Eight-Foot Ghost (3)

Even after becoming a vampire, she still thought of herself as human. At least, that's what Shin Na-o believed.

She hadn't wanted to become a vampire in the first place. It had just happened by some freak accident. Sure, there were downsides like not being able to walk under the sun, but as long as she could blend into human society without issue, that was fine by her. That's why she'd never once used any vampire abilities. She had no desire to attack humans, and cannibalism was something she'd never even dreamed of. Because even as a vampire, she wanted to stay human.

"I need your vampire powers."

But then Mayuri said that. And if Mayuri said it, Shin Na-o couldn't refuse. Vampires had a clear hierarchy, and Shin Na-o had been bound to Mayuri's Cute Girl Mod. No matter how strong her will, instincts were hard to fight. Especially when she had no desire to resist in the first place—she'd just follow them. The instincts of a vampire with a rigid superior-subordinate structure.

"U-um, sis... I get the story, but... do you think I can actually use my vampire powers...?"

She'd heard the full rundown from Mayuri and knew exactly what she had to do. But she'd never properly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠used her vampire powers before. And right now, Shin Na-o was in her small Na-o form... Far closer to human than vampire.

"Don't you have to drink blood first to do anything...? I don't think I can use my powers in this state...."

"You can drink mine."

With a sigh, Mayuri exposed her nape.

"Drink your blood, sis...? Isn't that, like, dangerous...?"

If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything, Shin Na-o was the one freaking out. There was no helping it. To activate the Bond Effect, she had to offer her blood.

The Bond Effect she'd gained when binding Na-o—a power that strengthened monsters. She had no idea what "enhancement" actually entailed. She'd never tried it before. Was it physical strengthening? Boosted vampire abilities? Or maybe even mental reinforcement? Whatever it was, it was best to prepare for anything. She'd offer her blood and see what happened.

In truth, baring your neck to a vampire is suicidal...

She could get drained dry and die. Or turned into a vampire herself. But in this case, both were probably fine. She'd only let Shin Na-o have a small amount, so she wouldn't get completely drained. As for turning into a vampire... Getting bitten didn't automatically make you one. Vampires didn't turn just anyone. Vampires (through bloodsucking) create new vampires. In other words, it was akin to reproduction from their perspective. So feeding bites and reproductive bites were distinctly separated. Even if it was the reproductive kind, the victim could desperately resist turning. Of course, vampires cast on appealing targets to prevent that. But Shin Na-o wouldn't use something like that.

"O-okay... I'll give it a try then......"

She'd only ever drunk from blood packs until now. Her first direct bite. She was nervous, but she knew how it worked. Still, with Mayuri right there, Shin Na-o hesitated for a moment. Is this okay? Really okay...? As a vampire with a strict hierarchy, she felt repulsed at the idea of harming her master.

"Na-o."

Then Mayuri called her name. No helping it if it was an order. Shin Na-o's fangs pierced Mayuri's nape. Mayuri's blood flowed into her mouth.

This bite also defied the master-servant bond between Shin Na-o and Mayuri. Of course, it didn't shatter it. But it definitely created a tiny crack. As a result, the Cute Girl Mod's hold on Shin Na-o weakened slightly. The mod's power, which had rigorously emphasized her humanity, diminished—and her monstrous power revived in its place.

Her body felt incredibly light. The blood's sweetness made her drink a bit more than planned. She even licked the blood from her lips before pulling away, not wanting to waste it.

Shin Na-o had already returned to her original height.

"Looking at you like this, sis, you're pretty tiny."

Maybe because she'd only seen Mayuri as small Na-o lately. For the first time in ages, she really felt the height difference between them. On Mayuri's neck, the fang marks. She gently touched the distinct puncture wounds.

"Lady Mayuri, are you okay?"

"Yeah... It didn't hurt as much as I thought......"

Maybe from the blood loss. She felt a bit dazed, but nothing serious otherwise.

"...Alright, then. Let's give it a shot."

Mayuri said that. The sun had set, and night blanketed the streets. Three figures stood there. Mayuri, Shin Na-o, Ryu Harin. They hadn't been out of the salon long, but once more, a sound echoed in Ryu Harin's ears.

Wooo——... Woooo——...

"Eek...."

From the shadows between alleyways, it slowly revealed itself. Empty eye sockets. A half-melted face. Gaunt to the point of starvation, yet each step boomed loudly. Wearing a wide-brim hat and a dress, but surely that was just to lure people in.

"H-Harin... Is there an Eight-Foot Ghost...?"

"Yes, there is."

Ryu Harin nodded. Mayuri glanced at Shin Na-o.

"Th-then, excuse me......"

Shin Na-o hoisted Mayuri and Ryu Harin onto her shoulders—and leaped.

"Kyaaah!"

Mayuri screamed undignifiedly from Shin Na-o's shoulder. Cold night air whipped her cheeks as Shin Na-o spread her wings. Bat wings. She flapped them, soaring into the sky.

If the Eight-Foot Ghost was a relatively recent urban legend, vampires had been folklore fodder for ages. Maybe that's why vampires felt like a mix of ghost story tropes and monster traits. Turning into mist, shapeshifting into bats or beasts, actually being demons in disguise. Was it because of those features? Or modern artists reinterpreting traditional vampire lore? Or—

"As I said before, immortal vampires possess bodies optimized for their minds."

"In other words, their bodies are already complete. No room for further improvement."

"So mental growth directly translates to the vampire's growth."

Shin Na-o had clung to her humanity all this time. Even as a vampire, she'd seen herself as human. She never wanted to attack humans, so her mind stayed human-like. Thus, her body had stayed mostly human. Inversely, just letting go of a bit of that humanity allowed this.

The lingering sweetness of blood in her mouth. A slight omnipotence from the enhancement. Reveling in the pleasure, Shin Na-o arrived at the Ririri Detective Agency in one go.

—Crash!

...Of course, she botched the landing and shattered a window on the way in.

"S-sorry, sis...! I'll pay for it later!"

"No need! More importantly, the drawer!"

"Got it!"

As Mayuri directed, Shin Na-o opened the drawer, pulled out a paper, and handed it to Ryu Harin.

"......"

Ryu Harin silently picked up a pen.

What's today's date? She checked her phone and quickly filled in the blanks.

There were more blanks. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Workplace was obviously Ririri Detective Agency. Full address? Job description... part-time work should suffice. Would the Foundation allow side ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gigs? Who knew. As Ryu Harin filled in work hours, wages, and such reasonably,

Thud, thud, thud... Footsteps echoed from downstairs, delayed.

Even an Eight-Foot Ghost as fast as a car couldn't match a flying vampire. The enhancement had bought them time, but it had tracked Ryu Harin here regardless. Then—creeeak—the door opened.

Ryu Harin finished her final signature—and her throat was seized.

"Kek...! Gah, kehek...!"

Pressure on her neck. The Eight-Foot Ghost's grip choked her. She couldn't breathe. Lungs heaving, no air. She met its empty sockets. No smile, no anger. Just crushing her windpipe with bone-shattering force. That emotionless act strangely made the monster comprehensible.

The Eight-Foot Ghost couldn't see or interact with anyone but its obsession. Meaning, for Earth, it basically didn't exist. It only existed in Ryu Harin's world. Only during the short obsession period could it manifest on Earth. Born of obsession, vanishing with its target's demise.

Who the hell would tie their life to something like that?

Glancing aside, she saw Mayuri hastily hanging a frame on the wall. Not a photo inside, but paper filled with Mayuri's handwriting.

"Aaaah, aaaaaah—!!!"

Thud! The Eight-Foot Ghost's massive body collapsed. Ryu Harin was flung aside. Her already injured body from the car crash screamed in pain. Groaning as she rose, cracks split the space. Walls and floor tore open, a maw yawning wide. It swallowed the Eight-Foot Ghost in one gulp.

Crunch crunch! Gulp! Somewhere, food slid down a throat, and paper fluttered down.