"...I'm..."
My voice trembled.
"...going to suck your blood!"
The moment those words escaped my mouth, I could no longer control my body.
My crimson eyes locked onto Papa.
Every heartbeat echoed inside my ears.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The scent of his blood filled my senses.
It was sweet...
Warm...
Irresistible.
I wanted it.
No...
I needed it.
"Haruwiko-chan!"
Papa immediately grabbed both of my shoulders before I could lunge forward.
"Calm down! It's me!"
His voice sounded distant.
Almost as if it were coming from underwater.
"Damn..."
Papa bit his lip.
"So that's what happened."
He quickly examined the Dark Dragon Ring and the Scarlet Dragon Earring.
"It must have drained almost all of his mana..."
His expression grew serious.
"Vampires are different from other races."
"Most creatures recover their mana by sleeping."
"But vampires..."
He looked at me with worried eyes.
"...recover their mana by drinking blood."
His grip on my shoulders tightened.
"This is bad."
"There's no livestock inside this carriage..."
I struggled against him.
"Papa..."
"Please..."
"I can smell your blood..."
"Run..."
My body shook violently.
"I don't want to hurt you..."
Just then—
The carriage slowly came to a stop.
A loud voice echoed from outside.
"Attention, passengers!"
"We have arrived at Danos City!"
"The city famous for its skilled doctors and delicious carabao!"
"This will be our final stop!"
Papa's eyes widened.
"Danos City..."
Relief washed over his face.
"...Thank goodness."
Without wasting another second, he gently placed me back inside the travel box.
"I'm sorry, Haruwiko-chan."
He carefully closed the lid before locking it.
Darkness surrounded me once more.
Outside, I heard the carriage door open.
"Thank you for using our carriage service, Mister!"
Papa answered politely despite the urgency in his voice.
"Thank you."
Moments later, he hurried through the crowded streets while carrying the shaking wooden box.
Inside...
I curled into a ball.
"No..."
I bit my own arm to stop myself.
"I don't want Papa's blood..."
Yet the hunger only became stronger.
The wooden box trembled.
Outside, Papa tightened his grip.
"Haruwiko-chan..."
"Just hang on a little longer."
"I'll find something."
The box shook even harder.
Crack...
Papa glanced down.
"Please..."
"Hold on."
He looked around frantically.
"Damn..."
"Where was the butcher shop again?"
Then—
"Hm?"
A familiar voice reached his ears.
"Leader?"
Papa immediately turned around.
"Ejji-kun!"
The young man blinked in surprise.
"C-Cecelion-sama?"
"What are you doing here?"
Papa hurried toward him.
"No time to explain!"
"Where's the butcher shop?"
Ejji pointed across the street.
"It's right there."
"...But..."
"It already closed."
Papa froze.
"...No."
Inside the box—
BANG!
The wooden walls shook violently.
Papa's face turned pale.
"This box won't last much longer..."
Ejji tilted his head in confusion.
"Actually..."
"I sold my last carabao today."
"They only paid me fifty gold coins."
"And..."
"I still have a jar of fresh carabao blood."
He scratched his head.
"I was planning to throw it away."
"We already have too much blood tofu at home."
Papa's eyes widened.
"...What?"
"You were going to throw it away?"
Ejji nodded.
"Yes."
Papa suddenly grabbed both of Ejji's shoulders.
"I'LL BUY IT!"
"...Eh?"
Ejji jumped in surprise.
"What do you need carabao blood for?"
"I'll explain later!"
"Please!"
"Give me the jar!"
Without asking any more questions, Ejji quickly handed him a large clay jar.
Papa accepted it with both hands.
"...Thank you."
"You've just saved my son."
Ejji blinked.
"...Your son?"
Papa nodded.
"But first..."
"Could you stand a little farther away?"
Ejji quietly obeyed.
Papa carefully placed the trembling box onto the ground.
Crack...
Another crack appeared along its side.
He slowly opened the lid.
Inside...
I was curled into a ball.
Tears streamed down my face.
My entire body trembled.
"Papa..."
"...Go away."
"I can still smell your blood..."
"I don't want to hurt you."
Papa smiled gently.
"But..."
"You're not going to bite me."
I slowly shook my head.
"...No."
"I don't want to."
"I know."
He held out the clay jar.
"Then..."
"Open this."
Confused, I accepted it.
The moment I lifted the lid—
A rich scent filled the air.
"...Blood."
Papa nodded.
"That's right."
"Go ahead."
"Drink."
Without thinking, my instincts took over.
I lifted the jar with both hands.
"Gulp..."
The warm blood flowed down my throat.
Its rich taste spread through my body.
Warmth returned to every part of me.
The unbearable hunger slowly disappeared.
"...Delicious."
A peaceful smile appeared on my face.
"Ah..."
"So this is..."
Before I could finish—
Everything went black.
I collapsed into Papa's arms.
Papa sighed in relief.
"Haruwiko."
"Wake up..."
"...Hey."
No response.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"...He passed out."
"I suppose that's normal after exhausting so much mana."
Ejji slowly approached.
"So..."
"This adorable little boy..."
"Is your son?"
Papa proudly nodded.
"Yes."
"This is Haruwiko."
Ejji smiled warmly.
"He really is adorable."
"Look at that peaceful sleeping face."
Papa chuckled.
"Thank you."
He reached into his pocket and offered Ejji a pouch of coins.
"For the blood."
Ejji immediately waved both hands.
"No, no!"
"You don't have to pay."
Papa smiled.
"I insist."
After a brief hesitation, Ejji accepted it.
"...Thank you."
Papa lifted the sleeping Haruwiko into his arms.
"By the way..."
"Please say hello to Yuna-san for me."
Just then—
CRACK!
The wooden travel box finally split apart before collapsing into pieces.
Papa looked at the broken box and laughed helplessly.
"As expected..."
"It couldn't survive my son little rampage."
"I'll have to buy another one tomorrow."
He adjusted Haruwiko in his arms.
"Now then..."
"Let's find an inn."
Before he could take another step—
"Leader!"
Papa turned around.
Ejji scratched the back of his head.
"Every inn in Danos City is full tonight."
"...Would you and Haruwiko-chan like to stay at my house instead?"
Papa smiled apologetically.
"I appreciate the offer."
"But I don't want to trouble your family."
Ejji laughed.
"It wouldn't be any trouble at all."
"You once saved both Yuna and me."
"Please..."
"Let me repay that kindness."
Papa remained silent for a moment before smiling.
"I've told you before."
"It's only natural for seniors to protect their juniors."
Ejji grinned.
"Even so..."
"I'd still like to thank you."
After a brief pause, Papa finally nodded.
"...Very well."
"I'll accept."
"But I'm paying rent."
Ejji laughed helplessly.
"You really haven't changed."
Papa smiled.
"And stop calling me 'Leader.'"
"We're no longer part of the same party."
"Just call me Cecelion."
Ejji hesitated before smiling.
"...Alright."
"Cecelion."
(He really hasn't changed...)
Yuna-san is going to be so surprised when she sees him.
"Come on."
"My house isn't far."
Papa adjusted the sleeping Haruwiko in his arms before following behind his old friend.
The evening sun slowly disappeared beyond the rooftops of Danos City.
A new encounter...
Was about to begin.