Volume 1 Chapter 1 Part2 (2/2)
”hello Are you the doctor's daughter?”
”Not at all!”
The girl opened her coat and thrusted forth her identification, showing Liev
”I'm a researcher affiliated with the Air Force Medical Institute!”
”F-forgive me!”
Liev hastily bowed his head to apologize
Dr Mozhaysky introduced the girl to Liev
”Anja Sihteen years old, but she is competent and excellent”
Ahem Anja puffed out her chest with pride
”Well then, Liev The test subject is in the 'I' cell”
Liev went to stand before the roo some sort of monster beyond the thick door which separated them
Crimson eyes like that of blood
Great fangs in order to puncture necks
In a dark tuxedo covered in blood
Pale skin as if they were dead
Liev felt chills on his neck
On the other hand, Dr Mozhaysky and Anja, who had already been aware, indifferently prepared a
”Please open the door”
”Yes sir”
Anja lightly knocked on the door, unlocked it, and grabbed and turned the handle without hesitation after a ”Please enter,” answered
In a flustered manner, Liev quickly hid his neck with his collar in fear of being abruptly bitten
As the door slowly opened, thesound
It was a dim and enclosed concrete rooht source originated fro, and in the back was installed a wash basin and toilet
Alongside the wall, a girl with black hair sitting atop a coffin read a textbook on astrodynamics
Anja pointed towards the girl
”She's the test subject”
”… Eh?”
She was so far off froo slack
The girl clad in shadows stood up soundlessly, fixating her gaze onto Liev
She seemed to be a little shorter than Liev, and had skin white like snow
Her ears peeked through her hair, pointed like those of an elf
She had long, almost willful eyelashes, and despondent crimson eyes
Below her nose, from her mouth came a small tooth which peeked out not much different from that of a kitten
The transparent azure jewel froht
”This girl's a… Nosferatu?”
Liev dropped his guard slightly against her unexpected lovely and helpless appearance which looked the opposite of a person-attackingPrincess' rather than a 'Bloodsucker'
However, she wore a cold expression Although she appeared exceedingly human, it was difficult to approach the incorporeal barrier that could be sensed
”The subject's name is Irina Luminesque”
Dr Mozhaysky presented a brand new identification card before Liev's eyes which had been captivated The rank was 'Air-Force First Lieutenant'
”Is this a valid rank?”
”No I' it upon the subject only because it is convenient for living in the city It would be an inconvenience if it did not have identification”
He confirmed the contents of the identification
Her residence did not pertain to a cell, but rather, to a coe was listed as twenty-one years old
Liev was still doubtful of whether the girl before hied identification He realized that agefrom a human to a Nosferatu
As Liev thought of greeting Irina for the first time, he loosened his collar and took a step towards her
”I am First Lieutenant Liev Lepus, and I have been appointed as your er”
Concealing his fear of being bitten, he put on a sestured to make a handshake
However, Irina did not return the gesture, and continued to stare straight at Liev
Liev nervously looked straightforward Liev had no sisters, and after graduating from secondary school, he had lived in a military man-only environment and had had very little exposure to fe the cadets and technical officers, but they weren't very good conversationalists
”U-Uhhh, well…”
Liev, who had been dodged and lost to Irina's intense stare, withdrew his hand with a ”Haha…” He didn't bla to shake hands She wouldn't have a friendly attitude when her freedom was restricted and she was forced into an experiment where death just a breath away
”Liev, here”
Dr Mozhaysky presented Liev with a document
”When executing code ”N44”, there are four points you ought to keep in mind Also, please read this out loud so that the subject can hear you”
”Understood”
While feeling reluctant to call the girl before hiiven to him as instructed
”One: Carry out the scheduled training until the day of the subject's flight”
Liev began to read aloud the clauses supplemented to him by Dr Mozhaysky
”I will inform you of each task that needs to be completed every day Furtherrad are equivalent or better than those of you cadets Also, there were no incidents of any of the subject's inspectors being bitten, so be at ease”
The dihtnoise
”Moving on”
Liev continued to review the docu to Irina
”Two: Pay attention to make sure that the inhabitants of the city do not become aware of the subject's true identity”
”Only a few people are aware of Nosferatu Even with the national committee and technical officers combined, there are only about one hundred people As far as anyone else is aware, she is just an 'Air Force First Lieutenant' ”
Liev broke off fro around the city?”
Naturally, Dr Mozhaysky nodded
”When raising a dog for an experiment, we have to take it for a walk and let it enjoy itself for its mental health This is no different”
Liev was shocked by the doctor's stateh she was being co, she wore a cold expression as if she were completely unrelated to the discussion
While bearing a sense of discomfort, Liev continued to read aloud
”Three: Monitor and prevent the subject fro In the scenario where it attempts to escape… you are to execute the subject”
Execution was not just a threat Liev bore a feeling of dread as Dr Mozhaysky elaborated with a cold tone
”This is a measure in order to prevent an information leak In the situation that it escapes, you will be charged and imprisoned, Liev”
If she tried to escape, she was to be killed without question Liev warned the girl, as likely unaware of how callous the Republic was
”Please do not do anything foolish For argument's sake, even if you were to escape from this city, the [Express Company] would pursue you until the ends of the earth”
Irina let out a short breath as if she were exasperated; her fleeting fang peeked out
”I will not run away”
Hearing her voice for the first time, it was clear like pure water that soaked into his heart Liev thought that not only was her appearance similar to a human, but her voice was too
”Next, Liev”
Prompted by Dr Mozhaysky, Liev read out the last item
”Four: The er will share a room next to the subject…hm?”
Whilst reading that, he quickly grew pale
”E-excuse me Am I supposed to live here?”
”That is correct While you were gracefully parachuting through the air, the Express Coe from the communal dormitories to the 'II' room”
In the face of such an unexpected situation, Liev was at a loss for words
”Isn't that nice? Going from a shared room in the communal dorrade”
”Eh, that's…”
”Rest assured, your roos, not a coffin By the way, the showering room is in the 'V' room
Dr Mozhaysky took Liev's hand forcefully without his consent, giving hi of keys
”Haha…”
Liev had no choice but to laugh If he refused Korovin's proposal, then it would truly be farewell to ”Laika 44”
”Well then, Liev my role in this is over I entrust the rest to Anja”
Not a second after saying that, Dr Mozhaysky pivoted and walked away
”Eh, the doctor's… 'done?' ”
Looking over his shoulder, Dr Mozhaysky replied to a flustered Liev
”I have business involving the the main process of the 'Miechita Project' Iflora and fauna Pleasant dreams”
With that, Dr Mozhaysky tautly strung his mustache and left like the wind
Anja briskly made her way before Liev
”Please rest assured I am authorized by Dr Mozhaysky!”
Although she looked young and uncertain, he had no choice but to rely on Anja
”I'm in your care, Anja I was just appointed and still don't understand anything”
”My job is to check the readings of medical data collected Since I normally stay within the laboratory, I'll have you accoh her daily life”
In other words, the tould work together Liev scratched the back of his head, wondering if this would be alright
”Well then, let's proceed with the conversation! Irinyan—”
”Wait a minute”
Irina stopped Anja with a sharp voice
”What is it?”
”What's with that 'Irinyan?' ”
”I was being affectionate,” replied Anja
”There is no need for that”
She turned towards Liev since she had completely shut down Anja
”Does Liev also wish to call me 'Irinyan?'”
You just turned her dohy are you asking me?
Liev stood perplexed as Irina stared at him
”Uhm…”
Putting the whole 'Irinyan' thing aside, he couldn't call her ”Subject” in the middle of town He also couldn't call her ”First Lieutenant Luues of the same rank
Liev thought about it, preparing to refute Irina
”I believe that in order to avoid drawing the suspicions of the other city inhabitants to your true identity, you should be treated just as any other cadet So, from now on, I'll call you by your name, 'Irina' You may call me 'Liev'”
Irina silently gazed at Liev Her eyes carried a scarlet sheen in the light Her beauty was beyond hu the hairs to stand on Liev's neck He had trouble breathing, and his body stiffened
”ah…”
”Irina will do so”
With just a feords, the binding unraveled, and Liev could take a short breath—
”Originally, I would not have allowed a huuess it cannot be helped”
”Uh…”
He was breathless again in the face of such an extremely oppressive attitude
However, she just had that sort of doeous dress instead of a uniform, she would easily fit in with royalty or the aristocracy It hadn't necessarily been incorrect to think of her as a ”princess” upon his first impression
”I will call you Liev, is that fine?”
”Yeah Irina”
Anja quickly interrupted
”Nice to meet you, Irinyan!”
Irina, who up until now had displayed an unreadable ape
”… Y-you…?”
”Since I'm not a cadet, our relationshi+p is irrelevant Please call me Anja~♪”
Irina shrugged, losing the energy for a retort
”Do whatever you would like…”
”As you wish~”
Anja nodded with a satisfactory look, before doing a co researcher
”Irinyan will receive standard training as with any other cadet, but since she is weak to sun exposure, it will be after sunset”
”Would she be alright if she got accidentally hit by a beaht?”
Liev knew of the traditional ”turning to ashes” weakness
”It appears that her skin will sting to a certain degree Irinyan, you're able to walk around outside during the day without a parasol, right?”
”That's correct”
Irina confir with a thorny voice riddled with displeasure But Anja, who couldn't read the mood, complemented herself with pride
”The other thing is, she also weak to heat and she will give show symptoms similar to heat strokes and sunstrokes In short, crew h teh the atmosphere Therefore, if Irinyan can bear it, then humans should be able to as well
”I see…”
Although Liev understood, he couldn't bear to say anything with the subject in front of hi said
Irina snorted her nose in dissatisfaction immediately
”Anja My race also have some points that surpass humans You should know of them if you are such a so-called expert, shouldn't you?”
”Of course!”
Anja held up two fingers towards Liev
”The Nosferatu have two unique characteristics 'Night Vision' in order to maintain vision in the dark, and 'cold resistance' in order to dress lightly unperturbed in te”
Anja also added on that in the environment of the northern part of the continent the nuht hours were shorter, and that winter was far longer
”Liev Now you understand, right?”
She said it in high andproudly at hi equivalent to or even greater than humans
”Now, Liev Please escort Irinyan to grab a meal In the coathered, so please go and introduce her”
”'Meal' as in—”
Liev had iined that since she was a Nosferatu Irina would drink blood, and he looked at her mouth However, her s
”What is it?”
”Nevermind…”
Liev turned away froaze
”Does thatmeals?”
”Yes The menu is the same as all of the other cadets For data collection purposes, shehabits as everyone else”
”Is that so?”
Irina stepped closer to Liev, who felt a wave of relief
”You thought it was blood, right?”
”Ehhh!?”
He becaht on the head
”What the hell do you think I am?!”
Though her voice was quiet, it was filled with anger towards Liev
”W-what do you mean…?”
Irina gri out
”You think I' creature like a mosquito or tick?!”
”I don't think that, I don't think that!”
”You think that I aht, don't you?!”
”You're ! But, when you put it like that, have you never once sucked blood?”
”Eh… well…”
Irina embarrassedly hid her mouth with her hand Liev hadn't expected this reaction
”No way, you haven't?”
”… I did… a long tio…”
When Irina's muddled her words and hid her eyes, Anja elatedly raised her hand
”Is it that? The ancient rite of passage passed dohere you bite into the neck of a goat on your tenth birthday?”
Irina scowled at Anja, then spoke to Liev in an ashamed manner
”It couldn't be helped I've only sucked fresh blood once Not just me, but everyone else”
”Bloodsucker is just a name…?”
Anja interjected with a scholar-like expression
”There's a reason that they're called that Bloodsuckers have the potential to inoculate blood mucous membranes firsthand… for exaue or stomach and then transform it into nutrition inside the body Hey, Irinyan, were you not brioat's blood?”
Irina nodded reluctantly
”Indeed, that's correct… but it is not because of sorotesque reason like humans always think”
”Then, you don't bite humans like the Bloodsuckers in folk tales?”
When Liev asked, Irina gave him a scornful look
”Well, of course not If I were to put human blood into my body, my blood would become corrupted”
As they couldn't forgive being treated as s of hostility and contempt towards huret There's no doubt that it was huh war and conflict As Liev had been intihost stories of Nosferatu, she had probably been brought up with lullabies about the stories of huery
However, the advancement into space was completely unrelated to pasttraining
The subject was a girl of a different race
Her existence was as unknown and mysterious as outer space
Even though he had been thinking of various things, he hadn't said anything
He was just doing this job in order to fulfill his dreao to space
—With a fresh resolve, Liev called out to Irina as brightly as he could
”Well, I'o and eat as soon as possible”
”Alright”
Although Liev had readied himself for an objection, Irina was unexpectedly ulatory hat that she had set aside along the coffin
She concealed her pointed ears, appearing even more so as a human
”Anja, are you co with us?”
Anja shook her head towards Liev's invitation
”I have so Irinyan will probably be tired afterto sleep at 9:00 in thethat you'll be reversing your days and nights, so ood rest and take care of yourself after eating Now then, be careful and see you later!”
Anja cheerfully sent the her behind at the cells
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Part 3
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Part 4
Footnotes:
1 TL: The Orthodox Calendar was once primarily used by the Russians, mainly before the Bolshevik Revolution succeeded Afterward, Lenin declared the usage of the Gregorian Calendar, the calendar in which most, if not all, western countries use today
2 TL: The Zilant, in basic, is a syion in eastern Russia, west of the Ural Mountains, and it's a dragon-like creature For /wiki/Zilant
3 TL: Actually, we ed to find a map of eastern Europe in this story, and found that ”Lilith” Referred to the Baltic region, specifically Estonia and Latvia, maybe even Lithuania