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

Preparing for the Duel

Thump. Thump.

Isabella is jumping. On my bed.

“You know, right? As planned, it’s tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yes.”

With promotional flyers circulating around the Academy for days, and tomorrow being a holiday.

Probably quite a lot of people will come to watch.

“Don’t worry about the familiar release.”

“…Yes. By the way, was Seta Isabella’s servant?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, we had the same lectures…”

“That’s not important! Just don’t run away!”

“Ah, yes.”

Seta.

The purple-haired classmate whom I met through chocolate cake at the Sky Fair.

She was also friends with that pervert.

I don’t understand why those two opposites hang out together.

Anyway, we’ve exchanged words a few times since we share some classes, but we’re still awkward around each other.

‘Who would have thought Seta was Isabella’s servant.’

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Duel List Students

Magician Arein S. Asphodel

Servant Lee Ha-yu

Magician Izanek Isabella

Servant Seta

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I was quite shocked when I found out about this fact only after seeing the promotional flyer.

She never once mentioned the duel even during yesterday’s class.

Usually, when you’re going to duel someone you know, it’s bound to come up in conversation.

But she just silently attended the class.

Could it be… she knows Isabella’s plan?

“……”

I glanced sideways to check Isabella’s hands.

————————————

I wrote this thinking it might help with the duel.

-Magic duels haven’t been implemented for long, so there are many loopholes.

-Isabella uses objects to deploy her magic.

-Need to check which hand holds the object.

It’s often attached to the left side where the heart, which generates magic power, is located, for reference.

.

.

.

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According to the note Eliana gave me, Isabella uses accessories as auxiliary mediums, equivalent to spellbooks or magical tomes.

It must be expensive, but since she’s wealthy, it makes sense.

The note implied that I should be careful as magic could be deployed at any unexpected moment.

I need to keep this in mind. For my own protection.

“Lady Isabella?”

“???”

I sat down the bouncing Isabella and carefully addressed her.

“May I see your hand?”

“…Eh? Are you making advances?”

For some reason, she’s using historical drama speech.

“Yes.”

When I brazenly responded, Isabella became uncharacteristically flustered.

A black frilly dress with a cute large ribbon that perfectly matches her sky-blue hair.

The morning glory-shaped sleeves completely cover Isabella’s small hands.

I take her hand and examine it from different angles.

-Fiddle fiddle…

-Fiddle

As my hand movements continued, I began to feel piercing gazes from beside me.

Isabella burst out in protest, as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“This feels somewhat unpleasant…”

She was looking at me with pure eyes, as if despising me.

To think someone like her planned to kill Arein. What a frightening world.

‘…Nothing.’

I can’t see any notable rings or bracelets. Perhaps she plans to wear them on the day of the duel.

-Swoosh.

Isabella pulled her hand away from me while giving me a side-eye.

“Anyway, if you want to be released from vassalage peacefully, behave accordingly.”

“Didn’t you say earlier that I could give it my all?”

“….Did I say that?”

She looks at me with an expression full of question marks.

I wonder why Isabella wants to kill Arein. Does she have a grudge like Floria?

I can’t bring myself to ask.

I stand up and escort Isabella.

“It’s getting late. Let’s go in before any misunderstandings arise.”

Isabella left with quick steps, wearing a pouty expression.

“Huh…… Should I believe it.”

After sending Isabella away, I fell into deep thought.

It’s quite like a short story. Both knowing each other’s secrets but trying hard to act like they don’t.

Nevertheless, Isabella doesn’t seem to harbor great hostility towards me.

That could also be a bluff, but I can’t predict how tomorrow’s duel will unfold.

“Remaining Seven Deadly Sins points.”

——————————-

Remaining Seven Deadly Sins points: 14

Strength: 10

Endurance (Mental strength): 10

Intelligence: 5

Magic Power: 20

Flexibility: 10

Luck: 10

——————————-

“……”

Since that day, Arein hasn’t sought me out, so the points have remained in this state for several days.

————————–

After dinner, come not too late

————————–

Of course, today being the day before the duel, she requested blood-drinking for magic power charging, so I need to meet her soon.

“Whatever, 10 points to Magic Power.”

[Failed]

[※Prerequisite: Intelligence 10 or higher]

“……”

Intelligence…

“5 points to Intelligence”

[※Intelligence 5->10 complete.]

[Intelligence rises to level 2!]

[Magic attribute skills are enhanced]

——————————-

[Blood Veil (Magic)-Active] (enhanced!)

Create a veil of blood using Blood that can be used both offensively and defensively.

Activation phrase: ‘Blood tempered by blood’

——————————-

“What…”

Since it’s not a skill with numerical values, there’s only an indication that it’s been enhanced.

I wonder if there will be any changes?

‘Just one Blood point…’

With an experimental mindset, I deployed a blood curtain over my hand.

-Whirr.

[Used 3 points!]

[Remaining Blood: 130]

A transparent blood membrane forms. Even with just 3 points, it’s quite large.

‘It’s like crystal…’

The previously rough shape has disappeared, replaced by a rather elegant form.

Rather than looking like blood, it shimmers with a beautiful crimson color like mana.

And in the thin crystal surface, my face was reflected.

As I stared at it for a while, complicated thoughts kept coming to mind.

“Seta, Harold, Isabella, and Iris…”

Maybe because it’s night, but my mind is running wild with theories.

Clearly, Harold and Seta were the ones who first leaked information about the grade advancement to me.

And Harold set up the wager, and the opponent for that duel is none other than Seta.

Seta maintains the embargo about the duel even when we meet in class.

And Isabella’s attitude of seemingly deflecting when Seta’s story comes up.

“There must be something going on, right?”

And according to Princess Iris, Isabella is trying to kill Arein.

The truth of this is unclear.

There are many questions about Iris’s intentions and how she found out.

Will I be harmed? Should I ask Iris?

“…”

One thing’s for sure: this duel is definitely not just a simple duel.

Now that life is at stake, I feel like there’s something I don’t know involved in this duel.

The situation feels too perfectly arranged, like a puzzle. The sense of discomfort is overwhelming.

“Whatever. What does it matter to me.”

I should just pack my bags and think about running away.

-Crack.

-Splash.

“?!”

Perhaps because I kept getting distracted with other thoughts, the blood membrane soon shattered and scattered on the floor.

“Oh no.”

Maybe because it’s been enhanced, it’s different from when I first deployed it for Iris.

The completely consumed Blood disappears like mana, seeming to evaporate.

But when the deployment is canceled due to lack of concentration, it seems some of it flows down like this.

“How annoying.”

While looking for something to clean it up with, I noticed Eliana’s note in the drawer.

…What am I doing?

“Right. Why bother trying to win with barriers or whatever.”

Arein dying has no meaning for the outcome of the match itself.

While Eliana’s advice is appreciated, winning means losing the familiar bond.

Let’s just think about my life. Just need to read the situation.

I casually cleaned up and prepared to leave.

————————————-

– – – -Travel through a fantasy world that unfolds before you!- – – –

– – – -Three endings are prepared for you.- – – –

– – – -·Attend the Imperial Academy and interact with royalty and nobles!- – – –

– – – -·Defeat the Demon King with your strengthened character!- – – –

– – – -·You might get caught in the center of chaos, in the whirlwind of rebellion in the empire!- – – –

————————————-

It keeps coming to mind.

“Damn it. This is driving me crazy. Why should I care?”

The creator’s intention.

Is indirectly harming or directly killing someone really what the game demands?

Even after thinking about it for a long time, I’m not sure what the right answer is.

This is another reality, more realistic than the game.

A world where I could be threatened daily, where I don’t know the laws.

So, I need to think about what happens after the familiar bond is broken too.

At this rate, I’ll end up being hunted down.

“Argh!”

Things are developing more rapidly than expected.

In that context, it doesn’t feel real at all that tomorrow is the day of the duel.

“Stop thinking about it. For now, let’s just go.”

I wonder what Arein is thinking. I move my heavy feet toward her dormitory.

* * *

The Royal Class dormitory, indeed the academy’s finest facility.

I should have no more connections with this place now, really, absolutely none. And I hope it stays that way.

After showing my pass to the supervisor, I stood in front of her door.

-Knock knock knock.

After forcefully composing myself, I knock three times and call out.

“My lady, I’m coming in.”

-Click.

The layout of Arein’s room had changed once again.

All the curtains were drawn back, and moonlight was coldly illuminating the bed through the window.

“You came.”

She was wearing a long nightgown dress with a cardigan over it.

She sat on the bed, tightly hugging a pillow.

‘Isn’t she hot?’

Atlas, where the Academy is located, has quite a hot climate, yet she’s bundled up so tightly.

Anyway, today will be my last blood-feeding with her.

-……

We stood facing each other for a while.

Without saying a word.

It reminds me of the first time I let Arein feed on my blood. I think it was a similar situation.

.

.

.

It was the day when the head servant finally allowed me to take a proper bath.

And as instructed, on a night with a full moon, I headed to Arein’s room.

Amazed by her room that was larger than the one shared by more than ten servants, I said,

-I’ve come as the Master ordered.

-……

The young girl was sitting on the bed, and she seemed embarrassed about this act.

A young girl holding a teddy bear shyly in her arms – she didn’t look like a vampire at all.

I stood before her with my hands bound.

-Excuse me…?

-…Do you know what you’re about to do?

-Ah, yes. Well, it’s blood-feeding, isn’t it?

At my casual response, she clutched her doll tighter and shrank back.

-…I can’t.

Her words were firm.

And my question.

-Why not?

-It hurts.

-It’s okay.

Back then, I was living on borrowed time anyway.

If I couldn’t serve as a blood bag, I would soon face death.

So I had to prove my usefulness somehow.

-It’s… okay?

-Yes. I’m fine, so don’t worry about it…

It’s quite ironic that a boy is comforting a girl of similar age.

And the victim is the one doing it first. Well, I was possessing an adult anyway.

Only after coaxing and persuading her for a long time was I finally able to let her feed.

.

.

.

-Seureu-reuk.

-……

-Flinch.

As I took off my shirt and approached Arein, her body moved backward.

Her scent is stronger than usual.

“……”

Since it’s the last time, drink your fill.

-Slide.

I gently embraced Arein, as if following the trail of her scent.

She seemed displeased, not wrapping her arms around my neck as she usually did.

-Slurp

Without touching my body, she merely traced my collarbone and Adam’s apple with the tip of her tongue.

Her light breaths scatter as they touch my skin.

I don’t want to sink in.

That thought suddenly occurs to me, and I hold my breath.

-Lick

And then her low voice reaches me.

.

.

.

“……I will definitely win.”

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And so, our misaligned relationship signals its final chapter.