Episode 5 Encounter

 How many days has it been since I woke up in the morning after being struck by the heat and humidity that seemed to melt my body?

　It's a hard night's sleep, it's summer. Is what I'd like to say ----, but no, it's not that simple.

　I've been feeling extremely hot and stuffy lately, and when I open my eyes, I find something large and soft pressed against my face.

No, Rather, my slender body is being held between her arms and legs like a pillow.

　--Yes, in the night, an unkempt Kuro wandered into my bedroom (intentionally) and crawled into my bed and had her way with me.

"Oh, well, I can't help it. You've shrunk, and you're very comfortable to hold. --Or is there something else going on that you don't want to be cuddled ...?"

　With a grin on her face, Kuro gets up from the bed in her underwear and puts on a t-shirt that she may have carelessly taken off before going to bed. This has been going on for a while now.... or rather, all summer.

　It's been going on all summer long, and it's been a problem for me to find a place to look, and other emotions are troubling as well....

　I'm not as immune to women as I was in the days before I spent training in magic!.

　I've always been the type of person who, if I may say so myself, likes to show off and dares to be strong, but with the body of a child, it seems to tickle Kuro's maternal fancy.

　That's why I sit at the breakfast table every morning with a sense of slumber.

　Is there no sense of shame ( Kuro always says, "Do humans feel any resistance to being naked in front of bugs?), annoying me with half-hearted gimmicks (and polemics)

It's an eccentric behavior, probably because she lived for too many years and no longer has the feelings of fun in ordinary things. She is at least a thousand years old, so there is no reason for her to be sane.

　But what she does in spite of that is a bit childish, and it's not universally accepted that the older you get, the more mentally mature you become.

　However, it is said that as you become older, you regain your childhood spirit and revive your sparkling curiosity, so it's not a generalization.

　So today, as usual, we are sitting across from each other at the dining table, having breakfast together.

"Hey Gil. What are you looking at? You know what I'm talking about, right? Now come on, fess up."

"Damn..... I'm not looking anywhere. --Just shut up and finish your meal."

"Oh no, Gil-chan. Is it a rebellious period?"

"Don't be a mother!"

Kuro laughs happily with a smirk.

"Ah, Fun. As I thought, it's really enjoyable to make fun of you."

"I didn't expect you to keep teasing me for 6 years without getting tired of it.... Anyway, if I keep this up, I'm going to grow up and return to my original form, so just remember this when that happens."

"Regardless of whether your body reverts back to its original form or your magical powers return to its full glory, you're still a child to me."

"Ugh ~"

Frustratingly, it's hard to argue with that.

Vampires cannot be killed by humans. That's how high up they are.

You can defeat them as a contingency, but you can't kill them.

Essentially, it's abnormal for them to be concerned about a human being like this.

"By the way, won't Yuffie come today?"

Kuro asks the question while throwing a piece of bread into her mouth.

"I don't know. And when she comes, she comes of her own accord."

"Oh dear, you should at least know your fiancé's schedule."

"She's not my fiancé!

I refute back vigorously.

'I don't have a lolicon hobby!"

"No way! ?　Then I guess a mature woman like me--"

"It' s not that either. Well, anyway...."

I'm up to my throat, ready to question Kuro's excessive meddling in my life today, and then I take my eyes off my breakfast and turn my head toward Kuro

"Lately, you' ve been doing this.... everyday... ----?"

　　Then I saw Kuro, who had been teasing me so cheerfully earlier, staring in a certain direction with a grim expression on her face, and I couldn't help but interrupt myself, wondering what had happened.

　The whole situation changes so abruptly that I gulp in disbelief.

　I call out to Kuro nervously.

".... What is it?"

    As if sensing something, she moves her gaze to scan around.

　Her long hair rises in the air and her eyes gradually turn red.

　But why all of a sudden.....

"Gil--"

　In contrast to her previous coy tone of voice, Kuro speaks in a low, cold voice.

"Two - No, by the looks of it, three. I think some smelly people have gotten into the village."

"Vampire hunters? ~~ Ah, what is it now called, variant hunting? There' too many alternatives to remember."

"I don't know. --But I can smell the blood of my people."

"What...!?"

　My people!　

　It's not so easy for someone to encounter a vampire and survive.

　It''s not a problem to interact with them normally, but, The blood of my people... in other words, they are the ones who fought with the vampires.

"If I didn't hear it, then either someone recently screwed up or it wasn't worth sharing, ....Well, either way, it's best to be cautious. You can't get too involved in it, and who knows what they'll say about you".

"I don't see how I can get involved. I hardly ever go to the village. In fact, you're the one who needs to stay out of trouble."

"Hmm, we vampires don't go out of our way to engage humans without a disguise."

"‥‥ So what are you going to do?  hide yourself? You don't want to do anything until you know what the purpose of those who entered the village is, do you? Well, we don't know if Kuro is the one they are after or not."

　Kuro snickers at my statement.

　What the hell this guy is pissing me off.

　The crimson eyes that were lit earlier have returned to their original brown color.

"Have you forgotten who I am? I''m the Lady Claudia, the vampire of Jenegand. Humans can run away, but I won't run away. Well, the disguise is undetectable, and as the day goes on, they'll disappear on their own. --But if they try to mess with me, then I'll just deal with them accordingly. I like this place, and I don't want that to happen."

　When she said that, Kuro yawned while stretching, and then stood up lazily and said, "I'm going to take a bath," and left the house.

　Well, Kuro has a point.

　No matter who shows up, Kuro will always be Kuro.

　Walking in the middle of the road, no matter who is in front of her, no matter what obstacles she encounters, Kuro never gives way.

　It's neither pride nor arrogance. It' s the confidence that she is the most powerful species. That's all.

　Before Kuro obstacles do not count as obstacles

　--I'm sure I'm the only one since the beginning of human history to have a vampire like Kuro take care of me.

　I stuffed the half-eaten bread into my mouth in one gulp and poured it down with milk.

"Puha~a--....umma"

　I was a little curious about those people who seem to be vampires

　My intellectual curiosity as the most powerful sorcerer of all time was tingling.

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