had forgotten all about it, but this man, through our long association, remembered it perfectly.

I really wished his intuition wasn't quite so sharp at times like this, but since it seemed impossible to lie my way out, I decided to confess.

“Lately, the erosion from the Scripture has been intense. Perhaps as a result of overusing it, my race is beginning to shift... The increased sleep is just a reaction to that.”

“‘Just’ a reaction? That sounds like a huge deal—wait, is it because I gave you my blood?”

“Reima, I used that power of my own volition. Don't let it concern you.”

“...No, but still.”

“It’s fine. Don't worry about it. This is something I’ve accepted; I am resigned to the change in my race. Besides, I have no desire to cause you any trouble.”

I found myself saying those words to the person I had unconsciously sworn to protect.

I shouldn't be saying this, I thought. Yet, perhaps driven by the instinctual craving for his blood, the words spilled out anyway. Because I knew his personality so well—because I had watched him and thought of him for so long—the Scripture, an entity of pure malice, whispered to me to make him offer his blood.

By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late. From my words, Reima had likely deduced exactly what was happening to my body based on my vampiric traits.

“You’re choosing sleep instead of drinking blood, aren't you?”

“............Hey. I told you, don’t notice things like that.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I already said it, didn't I? I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

“...God, you really never change. You’re still the same stubborn Laura.”

I couldn't tell what he was thinking in that moment, but I couldn't bring myself to say, “That goes for you too.” I didn't have the right—not after failing to stay by his side until the very end.

“I won't pry,” he said, “but you’re accepting this change for Tsubaki’s sake, aren't you?”

“...Yes, that’s right. The rank of the Dungeons has been rising lately. Given the circumstances, I need to be stronger.”

This time, I made a conscious effort not to hide my hand, offering Reima a plausible justification. In his current state of agitation, I doubted he would look too closely.

“Then all the more reason to rely on me. I’ll give you as much mana as you need... and as for blood, I’d feel bad for the person this body used to belong to, but if it’s just a little bit of feeding...”

“...That is why I told you not to worry. It isn't a problem as long as I sleep.”

“That’s exactly why it is a problem. What happens if you collapse inside a Dungeon?”

His point was irrefutable. My sleeping spells were becoming more frequent; falling into a deep slumber inside a Dungeon would be a death sentence.

The logical choice was to drink blood and quickly stabilize my vampiric nature. But the act of blood-sucking was an act of harming Reima, and I wanted to avoid that if possible. Furthermore, I knew that if I tasted him now, I would lose all self-control. I couldn't allow that to happen.

“This is my own selfishness. Please, just let this go.”

“Tch... fine. You really are stubborn about the weirdest things. I don’t like it, but I get it. In exchange, don’t enter any Dungeons for a while. And the next time you feel a long sleep coming on, you tell me. I’ll be prepared for it then.”

“You truly never change... but fine. I will rely on you when that time comes.”

Ah... why is it that he never changes?

He should have been able to betray others. He worked so hard, only to meet such an end, yet even now... why can he still act for the sake of everyone but himself?

I knew him. I knew he was exactly this kind of person.

But he, who lacked any sense of self-preservation, who would keep pushing forward no matter the cost... he would likely never change, no matter what happened.

“Good. It’s a promise, then. You better tell me.”

“Yes. I have no desire to break any more promises, so I will tell you.”

That was why I had decided to protect him. Why I had decided we would walk this path together. To ensure I could protect him to the very end this time, I had to become stronger.

Even if it meant giving myself over to the Scripture.