Mission Objective: Survive.

  ??Says the guy who seconds ago claimed that he'd rather die than deal with someone entering his room and seeing the discount operation theatre you had set up in it.??

  [That was a metaphorical statement. Like I've said before, don't take all my words literally.]

  I say a lot of things; it'd be stupid to believe that I'd follow through all of them. Like me saying I won't cough out blood, or that I'll give up my position if I lose a stupid bet.

  ??Except that in the case of latter, Voloha has volunteered to be a witness.??

  [Worst case scenario and I'll just wipe out their memories.]

  ??Ah yes, they can't hold you responsible for your words if they don't remember them.??

  [Ez.]

  Anyway, let's put my future troubles aside and focus on the current ones i.e. let's see who's inside that room and chop their throats I mean pacify them.

  And so, I pushed that door open and… yup, I'm fucked.

  Inside the room was the trio of Noelle, Neia and Arteria.

  This reminds me of the time when me and my friend added laxatives in the water dispenser in the teacher's room for some cheap laughs, but when questioned he broke down and snitched on me.

  I was then called into the Principal's office and found the Principal, the teachers and my friend with his eyes cast down, just like these three women.

  Needless to say, from that day on, he was demoted to a non-friend.

  ??What happened then???

  [I just pinned the blame on him and walked free. As they say, snitches get betrayed by the one they considered their best friend and get suspended for a month.]

  ??Wow, what an asshole.??

  [He shouldn't have snitched then.]

  ??Or maybe he just didn't work well under pressure but believed in your friendship and decided that since you two committed that mischief together, you two should face the consequences together as well. As they say, friendship grows in the face of suffering.??

  [Potato tomato. It was his idea anyway. I just didn't tell him how dumb it was.]

  ??Wow.??

  "Well…" I looked at the three women; Noelle was sitting on my bed beside the bloodstains, Arteria was nervously sitting by the window while Neia was inspecting the other things inside the room.

  Silhouetted by the setting sun, they looked like angels who had descended to pass judgement on the sinful me.

  "I must say I didn't expect you all to be here. Also, I remember locking my door on my way out."

  I guess a simple lock won't do in this house of privacy invading monsters. I might have to put up a 'Keep out' sign (the sign would have a black background and have some skulls for that extra edgy teenager feel) and install some tactical nukes on the door.

  "I opened it." Noelle replied flatly.

  "Okay…" I nodded. "And may I know the reason why?"

  The fact that Arteria is here means that Noelle and Neia know some things. However, I have no idea what those things are.

  It's possible that Arteria broke down under their intense questioning and spilled the beans, and it's also possible that Arteria finessed the situation like a champion and lied.

  Personally, I'm hoping it's the latter.

  "Neia smelled the scent of blood coming from your room, so we came to check." Noelle glanced at the bloodstains.

  I see, now I know where I fucked up. I guess we didn't notice it because we had gotten used to the smell of blood during the entire operation.

  Incidentally, the so-called scent of blood was no longer present, so they were either lying or they had ventilated the room, as apparent by the open window.

  "Is that so?" I sniffed hard. "I don't smell anything."

  "We ventilated the room."

  "Ah, okay."

  I stole a glance at Arteria. She seemed a bit nervous but also hopeful, as if she wanted me to say something particular.

  Now, her nervousness is on display, which means that either directly or indirectly, Noelle knows about her involvement in the smell of blood.

  There's also the fact that Vafferan saw us exiting the room together.

  Given that, the most believable right now would be…


  "Well, I needed some more blood from Arteria to further my research. You must have smelled that." I lied as naturally as I slept.

  Let's see where it'll go from here, though the fact that Arteria's face brightened a bit must mean I'm going in the right direction.

  Unless, of course, Noelle and Neia already know the truth and are using Arteria to manipulate me.

  That would be a yikes from me, but then again, the window is open so I can jump easily.

  ??Killing yourself really is the solution to all your problems.??

  [Only for me, however. Because death's an inconvenience for me.]

  "Really?" Noelle asked.

  "Yup. I can show you the results if you don't believe me."

  I did have to note down some things in order to create that heart. As long as they aren't proficient in Dragon biology, they wouldn't understand a thing written on it.

  ??Neia's a motherfucking doctor, in case you didn't remember.??

  [Doesn't matter. I'll just tell them that artificial Dragon-Vampire hybrid organs are one of the things I'm researching. I'll also prattle on about some noble cause to make them believe me.]

  In their eyes, I'm still a child, so some measure of stupidity is still allowed as long as I portray my heart to be in the right place.

  In fact, I could manipulate them into helping me by transplanting that hybrid heart into their chests.

  They would make for valuable test subjects I mean the new heart will open new horizons for them and would be their gateway into a new world of magic.

  "No need, I believe you." Noelle smiled slightly, but that smile didn't reach her eyes.

  Which means there's more to come.

  This situation is becoming more trouble than it's worth.

  ??Backflip.??

  [No.]

  ??What? Why???

  [I'll do a 720 dive and splatter my head on the ground with some exquisite form.]

  If I'm to die, then I'll die in style.

  "However, Neia thinks differently."

  "Really?"

  "Yes. She believes that this blood," she pointed to the bloodstains on the bed, "belongs to a human. Specifically, you."

  …


  Nice.