Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 24

 

Chapter 24: Mistress Obtained!

 After the clean-up in the [Forest of No Entry], Ren had no time to catch his breath. He had to go on a trip immediately after returning to the capital. It was a request from the guild.

 He had expected the task to be completed quickly, but it took longer than he had expected. It had already been five days since Ren arrived at the site.

(...I wonder if it won't show up irresponsibly)

 Hiding in the shadow, Ren waited patiently for the subject to appear.

 Normally, he would not do this. But since the spirit didn't appear too often, he decided to hide and wait, thinking that it might not appear if there was another person present.

 It was ridiculous to hide against a spirit, but he endured in order to finish the request.

(……Huh?)

 It seems that this enduring had some effect. Ren caught sight of a figure floating slightly in the darkness. But the shadow was clearly different from the one he had been waiting for.

 Ren's tension rises at once.

"It's no use hiding."

 A woman's voice reached his ears. It was his ear that heard it, which means that the other party was not a spirit.

"...I heard that I will exterminate an evil spirit."

 If his whereabouts are known, there is no point in hiding. Ren chose to stand up and get ready to fight.

"Am I an evil spirit? You say rude things."

“If you put it that way, then perhaps you are a demon?"

"I'm not a demon. I'm a vampire."

"Vampire? Vampire... you mean bloodsucker?"

"Don't be rude!"

 The Vampire that appeared at Ren's words emitted an angry tone. Bloodsucker is a derogatory term for vampires.

"No? Don't you suck blood?"

"…………"

"Are you going to suck after all?"

"…………"

"I'm talking this loud, but you're not doing it."

"That's because I'm putting you to sleep."

“…Could it be that I am being set up?”

"Well, what do you think?"

 Hearing Ren's words, the Vampire sent him a bewitching smile. Ren decided that was an affirmation.

"Demons"

"Vampire"

“…Vampire, you mean that you're strong even though you're a woman?”

 He speaks calmly, but his heart is quite disturbed. Ren doesn't have the confidence that he can fight against a demon and win.

"Definitely, I'm stronger than you."

"I see... by the way, are all women of the Vampire race like that?"

"What is?"

"So beautiful that it makes me tremble."

 The figure of a Vampire woman emerges in the darkness. The woman is wearing a black dress and her white skin is tinged with a hint of light. Her waist-length hair is the same silver color as Ren's, her eyes are slit, and her glossy lips are blood red. Eyes glowing red in the darkness. It was bizarre, but to Ren, it looked incredibly beautiful.

"...That's right. But that's also because you're already captivated by me."

"Captivated?"

"The Vampires have the power of enchantment."

 Charm is a type of mental attack. It literally charms the opponent and takes away their power to resist. The Vampires are born with this power.

"I see."

"Now, continue to follow me. You'll die peacefully that way."

"I don't remember being hated by the vampire race, though."

 Ren has absolutely no memory of being targeted by the Vampires.

"I don't hold a grudge against you. But you are destined to be killed by me."

"...That kind of fate"

"You won't suffer. On the contrary, I will kill you in the moment of bliss."

"What? My body..."

"You're my servant. I really want to play with you for days, but it's a shame."

 The vampire came step by step closer to him as she spoke. Ren, on the other hand, just stood there.

“…Why did you wait until today to trap me?”

"Today is the full moon. It's the day when my power is at its highest."

"……I see."

"Now, sweety, give me your life."

 A hand is extended toward Ren's cheek. The other hand goes around his waist. The vampire embraces Ren from there. A rose-like fragrance enveloped Ren.

"This is……"

"How is it? Can you feel me?"

"…………"

"I will love you. I'm going to love you to death."

"...I'm sorry for that."

"What!?"

 Ren, who was hugged, pushed the vampire down with all of his weight.

 With that, a sword of light extends from both hands. With the momentum of falling to the floor, Ren thrusts the swords into both of the vampire's shoulders.

"Guh, uu!"

"Now! Luna!"

"Shadow born by moonlight! Become a chain that binds your enemies! Bind!"

 Luna's chanting voice echoes around the area.

"Wha!?"

 With Luna's chanting voice, shadows stretching across the floor entwined around the vampire's legs and arms as if they were living creatures. The shadow stopped moving when it wrapped around.

"...Are you okay?"

"What is this!?"

"You are restrained. Can you move?"

"Kuh..."

The vampire tried hard to break the restraints, but there was no sign that they would come off.

"Oh, it's also effective for a vampire. Luna is amazing."

"Great?"

"Yeah, great."

"That's stupid. In the darkness of the night, and on the night of the full moon."

 Contrary to Ren and Luna, who seemed to be in high spirits, the vampire's face is pale, and her voice trembled with turmoil.

"It was a pity. On the night of the full moon, we too will display our maximum power."

"...No way, a dark elf?"

“Not quite. It is good to know who you are. So tell me about yourself."

"...I have nothing to say to you."

"I have a question for you. Why did you target me?

"It's a coincidence. You were there when I happened to attack the humans."

 The vampire is clearly lying.

"You're lying. If you don't tell me the truth, I'll kill you."

"...Kill me."

"Huh? There was a pause just now."

 A moment of hesitation. Ren didn't miss it.

"That's not true. I'm not going to live in disgrace. Kill me!"

"Disgrace."

"…………"

 In response to Ren's mutter, the vampire's eyes opened wide. Vampire women have the power of charm to stimulate men. It was both a weapon and a seed of tragedy.

"Is she okay? What do you think, Luna?"

"Hmm. Not bad."

"I see. Then let's do it."

"What?"

 The vampire doesn't understand the meaning of Ren and Luna's conversation. She knew it was not good for her.

"Would you like me to be my partner?"

"...D-don't joke around! Do you think I'll accept such a disgrace!"

 What came out of Ren's mouth is what one would expect. That doesn't make it acceptable to the vampire.

"But it's better than dying, isn't it?"

"I'd rather die!"

"Really? You seem to be afraid of dying. Maybe you're young?"

"She is young."

 It was Luna who answered Ren's question.

"Luna, can you tell?"

"Somewhat."

"Heh, how old is she?"

"...She was still a child. It feels like twenty years?"

“Twenty years old is a child? What's the lifespan of a vampire?

"I don't know."

"What is your lifespan?"

 Ren asked the vampire.

"…………"

 There was no answer.

“Can you at least tell me how long you've got?"

"...About two hundred years."

"Then you're definitely a child. Do you want to die so young?"

"...A partner."

 She doesn't want to die but more than that, she doesn't want to be humiliated.

"It depends on how you look at it."

"The way I look at it?"

“I say partner because I like you. You're so beautiful. And you're sexy enough to make even a child like me shiver."

"That's because of the charm..."

"It's not working."

"Eh?"

“I am resistant to such mental attacks.”

 It was thanks to this mental resistance that Ren was able to resist the vampire. There was also Luna's help.

"But."

"I know your moves. First of all, your eyes. Those red eyes work on the mind. And then the next step is the verbal attack. The words you speak resonate directly in one's head. If it is a normal person, that would give him a hypnotic feeling.”

"No way..."

 As Ren explained. It's proof that Ren wasn't affected by the charm.

“The last one is the smell that comes from your body. This was a little strong. It was bad indeed."

"But you endured it."

"Yeah, I got help from Ron."

 Ren said this and brought Ron, which was in his pocket, right in front of the vampire. It's Ron hanging on Ren's finger.

"Wha!?"

“Recently, his fangs have become firmer and it hurts. This time, I have a clear head."

"No way..."

“It would be a problem if the scent of your body paralyzes my mind, but it would be nice if it didn’t go that far, right?”

"……Nice?"

"You're a great woman to have."

"...I'd rather not do that with you."

“Listen. I'm attracted to you. I feel like I have to have you."

"…………"

 Ren said that while bringing his face closer and staring into her eyes. What he is saying is a complete pickup line.

"You should respond to that. You lost to me. It's not strange to give in to a stronger man, is it?"

"You just caught me off guard."

"Then do you want to try again?"

"Are you sure?"

“Of course. But if you lose, you are my servant now. You must obey everything I say. No matter how humiliating that order may be."

"…………"

 This Vampire is young, indeed. She had fallen for Ren's bluff. Ren's words further bound the vampire woman's mind.

"That's slavery. I'd rather you make your own choices than be one."

"It's the same result either way."

“There is a difference between choosing to be mine and being forced to do so.”

"But"

"Be mine. Dedicate your body and soul to me. As long as you do so, I will also treat you with care."

"…………"

"Accept me. You won't regret it. I will always love you."

 It's quite arrogant, but it's still a pick-up line. He even says he will always love her.

"I……"

"Accept it. That is your destiny. You came here today to become mine."

"Destiny……"

"What's your name?"

"That's"

“Well. I will give you a new name. That's how I feel. That's how I know you're important to me."

"...What is it?"

"Right. How about Rin?"

"Rin?"

"I imagined the sound of a bell. Because your voice sounded like a bell to me."

"I see."

"And my name is Ren. Because we sound alike. Would you like that?"

"……Yes"

"Okay, Rin. From today on, you are mine. Your body and soul are mine. You are mine and mine alone."

"Yes. I understand. I will serve you."

"Ah."

 Words of consent from the vampire woman named Rin. Hearing that, Ren widened his eyes in surprise.

"Eh?"

"...Now you've admitted it yourself. You're mine."

"Yes. But that's what you want... eh?"

 What she had said. Rin finally noticed.

"Did you notice?"

"Why did I admit that? Eh, it's a lie, right?"

 Rin has no idea how this happened.

"No, you certainly did. Rin belongs to me now."

"...No way, just now"

 Admitting it against their will. Rin is familiar with such things. She can do that too.

"Sorry. It's the same charm-type magic as Rin. I tried to use it with Luna's help. But I didn't think it would succeed. In fact, it took so long that it can't even be called magic."

"...What will happen to me?"

"Um, what is a vow for the vampire race?"

"...It's absolute. And you even gave me a name."

"That's right. It was written in some book that demons can't actually break their promises."

 Magic is also a contract. The mana that is the source of that power is also given by a contract with the world. For the demons, their existence in the world is a contract with the world.

 That's why demons don't break contracts. Breaking the contract means denying their existence.

“That's right. It is different from the unfaithful humans."

"So you're mine."

"No way..."

"But it's true that I like Rin. You're really beautiful."

"As an outlet for sexual desire, right?"

"That's because that's what I was originally looking for. But that doesn't mean it's always been that way."

"…………"

"But you need to recognize that the number one is Luna."

"She's a spirit, not an elf, right?"

"Just because she's a spirit doesn't mean I can't like her."

"That's right, but"

"You are the second."

"Do you think that will make a woman happy?"

 This reply is off the subject. It should not be a matter of order.

"...After all, I'm a child. I feel like we're the same age when we talk like this."

"You are a child"

"I'm almost twenty years old"

"Eh?"

"Because I've been summoned from another world."

"I know that."

"So you do know."

"Ah."

 Knowing that Ren is from another world means that she was aiming for Ren from the beginning. He knew it long ago.

“Fine. I'm not going to ask that again. I don't want to get Rin in trouble."

"……Really?"

"I promise. And I promise you something else."

"What?"

“I will never force myself on Rin.”

"…………"

"Maybe that's impossible."

"Wait?"

"Just kidding. If you like me even a little, I'll hug Rin."

"...That's if I like you."

"Well, that's how it is."

"I understand."

 Rin doesn't realize that this is also a pledge. Right now, no matter what she says, as long as she's charmed by Ren, she can't resist anything. However, Ren didn't notice that either.

"Alright, but I have to ask you one thing."

"……Liar."

"No, this is also for Rin's sake."

"What?"

"Does the client know the circumstances?"

 It's about the client who asked Ren to subjugate the evil spirit.

"I don't know. I made him believe it was an evil spirit."

"Then I'll just say I got rid of it."

"...What will happen to me?"

"You are mine, so stay by my side."

"...Don't say I'm yours. It's kind of embarrassing."

"I understand. It's small, but you can live with me in the room I'm staying in."

"Where is it?"

"Next to the cemetery in the capital. You know, behind the church."

"...Hey, are you telling me, a vampire, to live near the church?"

 Demons are absolutely evil for the church. It's dangerous to live near it.

"Is it bad?"

"Are there people coming and going?"

"The only person who lives with me is an old woman. No visitors."

"It's a cemetery."

"No way, in a coffin?"

"What is it?"

"No, nothing."

 Ren understood that vampires don't seem to sleep in coffins.

"Would I be okay if I go out?"

“Well. Besides, I'll know when someone approaches."

"……Why?"

"I have many things too."

"Okay. Then I'll live there."

 In the end, Rin even accepts to live with him. At this moment, the more they talk, the more they get into it. When it unravels, Rin will suffer the regret of her decision.

◇◇◇

 After informing the client of the completion of the mission, Ren immediately set out on his return journey to the capital. The reason is that he thought that he had to move at night, thinking about Rin. But that was Ren's misunderstanding.

"Are you okay in the daytime?"

"Yes. Master."

"...What, that way of saying it."

“Because I am master’s property. I am using appropriate language."

 It was a small resistance from Rin for breaking her charm.

"......Is that sarcasm?"

"No way. It's impossible for someone like me, who belongs to you, to sarcastically speak to master."

"Are you angry?"

"...How can you not be angry when you've been charmed?"

"Yes, but isn't that a little unfair?"

"Unfair?"

“Rin also uses charm magic, right? It's not right for you to be angry when it happens to you."

"...I'm inexperienced anyway."

 The vampire, who uses charm as a weapon, was charmed. This is also quite humiliating.

"This time you're sulking. You're a child."

"I'm sorry for talking back. Master."

 Rin also changes her tone. She noticed that the conversation was mixed with familiarity.

“…Are you going to let it go on like that all the time?”

"Yes. Master."

"...I don't think getting desperate will do you any good, do you?"

"I'm not desperate."

"Yes. Then, honorifics are fine, but don't say "master". That's an order."

"...Then, Ren-sama."

"Yeah, that's fine."

"…………"

 It's different, but Ren is also a bit thrown off. It might be bad to charm her, but Ren thinks it's part of the battle. It might have been Ren who was killed by the charm.

 He was a little annoyed with Rin, who didn't graciously acknowledge the outcome of the battle.

"If you're okay with daylight, then we can stop here. It's time to sleep."

 Saying that, Ren put down the baggage on his back and skillfully started preparations for the camp. In no time he pitched a little tent and he went into it and was ready to sleep.

"......I'll be outside."

"You can sleep inside. I will keep my promises."

"But"

"What? Are you scared?"

"...Then, I'll sleep next to you."

"Go ahead."

 At Ren's provocation, Rin said that she would sleep next to him, but the tent was quite small. It's a tent for one person, so that's natural. When she lined up next to Ren, who was already lying down, it was a distance where their bodies touched each other.

 Even when she's lying with her back turned, she can hear Ren's breathing from nearby.

(……Sleeping?)

 Unaware of Rin's tense feelings, Ren quickly fell asleep.

(...This man ...what?)

 Rin couldn't understand Ren when he calmly slept next to someone who tried to kill him. Killing Ren would be easy now.

 Such a temptation welled up in Rin's heart. She quietly gets up slowly so as not to wake Ren. But when she lifted her upper body, Rin couldn't move.

 From the other side of the space, a sharp and cold gaze pierced Rin, as if it could see through everything. It was the gaze of Luna, whose amber eyes were the same as Ren's.

 Luna's eyes move toward the exit of the tent. Rin understands this to mean that she needs to get out, and crawls out of the tent.

 As soon as Rin stood up, a voice called out to her back.

"You're a woman who thinks stupid things."

"I'm doing nothing"

“Luna is always by Ren’s side. Ren believes in Luna. That's why Ren can sleep through the night."

"I see."

"Thank Luna."

"Eh?"

"If you did something, Ren would lose faith in the demons."

"What are you talking about?"

 Rin's face turned dubious as she had no idea what Luna was trying to say.

“Ren hates people, no, he doesn’t even think he hates them, he has given up on them.”

"I don't know what you mean."

"In the world where Ren was, there were only humans."

 Luna continued to talk without regard to Rin's confusion. Rin gave up, thinking she had no choice but to listen quietly.

"So?"

"There are people other than humans in this world. That's why Ren hasn't given up on non-humans yet."

"……I see."

 Even if she said he hasn't given up, Rin doesn't know what she was talking about.

"If you break your promise, Ren will think that the demons are no good either."

"Even if you say no"

"People betray people, people hurt people. Ren hates the existence of such dirty people."

“Ren is a human too.”

"That's why Ren hates being alive."

"Eh?"

"But Ren doesn't want to die."

"...I don't understand."

 He hates being alive, but he doesn't want to die. Conflicting feelings coexist in Ren. She knows the words, but she doesn't know what they mean.

"The only thing Ren trusts is spirits. Because spirits are pure."

"Are spirits pure? I don't understand that either."

“The spirits that remain in this world remain because they have unresolved feelings. Unwillingness is a thought, and even if it is a grudge, it is still a single-minded thought."

"...I know a little about it."

“Ren doesn't want to live in the flesh. He thinks he is impure and unclean, too."

"…………"

 Even Rin understood a little of what Luna was talking about. She knew, but she had no words to say in response.

"But Luna doesn't want Ren to die."

“…May I ask you a question?”

"What is it?"

"Why would a spirit as powerful as you make a contract with him? I've never heard of a spirit being able to materialize so perfectly."

 The knowledge of demons about the world is far beyond that of humans. The existence of spirits, and why they exist, are things that demons should know as a matter of course.

 And they also know about the existence of powerful spirits. But Rin did not know that they existed in this era.

"If you've only been alive for twenty years, it's not surprising that you don't know."

"Treating me as a child."

"Luna can't speak for others either. Luna has just been born."

"...You're joking, right?"

"It's true. It's been two years since Luna became conscious."

"Then why do you have such power?"

 According to Rin's common sense, powerful spirits are born as a result of having lived far longer than the lifespan of the demons.

"Ren generously gives his power to Luna."

"You're the one who gives him power, right?"

“No, it was Ren who gave Luna her strength. That's how Luna was able to gain power."

"...I don't understand. It's different from the spirit contract I know."

 That's right. The relationship between Ren and Luna is not the spirit contract that Rin knows about.

"The spirit gives their partner one-sided power. That's a false idea. Luna heard it from Luna."

"Again, I don't understand."

"Ren is a being that has the same power as the ancient contractor. That's why so many Luna have gathered to become Luna."

"...I somehow understood."

 A collection of many spirits. Rin understood that this was the existence of Luna.

"Luna is not important. Luna has gained power from Ren, and now Luna is going to pass the power to Ren. But no matter how hard Luna tries, there is something Luna cannot give to Ren."

"What can't you give?"

"Desire for the Body."

"……I think so too."

 Even if it is materialized, it is only imitating the shape. Rin thought she couldn't do what men and women do.

"It's a desire for the body. I want Ren to know that he doesn't want to lose his physical body."

"Ah, so that's what you mean."

 Rin was wrong. But she was not completely wrong.

"That's why you're here."

"Me?"

"You're going to make Ren fall in love with your body."

"Ha?"

“Without a body, one can't get pleasure from it. If Ren thinks so, Ren will not abandon his body."

"...After all, it's sexual desire, isn't it?"

"Your role is important. This is what Luna wanted to tell you."

"I see……"

 Having said everything she wanted to say, Luna returned to the tent. Rin, who was left behind, was shaken up and in no condition to sleep very well.

 She doesn't really understand half of what Luna is saying. What she found out was that her body was what she was looking for, and that the human named Ren had complicated thoughts.

 Both of these things only make her feel uneasy about the future.

 A full moon floats in the sky. Rin ended up staring at it and welcoming the dawn.