She Returned as a Vampire

35 – The net spreads wide

“Here. Those who are still alive, or who could have survived.”

The neighborhood of the cave was a total mess.

I saw people staring into the air with the whites of their eyes all red, or getting too close to the fire with trembling hands clinging to their bodies.

“Let’s hurry up and feed them the blood. Pierce, put two balls here on the outside and two inside. Get them off the fire.”

“Yes, Mr. Stone. Let’s move it.”

It was natural to see that he had a lot of experience in the way he handled the people under his command and organized the situation.

After confirming that her orders had been properly delivered, he immediately came out and returned to her, extending her finger toward one of her tents to guide us.

“The inside of the cave is not organized, and the injured people are probably not in good shape… It may be a little chilly, but can we talk over there?”

“I’m not particularly cold so it doesn’t matter. What about Niel?”

Before she changed, she was strangely strong in the cold, to the extent that she wore clothes that showed off her flesh without hesitation.

And now that it has changed, it seemed even more like that.

It was easy to tell her condition just by looking at her arms rolled up with the coat she was supposed to put on roughly wrapped around her shoulders.

And… As time goes on, her appearance changes as well.

Is it only her feeling, or is it a feeling that everyone around her naturally feels toward her?

He was simply standing and looking down at me, but there was a sense of intimidation that made me shrink.

As if facing a large wild boar or tiger right in front of your eyes,

As if you instinctively know deep in your bones that you can’t fight against them,

Her sparkling eyes were telling.

“Niel?”

“Oh, uh. I have to go in. I have to go in…”

While she was waking up her head, which had been dazed by her energy, she turned her head away in surprise at the presence of someone approaching her.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I came to inform you that I was able to feed all the people with blood. Could you be the companion of the blood relative who saved us?”

There was a vampire with black hair and a faint red glow.

This woman who spoke to her in one voice, wearing relatively decent clothes and standing in a small place, was … Awkward.

It was as if she did not fit into the world that had been so full of blood and flesh.

So it was unpleasant. She could see that her feelings for this woman were not good.

Her breathing quickened and her vision began to narrow.

I was dizzy. She wasn’t just narrowing down, she was twisting, bending, and contorting.

A similar experience to this – yes. She had felt it once in a series of vigils.

She felt the sticky pain from the accumulated fatigue that she felt when she couldn’t sleep properly thanks to the necromancer’s skeleton warriors who continued to attack her.

Sharp, light – It wasn’t the pain that ended in a single shot, but I struggled with the heavy, gentle feeling that came as if someone was being pressed down from above.

Feeling frustrated with this awkward feeling rising from within her heart, this woman,

No, I was finally freed from her pain only when the thought of having to stay away from all women other than her filled her from fingertips to toes.

At that moment, the last time I saw her eyes looked somehow satisfied, maybe it was because of my mood.

***

I was able to stand up once more in the darkness, and I looked around and tried to know my condition.

But no matter how many times I turned my head, I couldn’t tell where I was.

By the time I realized that I hadn’t turned my head or got up, I was already caught in her hands, hanging like a doll tied to her thread.

How can I think of her who makes fun of me with her actions and her thoughts that have completely changed since she changed?

At this moment, even inside my mind, she shows off her influence and squeezes me in. What does she want from me?

In the darkness where nothing could be seen, only her smile came to mind.

Even though I knew there was nothing in front of my eyes, my mind was already tainted by her power and was showing empty things.

What should I do in this situation where I can’t get away from her even though she passed out?

Forever mine, Niel.

From far in this boundless space, her cry was heard.

At the very moment when her red eyes pierced me from the other side of the darkness, I was finally able to wake up once again.

But still caught by her.

It seemed that the world had gone round and round once… Several times. I must have been standing up not too long ago, but now I am lying down.

With her head resting on her lap, her elongated face was being stroked.

This place, barely lit by a few candles, must be the inside of the tent I saw.

A coarse but flat stone base that could be used as a desk and a bundle of old books were stored, as well as a fountain pen and an inkwell that looked quite luxurious.

“Calm down. You don’t have to worry. Nothing you worry about will happen. At least as long as I’m breathing, it won’t.”

What stopped me from constantly shaking my head and grasping my surroundings was her face, which was getting closer.

Desperation and anxiety all disappeared, and only tranquility remained. She smiled quietly and whispered to me in a calm tone.

“I think it’s because I’m very tired. How about taking a break?”

Yes, maybe all these fatigue and unpleasant feelings I feel are caused by the awkwardness of the events that come one after another and the day that does not come.

It must be in vain. Maybe it’s a terrible nightmare.

Since I’ve been bothered by her work for a long time, it’s not unreasonable to suffer from such an unpleasant dream.

Besides, since she changed, she hadn’t even closed her eyes properly.

“…Still, maybe?”

I saw her mouth open. I watched with my own two eyes breathing out.

But the sound didn’t come to me.

Something she whispered. Whatever it was, I could tell that it had grabbed my heart and held it.

Whether she finds out or not – her instinct warned her that she would endanger me once again, so she finally opened her mouth to ventilate the atmosphere.

I tried my best not to talk as much as possible.

“Come to think of it, did you talk about the mansion? What did you decide to do?”

“I haven’t done it yet. You like hearing stories, don’t you? And… I’m sure you’ll hate me if I try to do something recklessly.”

…Honestly, I was a little, no, very surprised by her words.

I tried to guess exactly what I didn’t like, and even change my behavior.

If that was an act of sincerity, it would have been a joy enough to clear the old congestion in my heart.

“Is there such a thing as admiration?

…Maybe yes, as you see, I was definitely that kind of person.

But I decided to change it.

There’s no way you’ll be happy if I hold on to you forever and wield it however I want. Yes?”

“That’s right…”

“I told you to change. I won’t go through a day without you wanting me. For sure.

My first goal is to make you understand how I feel for you.”

However, from her words, I finally understood.

All of her actions are focused on grabbing me, rather than reflection and repentance.

That’s your first goal?

The thing that makes me unable to live without her, wait a minute. Can you talk about this sober?

As I know that she is sincere without any jokes or aegyo mixed in, her words came very heavy.

She can’t live without her – how the hell did he say that to me because he was trying to shape my life?

“Look at your face. Don’t take it too seriously. Come to your senses and you’ll make it happen.

Slowly, calmly, so leisurely that you don’t notice…

If you spend time living comfortably in the mansion, that will happen. It’s okay not to be burdened.

Did I tell you? You won’t have anything to worry about.”

No, Elena.

What you dream about is my concern.

***

Once I had full control, Elena brought Mr. Stone over to talk with me.

Obviously it would be her who would do the work for them, but it again became my job to face them, talk them out, and coordinate them.

Of course, it wasn’t that I didn’t like it. It was something someone had to do, and above all, it was something that had to be pointed out for me and the place she was going to stay.

According to him, the reason they lost their mansion and were kicked out was because of the strangers. Vampire strangers, too.

“Even after the owner of the mansion, Tia-nim, passed away, we have been there.

Everwinter-sama and Tia-sama carefully took care of the mementos left behind by hunting animals and secretly buying human blood to extend our lifespan.

But after the blood moon appeared, they came.

The mongrel subject dared to take away the mansion the two of you left behind, making funny noises that it was a wonderful mansion suitable for his noble self.

However, the gap in strength was too great… It ended up like this.

It is true that compared to those who drank plenty of human blood, our strength is lacking.

So I would like to ask you a favor. Can you bring back the mansion? The empty mansion needs a new owner anyway, and I don’t think you two accidentally set foot here…”

His eyes were on the good side. He didn’t want to become the owner of the house for nothing.

I tried to proceed with the story right away because of that… But something bothered me.

This was not the situation.

She was her.

To be precise, it was her attitude and mind that had changed.

Her gaze at me doing these things was much softer and warmer.

It is not seen as a person who handles simple chores, or does dirty work,

For her, stepping out for her,

So… Although ‘her for her’ is overemphasized.

Damn it, I don’t know how to express the growing pressure.

Stone, even at this moment of sharing her story with him, her love was growing noticeably.

And the reason I could know that was from the way she was sitting next to me, holding my hand and petting me while listening to the story.

Without her words, she killed her presence as she feared that she would get in her way.

She became calm enough to wonder if her presence, which is usually so great, could be so quiet. She was only looking at me and focusing all her attention on me.

The stillness kept getting on my nerves.

Too big to ignore, but impeccable to react to.

“If you want my opinion, I’ll listen to you and decide.

You always drew the big picture well. Because I already knew enough about your heart for me.

Tell me anytime.”

I felt… Fear at the sight of her finally driving the nail firmly.

She was changing to seduce me.

There was no hesitation or superfluity in it.

So…

To hold me, so that I couldn’t even make an excuse to deny her love.

She was approaching me closely.

Despite the fact that she was obviously not a woman capable of such a scheme.