Chapter 188: Side Effects (5) |
Lying side by side on the same bed, Iona, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling, opened her mouth.
“I-I have something to say.”
“What?”
“Am I going to get fired?”
“Ah.”
After all, it looked like a professor had made a move on a student. Normally, this would be grounds for immediate disciplinary action. But.
“…As long as we don’t get caught, isn’t it fine? Besides, who would demand severe punishment for someone like Professor Iona?”
“The Chairman?”
Following her heroic deeds during the Great War, Iona had been mercilessly eliminating high-ranking cult leaders.
Normally, there wouldn’t be anyone bold enough to confront someone as formidable as a hero… but the Chairman was an exception.
The sole survivor of the hero’s party from 300 years ago. The founder of the Academy, also serving as the Chairman. The heir to the will of the hero. The oldest Archmage.
Although he was currently confined to the Academy for various reasons, just by his title alone, he was a living legend.
If the Chairman decided to act, Iona’s dismissal wouldn’t be impossible.
“But is this really such a big mistake? Even though I’m a student, I’m an adult. It’s not like there was coercion or forced involvement.”
“Hahahaha. You’re a bit confused! It’s okay for us to have sex! As long as we don’t get caught, there’s no problem, and even if we do get caught, it’ll just be a bit of a disgrace and I might get a pay cut! The issue I’m talking about is something else! Student Yandel worries too much!”
“Bringing that up right after such an intense moment, it’s natural to misunderstand!”
I was already thinking about whether I should invite Iona to my mansion if she got fired!
Sighing deeply, I continued.
“So what exactly is the problem then?”
“Well, you see. It’s illegal. Last time we fought, and even last night, Yandel used a potion to heal, and I… I sucked your blood, remember?”
“Well, you drank plenty of other things too.”
When I shrugged, Iona giggled and continued.
“Yeah, yeah. But that’s illegal.”
“What?”
Come to think of it, wasn’t it referred to as a blood funnel? It was said to violate some sort of vampire treaty.
“Why is this efficient method prohibited?”
“Because if you mess up, it becomes inhumane, you know? Anyway, Yandel must have felt it already. Continuously sucking blood… “
“It keeps feeling good and becomes addictive, right? I get it.”
While doing it once or twice wasn’t a problem, repeating it every day would certainly lead to some kind of dependency.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m glad Yandel has a strong mentality. Normally, someone would’ve become a slave to pleasure long ago, begging, ‘Please drink my blood, Iona!’”
“You did something that dangerous to me?!”
“It wasn’t me; it was Yandel, wasn’t it? You didn’t know how dangerous it was?”
Both Iona and I were surprised.
“Of course I didn’t know! All I know about vampires is how to kill them quickly and effectively!”
“Actually, isn’t the one in danger you, Yandel?!”
Iona shivered in fear. Now it felt like it truly hit home.
However, the fact that a normal person would have lost their mind already was a bit concerning. Understandably so.
“Even though I thought it would be dangerous to repeat it a few more times, I didn’t think it was enough to mess up my mind….”
“Well, well. It could be that Yandel’s mental strength is remarkable, or his resistance is high, or simply that we’re a good match! Probably the latter!”
“Oh…”
Compatibility was one thing, but having high resistance probably helped.
The new blessing trait I recently acquired had a mental resistance increase effect.
Thinking about it that way, it made sense.
As I nodded to myself, Iona, blushing, asked in a shy voice.
“Anyway, anyway. It’s fortunate that it was Yandel, but it was actually really dangerous, you know? So, what I mean is…”
“If Professor Iona is caught for violating the treaty and becomes a slave, I’ll buy her back no matter what, so don’t worry.”
“What?! It’s not like Yandel volunteered first!”
What? It wasn’t?
Feeling awkward, Iona chuckled and said,
“So, how about you officially become my bloodsucking partner, Yandel?”
“Bloodsucking partner?”
For vampires, bloodsucking was an act somewhere between eating and intimacy. So, a bloodsucking partner meant…
“A sex partner…”
“No! No! There might be some vampires who recruit bloodsucking partners in that sense somewhere, but usually, it’s not like that!”
According to Iona, shaking her head vigorously, it was like a sponsorship relationship among vampires.
Due to their long lifespans, most vampires not only possessed significant power but also considerable accumulated wealth and influence.
A bloodsucking partner was someone who provided blood in exchange for these various benefits from the vampire.
“I suppose some people would consider it a good deal to get some backing in exchange for a bit of blood.”
Vampires who sided with humanity couldn’t freely suck blood due to the treaty, but if the blood donor consented, direct bloodsucking became permissible.
Bloodsucking partners were those who officially declared, “I’m okay with this vampire sucking my blood.”
The crucial point was that the permission was specific to a particular vampire, not just anyone.
Just like how the Academy sponsors earmarked talents, some vampires marked individuals as potential clan members by making them bloodsucking partners.
Becoming a vampire hastily could lead to centuries of regret and dampen the clan’s atmosphere, so it was like setting up an internship period.
“But I have no intention of becoming a vampire…”
“Nor do I intend to turn Yandel into a vampire unless he wants to. This is just to avoid any reproach regarding the blood funnel matter.”
“Hmm. No one would know about last night unless we told them, but the incident during the battle is probably already known.”
“Yes, yes. Some saw it directly from afar, and even if they didn’t, the massive amount of blood and magic I used would be noticeable.”
So she wanted to officially make me her partner.
Infinite blood replenishment using potions was illegal, but since it was an emergency and I was her bloodsucking partner, it could be excused.
Maybe my silence while sorting things out in my head worried her.
Suddenly, Iona came out from under the blanket with a pitiful expression.
“It’s too much… After making me like this… You said we’d take responsibility together… Was that night just a moment of passion?!”
“No, saying that with your body right now seems somewhat off!”
Her flowing crimson hair, skin pale as snow, her significantly swollen breasts and prominent hips…
…and a belly that looked as if she were pregnant.
Because of several ejaculations into her womb last night without withdrawal, the semen had not dissipated.
Though vampires had excellent regenerative abilities, seeing the swollen belly still makes one flinch.
Feeling my gaze, Iona held her belly and made a sobbing sound.
“Sob, sob… At least let me take care of this child…!”
“Argh! I’ll do it! Bloodsucking partner or whatever! Just empty your belly now!”
“Okay, okay!”
Changing her expression entirely, Iona grinned and awkwardly spread her legs.
Then, pressing on her protruding belly.
“Huh…”
Slosh.
The massive amount of semen I had spilled overnight flowed out, creating a small puddle on the floor.
With white marks still on her thighs, Iona pulled up the corners of her mouth with a grin.
“That settles it, right? Then we’ll go and formally draft the document later? No, I’ll bring it, so Yandel just has to sign!”
“Ha… Okay. But… Um…”
I examined Iona’s figure for a moment and swallowed.
“What’s up? Did that turn you on? Want to go again?”
“No. We should tidy up and get dressed before others arrive.”
“Until you tell me why you were staring, I’m not putting on clothes!”
Iona, flicking her fingers and clicking her tongue, seemed as playful as before, but today, she felt a bit… closer.
Re-examining Iona’s figure, her lower half smeared with semen, arms crossed, I finally spoke up.
“It’s nothing serious. I just wondered if you used contraception magic.”
“Huh? No, I didn’t.”
“…What?”
For a moment, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Would it still work if she used it now? Was that potion for contraception still in my inventory?
Amused by my frantic demeanor, Iona chuckled and patted my shoulder.
“It’s okay, it’s okay! It’s true I didn’t use contraception magic, but vampires are all infertile anyway.”
“Ah.”
That’s right, I remembered. Vampires increase their kind through thrall-dom, not by having children through sexual intercourse.
Perhaps that was why their arousal points differed from other races.
“Really? You look noticeably relieved. Did you know? Many vampires regret not being able to have children.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. There’s a difference between not having children and being unable to have children. Due to our high regenerative abilities, our bodies don’t even allow a zygote to implant… Maybe that’s why the Lord was so kind to me.”
Touching her abdomen with a distant expression, Iona suddenly grinned and threw up a double peace sign.
“Whatever! I don’t really care about having children!”
She then began tidying up and dressing, erasing the traces of our intimacy.
Whether she was really okay or just pretending, I couldn’t tell.
Although I’ve known Iona for a while, we haven’t been intimately connected for long.
Since she said it was okay, I suppose I should just go along with it.
Shrugging, I asked in a light-hearted voice.
“If your regenerative ability is that good, does your hymen also regenerate?”
“…Gasp!“
What was meant as a light joke seemed to be something she hadn’t considered, as Iona hastily reached between her legs.
She then sighed with relief and proudly extended her sticky fingers.
“Phew… Luckily, it’s still intact!”
“Uh, yeah.”
I definitely wasn’t disappointed.
Really.
As I casually stretched, turning my neck side to side, Iona suddenly climbed onto the bed.
She stretched out her hand and opened the window on the other side halfway.
Perhaps she was airing out the room.
The window emitted an orange hue, probably due to the sunrise. The thin curtains fluttered in the wind, painting a picturesque scene against the sky.
Turning her back on the scene that resembled a painting, Iona suddenly asked, as if remembering something.
“How about it? Do you still feel like I might disappear somewhere?”
“Huh?”
“Or should I say it like this?”
Iona’s lips curled into a sly grin, a truly Iona-like expression.
“Want to kiss?”
“……”
I nodded without a word.
It was my first kiss that didn’t taste like blood.