Ar (2)
"Why am I so dizzy?"
I frowned, pushing myself up.
My head throbbed, perhaps because I had slept so deeply for the first time in a while.
Feels like I've got anemia.
Turning my head, I saw Ar fast asleep on the bed.
She must have been exhausted, sleeping so soundly that her stomach was completely exposed.
...But does she always sleep like this?
I couldn't tell if she was actually asleep. It felt awkward, almost as if she were pretending. Was it some quirk of being the True Ancestor?
Just as I pulled her shirt down and reached to pull the blanket back over her—
"Mmm?"
Ar frowned slightly and fluttered her eyelids open. She had probably reacted to me waking up.
Since I was in the middle of carefully tucking her in, it was only natural that my eyes met her half-asleep gaze.
"Mister?"
"Ah, you're awake?"
"...Yeah. Yaaawn."
Ar opened her mouth wide, yawning as she stretched her arms. After a long stretch, she wiped away the tiny tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes. Soon, she directed a puzzled look at me.
"What is it?"
"...Nothing. Just, you know. You seem to have adapted incredibly well," I said, feeling a bit bewildered.
She had just been rescued and brought to the Catacomb yesterday, yet she was so carefree that it was almost absurd.
Ar sat up from the bed and naturally buried her face right into my chest.
"What are you doing?"
"...Tired."
"Go back to sleep. Kids your age are supposed to sleep a lot."
"But I'm already awake. Can you sleep just because you're tired, Mister? Besides, I'm twenty years old!"
When I mentioned her age, Ar puffed out her cheeks with a loud pout and spoke grumpily. She glared up at me with eyes that practically screamed she was sulking. Of course, since she still had her face buried in my stomach, she just looked adorable.
Twenty? She barely looked over 140 centimeters. Hearing her claim to be twenty made me skeptical. Her frame was tiny, and her voice sounded so young.
"Is that a vampire trait or something?"
"Are you teasing me?"
Pouting, Ar gave my stomach a light punch, pulled away, and glared at me with sullen eyes. With her puffed-up cheeks and crooked posture, she looked even more like a child. Maybe she should fix her attitude before throwing a tantrum.
"Well, you are pretty short."
"Hmph."
Ar snorted and whipped her head away as if she couldn't even stand to look at me.
... I really didn't know what to do. Every single woman around me was out of her mind. Was I supposed to coax her? I scratched my head, looking troubled.
"I'm sorry."
"Just words?"
Ar glanced back at me. Her gaze was cold, but for some reason, it held a hint of expectation.
"Actually, never mind. I don't think I'm sorry."
In times like this, it was best to just ignore it. Engaging would only lead to more trouble.
"Mister!"
Ar cried out in dismay, but I ignored her and opened the refrigerator.
"There's nothing to eat... That bastard Merpin. She could have at least stocked some instant rice."
"...Mister!"
"Hmm, should I just make do with candy? But Ar's teeth might rot... What happens if a vampire's fangs get cavities?"
"Argh!"
Ar whined, tugging at the hem of my shirt. Since the fridge was completely empty, I sighed and shut the door. When I looked back at Ar, she had gone into full sulk mode, wearing a deeply displeased expression.
"What are you doing?"
"..."
"Are you not going to talk to me?"
Ar nodded. Keeping her mouth tightly shut was her way of declaring she wouldn't speak to me anymore. I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. I rarely ate breakfast anyway, so it didn't matter to me.
"Are you fine without food? Do you need to drink blood?"
Ar nodded. Her refusal to speak showed that her futile protest was still ongoing. I stared at her with a slightly pathetic look, then lightly touched my neck.
"Blood... I wonder if my blood is fine."
"Actually, I don't really need—yes! It's fine! I want it!"
Her eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly.
"Didn't you just change your mind mid-sentence?"
When I looked at her skeptically, Ar avoided my gaze, feigning innocence.
"Whatever." I pulled my collar aside, exposing my neck. Ar was small, so she wouldn't drink much anyway. And she surely wouldn't enjoy the blood of a twenty-eight-year-old man, so it would be fine.
"I-I can bite you, right?"
"That sounds weird. Just hurry up."
"Okay."
Ar trotted over and opened her small mouth with an "Ah." Her fangs glinted. I shuddered slightly.
"...Mmm."
"Are you scared?"
"No, it's just... feels like watching a needle go in."
"I'll make sure it doesn't hurt."
Ar bit into my neck.
...It really doesn't hurt. It actually felt quite soothing. Aside from the warm sensation of her saliva, I barely felt anything.
As Ar clung to me, drinking from my neck, I looked at the clock on the wall and spoke.
"...The Association will probably send someone soon."
"...?" Her crimson eyes looked up at me in confusion.
"That's how they always operate. Besides, since I snatched you right out of the Association, the threat level is high. Normally, they'd gather as many forces as possible and threaten us to hand you over."
"...!"
"Don't worry. I have a plan. The Association considers you a taboo anyway, so they'll only send a few strong individuals. They can't let your secret get out."
That was why I had come to the Catacomb. It was the most effective place to hide as a villain, and the Catacomb had always been hostile to the Association.
"Though if Flan or the other S-classes show up... whew, we're screwed."
"..." Ar's eyes darkened.
I wore a suit and a white mask with a grinning face. I still wasn't used to it, but I was a villain. Yes, a villain.
"I knew the Association bastards would come, but I didn't expect them to knock right on the front door."
Merpin scowled in irritation and drew her sword. A golden sword. With a sharp *shring*, the keen golden blade glinted in the light.
Standing beside her, I chuckled.
"Hahaha! They're the same Association bastards who couldn't even catch me. What are you so scared of?"
"...That tone of yours is fucking annoying." Merpin glared at me with disgust.
Well, shit. What did she expect when this was the villain concept I went with? Grumbling internally, I maintained my smile.
Ar was hidden deep in the underground of the Catacomb. Merpin's subordinates were currently confronting the heroes who had suddenly appeared.
What's this? I frowned. Contrary to my expectations, there were quite a few heroes. Moreover, they all looked clumsy. It was safe to assume they were rookies.
"...What are they planning?" Coming so openly made it even more suspicious.
Merpin also frowned, sensing something off, and strode forward. Her red coat fluttered behind her. At her imposing presence, even the rookie heroes flinched.
"You small fry! What brings you to the Catacomb? Get lost right now, or I'll take your heads and keep them as souvenirs."
"Hand over the villain, Persona!"
"...What?"
Merpin looked bewildered by the sudden demand, then turned her gaze to me. Her expression practically screamed, You chose that as your villain name? But since I had no idea either, I just shook my head.
Wait, why is my villain name Persona? Putting my sense of injustice aside, I let out a soft sigh and stepped forward with a grin.
"You came looking for me?"
"You...!" A woman gritted her teeth, glaring at me with pure rage. I wondered who it was, only to realize she was the reinforcement-type hero who had pursued me before.
She recovered quickly. Good for her. I sneered.
"Ah, aren't you the one who collapsed because you couldn't even handle your own power? I guess anyone can be a hero these days. Hahaha!"
"..." The rookie's face twisted in anger.
"Well, Merpin?"
"Sigh... dealing with these pests." Merpin sighed wearily and stepped forward.
The surroundings rapidly lost their color, turning black and white.
The heroes moved. Guns were aimed, swords were drawn, and spears were thrown, but—Clang! Everything was blocked by her golden sword.
Merpin looked down at one of the heroes with cold, amber eyes, as if they weren't even worth her time.
"H-Hieek...!" The moment the hero's eyes widened in terror—
"Collapse."
The heroes caught in the monochrome world collapsed one by one.
Merpin was a powerhouse of the Catacomb. None of these heroes were anywhere near her level.
The drawback of Hegemony was that even allies in the vicinity would be caught in it. I only staggered for a moment. I had expected to collapse and get back up, so this was surprising.
She clicked her tongue and looked around. Every single one of them had collapsed, confirming they were either complete rookies or low-ranking heroes.
Something is definitely wrong. Merpin had also realized this and slowly turned her head. Her gaze directed toward the tunnel. Sensing movement, I whipped my head around as well. There, we saw—
"...I figured as much. I was already preparing."
Flan was dragging the already defeated villains with a massive mechanical arm. My eyes widened.
She used the rookies as bait?
The moment Merpin saw her, her face contorted in rage, but Flan remained completely expressionless.
Standing next to Flan was a girl. She had purple hair and wore a lab coat.
"Keeheehee!"
"You bastard!"