kscans

Chapter 6 - I Was Attacked Right Away!

"Ugh, I’ve been kicked out."

After that, I was given a few bare necessities and thrown out of the castle.

"This breaks my heart, but it is the way of the vampires! Live strong, my beloved daughter! And when you have acquired a domain, you must return to report to me! Until then, you are forbidden from setting foot in my lands!"

That was the gist of it.

"Sigh. All I have left is a parting gift of a Portable Coffin, a glass bottle with a few days’ worth of blood, and…"

"…"

I looked at the Mummy standing silently beside me.

"Only you, my familiar."

How cruel the world is. Just a few minutes ago, I was being treated like a princess, fussed over by the maids.

"Take care, princess."

"We wish you the best of luck."

The gatekeepers I had spoken with earlier offered me words of encouragement. That’s right, there’s no point in moping around here. I need to get out there and find my own domain!

"Yes! Thank you for everything until today! You all take care as well!"

I shouted to the gatekeepers, and to everyone else working in the castle, though they probably couldn’t hear me.

"I’m off, Father!"

Alright! Let the second chapter of my reincarnated life begin!

◆

"Still, we’re not getting anywhere just by walking, are we?"

Yes, as part of my vampire training, I was taught how to grow wings and fly, but this Mummy here… well, it can’t fly. If I left it behind, I’d have no guard, so in the end, we had to leave the forest on foot.

"But hey, if worst comes to worst, I have your sword, so we should be fine!"

After all, this Mummy, though it usually just sways and wobbles, displays incredible swordsmanship when a fight breaks out. I can see why my father called it his nemesis.

"Oh, right. It won’t do to just keep calling you ‘Mummy’ or ‘you.’"

I should give it a good name.

"It would have been great if I knew your name from when you were alive, but you seemed to have a lot going on back then, so a new name is probably for the best, right?"

Its former name would probably just bring back bitter memories of being betrayed by humans. Not that I know if mummies even have memories. I think I was told that lower-ranking undead like skeletons and mummies don’t have such complex emotions. So giving it a name is more like naming a favorite object.

"Still, a fresh start is in order! Therefore, your name is…!"

I loudly proclaimed the name I had decided on in my heart.

"Mummy No. 1! You’re Ichigo-kun!"

Gataaan!!

The Mummy completely face-planted. What’s with that reaction? Weren’t you supposed to not have a sense of self?!

"Ahem, let’s try that again… Ahem! You are my very first familiar! That means you’re Familiar No. 1! So, Ichigo-kun! It’s a perfect name, don’t you think?!"

Hmph, a nice name that suits the body, if I do say so myself. Even famous heroes, the first one is always Number One. It’s the simplicity that makes the number one shine.

"...suh"

Didn't you just look away with a really dissatisfied expression? Hey, it’s hard to tell since you’re a mummy, but you look unhappy, don’t you?

"Do you have some complaint?!"

"...Sui."

The Mummy just shrugged and gave a reaction that screamed, nope, nothing at all.

"You totally look unhappy! And you’re so assertive for someone who’s supposed to have no ego!"

Yura yura.

"Stop swaying like you don’t have a care in the world!"

This guy totally has a sense of self!

"An-y-way! You’re Ichigo-kun! Ichigo-kun, you got it?!"

I’ve already decided, so I’m not taking any complaints! And so, we resumed our journey. Marching on toward the edge of the forest. It was night, but to me, a vampire, it was as clear as day.

"Walking like this, you really realize how big this forest is."

My father’s domain is a large forest called the Great Cursed Sea. But even though it’s called a forest, it’s the size of a nation and borders several countries. The castle is located almost in the center of the forest. Trying to get out on foot from there would take quite a few days.

What’s more, my father’s evil magical energy apparently attracts monsters, so the closer you are to the center of the forest, the stronger and more dangerous the monsters are.

"Back when I was a bat, as long as I was flying, I wouldn’t get attacked, but now if I get attacked, it’ll be dangerous."

"Grrrrrr."

As if drawn by my words, a heavy, bestial growl echoed through the forest. What appeared was a giant bear covered in minerals, a Deadly Bear. As its appearance suggests, its defense is high, but it’s surprisingly fast. Furthermore, by channeling magical energy through its claws and fangs, it can unleash what can only be called magical claws of incredible destructive power. Yep, sounds super dangerous.

"B-but I’m not scared."

Like I said before, I have a reliable guard with me now. That’s right, Mummy Ichigo-kun.

"Ichigo-kun, I’m counting on you!"

Mummy Ichigo-kun stepped forward. He then looked at me and took a stance as if holding a sword, but with empty hands. …A stance?

"Wait, wait, why don’t you have your sword?!"

Are you trying to say you don’t need a sword for an enemy like this?! That’s amazing in its own right, but are you sure?!

Then, Mummy Ichigo-kun made a gesture of swinging a sword, then spread his hands wide, traced the space where the sword should be with his finger, and pointed behind him.

"?"

What’s behind me? I turned around, but there was only the dense forest. Beyond that, just my father’s castle, which was no longer visible…

"Hmm, the castle?"

Castle, Father, sword…

"Ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

And then I remembered. Mummy Ichigo-kun’s sword…

"I gave it to Father!"

What have I done? I gave away Mummy Ichigo-kun’s only weapon to my father.

"Goaaaaaaah!"

At this worst possible timing, the Deadly Bear charged. As if to say, are you done with your comedy routine? I’m not doing this for fun!

We scrambled to evade the Deadly Bear’s attack. The trees that took the brunt of its charge snapped like thin branches with a cracking sound.

"H-heeeeh."

Th-this is bad. If that hits me, I’m dead!

"Didn’t you get a new sword or anything?!"

But Mummy Ichigo-kun just shook his head, gesturing that he hadn’t.

"Then can you do something with your bare hands…?"

But Mummy Ichigo-kun just shrugged as if to say, no way.

"Seriously?!"

Wh-wh-what should I do?! My supposedly reliable guard has suddenly become useless!

"Anyway, let’s run…"

I immediately tried to flee, but the Deadly Bear circled around to block my path. Oh… so you have no intention of letting me go.

"Isn’t there anything we can do?!"

I asked Mummy Ichigo-kun if he had any bright ideas. Even if he’s lost his combat ability, he was still called my father’s nemesis. Maybe he knows a clever way to handle this…

"Shuh shuh shuh!"

But what the mummy in front of me did was throw a few jabs. Is he telling me to punch it?!

"That’s crazy!"

If I punch it with my slender arms, my slender arms will be the only thing that breaks! I desperately dodged the still-attacking Deadly Bear.

Ugh, this thing is toying with me! It’s attacking just slow enough for me to dodge, trying to build up my fear. What a nasty personality!

"But if the enemy is underestimating me, there should be a chance!"

I desperately dodged the Deadly Bear’s attacks while looking for an opportunity to counterattack. That’s right, I can use magic. By evolving into a vampire, my magical power increased, and I can now use various spells. Studying magic was pretty tough, but… no, I don’t have time to reminisce now. In fact, I don’t want to remember those days.

"A-alright! Here I go! Fire…"

"Bun bun bun!"

But just as I was about to cast my spell, Mummy Ichigo-kun suddenly waved his hands frantically, signaling me to stop.

"Huh?!"

Confused by his mysterious action, the magic I was concentrating on dissipated.

"Why did you inter—kyaa?!"

"Goaaaa!"

Oh no! I was so focused on the magic that I let the Deadly Bear get close…!

The Deadly Bear pounced on me.

"Eek?!"

With me pinned down, the Deadly Bear raised its right arm high. Is it going to kill me while I’m immobilized?!

"H-help…"

Clinging to a sliver of hope, I called out to Mummy Ichigo-kun for help…

"Shuh shuh!"

What I saw was the same sight as before: the mummy shadowboxing, punching at the empty air.

"...Guh!"

And then, with a determined-looking pose, the mummy gave me a thumbs-up. He’s completely useless!

"Idiot!!"

That’s not going to work! But the Deadly Bear wasn't going to wait. Its claws slowly descended. They say that when you’re about to die, things seem to move in slow motion. Is this what that is? Oh, wait, I'm a vampire, so I'm already dead, right? Even when I was a Vampire Bat, I was a familiar born from my Master's magical energy... this is no time to be thinking about that!

In a fit of desperation, I thrust my fist out. It was a reflexive act of self-defense, a futile resistance born from the desire to at least land one blow, even if I knew it wouldn't work. Even knowing that in the next moment, my arm and body would be torn apart, that I would be eaten alive, I couldn't stop myself, clinging to life.

I couldn't help but squeeze my eyes shut. A moment later, I felt my fist make contact with the Deadly Bear’s claw.

Paan!

But the impact with the Deadly Bear was surprisingly light, more like a kitten bumping into me. Instead, my outstretched hand felt a strange sensation.

"Huh?"

Dogoon!! A few moments later, a tremendous roar echoed through the air. Wondering what had happened, I opened my eyes. In front of me, the Deadly Bear was slammed into a large tree, half-buried, spitting blood from its mouth.

"Eh?"

What is this? What just happened?

"Um, did you do that?"

The only one I could think of was Mummy Ichigo-kun, who was making punching gestures nearby. But he shook his head and pointed at me.

"…Eh? Me?"

I asked in disbelief, and he slowly nodded his head.