The First Memory (6)
The events to come will be unlike anything I've experienced so far.
Simply because I'm the familiar of a high-ranking vampire.
The assistant life I've led in Nectar has entered a new phase, or so it seems.
"Am I supposed to follow you...?"
"Yes."
Actually, the shock of my body being Esid's familiar hasn't worn off yet.
But Esid didn't give me a chance to think and pressed on.
Indeed, life is said to be a series of choices.
I feel the utter meaninglessness of that statement.
Lucia or Esid?
The answer was already decided.
"...I can't choose either of you."
"What?"
The risk of choosing between two is high.
So, I need to maintain a somewhat calm state as much as possible.
Now that I know the treatment of humans and vampires is definitely different, and I'm confirmed as the familiar of two great ones, the threat to my life should be relatively low.
Even an ugly duckling is family.
Seowoo knelt without hesitation.
"Esid-nim, please consider my foolish action..."
"What more do you want me to consider here!"
When she got angry and stomped her foot, the floor cracked.
Now is the time to do it.
If I bow my head here, it really can't be undone.
"...If I choose one of you, what will happen after?"
I appeal as much as possible for the unfairness.
"I will eventually be unable to refuse the demands of both of you. Even if I follow Esid-nim's words, if Lucia-nim makes other demands later, I will have no choice but to follow them...! Please understand this contradiction and consider it..."
"Ugh..."
She rises slowly, having lifted her knee.
Esid looks surprised, as if she didn't expect me to come out this strongly.
"I don't want to lie. Rather, the opposite..."
I add a bitter afterthought.
I wanted to say the truth, but I wanted to appeal that the situation forced me to lie.
It would be troublesome if I chose one now and later regretted it as betrayal.
"...I understand."
I don't know if she really understood or just reluctantly opened her mouth.
In the end, Esid agreed.
"Yeah, what fault do you have? It's our fault for not clearly establishing ownership."
Only the strong can control the weak.
"Of course, that doesn't mean you're entirely without fault, right?"
"I understand."
"Good."
Esid nods her head.
"Ah, and I forgot to say that. While you were unconscious, I took a peek at your memories."
"My memories...?"
"Don't worry, I only wanted to peek at the memories sealed with magic. I was curious why Lucia was hiding something. In the end, I could only see one."
There was a bit of guilt in her tone because she had peeked at my memories.
If she made me her familiar, then she is also the one who made me forget it.
Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense.
"...I see."
"What? This isn't surprising? You already knew, huh?"
Since I heard that the memory was sealed, it was inevitable.
"I had a guess. When I saw the related things, fragmented memories came to mind."
"So that's why. I wondered why one was half-unsealed."
Esid nods her head as if the doubt was resolved.
"Anyway, it's a pity about that human female assistant. This is the truth."
"Thank you for your concern."
And at this moment, she who was waiting for this moment gently spoke.
"So, about the information on Gunter... you don't need it?"
There's no gap between digging into a person's heart and causing wounds.
* * *
There's no such thing as something for free in the world.
There was a condition to Esid's cooperation.
First, I would eat the medicine she gives and increase the adaptability that the Blemish family's blood has.
And second, after the matter is over, I was to go pay respects to the head, my mother.
"What I'm offering is these two things."
"...I understand."
Esid, who has become suddenly friendly, shows her index and middle fingers.
Her intention was clear, but I couldn't refuse.
Since I learned that I'm Lucia's familiar, there was no place to back out.
I realized that what I thought was a light shackle was a tough leash.
How I became a familiar.
Why she made me her familiar.
I have to find out.
Since escaping Nectar with Suyeon is already a given, even to escape this hated place.
'However, what worries me is...'
I don't have confidence that I can defeat Gunter.
Actually, my body's identity is that of a high-ranking vampire's familiar.
It's not something that can be easily accepted with 'Ah, I see' upon hearing unknown facts, and the opponent is a noble, after all?
Since it's an ambiguous body that goes between humans and vampires, there must be a gap in power.
"The effect isn't very strong. Why are you hesitating? Are you afraid I'll die?"
"...No?"
Actually, yes.
Even if it was a hostile vampire state, I wouldn't be stupid enough to judge the outcome even in a minimal human state.
Originally, if I could gauge my ability in a brief meeting, that would mean I'm not human anymore.
"Right? Ah, if not, then it's because of the aftermath? For the aftertreatment, I'll just cover it up as a political struggle. Don't worry. This place is as corrupt as the human realm, so no one cares if a new noble dies or not."
Esid seems not to think that Seowoo will suffer at all.
"Then I'll start the briefing."
"...Yes."
Full name is Gunter Darjeeling.
One of the five families, a mid-ranking vampire who received blood in exchange for a huge amount of gold coins for his fame in enhancement magic.
A newcomer who accumulated enormous wealth through business after leaving the research institute three years ago and only recently took the noble position.
"Yoon Seowoo, you can become a vampire, right?"
"...Yes."
"Yeah, I knew that. No matter how capable, surviving three years in the research institute would be tough. Now I understand."
At this point, hiding anything would only bring harm.
"I'm telling you because you look anxious, but your pure physical ability will be below mine. You can eat it without worry."
"...Yes."
She adds that 'Even if a mid-ranking vampire goes wild, it's still mid-ranking' and offers a small box.
"This is the medicine I mentioned earlier. Eat it right now."
"What? Right now?"
"Yeah."
Esid makes an unyielding demand, as if she intends to nail it down.
Click. The box opens with a sound.
On a luxurious cushion, one small pill is on top.
"Hurry and eat it. This is extremely precious."
"...Can I ask what it is?"
I should at least know what I'm eating.
"It's the blood of all past heads solidified."
It sounds like just a high-grade poison.
"Is it really okay for me to eat this...?"
It was words coming out because I didn't want to eat it.
I didn't like the fact that my body is gradually becoming closer to a vampire while my mind is still human.
"I ate it when I was young too. It's fine. I'll guarantee the effect."
No, I asked because I didn't know that.
"What I mean is not that... Ugh!"
It's too late. Just swallow it.
Since Seowoo is hesitating, Esid forcibly takes the box and forces the pill into his mouth.
Her small hand waits for the pill to go down without thinking to care.
Swallow.
The forcibly swallowed pill passes through the throat with the iron taste unique to blood.
"Good, well done."
Esid smiles satisfiedly and withdraws her hand that was covering his mouth.
"Hah..."
On the other hand, Seowoo immediately feels that his body is becoming burdened as the effect takes hold.
Essentially, I drank vampire blood in a human body.
Because the power in the pill is so strong, even the body that chewed through ordinary rebound couldn't hold it.
Seowoo stumbles, and Esid supports him from the side.
The heat spreads throughout the body, making it hot.
At the same time, the blocked blood vessels are pierced, and the power that boils from the lower abdomen spreads throughout the body.
Seowoo's mind clears with the power rising to the head.
The power filling the body is so immense that it's uncontrollable.
"Not bad, right?"
Esid's first impression upon seeing the Seowoo who became a vampire is this.
"Amazing, how can you change like this?"
She looks at Seowoo with eyes full of academic curiosity, examining him closely.
"Can you change by your own power?"
"...No, I usually use blood packs."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Seowoo feels a strange pressure from Esid, who should look the same as usual.
It feels like facing an insurmountable wall.
Although not visible, I think I can sense the cause.
"...So you're really Esid-nim's familiar."
The faint connection between the two is the evidence.
"Then what? You thought it was a lie? I'm not that naive."
"But I thought maybe not."
Is there a human in the research institute who truly believes in vampires?
I declare there isn't, unless brainwashed.
"You said to pull the nail with a hammer, so it's perfect if I can just go now."
"Where?"
"Where else but where Gunter is. The timing is perfect today."
"Yes...?"
"Why do you have such a dazed face? What's the difference if I go late? I won't be using magic to learn it."
"...That's right."
I just hadn't prepared my mind.
It wasn't wrong.
"Then what's the problem?"
"I have to go to Frida, but I have no suitable means of transportation."
"Can't I just use the magitech train...?"
"You're joking right now... ? You think anyone can ride that?"
It's an ultra-luxurious means of transportation provided only to famous celebrities or Ceylon family guests.
Even among vampires, Esid, who is relatively young, didn't have the right to board by her own means because of her lack of fame.
"...If that's the case, it should be possible somehow."
Seowoo takes out the Ceylon family name plaque from his pocket.
"...What? Why do you have that...?"