kscans

Chapter 32 - Nice to Meet You, Little Familiar

"Nithe to meet you, Mathter!"

The bat, born from an egg that had appeared out of nowhere, said that the instant it saw me.

"I'm your Master?"

"Yeth-chu! You're my Mathter-chu!"

Why? Why did a bat suddenly pop out of an egg and start calling me Master? Is this standard for another world?

"Um, if you call Big Sis 'Master,' does that mean you are one of her bat familiars?"

"Who are you-chu?"

The bat turned a wary gaze on Adolnel as she posed the question.

"I am Adolnel Fenesia, and I serve as Big Sis's food supply."

Adolnel curtsied gracefully, holding the hem of her skirt. Wait, is that really an appropriate introduction? She looks weirdly proud of it, too.

"So you're the Mathter's food. Nithe to meet you-chu."

The bat just accepted it.

"I'm the Mathter's familiar, a Vampire Bat-chu."

And just like that, it was confirmed. This little one really was my familiar.

"Um, so does that mean you were born from me? Is that right?"

"That's right-chu! I was born from the Mathter's magic power-chu!"

Hmm? Based on what this Vampire Bat is saying, it seems Vampires can create familiars from their own magic. So was that stomachache a sign of it? Does that mean it really was labor pains?! Ah, no, but I hear real labor is much, much more painful. If so, I guess Vampires have it pretty easy?

"Does this mean it's your child, Big Sis?! Just who is the father?!"

"We are done with that conversation!"

If it was born from my magic power, I suspect Adolnel's potent blood was the cause, but saying that out loud feels like it would lead down a weird path, so I'll keep it to myself. Besides, rather than thinking I gave birth to it, it makes more sense to think of it as the result of me kneading blood like clay until this Vampire Bat was formed. That feels more right, somehow.

"Ah, thinking about it that way, maybe the reason I felt like I could drink more blood even when I was full was because my magic was being condensed for a familiar like this."

My own body is such a mystery. I recalled the lessons my master gave me back at the castle about the abilities of Vampires.

"It didn't really click back then, but now that I've experienced it myself, I get what he meant."

Well, I don't completely get it, but that's probably the difference between a born Vampire and one who evolved from a Vampire Bat.

"Does that mean this little one will evolve too?"

I glanced over at the newborn Vampire Bat, which was staring up at me with its big, sparkling eyes. Hmm, looking at it like this, it's surprisingly... cute? Maybe?

"So then, Big Sis, what is its name?"

"Huh? A name?"

""...?!""

Asked so suddenly about a name, I was at a loss.

"Yes. Since it's your familiar, it would be inconvenient without one, wouldn't it?"

"Hmm, well, I suppose so."

A name, huh. Well, unlike the "Wolf-chan"s, there's only one of it, so I should probably give it a proper name.

"A name! I get a name-chu?!"

Hearing it would get a name, the Vampire Bat flapped its wings excitedly.

"Let's see, a name, a name..."

A good name befitting a Vampire Bat...

""Fidget, fidget...""

By the way, why are you two over there, Mummy Ichigo-kun and the "Wolf-chan"s, looking so restless?

"Okay, I've decided!"

I settled on a name for the Vampire Bat.

"Tho exthiting-chu."

Vampire Bat, your name shall be this!

"Your name is... Morilin No. 3!"

Mhm, perfect naming!

""...Huh?""

Oh? Did they not hear me properly?

"Morilin No. 3. It retains its bat-like essence, and as my third close familiar, it gets 'No. 3'!"

""(Facepalm gesture)""

Hmph, I'm quite proud of this one. A true stroke of genius.

"...That's lame-chu."

"Eh?"

Huh? I think I might have misheard something.

"It's lame-chu!!"

"What did you say?!"

Huh? Lame?! You're saying my naming is... lame?!

"Super lame-chu! I demand another name-chu!"

Impossible! How could you call my unparalleled naming sense lame?! My naming sense that, in my past life, won a special prize in a mascot naming contest for a town's local specialty, personally praised by the old man mayor himself—you're calling that lame?!

"I abtholutely refuthe-chu! I want a different name-chu!"

"Tch, so this is the infamous stubbornness of a child! If you're like this from the start, when you're older you'll dig up some nostalgic game, play it for the first time in ages, and end up writhing on the floor remembering the cringey, edgy name you gave the main character!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but that's a very specific example. Personal experience, perhaps?"

...What are you talking about? It's a general observation. Just a general observation.

"Anyway, I want a different name-chuuu!"

Grr, fine, fine.

"But another name, huh. How about Kyuko Type-3?"

"Putting a number in the name is what's weird-chu!"

""(Nod, nod)""

Why are you two nodding so emphatically?

"Then how about Chuumorin!"

"You just changed the direction of the lameness-chu!"

"So harsh!"

Tch, what a little diva! And isn't your vocabulary a bit too rich for a newborn?!

"You say that, but Mummy Ichigo-kun and the "Wolf-chan"s were happy with their names!"

"(Shakes head vigorously, gesturing 'No we weren't')"

"I demand a more ladylike name-chu!"

Grrr, a lady, you say? In that case...

"Um, if I may, how about Solfi?"

""Solfi?""

We both tilted our heads at the name Adolnel timidly suggested.

"It's the name of the heroine from a love story about a maiden who serves the goddess of the night. You, Big Sis, are a Vampire of pure white, with a beauty like the moon. I thought a name to match that would suit your familiar."

"Huh."

So there's a goddess of the night in this world. But I see, taking names from myths and stories is a pretty common thing to do.

"I-I love it-chu! That's a gweat name-chu!"

Flap! The Vampire Bat shot into the air, flapping its wings in a frenzy as it shouted.

"My name ith Solfi-chu! It's decided, I'm Solfi-chu!"

And so, with that burst of joy, the Vampire Bat's name was decided as Solfi. Seriously though, isn't she a little too happy?

"I still think Morilin No. 3 is a good name..."

""(Flap flap, gesturing 'No it's not')""