“Tss... it’s blazing in here...”

Qianya glanced up at the boiling, thick crimson around us. “I’m guessing his blood-burn state hasn’t lifted. This is probably a product of that form.”

“So we’re in his stomach, huh?”

“More or less...”

“Ew. Gross.”

“...It is pretty gross.”

“Why don’t you rest and get your strength back? I’ll guard you.”

“Mm.”

If she could recover even a little, at least she wouldn’t drag me down, Qianya thought.

She sat cross-legged. Around us was only vile liquid and red meat walls—nowhere to sit—so I froze an ice floor beneath her. Luckily, the heat in here wasn’t that high.

A quarter hour later, the big guy still didn’t move, but the temperature kept climbing. Even the ice under us began to melt.

“Qianya! What’s wrong?” I rushed forward and caught her as she collapsed.

She looked drained, her face much paler than before we came in.

“There’s a problem... Tangxue, you have to... get out, fast...”

She drew a deep breath, steadied her voice. “I probably... won’t make it out alive. This space keeps siphoning my mana and life force... Sorry I dragged you in...”

“I’ll give you what’s left of my mana source... If it’s you, you might endure. I want you to live, Tangxue... When you get out, go to... that place where you used to work... cough... she’ll tell you everything...”

“Aunt Yuqiu?”

“Yes...” Qianya smiled, helpless. “She’s actually my aunt. My mom’s younger sister.”

“...”

“Soon I’ll spend what’s left of me to grievously wound Edgar Warren... Only by killing him can you leave...”

“Edgar Warren? Is that this pile of sludge’s name?”

“Sludge... close enough. He’s a sealed royal of the Vampires.”

“Fine, fine. But don’t act like you’re doomed. Seriously, that look’s not cute at all.”

“...”

“Hey, Qianya, do you trust me?”

“What do you mean, Tangxue?”

“I can solo this sludge monster.”

“I don’t.”

“At least pretend to hesitate!”

Qianya giggled. “Kidding. I know you’re strong, Tangxue. But... if I don’t die, I’m afraid you can’t kill this one...”

“...”

“So if you really want to repay me, come light incense for me at this hour every day~”

“Idiot. If someone’s going to worship you, let it be you. Once we’re out, go do whatever you want.”

“Qianya, I’ll say it again. I’m strong. At least this Vampire—I’m confident I can kill him.”

“So... trust me once, okay?”

Qianya stared into the girl’s golden eyes, dazed. In them, she seemed to see herself— the fool who watched her own family die.

“I...”

I reached out and covered her lips. “If you don’t say it, I’m taking it as a yes!”

“Heh~ I’ve got experience dealing with Vampires!”

I’d been beaten by them before; their skill quirks are etched into my bones.

“Mmmf...”

“Ah, Qianya, did you still want to say something?”

“Tangxue... forget it. Do what you want. I trust you.” She knew the path ahead was a pit, yet the girl’s confidence felt like sunrise after frost—so unlike her own. If it’s her, maybe it’ll work.

“Mm-hm, that’s more like it. Oh, Qianya, you’re a Blood Elf, right? Do you need blood too?”

“...Yes. But rarely. Day to day we eat like humans. Only when we overdraw, or on certain dates, do we need to replenish.”

“Then drink mine. You’ve overdrawn. Maybe my blood will help.”

Qianya hesitated, didn’t move.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“Tangxue, you might not understand what the first Embrace partner means to a Blood Elf...”

“Uh... is that worse than this?”

“Not exactly...”

“If not, hurry. Time’s tight, right?”

“Mm...” Qianya lowered her head, her expression tangled.

I tugged up the sleeve of my school uniform and offered my pale arm. “Here.”

“...”

“Qianya?—hey, why are you pulling—” She tugged me in, and I ended up lying in Qianya’s arms.

Her hands slid beneath my chest and drew me closer. “...You should lose weight.”

“...” Born this way. Sorry the size won’t shrink.

“The arm’s not ideal. I want your shoulder.”

“Huh? What kind of logic is that?”

“It’s tradition.”

Qianya loosened my collar. Her gaze lingered on the porcelain curve of my shoulder; she licked her lips. The last time she fed was probably at Aunt Yuqiu’s shop...

“Uh... Qianya, be gentle. I’m scared of pain...”

Before the words finished, her little fangs sank into my shoulder. The sharp sting I expected never came—just a tingly numbness blooming where she bit.

This taste—! Qianya couldn’t help herself; she drank hungrily.

The tingling started at my shoulder and spilled across me like warm rain, building and cresting—until it turned into something else entirely...

“Qianya... are you done yet...” Even without a mirror, I knew my face was probably scarlet...

Reluctant, Qianya lifted her head. As she pulled away, her pink tongue flicked the mark.

“Qianya...”

“Elf saliva has some healing effect. I was—”

“That’s not what I wanted to say.”

“Hm?”

“I want to change clothes... Could you... turn around?” I ducked my head, mortified.

“Oh?” Qianya’s smile turned sly, an I-get-it look. “But reminder: we’re in this monster’s stomach. He can see you. Instead of this, you might as well—”

I silently raised ice walls around me, layer on layer, a cold cocoon.

Let him watch me? No thanks.

Phew... changing into proper gear feels so much better~ I ditched the skirted school uniform for a fencing-ready tracksuit.

“I still think you look nicer in a skirt...”

“No way! This place is nasty. If this gunk gets on me, I’ll be grossed out all the way home!”

“Home?”

“Uh... don’t mind it, Qianya. Ahaha~”

“Actually, Tangxue, you—”

I stepped up and clamped my left hand over Qianya’s mouth.

She frowned, not pleased, and in her heart she wrote it down—a debt to collect someday. In bed.

Qingsheng Tangxue didn’t notice: the two little punctures Qianya made had already healed—one completely, the other left no scar, just a tiny red dot...