Wait, I Get That You're Angry (6)

I kept following her in silence, but it felt like we were heading deeper and deeper into some shady area. No, I should trust Luna. Her personality is a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit rough because of the trauma she's been through, but at her core she's a good person. She keeps her promises. So I'll trust her and keep going.

The awkward atmosphere lingered as we continued forward without a word. About ten minutes had passed when we left the park and arrived at a place with almost no people around. There weren't even any streetlights here, so it was pitch black. Luna, being a vampire, walked through it without any trouble. I had no choice but to pull out the lantern I'd bought at the shop earlier from my Inventory.

When I infused it with mana, a blue magic stone emitted light that brightly illuminated the surroundings. Since it could be used anytime as long as mana was recharged, it was an incredibly cost-effective magic tool. The price was a bit high, but its durability was excellent and the brightness was just right, so I'd prepared one in advance. Not bad performance at all.

After walking a while longer, we arrived at an abandoned building that gave off an eerie vibe.

This place... it's the old school building.

The old school building. It was used during the academy's early days, but during facility reinforcements they discovered too many defects, so they abandoned it and built a new central building, leaving this one to rot. The facilities had deteriorated so badly that students could get hurt, which is why entry is strictly prohibited.

Bringing me to a place like this is scary, but at least there definitely won't be any people around. Just to confirm, I asked her.

"...."

Damn. I need to create some point of contact with her. For some reason, Requiem is targeting her. Looking at her actions in the original story, they probably wanted to use her as a living weapon. Even though she's a half-vampire, she's still a vampire in the end. Since she's the only vampire in the academy, that must be why they're after her. If she awakens, she could probably destroy half the academy.

Vampires grow stronger the more they drink the blood of powerful beings, and their combat prowess becomes terrifying. Given that, it would be good to keep her close and observe her. First, let's take care of the oath.

The Soul Oath is a kind of promise completed by burning a parchment sealed with each party's blood. It's an extremely dangerous yet powerful contract that takes the life of anyone who breaks it. But because it's been abused so often, almost no one knows about it anymore according to the original story. Since the oath can never be broken, it wouldn't hurt to be a little cautious.

As I was thinking that, she spoke to me.

.... No matter how I think about it, she's a strange one. Isn't she trusting me too much? I'm a vampire. Even if I'm only half, I'm still a demon... So why doesn't she feel any fear when she looks at me?

I still remember it. That scene I saw when I came to my senses that day. No matter how hard I try to forget, I can't. The eyes of people running away from me in fear. Even if I regret it, blame myself, and try to atone, the blood staining my hands won't wash away.

As a vampire, as a demon, I found myself disgusting and wanted to become human, but lately I've started thinking it's all meaningless. Everything feels pointless and tiresome. Even if I can become human, would I be able to receive forgiveness?

I tried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to find my family but couldn't. The place I could return to had already disappeared. Is there any reason for me to keep living? If there is, please. Someone, anyone, tell me.

Even though I want to die, I can't. My tenacious vitality won't let me. I've tried almost every method, but I couldn't die. Now all that's left are the words my mother left me that day.

I endured. With just those words, I endured and endured again. Three years have passed like that, but nothing has changed. The person who would save me never appeared, and now I'm exhausted.

At this point, it doesn't matter anymore. I don't want to do anything now. I just want to send this strange black-haired guy back quickly and rest. That's all I feel.

.... We've arrived. The place I reached by trailing after her was a small classroom. It must have been used in the past. The condition of the classroom I peeked into wasn't great. Bugs were crawling on the walls and there wasn't a single spot without spiderwebs.

The moment we entered the classroom with that kind of atmosphere, she started searching for something. I stood quietly and waited for her. She was probably looking for the parchment needed to establish the oath.

But to establish the Soul Oath, we need to press our blood seals onto it... If I stamp a seal on parchment found in a place like this, wouldn't I get tetanus?

About five minutes passed like that. She, who had been squatting and searching for something, stood up. In her hand was something about the size of an A4 sheet. Parchment — a recording medium used before paper became widespread. But it's also something that stubborn mages still occasionally use even now.

"...."

What? Why isn't she giving it to me? I was planning to finish just the oath properly today and be done with it.

"...."

Did I do something wrong? She's trembling somehow.

"Why aren't you afraid of me?" she said.

Not scared? Isn't that obvious? I liked all the characters that appeared in the original story. Every character has their own story or trauma, but among them, Luna was a character I especially liked. Like Vern, she was an unfortunate character who died in every route. But good is good.

Still, the fact that the characters I like are all destined to die is quite sad. She was a character who, after experiencing a tragic past and barely entering the academy, ultimately couldn't become the human she longed to be and died. I tried desperately to save her by playing through multiple rounds, but I could never save her in the end.

That's probably why I developed lingering feelings for her. After watching her die alone and lonely dozens, hundreds of times, I made a decision. No matter what, I would save her. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Now that I've been given this opportunity, only fools would waste it. So for me to be afraid of her... there's no reason at all.

"Saying something like that so casually. If you say that in front of other people, you'll get caught as a heretic~" she grumbled for no reason. But she seemed to be in a better mood than before. It even looked like she smiled a little. Did Luna ever smile in the original story? Maybe it's just my imagination.

Anyway, I should finish what we're doing now.

When I looked at the watch on my wrist, it was already past ten. I had to be back in the dormitory by at least eleven. Otherwise I'd get a huge scolding from the assistant. From the start, having a boy and girl together after ten was judged as unhealthy student behavior, so we had to separate without exception after ten.

If rumors spread that I was with her in a place like this, it would be very troublesome for me. If rumors start that the already infamous scoundrel is engaging in promiscuous behavior, my already rock-bottom reputation would definitely fall even further. I need to wrap this up quickly and return to the dormitory.

The situation had become urgent down to the second. Would I be able to make it back by eleven...?

In a dark room where nothing could be seen, an adult woman was kneeling.

Shady, a Requiem executive who wielded shadow magic, was conversing with a black something that had taken the form of a man. No, to be precise, she was making a report.

With those words, the black figure disappeared, leaving only Shady behind. Alone now, Shady began to mutter quietly.

"Ha, I feel like quitting," she muttered in a self-mocking tone.