The Blood Clan, belonging to the Dark World, were pure creatures of darkness. Their origins were shrouded in mystery, though the Demon Race held the most authoritative account: they had existed alongside darkness since the dawn of creation. An ancient race, they walked this world long before civilization began. Unlike the absurd human tales claiming them to be children of demons, the Demon Race kept detailed records of the Blood Clan’s history and lineage—what Rebecca might call a blend of cultural and biological chronicles. But none of that mattered now. What mattered was the alluring female vampire clinging to Rebecca, fast asleep.
Her arms wrapped around Rebecca’s neck, her face buried against Rebecca’s barely-there chest, a contented smile on her lips. She slept soundly.
"Hey! Wake up!" Rebecca patted the vampire’s head. No response.
A vampire’s bed was their coffin—not for comfort, but tradition. Though immensely powerful, their strength came at a cost: terrible sleep. Only in the dim confines of a coffin could they snatch brief moments of rest. Long ago, the Demon Race’s ancestors had crafted a slumber-inducing array for their loyal Blood Clan allies. Since then, vampires carved this array into their coffins, finally finding peace. But this female vampire’s coffin lay shattered. Judging by her exhaustion, she hadn’t slept in ages—and now, she’d drifted into deep slumber clinging to Rebecca.
Rebecca pieced it together. Vampire coffins were forged from high-grade magical materials, essentially artifacts to soothe the volatile energy within their bodies. Their value made them targets. Those "heroes" had likely stolen it to sell, only to fall prey to a Night Demon. This vampire, deprived of sleep, had chased them down… and stumbled upon Rebecca.
"Mmm…? My lord…" The vampire stirred when Rebecca shook her, but only burrowed deeper into Rebecca’s embrace. Her voice turned wheedling, cloying. "I know you’re a noble Demon… Just let me sleep a little longer. Only beside you can I rest… I’m so tired… so tired…" Her pitiful expression tugged at the heart.
Rebecca’s lips twitched. She glanced at the vampire, then at the trembling Golden Sand Lizard in her hand. With a sigh, she cast a binding spell on the lizard, tossed it aside, and carried the vampire to a flat rock. Might as well see this through. Let her sleep.
Rebecca’s aura silenced the usually raucous rainforest. Monsters fled far from her presence. Gently, she settled the vampire’s head on her lap and stroked her hair—soft, cool strands. The Demon Race’s energy emanating from Rebecca finally lulled the sleep-starved vampire into peaceful slumber.
Rebecca never imagined she’d serve as a lap pillow for a female vampire. She hadn’t thought such a thing possible. Yet here she was. Resigned, she didn’t truly resist—it helped that the vampire was easy on the eyes. But only… for a little while.
The sun dipped low. Dusk approached. Rebecca had to leave. She’d kindly offered her lap all afternoon, yet the vampire showed no sign of waking.
"Hey. Wake up. I’m leaving." Rebecca nudged her shoulder.
No reaction.
"Wake up!" She pinched the vampire’s cheek—soft, icy skin. Typical for Blood Clan.
Still nothing.
"WAKE UP!" Rebecca shouted directly into her ear.
Silence.
A dark vein throbbed on Rebecca’s forehead. She hoisted the vampire up, dumped her into the broken coffin, and slammed the lid shut. Turning to leave, she paused. With a grunt, she lifted the boulder she’d sat on all afternoon and heaved it onto the coffin lid. That should keep her trapped.
Grabbing the Golden Sand Lizard, Rebecca leapt into the air and vanished from the rainforest.
She’d been kind, moved by the vampire’s pitiful state. But her kindness had limits. She’d tolerate the clinginess, play the gentleman for an afternoon—but her own affairs came first. She couldn’t wait indefinitely for a vampire who might sleep forever. Night was falling. If she didn’t return now, everything she’d carefully built would crumble.
Rebecca flew swiftly back to the city, where Golago waited.
"Huh? You caught one too?" Rebecca nodded at the Golden Sand Lizard in Golago’s hand.
"Better to have extras, just in case~"
"Right. I can’t enter the city like this. Take this money. Buy alchemy tools and herbs." With her true form restored, Rebecca needed Golago’s help. She had lizards to prepare.
Unbeknownst to Rebecca, chaos had erupted. Kami had gone to Duke Ruta Manor searching for her, learned she’d visited Hobi Library, panicked when she couldn’t be found—and triggered a crisis. The long-retired Duke Ruta had suddenly rampaged through the city, scouring every corner. His search revealed a secret: the granddaughter of Duke Ruta’s eldest son still lived… and had been rescued. Now, the trouble-averse Rebecca was thrust into the spotlight. How she’d react to this news remained to be seen.
...
Deep in the distant rainforest, thump-thump-thump echoed from beneath a boulder-sealed coffin.
"My lord!? Where are you!? Why lock me in? My lord? MY LORRRD~~ Let me out! I’ll be your slave~ hehehehehe~" The desperate cries dissolved into giggles, the vampire’s voice twisting into something utterly unhinged.
