Chapter 19: Vampire Incident (Part 2)

If the body was found dead with all its blood drained, it was undoubtedly the work of a vampire.

Especially since there were two small holes in the neck, like mosquito bites.

I think it was said to be a bite mark from an animal like a bat, with fangs.

In the first place, the only race that can suck all the blood flowing in a human body without leaving a single drop is a vampire.

It’s impossible even for mutant bats or mosquitoes.

Sucking all the blood in a human body.

Vampires also only need to eat a certain amount of blood, so there’s no need to suck all the blood from a human.

But conversely, for a vampire, sucking all the blood from a human is easier than a baby sucking its mother’s milk.

Moreover, if they bit the neck with their fangs at once and covered the victim’s mouth with their hand, they could easily suck the blood without making a sound and then dispose of the victim.

Even if they had trained at the academy, training and actual combat are different.

It would have been difficult for an academy student who had never experienced a war with demons to defeat a vampire head-on.

It would have been difficult to even resist properly.

Especially if they were attacked at night.

Even if it was a relatively weak vampire, it would have been overwhelming.

Even if he had suffered severe injuries, he could have survived if he had barely managed to stay alive, but it’s a pity at such a young age.

Since the victim was found in an alley behind the academy with all the blood sucked out and turned into a mummy, it seemed certain that he was murdered.

However, in the story Leticia told me, there was something strange to conclude that it was the work of a vampire.

“Do you understand?”

“…I understand.But it doesn’t make sense.”

At that question, I nodded and added, looking at Leticia with a puzzled expression.

“First of all, I’m not defending them just because I have half vampire blood.But if it was a vampire’s doing, why didn’t they dispose of the body?Even beasts usually take their eaten carcasses with them.”

Even beasts don’t leave their eaten prey on the road.

At least, if they didn’t want to be discovered, it’s normal to hide the mummified body after sucking all the blood.

But not disposing of the body, something was strange.

Unless they intended to be discovered from the beginning and left the body there, it couldn’t be explained.

That being said, it didn’t make sense for a vampire, who had broken through the security of the academy, which was a symbol of the empire in a different sense from the imperial family, to suck the blood of a student, kill him, and then run away.

The capital guards and academy guards are not decorations.

‘…Even if it’s for the sake of the game’s progression, this is too forced.’

At least one person should have seen the fleeing vampire.

Since a vampire had invaded the imperial capital and even killed a student, the imperial family wouldn’t stay still.

If this was revealed, it wouldn’t be strange at all for the empire to be turned upside down.

Fortunately, the first person to discover the body was Leticia.

Thanks to that, there was no problem in concealing the incident.

The only people who knew the truth were the emperor, Leticia, the academy’s headmaster, and Leo.

They hid it thoroughly so that even nobles above the rank of duke wouldn’t notice.

Well, there’s nothing good to be gained by letting the public know.

More than that, I was curious about the treatment of the dead student.

“Even if you put out the urgent fire by distorting the truth and imposing a closure, what about the vacancy of the dead student?”

“That’s already been discussed with the headmaster.The setting is that he suddenly had a study abroad schedule and left for a neighboring country without time to say goodbye.”

“…Do they believe that?”

“They do.I’m sorry to say this to the dead student, but he seems to have been a student who wasn’t very good at studying or popular.”

I shed tears inwardly for the dead student at Leticia’s answer, who said it was not difficult to manipulate the information.

You were a loner.

“Even a teacher can’t take responsibility for every student.”

He’s dead, but they killed him again.

Stop sympathizing with an indifferent expression.

That’s more of a wound to the dead student.

Well, that was all because a student I didn’t even know died.

“So, to go back to the beginning, there are many strange things about this incident.”

I looked at Leticia with a dumbfounded expression.

“In a way, the sage of the hero’s party, who knows vampires better than I do, is right here, so there’s no way she wouldn’t recognize the work of a vampire.But don’t you think it’s a little strange?”

“If they wanted to destroy the evidence, it would be right to dispose of the body.I also think that point is strange.”

But, Leticia said.

“The autopsy of the body matched the method of sucking blood by vampires.”

“…Then.”

“For reference, we are also investigating the possibility of framing the vampires, but that would complicate things.”

“The new Demon King who took the throne this time wants peace.”

Of course, there are humans and demons who don’t want peace, foolishly.

Both sides have lost so much in the war that there are those who are holding armed demonstrations, saying whether they should sign a peace treaty.

Leo, who had been listening to me and Leticia’s conversation with his arms folded, suddenly intervened.

“Should I call them radicals, they’re annoying guys.They don’t demonstrate peacefully, but with force, so many people get hurt.The vampire who killed the student this time is probably a radical who has escaped the control of the Demon King.”

Because there are still many hidden dungeons.

He must have come from the demon realm through a dungeon we don’t know about.

Leo frowned and let out a short sigh.

“The birds in the cage who don’t really know war don’t know how terrible the gutter of war is.If those guys had seen the mountain covered with the corpses of demons and humans, they would have changed their words, it’s a shame.”

“Leo.”

“I have to say what I have to say, Leticia.

You should also know this opportunity well.

Even those called war heroes, even our hero party, are just slaughterers who have crossed over such a mountain.”

Leo’s eyes, speaking calmly, were empty.

Then, Leo, who returned to his usual expressionless face, smiled weakly.

Even that became a picture with his more refined appearance as he became a woman, but there was no one here who was stupid enough to not read the atmosphere.

“…Leo.It’s not something to talk about now.Keep in mind that our priority is to catch the vampire that caused this commotion.”

At Leticia’s actions, looking at Leo with an uncomfortable expression, I quickly changed the subject.

“I also want to see the scene, is that okay?”

“Huh?

The scene?”

“Wait.Catching the vampire is enough with me and Leticia.The original purpose was to check if you could break my curse or not, so you don’t need to get involved in this incident…!”

“Okay.”

“Leticia!”

Leticia allowing it and Leo screaming that he couldn’t trust me.

It’s a complete mess.

I just blinked from afar, unable to intervene carelessly.

Then Leticia, with a sinister smile, reached into the desk drawer and took out an object.

“But on the condition that you wear this around your neck to prevent you from doing anything strange..How about it?”

“…?”

I looked at the object Leticia had handed me in a daze, and my face was filled with countless question marks.

Is this what I think it is?

Whether Leo was shocked or not, Leticia said with an expectant face.

“What else?It’s a collar.”

“……It’s not that I don’t know that…never mind.More than that, you want me to wear this around my neck?”

“Yes.I think it’s better than a maid outfit or handcuffs, don’t you think?”

“…Even if you give it to me, it’s a collar that a dog or cat would wear.Sigh, I’ve said it many times, but I’m not a dog.”

I’m not a pet.

But Leticia was giving off an atmosphere that she wouldn’t let me out of here forever, not just this time, if I didn’t wear this around my neck.

Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes weren’t.

Did Leo also see Leticia’s expression?

Unlike his shock, he was quiet, so I didn’t expect much, but Leo showed an unexpected action.

“Leticia, even if this guy is a demon, this is crossing the line.It’s not like She’s a s*ave.There must have been no such condition in the contract.”

Leo, you may not have balls, but you’re my best friend…!

[Yuri(S) trait activated.Leads the conversation to the player’s advantage.]

“Still, a collar, it would suit you?If it’s Leticia’s opinion, I agree.”

…What the hell.

Hey, who are you to agree?

Why is Yuri(S) activating on its own, damn it, damn it.

Where did the tsundere hero (A hero or protagonist who acts cold, rude, or harsh at first, but is actually caring, kind, and soft-hearted deep down) who was protecting me until just a moment ago go?

I felt a sense of betrayal at Leo’s actions and silently clenched the collar in my hand.

There’s such a thing as a man’s pride.

I can’t wear this even if I die.

“….”

“Charlotte.Are you going to wear it or not?”

I bit my lip.

The contract was in my favor.

It was definitely in my favor, but what is this feeling of being the underdog?

The contract conditions were overall favorable to me, but if this is the case, it’s useless.

Still, I had the remaining pride as a man, so I tried to refuse politely, but…unfortunately, I didn’t have the right to refuse from the beginning.

Even though the quest didn’t occur in the situation where Leticia was staring straight at my face, I obediently put the collar that Leticia handed me around my neck.

Yeah.

It’s not like I’ll die if I don’t wear it around my neck.

I put the leather collar around my neck and raised my head to Leticia, and Leticia raised the corners of her mouth satisfactorily.

“See, it suits you well.”

How did my situation end up like this?

I want to die, really.

F*ck.