Chapter 55

Episode 55: Life on the Edge of a Blade

“Hooh, this body… is it finally growing? That recent feeding was… the most perfect meal of my life, even if it was interrupted midway.”

【Growth?】

Irlya brought up the word growth.

Surely, when I checked Irlya’s information a moment ago, growth was listed as a passive ability.

But…

“Hmm… what has grown?”

Honestly, I couldn’t tell what had grown in Irlya.

“Um, um. I expected that question. It must be hard to recognize from the perspective of a mere creature.”

Was it because the changes were too subtle?

In my eyes, she still appeared as a young girl.

“This body is a progenitor. But among them, it is the most special existence. However, being special comes with side effects. If I feed carefully and consistently on the best meals—in other words, the most delicious blood—this body will gradually grow. Do you understand now? The Irlya before you is indeed! The most noble of lives.”

“I see.”

“Yes, so we must slowly and savoringly enjoy the meal with the highest quality. Only by growing slowly does its value stand out. On the other hand, while ordinary meals are fine, every time I have the worst meal, I grow in the opposite direction. Therefore, I regress.”

– Knock, knock.

As Irlya’s arrogant explanation came to an end, a knock that sounded like a well-trained servant echoed.

– Please come out when you are ready.

“Let’s go. I have something to ask your father.”

“Ah… um, my dad… yeah, let’s go for now.”

【Her tone keeps changing. It’s infuriating.】

I got up from the bed first and extended my hand to lead her, who was sitting modestly in the middle of the bed.

However, I accidentally stepped on that damned mosquito net-like decoration and slipped.

“Uh, uh?”

“Kyah!”

When I came to my senses, I found myself sprawled over her.

Our navels were nearly touching.

“What, what are you doing…”

Irlya’s face was turning as red as her eye color.

To be precise, her cheeks were.

No, now that I look, her cheeks were starting to flush a light pink color.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention.”

【Aren’t you tired of this? Trying to seduce a girl again? Crazy bastard. Do you really need to go that far in the Gate? You’re no different from a randy monkey. Tsk.】

Chaewon clicked her tongue.

“I’ll get up right away… Irlya?”

I tried to move to escape the position I was in.

But Irlya hooked her legs around mine, preventing me from moving.

“Um… your name. Siwoo, right?”

“Uh, it’s Han Shiwoo.”

Suddenly, why was she asking for my name?

“Han Shiwoo… Siwoo… yeah, that’s a unique name. I don’t understand it.”

“Your name seems even more unique to me. By the way, hurry up and let go of my legs. If the servant outside sees this scene, what will they think of me?”

Well, the rumors of a pedophile, or in other words, a lolicon, inside the Gate wouldn’t have that much impact.

What I was worried about was Harin’s reaction since she was in the same manor.

If this situation spread to Harin’s ears, it felt like something dangerous would happen.

My survival instincts were in turmoil.

I needed to find Harin in this manor quickly.

I wondered if she was stuck in some underground prison.

If I were to guess a reason, Harin had a saint-like position in this fantasy world… which meant the vampire race wouldn’t like her.

“So if you don’t want to make me a sex offender, quickly let me go.”

“… Yes, that would be the situation I desire.”

“What?”

Irlya used her power to bring a bell to her hand.

“If I ring this bell, the servant outside will immediately open the door to our room and come in. Then, what do you think will happen? Wouldn’t it look like I’m about to rape you?”

【But, isn’t that already a relationship just short of marriage? What does it matter now?】

Good point.

Should I just go for it?

Irlya smirked, raising one corner of her mouth as she continued her sentence.

“Father would try to kill you.”

【That person made you get married.】

Well, there was a problem.

“But, you see, there’s a reason I can’t rape you. So your plan won’t work.”

“What?”

“First reason. Your body is too young. I’m not attracted to it.”

“Uh? Huh?”

“Second reason. This connects to the first reason. Because of that, I’m not excited. So I can’t penetrate.”

“Ugh… stop it…”

“Lastly, the third reason. You’re just too—”

“Stop it!”

Irlya finally showed tears.

“I was only joking to begin with… that’s too much…”

【Yeah, how cowardly to rely on facts. Shouldn’t you contend with persuasion and fabrication? Well, it makes sense considering you live in a world where people like me are seen.】

The legs that were blocking mine from Irlya loosened.

“Am I really that unattractive?”

“Irlya.”

“Yeah, I’m listening.”

“With a body so small, you can’t seduce anyone. So…”

“So?”

“Become an adult, Irlya.”

After that incident, I felt like we had become a little closer.

Well, it might just be my misunderstanding, but I felt that way.

【Haah… is it really okay for the Gate to be this peaceful? The difference from the last place I went is too stark.】

Anyway, Irlya and I finished preparing and opened the door to find the servant waiting for us.

That servant was dressed in a neat butler’s outfit.

The butler looked somewhat gaunt.

“Siwoo, I have to go ahead.”

“Why?”

“I can feel that my father is calling for me.”

“But I’m also on my way to meet your father… no, the Lord. Aren’t we going together?”

“It’s a pity, but my father seems to want to tell me something briefly… so I need to go quickly.”

– Boom!

– Flap, flap.

She transformed into a bat and quickly disappeared from my sight.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll guide you.”

“No, that’s not it. What should I call you?”

The male butler in front of me adjusted his tie.

“My name is Alukid. I have no last name. I’m a commoner.”

“They said there are indeed humans here.”

【Why didn’t you ask why you haven’t left?】

That’s an unexpectedly wise question that I can’t believe Chaewon thought of.

“Oh, so, Alukid. Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, please. The Lord has a prior engagement. While we wait for him, I’ll explain. First, let’s head toward where the Lord is.”

I nodded in response.

– Step, step.

– Tap, tap.

We walked in silence, time flowing quietly between us.

I broke the unbearable silence and asked Alukid a question.

“Alukid, you’re a human, right? Just like me.”

I questioned Alukid, who was guiding me to the Lord’s chamber.

I had been to the room where the Lord was once before, but I was too disoriented then to remember the way.

“Yes, all the servants in this mansion are humans. Occasionally, there are vampires, but those, too, were humans chosen by the Lord to become vampires.”

I already knew this much.

The crux was the next question.

“Then, why don’t you run away from here? Aren’t you captured?”

The earlier question was just to segue into this one.

“Hmmm… I’m not captured.”

“Then?”

“I’m a commoner, so I always lack money. This place has high wages, which is why I voluntarily work here. You could say it’s a candy job. At first, it was hard to speak politely like this as a commoner, but now I’m a bit better at it. In plain words, as long as they pay well, I’m good.”

“Hmm… isn’t there a risk involved?”

“Honestly, at first, I was very scared. But gradually, I became accustomed to the fear. It feels like living a life on the edge of a blade. Isn’t it funny? Humans and vampires don’t get along, yet I’m overcoming that and working in the heart of the vampires.”

“I see…”

Did all the people who were sucked into this place go through this moment and witness it?

“However, I actually don’t understand why vampires and humans don’t get along. It’s just that way. Perhaps there was some unilateral reason from the vampire side that made them dislike humans.”

I gained unexpected information.

“You seem quite competent. But the fact that you haven’t become a vampire means you work here voluntarily?”

“That’s not exactly the reason… as far as I know, even those who voluntarily work here become vampires. The important thing is if you oppose becoming a vampire… well, they won’t turn you into a vampire. Hm, hm. Alunus was an exception, though.”

He cleared his throat as he said the last part.

Alunus… was he forcibly turned into a vampire?

‘… This suddenly feels unsettling.’

【Don’t be scared.】

“Alright. Now we’ve arrived at the Lord’s location. Let’s go meet him.”

I stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

Sighs kept coming out.

Perhaps I was living that life on the edge of a blade that Alukid spoke of.

It perfectly described me.

A life on the edge of a blade means.

Literally living in a precarious existence where it’s not strange to get hurt or lose one’s life at any moment.

– Creak…