Returnee from Another World - Chapter 45: Blood-Stained Lips

Chapter 45: Blood-Stained Lips

“Looks like the red liquid you gave her works far better than any divine medicine. Could I have some of that?” Higashikawa asked.

Perhaps because he’d rushed out barefoot, Higashikawa let Nishikuse drive back, sitting in the passenger seat. His words were a bold attempt to claim what I’d just used.

The moment he saw a chance to profit, his greed surfaced—classic Higashikawa.

“If you’re fine with dying, I could hand it over,” I replied.

“Dying? That’s an odd thing to say. I’m not drinking it myself, so why would that happen?” Higashikawa pressed.

“Hmm, no point in giving false hope, so I’ll explain. What I gave her wasn’t medicine—it’s a catalyst that turns humans into demons,” I said.

“What? You turned her into a demon?” Higashikawa exclaimed.

I had no intention of telling them everything.

My decision to save Yukari stemmed solely from faint traces of memory. But I figured showing them this would make my “demon” persona more convincing.

It would reinforce the idea that I’m a dangerous entity.

I doubted Higashikawa and Nishikuse would betray me now, but their lingering dissatisfaction suggested they weren’t fully loyal. If this incident could earn even a sliver of their loyalty, that’d be enough.

Still, I avoided mentioning vampires specifically to conceal the bloodlust issue.

Unlike stories in this world, humans bitten by vampires here don’t automatically become vampires. Unless the intent is to kill, vampires don’t endlessly drain blood—just enough to kill if they do.

Some vampires, once accustomed to bloodlust, could go over a year without feeding. It’s not essential for survival, just a physiological urge that can be controlled with reason.

Still, I worried how these two would react if I mentioned vampires.

Fear was a useful tool, but too much could backfire, especially with someone as cowardly as Nishikuse. So, I mixed truth with lies to obscure the details.

“You saw those red tendrils when her leg reattached, right? Didn’t they seem alive?” I asked.

“Sure, it looked like something creepy was wriggling, but you’re saying that’s a living thing?” Higashikawa replied.

“Not exactly alive, but it does have a will of its own. I warned you she might go berserk. She’s no longer human—she’s a demon. Get too close, and she’ll snap your neck,” I said.

“That’s hard to believe. If you’ve turned her into such a dangerous demon, what’s your plan for her?” Higashikawa asked.

“Nothing special. She’ll be disoriented for a bit, but as a higher demon, I can control her. Some newborn demons go wild, but it’s probably fine,” I replied.

My vague answer was partly because the effects weren’t guaranteed.

In the other world, I’d tried turning others into thralls, but they didn’t always obey perfectly.

Even wearing the mask of Sienna Belstatt Ze Spencer, a True Ancestor vampire, I was a fake. Mixing my blood was a workaround to enforce obedience, but it wasn’t foolproof.

Still, it created a slight bond, enough to make them compliant, like doing a favor for a friendly acquaintance—not the full loyalty of a true thrall.

“So, you can sweep this whole mess under the rug?” Higashikawa asked.

“That’s my judgment. Or would you have preferred I let her die?” I countered.

“No, no. We’re grateful it didn’t turn into a bigger issue. Right, Eishin? Say thank you. This mess started because of your reckless actions,” Higashikawa said.

“Y-Yeah, I get it. Lady Sienna, I’m truly sorry for the trouble,” Nishikuse stammered.

During this exchange, we arrived at the temple.

The entrance lights dimly illuminated the darkened grounds.

I stepped out of the car, lifted Yukari’s limp body from the back seat, and followed Nishikuse into the temple.

◇

The basement was surprisingly luxurious for an underground space.

It was equipped with everything needed for living—a kitchen, fridge, toilet, even a bath.

Higashikawa explained it doubled as an emergency shelter, with thick walls and ceilings, fully soundproofed.

I’d already shooed Higashikawa and Nishikuse out—they’d only get in the way.

After checking the facilities, I returned to the bed where Yukari was stirring.

“…Ugh, uhh…” she groaned.

“Finally awake?” I asked.

Yukari didn’t respond, but I hadn’t expected her to.

She seemed in a near-delirious state.

Her eyes darted around, as if desperately trying to grasp her situation.

It’s a common symptom of Lesser Vampire transformation.

Her memories were likely jumbled, and a new personality was forming unconsciously. In this state, my words probably weren’t registering. I wasn’t even sure she recognized me.

From past experiments, I knew thrall transformation altered parts of the personality. Memories remained, but aggression spiked, and feelings toward acquaintances shifted dramatically.

Signs of that change were already surfacing.

“GAAAAAHHHH!!!” Yukari roared, rising from the bed with a beastly growl.

Her full awakening confirmed the thrall transformation’s success.

But it wasn’t 100% perfect.

If I were the real Sienna Belstatt Ze Spencer, she wouldn’t be snarling like this. A true Lesser Vampire would instantly recognize their master.

As expected, my fake status couldn’t fully deceive her.

My blood was meant to compensate, but her bloodlust was overpowering. She leapt from the bed, lunging at me.

A dull pain shot through my neck as Yukari sank her sharp, beast-like teeth into it.

It wasn’t a big deal, but it wasn’t painless either. Still, I let her do it.

Newly turned Lesser Vampires often couldn’t control their initial bloodlust.

Maybe their minds couldn’t keep up with the unfamiliar urge. Yukari was frantically sucking my blood, proving as much.

Locked in an embrace, I let her have her way.

I could easily pry her off, but I planned to let her feed until she was satisfied.

It would make her more compliant.

Or maybe she just saw me as tasty prey, regardless of thrall bonds. I wasn’t sure, but the method worked.

I couldn’t let her feed on others—that’d cause a public scandal. The moment I chose to save her, I’d accepted being her food source.

I noticed warm liquid leaking from Yukari’s groin—likely from the overwhelming pleasure of feeding.

I knew what came next.

Once a Lesser Vampire’s bloodlust subsided, sexual desire would surge. Vampires seemed driven to sleep with those they fed on.

The act of feeding felt like a prelude to sex, fueling an intense craving for their partner.

Some vampires even preferred sex while slowly licking blood, their bodies primed for pleasure. In that world, feeding and sex were inseparable for vampires.

Why did I know this? I’d turned several women into Lesser Vampires for experiments.

Their constant demands for sex and blood wore me down, even with my regeneration. Overwhelmed, I’d irresponsibly disposed of them.

Yukari would soon be gripped by that same sexual urge.

As I thought this, a crude belch and heavy breathing echoed.

The sensation on my neck shifted from biting to gentle, almost affectionate licking.

“She’s getting aroused…” I muttered.

Yukari must’ve realized she was feeling pleasure from feeding.

Overwhelmed by new emotions, she likely didn’t know how to handle them.

To her, I was a stranger.

Just moments ago, she’d nearly been killed.

But none of that mattered—she was consumed by a desperate need for sex.

It was only a matter of time before her hand reached for my crotch.