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Since it could only be used once, she ended up using it to escape after the [The Lighthouse of Dispelling Evil] was activated, rather than to rescue Todd like she had originally intended...
'There was just no way to escape Menorah otherwise… But still, thinking back on it, that was cutting it way too close…'
When she teleported to Todd, she was so anxious, worrying something might go wrong in that fleeting moment.
Still, everything turned out okay in the end, thankfully. Vasha looked at the charm hanging around Todd's neck.
Maybe due to the aftereffects of the teleportation spell, the clear red crystal now looked cloudy.
'Looks like the communication magic got fried too… All that's left is probably the eye-color changing function. I'll need to make a better one for him next time.'
Thinking about how useful it was this time, she almost wanted to deck Todd out from head to toe in charms.
But that wasn't an urgent matter. For now, at least, they should be safe from the clutches of Strigon for a while.
[The Lighthouse of Dispelling Evil] couldn't kill Menorah.
But it could still deal significant damage.
Soon, the sun would rise. Even for a Strigon, retreat was inevitable at this point.
Moreover, to properly recover from the injuries sustained, he'd have to rest in his own coffin for a while. During that time, Vasha and Todd could lie low, staying completely hidden until Todd reached adulthood.
'Once Todd becomes an adult, Menorah won't be so scary anymore! I think… I mean, probably.'
Vasha smiled with a sense of relief.
"We can finally breathe easy, right?"
"Breathe easy?! Are you stupid?!"
Todd, who had been quietly nestled in her arms, suddenly burst out in anger.
His heart had been burning with worry the entire time…!
And yet the very person who made him worry was now acting like nothing had happened. He just couldn't take it.
With a choked, trembling voice, Todd forced out his words.
"I… I was so…"
"Worried about me?"
"Worried, my foot!"
Todd shuddered violently. But the physical evidence was too clear to deny.
"If you're going to pretend otherwise, at least wipe your tears first."
As soon as Vasha said that, Todd quickly rubbed his face with his palm. Whether it was from the friction or his surging emotions, his face burned hot to the touch.
When cornered, the easiest way to regain control is to lash out at someone else. Todd pointed a finger at Vasha and yelled.
"You-! You lied to me! You said you were a low-rank vampire! But there's no way a low-rank vampire could stand up to a Strigon!"
Upon hearing that, Vasha realized the root cause behind everything that had happened. She suddenly sat upright and asked.
"Come to think of it, did you even get what you came for?"
"Is that really what matters right now? You're just trying to change the subject!"
Todd asked back in disbelief.
'Hmm. Looks like he did manage to retrieve it.'
Only then did Vasha feel truly relieved.
Now she had the mental space to think about Todd's accusation, whether she had deceived him.
Technically, Vasha hadn't lied to Todd, but it made perfect sense that Todd felt deceived.
Because she hadn't told him anything.
Back then, she believed Todd should never find out she had lost her memories and powers, and that she came from another world.
That truth was a weakness for Vasha. And revealing your weakness to someone is no different than showing them where to strike.
But in hindsight, continuing to hide it from Todd didn't feel right either.
After all, wasn't Todd her familiar?
A soul-bound partner she couldn't be separated from, even by death…
It was the same this time.
What if she had told Todd about herself earlier?
When she had tried to make Todd escape first, his sharp instincts would've picked up on the fact that she had a secret plan and helped her more directly.
Truthfully, the old Vasha wouldn't have even considered telling Todd the truth, familiar or not.
But like they say, generosity comes when your pantry is full. Even among vampires, status determines the space in your heart.
Once she receives the inheritance of Van Drake from Todd, Vasha would become a high-ranking vampire, and her mood had already become much more generous.
Feeling more open-hearted, Vasha finally decided to tell Todd everything.
"There's a reason for all of it. Actually, I-"
Flutter flutter flutter…
Before Vasha could finish her sentence, the familiar sound of paper fluttering filled the air, and Rasa appeared.
"A familiar?"
Todd tilted his head.
He knew Rasa as Vasha's familiar, so he wasn't alarmed at the sudden appearance. With only innocent curiosity, he looked up at Rasa and asked.
"Did you ask your familiar to do something?"
"…"
But the situation was quite different for Vasha, who owed Rasa a debt. Her already pale face went visibly paler.
To her, Rasa looked like a debt collector here to collect mountains of overdue interest.
[You have overcome the surprise trial.]
[Beware: Side effects from magic release are in effect!]
"Huff…!"
As expected. The moment the power that had filled her body vanished, a wave of dizziness hit her hard.
It felt like all the blood from her limbs had been drained in an instant. Vasha couldn't even lift a finger, her body swayed violently, unable to stay upright.
Her body, having lost all strength, collapsed onto Todd like a brittle dried rose petal falling to the ground.
"Urgh…"
Seeing Vasha's sudden and severe deterioration, Todd panicked and quickly caught her.
"What the heck?! What's going on all of a sudden?!"
"Haa… haa…"
She wanted to answer, but no sound would come out. Unable to support herself, Vasha could only cling to Todd as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Cough, ugh!"
A mouthful of blood spilled from her lips, staining the front of her clothes. Todd jumped in shock at the sudden sight of her vomiting blood.
He held Vasha's larger body tightly, trying to stabilize her, his voice now urgent with fear.
"Did Strigon do something to you?! Damn it… it doesn't look like you were hit by a curse."
Todd swore under his breath.
To Vasha, whose ears rang as if she were underwater, his voice sounded distant and muffled, like it was coming from above the surface.
With difficulty, Vasha lifted her head and glared at Rasa's direction. But Rasa, indifferent to her condition, continued speaking as if nothing were wrong.
[A reward will be granted.]
Even through her blurred vision, the message Rasa displayed appeared vividly clear, like it had been etched directly onto her soul.
[Reward: ???]
'Come to think of it… I never actually checked what the reward was.'
The moment she squinted at the text, the question marks slowly disappeared, replaced with a new line.
[Reward: Return to Previous World]
[The surprise trial has ended.]
"What the…"
Vasha's voice caught in her throat. It felt like her heart had been seized, only a weak hiss of air escaped her lips.
"This… What the hell, urgh…"
She desperately tried to grab Rasa, but it nimbly dodged her slow, feeble movement, as if mocking her attempt.
Grinding her teeth, Vasha glared at it with bloodshot eyes.
'Reward, my ass! Damn it. I knew trusting Rasa was a mistake. Of all things, I put my trust in a piece of paper…'
But there was no time for her to vent her frustration.
Floating midair, Rasa began to glow, and then started expanding in size.
'W-What is that?'
Uncertainty breeds fear. Confused by this unfamiliar behavior, Vasha stuttered.
Soon, Rasa had grown large enough to easily envelop an adult human.
It resembled a glowing, rectangular wall of light, something eerily familiar.
Vasha murmured unconsciously.
"…The shining gate."
It looked exactly like the gate she had seen when she first arrived in this world.
"Wait, what?!"
Suddenly, Vasha's body began to lift into the air on its own.
The culprit was obvious, Rasa, or rather, the glowing gate, was pulling her in.
"Ugh…!"
She tried with all her might to resist, but in her weakened state, she couldn't even move a finger.
Meanwhile, Todd stood frozen, stunned by everything that was happening.
Why had Vasha's condition suddenly deteriorated?
Where did that strange gate come from?
Why was it pulling her in?
None of it made sense.
But if there was one thing Todd instinctively knew, it was this.
He could not let Vasha disappear through that gate.
If they were separated now, he might never see her again. That certainty struck him deep in his bones.
"Grab my hand!"
Todd shouted as he reached toward her with desperation. Reflexively, Vasha reached back toward him.
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