253 PUNISHMENT TIME (for real)

The explanation to Kuro and the Demon King has finished. What they do afterwards is up to each of them. Well, in the situation where they cant see my hidden cards, if something so tasty is dangled in front of them, its obvious that theyll take the bait though. Kuro still seems to be a bit suspicious, but the Demon King should take the bait. After all, theres no other option available.

Even if they dont take the bait then its okay. Ill just have to reveal my hidden cards. Ultimately, the Demon King will definitely come to my side. Then, she should be more than willing to transfer the authority of the Ruler of Gluttony to me. If that happens, then theres only a few remaining.

I turn away from Kuro and the Demon King, teleporting. It seems the two of them need a bit more time to consider it. After they think it through, they just need to come begging to me. In the other dimension I teleported to, the vampire girl is sullenly standing with a daunting pose. It seems she woke up at some point.

Who, was that?

By that, I guess shes referring to Kuro. She thinks that he got in the way of her fight with oni-kun it seems. Or rather, he did actually, yeah.

Kuro. Hes the same kind as me.

The same kind as goshujin-sama.

When I said hes the same kind as me, vampire girl made an understanding expression. But, the dangerous light in her eyes doesnt weaken.

Let me meet him.

Whatll you do on meeting him I dont even need to ask I guess. Shell definitely bite his head off. I mean that shell literally try to bite his head off. When she found out that he was the same kind as me she should have understood that she has no chance of winning, yet look at this damn battle junkie. Well, its not like I have duty to let her meet him anyway.

No.

Why not?

In the first place, why should I have to go out of my way to do that? Particularly when I know for sure that youll cause problems. Do you think that all your desires have to be granted? Arent you pushing your luck a BIT too far? It seems I have to make you remember your own position, even if just a bit.

The man ruined everything just when things were finally getting good. He better take responsibility.

I dont care.

I do care though! Let me meet him already!

Be silent.

I raise my voice a little and open my eyes. That instant, vampire girls body shakes with a start and she shrinks in fear. Yup, yup. I see you do comprehend the difference in strength. Yet she still flared up at me that much the fighting instincts of vampires sure are running wild huh. Well, time for a little lecture, including that.

Envy, you used it didnt you?

What might you be talking about?

Vampire girl tries to play dumb, but her eyes are swimming like mad. Lies are bad okay, BAD.

Eyow!

I grab her cheek hard and pull. You used it didnt you-u? Lies are bad okay-y? I was watching you know-w?

I pull the cheek that I grabbed around up and down, left and right. Vampire girl grabs my arm and tries to pull it off somehow, but unfortunately for you with my superior physical strength thatll just be futile resistance. Humph, even before my apotheosis my physical strength, as part of my offensive ability, vastly exceeded vampire girls, so theres no reason why I would lose now after my upgrade. Did you think those thin arms could beat my thin arms eh? Ah, isnt it more like mine are thinner? Yeah, lets ignore the matter of thin arms.

Im sorrehy! Im sorrehy!

Vampire girl apologies with tears in her eyes, but Im not going to forgive you yet. Though saying that, theres nothing left for me to do.

I release vampire girls cheek. While at it I connect the dimension to another, inviting the person there in.

Ojou-sama.

Vampire girl turns her gaze to Mera, who steps in from the other dimension, as if seeking help.

Ojou-sama, your charm will not work on me.

Mera slowly shakes his head, then slaps vampire girl in the face.

Eh? Eh?

Vampire girl blinks her eyes with surprise, unable to take in the situation.

Ojou-sama, would your parents be proud of you as you are now?

Thats, that would, eh? Huh?

At Meras words, vampire girl tries to object by reflex.

Ojou-sama, to surrender yourself to a vampires instincts in self-indulgence, that must have been pleasant Im sure. Nobody will defy you. Nobody can defy you. Yes, you yourself enticed them after all. Was it like a dream? Or perhaps, did you actually think it was a dream? Did you actually think those incidents were all just in a dream, with no relation to reality?

The butterfly dream. The current vampire girl is overwhelmed by her desires as a vampire, and the distinction between dreams and reality has become vague I guess. Or perhaps otherwise, its that her consciousness as a vampire has become too strong, and her consciousness as a human has been shrugged off completely.

Ojou-sama, I shall ask again. As you are now, are you walking the life your parents proudly walked?

Vampire girl doesnt answer. She cant answer. The retainer she trusted the most, the one she never thought would betray her has slapped her, waking her from the dream. Her dazed face is slowly becoming pale.

Ojou-sama, I cannot serve you as my master. That is because my masters are your parents.

As the subject of her parents is raised, inside of her, vampire girls consciousness as a human is jolted.

Therefore, even if I have become a vampire with you as my parent, that cannot overwrite what is in my heart.

Those words, at first glance, appear to be a snub. To the vampire girl, Mera is a significant existence. He is someone who has continuously supported her at her side since she was a child after all. If she is snubbed by such a man, how will she react.

Vampire girl mutely shakes her head in denial. Those eyes have a suspicious light in them for an instant. But, what brings her back, is a second slap.

I have already devoted my heart to your parents. I will not hesitate any more. I will doubt no more.

Vampire girl hangs her head in shame. Her shoulders tremble repeatedly.

Your parents, have entrusted only one thing to me. To take care of you, ojou-sama. No more than that.

Slowly, Mera hugs vampire girl in a gentle embrace.

I was asked to take care of you. I shall watch over you until I die, ojou-sama. I will never abandon you. If you lose your way then I shall remonstrate you. Until you return to the proper path, I shall raise this hand as often as necessary. However, if there is something I can do, then please let me lend a hand.

In the end, if you ask what is the best punishment, then the most effective one is for a child to be scolded by their guardian. With regards to the circumstances in which vampire girl fell into such a bad state, her guardian Mera not being by her side is likely a significant factor. The Demon King said that if these two were allowed to be together then they would depend upon each other. However, I dont particularly have a problem with that. Being able to depend upon someone, if thats the case then isnt that a blessing in itself? For me, that is something Ill never be able to do after all.

Whatever happens next is up to the two of them. However, I personally think that the two of them should be allowed to work together as much as possible. I shall discuss that with the Demon King later.

From that dimension, I gently drop off the two of them in Meras private room. Okay, its the last thing remaining, but I guess Ill go visit the other reincarnator now.