Chapter28 - Servant Girl

“Giggle… Lou-sama, you called for me?”

Moral had silver platinum hair that reached her shoulders and a beautiful face.

At first glance, she resembled a human girl.

Someone around 5 years old…

However, she had unnaturally bright red eyes and lips…

And pure white skin that appeared completely lifeless…

Anyone who saw her would have immediately recognized her as a demon.

When Moral noticed Fran and Adelaide, she asked them in an amused manner.

“Oh, and you are? What is your relationship with Lou-sama?”

“Moral, they are my friends now.”

When Moral heard Lou’s anwer on behalf of Fran and Adelaide, she gave another giggle, “Kekeke.”

“If you’re Lou-sama’s friends, then you’re also mine. Hehehe…Nonetheless, you look like delicious sources of Magical Od…”

Her red eyes that were fixed on Fran and Adelaide immediately narrowed.

Fran was dumbfounded.

It was as if the predator, Moral, was about to pounce on her prey, them. 

“Cut it out, Moral. And change your language! Adelaide-san, Fran, I’m sorry.”

Lou warned Moral and apologized to Fran and Adelaide.

Upon hearing Lou’s apology, Moral frowned imperceptibly.

She hadn’t expected Lou to apologize for her. 

***

“So let me introduce you again. Moral is commonly referred to as a vampire, but she is essentially a spirit succubus.” 

Vampire…

Spirit Succubus…

Fran stared at Moral when she heard Lou’s introduction.

Like minutes ago, she felt like being sucked in…

She felt a creeping chill run through her body.

Saying it again still scares me!

But Lou’s here.

I-I’m fine.

Fran reassured herself and swallowed her spit.

When Lou gave Moral a look, she spoke this time.

“Yes! First, let me explain about blood sucking. The reason vampires suck blood is mainly to take the Magical Od contained in the blood directly into our own bodies.”

Fran was surprised to hear the way Moral spoke.

Her tone of voice completely changed.

What?!

How?! 

“Magical Energy…contained in the blood.”

Fran was surprised by Moral’s transformation and blurted out.

She was becoming more and more interested in this girl named Moral.

“That’s right… Vampires have a different body structure than humans, and cannot take in Magical Mana in the air and convert it inside our bodies into Magical Od. So we take in Magical Ods from various prey directly through their blood.”

Moral exhaled, “Phew.”

There was none of her haughty and intimidating bearing she displayed earlier.

“When you think of vampires, bloodsucking usually comes into mind.”

Fran’s brow was wrinkled tightly.

Apparently, she was imagining the abominable sight of a vampire sucking blood.

Moral glanced at Fran, smiled dryly, and continued.

“I-I am not an ordinary vampire. I’m a spirit succubus and don’t need to obtain Magical Od from human blood.”

“…………”

“Nevertheless, I can’t live without Magical Energy. That is why I use non-blood-sucking methods to extract Magical Energy and use it as sustenance.”

You’re not an ordinary vampire?! 

Extract Magical Energy?

That’s…

Fran instinctively asked Moral a question.

A wizard’s inquisitive mind, inherited from her mother Adelaide, kicked in.

Before she knew it, she had been drawn into Moral’s conversation.

“How do you extract Magical Energy?”

“Let me show you. This is how it’s done!”

Moral replied, and Fran witnessed an inconceivable sight.

“Lou-sama!”

Moral called Lou’s name sweetly and reached for him.

In front of Fran’s eyes, as if to show her, she firmly held hands with Lou.

Then, with a firm grip on Lou’s hand, she…

She took it, along with her own hand, over Lou’s heart.

Fran could perceive it.

It was an intimate act that had already been done many times.

“Lou!”

Fran also shouted at that moment.

She shouted even louder than Moral.

Fran was struck with an intense jealousy towards Moral.

“Tee-hee-hee…Francesca-sama, do you know where the most delicious Magical Energy is?”

“…………”

“The answer is the Magical Energy in the heart.”
“…………”

“I always put my hand on Lou-sama’s heart to receive the thickest Magical Energy.”

“…………”

Moral explained provocatively.

Fran threw a sharp look at her.

Fran felt a throbbing malice she herself had never experienced before.

“My word…that’s a frightful thirst for blood, Francesca-sama.”

“Yeah…I wanna kill you.”

In response to Moral’s teasing, Fran replied unruffledly.

Just then.

Lou forcibly withdrew the hand Moral was holding.

“Ah!”

With a soft cry, Moral clenched her released hand.

She was stunned for a moment, but…

She grasped Lou’s warning.

She smoothly faced Fran and bowed deeply.

“I think I’ve gone overboard with teasing you…my apologies. I’m sorry for that.”

“…………”

“Once again, Francesca-sama, I hope you’ll excuse me.”

“…………”

“All I need is a little bit of Magical Energy…Unlike those lowly vampires, I don’t have vulgar fangs, and I can live a normal life during the day.”

Her provocative demeanor earlier seemed all but an illusion.

Moral’s voice had become much quieter, and in the end, her shoulders drooped…

“I’m Lou-sama’s loyal servant…and a mere servant. It’s…That’s all.”

Hearing Moral’s words, Fran had a feeling.

This demonic young woman…she’s probably just like me.

Why?

I don’t know if she had that kind of “relationship” with Lou…

This young woman…Maral is…

She definitely loves Lou.

Deeply, she loves him deeply…

And there was one thing that Fran could understand.

Lou was kind to Moral, and she was sure he cared for her.

However, it was not love, but compassion.

“Lou! I understand perfectly.”

On the side, Adelaide, who had been listening to the conversation all along…

She suddenly responded loudly to Lou and nodded.

Fran was curious as to what her mother understood.

Adelaide chuckled and asked Fran.

“We don’t mind if Lou wants to carry a responsibility, eh, Fran?”

“Huh? Yeah…uh, hmm.”

Fran nodded hesitantly at Adelaide’s urging.

But!

Adelaide’s sharp voice sailed towards Fran.

“Come on, Fran! Have you forgotten your ‘vow’?”

Vow!?

R-Right.

I want Lou’s love.

I’m similar to this girl!

I don’t want mere ‘feelings’, I want Lou’s ‘love’.

Yes!

I’ve made up my mind!

I’m going to accept Lou’s everything!

“Yes, Moral. We welcome you. Nice to meet you.”

When Fran said this, she held out her right hand vigorously to Moral.

Moral also coyly stretched her right hand.

Moral’s proffered hand was small, and when Fran held it, it was very cold…

“T-Thank you very much.”

Moral smiled sadly and muttered in a fading voice.

Her bright red eyes that reflected Fran carried a warmth in them that had never been there before.

Afterwards…

Moral used the same method as before to absorb Magical Energy from Lou, and then returned to the underworld where she dwelled.

***

After Moral returned to the underworld…

Her background was a shocking revelation.

“Moral’s parents are ordinary humans.”

Lou muttered and began to speak little by little.　

Fran stuttered and gaped at Lou.

Adelaide also patiently closed her eyes and seemed to be thinking about something.

Fran fell into deep thought again.

A demon born of humans?

But how could that be with both her parents?

If she’s half demon or something…

If only one of her parents was a demon, I’d understand.

Moral was a succubus named Moral.

According to Lou, Moral was born out of the blue from human parents.

Moral’s mother told her.

When she was born, she looked like a normal baby, but she never drank her mother’s milk.

She used to put her hand over her mother’s heart to absorb her Magical Energy.

Moral’s mother, who was a wizard, immediately identified her as a demon.

But because she loved her child, she kept it hidden.

However, one day, Moral’s father found out.

In accordance with the village laws, Moral and her mother were banished.

Rumors spread that Moral’s mother gave herself to a terrifying demon and gave birth to her…

That was totally an unfounded accusation.

The mother and daughter lived deep in the forest for some time.

However, Moral’s mother became ill and passed away soon after.

Moral was then left all alone…

She captured small animals and sucked their Magic Energy, and somehow survived and grew up.

However, the amount of Magical Energy needed to survive was absolutely not enough for Moral, who was growing day by day as the succubus Moral.

In the end, she collapsed in the forest due to starvation.

At that time…

Lou, along with his teacher Schulvestre, chanced upon her.

Naturally, Schulvestre gave Lou the ultimate choice.

Abandon her or kill her…

But Lou did not choose either option.

No matter how many times Lou had heard of what kind of demon Moral was, or what a succubus was, or how abominable she was…

Lou stubbornly insisted on rescuing Moral.

He gave her his own Magical Energy to help her.

That was eight years ago…

Since then, Morral had faithfully followed Lou as his follower.

After being fully awakened as the succubus Moral, she usually lived in the underworld.

After listening to Lou’s story…

Fran had come to understand Moral’s feelings towards Lou.

Moral was saved, and she came to love Lou.

Like me.

It’s been eight years since she was rescued.

She has spent far more time with Lou than I have.

It must have been tough on Moral…

She hides her deep love for him, and only serves him.

Even Moral was struck with jealousy…

So, she must have noticed Fran’s feelings, her love.

While Fran was ruminating, she heard Lou’s voice.

“Thank you, Adelaide-san, Fran, for accepting Moral.”

Lou bowed deeply with a look of compassion in his eyes.

Seeing Lou like that, Fran thought again.

Eight years ago, he must have said the exact same words…

Lou must have thanked his teacher, Schulvestre.

Fran:

She realized that she liked such a gentle Lou from the bottom of her heart!