Volume 1, Chapter 23 – Bloodlust

After purifying Mary-chan, we stayed another night, but no Zombies appeared.

During that time, we purified the village cemetery and then the entire village area before setting off on our return journey to the royal capital.

Apparently, if we missed this carriage, the next shared carriage would be about a week later.

Well, for me, it’s fine since it saves on hotel costs—no, I’d even welcome it—but Chris-san said it would be better to return quickly to make our report, so we decided to go back.

By the way, we donated all the vegetables we received—except for what we could carry—to the village chief.

Part of it was that it would be a waste since we wouldn’t cook them ourselves, but also, if we tried to take them back, the carriage fare would increase.

So, using that perfectly reasonable excuse, we foisted them off on the village chief.

“Chief, please have everyone in the village enjoy these vegetables we received. We are perfectly satisfied just by receiving everyone’s feelings.”

“Gah! S-Saint-sama!”

“Fiene-sama!”

The chief was completely fooled and deeply moved, but in the end, it was really just a convenient way to dump a nuisance on someone else.

I think there was one other person misunderstanding things too, but either way, I successfully dumped the unwanted goods and boarded the carriage in high spirits.

So, with all that, it was the second day of being jostled in the carriage.

The trouble started a little after we left the first village along the route.

Since sitting on those hard seats makes my butt hurt, I was dozing off while sunbathing atop the soft carriage canopy when the carriage suddenly lurched to a stop, jolting me awake.

Wondering what was happening, I sat up and heard voices from the front.

Rеаⅾ оո КαtRеαdiոgСafе

“Leave all your money and the women behind. Do that, and we won’t take your lives.”

Ahh, this is… such a cliché bandit attack event. How am I supposed to handle this event?

First of all, the other passengers with us are five uncles and two aunties.

The only ones who look like they might have valuables are basically us.

The young women who might sell well are also just us.

Wait, huh? Are we actually the bandits’ target here?

Peeking cautiously from atop the canopy to survey the area, I see the carriage is completely surrounded.

How many are there? Maybe around 20.

Anyway, a lot of bandits have surrounded our carriage.

Against them, our side has the two driver-guards and Chris-san. Three people total.

No matter how strong Chris-san is, this difference in numbers is probably too much, right?

Huh? You’re asking why I’m not fighting? Come on now. I’m still Level 1, and I don’t even have a weapon. There’s no way I can fight bandits.

At most, I can provide a little support from atop the canopy?

All my Attribute Magic except holy is Level 1. Fire Attribute Level 1 is basically only good for lighting campfires, you know? Holy attribute attack magic? I don’t know any.

What am I supposed to do?

Ah, Chris-san has jumped out of the carriage with her Holy Sword.

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“You fools! Do you commit this outrage knowing this carriage carries the Saint, Fiene Argentata-sama!”

Seriously, how many times do I have to say I’m not a Saint before she gets it?

“Hah? Don’t know any such person. More importantly, this one here is quite a top-quality piece and has good gear. Should fetch a high price, eh?”

Hmm, does losing to bandits trigger that kind of event? I don’t think AnnyOn was supposed to be an 18+ game, though.

“It seems discussion is pointless. You fools who oppose the kingdom, I shall cut you down!”

Ah, Chris-san draws her Holy Sword and charges at the bandits.

She’s fast!

In an instant, she starts mowing them down one after another. Our side is overwhelmingly strong.

The bandits are cut down one after another, spurting blood as they fall.

Thump.

My heartbeat suddenly sounds unnaturally loud and vivid.

—What is this?

In just a few minutes, Chris-san cuts down all the bandits. Large pools of blood form around the carriage.

—Ugh. Blood. Blood…

Crap. Seeing all this blood triggered my blood-drinking urge…

On the canopy, I hug myself, trying to suppress the urge.

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This is bad. If I let this urge loose here, things are going to get really bad. I have to hold it in.

“Fiene-sama? Fiene-sama?”

Ah, I think someone’s calling me. But I can’t anymore. I’ll just sleep. Maybe the urge will calm down a little.

And so, I simply let go of consciousness.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Fiene-sama, thank goodness.”

“Ah, Chris-san. Where is this?”

I found myself lying in a bed. My left hand feels warm. It seems Chris-san is holding my hand.

“This is an inn in the town where we were scheduled to change carriages. As you did not awaken, I took the liberty of carrying you here, Fiene-sama. How are you feeling?”

Apparently, I stayed asleep the entire way to the next town.

But the blood-drinking urge was still hitting me hard, and I could barely stop myself from sinking my fangs into Chris-san’s neck.

“My condition is… not great. Seeing the blood made me want to drink it. But I thought it’d cause trouble if I drank there, so I’ve still been holding myself back, and it’s making me feel… um, Chris-san. I’m sorry, but could you let me drink your blood again?”

“…Yes. Understood.”

Chris-san looked a little sad for a moment, then filled a teacup provided in the room with her own blood and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

After thanking her as usual and healing her wound, I bring the teacup to my lips.

Rеаⅾ оո ΚаtRеаⅾіոgСafе

The blood, my first in nearly three weeks, spread through my starved body. I drink it down frantically.

—Ahh… this is the best…

◇ ◇ ◇

“Fiene-sama, I apologize.”

The next morning, Chris-san suddenly apologized to me.

“Chris-san, what are you talking about?”

“For burdening you because of my reckless actions. From now on, I will properly handle things in a place where it won’t be seen.”

Huh? Handle? Ah, I see. She thinks my “illness,” which had finally started getting better, relapsed because I saw blood.

If anything, for a Vampire, the past few weeks were the abnormal state. It feels more like I’ve finally gone back to normal.

“No. It’s fine. Chris-san. Please don’t worry about it. I’m prepared to live with this for a long time.”

“Fiene-sama…”

She still looks a bit dissatisfied, but she seemed to accept it.

This is something I chose for myself by becoming a Vampire, so there’s no helping it.

Now that I’ve drunk blood and regained my energy, we check out of the hotel and board the next carriage heading towards the royal capital.

By the way, Chris-san? I’d really like you to stop taking advantage of me being unconscious to casually book a luxury hotel that costs one gold coin a night…