The person that I love.

“I, I don’t want anything painful…”

“Don’t worry, it only hurts at first”

The pain will go away soon. That’s why relax, I gently stroked the white wrist. 

I was hesitant to injure Marius’ soft, fair skin to draw blood, but I came to accept even though I was uncertain, since I couldn’t beat my hunger.

Amongst regular humans, drinking another’s blood is, in reality, is problematic because of infectious diseases and such. But right now, I am no longer a regular human and, everytime I accept Vito’s memories, I feel as if a part of her merges with me and permeates through me.

―― I have already, made my resolve.

Although I say that, it’s impossible to go back to being her. At best, the soul may recall the method to replenish magic power. As of now, I’m an incompetent, magic-less human. In this world, that’s no better than a walking corpse. I will never be able to challenge this world in such a state. 

So I’m trying to make up for it by getting magical power from Marius.

Well, there are conditions to it.

That is, I will become his bond.

He did say there are no constraints after vowing, and it should be effective even if I return to my own world, so I guess it’s fine with just the form of it.

It seems that Marius’ mother also asked her human friend before she became an adult, so it’s not like they’ll have to live together forever. To be forcefully summoned when you become an adult, but be able to escape it with a bond that’s just for show, whether it’s plain or ingenious, I can’t really understand the rules of the Angelic race.

<line>

It’s only natural that I, who does not have the body of a dragon, don’t have sharp fangs, but in order to get blood, it is necessary to at least make a cut. Taking out the self-defense knife from my pocket, I place it against that thin wrist.

“…sorry, maybe it’s impossible after all”

I tried playing the captivating count Dracule and said such things, but I chickened out. I can’t do it unless it’s dramatized!! But it’s still impossible!!

“What are you talking about”

“I can’t bring myself to hurt Marius’s beautiful skin! I’d get cursed…! I’d be hated by all those with beautiful skin around the world!!”

Gotsun!, my head was lightly hit. Marius’s face was red.

“Such, embarrassing words are forbidden!! Even if you told me such a thing, I’m not happy in the slightest!! If Itoka isn’t going to do it then I will!”

He took the knife from my hand, and unhesitantly slid it to the side. It’s sharp edge cut into Marius skin, and from the shallow wound, blood leaked out. Now it’s fine! He thrust his hand before me as if saying so. How manly. 

“You don’t have to feel guilty! The angelic race have high healing abilities, and such wounds would heal in no time!”

Is that so. No wonder he didn’t even falter.

“More importantly, here”

You’re hungry right? He said as he brought his arm right to my mouth.

Such a sweet, sweet smell. Feeling dizzy and faint, even now I’m about to succumb to my desire to devour.

So I wanted it this much.

To be lacking magic power, is the same as being constantly hungry. In the midst of that, I was suddenly presented with magic abundant blood, so it can’t be helped that I sunk my teeth into it.

I held back my trembling as I reached out to take Marius’s wrist.

While moving slowly, I put my mouth to the wound.

<line>

―― If I were to express it, it’s like strawberry flavoured fresh cream. The elegant flavour you’d queue for at a dessert shop.

<line>

This is, bad. It’s too dangerous.

I didn’t think it’d be something this impressive. I did think he looked delicious every time we met, but this blood is far sweeter than any human’s. Whether it’s because of his angelic heritage, or just Marius’s own constitution, it was so sweet I might go crazy. And it was a stubborn sweetness, as if, it was drugs in melted sugar.

With every gulp of blood I took, I could feel magic power permeating my body.

“…Hey, Itoka. It kinda feels, a little weird”

His magical power is slightly above the standard— hmm?

When I raised my head, Marius was looking at me with an uneasy expression. His cheeks were dyed light red, and his breath was elevated and rough.

“Feels weird?”

And in response, Yup, he nodded. His pink hair fluttered and lightly knocked my cheek

“It hurt when my wrist was cut, but once Itoka put her mouth there, the pain slowly faded, and instead there was a fluffy, floating feeling, and my head just spaced out”

It doesn’t seem like it’s low blood pressure. On the contrary, it was like excitement but without heart.

<line>

So there’s probably something that alleviates pain huh.

What’s up with that vampire-like feature.

Although my body is human, but Vito, her soul within me is allowing me to do that? That time I received blood from Mr Morris, I remember him saying. “Whatever you just did is dangerous. It’s almost like a drug”. Back then, I just thought ‘what’s up with that’ and forgot about it, but I guess this means that it was not entirely wrong.

Let’s change from being a human-eating dragon to a vampire dragon. Oh, since I’m a human, I’d just be a vampire. Or maybe even a cool vampire.

Or so I thought, but now isn’t time to daydream.

I don’t know what kind of side effect I might have on Marius, but if it doesn’t hurt then there’s nothing better than that.

But anymore than this might put a burden on him.

“My bad, let’s stop here”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant”

Releasing his wrist from my mouth, Marius got flustered.

“What’s wrong?”

His gaze is swimming.

“Itoka, you shouldn’t take blood from people too often”

“?”

“That is, a dependence—”

Dependence? I tried to ask again what he meant, but to no avail.

<line>

All of a sudden, I heard a scream.

And it wasn’t just one. There were many people screaming. Just like that day in Caspe De Kingdom, when demons suddenly sprang up.

Instantly, chills run down my spine.

This is, no way.

<line>

Exchanging glances with Marius, he nodded.

“I’ll go check out the situation! Itoka, stay here!”

Marius powerfully beat the wings on his back, taking off from the garden and disappeared into the sky. He probably went to search for the source of the screams.

Stay here, huh?

I know that I’m powerless. If the cause of the screams were to be demons, I won’t be any more than a small part of your fighting force.

Even then, I did think I became stronger after coming to this world. 

I wiped my mouth as I quietly sighed. The blood that was on my lips was now smeared on the back of my hand. It’s a waste so I lick it up, and run down the path I came from with my self-defense knife in hand.

The destination is, the entrance hall of the ball’s venue.

<line>

<line>

As I ran, the screams grew louder. As expected, I was right.

Taking a turn at the end of this corridor would lead me right to the entrance— I thought, as I tried to turn at the corner, when my body was suddenly strongly impacted. Since I ran full swing into whatever it was, I couldn’t catch myself fast enough and fell on my butt.

I thought I’d probably collided with someone who was trying to run away, but I froze, looking up after holding on to my sore hips.

<line>

<line>

<line>

――――Why are you here?

<line>

“What are you doing?”

I sat there blankly, unable to say anything. With my eyes wide open, I was looking up at him.

A gaze filled with suspicion turned towards me as I said nothing. Maybe to end my paralysed thoughts, he grabbed the mute me by the arm and pulled me up.

Despite stumbling a little, I somehow managed to stand on my own, and he released my arm.

<line>

Why, are you here?

He was supposed to be at the ball’s venue.

This place is, although close to the venue, still a distance away. Unless you had an errand to attend to, there’s no way someone would want to leave the gorgeous ball hall for this lonely corridor. And even more so for someone who is a knight, like him.

So why?

Like this, it’s as if, you were coming after— scratch that. What I need to hear right now, is not about that.

<line>

“That scream earlier, just what happened…?”

“Most likely, a demon”

He said as he looked back. His gaze looked toward the ball’s venue. 

As I thought, something has happened over there. I wonder if Touka, Chiffon, and the rest are safe.

I want to go see you and confirm it myself, as I tried to run off, but my arm was once again grabbed.

“You’d better stop”

“Please let go of me!”

“Just what, can you do?”

Those black eyes, spoke of how I was useless, just a weak human being.

Towards the question in his eyes, I could not answer.

<line>

At that moment, a black shadow appeared from behind him.

Like a bear, it was a huge and ominous shadow. It’s eyes were red as if bloodshot, and as if finding prey, it swung it’s huge arm down.

<line>

“Watch out!!”

“…?!”

Without thinking, I stretch out both my hands and push him away. Since it’s strike was just barely avoided. It didn’t give up and continued to attack. And, there was more than one.

When did so many appear, from wolf to bird forms, openly hostile as they attacked.

With just the short self-defense knife in hand, it’s taking all I got to defend myself.

He was armed with a sword and was handling the larger demon, but there were just far too many.

<line>

<line>

<line>

“Why, are there so many…! Has anything like this ever happened in the castle before?!”

“There’s no way, it has…!”

In this irregular situation, I saw his always calm face cloud over. It isn’t the time to think about such things, but I felt as if I saw something rare.

<line>

I was worried and anxious, since the self-defense knife has a very short reach, so if I go in to attack, I risk getting injured by the demons’ sharp claws.

But when I’m moving my body, I feel great. This situation is the worst, but it’s exhilarating.

“Earlier, you asked what I could do? You did, didn’t you…!”

And what about it? He sent a look over just as he defeated a demon.

I thrust my knife into the throat of a wolf-shaped demon that attacked me, and it fell to the ground. The demon scattered into a miasma-like smoke, before rising and disappearing in the air.

“True, I said it myself, that I am just a weak and powerless human being! But, I hate turning a blind eye!”

Probably because of my vigorous actions, my breath rose and my tone was stronger.

It felt like I might bite my own tongue, as I breathed roughly in preparation to face the demon in front of me, and screamed as if roaring.

“If there is anything I can do, if there’s anything within my abilities, I want to do it! I don’t want, to regret it!”

It was the cry from my chest, my heart. With each scream, it got warmer, and with each demon I brandish my knife and defeat, my head gets sharper.

<line>

“What are you…”

saying. The moment I stepped into his view, those words were swallowed back and disappeared.

His pitch-black eyes were open wide.

<line>

“Because I want to protect— Captain-san”

<line>

Plain and clear, I said it.

It was a refreshing smile, if I do say so myself.

<line>

“That’s why, please keep up the heroine trait. Because no matter how dangerous it is, I will definitely protect you”

Well, I am pretty weak, but I’d be able to act as a shield at least, I say as I smile bitterly.

<line>

The captain, who was still for a frame, slowly raised the arm holding his sword, and threw at the wolf-shaped demon to the front-left. The sword pierced through its back, and the final demon released its death throes before it collapsed onto the ground.

The expression seen by the disappearing demon had significantly changed for all but a moment, before it once again became expressionless. I can’t tell what those eyes, those eyes that have no light, are thinking of.

<line>

Ah, I see, you don’t believe me.

<line>

Of course he wouldn’t. There are plenty of people in this castle that call him Captain-san.

Plus, my outer appearance is different. I’m shorter, fairer, and frailer than before.

Who would ever believe that Vito and I are the same person.

Even I can’t believe it.

<line>

Ah, but. You didn’t notice after all.

That’s a little dejecting, but at the same time relieving.

<line>

“Um well, for the time being, I’ll be going to where Touka is”

After calming down, there’s nothing more embarrassing than this. To tell someone, whom you just met and have barely spoken to, that you want to to protect them. I feel like my face is on fire.

Ahh, if there’s a hole, I want to hide in it. Then put a lid over it and just get buried like that.

It was getting uncomfortable, so I tried to move my feet forward, but I couldn’t.

<line>

―――The face that turned around and faced me, was a crying face.

<line>

For a moment, I doubted my own eyes.

I forgot to breathe, and just watched.

His eyes were moist, reminiscent of an Obsidian jewel with water droplets on it.

Eyebrows were lowered, biting on his own lips, and a pitiful and weak expression.

<line>

This is the first time, I saw that.

<line>

I felt so urged to run up and hug him, tell him that it’s okay, and stroke his head through the night, after being hit with a wave of sympathy as if I was looking at an abandoned kitten.

But the one who approached first was him.

Just as I thought he was approaching, he held me with just his right arm as if running into me.

It was a tight hug.

I could feel his breath on my ear, and my whole body was filled with warmth.

<line>

But inside, I’m panicking.

<line>

“Eh, ahh, umm excuse me”

I hurriedly looked up, but instead of seeing his face, something covered my view and pressed against my lips.

“N?”

Eeehhh!?

I’m extremely confused.

Eh, wait a minute!! Please just hold on a moment!!

Just what’s going on! It feels as if the biggest thing in my life is currently happening!!

<line>

But nonetheless, after touching his lips, it’s unmistakable. Those, are his.

The were softer, warmer, as if a gentle warmth was seeping out from the depths of his heart. I’ve never felt anything like this before.

I couldn’t get a grip, and noticed that my heart was furiously pounding. Almost like it’s going to go on and explode.

<line>

That short touch, separated after a moment.

“…wrong”

Wh-wh-wha-what is wrong—!

His quietly murmured to himself, and while leaving the blushing and panicking me, he deftly cut his right hand with his teeth, and held his arm in hismouth before staying put for a while.

<line>

“Wha,what are you—! Mm, guh”

Again, my mouth was blocked. This time it wasn’t just a touch.

Something smooth and warm flowed into my opened mouth. When I realised that it was blood, my brain instantly switched to that of a dragon’s.

Even though I already had blood earlier, my hunger must have been worse that I thought, since each time blood passes through my throat, my greed for it just gets stronger. And it’s not just any greed.

That’s because, this was special.

<line>

My heart jumped again. Won’t he die, I thought, as my heart beat so hard I felt like I was going to die. I struggled to gasp for air too.

My whole body felt weak, and I could no longer support myself.

When I desperately grabbed the clothes before me, his left hand, which should have not been able to move, gently wrapped around and supported my back.

<line>

Our lips finally parted.

The cool breeze cooled down burning heat.

Before me, those red, wet lips, drew an arc.

<line>

“I’m never, letting you go again”

<line>

That face, was the smiling face of the captain, whom I was deeply in love with.