Blood 10: A Strange Woman and a Dangerous Woman
“Ariel, huh?”
“That’s what I said. Why’s your tone questioning?”
The hooded woman and the strange woman face off.
The men appear uncertain how to react to the sudden intruder, glancing nervously at the hooded woman.
The hooded woman ignores them, silent.
Float. My body lifts.
More precisely, someone lifts me from behind.
I am rotated. My eyes meet those of the person holding me.
Why… why is Wakaba-hime here?
Wait—why is she white?
Why is her eyes closed?
Was she not dead?
Or… is she reincarnated, like me?
If so, why does she resemble her former form?
Despite the flood of questions, Wakaba-hime holds me, eyes still closed.
Even with her eyes closed, she seems to be staring directly at me.
A vague sense of danger overwhelms me.
I don’t know what it is, but something is wrong.
Skill upgrade notification: [Level reached. Skill 'Fear Resistance LV2' upgraded to 'Fear Resistance LV3'.]
The skill level increased, but too late.
Wakaba-hime’s gaze—though closed-eyed—drifts toward my lower abdomen.
Her expression remains unchanged, but she appears to have sensed something.
She gently lowers me to the ground.
Melazofis steps between Wakaba-hime and me, dragging one foot.
Eyes sharp with suspicion, she glares at Wakaba-hime.
Without hesitation, Wakaba-hime approaches Melazofis and casts a healing spell.
“What?”
Melazofis is startled.
So am I.
Melazofis stood, sustained only by willpower and resolve, her wounds severe.
They healed completely in an instant.
“Are you not an enemy?”
Wakaba-hime did not respond. She nodded.
Melazofis’s vigilance did not relax.
“Hmph. This body prevents me from using鉴定. Can’t tell if this is genuine or counterfeit. No way to judge.”
“This is genuine—more so than a fake using another’s body.”
“That stings.”
A shift occurred between the hooded woman and the odd one.
“So, Potimas-kun, no—now, Chankā. Why are you here?”
“Who knows. Why indeed?”
The hooded woman faltered.
The air changed.
“Spit it out.”
Did not understand what had occurred.
A sudden roar and shockwave struck. Instinctively, eyes closed.
When I opened my eyes next, the men were gone.
Only bloodstains remained—what had once been men.
"Real?"
"You knew from the start. Spit it out."
The air, moments ago lighthearted, now pulsed with violent intent from the woman.
A grotesque, malevolent presence. Merely watching it triggered nausea.
"Seems the core remains unchanged. Whether it's some twisted whim or an act I can't comprehend, this is a miscalculation."
"If you understand, then cease futile resistance and deliver your purpose. Or would you prefer it extracted by force?"
"Either option is declined."
What followed exceeded my expectations.
The hooded woman severed her own head with magic.
Her corpse collapsed into the alley, headless.
"Damn it! Acting like a body's just a toy to play with."
The strange woman spat it out.
Yet when she turned to face him with a sudden spin, the overwhelming presence had vanished.
"Are you unharmed?"
A strange woman, speaking casually.
Melazofis did not lower his guard.
"Ah. No need to be wary. Worrying is pointless anyway."
A faint, sweet scent brushed his nasal cavity.
Simultaneously, drowsiness surged.
He forced himself to stop breathing.
This scent—sleep-inducing magic!
I endured for a moment due to my resistance to status effects, but Melazofis could not hold on. He collapsed onto the pavement.
Drowsiness attacked intermittently, even while holding breath.
I fought desperately, but strength drained from my body.
[Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Status Effect Resistance LV3' upgraded to 'Status Effect Resistance LV4'.]
Skill level increased. A slight recovery of strength.
But that only extended the time I could resist slightly. My consciousness dimmed gradually.
When I awoke next, I was in a forest.
A tent stood there. A fire burned nearby.
"Oh, you're awake."
The strange woman appeared before my eyes.
Beside her sat Wakaba-hime.
I searched for Syrilis's form and found him seated beside me.
"Let me reintroduce myself. I am the current Demon Lord, Ariel. We'll be working together from now on."
The strange woman began speaking strangely.
Ah, is she strange because she's strange?
Is she strange because she's strange, or is she strange because she's strange?
"Hahaha! Look, Shiro-chan. You're spinning your eyes!"
No, that one's eyes are closed.
Nodding, but can they see?
"Perhaps, Melazofis. Have you begun to trust my words at all?"
"I find it hard to believe."
Then, let's just ask the person directly.
The strange woman stares at me.
'Hello?'
Suddenly, a voice echoed inside my head.
This is similar to a divine voice, but subtly different.
'You see, this is a skill called telepathy. I'm currently linking all of us here through telepathy, so thoughts are transmitted directly to the recipient.'
Something like a brain-based phone call?
'Now, young lady. Question: are you a reincarnated soul? Answer with a checkmark or cross.'
And then, the question directed at me was not what I expected.