After a while, when he starts to come to his senses.
And his vision starts to come back.
He realized he hadn't opened his eyes.
They were already open.
In that moment he realizes.
He was no longer in that dream.
And yes, back to that forest, where he had died.
He was still in the same place.
Like a corpse, just as it was before, nothing had changed.
Eyes still open, but without the sparkle of life in them.
But in that instant, something happens.
The pupils of both his eyes expand until they cover the entire iris, turning them completely black.
And the next moment they retract to the center of the eyes again.
But now, his eyes were different.
His irises turned red and his pupils were vertical.
Then his heart takes its first beat.
And the sparkle returns to his eyes.
At the same time, your heart starts beating again.
At this moment, he finally regains consciousness.
[I see…] -Soul
[The seal has finally been broken..] -Soul
[When I experienced this human death..] -Soul
[Who would have thought it would take so many years for this to happen..] -Soul
He starts to get up, and when he was leaning on his knee.
His body starts to emit some kind of flames.
They had two shades of colors, one a blood red color and the other a shade of red as dark as black.
Before long, his whole body was enveloped in them.
Still leaning on his knee with his right hand, he lifts his left hand and looks at her.
The flames rose upward, as if they were evaporating.
He makes an expression as if he understood something and closes her hand.
With a sad expression on his face he gets up.
Already standing, he looks up and sees that it was already night, and that it was a full moon.
[Today is the full moon day..] -Soul
[Same as that day..] -Soul
- I never.. . -Soul
Soul starts to say something but stops before finishing, making a sad expression.
Then he opens his mouth and puts his fingers on his teeth feeling them.
[I see.. My fangs are back..] -Soul
So he stands there, standing still, as he watches the flames leave her body.
[That was...] -Soul
[Your blood..] -Soul
[Wasn't it.. Mashiro?..] -Soul
Not far away, the Talking Monster realizes that something is going on and decides to check it out.
He returns to his human form from before while walking.
And when he returned to where he had left the Deliverator's body, he saw Soul standing, with those flames coming out of his body.
- What the fuck is this? - Talking Monster
He sees that the pool of blood just behind, where the Deliverator was, was without his body.
And watching Soul standing there like that he soon realizes they were the same person.
- What does that mean? - Talking Monster
- Your heart stopped at that time, I'm sure of it... -Talking Monster
- I checked that shit! You had fucking died! - Talking Monster
The Talking Monster shows great irritation.
- And those flames coming out of your body.. -Talking Monster
- Is that Mana? - Talking Monster
- Were you a fucking Wizard? - Talking Monster
But Soul remains silent, not moving or looking in the direction of the Talking Monster.
He was just standing there not showing an ounce of interest in him or answering his questions.
The Talking Monster was being completely ignored.
This makes him even angrier.
- Answer me you piece of shit! - Talking Monster
- What is a Mage with that kind of power doing in a shitty place like this? - Talking Monster
Then he notices something, which makes his expression change.
- No, you are not a wizard.. -Talking Monster
- That smell... - Talking Monster
- It's different from the smell of monsters I've smelled before.. -Talking Monster
He changes position and the blades on his arms come out again as he seems to prepare to attack Soul.
But he stops and realizes that the flames in Soul's body were dying out.
And the moment they're done, Soul finally moves and looks at him and smiles.
- Very funny you ask me that.. -Soul
- I should ask you the same thing... -Soul
The Talking Monster breaks out of that attacking stance intrigued by what he has just heard.
- There is? What do you mean by that? - Talking Monster
Soul opens an even bigger smile while facing him.
- What is a Youkai like you doing so far from your country? -Soul
- On this shitty continent? -Soul
The Talking Monster is surprised to hear it.
- What the fuck is this?.. -Talking Monster
- How do you know what I am? - Talking Monster
- How do you know I'm a Youkai? -Youkai
- Oh? It's quite simple actually.. -Soul
- It's just that I've seen others of you before.. -Soul
- Kamaitachi... -Soul
Hearing him say that name, the Youkai jumps back and is in an attack position.
- Who the hell are you? -Youkai
- To know even what type of Youkai I am.. -Kamaitachi
- What are you? -Kamaitachi
- The smell I smelled before.. -Kamaitachi
- Even ignoring the monsters...
- Your smell.. He too.. -Kamaitachi
- He wasn't human.. -Kamaitachi
- It was a smell unlike any I've ever smelled before.. -Kamaitachi
- Before he was much weaker.. -Kamaitachi
- So I didn't pay much attention, why did you act like a human.. -Kamaitachi
- And because I thought you were already dead at that time.. -Kamaitachi
- But now.. -Kamaitachi
Kamaitachi gets a more serious expression.
- This smell is much stronger.. -Kamaitachi
At that moment the light of the moon that was being covered by the clouds, passes through the leaves of the trees and reaches Soul.
Thus illuminating his face, and at that moment the Kamaitachi can see him clearly.
- Those eyes.. -Kamaitachi
- Eyes as red as blood.. And those fangs.. -Kamaitachi
- You're a… -Kamaitachi
He is distraught as he finally realizes what he was.
- Vampire!?.. -Kamaitachi
Soul starts laughing upon hearing it.
- AND! That's right! -Soul
- Just like you! -Soul
- I'm a monster too! -Soul
- What does a Vampire do so far from their lands? -Kamaitachi
- You should only live in the northern continent!? -Kamaitachi
- What did you come to do in a small country like this? -Kamaitachi
- Don't tell me you're doing the same as me? -Kamaitachi
- Didn't I already say that I should ask the same question to you? Haha. -Soul
- Ahhh.. But this thing about living only in the northern continent.. -Soul
Soul has a face of disappointment.
- It's just a big pile of baseless untruths.. Haha.. -Soul
- Now about the fact that I'm here to do the same as you.. -Soul
He smiles with a sarcastic expression.
- Who knows?.. - Soul
Right after he finished uttering those words, Soul advances at high speed towards Kamaitachi.
The Kamaitachi reacts by attacking with its right blade.
Soul then dodges the attack by staying to the side while charging and runs right past him.
But the Kamaitachi turns around and launches another attack in his direction, now with his left blade.
He then narrowly dodges having his cheek grazed as he bends backwards.
Soul then jumps back trying to open distance between them.
[Hmmm.. It seems that in my current state I have no chance of competing with him in speed.] -Soul
The Kamaitachi comes at him attacking while Soul continues to try to get away, while narrowly dodging the attacks.
- Hey! Hey! What's your little shit's problem? -Kamaitachi
- You came after me and now you're just going to run away? -Kamaitachi
[What about physical strength?] -Soul
While he dodged the Kamaitachi's attacks at first, he sees an opening.
When dodging, he turns around kicking him with all his strength.
But the Kamaitachi blocks his kick by crossing his two blades and is pushed back a little, dragging his feet on the ground, with the force of the kick.
[Yeah, as I am right now.. I won't be able to overcome him with physical strength either..] -Soul
- Haha ha!! Too weak you red-eyed bastard! -Kamaitachi
[Only with half of my original strength and speed…] -Soul
- I heard that young vampires are much weaker! -Kamaitachi
[There's no way I can beat him without using a weapon… So..] -Soul
- So this must be your case, right you little shit? -Kamaitachi
The Kamaitachi is now chasing him more fiercely, delivering several attacks and he just kept running away and dodging narrowly, now taking several grazing cuts.
Soul continued to retreat, only luring him towards a tree.
When they arrive in the direction of the tree, Soul, upon noticing where they were, is unbalanced by retreating.
The Kamaitachi, seeing this chance, launches an attack crossing its blades horizontally, wanting to break it in half.
But that's what Soul wanted and he pushes himself off the ground, jumping backwards, spinning in the air, dodging his attack and hitting his feet on the top of the tree trunk, momentarily leaning on him.
- You piece of shit, do you think you're going to run away from me? -Kamaitachi
He then advanced towards Soul delivering a horizontal attack.
- Now you have nowhere to run you little shit! -Kamaitachi
But before the blade reached him in the tree, Soul boosts himself from it and jumps towards the Kamaitachi.
- Idiot! In the air there's no way you can dodge this time! -Kamaitachi
But the moment the blade reaches Soul's reach, he hits his hand on the top of the blade, using it as support, and jumping over the Kamaitachi.
With that, Soul falls to the ground where he wanted it, and the Kamaitachi ends up hitting the tree.
Annoyed with what just happened, at the same moment he hits the tree, he turns around and using it as support just like Soul did before, jumps towards him.
- I'm going to kill you, you bastard!! -Kamaitachi
Again he comes with an attack crossing his blades.
But, Soul doesn't even move this time and smiles.
He lifts his foot up, and we see that his sword was at his feet.
She is thrown upwards and Soul catches her in the air, blocking the Kamaitachi's attack.
This time withstanding the attack, Soul makes the Kamaitachi pass over him while he was still in the air, thus falling behind him.
- You shit! You think just because you have a sword now you think you can beat me? -Kamaitachi
Soul faces him with a mocking expression and smiles despising him.
- Look at you piece of shit.. -Kamaitachi
The Kamaitachi advances ferociously, launching several attacks with its blades towards the Soul.
But this time, he defends himself from all attacks without much difficulty.
[No Kamaitachi, you're mistaken..] -Soul
[I don't think..] -Soul
Soul kept smiling as they exchanged blows only making the Kamaitachi angrier.
[While I just ran away, dodging his blade attacks before, I was sure..] -Soul
[When it comes to experience fighting with blades or swords..] -Soul
Soul grins as he blocks Kamaitachi's attack and pushes back his blades with one of his attacks.
[I have much more experience than you.] -Soul
- You never had a chance Kamaitachi! -Soul
Soul then taking advantage of the opening in Kamaitachi's defense launches a diagonal attack cutting his chest deeply.
The Kamaitachi tries to counter by attacking with a sequence of attacks.
But Soul defends and dodges them and in the midst of Kamaitachi's counterattack he fakes an opening.
And thinking that this would be his chance, the Kamaitachi tries to deliver a fatal attack, but Soul blocks the attack.
He then dodges to the side and lands an attack on the Kamaitachi's right arm joint, knocking him off.
Upon losing his arm, he tries to quickly move backwards by retreating.
But at the same time, Soul throws his sword at him.
[You've just been seriously injured and lost an arm, and despaired…] -Soul
[You won't be able to avoid my sword in this state.] -Soul
The Kamaitachi tries to hit the sword, but he misses and is hit in the joint of his left arm.
When it is hit, the Kamaitachi looks away for a moment to its arm hit by the blade, and Soul at the same time was advancing towards him.
And when he turned his eyes forward, Soul was already facing him.
He then tries to charge at Soul to bite him with his bestial weasel form.
But, Soul pushes him back with his right hand on his chest, preventing him from biting him and pushing him away.
At the same time grabbing the hilt of his sword, and turning it right after, tearing the Kamaitachi's arm joint.
And finishing with a vertical slash ripping off what was left of his arm.
The Kamaitachi screams in agony and despair looking at Soul.
- You fucking bastard!! -Kamaitachi
And before the Kamaitachi could do anything, Soul already turned around, delivering another horizontal attack, cutting deeply into his belly, spurting a lot of blood to the side.
Thus, a large amount of blood comes out of the Kamaitachi's mouth and he falls to the ground, and returns to his human form.
Already on the ground, he looks at Soul with an expression of disgust and anger.
- Why did you attack me if you were a monster? -Kamaitachi
- Are you trying to defend these humans or something? -Kamaitachi
Soul hearing this starts laughing uncontrollably.
- What's the fun? -Kamaitachi
The Kamaitachi starts coughing up blood, but continues to speak with some difficulty.
- Did I say something funny? -Kamaitachi
He stops laughing and looks at him with a disappointed face.
- I attacked you, because you attacked me before, and that was it. -Soul
- Besides, didn't you say you killed me before? -Soul
- So it was obvious, that I would kill you now. -Soul
- But you didn't really die, did you? -Kamaitachi
- Well, how would a human die.. I did die.. -Soul
- Hahaha.. -Kamaitachi
He starts to laugh, but stops when he coughs up blood again.
- Ah… So that was it? -Kamaitachi
- I see.. -Kamaitachi
- Yeah, it's really fair you little shit.. -Kamaitachi
Soul smiles at him.
- Won't you end my life soon? -Kamaitachi
- Are you going to watch me agonize to death? -Kamaitachi
- The way I am now, I can't even finish her off myself.. -Kamaitachi
- Although the idea is really interesting, I'm more interested in something else.. -Soul
- Interested in what? -Kamaitachi
- About what you said before... -Soul
- What did you mean about me doing the same as you? -Soul
- Oh.. That? I can answer it, but what would I get out of it? -Kamaitachi
- Just more time agonizing to death? -Kamaitachi
- Hm.. Very well, I can at least burn your body afterwards, so that the worms don't violate it, how about that? -Soul
- Ah.. The thought of having worms violate my body after my death, I really don't like it very much.. -Kamaitachi
- I think that was convincing enough for me.. -Kamaitachi
- So we have an agreement.. -Soul
Both smile at each other, even though they are in that situation.
- Well.. About your question.. -Kamaitachi
- I said that, because several monsters like us, or that have a certain level of intellect, started to migrate from various regions.. -Kamaitachi
- And for what reason? -Soul
- Well, the amount of Mages and Adventurers has greatly increased in recent years... -Kamaitachi
- And their branches also spread across several countries as well, in particular that of the Adventurers.. -Kamaitachi
- So monsters like us are being hunted quite often now... -Kamaitachi
Kamaitachi stops talking for a moment and opens a big smile while facing Soul.
- Especially those who feed on humans like the 2 of us.. -Kamaitachi
- We are the most wanted.. -Kamaitachi
Soul is surprised, while listening to Kamaitachi say all this.
- So that's why they're migrating to continents like the one we're on.. -Kamaitachi
- Where countries have an extremely low Human Development Index, and there are few Mages or Adventurers who can try to hunt or fight them.. -Kamaitachi
- But you must have noticed by now, right? -Kamaitachi
- The development of the countries in this particular continent, are far behind the others.. It's almost a joke.. -Kamaitachi
- The very system of communicating or sharing information is ridiculous. -Kamaitachi
- They have few Mages, so they hardly transmit messages through Mana crystals.. -Kamaitachi
- Instead, they send humans to personally deliver messages from one place to another even at the enormous risk of dying.. -Kamaitachi
- Can you believe that? -Kamaitachi
- Haha.. Besides having very little information about what most monsters are like.. -Kamaitachi
- I myself was already here in this country for a long time, and I lived in this village for more than 3 years.. -Kamaitachi
- Without anyone suspecting anything, while I devoured them little by little.. -Kamaitachi
- I see, you were among the people who saw me the day I arrived in the village... -Soul
- I would never have guessed... -Soul
- But it seems that things have changed a lot for our side, doesn't it? -Soul
- Of course they changed, were you living under a rock or what? -Kamaitachi
- In order not to know anything about it.. -Kamaitachi
- Well, when I came to this continent many years ago, the situation still hadn't turned out like this.. -Soul
- So there would be no way for me to know how things were outside of here.. -Soul
- Oh? So you never went back to your land? Hahaha -Kamaitachi
- Running away too you little shit? Hahaha -Kamaitachi
Soul with a sad look smiles at him.
- Yeah.. Something like that.. -Soul
Kamaitachi, upon seeing his expression, stops laughing, and seems to sympathize with him.
He coughs up blood again and gets a sad look, and smiles back at Soul.
Now with great difficulty he speaks again.
- Oh... -Kamaitachi
- You bastard.. Shit.. -Kamaitachi
- So.. -Kamaitachi
- In the end.. -Kamaitachi
- We..were the same.. -Kamaitachi
- In a way... -Kamaitachi
After finishing saying those words, the Kamaitachi dies.
- Is it the same?.. - Soul
- Maybe... -Soul
He gives a slight smile and then slowly pulls away from Kamaitachi's body.
Until he touches his back against a tree, he then crouches down little by little, until he sits on the ground.
And with an extremely sad expression on his face, he closes his eyes.
- I'm back.. - Soul
- Mashiro….. -Soul
Some time passes and Soul slowly opens his eyes again.
Now he finds himself back in that place.
Among those memories.
Slowly he realizes he is being carried.
[Ah, it must be those two, they're still taking me somewhere..] -Soul
He looks down at the ground and a little ahead with some difficulty, but he can't lift his face to see what's ahead of them.
[Hm.. Maybe because now I finally remembered who I am..] -Soul
[I don't see myself divided from my body like before..] -Soul
[Now it's just me..] -Soul
[Now I feel like I'm in control of my own body..] -Soul
[As it should be..] -Soul
[Reliving that moment in my memories..] -Soul
[Well, I must admit it's a strange feeling to have a name..] -Soul
[After going so long without one..] -Soul
[But… It's still nice to have one..] -Soul
[It's really good.. Remembering him...] -Soul
[He is part of me.. And who I really am.. .] -Soul
- He's waking up Mashiro-sama -Voice of Unknown Woman
- Oh? It was faster than I thought... -Mashiro
Soul looks ahead in surprise and sees Mashiro walking a little ahead of him.
[What?] -Soul
[Why am I here with Mashiro?] -Soul
[What's going on?] -Soul
- But well, I didn't have enough time to finish these spells and analyze them... -Mashiro
- For me to be able to see all of its effects correctly, so it was to be expected.. -Mashiro
He looks at who is carrying him and realizes that it is a different woman and not the twins who were carrying him earlier.
She also wore maid clothes, just like them.
[What happened to the twins?] -Soul
[Did something go wrong?] -Soul
[If I'm here with Mashiro, then what happened?..] -Soul
As he thought, they reached a large hall.
It was huge, with large scattered pillars supporting it, it had a carpet that covered the entire floor, it seemed to be a ballroom.
There was also an area above, like a second floor, where important people could watch the entire hall from above.
- Wait, you can stop, and stay right there at the entrance. -Mashiro
- Looks like we're going to have company, despite not being who we expected. -Mashiro
- Stay with Soul in a way that he can watch, I want him to see all this happen. -Mashiro
- Understood Mashiro-sama. -Unknown employee 3
Unknown Maid 3 crouches along with Soul to the ground while they wait for something.
[What did she mean?] -Soul
[Is Mashiro waiting for someone and something to happen??] -Soul
[Whatever, it looks like I didn't say anything here either..] -Soul
[Just like before, it seems that I was still pretty debilitated for some reason.] -Soul
[All I do is just watch..] -Soul
[But well, at least my mind is free to think about anything, even while I'm reminiscing about those moments.] -Soul
- Hmm, from the steps it seems to be 10 individuals, they will arrive soon.. -Mashiro
Mashiro looks slowly at the windows on both sides and smiles, she walks to the middle of the hall, and stands exactly between the large windows.
She then sticks her sword into the ground.
- Soul, from here you will have a very broad view of me and what is about to happen. -Mashiro
- From now on, pay attention to every last detail. -Mashiro
- And learn from my mistakes and successes… .. -Mashiro
- So you can avoid them in the future… . -Mashiro
Soul is surprised to hear such words, but quickly changes his expression to a more serious look.
[I see..] -Soul
[So that was it..] -Soul
She looks to where Soul was and looks back to the center of the room.
- They arrived. -Mashiro
The windows are broken on both sides, but we see nothing passing through them.
But, before their glass even touches the ground, we already see 10 individuals with cloaks and hoods standing in front of it.
And the next moment the glasses fall to the floor.
Mashiro looks at the broken glass on the rug and shakes his head.
- I thought you guys had more class than that. -Mashiro
She smiles, and with a look of mockery looks at them.
- Today's Aristocratic Vampires can really be anyone, right? -Mashiro
- You brat... How dare you? -Unknown Vampire 1
One of the individuals gets excited and tries to go for her, but another puts his arm in front of him preventing him.
This individual takes off his hood and bows.
- We are sorry for the lack of courtesy, but we were sent by a last-minute decision, and as you already have other guests on the way.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- We couldn't use the door this time.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- So we had no choice, I hope you forgive us. -Unknown Vampire 2
Then everyone else takes off their hoods and bows too, so we see they all have red eyes and fangs.
They all had distinct appearances and skin tones, some with long hair and some with short hair with different colors.
[All of them.. Are Vampires..] -Soul
- Hmm.. All Aristocrats?.. -Mashiro
She looks at them, and after quickly observing them, she looks back at the one who was speaking in front of the others.
- No.. Not all.. -Mashiro
One of them looks back at her upon hearing this and smiles.
- Well, if they ended up coming, it seems that the 11th ended up not being able to do much. -Mashiro
- Yes, as much as he was the oldest after the Progenitors.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- The decision was taken by more than one of them… Vampire Unknown 2
- So, as much as most of them didn't care.. -Vampire Unknown 2
- The 11th would not be able to influence the outcome of the decision.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- Hm.. 2 or more ended up opting for this.. -Mashiro
- I see.. - Mashiro
She doesn't seem to be surprised by what he just said, she seems to have been waiting for that answer.
- What did the 11th do after that? -Mashiro
- He announced that he would not help you or them.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- And soon after he declared his departure for another continent.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- But unfortunately, he didn't say which continent he was going to.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- I imagine he wasn't happy with the result… -Unknown Vampire 2
Mashiro starts laughing.
- Yeah, he must not have stayed… -Mashiro
- I see.. Then he left.. .. -Mashiro
She gives a slight smile.
- Well, I imagine you weren't sent with orders to kill me, were you? -Mashiro
- At least not with this group.. -Mashiro
- Probably.. Contain me until they arrive so I don't run away? -Mashiro
- Very insightful.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- I had already heard that you were very perceptive for your age.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- But understanding your situation so quickly even with so little information... -Unknown Vampire 2
- The rumors don't do you justice... -Unknown Vampire 2
- To be quite honest, I would have liked to have had the opportunity to talk to you on another occasion... -Unknown Vampire 2
- What a pity in? Haha - Mashiro
- Yeah.. You were right, we were sent to stop you from running away.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- And to be quite honest, we were also ordered to exhaust your strength.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- Before the humans got here... -Unknown Vampire 2
- I figured... -Mashiro
- A guarantee on? -Mashiro
- So they can be sure the humans will manage to kill me, right? -Mashiro
- I'm sorry about that. -Unknown Vampire 2
- Do not feel. -Mashiro
The Unknown Vampire 2 smiles.
- And those back there, will they get involved? -Unknown Vampire 2
- No.. They won't.. It's just my human maid.. -Mashiro
- And as you can see, even if the other is a vampire...
- He is already totally exhausted and weakened, he doesn't even have the strength to even stand up on his own. -Mashiro
- Hmm.. Really, she's just a human.. -Unknown Vampire 2
- And about the vampire.. His heart is beating very weak indeed, it seems that you went through something before we arrived? -Unknown Vampire 2
Mashiro raises his arms and makes a fool of himself.
- Unexpected visits, you know?
- Today was quite a day, I think you understand me, don't you? -Mashiro
The vampire looks at Soul in that state and gives a small smile.
- Yeah.. I think I understand... -Unknown Vampire 2
The Unknown Vampire 2 nods to the others, and looks back at Mashiro with a serious look.
- Well, I think we owe him a certain courtesy for all that. -Unknown Vampire 2
- So, the least we can do is introduce ourselves properly, before this all starts... -Unknown Vampire 2
Mashiro raises a hand towards them.
- This is not necessary. -Mashiro
And he starts laughing uncontrollably.
They all find it strange and don't understand what's going on with her.
After she stops laughing, Mashiro breaks into a big smile with an evil expression as he looks in their direction.
- After all, why should I care.. -Mashiro
- In knowing the name of a bunch of people who will be dead in a few moments? -Mashiro