kscans

Chapter 3 - When in Doubt, Go Back and Ask the Master

"…"

I walked through the forest. The gasa gasa of the grass underfoot echoed around me.

"…"

Through the night forest, I walked, and beside me, the Mummy clutching its sword.

"…"

Seriously, what is up with this Mummy?! And why do I have a human body all of a sudden?! I don’t get any of this! I want to hurry back to Master and have him explain everything!

But a journey that was a single flight as a bat took a long time on foot as a human. And the forest was a treasure trove of dangerous monsters. To be honest, for a small-fry monster like me, the ground was a den of predators.

""""Grrrrrrr""""

"!!"

Shakin shakin shakin!!

But for some reason, the Mummy was protecting me from all those ferocious beasts. I really don’t get it.

After walking for a while, just as dawn was breaking, I finally made it back to my Master’s castle.

"Finally, I’m here!"

But just as I was about to enter, my body was pulled backward.

"Wha—?!"

It was the Mummy that pulled me. Was it my enemy after all?!

But then, a whoosh of wind blew past my cheek.

"Eh?"

I turned to look, and two spears had been thrust out from the left and right, right where I had been standing. W-wait a minute? If the Mummy hadn’t pulled me just now, would I have died? And now that I noticed, there were two knights clad head-to-toe in armor standing on either side of the castle gate. They must be the gatekeepers. I never noticed them because I always flew in and out.

"This is the castle of the Vampire Duke, Voylard Chromshell-sama. State your business, intruder."

"Eh?"

What are you talking about? I’m a bat who works in this castle! Oh, right! I’m in human form now, so they don’t recognize me!

"I-I’m a Vampire Bat who works here! But when I drank this human’s blood, I suddenly turned into a human, and I didn’t know what to do, so I came back thinking my Master might know something!"

"What?"

After I explained the situation, the gatekeepers glanced back and forth at me while muttering something to each other. When they finished talking, one of them approached me.

"The master has granted you permission to enter. You may pass."

The gate opened with a gigigi, and the guards returned to their posts. I cautiously passed between the two of them and entered the castle. Just beyond the gate, I saw a maid. I think these people are vampires, just like my Master.

"I will guide you to the master."

I know where my Master’s room is, I thought, but then I realized I’d always entered through the window. If I just wandered around inside the mansion, I’d probably get lost. So I obediently followed the maid.

"…"

And the Mummy followed along as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I mean, it’s one thing for me to go in, but is it okay for this Mummy, too? Well, it did save me multiple times, so it probably isn't a bad mummy.

"Master, I have brought our guest."

After walking down a corridor decorated like a Western castle, we arrived in a large hall. At the far end was a small flight of stairs, and atop it sat a large chair. It was probably a throne. And on that throne was a familiar figure.

"Welcome, young lady. I welcome your visit."

"Master!"

Seeing a familiar face at last, I let out a sigh of relief.

"Hmm? The guards told me you claimed to be one of my bats, but I do not recognize you."

"B-but I really am a Vampire Bat! I turned into this after drinking that human’s blood!"

I explained to my Master what had happened to me. He then rose from his throne, slowly descended the stairs, and came to stand before me. He then looked me over carefully from above.

"Hmm, I can certainly feel the magical energy of one of my familiars. And that corpse…"

My Master’s eyes gleamed as they fixed on the Mummy standing stock-still behind me. His gaze was filled with an animosity leagues beyond the one he had directed at me; it was so intense I could almost feel the pressure.

"I see. So you drank this man’s blood. That explains it. But to think he would be taken down by a bat."

My Master seemed to have figured something out, nodding over and over again in understanding. Then, he turned back to me with a smile.

"Well done! You did well to dispose of this man!"

"Y-yes, sir?!"

"Your transformation is likely because you drank this man’s blood and killed him."

"I-is that so?!"

So this man was the reason I turned into a human?!

"Congratulations, my little bat. You have devoured the life of a powerful being and evolved into a Vampire!"

With those words, my Master joyfully scooped me into his arms and lifted me high into the air.

"Hyawah!? M-me, a Vampire…?!"

W-what does that even mean?!