As the hue of the sky changed and the afternoon turned to dusk, Liev walked with Dr. Mozhaysky through the red-pine forest behind the training center. Eventually, Liev’s nose became accustomed to the choking fragrance given off and finally arrived at a quaint, hospital-like building.
“This is the innermost facility for the experiment.”
It was a separate biological research institution from the animal development and experimentation facility. There were a lot of facilities in the city that the cadets were not allowed to enter—this was one of them.
Dr. Mozhaysky presented his identification card to the guard stationed at the entrance, which was surrounded by a steel fence.
Liev entered the building, nervously wondering about being experimented on himself.
In the hallway the walls were covered with linoleum, a grey pipe running along the ceiling like a fat serpent. The ventilation was poor and the air was dense. From somewhere far off, a dog’s barks could be heard.
Compared to the training center, this place had a gloomy atmosphere.
Feeling uncomfortable, Liev proceeded further into the interior, passing through the section where the animals’ cages were lined up, eventually reaching a large, hexagonal room.
Each wall had a series of Roman numerals from ‘I’ to ‘V’ over thick iron doors; in the center stood a small cubicle with a note which read “Guard Office” attached to it.
Witnessing such a bizarre sight, a shiver went down Liev’s spine.
“What exactly is this place…?”
“They are cells for human beings.”
Replied Dr. Mozhaysky forthrightly.
“N-no way, you’re doing human experimentation…!?”
“No. These were made just in case the occasion ever came up, but they have never been used. The subject of this experiment is the first one ever to use one.”
Though he’d suspected it, Liev shuddered at the thought of such a facility existing. Suddenly, a densely covered fuzzy object emerged from the guard office.
“Huh!?”
Is that perhaps an escaped beast, or maybe a Nosferatu?
Liev readied himself, but to his surprise, it was actually a human girl in a fur coat.
The girl, who was small and probably a head shorter than Liev, looked towards Dr. Mozhaysky with a bright expression.
“Sir!”
“Did anything unusual occur?”
“Sir, it has been peaceful!”
When the girl saw Liev, she immediately bowed.
“Pleased to meet you!”
“Hello. Are you the doctor’s daughter?”
“Not at all!”
The girl opened her coat and thrust 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 Simonyan. Field of study: Bloodsucker ecology. Only eighteen 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 room indicated by Dr. Mozhaysky, imagining some sort of monster beyond the thick door which separated them.
Crimson eyes like that of blood.
Great fangs 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 meeting.
“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, the metal gave off a creaking sound.
It was a dim and enclosed concrete room with bare walls. There were no windows, the only light source originated from a small electric light which hung from the ceiling, and in the back was installed a washbasin 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 from what he had imagined, causing his jaw to go 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 from her necklace shone in the lamplight.
“This girl’s a… Nosferatu?”
Liev dropped his guard slightly against her unexpected lovely and helpless appearance which looked the opposite of a person-attacking monster. She was a ‘Bloodsucking Princess’ 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’m bestowing 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 communal cadet’s dormitory. Her age was listed as twenty-one years old.
Liev was still doubtful of whether the girl before him was younger than him, and in the first place, it was a forged identification. He realized that age might vary in meaning from 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 manager.”
Concealing his fear of being bitten, he put on a smile and gestured to make a handshake.
“…”
However, Irina did not return the gesture and continued to stare straight at Liev.
Liev nervously looked straight forward. 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 females around the same age as him. There were also women among 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 blame Irina for not wanting 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 him “Subject”, he read out the contents of the document given 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. Furthermore, the subject’s test results from the facility at Sungrad[4]
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 dim electric lighting was reflected off of Irina, the light making a buzzing noise.
“Moving on.”
Liev continued to review the document, speaking 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 from the document. “Is there no problem with walking 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 statement and stole a sidelong glance at Irina. Yet, even though she was being compared to a dog, 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 from escaping. 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 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, who was 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 manager 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 Company moved your luggage 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 dormitories to a personal room with a toilet, that’s quite an upgrade.”
“Eh, that’s…”
“Rest assured, your room will have a bed for human beings, 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 him a ring 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 main process of the ‘Miechita Project’. I must continue experiments with launching flora 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 accompany her to training and through her daily life.”
In other words, the two would 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 down, why 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 Luminesque” since that wasn’t how you addressed colleagues of the same rank.
Liev thought about it, preparing to refute Irina.
“I believe that to avoid drawing the suspicions of the other city inhabitants to your true identity, you should be treated just like 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 human understanding, causing the hairs to stand on Liev’s neck. He had trouble breathing, and his body stiffened.
“A-ah…”
“Irina will do so.”
With just a few words, the binding unraveled, and Liev could take a short breath—
“Originally, I would not have allowed a human to address me so casually, but I guess 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 dominating personality. If she were to wear a gorgeous 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 mood and hard expression, left her mouth agape.
“… Y-you…?”
“Since I’m not a cadet, our relationship 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 complete 180 into a stern-looking 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 beam of sunlight?”
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 confirmed the question, replying 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 members run the risk of potentially experiencing high temperatures while moving through 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 him. Unlike a dog, Irina could understand anything said.
Irina snorted her nose in dissatisfaction immediately.
“Anja. My race also has 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’ to maintain vision in the dark, and ‘cold resistance’ to dress lightly unperturbed in temperatures below freezing.”
Anja also added on that in the environment of the northern part of the continent the number of daylight hours were shorter, and that winter was far longer.
“Liev. Now you understand, right?”
She said it in a high and mighty tone while glancing proudly at him. Liev felt it as her declaration that Nosferatu were a being equivalent to or even greater than humans.
“Now, Liev. Please escort Irinyan to grab a meal. In the communal dorms’ cafeteria. All of the cadets should have been gathered, so please go and introduce her.”
“‘Meal’ as in—”
Liev had imagined that since she was a Nosferatu Irina would drink blood, and he looked at her mouth. However, her mouth was closed, so he couldn’t see her fangs.
“What is it?”
“Nevermind…”
Liev turned away from Anja’s questioning gaze.
“Does that mean that I am not preparing meals?”
“Yes. The menu is the same as all of the other cadets. For data collection purposes, she must have the same eating habits 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 became flustered as she hit the nail right 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 grimaced, her fangs peeking out.
“You think I’m just like some inferior blood-sucking creature like a mosquito or tick?!”
“You think that I am a monster[5] that sucks blood, night after night, don’t you?!”
“You’re misunderstanding! 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 time ago…”
When Irina’s muddled her words and hid her eyes, Anja elatedly raised her hand.
“Is it that? The ancient rite of passage passed down where 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 example, they could take it from under the tongue or stomach and then transform it into nutrition inside the body. Hey, Irinyan, were you not brimming with energy after drinking the goat’s blood?”
Irina nodded reluctantly.
“Indeed, that’s correct… but it is not because of some nonsensical grotesque 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 monsters, there were also feelings of hostility and contempt towards humans. Liev, who had struck a sore topic, felt regret. There’s no doubt that it was humans who drove off Bloodsuckers to remote regions through war and conflict. As Liev had been intimidated by ghost stories of Nosferatu, she had probably been brought up with lullabies about the stories of human savagery.
However, the advancement into space was completely unrelated to past matters. Liev was worried about how she might interact during training.
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 to fulfill his dream to go to space.
—With fresh resolve, Liev called out to Irina as brightly as he could.
“Well, I’m famished, we should go and eat as soon as possible.”
“Alright.”
Although Liev had readied himself for an objection, Irina was unexpectedly meek and accepted; she put on her earmuffs and regulatory hat that she had set aside along the coffin.
She concealed her pointed ears, appearing even more so as a human.
“Anja, are you coming with us?”
Anja shook her head towards Liev’s invitation.
“I have something else to do. Please return after you’re finished eating. Irinyan will probably be tired after moving from Sungrad. By the way Liev, you should start going to sleep at 9:00 in the morning and getting up at 17:00, meaning that you’ll be reversing your days and nights, so make sure to have a good rest and take care of yourself after eating. Now then, be careful and see you later!”
Anja cheerfully sent them off, leaving her behind at the cells.
✦✦✦
As the hue of the sky changed and the afternoon turned to dusk, Liev walked with Dr. Mozhaysky through the red-pine forest behind the training center. Eventually, Liev’s nose became accustomed to the choking fragrance given off and finally arrived at a quaint, hospital-like building.
“This is the innermost facility for the experiment.”
It was a separate biological research institution from the animal development and experimentation facility. There were a lot of facilities in the city that the cadets were not allowed to enter—this was one of them.
Dr. Mozhaysky presented his identification card to the guard stationed at the entrance, which was surrounded by a steel fence.
Liev entered the building, nervously wondering about being experimented on himself.
In the hallway the walls were covered with linoleum, a grey pipe running along the ceiling like a fat serpent. The ventilation was poor and the air was dense. From somewhere far off, a dog’s barks could be heard.
Compared to the training center, this place had a gloomy atmosphere.
Feeling uncomfortable, Liev proceeded further into the interior, passing through the section where the animals’ cages were lined up, eventually reaching a large, hexagonal room.
Each wall had a series of Roman numerals from ‘I’ to ‘V’ over thick iron doors; in the center stood a small cubicle with a note which read “Guard Office” attached to it.
Witnessing such a bizarre sight, a shiver went down Liev’s spine.
“What exactly is this place…?”
“They are cells for human beings.”
Replied Dr. Mozhaysky forthrightly.
“N-no way, you’re doing human experimentation…!?”
“No. These were made just in case the occasion ever came up, but they have never been used. The subject of this experiment is the first one ever to use one.”
Though he’d suspected it, Liev shuddered at the thought of such a facility existing. Suddenly, a densely covered fuzzy object emerged from the guard office.
“Huh!?”
Is that perhaps an escaped beast, or maybe a Nosferatu?
Liev readied himself, but to his surprise, it was actually a human girl in a fur coat.
The girl, who was small and probably a head shorter than Liev, looked towards Dr. Mozhaysky with a bright expression.
“Sir!”
“Did anything unusual occur?”
“Sir, it has been peaceful!”
When the girl saw Liev, she immediately bowed.
“Pleased to meet you!”
“Hello. Are you the doctor’s daughter?”
“Not at all!”
The girl opened her coat and thrust 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 Simonyan. Field of study: Bloodsucker ecology. Only eighteen 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 room indicated by Dr. Mozhaysky, imagining some sort of monster beyond the thick door which separated them.
Crimson eyes like that of blood.
Great fangs 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 meeting.
“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, the metal gave off a creaking sound.
It was a dim and enclosed concrete room with bare walls. There were no windows, the only light source originated from a small electric light which hung from the ceiling, and in the back was installed a washbasin 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 from what he had imagined, causing his jaw to go 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 from her necklace shone in the lamplight.
“This girl’s a… Nosferatu?”
Liev dropped his guard slightly against her unexpected lovely and helpless appearance which looked the opposite of a person-attacking monster. She was a ‘Bloodsucking Princess’ 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’m bestowing 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 communal cadet’s dormitory. Her age was listed as twenty-one years old.
Liev was still doubtful of whether the girl before him was younger than him, and in the first place, it was a forged identification. He realized that age might vary in meaning from 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 manager.”
Concealing his fear of being bitten, he put on a smile and gestured to make a handshake.
“…”
However, Irina did not return the gesture and continued to stare straight at Liev.
Liev nervously looked straight forward. 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 females around the same age as him. There were also women among 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 blame Irina for not wanting 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 him “Subject”, he read out the contents of the document given 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. Furthermore, the subject’s test results from the facility at Sungrad[4]
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 dim electric lighting was reflected off of Irina, the light making a buzzing noise.
“Moving on.”
Liev continued to review the document, speaking 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 from the document. “Is there no problem with walking 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 statement and stole a sidelong glance at Irina. Yet, even though she was being compared to a dog, 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 from escaping. 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 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, who was 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 manager 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 Company moved your luggage 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 dormitories to a personal room with a toilet, that’s quite an upgrade.”
“Eh, that’s…”
“Rest assured, your room will have a bed for human beings, 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 him a ring 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 main process of the ‘Miechita Project’. I must continue experiments with launching flora 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 accompany her to training and through her daily life.”
In other words, the two would 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 down, why 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 Luminesque” since that wasn’t how you addressed colleagues of the same rank.
Liev thought about it, preparing to refute Irina.
“I believe that to avoid drawing the suspicions of the other city inhabitants to your true identity, you should be treated just like 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 human understanding, causing the hairs to stand on Liev’s neck. He had trouble breathing, and his body stiffened.
“A-ah…”
“Irina will do so.”
With just a few words, the binding unraveled, and Liev could take a short breath—
“Originally, I would not have allowed a human to address me so casually, but I guess 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 dominating personality. If she were to wear a gorgeous 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 mood and hard expression, left her mouth agape.
“… Y-you…?”
“Since I’m not a cadet, our relationship 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 complete 180 into a stern-looking 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 beam of sunlight?”
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 confirmed the question, replying 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 members run the risk of potentially experiencing high temperatures while moving through 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 him. Unlike a dog, Irina could understand anything said.
Irina snorted her nose in dissatisfaction immediately.
“Anja. My race also has 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’ to maintain vision in the dark, and ‘cold resistance’ to dress lightly unperturbed in temperatures below freezing.”
Anja also added on that in the environment of the northern part of the continent the number of daylight hours were shorter, and that winter was far longer.
“Liev. Now you understand, right?”
She said it in a high and mighty tone while glancing proudly at him. Liev felt it as her declaration that Nosferatu were a being equivalent to or even greater than humans.
“Now, Liev. Please escort Irinyan to grab a meal. In the communal dorms’ cafeteria. All of the cadets should have been gathered, so please go and introduce her.”
“‘Meal’ as in—”
Liev had imagined that since she was a Nosferatu Irina would drink blood, and he looked at her mouth. However, her mouth was closed, so he couldn’t see her fangs.
“What is it?”
“Nevermind…”
Liev turned away from Anja’s questioning gaze.
“Does that mean that I am not preparing meals?”
“Yes. The menu is the same as all of the other cadets. For data collection purposes, she must have the same eating habits 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 became flustered as she hit the nail right 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 grimaced, her fangs peeking out.
“You think I’m just like some inferior blood-sucking creature like a mosquito or tick?!”
“You think that I am a monster[5] that sucks blood, night after night, don’t you?!”
“You’re misunderstanding! 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 time ago…”
When Irina’s muddled her words and hid her eyes, Anja elatedly raised her hand.
“Is it that? The ancient rite of passage passed down where 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 example, they could take it from under the tongue or stomach and then transform it into nutrition inside the body. Hey, Irinyan, were you not brimming with energy after drinking the goat’s blood?”
Irina nodded reluctantly.
“Indeed, that’s correct… but it is not because of some nonsensical grotesque 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 monsters, there were also feelings of hostility and contempt towards humans. Liev, who had struck a sore topic, felt regret. There’s no doubt that it was humans who drove off Bloodsuckers to remote regions through war and conflict. As Liev had been intimidated by ghost stories of Nosferatu, she had probably been brought up with lullabies about the stories of human savagery.
However, the advancement into space was completely unrelated to past matters. Liev was worried about how she might interact during training.
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 to fulfill his dream to go to space.
—With fresh resolve, Liev called out to Irina as brightly as he could.
“Well, I’m famished, we should go and eat as soon as possible.”
“Alright.”
Although Liev had readied himself for an objection, Irina was unexpectedly meek and accepted; she put on her earmuffs and regulatory hat that she had set aside along the coffin.
She concealed her pointed ears, appearing even more so as a human.
“Anja, are you coming with us?”
Anja shook her head towards Liev’s invitation.
“I have something else to do. Please return after you’re finished eating. Irinyan will probably be tired after moving from Sungrad. By the way Liev, you should start going to sleep at 9:00 in the morning and getting up at 17:00, meaning that you’ll be reversing your days and nights, so make sure to have a good rest and take care of yourself after eating. Now then, be careful and see you later!”
Anja cheerfully sent them off, leaving her behind at the cells.
✦✦✦
