Blood Awakening: The Strongest Hybrid and His Vampire Bride

In the familiar cafe it became quiet as the two men enjoyed their meal, both in a better mood compared to earlier. Nikolai became more relaxed thanks to everything that happened with him in the arena and with Nikita the night before.

'To think those memories, although many are still missing, would help me... Also, to think Nikita thought you were evil...'

[Ah... I cannot blame her, though, because of what happened that night and how you changed...]

'Hmmm?'

Nikolai felt like his mother was hiding something important about the night he awakened as a hybrid and survived death. Yet each time, she would just say it was her fault or dodge the question, which made Nikolai feel a little apprehensive.

Ryan finished his noodles and then took out a beautiful black box. The metallic lid opened on its own the moment he pressed a button before a phone lifted from the box with a hiss of hydraulics, revealing his new phone.

"Here's a special phone, Nikolai—this will be the phone you use for missions. I really appreciate your help, and sorry for my rude request before and now. Somehow, having you help me feels good."

The black phone was beautiful, but the red SSS engraved on the back made Nikolai feel nervous for a moment before he accepted the phone. 'I can never bring it with me to the Nexus... It's great that Zara put a storage function on the pendant.'

[Well, it can only store ten items at the moment, though.]

"Okay, but remember, I want the right to refuse if I am busy or it relates to me. Ryan, although I don't want to harm humans, if you try to hurt the ones I love, I won't help you."

"Don't worry. I will make sure to give you information should any of the families you've told me about be targeted. However, be careful when fighting. If my colleagues see you fully transform, it'll be strange since members of the SSS can only manifest simple abilities like claws or simple magic."

'Strange, why does it feel like they are making themselves pseudo-squires just to fight against monsters... This won't cause any issues in the future, right?' Nikolai remembered that if you took too much blood from one monster, it would change humans forever.

'I'm worried about the people who are cooperating with them... It feels like a trap that would make the SSS become the toy of another family if they don't pay attention.'

[My son is becoming so doubtful, yet I think you might be onto something. It might not be as drastic as you think, but let's keep our ears open.]

"Then I look forward to working with you. Remember to send the money to the account I gave you. Although it would be great to stay longer, I've been summoned by someone else~ haa... Ryan, I'll message you later, okay?"

Ryan nodded his head, and Nikolai finished his drink before leaving the cafe.

The weather was nice as the sun was shining, and Nikolai stretched his arms to the side while smiling at the sky. He was happy that he would now work with Ryan, but now there was another issue he needed to deal with.

'The blood, strange vapes and possibility of monsters being the true leaders of the SSS...'

The first two were important, but they weren't things he could solve on his own. For now, he would focus on what he knew.

[It's likely that the monsters used the SSS to deal with clans that they didn't like. I just hope that we can avoid their eyes before we gain more strength.]

'True... let's see. Sarah told me that everything is going well and Nikita seems to be with her today. I wonder why? Well, whatever... dad sent a message.'

[From Dad]

Son, soon, there will be someone visiting your apartment; I will add her travel documents. If you could pick her up at the airport, it would be great. She's a distant member of Nagisa's family, and if possible, can she stay at your apartment for a while? Some annoying thugs are targeting her.

Her name is Rosaline.

I will be back within a few months. Hope you are well. Keep fighting!

***

"Who's Rosaline..." Nikolai was a little surprised at how his father just dropped this information.

'I guess I have no choice since Dad asked for help.' Nikolai started to walk back home while wondering what this girl would be like. He read the information and still had a week before she would arrive, so first, he would deal with Selene and Nikita's moods while working part-time and visiting the arena when bored.

[Do you plan to meet my father?]

'Hmm, you mean Alphonse? He will come to me once I reach the right rank. Let's not be too clingy yet. I don't want to sell myself short because I approached him first.'

[Fufu, yes, my dear. Though I didn't realise you also bought information about the dungeon inside the Nexus. That place is strange and dangerous, you know?]

Nikolai already knew it wasn't the place a noble or royal of the monster race would go. It was a place that the low-class and commoners of the races would enter, seeking to change their lives forever. However, Nikolai was like his dad and loved a challenge.

If he could become stronger by killing, wouldn't monsters that nobody cares for be the best? Rather, the monsters in the dungeon were called demons, and nobody had reached the top floor of the tower yet. It was a mysterious existence that even the Nexus alliance could only contain to keep it from spawning in the real world.

[It's part of the reason the human heroes of the past who could fight monsters agreed to a truce... That tower once came to the surface, and thousands died in the space of weeks... Since when it is not contained in the Nexus, the monsters can somehow leave the tower barrier!]

"Haha, well, doesn't it seem like my life won't be boring anymore?" Nikolai saw the Scarlet Group Headquarters and felt that since he first visited two weeks ago. He now felt completely different. 'I wonder if those two idiots got a job here...' His thoughts went back to the slightly annoying chubby male called Luke and the cute girl from the old J-Empire called Yulia.

[Oh... those two you met just before I could speak to you? That boy was so stupid, but his heart was in the right place.]

'Hmm, that's true... that girl with short black hair and her compact frame, wouldn't she be crushed by the vampires here?' Nikolai thought to himself while stepping into the elevator. Thanks to the pass and Selene sending his picture to all the staff, nobody stopped Nikolai when he entered.

"Is that Luke?" When the elevator stopped on his floor, he noticed a guy shaking the vending machine.

"Damn, steal my money, you stupid machine; this is war!" The chubby guy with short hair looked to be distracted while shaking the vending machine, causing Nikolai to chuckle.

"Ah, Sir Nikolai you arrived early?!" A gentle voice sounded, and when Nikolai turned around, he saw it was Wilhelmina, the lady who served Selene, and someone who he was sure was a werewolf.

"Good afternoon, Wilhelmina. Is she ready to meet me, or should I---"

Bang!

Suddenly, the vending machine began to sound an alarm while the machine was crushing the poor fat man, causing Wilhelmina's eyes and lips to twitch.

"Help?! Help! I'm going to die! Murder! A fat man is dying. Where is my cultivating best friend now?!" Luke was strange, and his yelping caused Nikolai's lips to curl into a smile, even while Wilhelmina was frowning.

'This fat guy is so annoying, but it reminds me of being younger...'

"Ahem... should I help him, Sir Nikolai?"

"Nah, let's go see Selene." Nikolai just smirked and walked away, while Wilhelmina showed a victory pose for a moment before returning to her usual self.

A few moments after Nikolai and Wilhelmina left, a beautiful girl with a black bob haircut and a short body came out of the lift; however, the moment she saw and heard Luke, her eyes narrowed, and she looked gloomy. "Fattie Luke, why are you always doing something stupid?!"

Thud!

The next moment, she kicked the machine, and it slammed against the wall; she then stomped on Luke's stomach, waking him up as he pretended to be unconscious.

"Ugh!? Lady... Hati....I mean, Miss Yulia. Why are you so cruel to me?!"

"Shut up, don't call my real name here, you stupid fat man! Why are you even pretending to be fat when you are skinny? What a useless guard! I'm going to tell my father, if you keep messing around, we have a mission here! Don't draw attention!"

"Aha... yes, Miss Yulia, by the way... That boy you liked seems to work for the princess."

Yulia's eyes looked doubtful before her cheeks turned red, and she kicked Luke once more. "Who likes him? He's just a gentleman!"

"Hahah!" Luke only laughed before standing up with no injuries. He then turned towards the place where Nikolai vanished, and his eyes became fierce, like a snake. "I cannot believe he didn't even help me."

"Hmph... you deserve it, so annoying when you act like some cliché fat friend from C-Kingdom novels."

"Yeah, Yeah~ well, miss, it seems that you will end up dealing with that guy again. Are you happy now?"

The two of them walked in the opposite direction, looking like the perfect employees of the Scarlet group despite being spies for the Hati family.

Of course, the lady was an illegitimate daughter who was born to a vampire mother. The same for the guard beside her, both of them unwanted in the clan but useful.

"I hope we don't become enemies..." She whispered as they entered the accounting division.