Chapter 131
The ancestor of the House Balmuth was a Vampire.
That Vampire had chosen coexistence with humans long ago.
Hundreds of years ago—before the war between the Other Races and the Arium Empire even began.
So, although they were technically of a different race, they managed to live well among humans...
‘Even went as far as marrying a human.’
After that, children of mixed blood between Vampires and humans were born, and that bloodline continued for generations.
Their descendants contributed greatly to the Empire’s history through the power of their vampiric lineage, and in recognition of those merits, they were proudly elevated to one of the Empire’s three ducal families.
‘Even though centuries have passed and the Vampire blood has thinned… their vampiric traits have remained quite strong.’
Was it because they kept reinforcing their Blood Energy through continued blood consumption?
Even after countless generations, not all of the vampiric traits had disappeared.
Of course, many of those traits had vanished.
For instance, things like being unable to stand sunlight or turning others into Vampires through biting... those were gone.
Well, to be precise, they hadn’t disappeared completely—just diluted to a mild degree.
An example of that could be seen in the location of the Balmuth Family’s mansion.
‘It’s even eerier than it looked in the game.’
After walking several minutes through the cave, a vast space unfolded before me.
A massive underground lake, and on that lake stood a giant rock.
Upon that rock sat a dark, enormous mansion.
It was even more ominous and grand than what I’d seen in the game.
“This is our mansion. What do you think?”
“It’s a place where no sunlight reaches.”
“Still, it’s warm inside, and surprisingly, the humidity is just right. There are tons of enchantments cast over the mansion.”
“Yeah, I heard about that. But, Noona, I can carry my luggage myself—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take it.”
“But—”
“I’m stronger than you. And… I just feel sorry.”
Lisa looked at me with a genuinely apologetic expression.
To be exact—at my clothes.
No, calling them clothes at this point was questionable.
My top was soaked in blood and torn to shreds, practically rags now.
“It’s fine. But Noona, you looked really thirsty, huh?”
“I was thirsty, yes… but more than that, I missed you too much. So when I saw you, I couldn’t help myself.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
I let out a small chuckle and stepped closer, pulling Lisa into a hug.
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise as she looked up at me.
The crimson hue that had filled her eyes moments ago had faded, returning to their usual blue—though traces of red still lingered within them.
“Noona, be honest. You’re still not satisfied, are you?”
“…Yeah. The thirst isn’t completely gone. And… you’re still lacking, too.”
“What do you mean, I’m lacking?”
“Just what it sounds like.”
At that, Lisa rose slightly on her toes and pressed her lips against mine.
“Because you weren’t here… I had to live every day with this emptiness.”
“Noona, seriously—how are you supposed to live without me?”
“I can’t. I don’t think I can live without you anymore.”
As she said that, Lisa’s fingers traced my torso, stopping at the faint bite marks left on my bare skin.
“Hmm, looks like I bit a bit too hard earlier. The wounds are deeper than usual.”
“It’s fine. Once I apply some medicine later, they’ll heal fast.”
“…Mm.”
Lisa buried her face into my chest and hugged me tightly, as if unwilling to let go.
“Let’s stay like this for a while. Your warmth feels so good.”
“Alright. But let’s not stay like this too long. We still need to go in and greet everyone.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I need to introduce you to my family… and then take you to my room.”
“…Wait, am I… staying in your room during the break?”
“Do you not want to?”
Lisa glanced up at me.
Her face was as expressionless as usual, but her eyes said it all— Choose your words wisely.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just… you should have your privacy too. It might be better if we use separate rooms—”
“Eventually, when you graduate, we’ll be sharing one anyway. So wouldn’t it be good to get used to it early?”
“……”
She had a point, and I couldn’t find a proper argument.
Of course, whether I’d stay in this world after graduation… that was still uncertain.
But unlike before, my heart was starting to lean toward the idea of staying here and continuing to live in this world.
Well, whatever the case...
Unable to find a good answer, I quickly changed the subject.
“Mm-hmm. Anyway, Noona. We have to go meet your family now, so shouldn’t I wear proper clothes? I can’t go like this, you know.”
“…Right. Do you have other clothes?”
“They’re in the luggage I brought. Should I change now?”
“Mmmmmm.”
Lisa looked up at me with a somewhat displeased expression.
Then she soon sat me down on a nearby rock and climbed onto my lap.
“Change a little later.”
“Huh? Why?”
I smirked slyly.
I felt like I knew the reason, but I pretended not to know on purpose.
Lisa probably realized right away that I was acting clueless to tease her.
Lisa avoided my gaze as if dissatisfied—no, as if embarrassed—and said,
“I just want to… look a little more. And… touch a little more.”
“Noona, you seem to really like touching my back.”
“…….”
At my words, Lisa flinched.
Then she murmured quietly,
“You touch too.”
“…Huh?”
“You can touch wherever you want.”
Lisa brushed her hand down my back.
And with her other hand, she took my hand and guided it toward her upper body.
And so my hand reached her……
“Stop! Halt! That’s enough! I’m way too young to become a grandmother!”
“…Mom? And… Father?”
“Your mom dragged me out. I wasn’t planning to come out.”
A man and a woman suddenly popped out from behind a nearby rock.
The woman was Kafka, and the man beside her was Kale Balmuth.
Lisa’s father.
“Since when were you two…….”
“For a good while? We’ve been waiting for you.”
Kale calmly explained to Lisa.
“We wanted to surprise you when you arrived, but the mood looked so good that we waited a bit. But then… things seemed to be getting a bit too heated, so…”
“Hey, Lisa. I told you before—your mom is way too young to be seeing grandkids already! And if you’re going to do it, at least pick a place with some ambiance. If you take Gideon’s first time in a dark and damp place like this, Gideon will hardly—”
“S-sh-shut up, Mom! It wasn’t like that!”
“Aww, sure it wasn’t.”
Leaving Lisa—whose face had turned bright red—behind, I stepped toward Lisa’s parents and bowed my head.
“It’s an honor to meet the Duke of Balmuth.”
“Hey, why so formal? Not between us. Still, it’s been a long time. Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been doing well.”
After replying to Kafka, I turned to the man beside her.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Kale Balmuth.”
“Nice to meet you, Gideon. This is our first time meeting in person.”
“Yes, it truly is an honor. Ah, and… sorry about my clothes. I’ll change right away.”
“No need to apologize.”
Kafka simply laughed as if amused.
“No doubt Lisa did this. Wow, but your clothes… oh my, you got bitten quite a lot. Look at all those wounds.”
“These are nothing.”
“Nothing, my foot. Hey, come with me. I’ll take you inside and treat them. Lisa, bring your boyfriend’s luggage. And also…”
Kafka glanced at her daughter mischievously once more.
“Finish what you were doing earlier later tonight in your room. I’ll make sure no one in the house goes anywhere near your hallway. Ah, but there’s medicine you have to take beforehand—”
“Mom!”
“Alright, alright! Stop yelling! Come on, Gideon. Let’s go. Everyone in our family has been dying to meet you for months.”
Leaving red-faced Lisa behind, I followed Kafka’s lead toward the mansion.
“Hahaha! Gideon, you look exhausted!”
“…Not at all. I’m fine.”
“Be honest. You can’t lie to me.”
“Maybe… a little drained.”
Kafka burst into loud laughter at my answer.
It had been about three hours since I entered House Balmuth’s mansion.
And during those three hours, I practically met almost every member of the Balmuth Family.
“My younger brother seems to really like you, you know? My father—Lisa’s grandfather—seems like he wants to test you, but… who cares! You’re going to marry Lisa anyway.”
Kafka slapped my back heartily as she laughed.
She definitely seemed to be enjoying all of this.
“Don’t be so nervous, Gideon. Everyone seemed to like you.”
“I was relieved to hear that.”
I smiled and nodded at Kale’s words.
Just as he said, fortunately Lisa’s family didn’t seem to dislike me.
No, they actually seemed to like me quite a lot.
“Haha! Gideon, you said you’d be staying at our house during the break, right?”
“Yes, Lady Kafka. If you would allow it, that was my intention.”
“Then while you’re here, make sure to get close to everyone in our family. You’ll be seeing them for a very long time, right? Better get close early. Ah, speaking of that, Gideon.”
“Yes?”
“When do you want to hold the engagement ceremony? I’m thinking of having the wedding right after you graduate, but the engagement… hmm… how about this winter break?”
“The engagement… you mean?”
The sudden topic startled me a little.
Kafka noticed and immediately put on a mischievous smile.
“Why? You don’t like it? You’re going to marry Lisa anyway.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“If you don’t like it, just say so. Of course, if you say no… there was a culture among old nomads where the woman kidnapped the man to get married…”
“Mom, are you saying weird stuff again?”
Lisa, who had stepped out for a moment, appeared again before I realized it and pressed right up against my side.
“Gideon. I brought all your luggage to the second room on the left, on the fifth floor. That’ll be your room during the break, so use it comfortably.”
“Thanks, Noo— I mean, thank you, Lady Lisa.”
“Hey, Gideon! I know you two talk casually with each other, so don’t suddenly act formal just because I’m here. It’s fine.”
“Ah, understood. Then… thanks, Noona. So my room’s on the fifth floor?”
Lisa nodded and continued.
“Yeah. But don’t worry too much about it. It’s just your room in name, and only your luggage is there. My room is on the third floor, second door on the right. That is the room you’ll actually stay in. And we’re going there now, so follow me.”
“…Huh?”
I tilted my head at her words.
But Lisa, as always, kept a blank expression—though her eyes looked a bit serious.
Kafka burst into laughter beside us.
“Hahahaha! Really, when I see her like this, I realize how much she takes after me.”
“Mom. When did you say we’re having dinner?”
“Around seven? About four hours from now.”
Lisa nodded after checking the time.
“Four hours is enough… Alright. Mom, then could you make sure no one goes to the third floor until then?”
“Hahaha! Definitely my daughter. Alright, alright. I’ll make sure you two can spend time comfortably. But be downstairs by seven. Tonight the whole family will gather for a little party.”
“Yes, understood. Then… Gideon.”
Lisa hooked her arm around mine and pulled me toward her.
“Come. I’ll show you my room.”
“N-Noona. If it’s okay, could I wash up first? I think I still smell a bit like blood.”
“Good. Then let’s go wash together.”
“…Huh?”
“I’ll take you to the bath. Let’s wash together.”
“N-Noona?”
Despite my flustered reaction, Lisa firmly dragged me along.
Kale only smiled, and Kafka…
“Lisa! I’ll put the medicine in your room, so if you two are going to do anything, take that medici—”
“Be quiet, Mom!”
Well, to conclude, fortunately(?) Lisa and I did not end up washing together.
And fortunately(?) the medicine Kafka mentioned—
Lisa didn’t take it.