7.1

In front of the small chapel, Holy Knights clad in silver armor gathered in a cluster, reflecting sunlight. It was so dazzling that it seemed as if a new sun had risen on the hill, causing Fred to squint in discomfort.

“This is undoubtedly the monster.”

One of the Holy Knights, comparing the portrait to Dennis’s face, spoke, and a man who appeared to be the commander nodded. Despite a week having passed, the remains of the vampire showed no signs of decay and were in pristine condition.

“You handled it properly, as per the Holy Knights’ protocol. This isn’t something an ordinary priest can easily manage….”

“That’s because I supervised.”

Hearing news that the Holy Knights had arrived, Johann, who had been gathering herbs in the forest, hurriedly ran to the chapel.

“…Senior Johann? Why are you here?”

The Knight Commander looked at Johann with curiosity as he approached the Holy Knights with a casual gait.

“I told you, I retired and moved back to my hometown. Ugh… Hey, spread the men out a bit. It’s blinding.”

“Oh, yes!”

At Johann’s words, the Knight Commander, who seemed extremely disciplined, dispersed the Holy Knights. Fred, despite already knowing this, found himself amazed once again. The man, who didn’t seem respectable at all, had once been the commander of the 1st Division of the Holy Knights. Fred had only half-believed the story, but seeing the Knight Commander’s reaction, it appeared to be true.

“The priest you trained…”

“Returned to the Goddess’s embrace after a fierce battle.”

“Ah… May he rest in peace in the land of the divine.”

As Johann conversed with the Knight Commander, Fred quietly retreated and slipped into the chapel. He cautiously opened the iron door leading to the basement connected to the treatment room, carefully surveying his surroundings. As he descended the dark stairs step by step, a slurping sound startled him, prompting him to clear his throat in embarrassment.

“Ahem!”

At his noise, the slurping sound was replaced by a loud clattering, as though many things were tumbling over. Finally reaching the basement, Fred sighed in relief.

‘The embrace of the Goddess, indeed. Though the “Goddess” refers to someone else entirely.’

“…You two should behave. Do you even know where you are?”

“Oh my, Fred. Your tone has become all mature again. What a shame.”

Helena, sitting on a makeshift bed, greeted him with a bright smile, while Isaac, sprawled on the floor, waved at him. Seeing Isaac, who had been on the verge of death, bleeding profusely just days ago, now looking completely different, Fred felt both relieved and as though his respect had crumbled to dust. As such, he chose to address Helena instead of Isaac.

“As you said, Dr. Helena, the Holy Knights did have a portrait of that vampire.”

“They came today? That’s quite urgent.”

Having made no progress in their investigation in the neighboring village, the Holy Knights had come here after a week, seemingly intending to confirm Dennis’s corpse and close the case.

“How did you know?”

“That guy’s famous within the Holy Knight Order. Even Priest Johann knew about him.”

“I did know. At first, I wasn’t sure when I saw him in person, but hearing that he was acquainted with you confused me even more, Dr. Helena. A volunteer doctor and a vampire—it’s bizarre, isn’t it?”

Johann, who had followed Fred into the basement, answered as he plopped down next to Helena. Then, Isaac, who had approached without anyone noticing, squeezed himself between the two.

“Well.”

Fred and Johann both let out a dry laugh. Neither of them was used to seeing Isaac like this. Helena gently stroked Isaac’s hair and spoke.

“I still find it harder to believe that Johann was once an active Holy Knight.”

“And I find it harder to believe that you, Helena, are a vampire.”

“Oh? Shall we settle this with a duel?”

“Please don’t try to kill an old, retired Holy Knight.”

Johann groaned as he got up from his seat. Fred thought to himself that among the three—no, among the two people and one vampire—Helena was the most tolerable. The anger and fear he once felt toward her had somehow turned into trust.

‘How did it come to this…?’

The memory of that night, drenched in a torrential downpour, still made him shudder. When Helena pressed her lips to Isaac’s, it was as if a miracle had occurred. The gaping wound in his chest had rapidly filled with flesh and blood. Isaac, who had been on the brink of death, opened his eyes, and the first thing he sought was Helena. The second thing that came was an unbearable thirst. 

When Isaac bared his fangs and lunged at Fred, Helena struck him on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious. 

‘If it hadn’t been for Helena, I might already be in the embrace of the Goddess….’

The thought of almost being killed by someone he respected sent shivers down Fred’s spine. The commotion had drawn High Priest Francis and Johann to the prayer room. Unable to lie, Fred confessed the truth. Johann didn’t seem particularly concerned, while High Priest Francis clasped Helena’s cold hands tightly.

‘Thank you for saving Isaac, Helena.’

‘No, Priest. I’ve defiled his soul.’

Her sorrowful words were met with a blessing from the priest, who prayed for the newly reborn life. As Helena listened to the prayer, she broke down in tears.

And now, with the Holy Knights arriving in the neighboring village at dawn, Helena and Isaac were confined to the basement. Isaac, still unable to control his newfound abilities or suppress his thirst, had to be kept isolated.

Fred’s recollection ended as Johann broke the silence with a calm statement.

“They’ve confirmed the body, so they’ll close the case and leave the day after tomorrow.”

“That’s a relief. We should start preparing to move as well.”

“Isaac… will need to drink blood too, right?”

Johann asked hesitantly, his discomfort evident. Helena looked momentarily surprised before breaking into a bright smile.

“What’s this? I thought you didn’t care.”

“Well, having a Holy Knight friend who’s romantically involved with a vampire makes it hard not to care. I’ve gotten used to the idea, to some extent. But the thought of drinking blood… it’s hard not to react. It’s a physiological aversion, I suppose.”

“To survive, he’ll have to drink animal blood, at the very least. Humans eat the flesh of animals too, don’t they?”

Reassured by her response, Johann nodded. But Fred, who had just overheard something shocking, looked at Johann in disbelief. After a moment, he sighed deeply and made a small sign of the cross.

‘A priest and a vampire weren’t enough—now a Holy Knight and a vampire? May the Goddess watch over us.’

“Don’t worry. We will become human again… I promise.”

Helena intertwined her fingers with Isaac’s. Just because the book, which her uncle had created for her, had disappeared didn’t mean that the method to revert to being human had vanished from the world entirely. Surely, the method that ‘Uncle’s had discovered must still exist somewhere.

“Priest Johann, we’ll return before you grow old.”

“By then, you might no longer be a priest but a father.”

At Helena’s playful remark, Johann burst into laughter and imagined the future when the two would return.

“When you come back, I’d love to deliver the wedding blessing for the two of you.”

“…You promise?”

Isaac, who had been holding back his words to avoid catching too much of the human scent, managed to speak with great effort. Seeing him like this, Johann felt an unexplainable surge of emotion and quickly bid them farewell.

“Yes… I must head up now. I’ll let you know once the Holy Knights leave.”

“Oh, Priest Johann! Please, wait for me!”

Once the bustling space quieted down, leaving only Helena and Isaac, Isaac once again began to seek out her lips. This time, he did more than just press his lips against hers—he pushed his tongue in, exploring the sweet taste of her mouth. Before long, his hands began kneading her soft chest.

“Ha, Isaac, stop…”

“…It was you, Helena, who said that thirst for blood could be replaced by s*xual desire.”

It had been a rumor she had only heard from other vampires, and she hadn’t expected it to actually work. However, after being tormented by him for an entire week, she had come to realize firsthand that the rumor was indeed true.

“I haven’t drunk any blood since becoming a vampire, so I’m constantly thirsty. Helena, please quench my thirst.”

Although his words sounded like a child’s plea, the hands kneading her chest were anything but innocent. However, there was something she had to say today—something she hadn’t been able to express before out of guilt.

“Wait… just a moment.”

“I’m listening. Go ahead.”

Even as he spoke, Isaac swiftly unbuttoned Helena’s clothing. When only her thin chemise remained, he swallowed hard. Although his attitude suggested he wouldn’t focus, Helena had no choice but to continue speaking.

“Ugh… Do you regret becoming a vampire?”

Helena had long since stopped using formal speech when addressing Isaac. As she asked her question, Isaac laid her down and lifted the hem of her chemise.

“No, I don’t regret it. I became like you, and that’s enough for me.”

Positioning himself between her legs, he kissed her white undergarments. The fresh scent of roses tickled his nose, as it always did.

“Haah, but…”

“We agreed to look for a way to become human together, didn’t we? Helena, I want to wait until much later to become human.”

“…Why?”

Helena, startled by Isaac’s unexpected words, tried to sit up. However, he was quicker, pulling off her undergarments first. Losing her balance from the motion, she couldn’t sit up and instead ended up exposing herself completely to Isaac.

“Because I want to spend more time with you, Helena.”

As he spoke such heart-fluttering words, he lowered his head and gently bit and sucked on her soft flesh. Despite his sweet words, his actions were far from innocent. The hidden bud between her folds gradually emerged. Over the past week, Isaac had learned much about her body while losing himself in desire. One thing he had discovered was that she particularly enjoyed it when he licked this little bud with his tongue. Letting go of the flesh he had been biting, Isaac began to lick the exposed bud.

“Ah, ahh…”

The small bud, seemingly pleased, grew more prominent. As it swelled, it became easier for Isaac to stimulate it with his tongue, and he devoted himself even more to sucking and licking the tiny piece of flesh.

“Ha… Isaac…”

Helena’s pale thighs trembled slightly, and a clear liquid began pooling beneath the bud. Isaac persistently licked and sucked the same spot, teasing it mercilessly. Helena’s lower abdomen grew warm, and her breaths quickened with excitement. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, and her shoulders quivered. Even though she had experienced this sensation multiple times, it still felt unfamiliar. She tried to push Isaac away, but he remained firmly in place, pressing her thighs down and burying his head between her legs.

“Mmngh…”

The tingling pleasure that began at the small bud sent shivers through her entire body. The liquid flowing from her parted folds trickled down her pale mound, soaking the bedding beneath her. Only then did Isaac release the bud from his lips and use his tongue to lap up the liquid pooling at her entrance. Even this brief action made her tremble uncontrollably.

“It’s sweet. Right here.”

“Ha, you… shameless… stop staring.”

Helena, catching her breath amidst her excitement, spoke in an exasperated tone at Isaac’s seductive, low voice. Despite her reproach, Isaac paid no heed, slowly lifting her chemise from below and tracing over the marks he had already left on her pale skin.

He kissed along her hips, below her navel, and her sides before pulling her chemise all the way off. Her bare chest was covered in red marks, making it almost impossible to discern its original color. Isaac, satisfied with his handiwork, looked down at her before removing his own clothes.

“Take it easy.”

“But just now, only you felt good, Helena.”

As Helena scolded him and subtly tried to retreat, Isaac grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, speaking in a tone that sounded like he was pouting.

“Turn over.”

Although his words sounded polite, they were closer to a command. Helena frowned slightly but adjusted her position as he requested. She wasn’t particularly fond of the posture, which resembled that of animals mating, but it was easier to comply with his desires to quench his thirst. Otherwise, she’d be tormented all day, just like a few days ago.

“You’re beautiful, Helena.”

Isaac swallowed hard at the sight of her lowering her upper body while raising her hips high. His stiff, er*ect manhood throbbed, yearning to enter the valley between her lovely b*ttocks. However, he decided not to rush. After all, they still had plenty of time.