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Chapter - 1: Aren't you too weak to be a vampire?
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I closed my eyes and massaged my forehead with two fingers, as this was literally the third sigh of the day I was practically collecting them and the conversation wasn't even halfway through.
"We've already talked about this, Adele…" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "This school is too dangerous for you for more than one reason." I knew she wouldn't accept the answer; I knew her well enough to predict her outburst before it even arrived.
From the other end of the phone, I heard a hiss of contempt. "Don't talk nonsense, I can take care of myself! I remind you that I saved your life five years ago, when that werewolf killed Mom and Dad… you remember that, right?" Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach, and without realizing it, I brought my hand to my neck, brushing the long scar that ran under my collarbone.
How could I ever forget?
I remember that night as if it were yesterday; I doubt I'll ever be able to forget it, no matter how much time passes, since when it happened, I was just a simple child, raised in a simple but happy family.
My father was a retired soldier, and because of that, he had decided to take us to the mountains for a few days, away from the city noise. For him, it wasn't just a vacation, but a family tradition, a moment dedicated to the bond between father and son, as had been done for generations before us.
That was why he decided to rent a small wooden cabin in the mountains, certain that a few days of pure air and silence would help us find some serenity again, since lately, city life had become suffocating and full of tensions that had begun to weigh on all of us.
It's strange how those details remained etched in my memory: the intense smell of resin soaking the air, the cold that stung my cheeks until they turned red, the dry sound of branches snapping under our footsteps as my younger sister, Adele, and I gathered wood to feed the fire.
It was an evening like any other, quiet, almost perfect—at least until a scream tore through the night. An instant later, a rifle shot echoed through the trees, shattering the silence and making us both jump.
I clearly remember the feeling of blood freezing in my veins, as it was my father himself who had repeatedly told me never to use the rifle without a precise reason—that the noise would attract wild beasts, and if he decided to fire, it meant something had gone terribly wrong.
I ran toward the clearing, ignoring Adele's cries calling after me while my heart hammered in my chest and my breath burned in my lungs, but nothing could have prepared me for the scene I found.
I froze in front of my mother's body, ripped open and split apart, reduced to a useless mass of flesh with her guts scattered all around like wet snakes, the blood soaking the earth and filling the air with a metallic smell that forced its way into my lungs.
I stood motionless, staring at that scene, unable to breathe or look away, until a heavy, wet sound forced me to slowly turn my head. And then I saw it: a gigantic werewolf that shouldn't have existed except in legends, its body covered in wounds and blood, its snout filthy and deformed into a ferocious snarl.
But what truly shattered me was my father, because the beast's paw was planted in his chest, claws driven deep into the flesh while blood poured from his mouth and dripped down his chin.
Yet, he continued to grip the monster with desperate strength, his face contorted by the effort, completely drenched in the red spray that splattered everywhere as he fought even while he was dying.
Then the monster turned with a slow movement of its snout, and I immediately noticed it was missing its left arm, ripped clean off; from the stump came a jet of dark, thick blood that stank of death. But that wound didn't weaken it at all; it seemed to make it even more cruel as it stared at me with those yellow, sick eyes. In that instant, I understood that to him, I was nothing more than the last piece of the meal, the last thing to tear to shreds before leaving.
The smell of blood and fur filled every breath, so strong it made me nauseous.
Yet, in the middle of that horror, what I would never forget was the look my father gave me. There was no fear in his eyes, only a will as hard as iron as, with a simple nod of his head, he ordered me to take the rifle and survive even if it meant leaving him there to die.
Honestly, I wish I could say I reacted, that I found the courage to move and do something, anything. Inside, I was screaming to act, to run to him, to take that damn rifle. But the truth is that my legs wouldn't respond; they were as if nailed to the ground, and I stood there frozen, paralyzed by fear while everything collapsed before my eyes.
Adele, however, didn't hesitate for a second when she saw the scene. She grabbed the rifle with hands that didn't shake and fired. The shot hit the creature in the chest, making blood and flesh explode, but it wasn't enough to stop it. The werewolf let out a roar so loud it made the air vibrate, and with a violent gesture, it hurled our father's body toward us like a broken toy it no longer needed.
I didn't even realize I was wounded until I felt the heat of my own blood running down my side while Adele moved beside me. Then the creature advanced toward us, and after that moment, the memories become blurred—broken fragments overlapping without a precise order.
The only thing I remember clearly is the sensation of my bones bending and cracking under my skin, muscles contracting in violent spasms as if invisible hands were tearing me apart and putting me back together from the inside.
The pain was so strong it took my breath away, and I had the distinct impression that my body was no longer mine while Adele screamed my name, her voice reaching me distant and distorted, as if I were submerged in water or as if the world were drifting away from me.
Darkness swallowed me without escape, and when I reopened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, the white lights above me and the smell of disinfectant in the air. Beside me was Adele, crying and squeezing my hand as if she were afraid I might vanish at any moment, and a little further away was him a man with glowing eyes dressed as a priest, watching me in silence with an almost disturbing focus.
That was my origin story, sad and painful, a cruel beginning that should have broken me. Instead, I had survived, and in that bed, I made a simple but absolute promise: I would do everything possible so that something like that would never happen again.
I squeezed the phone tighter between my fingers because that was exactly why I was here: to become stronger, strong enough to never relive that night. "Yes, Adele… I remember everything," I finally said in a lower, controlled voice. "I can never forget that night, and I will never stop being grateful for what you did."
My eyes slid to my right wrist, where the chain with the cross-shaped medallion was tight around my arm—my salvation, the tool that regulated the power born when the werewolf's blood entered my body, transforming me, allowing me to survive those wounds, to keep control, and to continue living without becoming a complete monster.
My sister remained silent after my words, then whispered timidly, her voice cracked and hurt, "I'm sorry… I talked too much… forget everything I said, you don't deserve such treatment from me after everything that happened to you."
"I know…" A small smile formed on my lips. "You're just worried about me. It's okay. It's natural."
"Just be careful, okay?"
"Yes, don't worry. I'll be back for summer break—" I cut my words short when something caught my attention, my sharp senses alerted and forcing me to stop.
I paused, raising an eyebrow, as the faint tinkling of a small bell reached my ears, mixing with the accelerated heartbeat of someone running toward me.
"Kyaa!" I turned just in time to see a bicycle burst from the bushes and head straight for me, completely out of control. "Coming through! Look out!" the girl in the saddle screamed, her face frozen in an expression of pure panic.
The bicycle was moving much faster than any human could have handled. A wave of adrenaline surged through me instantly, awakening my instincts: I had to react now, otherwise, the collision would be inevitable.
With a quick gesture, I tossed the phone above me, almost without thinking, while everything seemed to slow down before my eyes. Every movement of the girl, every breath, every vibration of the ground under the wheels reached me clear and slow, as if the entire world were in slow motion.
I moved calmly, every step measured and precise, dodging the bike as if the world had turned to slow motion. In an instant, I grabbed the girl by the hips, trying to be delicate, lifting her just before she could crash into a tree.
"Are you okay?" I asked, holding her firmly in my arms like a sack of potatoes, though that detail was irrelevant while the bike, now out of control, crashed into a tree and broke without either of us caring.
She sighed, nodding slightly. "Mmm, thanks... That was close." I did my best not to stare at her ass, covered by her tiny maroon-green school skirt which, given our current position, had ridden up without hiding anything, revealing her full, round, soft buttocks in a pair of white panties.
"Yeah, it could have gone really bad," I muttered more to myself than to her, catching the phone back in my hands. "What was I saying again, little sister?" I asked, trying to pick up the interrupted conversation.
"What the hell happened?" she replied from the other end of the line. "And did I just hear a female scream?" Her tone clearly demanded an answer.
"Nothing serious, just a small hitch during our conversation…" I replied, looking at the girl in my arms as she squirmed slightly, trying to get back on her feet.
Honestly, I ignored her to focus on the discussion.
"Anyway, I was saying I'll be back for the summer holidays, okay?" I added, trying to bring the attention back to the important conversation.
"…Don't do anything stupid, and call me for anything, okay?" my beloved sister replied, her voice full of worry and affection.
"Roger that," I nodded, ending the call and finally putting the phone in my pocket as I let out a long sigh of relief: with my sister off the line, the biggest problem I had to face was finally resolved, at least for the moment.
I couldn't help but wonder if accepting that phone from Mikogami had really been a good idea. For a moment I stopped to reflect, then shook my head: it was too useful to give up, since it allowed me to stay in touch with her even through the school's barrier.
The last thing I wanted was to give her the chance to barge in here after barely a week of not seeing me, and maybe face some monster alone just because she was angry and protective of me.
I had no doubt she knew how to defend herself by now, but she had the same bad habit I did of believing too much in her own abilities, and knowing her, she would face even the strongest monsters without any preparation, which was certainly the last thing I wanted to see—that was why she wasn't here with me.
"E-Eh… I-I didn't mean to interrupt your c-call, but… can you put me down?" the girl in my arms asked timidly, bringing my attention back to her.
"Ah, right, sorry, I forgot about you," I replied without issue, lowering her slowly until she landed on the ground without much ceremony.
"Ooof!" she gasped as she fell onto her perfect ass on the ground.
I cast one last attentive look at the girl as she straightened her skirt, her shiny, perfect pink hair framing a gorgeous face with fair, creamy skin, a cute pout, and emerald green eyes bright as gems.
I sincerely tried not to get too involved in her fascinating presence, especially the irresistible scent that hit me like an instinctive call, awakening every werewolf impulse in me, as if I wanted to possess her in every possible way.
A succubus? The idea crossed my mind with a hint of irony, yet it wasn't entirely absurd considering where I was. After all, creatures like those were capable of enchanting anyone with a look or a simple smile, using charm as a weapon as powerful as any supernatural power.
However, it was clear she emitted a slight pressure of Youki energy, barely perceptible. She didn't represent a real threat, which allowed me to relax slightly, lowering my guard toward her while remaining vigilant for any suspicious movement.
I sensed a decent amount of energy from her, but it was nothing compared to my Youki. It certainly wasn't the kind of power one would expect from a high-ranking monster, or at least that's what the bestiary I had studied during some of Mikogami's lessons had taught me, helping me understand the basics of this world and the dangers that populated it when I had just become a hybrid.
But there was no doubt she was undeniably beautiful, that was true.
Honestly, she had a look that could make even a model cry with envy, somehow managing to make that clumsy Youkai Academy school uniform look attractive.
Mikogami had clearly gone out of his way to make it… horrible, surely just for his own amusement, to watch the students' reactions every day and have a good laugh about it.
Well, to be honest, I didn't care at all about the uniform.
After quickly assessing the situation, I gave the girl one last look, then turned and headed toward the forest that led to the dormitory, since I still had some things to settle before classes started and I certainly didn't intend to waste time with a girl I just met.
But she didn't seem intended to let me go; her voice trembled slightly as she stammered, "W-wait… where are you going?" I turned just in time to see her running after me, as if she didn't want to be left behind, her quick steps trying to keep pace with mine.
I ignored the girl for the moment as I continued walking through the forest around me, a tangle of dead trees and twisted branches, with the cawing of crows accompanying my every step like a constant omen of trouble.
Before me opened the only truly passable path, a strip of beaten earth winding between blackened trunks and gnarled roots. In the distance, above the treetops, I could finally make out the buildings of the Academy.
"Seriously… this place hasn't changed at all," I muttered to myself.
It wasn't the first time I had set foot there, since in the last few years I had passed through several times, even if without ever actually entering, given that my goal certainly wasn't to make friends with some monster, but simply to talk to Mikogami—a difficult man to track down, capable of ignoring my calls as if it were a game.
Not that I could really be angry with him—yes, I was annoyed, but nothing more.
I owed him more than I was willing to admit: he had helped me get back on my feet, helped me not waste those lost years, helped me turn anger and chaos into something manageable and, above all, productive.
I inhaled deeply and only then realized how immersed I was in my thoughts, almost without noticing that I had something pressing against my arm. I stiffened slightly, looking up to notice the pink-haired girl was clearly trespassing on my personal space, heedless of how close she was.
SNiF~~ SNiF~~ SNiF~~
Seriously, what the hell was going on today? She wouldn't stop sticking to me, following me everywhere, practically sniffing me as if I were a walking meal. I tried to convince myself she was just attracted to my scent, although I couldn't deny how creepy it was.
After all… wasn't I the werewolf, in the end?
I stopped completely and turned, placing a hand on her shoulder to create some distance. "What exactly are you doing?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm but firm. "And above all… why are you following me?"
"E-ehm?" She seemed to realize only in that moment how close she was, her eyes widening slightly and her face starting to flush. "I-I'm sorry! It's just that your s-scent is v-very g-good..." The words came out all at once, confused, as she took half a step back, clearly embarrassed.
Then she turned abruptly, determined to leave, and tripped over a tree root. "Ooof!" I saw her lose her balance and fall forward, landing on the ground with a thud, face down and ass up.
And for the second time in a few minutes, I saw her tiny maroon-green school skirt fly up and reveal everything, immediately showing me her full, round, creamy ass, with a pair of simple white panties stretched to the limit around her shapely cheeks.
It was an incredible ass, no doubt about that.
But it was becoming ridiculous in more than one way: I didn't even know her name not that I cared much but if she intended to show me her panties more than once, she could at least have offered me dinner first.
And I had a distinct feeling it wouldn't be the last time.
I sighed, running a hand over my face, trying to calm the frustration and surprise still running through me. "Unbelievable..." I muttered, approaching her. I leaned down slightly and held out my hand. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked, offering my hand in the hope of helping her up without making her feel clumsy or embarrassed.
Her head snapped toward me, and I noticed her eyes follow exactly where I was looking, as if she were hypnotized by my gaze. Her face turned a deep red, and I could sense her heart's accelerated beat reflected in her embarrassment.
"I-I'm sorry!" she apologized, for some reason, while her eyes slid to my hand before grabbing it, finally allowing me to lift her off the ground.
"It's fine, nothing serious happened," I managed to say with a slight smile, more out of politeness than actual conviction, as I took a step back to move away, but her hand blocked me, still gripped in mine, as if she didn't want to let me go.
Was she really doing this on purpose?
I looked around, scanning the trunks and shadows of the forest, wondering if someone was playing with me and naturally I meant Mikogami, architecting one of his usual pranks, ready to laugh at all costs.
Yet, my senses perceived nothing strange: no cameras, no hidden presence, and the only sensible escape route from that absurd situation seemed to have vanished instantly.
My eyes returned to her. Her face was still flushed, and for a moment I actually worried. "Are you okay? Do you feel dizzy?" I asked, trying to catch any sign of illness or a hit to the head.
The girl nodded timidly, finally letting go of my hand. "…I was just excited since I couldn't wait to meet someone else to be friends with," she said, her voice still slightly trembling. "I've never been to a monster school before since I only went to human schools and… well, it was really hard to make friends."
"I suppose so," I replied distractedly, thinking about how similar her experience was to mine. After becoming a hybrid, returning to my "old life" had been practically impossible.
I had focused only on completing the necessary studies, trying not to show my powers when it wasn't essential. Except on a few occasions, when some bullies allowed themselves to oppress those who were weaker, and in those cases, I had been more… drastic than I should have been.
And I admit that humiliating those bullies had been one of the few genuine satisfactions in my life. The feeling of restoring a bit of justice, of putting things back in their place, was something rare, but incredibly rewarding.
I sighed slightly, trying to bring my attention back to the conversation as she continued talking to me. "A-And that's why I was following you," she said, with a timid and embarrassed smile that almost seemed to want to apologize for her boldness. "Would you like to be friends? I'm M-Moka Akashiya, a vampire… and you?"
My eyebrows shot up immediately.
A vampire?
Seriously?
And yet... why was she so incredibly... weak?
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