Firstborn Vampire: S-Rank Judain
When you're about to commit an act of filial impiety, you might as well pair it with some filial piety too.
Your first child has been born!
A child...? This kid? For real? She kinda looks like me a little... No, what am I even thinking! A child all of a sudden—I wasn't prepared for anything! I didn't have the money to raise a kid, nor the time to care for one all day. But abandoning her outside? My conscience wouldn't allow it. It felt like it was screaming, 'You're gonna kick out a kid who looks that young? Are you insane?'
If only the money issue could be sorted somehow...
"Could I even be a hunter...?"
I had zero attack skills. The only vaguely relevant thing was
• Use your child's abilities at 50% output.
• If the child is in danger, up to 500% output possible.
That was it. No matter that she was born with an L-rank skill, this little kid couldn't possibly be strong. Freshly born, her powers might even be unstable. Just as I was thinking being a hunter was impossible,
"Hunter? I can do it!"
"What are you talking about? A kid like you would get in big trouble."
"No way! I'm super strong! Look at this!"
Judain puffed out her cheeks and showed me her status window.
> Name: Undecided
> Rank:S-rank
> Mana: 10,000
> Unique Skill:Original Blood Control
— Freely manipulate your own blood.
— Blood changes form and properties according to the user's will.
S-rank? This little kid?
"See? I told you I'm strong!"
"That's why I wanna be a hunter with Mommy!"
"Still no."
No matter how strong, I couldn't let a child do something dangerous. And if she was this strong, 50% would be plenty.
"Hng... Okay..."
Now the money problem seemed somewhat solved. Oh, right—I hadn't named her yet. What should I name her? After a moment's thought, I spoke up.
"Hmm... Hey, kid?"
"Me? What?"
"No name? Want me to give you one?"
"For real?! Yeah! I love it! Any name Mommy picks is great!"
I didn't expect her to be this thrilled.
"How about Judain? Surname like mine—Yoo."
"Yeah! Love it!"
Watching Judain beam with joy, it really sank in—we were family now.
"How old are you, Judain?"
Something I'd been personally curious about. Born from a skill, yet she spoke well and looked about 8 or 9.
"Judain is 8 years old!"
Mental age around 8, then. As she chattered away happily for a while, she suddenly wilted.
"Mommy... I'm hungry..."
Of course, freshly born—she had to be starving.
"I wanna suck."
"What...?"
What did she just say? Suck? On what? No way.
My gaze drifted to my chest. Huh...? Wait, no—I wasn't mentally prepared! And she's like 8! She wouldn't...!
"Mommy... food..."
Uh...! Uh...! She was getting closer...! I froze in place, not knowing what to do.
Before I knew it, Judain was right in front of me.
"Mommy... I'll eat well..."
I squeezed my eyes shut. Chomp. The sensation was on my neck. Ah, those sharp fangs I'd noticed. A vampire, huh. Heat rushed to my face. The misunderstanding was so embarrassing I wanted to die. What kind of misunderstanding was that...! I really am crazy!
My face felt like it was going to explode. I sneaked a sideways glance at Judain. She probably had no idea about my misunderstanding, right? If she noticed, I'd die of shame.
A moment later, she pulled away.
"Mommy tastes like this... So yummy!"
Such a misleading thing to say.
"In the future, could you be clearer about what you're sucking on...?"
"Yeah! Got it!"
At least she seemed to have all my knowledge—such a relief. If she were a total blank-slate baby, I'd be in real trouble.
Anyway, when should we check out the Tower? Tomorrow maybe. Oh, right—gotta register as an awakener too. So much to do.
In web novels, they operate in secret without telling the government.
Of course, that's fiction. No way in reality.
And I don't wanna get caught for nothing and end up in jail.
Web novel protagonists are brave, huh. Anyway, set those thoughts aside—time to get ready to go out.
But can I leave her home alone?
The center wasn't open at night, and during the day... Can vampires go out in sunlight?
Too risky to test.
Guess I have no choice but to leave her.
She wouldn't cry from separation anxiety or anything, right?
"Hey, I gotta go register as an awakener. Can you wait alone?"
"Yeah! I'm cool Judain, so it's fine!"
"Then no causing trouble."
"Yeah! Come back safe!"
"I'm not leaving yet."
I slowly got ready and stood at the door.
"I'm off."
"Yeah! This time come back safe for real!"
"Got it."
"Um... watch out for the sun."
I stepped out of the house.
This must be the Awakener Management Center. Brand new, nice facilities.
If only my house were this nice.
I headed to the reception desk with such nonsense thoughts.
"Um, here to register as an awakener."
"Yes, understood. Full name?"
"Yoo Sungwoo..."
"Date of birth?"
"April 1st."
"One moment~"
But I'm registered as male.
"Uh... are you... male by any chance?"
As expected, but actually facing it was super embarrassing. Intensely so.
"Ah... well, I awakened and turned into a woman..."
"Ah~ I see. Rare, but I've heard it happens sometimes."
Good.
I'm not the only one.
"One sec. Manual for that..."
"Found it. Please confirm if the fingerprint matches."
"What if it doesn't match?"
"Then we do a genetic test."
Oh, pretty systematic.
"Yes, now place your finger here."
It won't mismatch here, right?
"Match confirmed. Identity verified."
"Congratulations on awakening. Since your gender changed, you'll need to update your ID photo too."
"Please wait until your awakener license is issued."
"Yes, got it."
Probably takes about an hour.
Meanwhile, at Sungwoo's house.
"Haha, telling me to watch out for sunlight—Mommy's so innocent."
Judain was a bit different without Sungwoo around.
"An 8-year-old not listening to her mom is only natural, no?"
Very different, actually.
"Unfortunately, I'm not a true vampire bloodline, so no issue there."
Whoosh. Warm sunlight poured over Judain.
"Perfect weather for sunbathing."
Nothing happened in the sunlight. Nothing at all.
"Getting worried like that means I made a good first impression."
A thick smile crept across Judain's lips.
"Better to use this cute, bright side than this weird speech pattern."
"Though that tantrum earlier was a bit embarrassing..."
"Once emotions surge, hard to control."
Judain slowly adjusted her hat.
"I'll do anything to help Mommy."
No worry of being hated. As long as she didn't get caught.
"Even if it goes against Mommy's wishes."
"Mommy said money's the issue."
"Best way to make money? Hunting, of course."
"Can't be official? Then unofficial hunter it is."
Disobeying was unfilial, but earning money was filial—so together, it balanced to zero, in Judain's mind.
"The world runs on ability, anyway."
Having Sungwoo's memories was both blessing and curse. Thanks to them, her 8-year-old mind could converse with Sungwoo, but they also gave her the info to plan this.
"Well then, off I go."
"Enter."
[ Easy ] [ Normal ] [ Hard ] [ Hell ]
"To make useful minions, need a flashy impact."
Entering the Tower.
What appeared before Judain: 10 goblins wielding swords.
"Even on floor 1, pathetic."
Judain slowly raised her hand.
"No hard feelings."
She lightly snapped her fingers. The floor where the goblins stood turned into a pool of blood, swallowing them.
The goblins screamed and struggled, but to no avail.
"Kieeeek! Keeek! Keeeuk..."
Gulp. The blood pool devoured them and vanished without a trace.
"Clean."
Rewards distributed.
Low-grade mana stones x10.
Check your inventory.
Judain smiled in satisfaction as she checked her inventory.
"All set."
Entering Hall of Fame.
"Hall of Fame... Right, that exists."
> Please set your Hall of Fame nickname.
"Nickname... Has to be that one."
Judain's fingers danced lightly over the holographic keyboard.
Confirm?
"Naturally."
"Now back to Mommy."
"So much to do—doll play, hide-and-seek, you name it."
No matter how mature she seemed, a kid was a kid.
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Association.
"President! Someone new has entered the Hall of Fame!"