“Didn’t I tell you before that it’s dangerous out there? There’re gryffors and rock dragons on that cliff! For someone like you, it’ll just take them one bite. Don’t underestimate the monsters within the vicinity of the final boss!”

“I’m aware of that. I’m not trying to get eaten. But, I really want to go there, no matter the cost.”

“You don’t get it at all…!”

When I persisted more than before, he finally let out a growl. His jet-black eyes, where one couldn’t discern his pitch-black irises, glared at a disobedient child.

I was almost frightened by his anger, but I pulled myself together and stared back at him firmly.

After all, Maruo mentioned that Azel was tired from the duels. And, the reason for this was probably because I told him I wanted to go outside the room, so he did his best to persuade the demons who hated humans.

Demons were subject to absolute obedience to the strong ones. The only way to make them do what he wanted them to do so, was to fight and win. So, he fought against a lot of demons.

We stared at each other in this room, with nothing but the light of the dazzling moon pouring in through the large windows.

When I refused to take my eyes off him, Azel stopped growling as he swallowed down his curses, and frowned.

“Is it really that important?”

“It’s very important. I really want to go to Axio Valley.”

“…Grrr… If you tell me your true reason for going, I’ll bring you there on the condition that I go with you.”

The atmosphere became heavy.

There’s no point if I told him everything…! And it would be even more pointless to have him bring me there…!

But Azel, unwilling to give in any further, seemed to want nothing more than for me to nod.

“…I can’t tell you why.”

“Wh– Why…! D… Don’t tell me, you’re…!”

Feeling a bit guilty, I slightly lowered my head, but still firmly answered him that I couldn’t. Then, I heard his startled voice.

I was just a delicious meal, but he still gave the most concessions to me, a mere prisoner. Despite all that, it pained my heart to be unable to answer him honestly.

But, since I was imprisoned here, Azel had given me so much. As much as possible, I wanted to get the flowers myself and give it to him as a token of my gratitude.

That was what I thought, but—the next thing I knew, my shoulder was grabbed with strong force.

“Ngh…!”

“Y-You are my property. I won’t allow you to leave the demon realm…! How long do you think I’ve been waiting for you? If you’re going to leave, then why did you smile so gently at me? I…!”

“What… Azel, wait, you’re wro—!“

Fwomp.

Azel, confused and unable to hear my words, kept on rambling around, then pushed me down with great force.

The soft bed of high quality easy took our weights.

Even so, he put all his strength into my arms, and both my bones and bed began to creak in grief.

“Azel…!”

I couldn’t see the expression of the silhouette who pushed me down, but… it felt awfully lonely.

I was unable to form my words after calling out his name; instead, only a sigh escaped.

While trying to catch my breath, the hand that gripped my shoulder roughly pushed open the collar of my night clothes. The soft fabric couldn’t withstand it, and the part where his nail had dug into had some holes ripped into it.

This plain white night clothing was provided to me, but I didn’t have a chance to despair over it as the ferocious beast aimed for my exposed, defenseless neck.

Gulp. Tension ran through my body. His warm breath slid through the surface of my skin.

Azel’s hasty movements were clearly lackluster with impatience and frustration, but I couldn’t drive him off. I was petrified, and didn’t know what to do.

A voice on the verge of tears, like a begging child, wove into my ears.

“You’re my… live prey. I’ll make you understand that. …It’s dinner time, Hero.”

Bite.

“Gh… u… ah…!”

The sensation of sharp fangs deeply digging into my neck to its limits, made my body tremble, raw with pain.

My hand reflexively grabbed Azel’s clothes for help, but that action had no significance, and my wound burned with heat.

“…n…gh… a…”

A large amount of blood was sucked up through his fangs, and I felt my body heat dropping from every end.

My eyes widened to the sudden loss of blood and shuddered. I could hear the sound of him gulping close to my ears, relieving his thirst with my life, and there I truly realized that he was always holding back.

In return for the blood that I was losing rapidly, the vampire’s venom filled me with each breath.

It only usually made my fingertips sensitive, but now, it began to circulate through my thick veins in larger quantities.

The venom that filled me spread out, as if trying to fill in the lost blood, and I could feel my body slowly being violated.

…Not good. In contrast to my fingertips that were getting cold, the venom that kept their prey away from the sensation of death, was definitely hot.