"Hey, bitch! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
Rize screams those words while positioning herself beside me. Ah, seems she's really pissed. Well, I guess that's normal considering she just watched me get cut to pieces.
My master looks at her with a bored expression before responding.
"Bitch? Watch who you're talking to, insolent brat."
"Huh? Who are you calling a brat?"
"The only brat I see here. Or is there another one?"
The veins on Rize's forehead look about to explode. Her tentacles writhe in the air threateningly, and I can sense she's about to launch herself at my master.
That would be bad.
"Rize, calm down."
"How do you want me to calm down?! This woman cut you to pieces!"
"Huh? Yeah, well... it's her way of greeting."
"What kind of greeting is that?!"
Now that I think about it, it's a pretty extreme greeting. I guess I should've been mad, right? But we treat each other like this. My master and I.
I'm already used to it, so I don't give it much importance.
My master sighs and crosses her arms while observing us. Seems she finds this whole situation amusing, though also a bit irritating.
I should introduce them before this turns into a real fight.
"Rize, she's Miyamoto Kiriko. My master. And master, she's Rize. She's a friend."
"Friend?"
Rize looks at me with indignation.
"I'm your girlfriend."
"No you're not."
"Fufu~ We'll see about that."
She expresses herself with a terrifying aura.
Kiriko observes our exchange with a raised eyebrow. Though she doesn't say anything, I can see she's evaluating Rize.
About my master, she's a vampire who works for the Hellsing agency. It's an organization dedicated to hunting monsters and supernatural threats. Most of the time she's in that agency or other distant places, so seeing her in Japan is pretty rare.
Though I already knew she was here. My All-Seeing Eye detected her at her house a few days ago, and that's why I came to visit her.
"Master, what are you doing here? I thought you were in London ."
"I returned a few days ago. I had some business."
"Mm. How have you been?"
"Things have gotten complicated lately."
Kiriko lets us enter the front yard of the house. She walks to the chair under the tree and sits. Despite her beautiful appearance, she must already be over thirty years old.
She continues with an expressionless face.
"The parasites have integrated almost completely into human society. It's very difficult to detect them now. Mostly have mutated thanks to RC Cells, and have become much stronger."
"That sounds problematic."
"It is. Hellsing is having difficulties."
Mm... Is that so?
While we talk, Rize retracts her kagune. She still looks at Kiriko with distrust, but at least she no longer seems to want to kill her immediately.
"Hey."
"What do you want, brat?"
"...Tch, bitch."
"Say something?"
"N-nothing."
Kiriko narrows her eyes, and a dangerous presence extends from her toward Rize, who freezes before gasping softly.
Despite feeling threatened, Rize grits her teeth and continues.
"Why did you dismember him for no reason? What kind of master does that?"
"No reason? I had a very good reason."
"And what is it?"
"It's his fault."
"Huh?"
Rize blinks. I'm also a bit confused.
"What are you saying? He didn't even see you coming!"
She opens her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Exactly."
Kiriko points at me with a finger.
"You've gotten too used to those eyes you have. You've neglected your other senses."
"..."
Ah.
Ever since I developed the All-Seeing Eye, I've relied almost exclusively on it to observe my surroundings. I always have several eyes floating around, keeping watch over everything.
However, my senses are still always on high alert. The fact that Kiriko got close enough to tear me apart without me detecting her has nothing to do with that. It's because she can erase her presence and blend into the shadows.
"Well… you're right."
I say that, but in reality, I'm mocking her inside.
Because of my All-Seeing Eyes…
Heh, once I accidentally saw her bathing naked, but she noticed. Ever since that day, she seems to hold a grudge against me, and now she blames my precious eyes for not being able to sense her.
Women.
"Of course I am."
Kiriko stares at me for a moment. Then her expression changes, becoming more serious.
"Arata."
"Yes?"
"You used Vampire Mode recently."
Saying it that way, she's affirming it.
"...Yes."
"How long?"
"Mm... should be less than two minutes."
Kiriko frowns hearing that.
Vampire Mode is a transformation that drastically increases my power. But it has a very high cost. The longer I keep it active, the more it feeds on my soul.
About a year ago, when Mrs. Kiriko returned to Japan, she started training me. She taught me to use weapons and my body properly. She also trained me to use Vampire Mode by fighting me.
At that time, she told me I had two options. The first was to train using Vampire Mode to gradually increase the time I could keep it active without it consuming my soul. The second was simply never use it.
I chose the first option.
But even after all this time, I can only keep it active without consequences for less than a minute. Two minutes is too much. Though I was able to recover by today, if another powerful enemy appeared during that time, I'd have no choice but to find a way to escape, or they would've killed me.
"If you don't want your soul completely consumed and end up as an empty shell, you must stop abusing that mode."
"I know, I know..."
Though there's another option I've been thinking about. If the problem is that it consumes my soul, then the solution would be to find a way to replenish what I lose. That is, consume the souls of others.
But so far I have no idea how to do that.
Kiriko trains me from time to time when she comes to Japan. If I could train more often, I could probably practice more and improve. But she has her own responsibilities with Hellsing, so she can't stay long.
Besides, she's quite strong. That's why I can use my Vampire Mode when fighting her. Otherwise, I wouldn't have anyone to practice with. Of course, I could ask Yoshimura for help, but to me, he's a man who values his peace and quiet, and I don't want to disturb him.
I look at Rize, who's been listening to our conversation with a confused face. She probably doesn't understand half of what we're saying.
I laugh a bit and pat her head.
"You want to train too, right?"
"Huh?"
Rize freezes in place.
I see her expression change from confusion to panic, making me laugh.
"W-Wait! That's not true!"
"Didn't you say you wanted to get stronger?"
"That was...!"
Rize seems to remember something. She's probably thinking about how Kiriko dismembered me a few minutes ago.
"B-But I'm a ghoul, not a vampire. Won't I die if she trains me like that?"
"Mm. Probably not."
"So you're not sure, right...?"
Rize crosses her arms and looks at Kiriko with hostility.
"Besides, I don't want this bitch to be my master."
Kiriko returns her neutral gaze and says expressionlessly.
"The feeling's mutual, brat. I don't want you as my disciple. It's enough having this idiot and Touka."
"Touka?"
Oh...
Rize's hostile expression disappears, and is replaced by a dangerous expression. Even the shine in her eyes dims greatly.
"Who's Touka?"
I put a big smile on my face.
"She's my master's disciple. She's also a ghoul."
"Hm~"
Rize looks at me with narrowed eyes.
"Is she also your 'friend'?"
"Yes."
"..."
Silence extends for a few seconds, while the air feels heavy, though it doesn't affect me. Particularly, I enjoy Rize's expression.
Then the purple-haired girl turns toward Kiriko.
"I've changed my mind. I accept being your disciple."
"Hah?"
Both Kiriko and I look at her with surprise. What just happened?
"What made you change your mind so fast, brat?"
"Nothing in particular~"
Rize smiles sweetly, but behind that smile, I realize there's something sinister.
Kiriko sighs and rubs her temples before looking at me with critical eyes, as if I were responsible, something I can't deny.
"This time I'll stay longer in Japan. Training starts Saturday. Prepare yourselves."
She gestures with her chin at Rize.
"Especially you. If you don't survive, it's not my problem."
"Understood."
"Master, what will you do meanwhile?"
Kiriko shakes her head while explaining in a flat tone.
"I have a job. I must eliminate some nuisances that entered Japan."
Every time she comes, it has to do with her work from the Hellsing agency, which means her mission is dangerous. I don't ask for details because I know she won't tell me, since it's a secret mission.
"Then we'll see you Saturday."
"Mm. Don't be late."
With those words, Kiriko gets up, heads toward the house and opens the door before entering.
Rize and I are left alone in the yard.
"That bitch—I mean, your master is terrifying."
"She is."
"...I'd say I like her if it weren't for the fact she dismembered you, my dear food source."
"Really?"
"Fufu~ of course."
I start walking back toward the street, and Rize follows me, grabbing onto my arm while smiling hugely.
×××
If you liked this, throw me your Power Stones!
At 250 Power Stones, I'll drop a bonus chapter.