I Want to Break Free from the Vampire’s Blood Bag

Sincerity

10 years ago, in the Polly Forest near the Asphodel Manor.

Vampires, much like their appearance, have rather human-like hobbies for demon-kind.

While they don’t particularly enjoy sunny places, they occasionally go out to admire the surrounding scenery.

The Asphodel family picnic that Arein had been looking forward to, preparing for days.

While enjoying afternoon tea time with her sisters, she discovered a strange object by the lake.

That was Lee Ha-yu, the first human Arein ever met.

‘Sisters, what is that?’

‘I wonder?’

‘Could it be a human?’

To the vampire girls, humans were fascinating creatures.

For those whose living space was limited to the Asphodel manor, there was no reason to venture into human territories.

The girls wouldn’t usually leave demon territory until they completed their coming-of-age ceremony.

That’s why the Asphodel’s twin second daughters started chattering excitedly.

‘Oh my, how did… they drift here?’

‘Arein, stay a step back, it might be dangerous.’

‘…But I want to see too…’

Despite her sisters’ protection, Arein was only thinking about the fact that she discovered it first.

In other words, she had already claimed ‘This one is mine.’

‘It’s alive.’

‘Shall we take it with us?’

It was probably similar to how humans think about treating injured animals.

More than that, it was the pure, simple curiosity about humans that young demons had.

‘Let’s put it in the carriage.’

And so the sisters took Ha-yu to the manor, where he was taken in as a servant of the Asphodel household.

Whenever Arein thought back to this cozy daily life, she believed herself to be Ha-yu’s lifesaver.

Surely if they had left him by the lake, night would have fallen, and he would have been harmed by magical beasts.

Therefore, she thought Ha-yu’s life and existence belonged to her.

There was no need, nor opportunity, to question the girl’s childish conclusion.

Somehow, the entire family had conceded Ha-yu to her.

And so he became Arein’s exclusive blood bag.

.

.

.

But now, unexpected words come from that servant’s mouth.

‘Someday… could you let me go?’

‘Let you… go?’

According to Arein’s expectations, when she said she would grant his wishes, it was about meal requests.

He had always wanted meals. If she fed him well, he would occasionally show a smile.

So twice a week, yes, she had been thinking that much could be allowed.

Though the taste of blood changes, his blood is of such high quality. I can endure it.

But what? He wants me to let him go someday?

Arein suddenly remembered a bird she had kept when she was young.

She diligently fed it and poured her affection into it.

But while cleaning the cage to keep it hygienic, the bird flew away forever.

‘Ah.’

His request to be let go somehow… Isn’t it suggesting that I’m forcefully keeping him caged, just like back then?

And all while not knowing the bird’s feelings. Continuously. Endlessly.

This situation makes me angry.

‘Clearly at the auction…!’

He was the one who said he would be Asphodel’s possession.

That’s why I tried to believe him.

Of course, he sent his familiar afterward, but in the end, he came back nicely that day too.

‘……!’

Arein couldn’t understand why such anger was welling up inside her.

Just the feeling of losing a possession? No. That’s only temporary, isn’t it?

But somehow, if she lost Lee Ha-yu, she felt she would be angry for a long time.

* * *

-Crackle crackle.

-Chirp chirp chirp.

The silence continued for a while.

Only the sound of the bonfire and insects seemed to orchestrate together as if waiting for us.

‘…What do you mean?’

Arein’s brow furrows. She’s slightly smiling, but it doesn’t feel like a real smile.

An expression trying to forcefully change the mood, as if thinking she must have heard wrong.

Even in front of the bonfire, the atmosphere turns cold.

I gathered a bit more courage.

‘As I said, someday I need to live like a proper human too…’

It wasn’t the answer Arein wanted, as her faint smile completely disappeared.

‘…Are you saying you’re not living like a human now?’

I answered calmly.

‘I know you’ve been caring for me lately, Miss. But, I’m still just a weak human. So if you could take pity and let me hold onto a small hope…’

‘You’ve changed.’

[Gained 4 points of Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath from ‘Arein S. Asphodel’]

Her sad voice contains anger. Is this really something to be so angry about?

Is it because, obviously, I was supposed to be just a motionless possession?

Arein’s voice had become faster than before.

‘Did you get your desires back after hanging around with human women?’

‘That’s not it. Just…’

And my body gradually begins to stiffen.

A member of House Asphodel?

This is… not good.

She relaxed her expression, as if doing me a favor, and said.

“Fine. Even after graduating from the academy, I’ll take you to visit the Imperial territory once a month.”

“What?”

When I asked again, she continued as if she had no choice.

“Sigh. Alright. Then maybe once every two months, you alone…”

“My lady.”

At my firm tone, Arein meets my eyes.

-Tap tap tap.

“Though it may be presumptuous… what I’m talking about is permanent liberation…”

“What…?”

“Haven’t I told you before that I have a world I originally came from?”

“…That story again?”

I’ve brought this up before. Of course, she didn’t believe me then, and she probably won’t now.

The fact that I have an original world. Even I’m starting to get confused about it.

“Haah……”

Arein touches her forehead and lets out a deep sigh.

A moment of silence.

-Tap.

-Whoosh.

She snapped her fingers, closing all the tent entrances where the other cadets from the same unit were sleeping.

The surroundings become even quieter.

“?!”

-Tap!

-Whoosh!

Her magic instantly extinguished even the bonfire.

It felt like both sight and sound had disappeared. Deep darkness had arrived.

…What is she trying to do?

In the darkness, Arein spoke leisurely, as if reminiscing.

“…It reminds me of back then.”

By now, most of my body had frozen.

“Was it the Full Moon Festival… You tried to run away from me then too…”

“That was…!”

That’s a misunderstanding. I wasn’t exactly trying to run away.

“Do you remember what happened when you were caught then…?”

The escapade with Floria.

After the Asphodel family found out about this, I heard Arein was severely scolded.

And I was practically tortured with beatings. Unfair, but I suppose I looked like a runaway slave.

But I don’t regret it.

If I didn’t have memories of Floria, I might have really committed suicide in despair.

“…I’ll give you a chance.”

Arein looks at me coldly. She spoke with a trembling voice.

“Say it. That what you want is just… to swear loyalty to Asphodel.”

How could I say that? It’s like forcing a slave to swear lifelong obedience.

“……”

“Then I’ll pretend I didn’t hear everything you said before. But if you can’t swear, I’ll report this to Father.”

Arein’s father. Monter A. Asphodel. A renowned powerhouse even in Pandemonium.

Arein already had everything without even having to ask her father.

Meaning he would do anything she asked.

“My lady. That… is.”

-Crunch.

As I hesitate, the familiar’s power constricting me grows stronger.

To the point where it’s causing direct physical strain.

-Squeeze.

“Kuh!!!”

-Thud

My body moves on its own. I fall face-first onto the ground, my chin hitting the floor.

-Bang

As I try to twist my body, the ashes around the campfire scatter.

‘Damn!’

I can neither look up nor scream.

Even my loudest possible voice wouldn’t reach inside the tent.

“My… lady…”

A familiar’s oath is absolute. Once you make a promise, you’re bound to the familiar until you fulfill it.

“Ha-yu. Say it. Hurry.”

Unlike my situation, Arein’s voice was calm and even sweet.

“That… that…”

She stroked my head like a pet as she spoke.

“Say that you’re sorry. That you won’t ever have such thoughts, not even a bit. Then I’ll give you a reward.”

“Ugh… you told me… to say what I want…”

-……

After a moment, Arein’s voice began to tremble severely.

“Or you can say… it was a joke. I can forgive even such an unpleasant joke once… because I’m merciful.”

“……”

“…Lee Ha-yu!”

“……”

In the darkness, for some reason, she was pleading.

“…Say it…”

Though it seemed unlikely, her tone was as if she were crying.

“Tell me……”

But with my gaze fixed on the floor, I can’t see what expression she has while speaking,

“Urgh!!”

With the continuing pain, I can’t gauge what the right answer might be.

-……

Another brief moment of silence passes.

-Ding.

[※Warning: The killing intent from the master is high. Please be careful with your conduct.]

The tactless status window’s notification sound.

And in Arein’s voice that followed, there was no longer any emotion to be felt.

“…I want to keep servants with intact bodies.”

-Crunch!

“Argh!”

The pain intensifies as something crushes my entire body.

This isn’t Arein’s pure anger.

This is the power of servitude forced by the Asphodel.

‘Damn it!’

If I resist any further, I’ll die countless times regardless of Arein’s will.

“Ugh! Kugh!!”

Yes, if I use blood magic, could I resist even a little?

-Crack.

“Gahk!”

My right hand is being twisted behind my waist. If it bends any further, I’d be lucky if it only ends in a fracture.

In other words, blood magic won’t do.

“……”

As expected, Arein remained silent. She’s clearly been consumed by the power of servitude.

“I’ll… guh.”

I must have been crazy. Why did I have to ask and hasten my doom.

This is really my limit now.

I feel like I’ll lose consciousness before I can even speak.

“I… under…stand.”

I understand. Please spare me. Just as I was about to utter something,

-Ching.

A chilling, yet clean sound.

Isn’t this how it would sound when a well-trained knight draws their matching fine sword?

“So that’s how it is. I heard well.”

A white knight noticeable even in the darkness.

It was Eliana’s voice.

-Step.

She stood beside me as I lay there.

Let go of Ha-yu. Vampire.