Chapter 5: A Cool Yet Warm Embrace
A cool yet warm embrace. The person holding me was overcoming the chill of her body heat with sheer gentleness. The S-rank fluffiness and unshakable ride quality could only mean—
"Awake already?"
"...Elizaveta."
Guilt swirled through me at the realization I'd been using the elderly as a mount this whole time. I tried to scramble down in a panic, but the arms around me tightened.
"We're almost there... Since we're already like this, mind if I carry you all the way?"
"Want me to piggyback you instead?"
"Hehe, such jokes."
Not a joke.
"Mirror, mind if I ask you something?"
Elizaveta's voice carried a hint of melancholy. Probably because she hadn't gotten to kill anyone lately on my account.
"What time do you think it is?"
"Uh..."
The sky behind Elizaveta's head was dim. Pitch black, so I could guess it was night, but nothing more.
"Incheon Special City?"
"...12:06 a.m. Make that kind of joke again, and it won't end well for you."
...Uncle types loved it, but ancient vampires must not be into that.
Wait, a whole day passed?
Grandma let out her signature sniffle she adored.
"H-Happy birthd—"
"Birthday. Say birthday. Unless you want to die."
"Y-Yes. Happy birthday, sis."
The letter I'd entrusted to Leviathan needed burning the second I got home.
"...Thank you."
Elizaveta narrowed her eyes briefly before slipping back into her usual relaxed poise.
"Mirror. As a birthday gift, I have one request."
"Uh... If it's a gift, I already—"
"If you're talking about that crayon scribble, think carefully before you speak. You didn't mean it for me instead of Grandma, right?"
Leviathan, you jerk. I said I'd give it personally, and you passed it on already!
"You didn't prepare that scribble as my birthday gift, did you? My pet dog must've misunderstood."
...My painstaking rainbow-colored handwritten letter dismissed as a scribble. But I'm not sad.
"Yep. I have something else prepared."
I survived, after all. Better my art gets trashed than dying. Old folks just have outdated tastes. Generous understanding is key.
"Knew it. Good thing I punished her early. Dumb dogs are such a hassle. Should I just dispose of her and get a new one?"
"...I really like Leviathan. She's a good girl."
Does she know I just saved her life? I don't expect repayment—just no tsundere attitude.
"...Really? Now I like her even less."
What? Defending her backfired. Sorry, Leviathan. I tried my best.
"What a wicked bitch. Time to 'arrest' her."
Still, if she's gonna live, she has to live.
"Fine, since you like her, I'll let it slide."
"Hehe, thanks..."
"Anyway, you're dodging the point. Should I dispose of her after all?"
Elizaveta tossed out the grim words casually before continuing.
"You'll grant my request, right?"
"Hm... I'll review it and consider positively—"
"I heard it was a scribble. My 'birthday' gift?"
"Just say it."
Elizaveta sighed.
"So much to say, but... never mind. It's a happy day today."
"R-Right. Today is Elizaveta—"
"First rule: No honorifics all day."
"Yes...?"
"Yes is an honorific."
"Uh..."
"And I'll call you sis. Got it, Mirror sis?"
Dementia...? Makes sense at her age. Wonder if there's a nursing home for vampires—
"Think dementia again, and we'll spend the whole day cozy, just us two."
"...I absolutely didn't, didn't."
"I'll take your word for it. Sis."
"..."
"Next, number two."
Two? Ah, she said first earlier, so there's a second. Hope there's no third...
"Call me El."
"Oh, that kind of roleplay? Got it perfectly."
Grandma wants to try some VTuber-style RP! Admirable effort to follow the kids' trends.
"Send me your age, race, nationality— all the settings later. Today, sis, El will do whatever you want."
"...Such reassuring words."
Squeeze. El's nails dug into my clothes with exquisite pressure—not enough to complain, a skill befitting one above all.
"Finally, number three."
I swallowed hard. What request was she building up to like this?
"Today, look only at me."
Her words like a selfish girl's plea—not the vampire queen ruling the world or the blood demon who razed the central plains. I nodded blankly.
"Yeah."
No reason to refuse.
El only set me down at our front door.
"See you in the morning, sis."
I gave an awkward wave and smile; she elegantly lifted her skirt hem.
——Thud.
The door shut, El vanished. Without turning on the lights, I headed to the bedroom in the 108-pyong penthouse El bought me. Lying on the Italian solid-wood bed she bought, thoughts swirled.
What the hell?
Cheonma mistaking me for Black Cloud Sword—fine. But why does an ageless vampire look at me with the same eyes?
'Lolita fan—'
No. The kids' gymnastics class was purely to tease me. She never took her eyes off me the whole time.
Thinking back to my first day in the novel: She found me denying reality in the basement first. Got me hero-registered that day, even bought me a house. How did she know...? Unless she regressed...
"...!"
A shiver raced through my body.
'Regression...!'
She's a regressor! I'd already conquered her in the previous loop!
Everything clicked. As expected of me—bewitching even a terrifying vampire.
But sorry, I can't accept her love. It's for past me, not now.
"..."
Cheonma too. Vampire too. No clue what to do. I just want to stop Marian's outer god fall, then slack off eating snacks...
I buried my face in the microfiber blanket, then peeled off the memo stuck to the headboard.
Conditions to Prevent Marian's Fall
1. Marian being the outer god's daughter must never leak to others.
2. Marian's self-actualization must not be completely blocked.
3. Elizaveta must never learn Marian is the outer god's daughter.
These are the big ones. I'd love to run to El crying, 'Waaah! Bad girl bullied me!'—but reasons prevent it.
Her sister was taken by Marian's outer god dad long ago—minor detail, skip.
"Sighhh."
The two women I'd unwittingly enchanted are the problem. Unless I plan lifelong WWE with Marian, I need a permanent outer god fix.
One idea comes to mind, but...
Googling stuff like 'how to confess zero damage first base' while rolling on the bed, dawn broke. Waiting for unpredictable El, I packed gear like the bulletproof vest and mana blade knife from the department store. Doorbell rang.
——Creak.
Opening the door: El, waiting.
"Morning, sis!"
No usual dress—jeans and puffer jacket, totally normal.
"Uh, y-yeah... Good morning."
Her voice pitched up was disorienting. Snapping to, my arm was linked with El's.
"Bus comes soon. Hurry."
"B-Bus...? What about your sedan?"
"What are you saying? I'm a minor."
El's eyes flashed murderously. Simultaneously—
——Ding!
Age: 19
Other: Exchange student from Greece. High school girl. Mirror's junior from the same high school Mirror graduated from. From the same club, 'Book Club.' Sweet junior who adores her senpai. Loves headpats.
Not easy...
I replied to Leviathan and tested the settings.
——Supreme Technique, "Pat Pat"
"Mm..."
El was tall, so I stood on tiptoes to pat her head awkwardly. She knelt, offering her red scalp for more.
...Is she insane?
Grandma's dementia hit hard.
"Um, the bus..."
"It's fine. We'll catch the next."
What can I do if Grandma's senile? Powerless granddaughter obeys. 30 minutes later, freed from patting.
"Sorry, sis. Been too long..."
Too long...? Definitely a regressor!
Pointing it out, El brushed it off as a slip. Newbie regressor, apparently.
...At her age? Questionable for a vampire who's aged as she pleased, but regression's rare even after 2000+ years.
"Sis, we're late. Hurry."
"...Yeah."
'Your fault' nearly escaped but went back down.
Holding El's warm hand—
...Warm?
What did she do? Her temp was slightly higher than mine. Squinting, I slid my gaze to our clasped hands. Pulse vibrations through her skin. Mine nearly stopped.
Wondering if forbidden spell, El pulled a hot pack from her pocket.
"..."
"..."
"Hurry, sis."
"Yeah."
Hearing "sis" from someone heads taller, centuries my senior—face itches.
Fidgeting fingers—
"Black Cloud Sword. There you are."
Wild Cheonma appeared.
"Who're you? Sis, know this 'auntie'?"
El crushed my hand bone-threatingly. Thrust our linked hands at Cheonma like a trophy, smirking. Cheonma's face twisted fiercely.
"Auntie...? Sis...? Has the old monster finally lost it?"
Cheonma and El began a stare-down. Not wanting shrimp-back explosion in whale fight, I swiftly Reversed positions with a cat at vision's edge.
"Mrowaaargh! What the—?!"
Whoops, human. Brief moment of silence for her sacrifice, then walked on. Lake in park center. Yacht floating above—today's birthday venue.
"...Marian?"
But there, someone who shouldn't be.