Published at 6th of December 2020 01:18:18 PM
Chapter 79
Her unsuppressable greed .
“Excuse me!” [1]
I felt like an overwhelming strong person that beat a dojo . In actuality, it’s just a novice’s feelings . If I mistook my room because of that I’d just be a strange person, but the receptionist uncle downstairs already checked so it should be fine . This is the inn where marshmallow melon is staying! Is what I said, and the Uncle responded with a full faced smile and his thumb pointing up . Umu, this uncle knows his stuff . Oh my, young kids nowadays develop scarily fast, he said while looking pleased . Umu, this Uncle has potential . I too, will eventually have those marshmallow melons wrapping me… cough . This is what it means to ask for too much .
In a room of the inn with the yellow roof, I quietly knock on the door of the corner room, before slightly opening the door to find a honey-coloured eyed Chocolat looking my direction . Chocolat’s eyes look alot like an owl’s . Especially how it’s round and is always looking around .
Ah, but I’m relieved they aren’t in the middle of changing clothes or something .
He was sitting at the edge of the bed with a piece of paper in hand . He seemed surprised by the sudden visit, but after realising it was me, tap tap he got off the bed and came over . He’s like a small animal, it’s so cute .
“Good afternoon . What have you come to ask for? ‘Excuse me!’ was really cute”
How could you . Chocolat is many times cuter . Mixing formal and casual speech, older sister over here is about to have her heart explode .
“Chiffon-neesama went out to check on Caramelize . Although I’m the only one here for now, please enter”
Just a bit more! I wanted to retort . Chiffon might respond and tell me to not get too carried away, but only Chocolat is here now, so it can’t be helped . If I asked him to be cute, I’d become the shy one . I tried to lift my spirits which had fallen after meeting my little brother, but it had wonderfully failed . So I reluctantly shuffle into the room .
“Sorry for coming suddenly . There was something I wanted to ask”
“Is it something that I can answer by myself?”
Nodding, I sat on a chair . Chocolat sat down on the bed again .
“Actually, I wanted to ask Chocolat about this”
The main subject is on that .
“I heard that a person is capable of high-level magic if they can use magic without chants or tools . I thought I’d asked Chocolat, who is able to use said magic, more about it”
“That is true, but I believe Celisan can also use magic?”
“I’m using magic more like a supplementary item, so apparently she doesn’t know much about it”
Celia mainly uses the sword . She doesn’t seem to use magic much, and even when she does, she’d have to use the grimoire hanging from her waist, and she can only use up to basic spells . Still, magic effective and usable in battle is valuable .
“If that’s the case, I understand . If you’re fine with me, then go ahead and ask anything . Just as Itoksan said, I likely have more knowledge than a regular person . Well, I’m just repeating what I learnt from Madeleine-neesama though”
There’s no way what you learnt from her is wrong . She is the Magicians’, that Morante family’s successor after all .
I might say something weird, so sorry about that . And I’ll just put it out there first . I said I had amnesia or something like that at first, so I don’t think he’ll unnecessarily try to poke into my situation .
“Actually, I’d like you to tell me about the basic of basics”
Not knowing magic is not a big deal . [2] But in order to get stronger, you’d need to start by gaining knowledge . Touka, your older sister will do her best .
“Ahem . The source and basic elements of magic is fire, water, earth, and wind, these 4 . It is said that people are born with a blessing of a specific element . I was born with the blessing of fire, so I can only use fire magic . I am not able to use other magics . There seems to be some rare occurrences of people being born with multiple elements, but I’ve never seen them . Ah, but Madeleine-neesama told me that there was a person with the blessings of every element . It’s probably someone from the Alvina Kingdom, but apparently even with magic power, he lacked the aptitude for magic and couldn’t use it, she said . ”
To have every element, what a superhuman . And with no aptitude, share a little with Chiffon! I want to tell him . Before she was even born, her magic was taken by Madeleine, so she can’t even use basic magic .
“There are also elements of light and darkness, but these are particularly rare, and light is the only attribute capable of healing magic . Like the Priestess . Dark magic apparently is able to control ghosts… but I don’t hear much good things about it . There was an incident recently too”
Following his quick glance, I caught sight of the piece of paper he was looking at earlier . So I take a look at it . It looks like a newspaper, but since it’s just one sheet, it’s likely a tiled block paper . [3]
“[After nights of prowling, the hand of the evil soul controller has finally come to this town! Is it a repeat of Tenda’s nightmare?! The victims were ladies working at inns! A male colleague witnessed the moment her soul was stolen! ‘When we let him in thinking he was a guest, that fellow attacked her! Some white mist came out from her mouth and that guy took that and left! That was definitely her soul!’ The soul controller wears his hood below his eyes, and covers his body with a brown robe! Everyone, stay careful in town at night!] …huh, a soul?”
“Exactly as it sounds . The dead, or more specifically, someone who is able to materialise a soul . THey also say that he’s controlling demons, an extremely dangerous person . The damage isn’t limited to this town only . But everyone has their soul stolen . I don’t know what he’s stealing souls for, but there’s been far too much harm done… the Guild Association has even put up a bounty for him”
I disagree with this notion or concept of souls, so I can’t keep up . To steal souls, only happens in fables . In the first place, something like a soul… do they believe in the circle of transmigration? [4] To which he said no . Still, that person answered ‘there is’ . Is that because of the existence of the soul controller?
Regardless, what Chocolat said about the damage done by the soul controller going around committing murder incessantly for an unknown purpose, is a fact .
“Itoksan, you should be careful too”
“More like, I should be careful to not be mistaken as the soul controller”
We both lower our hood till our eyes . Saying so, Chocolat laughed, amused .
“Are you wearing that even when indoors?”
“Yeah, somehow”
I don’t think I need to be so thorough and wear it even when indoors, but it became so natural that I feel uncomfortable without it .
I’m not sure what Chocolat was thinking, getting off the bed and walking over to me and peeking at my face . I’m taller than him, but since I’m seated, it’s now the opposite .
“Can I lift it?”
“Eh, ah… it’s okay”
I’ve been seen before, so it’s fine .
Right, Chiffon doesn’t know yet . I don’t want to let her know . I’d like to avoid her connecting us because of the same black and having to come up with an excuse again, and this time she may hold on to her suspicions .
A small white hand slowly removes my hood . At once I’m released, excluding my heart . Inside the hood is a world just for me . Within it is my so-called safe haven, where I can shut-out contact with the outside . That pseudo-closed space might be able to spur the existence of glasses . Because my world, is only within that frame .
Ahh, the sunlight coming through the windows are so bright, my eyes feel like they’re burning …am I a vampire .
“Wow, it’s an amazing black, isn’t it”
Chocolat fixedly gazed at my hair, taking some in his hand . As for me, I was looking at the chocolate brown hair opposite me . Chocolat’s hair colour is very normal, but the town’s normal colours are so striking, I question the sense of colour of this world . I wonder if there’s a difference in DNA . In my world, black was the dominant gene, but in this world, I can’t help but think it’s a rare recessive gene to naturally have such colours . This world has a significant proportion of blonde haired people . Blonde is probably a dominant gene then . And despite their pale eyes, they can survive without sunglasses, which leads me to believe that their bodies are different from the beginning . I thought we were the same humans, but I guess humans in my world and here are different species . Different existences . Although I only realised this recently . [5]
A similar yet different world . In a way, it’s like an unidentified life-form . If it was SF it’d be a different story then . Extraterrestrial beings . Yep, it sounds appealing .
“Hya”
“Ah, I’m sorry”
While I was deep in SF thought, Chocolat’s hand suddenly appeared on my eyelid .
“It’s so beautiful, just like jewels, so I unintentionally”
Unintentional, I’m not going to let my eyes be stolen!
But he seems to be reflecting so I’ll forgive him . He’s cute so it’s forgiven .
“Chocolat’s eyes are more like gems . Amber honey . They seem so sweet”
More than that, his whole body looks so sweet . I bet it’ll taste like a sweet dish no matter where I bite . Even those small, white fingers tucked inside his long sleeves, and the cranberry coloured blood flowing through them . Ahh, how alluring it is . I’d be able to enjoy this as a main dish, so much more than a dessert . To add, he has abundant magical powers, I can’t help…— but, eat?
“Chocolat, run away”
“Eh?”
How?
Why?
What do you mean ‘it looks delicious’, or ‘I want to take a bite!’ . I don’t have such hobbies or cannibalistic tendencies!!
Contrary to my thoughts, the tempting ‘food’ before me makes my heart race . Not just my heart, my breathing also speeds up .
“Sorry, as I thought, I’ll head out”
Pulling my hood down low, I cover my mouth as I stand from the chair .
Right now, it’s dangerous to have Chocolat in view . It happened that time with Al too, but recently, I’ve been really strange .
―― I know you’re starving .
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Vito’s memory, is progressively being accepted as my memories, and my senses and instincts as ‘her’ are starting to sprout .
I just, want to remain a human . And yet, ‘her’ memories are hindering me .
At this rate, I’ll end up attacking somebody .
“Itoksan, did something happen? Are you feeling…”
“Yeah, not too great . I’ll be leaving now . Given Chiffon my regards”
I sprint out of the room as if escaping . Rejecting Chocolat’s offer to be walked out, I quicken my pace to leave the inn . I thought it’d be fine if I distanced myself from him .
But reality is much crueller than that .
The inn was along a busy street . Many humans are coming and going in front of me . My heart, is jumping so much it might explode . Blood is flowing furiously through my whole body, from head to toe, making me tremble . Trembling out of both fear and glee .
Forcefully restraining myself, pcht, I bite my lower lip till it starts bleeding . My thirst was not so weak, to be satisfied with just that .
“…what do you expect me, to do”
Putting people in view, my instincts make me follow who is the tastiest with my eyes .
Pulling my hood down further, I enter a narrow alley to avoid the crowds . Usually, I wouldn’t choose to do this, but this is an emergency . It’s far more dangerous for people to be in sight . Because I don’t know when that something might be let loose and attack someone . That’s why I chose a narrow back alley .
But in such times, I had to run into people .
Ahh, why?!
There were 2 people at the slight opening in the back alley . One person had collapsed, and the other was watching over him . It was a tall, dark-robed person . However you look at it, it’s suspicious . Not wanting to be involved, I promptly tried to turn back, but my feet stopped . Because the person who collapsed, looks familiar .
“Chi,ffon…?”
The name which finally squeezed itself out of my parched mouth .
The person who collapsed, was Chiffon . Limply, with her limbs stretched out against the cold, hard ground .
Her shortened honey-coloured hair was all messed up, and her face as pale as a corpse, looking lifeless .
Her smiling face from yesterday comes to mind .
“No, way”
There’s no way this is real . Tell me that she’s just unconscious .
But, only at such times, I could understand . I couldn’t feel even the slightest amount of magic power from the collapsed Chiffon . There’s no person without magic in this world . Each person will always be born with a spirit’s blessings . The exceptions are limited to, people like me who come from another world, and—- the dead .
That body, is empty . No magic or anything else within . If I believe their concept of souls, then it has no soul either, just an empty body . A vessel .
…No, soul?
Then it hit me . About the soul controller Chocolat told me about . Who is said to be capable of extracting and taking away the souls of a living person .
My unwavering feet take me to Chiffon’s side before stopping . Between her and I, there’s a person whose existence acted as a towering wall intruding between us .
Could it be, did this person, to Chiffon’s soul?
You say you stole it?
Likely noticing my presence, that person only turned their face back . Similar to me, that person had their hood held down till their eyes, their expression shrouded in darkness and unable to be seen .
However .
Such, a delicious looking person—
Though I was concerned about Chiffon, the moment I laid eyes on that person, ‘her’ desire suddenly returned, and my lips trembled from the starvation .
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Turning my gaze to where the sweet smell came from, it looks like their right arm was injured, and there were faint traces of blood on their clothes . Then, I was completely overwhelmed by that person when they turned and properly faced me . Not only was their right arm injured . There was a small knife still stabbed in their abdomen . Does this person not feel pain, standing there without even changing their facial expression . What’s more, that person just extracted the knife and threw it on the ground . Karan, a dry metallic sound echoed . Blood trickled out, staining their clothes and turning it even darker . Without caring about that either, that person turned back towards Chiffon and crouched down . It looks like I’m being ignored .
That unnecessarily sweet, sweet smell, fills the area .
For humans, it may just be the smell of blood, but for me, it’s the smell of a first-rate feast .
But, no .
Somehow holding on to reason, I approach that person . It’d be troubling if you just took Chiffon away like this . It’s not just troubling . I still, haven’t confirmed it . If that girl is really Chiffon, and, if she’s still alive .
“Hold, up”
I grab the arm that’s trying to lift Chiffon up . Coming closer, I restrain my throat from throbbing after taking in the thicker smell of blood .
I guess that person was not happy with my obstruction, as a sharp gaze pierced me from within the hood . Even if this person is the soul controller, I can’t afford to lose her now . I can’t pretend to not have seen anything . Even if we’re just acquaintances for now, she was my precious ‘friend’ .
“You’re a hindrance”
It was a dignified voice . [6] It was much clearer than I thought, a cold voice . It was so lacking in emotions, you could even call it an inhuman voice .
Putting Chiffon’s body back onto the ground, that person then unsheathed the sword hanging from their waist, and pointed it at me . Bloodlust which screamed, I’ll kill you if you stand in my way . That sword shone silver even under the light of day .
…This sword is!
I remember . An appearance I recall seeing somewhere before, it’s from that robed guy I ran into when I was first thrown into this world! Back then I was also about to be killed so I desperately ran, and somehow escaped safely .
…But, I can’t choose to run away this time .
“That child… what are you planning to do to her”
He shook his sword, as if to say that I have nothing to do with it . The sword’s edge is pointed right between my eyes, inducing me to escape immediately, but my feet don’t move . They must not move .
“She is, my acquaintance, who are you to Chiffon? …Or are you, the soul controller”
I too think I’m listening to some crazy things . It’s not like I don’t want to live . But, I cannot back down here .
The man did not respond . He just kept his sword pointed at me . But I did notice that his bloodlust had slightly lessened . Maybe it’s because he heard that I’m Chiffon’s acquaintance . Which means, this is probably a person, that Chiffon knows .
“–n”
The sword which was thrust momentarily wavered . His lips were slightly open . As I thought, he was pushing himself with those severe injuries . Up till now, the bleeding hasn’t stopped, and blood continued to fall to the ground . At this rate, his blood loss will be extreme…
I slowly hold the blade of the sword and point it down with shaking hands . There was no resistance . His bloodlust had all disappeared a while ago, but I can’t put my guard down . I don’t know when his blade might be aimed at me again .
That person just watched me, as I moved .
Trying not to alarm him, I come close and touch his two injured arms .
“Blood, is”
An alluring smell wafts about as if to blow away my reason . Even while suppressing my feelings, my body won’t listen to me . There’s no turning back after coming this far, or so someone said inside my head .
We need to treat it, I said, but that same mouth was very parched, and that which could quench my thirst was before my eyes . What else would you do besides make use of it?
Even if this person is the soul controller, even if it’s Chiffon’s acquaintance, even a random stranger would be fine . It’s this person’s fault for releasing such a tempting and sweet smell . It’s not, my fault .
Slowly bringing my face closer, I put my mouth on the wound . The moment it touched, it felt lukewarm . I was licking the blood which seeped through the cloth . Little by little, sucking and licking . Like a blood-drinker .
Sending it to the back of my throat, that was a moment of bliss . An incomparable feeling of euphoria fills me .
It’d be great if this time could continue .
Forever .
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――― Satisfied .
After moistening my parched throat, I finally realised what I just did . Not even knowing how much time has passed, just vaguely, realising what outrageous things I have just done . To have a stranger, someone you’ve just met for the first time, suddenly suck your blood, this is the worst first impression ever!
“I, I’m sorry . Um, I, have an illness, it makes me want to drink people’s blood when I see it!”
I hurriedly pulled away and wiped my mouth . I just did something where it can’t be helped if he kills me! I was watching while wondering when the sword would come, but that person just tilted his head .
“Illness…?”
“Eh, uh, ye-yeah that’s right! I’ve been diagnosed with an illness called vampire syndrome! Even though I’m a regular human, it’s weird right! …sorry, I made you uncomfortable”
I want to praise my imagination, capable of coming up with a fictional illness as an excuse . What is vampire syndrome, and vampires too . I don’t know if such symptoms actually exists, but in order to cover up what just happened, there’s no other way to explain it .
“It’s not really, a problem”
“Ah, is that so, I’m relieved… eeeehh?!”
How can you not be shocked by this! Your wounds were suddenly licked by a complete stranger, you know?! If it was me, I’d definitely think it’s some kind of sexual harassment and immediately run away or send the person flying! And he even believed the doubtful vampire syndrome . Does this world actually have such an illness? Even then, to have your blood sucked by a stranger, normally it’d be hard to accept .
Nonetheless, that person in front of me just looked at me for a while, and faced Chiffon again as if nothing had happened . She was still lying there without the slightest movement .
“Chiffon…!”
My vision clears, since my thirst has been quenched for now .
Panicking, I rush over to Chiffon and kneel next to her . When I touched her cheeks, they were as cold as ice . Not just her cheeks, her arms, legs, and entire body was cold, without any blood .
“It’s useless, her soul has been stolen”
“How could that be”
No way . I never thought that the soul controller would take action in broad daylight . Nor that his target was Chiffon . If this was going to happen, I should have come to the inn earlier and stopped Chiffon . If I did, this wouldn’t have happened .
No matter how I call for her, or shake her body, Chiffon doesn’t wake up .
She won’t show me that smile .
How could such a thing…!!
“…Where are you, heading?”
He asked, looking at my back as I got up to leave .
“Her soul—”
I’ll get it back .
Words came as if thrown at me .
Can you really do that? Does something like a soul, really exist?
Even so, if Chiffon can be saved . Anything is fine, please help me .
I had only glanced at it, but his left arm must have been severely injured, as it was securely wrapped with many layers of bandages .
Translation Notes:
[1] Not exactly ‘excuse me’, it’s an old fashioned thing they said when they impose on others . It also implies that you came looking for something, seeking help or a favour from someone
[2] Not the actual translation . The raws say: Not knowing magic is don . It’s probably some kind of slang, so I’m not too sure what it should actually be in english
[3] This was what newspapers were like in the Tokugawa period . So it’s a one page newspaper .
[4] The idea of continuous reincarnation, such that all things will be born, and when they die, they will be reborn
[5] Time for a mini science lesson! Genes always come in pairs, and the each ‘code’ for something . If one of the pair is a dominant gene, only that gene’s feature will develop . Only when both genes are recessive, will a person then exhibit qualities of the recessive gene .
[6] The kanji used for this can also mean strict and cold, but I don’t think it fits? But it adds perspective, so just an FYI