"...Did you just come back from being an extra in a new zombie movie?"

  Monday morning. The moment I passed through the main gates of Kamakura Girls' Academy, my best friend, Yoshino Miura, spped me hard on the back and spat out those words in exasperation.

  "Mornin', Yoshino... A zombie? Isn't that a bit harsh?"

  "No, seriously, look in a mirror. Your complexion is dead pale, but your skin is weirdly glowing. What's up with that imbance? Did you go to a high-end beauty salon and then pull an all-nighter pying video games?"

  Swaying her short bob, Yoshino peered closely into my face. As expected of a sports schorship student. Her dynamic vision and observational skills are unnecessarily sharp.

  "...Yeah, well. I just started a new part-time job over the weekend."

  "Oh, a part-time job? You? That's rare."

  I ughed vaguely to cover it up. There was no way I could tell her, "I had my blood sucked from my finger at a Western mansion deep in the mountains." Thanks to that hyper-realistic nightmare of being burned at the stake st night, my physical stamina was at its absolute limit. And yet, the fact that only my skin was glowing from the inside out... must definitely be because of that "contract."

  I entered the cssroom and pced my bag on my desk. Everywhere I looked, I was surrounded by girls who looked like absolute young dies of high society. There's a specific reason why I'm attending such a prestigious school with a long history.

  If you attend that elite girls' school, I'll allow you to live alone in the old family house. I will pay all your tuition. However, you have to manage your other living expenses yourself.

  That was the bizarre condition presented by my father, who is currently working overseas. I accepted it half a year ago, arrogantly thinking, "If rent and tuition are free, it'll be a breeze!" In reality, between the maintenance costs of a needlessly huge traditional house, utility bills, and social expenses, my wallet is in a perpetual ice age. That's exactly why I had no choice but to cling to that sketchy, high-paying job.

  "Ahhh. The stares are piercing today, too..."

  Suddenly feeling a chill on my back, I turned around to find a sharp gre stabbing into me from the very back seat of the cssroom. Kei Kajiwara. She has a short bck haircut and looks like a cool beauty at first gnce, but... every time she moves, you can catch glimpses of striking purple underlights hidden beneath her dark hair.

  (Eek... She's gring at me again today. She's definitely after my wallet...)

  Her eyes were as sharp as a wild animal eyeing its prey. Is she trying to shake me down, or does she just have a grudge? I tried my best to avoid eye contact, hiding behind my textbook like a shield.

  "Hey Shigure, wanna stop by that new cafe in front of the station today? I hear their Mont Bnc is amazing."

  "Sorry, Yoshino! I've got work again today!"

  After school. Shaking off Yoshino's sweet temptation, I dashed out of the cssroom as if I were fleeing for my life. Honestly, I'm terrified to go to that mansion. My instincts are sounding the arm to "run away," recalling both yesterday's nightmare and the sensation of having my blood sucked.

  But—the weight of the "50,000 yen a day" in my pocket, and the gentle touch of the bandage Anastasia had given me at the end, wouldn't let my feet stop.

  "...I have to go."

  I passed through the mountain pass at dusk and once again stepped foot into that "otherworld."

  "Excuse me..."

  "I have been waiting for you, Shigure."

  When I pushed open the heavy doors, Anastasia was waiting for me, her grooming as impeccable as ever. She was cool and beautiful, just like always. But today, something about her seemed a little... off. The way she looked at me felt more feverish than usual... as if tinged with a yearning desire.

  "Your duty for today is cleaning the library. Dust has accumuted on the books on the higher shelves, so please clean them."

  "Y-Yes! Understood!"

  The library I was led into was a vast space, roughly the size of a gymnasium. The massive bookshelves, covering entire walls and reaching up to the ceiling, were packed tightly with books from all ages and cultures.

  I brought out a stepdder and reached for the highest shelf. Carefully pulling out an old leather-bound book, I brushed off the dust with a feather duster.

  "...Whoops."

  Right at that moment, my vision suddenly swayed. It was because I had barely slept, tormented by yesterday's nightmare. My footing grew unsteady.

  "Kya... !?"

  My legs tangled, and my body floated into the air. I'm falling—! I braced myself and squeezed my eyes shut.

  However, the impact of the hard floor never came.

  "...That was dangerous."

  Instead, what wrapped around me were cool, chilling arms. Timidly opening my eyes, I found Anastasia's beautiful face at point-bnk range. She had rushed over with inhuman speed and caught me, holding me in a princess carry.

  We were close enough to feel each other's breath. The cold, clear, and elegant scent of her perfume stood out sharply amidst the dusty air of the library, making me feel dizzy for a second.

  "T-Thank you, Anastasia-san..."

  I'm saved. Just as I thought that and tried to pull away— Anastasia's arms tightened around me like a vice.

  "Eh...?"

  "...Too close."

  Anastasia muttered, almost like she was delirious. The tip of her nose softly brushed against the nape of my neck.

  "Sweet... Much more than yesterday..."

  "U-Um, Anastasia-san? Your eyes are... red..."

  Her eyes, usually the blue of a deep ke, were now dyed a striking, blood-like crimson. The moment I noticed the change, a shiver ran down my spine.

  "...Just your fingertip is no longer enough."

  "Eh—!?"

  The next second, my vision flipped. I was roughly pushed down onto a nearby leather chaise longue. Anastasia's shadow loomed over me. As I tried to escape, her slender fingers effortlessly pinned my wrists down with just one hand.

  "No, wai—"

  "I'm sorry, Shigure. ...Please don't be afraid."

  While uttering words of apology in a trembling voice, she buried her face into the crook of my neck. Her hot breath tickled my skin. And then.

  Sink.

  "A-Ahhh...!?"

  A sharp pain pierced my neck. The sensation of something stabbing into me. However, the pain vanished in an instant, repced by an overwhelming, mind-numbing wave of intense pleasure and lethargy that crashed over me like a tsunami.

  Nn... slurp...

  The sound of blood being sipped echoed at my neck. The blood inside my body turned into a hot mass, being drawn out into her. It's scary, but it feels so good. I hate it, but I find myself wanting more.

  (What is this... I can't put any strength into my body...)

  My vision grew white and hazy. The chandelier on the ceiling looked blurred and out of focus.

  In my fading consciousness, I saw sharp "fangs" peeking from her lips. And those red eyes. A legendary monster that feeds on the lifeblood of humans.

  (...I see. So that's what this is...)

  My employers aren't just mere eccentrics. They are—.

  (...Vampires...)

  With that final word, my consciousness plummeted into deep darkness.

  (End of Chapter 3)