Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Slurp
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The Saintess's lips drew closer to my neck.
Now close enough that I could even feel her breath.
- *Lick*.
The Saintess, not wanting to waste even the blood smeared near my neck, began licking it up bit by bit.
Unlike her hands, it felt ticklish.
Last time the Saintess licked my neck, I was so tense that I hadn't even noticed the itchiness.
Now... well, I figured the Saintess knew what she was doing.
I trusted she'd hold back on her own.
Please...
"Haa... Now it's time for the main course, so wrap your arms around my waist, oppa."
"Pardon? Around your waist?"
Having licked up every drop, the Saintess pulled her face slightly away from my neck.
But what did she mean by wrapping my arms around her waist?
Did she want me to hug her?
"You'll regret it if you don't. Your neck might sting a little. You could get dizzy while it's happening."
"Even so, your waist..."
"All my kin before did it that way. They just... naturally did it."
Unable to refuse the Saintess's request, I reluctantly wrapped my arms around her waist.
There had to be a reason she was asking this much.
It absolutely wasn't because I wanted to hug her.
And as if she'd been waiting, the Saintess pressed her body right up against mine in response.
"...Saintess?"
"Stay still, or it'll go wrong."
Her marshmallow-soft breasts plopped heavily against my pectorals.
Her head then rested lightly on my shoulder.
The Saintess seemed to think this was the perfect position for sucking my neck.
In truth, it was no different from lovers locked in a tight embrace.
Every breath she took sent warm puffs against the nape of my neck.
"This is my first time actually sucking a neck."
"Pardon?"
"I told you. I always just tore into them. So I only know the veins in the arms and hands."
"......"
That was a pretty shocking statement.
A vampire who couldn't even properly suck from the neck.
She poked at my carotid artery and jugular vein one by one with her index finger, seemingly debating which to choose.
It felt like watching a nurse giving her first IV.
She'll be fine... right?
"You're Naia's boyfriend, so I can't do the exact same thing."
"...What nonsense— I mean, hold on, Saintess. The Hero and I aren't involved at all."
Her next remark was even more shocking.
I nearly spat something harsh at her but managed to hold it back.
Was she still suspicious?
"You're not...?"
"I have no idea which part makes you think that."
"Isn't groping someone in their underwear dating?"
"......"
I had nothing to say.
Generally speaking, it wasn't entirely wrong.
But I wished she wouldn't misunderstand like this.
Did the Saintess know how terrified and trembling I'd been back then?
"I was only keeping my promise to you, Saintess."
"...I only asked for a body search..."
"You took your clothes off yourself, Hero."
"Th-then that means we are dating..."
I couldn't understand the Saintess's views on chastity.
Rubbing and spanking her butt in her underwear aside, our current position was no less intimate.
If anything, the Saintess and I looked more like lovers than her and the Hero right now.
"Hmm... Whatever, I can't hold back anymore. Time to eat."
Suddenly, a moist, jelly-like sensation enveloped my nape.
Her fangs pierced my neck, bringing a sharp sting.
My arms around her waist tightened instinctively, pressing our bodies together.
Her soft breasts compressed against me, acting like cushions.
I'd noticed it before, but could a human body really be this squishy?
It felt like hugging a warm doll all over.
Comforting enough to fall asleep right there.
Then came the slurp, followed by a cool sensation at my neck.
The Saintess had started sucking.
"Haa... haa..."
Her breathing grew rougher.
Each quick breath tickled my nape with warmth.
Now I understood why she said people naturally wrapped their arms around during it.
Pain aside, it was itchy...
My arms tensed again.
Then her cold hand touched my nape.
I flinched in surprise, and her hand gripped my neck firmly.
She slapped my back with her palm.
As if telling me to stay still.
The Saintess gripped my neck tightly with her hand and continued sucking blood.
For a while, the gateway fell silent except for our breathing.
I'm getting sleepy... Holding the Saintess, who felt like a warm doll, while sitting there made drowsiness creep in.
And maybe because she was sucking my blood, my body felt weaker bit by bit.
The pain and itchiness had already become familiar, leaving no sensation.
The stress that had enveloped me melted away like snow.
Had I ever felt this relaxed since arriving here?
It had been nothing but tension and surprises.
Almost nothing went my way.
Even just moments ago.
I hadn't expected to see Selena again, though I didn't witness it directly...
Thinking of Selena made my arms tense up again.
Best not to think about Selena.
She's an unpredictable happiness that could arrive anytime.
I loosened my arms slightly and pushed thoughts of Selena from my mind.
Closing and opening my eyes...
One hour?
The clock on the wall showed an hour had passed.
Sucked for a full hour and I'm fine?
With a bad feeling, I looked down at the Saintess.
"Saintess...?"
"Grrr..."
The Saintess had fallen asleep in my arms mid-suck.
Like someone who hadn't slept in ages.
Makes sense—it was dawn for her.
And she'd woken up because of me.
Fortunately, no one had come by except Selena.
I debated waking her but decided to carry her to the cradle as is.
I unwrapped my arms from her waist and scooped under her butt instead.
Planning to lay her straight in.
When I stood up supporting her butt...
Hm? She's light.
Lighter than last time.
Previously, my legs had trembled holding her, but now she felt like a feather.
Did getting sucked by a vampire have this effect?
I set her down in the cradle, doubts aside.
She curled up as the warmth left, feeling cold.
I quickly closed the cradle door.
Having gorged on blood, she didn't cling to me like before.
Lucky, I suppose.
My neck felt stiff from staying still so long, so I massaged it.
Two small punctures remained.
They'd mostly healed—perks of the Saintess—but still not something to show others.
I rewrapped the bandage she'd discarded earlier around my neck.
Glancing at the clock after finishing up, it was nearing 3 a.m.
Shift ends at 6, so just a bit longer.
Come to think of it, no random event today yet...
Day one: Envy.
Day two: Logan.
So today's random event should be due.
It'd be nice if it just ended like this... but in games, one random event per day was the rule.
Selena was more like a natural disaster than a random event.
I reined in the tension I'd let slip due to the Saintess.
But up to 5:59, no entrants came.
No way...
Selena aside, no one had come at all.
Anxiety bloomed in my chest.
If no one came like this, there was only one possible random event.
I kept watching the clock.
'Please, just one person... Anyone, please...'
If the event I suspected hit, it'd be a hassle now.
Not just now—it'd keep tormenting me steadily.
And I couldn't wake the Saintess for it...
As I fretted, the second hand ticked toward the hour.
57... 58... 59... And on the dot.
- *Knock knock*.
The entrance door opened quietly.
Ha... It came after all.
"In this deep night, I come gladly to share the precious gospel that shall be a single ray of light to a lost soul."
A man draped in white cloth from head to toe, wearing a bizarre conical hat.
Ornate decorations dangled from his shoulders.
Despite the ridiculous appearance, this guy had the worst reputation among random events.
"It's fine. Come in."
"My thanks for your brother's kindness."
Priest Malus. This man was a vampire like the Saintess.
There were many reasons he was unpleasant.
For one, 6 a.m. was when vampires started getting stronger.
That's why he'd come so late.
He dragged out the inspection to empower himself.
About two hours.
And listening to his sermon inflicted various curses of heresy.
One big reason he was annoying.
Curses reduced stamina, language skills, intelligence—basic stats dropped.
And he'd keep coming back to refresh them.
The only ways to lift them: time or killing the caster.
I couldn't rush him out either.
Religion held great weight in the Empire.
Turning away missionaries was forbidden.
So I'd let him in despite everything.
The Empire was pretty harsh on gatekeepers here.
No weapons allowed, can't expel freely—practically telling us to die.
And the biggest issue: after cursing me, he turns me into his familiar.
Not a huge problem for me personally, but a man's lips on my neck? Gross.
To make a familiar, he injects his blood into me.
Sucking is intake; injecting makes familiars.
Familiar effects are minor.
Vampires probably just do it on instinct.
"Before we begin the inspection, allow me to share a moment of the holy word's grace to wash away worldly troubles."
Malus opened his mouth.
I had no way to defy him now.
Even asking the Saintess for help wouldn't work.
They were the same religion.
Same vampires, even.
I couldn't just wake her and say Malus was cursing me.
To outsiders, it was just a verse of doctrine...
'This is insane...'
Maybe scream for help right before he bites.
I gave her my blood—surely she'd side with me over kin?
Regardless of my thoughts, the cradle door suddenly flew open.
"Ugh... What? When did I fall asleep? It's over now, right, oppa?"
The Saintess stretched and sat up in the cradle.
She rubbed her eyes, then noticed the presence and looked at Malus.
"Gasp... Wh-what? The inspection's not done?"
Thinking it was over, the Saintess floundered in confusion.
Then her eyes locked on Malus's face.
"What... You. Malus?"
"Hm? That voice—Princess?"
They knew each other as kin?
Prin... What the fuck?
Stunned by Malus's words, I looked at the Saintess.
Demon King's daughter, so princess?
Malus was his subordinate, so yeah, technically.
Checking her reaction, I froze.
Her face was chillingly cold—terrifyingly so.
And in the blink of an eye...
Malus's head shattered under the Saintess's fist, splattering the gateway red.