Chapter 4: Being a Daughter’s Pretty Nice

(Part One)

Forced into vampirism, poor Miss Cola jumps up.
“F*ck, Mom, what’s that supposed to mean?
Explain yourself!”

“Of course, it’s to stop my useless heir from spawning a bunch of illegitimate kids to split the family fortune.
Better to turn you into a daughter early.”

“Mom, just say it straight!
I could’ve handled being a trap!”

“What?!”
Her mom’s eyes widen over the phone.

“I didn’t say anything…”

“Looks like you’ve truly become a vampire.”

“So you really knew everything, huh?
F*ck!
Did you seriously turn your only son into a daughter for such a ridiculous reason?”

Her mom stands, walks to the office window, pulls the curtains, and locks the door.
She sits back at her desk, lost in thought, then sighs.
“Long, long ago, vampires saved the world.
Now, the world’s on the brink of destruction again, and the duty falls to our family…”

“Hold up!
What’s with this fairy-tale tone?
Vampires as heroes?
How’s the world ending?
Japan dumping a hundred times more nuclear waste?
Why’s it gotta be our family?
And—Mom, you’re totally making this up, right?!”

“Of course not…
Pfft…
Haha…”

“Hey, you’re laughing like crazy!”

Despite being a big company CEO, her mom’s privately a huge joker.
Over-the-top humor, delivered with a deadpan face.

“So, what’s the deal?”

“Alright, I’ll start from long, long ago…”

“Can you make it quick?”

“Our ancestor was turned into a vampire by an ancient blood clan.”

“Wait, our ancestor wasn’t some clichéd vampire hunter?”

“…He was a cook for the ancient vampires.”

“…”

“When the ancient vampires died unexpectedly, our ancestor found their bloodline would pass down.
It dilutes but persists—vampires crave blood.”

“That’s a job for Jewish folks; they’d know what to do.”

“Coco, Mom’s being serious.”

“Wait… you’re serious?”

“Listen.
To stop being vampires and needing blood to survive, one ancestor traveled from the West to the East.
He found a solution: funnel all vampire power into one person, so others wouldn’t need blood.”

“But that person still needs blood, right?”

“Yes.
After that ancestor died in experiments, a descendant found his power became a curse.
It picks a suitable heir, turning them into a vampire—and extremely violent.”

“For real?
Is that actual history?”

“Your new look isn’t fake, is it?”

“Ugh…”
Cola can’t argue.

“After generations of research, by your great-grandfather’s time, there was a full inheritance process.
The chosen one retains free will, not turning violent.
Your grandpa solved the biggest issue—vampires needing blood.”

“Bloodless vampires?”

“Right.
But now it seems he stayed in Japan and cut contact because… he became a woman.”

“That’s the price?”

“Probably.”

“F*ck…!
What happens if I don’t inherit it?
Wait, why didn’t you inherit?
You’re already a woman!
You’d love getting younger, right?”

“Long ago, this power could only pass to male descendants.”

“F*ck, that’s sexist!”
Cola scratches her cheek hard.
“What if I don’t inherit?”

“You’ll die.”

“What?!
Why?!”

“Because you were born through genetic engineering.”

“Mom, let’s talk about vampires saving the world instead.
That sounds more believable.”

“It’s true.
Without vampire power, your lifespan’s almost up.”

“Your tech company… it’s for…”

“Yes, to extend your life.”

“F*ck…!
So I’m some new human?
I don’t feel super awesome or anything!”

“Anyway, you found your grandpa’s inheritance.
I’m relieved.”

“Relieved my *ss!
Your son went from a giant to a tiny dwarf girl, and you’re relieved?!”
Cola’s had enough.

“Dwarf?
You’re petite and cute.
Makes people wanna hug you.”

“Hey, stop!”

“After becoming a vampire, you’ll have a long lifespan.
Your grandpa, for example, was born over three hundred years ago.”

“With such a long life, how’d he die?”

“Experimenting on himself leads to accidents.”

“If I don’t experiment, can I live a thousand years?
By then, Mom, you’d be long gone—”

“Learned to talk trash in Japan, huh?”

“Just a passing thought…”

“Listen, Coco, Mom has a way to turn you back into a man.”

“For real?!”
Cola’s eyes light up.

“I’ve funneled funds into vampire research.
With some tweaks, it’s possible.
But you’ll lose that endless lifespan, and our family’s vampire curse might end.”

“…No long life, but whatever.”

“Good.
You have to agree to some conditions, or I won’t let you change back, even if we succeed.”

“Mom, name it!
Anything, I’m in!”
Cola’s eyes shine with hope.

“First, no dating guys.”

“F*ck, I wouldn’t anyway!
That’s gross!”

“Second, use your powers for good, not evil.”

“I don’t even know what powers I have…”

“You’ll figure it out.
You might recall ancestral memories.”

“Got it…”

“Third, you likely have three chances to sire others, turning them into strong vampires.
Don’t use this power.”

“Chill, why would I bite people?”

“Fourth, I won’t cover your expenses in Japan anymore.
You’ll live there on your own.
It’s a test.”

“Mom, at least give me some startup cash?”
Cola grins cheekily.

“Nope.”

“That’s cold!”

“Whining won’t help.”

“I’m not whining!!”

“Fifth, ancient vampires are probably all dead.
But if any survived from ancient times, kill them.
None of them are good.”

“Can I even win?”

“You can.”

“For real?”

“Our family inherited the power of a vampire prince…”

“Alright, alright.
Since you can turn me back, handle it.
No need for more talk—it sounds like late-stage chuunibyou nonsense.”

“You got your new identity, right?”

“Yeah, citizenship’s gone.
Pure Japanese now.”

“What’s your name?”

“Cola… weird name, huh?”

“So it’s really Cola…”
Her mom nods thoughtfully.
“You’re on your own now.
I’ve got a meeting.”

“Wait, no money for real?”

“None.”

“Hey!!
Heartless!
Poisonous woman!
Are all women like this?!”

No matter how Cola yells, there’s no reply.
The call’s already ended.

She tosses the phone, flopping back onto the bed.
The sky outside is still so blue.
The sun hangs high, refusing to set.
“Sun’s too bright.
I’ll buy clothes tonight…”

(Part Two)

In Tokyo, a small alley sits beside a bustling street.
It holds a unique calm, like a hidden oasis in the city.
An empty lot, surrounded by buildings.
In land-scarce Tokyo, such a place feels mysteriously out of place.
That’s exactly why Cola was drawn here.

Now, she stares wide-eyed at a girl lying in a pool of blood.
She bites her tongue, forcing a bitter smile.
“No way…
For real?
Someone’s killing in Tokyo?
Am I dreaming?”

Maybe her voice caught his attention.
A young man, fresh from murder, turns his blood-splattered body.
He grins wickedly at the only girl still standing.
Breathing heavily, he grips the knife that just slit a throat.
He mumbles something, lips still, only guttural sounds from his throat.

Finally, he straightens, laughing like a maniac.
“Hahaha, hahaha—f*ck the single tax!
Taxing singles, huh?
Persecuting us normal folks, hurting us honest people scared of being hurt!
Fine, I’ll kill!
Heh… today’s a win.
Not just two women, but young and pretty ones…
Haha… fewer beasts born now!”

“Hey…
Just because you’re wronged, you take it out on innocent people?”

“It’s because women like you won’t date me that I’m taxed for being single!”

“…Japanese people are so extreme.”

“You talk too much!
Korean, huh?
I’m gonna stab you to death—hundred times!”

“Wait, I’m not Korean…!”

Cola stands frozen.
Not because she doesn’t want to run.
Her legs are jelly.
She regrets everything.
‘I shouldn’t have come here out of curiosity…’