Chapter 284: The Look in Their Eyes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 284: The Look in Their Eyes
“Water.”
“Yes, Madam. Though the waiter has already set the table.”
“I know. I just wanted to say it.”
It wasn't as if I could enjoy a meal in peace. Considering what I’d done, I should be grateful just to be sitting at the same table as them.
“Iris, is there anything you can’t eat?”
“Not really.”
“I thought I heard somewhere that garlic was off-limits.”
“It doesn't matter for a True Ancestor. Weaknesses like that only appear in the lesser bloodlines.”
“Heh, I see.”
We were sitting at an expensive table on the top floor of the department store, waiting for our meal. There were the three women slowly browsing the menu, and then there was me, quietly watching over them.
I was worried that being seen in public might spark some nasty rumors, but thinking about it, to an outsider who knew nothing of our situation…
‘They probably just look like young ladies out on the town.’
Sera’s usually modest attire had been swapped for something far more glamorous, and Theodora looked every bit the noble’s daughter even without saying a word. As for Iris, even if you ignored the fact that her age was in the high triple digits, she was a beautiful woman with a mature air about her.
And what did that make me? I looked like a butler or a bodyguard. I’d dressed specifically to give off that impression, anyway.
“Um… bloodlines? What are you talking about? Does Iris have a garlic allergy?”
“Oh?”
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, Sera didn't know Iris was a vampire. It made sense, actually. Iris didn't react to sunlight, nor did she act like she couldn't live without blood.
She looked like an ordinary young woman. Even if someone noticed something slightly off, they’d probably just assume she was a quarter-elf—someone who could live a long time even with rounded ears.
“Now what do we do?”
“Indeed. Hmm…”
While Dora and I were pondering for a moment, Iris put down the menu she was holding and stared intently at Sera.
“Iris…?”
“I’m a vampire.”
“Ah… excuse me?”
When Sera failed to process it properly, Iris explained one more time.
“I’m a vampire. Me.”
“Ahaha… I see…”
Sera had always thought Iris was a bit eccentric, so she just let the comment slide. She then glanced back and forth between Theodora and me, her eyes practically begging for an explanation.
“Well… she’s right. Iris is a vampire.”
“R-Really?!”
At Theodora’s confirmation, Sera’s gaze snapped back to me. Her face was a mask of utter confusion, as if asking what on earth was going on.
“Well… Sera, here’s the thing. Iris is indeed a vampire, but… how should I put it? She’s a good vampire.”
“O-Oh…?”
Of course, that wasn't what Sera really wanted to ask. Iris was a vampire, and wasn't Yoo Eon human? Could a vampire and a human actually be in a relationship?
As she turned her head to look at Theodora again, it clicked.
‘Wait, Theodora is a beastkin…’
Indeed, if that was the case, what would their children look like? A child between Iris the vampire and Yoo Eon? Was it even possible for them to have children in the first place?
Vampires, who belonged to the ancient demi-human species, were generally shunned by human society. Naturally, there were almost no records of marriages between humans and vampires, and even if there were, I’d never heard of them having children.
To put it into perspective, it was probably like a human trying to marry their food.
“Is it… is it really okay?”
“Well… I’ve just accepted it. I don't even know what’s what anymore.”
“A-Ah, I see…”
Sera stole a glance at Iris, trying to gauge her mood. To find out that a companion you thought was a normal person was actually a vampire—I’d be pretty flustered too.
Whether Iris found Sera’s reaction amusing or not, she suddenly struck a pose with her claws out and opened her mouth.
“Rawr.”
“Hiek…!”
What is she doing?
* * *
The meal proceeded more or less smoothly. Iris barely touched her food, her cutlery just clinking against the plate; Theodora displayed an elegant and practiced dining etiquette; and Sera finished her meal with quite a healthy appetite. As for me, I ate just enough to feel comfortable.
Now, the biggest problem remained.
“How do we do this without drawing suspicion?”
“Dora, if this is a joke, you can still stop now.”
“Q-Quiet! This whole mess happened because of you…!”
To be honest, Theodora and Sera were fine. Aren't they technically my wives now? We haven't had a wedding or anything, nor have we made any children, but…
‘The two of them did share a bed with me once.’
Sera and Theodora had a history of bickering by my bedside while I was asleep, only to be caught by me. But Iris had never done anything like that, so I wondered if she was really okay with this.
“Iris. Are you alright with this?”
“With what.”
“You know… being in the same bed as other people.”
“I don't mind. As long as you’re there.”
“Uh, well.”
As a man, that was a pretty pleasing answer, but I wondered how it stood from a rational perspective.
“Alright, Aven. Here’s the plan. You go ahead and book the room acting like our butler. Get a room with one king-size bed. Then, we’ll head in later.”
“Are you sure this is okay?”
“It’s common enough. A servant going ahead to secure a room. Now, the tricky part is that you have to leave and then sneak back into the room without anyone noticing…”
It was all part of the roleplay we’d been doing all day. I’d enter the hotel first like the ladies' butler, book the room, and then come back out. After Theodora, Iris, and Sera entered the room, I would have to slip back in undetected.
Hmm. How should I handle this?
“No, wait. This will work. We can just book two rooms, right? One right next to ours.”
“Well, that would work.”
After all, even a butler is human and needs to sleep. It would make sense to have a room next to the ladies to be on standby.
“Alright, fine.”
In the end, following the plan, two rooms were booked on the top floor of the hotel. I stepped back out to give Theodora the room number.
“Alright, the ladies' room is 807. My room is 808.”
“T-The eighth floor? That’s amazing…”
“Yeah. We have some business to attend to, so we’ll head up later. Take all the clothes we bought and leave them in 807. You wait in 808.”
Wouldn't it be better if we just went together?
To keep up appearances for the public, I took the elevator up to the eighth floor and back down again before handing the keys to the ladies waiting on the first floor.
“I’m telling you clearly, okay? Even if you hear us coming in, stay in 808. Got it?”
“I get it, so don't worry. I’m the one who’s worried, so don't be too late getting back.”
“W-Well… alright.”
“I’m scared someone might kidnap my beautiful wives… wait, no, with Iris there, it should be fine.”
Come to think of it, with Iris around, there really wasn't much to worry about.
“Iris. Please make sure no trouble starts.”
“Okay.”
“I’m counting on you.”
And so, I waited in Room 808. I didn't know what they were going out to buy, but they said they needed something, so I just waited quietly in my room. I changed my clothes and took a wash.
“I’m tired. I just want to fall asleep.”
* * *
“Dora, where are we going?”
“Oh, did I not mention it?”
Theodora headed straight for the building right next to the hotel. It was a bit smaller than the department store we’d visited earlier, but since it was located in a wealthy district with luxury hotels, it was lined with incredibly expensive clothing boutiques.
“Hey, Iris.”
“Yeah.”
“I, I might need your help just a tiny bit this time…”
“Okay.”
Theodora glanced around cautiously before whispering softly into Iris’s ear.
“C-Can you do it…?”
“Yeah.”
After listening to Theodora, Iris gave a slow nod. Sera hadn't been able to hear their conversation properly and was curious about the contents.
“Dora? What did you talk about?”
“Sera, you know what we’re here to do tonight, right?”
“U-Ugh… that’s…”
“We have to make sure. Today is… that kind of day.”
* * *
“I really just want to sleep like this.”
As expected, after living in Roanmarie for even a few days… no, not even days. Even just a few hours of life here made it impossible to go back to the way things were in Calax. The bed was the biggest factor. I’d upgraded my bed to a fairly high-quality one when I changed the furniture last time.
But comparing that to this expensive bed, made by pooling every bit of available coin, was just unfair. And above all, there was the sense of freedom that came with the size.
Unlike my bed at home, where I barely fit if I lay straight, this comfort was so vast that I couldn't even see the edges when I stretched out my limbs.
“What are they buying that’s taking so long?”
It had already been over forty minutes since the girls said they were going to buy something. I figured there wouldn't be any major issues with Iris there, but for some reason, I had a nagging feeling that something troublesome was about to happen.
To kill time, I pulled out my old sword from my storage artifact and was swinging it around when I heard a knock at the door of Room 808.
Knock, knock.
“Yes, ladies. You’re finally here.”
But what was this?
“Um… what is this?”
Setting aside the fact that they were all draped in beige coats for some reason.
“L-Let’s just get inside first.”
Why was everyone so silent?
Did something happen?
Theodora, who had been staring at me since entering the room, began to give me a look the moment our eyes met.
“Are you telling me to lie down on the bed…?”
Nod, nod.
“Well… I suppose I should.”
As I lay down on the bed, they all stood in a row at the foot of it, staring intently at me.
“Use it.”
“Pardon? Use what?”
Iris’s usual way of speaking—omitting the subject. This time, the answer came from Theodora.
“Y-You know, that thing from before. The Fertility Magic.”
“Ah, the one I took from the goblin shaman? Wait, but who am I supposed to use it on…?”
“O-On me… or Sera…”
I tilted my head in confusion for a moment, but then I wondered… was this some kind of roleplay?
Is this really okay?
I’d accidentally used it on Theodora once before and gotten a massive scolding. But now, well, she was the one asking for it.
Flash!
Magic flowed from my fingertips and flew toward Theodora. It was the Fertility Magic used by goblin shamans, effective on various creatures as long as there wasn't a massive difference in physical size.
But then.
“Now!”
Following Theodora’s shout, Iris’s magic activated.
The goblin shaman’s mana, which had been flying on its intended trajectory, suddenly began to reverse.
Wait, don't tell me.
“Urgh…! Magic Reflection?!”
Grin.
The look in the three ladies' eyes began to turn predatory.