The Vampire Lord's Hunger
The debauched sex with Sage and Vivian had finally come to an end. For some reason, they looked positively radiant, their skin glowing with a fresh luster as they giggled and headed off to attend to their duties. I, too, was busy dealing with the mountain of work pouring in from all corners of the kingdom. The coexistence of monsters and humans—or, more accurately, the encroachment of monsters into the established human sphere—was not a problem that could be solved easily.
"There has been a report of a group of goblins beating up a local resident."
"In the provinces, skirmishes between monsters and humans are still occurring periodically."
"We have promulgated the new laws, but it will take time for the residents' perceptions to catch up."
I listened to the reports from my ministers, judging how best to handle each situation. On top of that, there was the task of suppressing the resistance forces who still clung to the delusion of resurrecting the Kingdom of Aslan. "Kill the men and bring the women to me. If they’re decent, recruit them into the knights. If not, use them as broodmares."
It was a busy day. Before I knew it, night had fallen once again. The sun had set, and darkness had settled over the land—the time when nocturnal monsters began to stir.
"Ariana."
"Yes, Demon King."
I summoned Ariana, who had become half-vampire because of me. The reason I called for her was because of that bothersome neighbor who had visited a few days ago. A brat who called herself a Vampire Lord. If she had been a prominent adventurer in the past, perhaps she would know something about vampires. And I held a lingering hope that there might be some instinctual connection between vampires. "Do you know of a Vampire Lord?"
Ariana had rushed over without hesitation at the rare summons from the Demon King. All she possessed was a faint charm and a knack for exploration. Under the Demon King's rule, which had recently swallowed the kingdom, all she could do were trivial chores. In truth, she felt quite insecure about it. It was work anyone else could do, and she feared the Demon King might discard her. That was why she felt a sense of relief now that the Demon King had called for her. But the name "Vampire Lord"—she hadn't expected to hear that from his lips. There were only a handful of humans who even knew of their existence.
"I am aware of them. There was a record of the Lords in an ancient book I read when I was still human."
"What did it say?"
"It said they possessed a body so alluring it could be mistaken for a Succubus Queen, and that those who gazed into their eyes would offer their own necks to provide blood. It also mentioned that all vampires are bound to them."
"Was that all?"
"There was nothing beyond the actual records. It was a very old book, so I had difficulty interpreting the content."
"I see."
Ariana bowed her head. Bound to a Vampire Lord, huh? "If a Vampire Lord appeared before you, would you follow her?"
"That shouldn't happen. I am a case who became only half-vampire due to the Demon King's grace. I will not submit."
"Hmm."
"But why do you ask?"
"A creature calling herself a Vampire Lord came to visit a few days ago."
"R-really?" Ariana looked at me with wide, startled eyes.
"So, I intended to introduce you, the only vampire among us."
I spoke as I sensed a powerful energy approaching from afar. 'Frey.' The vampire who called herself a Vampire Lord. She was flying toward the capital right now. Perhaps Ariana felt it too? She began to tremble violently.
"D-D-Demon King……."
"What is it?"
"M-my chest feels strange. It’s trembling and hurting……. Demon King, something is wrong with me. Something, something……."
Ariana’s condition was abnormal. 'Perhaps there really is a binding force for vampires.' Whether it was fear caused by the presence of a Lord or a subconscious desire to submit, I couldn't leave her like this. I lightly struck the back of Ariana’s neck.
"Ugh!"
Ariana, trembling in anxiety, lost consciousness. And soon after—
"The Great One has arrived! Bow down!"
Frey, the Vampire Lord, burst through the window. She looked nothing like a Lord. "……There was a door, you know. Did you really have to come in that way?"
"Why? We’ve already exchanged names, haven't we? No need for formalities."
"……."
How was she raised? Perhaps it was because there was no one stronger than her, but she was incredibly insolent. Just then, Frey’s eyes turned toward the unconscious Ariana in my arms. "Oh? You had a kin here?"
Frey trotted over to look at Ariana. "It’s been a while. Seeing a new face—ho? This one is half-vampire and half-human?" Her eyes shifted to me. "Demon King, did you awaken this child?"
"Yes."
"Ho……. How fascinating. A vampire born from a non-vampire entity."
Frey’s eyes narrowed as she inspected Ariana. "But she is terribly frail."
"What do you mean?"
"It didn't show on the outside, but she is broken on the inside. It must be because she changed from human to vampire too rapidly."
Broken on the inside? I looked at Ariana. There was no sign of anything wrong on the surface. But to think she was rotting from within. "You wouldn't be able to see it, Demon King. The amount of blood circulating in her body right now is significantly reduced."
"Is that so?"
I had no idea. If Frey hadn't come, it would have meant I could only watch as Ariana withered away. "You haven't been feeding her blood?"
"In the past, she drank human blood. But since coming to my side, she has been consuming semen instead of blood."
"That’s all?"
"She told me it was enough, so I didn't know."
"You stupid girl, does she think she’s a succubus? There’s no way a vampire can live on semen alone."
She looked at the unconscious Ariana with a frustrated expression. "Feed her blood periodically. That will make her better. If you’re lucky, she might even awaken as a full vampire, not a half."
"Can't you do it for her?"
"I’d like to, but she isn't a familiar I created."
"So it’s out of your jurisdiction?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
It was a problem I would have to solve myself. "But why is this one here?"
"She is the only vampire in our forces, so I called her to meet you."
"You felt me coming?" Frey smiled slyly and raised an eyebrow. Heh heh heh. The way she laughed while covering her mouth was strangely irritating. "But what brings you here?"
"Ah, actually……." Frey hesitated, fidgeting, before fixing her gaze on me. "I want to drink a bit more blood."
"Blood?"
"Yes, I tasted it once before, and it was so delicious……."
"……I’d rather not."
"Y-you’d rather not? Is it because it hurts? You’re quite the whiner for someone who looks like that. Don't worry. This time, I’ll use a little anesthesia……."
"Why should I give you my blood?"
"Eh? Last time……."
Frey stammered, clearly not expecting that response. "Last time, you came as a guest. Though there was a minor issue while you were entering."
"I’m a guest this time, too."
"What kind of guest enters through a window? Especially when the homeowner didn't even give permission? Isn't that what a back-alley thief does?"
"A-a thief!"
"If not that, then a robber? Ah, a mosquito, perhaps. Those annoying mosquitoes in the summer always sneak in if you leave the window open."
That was right. A mosquito. Frey’s current behavior was exactly like a mosquito. "M-mosquito? You really!" Frey shouted, grinding her teeth.
"If you are a Lord, act like one and follow the proper procedures."
"……What am I supposed to do?"
I pointed downward with my finger. "You should go down to the main gate and announce yourself to the guards. Tell them the Vampire Lord has arrived. If you don't want to reveal that you're a Lord, just say you're my guest. Can't you just come in through the door like that?"
"B-but we’ve already shared blood! Is that really necessary?"
"I’ve shared blood with mosquitoes, too. Even if I didn't want to."
Frey puffed out her cheeks. Her face turned red. "If you don't like it, you can go back. I won't stop you. I don't want to deal with a headache caused by an uninvited guest."
"A-alright! I’ll do it, happy?"
Frey shouted, and bat wings unfurled from her shoulders. The position was slightly different from the succubus who had bat wings on her waist. 'Are they related?' I watched Frey fly away while thinking such useless thoughts. She flapped her bat wings, her body limp, letting the wings carry her as if everything was a chore. Seeing her like that, she really did look like a mosquito. As I instructed, she flew to the gate entrance and landed. After exchanging words with the guards, she entered with the soldiers.
How much time had passed? Thud, thud.
"Demon King, a guest has arrived." The knight's voice echoed.
"Enter."
At the same time, as if a spell had been cast on Frey, the knight opened the door with unfocused eyes. It was a high-level mental spell. Well, Frey had put everyone in the capital to sleep except for me. This much would be trivial for her.
"How was that? Is this enough? Now hurry up and let me drink your blood!"
"Insolent."
"What?"
"You haven't even introduced yourself yet."
"Y-you know who I am. Frey. Frey of the Gestell family."
"You must introduce yourself formally. That is etiquette."
"Ugh……." Frey gritted her teeth and parted her lips. "I am Frey of the Gestell family. The progenitor of vampires, the existence akin to a mother to all vampires. The ruler of the Forbidden Land, and to some, called the Vampire Lord."
Frey, having introduced herself grandly, tilted her head at me. "I am the Demon King. Nice to meet you."
"That’s cheap!"
"What is?"
"I introduced myself at such length, and you end it with just one word, 'Demon King'!"
"Then you can just introduce yourself as 'Frey' later on. You’re the strange one for making such a grand introduction."
Frey ground her teeth. She felt like she was being led around. Whenever she was with this Demon King, she felt like she was being swept away by his way of speaking. Yes. Let's endure. I am the one at a disadvantage right now. Don't forget why you came here.
'You came to drink blood.'
Once I get the blood, it’s over. A pedantic Demon King like this—I reject him! Hmph!
Frey stared at the Demon King. The tall, massive Demon King who faced her with a blunt expression. Every time she saw him, her heart pounded. Was it because of the memory of drinking his blood? It was probably because of that taste. A heavenly taste that could not be forgotten. Just imagining it made her body heat up and her pussy grow moist. Her body twitched without her knowing. Because of that one taste, she was forgiving all of this Demon King's insolent words. So.
"Give me some blood. I'm hungry." Frey looked up at the Demon King, holding out both hands. With the most pitiful expression she could muster.
"Why should I?"
"You did everything I asked for last time."
"I never said I would give it to you."
I can't take it anymore. "I didn't want to go this far!" I have to use my last resort. If I use this, he’ll be begging me to drink his blood, right?
"You brought this on yourself! Don't regret it!"
Frey raised her mana. A spell that made anyone exposed to it desperate to offer their blood to her. She hadn't wanted to use it because she was addicted to the bloodletting once she started. She reached out toward the Demon King. Now, the mana would cover him, and he would beg her to drink his blood…….
"E-eh?"
"That’s a shame."
It didn't work. Her magic didn't work at all.
"Then, is it my turn now?"
"W-wait a second! Actually, this was a joke."
"Then I should try playing that 'joke' on you as well."
The Demon King's smile was terrifying. "Aaaaaaah!"