Chapter 17: The “Price” of Blood

Whoosh— Whoosh—

The fierce sea wind howled almost mournfully.
On the coast battered by the inky tide, the wreckage of ships was everywhere.
They were covered with dense barnacles, like grayish-white eyeballs staring at me.

In the center of the shallows, a giant octopus lay prone, its eight tentacles constantly writhing.
The wreckage covering the coast was its “masterpiece.”

I stood on a reef, gripping the long sword in my hand.
My body was slightly bent.
With a speed that was hard to discern with the naked eye, I rushed out, lotuses blooming with every step on the water’s surface, extending towards the octopus.

In the face of my offensive, eight bright red tentacles swarmed forward, attacking from all directions, surrounding me in the blink of an eye.

The next moment, time seemed to stand still.
The world turned gray and white.
The long sword was suddenly unsheathed, leaving trails of light.
The tentacles were instantly torn to shreds.
As the blade returned to its sheath with a “clang,” all eight tentacles turned into rotten flesh.

My momentum did not diminish in the slightest.
The next time I drew my sword would be the end of this octopus.
But! A sudden current of water sent me flying.
My vision blurred, and when I opened my eyes again…

It was the familiar cave…

“Ugh… so it was a dream…”

‘Why would I have such a dream…’

Just as the doubt arose in my mind, a feeling of bloating in my lower abdomen provided the answer.

It seems I drank a bit too much water at dinner.
Time to take care of it.

Little Nia beside me was sleeping soundly, her small body slightly curled up.
I got up as quietly as I could, trying not to make a sound as I walked out of the cave.
Then I found a half-human-height bush, went in, removed the obstruction, and squatted down.
Immediately, the sound of trickling water followed.

Phew~ Although I’ve done this many times before, I’m still not quite used to it.
And it’s quite embarrassing…
I won’t have periods later, will I…
I’ve heard it’s very painful when the blood gushes out.

After relieving myself, I didn’t go back.
Instead, I stood in a more open area, quietly enjoying the peaceful night.

The moonlight was hazy, pure and flawless.
The curtain-like moonlight added a touch of cool color to everything around.
Although it wasn’t enough to illuminate the darkness, it was the only natural light in the night.

I had never calmed down to observe it before, but now I find it quite beautiful.
Indeed, I’m not suited for a fast-paced life.

I squinted my eyes and took a deep breath.
The air in the forest at night was slightly turbid, with a hint of damp earth, not particularly pleasant.

Speaking of which, the fact that I’ve been reincarnated into another world still doesn’t feel real.
I met a dragon as soon as I woke up, crashed as soon as I left, and was hunted down after the crash.
I was even shot once, and the most crucial thing is that I didn’t die.

What a legendary, hard-to-kill king…

I twirled my hair with my fingers, complaining endlessly in my heart while also enjoying the moment until drowsiness gradually washed over me.
Only then did I prepare to go back to sleep.

But when I turned around, there was someone in front of me.

“Elvira… how do you walk without making a sound?”

The black-haired, golden-eyed girl had appeared behind me without warning.
It really startled me, but I quickly recovered.

Elvira didn’t say a word.
She walked towards me step by step, only stopping when she was at an ambiguous distance from me.

“Um… you’ve been so strange since I got back… did I do something wrong… oh! It’s your money, right?”
I took out the pouch full of coins from my waist and handed it to Elvira.
“Here~ not a single coin missing, and there’s an extra 200 Holy Grace.
You take it for now, and remember to give me that 200 Holy Grace later.”

“No, I don’t want it,” Elvira said faintly, then turned around… and started taking off her clothes?!

“Wait! What are you doing? Don’t go too far! I’m warning you!”
I quickly took two steps back and covered my eyes, so flustered that I even dropped the pouch of coins on the ground.

“I just want you to see something.”

“I don’t want to see! I’m not looking! Put your clothes on!”

This shameless rogue, how can she be so shameless, playing exhibitionist in the forest in the middle of the night?!
I’ve heard that Western dragons are lustful by nature.
Could it be true?

“Did you forget I have an injury on my back? I want you to look at that wound,” Elvira’s tone was very calm.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then… don’t lie to me. I’m opening my eyes now.”

“Mm.”

I opened a crack between my fingers and opened my eyes with suspicion.
What I saw was a fair white back, making one want to kiss it.

And the bruise on her left shoulder blade was almost invisible, just a slightly darker shade than the surrounding skin.

Didn’t Elvira say that the wound on her wing healed very slowly?
I don’t think it’s that slow.
She’ll probably be fully recovered in another day or two.

“The wound is healing well. It’s basically healed,” I stepped forward again, getting closer to Elvira.
“How did you heal so quickly? Did you take some kind of panacea?”

“Your blood.”

“Huh?”

Elvira put her clothes back on, turned around, and said to me:
“After absorbing your blood yesterday, I felt much better after just one day…
I estimate that I’ll be fully recovered after one more time.”

Although she didn’t say it explicitly, I knew what she meant.
Elvira was trying to say that once she’s healed, the plan to escape the Holy Nation would be more secure.

‘Cr*p, I’ve become Tang Sanzang’s flesh…’¹

But if it could really heal Elvira, even if it didn’t involve the escape plan, I would be willing to let her absorb my blood.
Back in Norn City, Elvira was injured while protecting me.
I should take responsibility.
It’s just that…

“I can let you,” upon hearing this, her golden eyes widened slightly.
“But! You have to control yourself.
Don’t bite me all night.
I’m afraid of pain.”

“…Alright, I’ll control myself.”

The two of us looked at each other in silence.
I took out the small knife and made a light cut on my wrist.
The black and red thorny vines grew, wrapping around Elvira’s forearm.

Then, with a flash of red light, a feeling of weakness immediately spread throughout my body.
A pair of snow-white, lotus-root-like arms supported me, and my body was gently pressed against a tree trunk.
Looking up, I saw a pair of golden pupils.

Elvira’s gaze slowly grew fervent, like flickering embers in the dark night.
She looked down at me like a predator.
The helpless prey made the dragon drool.

“Y-you… didn’t you say… you’d control yourself!”
My throat unconsciously bobbed as I swallowed.

An elegant fragrance lingered at the tip of my nose.
Elvira’s body got closer and closer to mine.
Just as we were about to press tightly together, a gentle breeze blew, and the body pressing down on me suddenly retreated.

Elvira clutched her head and quickly backed away, finally sitting down on a rock and hugging herself.
Her body was trembling slightly.

Seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but worry.

The side effects of absorbing my blood seem to be quite severe…
Will Elvira be okay if she keeps enduring like this…
With a dragon’s body, she should be able to withstand it…
But what if…

My internal struggle was fleeting.
I sat down next to Elvira, prepared to pay a small price.

“If it’s that uncomfortable, a little bite wouldn’t be out of the question… remember to be gentle,” I extended my arm and placed it in front of Elvira.
Her trembling body clearly stiffened.
A delicate, boneless hand grasped my wrist, and then…

My arm was suddenly pulled, and my body fell into a soft embrace.
I was straddling Elvira’s thighs, and her greedy breaths landed on my chest.

My cheeks flushed slightly.
I closed my eyes, pursed my lips, and turned my head to the side, completely at her mercy.

Elvira caressed me from top to bottom along the groove of my spine.
After a moment, she supported my back with one hand and held me with the other, switching our positions.

An impulsive voice whispered in my ear, her breath warm, her tone firm:
“Turn over. Lie on the rock.”

Knowing that Elvira was in a special state, I obediently did as she said.
I propped my hands on the stone slab, offering my back to her without reservation.

Suddenly, I felt a pressure from behind.
A not-so-small, soft hand pressed against my back.
The soft, thick shape slowly pressed down, and I could clearly feel the softness becoming firmer.

The back of my collar was pulled, and then…

With a “rip,” my dress was violently torn open.
The strange feeling of my skin being exposed to the air made my cheeks turn bright red.
But before I could protest, my chin was lifted, my head tilted back, and my eyes met the golden dragon pupils.

“I felt it last time. Verona, you’re very flexible.
Now it seems… you’re even more flexible than I imagined.”

As she spoke, Elvira’s hand moved to my lower abdomen, her slender fingers tracing a line, announcing her arrival.

“Let me wipe away the scent of the fox.”

How should I put it… I have to walk the path I’ve chosen, even if I have to cry.
All I can hope for now is that… this state doesn’t last all night.

Her palm moved like a paintbrush on my back.
Elvira began her “creation” for the night.

Plains, valleys, and hills.
The dragon’s conquering claws trod upon every piece of land, leaving her mark.
She constantly conquered cities and territories, questioning my “loyalty.”
Only then did I understand what kind of wicked dragon I had provoked.

After an unknown amount of time, the queen of the dragons finally sat on her throne, completing her declaration of sovereignty.
In a daze, I seemed to see a golden gleam appear on the horizon.

Or perhaps, it was the golden, vertical-pupiled dragon eyes.

Footnote:

¹ 唐僧肉 (Tángsēng ròu – Tang Sanzang’s flesh): A reference to the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The flesh of the monk Tang Sanzang is said to grant immortality to any demon who eats it, making him a highly sought-after prize. Verona is humorously comparing herself to him, as her blood has a powerful, desirable effect on Elvira.