Tiamat, I'm going to find a girlfriend!

However, he did not intend to do anything driven by desire.

But only—

As he himself said, he was simply licking whatever his lips could reach because he was "thirsty".

instinct.

The word flashed through Artoria's mind.

This is a behavior that can only be driven by bodily instinct.

The girl, her face flushed with embarrassment, looked at him buried in front of her and didn't hesitate any longer:

"that--"

What exactly do you want to drink?

"..."

The boy looked up and met Artoria's gaze.

"I do not know."

"but……"

"So thirsty..."

"..."

Artoria was in a bit of a dilemma.

The other person kept saying they were thirsty, but couldn't express what they wanted to drink.

And what's even more deadly is—

Artoria found that after not getting any further answers from her, he buried himself in his work again.

The sharp teeth rubbed against each other like a saw.

It's broken...

Before the girl could think any further...

The boy's teeth had already pierced through his skin.

Artoria became somewhat panicked.

If the slight goodwill I felt upon first meeting you allowed me to maintain my composure just now, now it's utterly terrifying.

Is he any different from a wild beast?!

But soon, the girl discovered that the situation seemed to be different from what she had imagined.

He was indeed doing despicable things.

But the blood from his own veins seemed to make him less irritable and restless.

Artoria suddenly realized something.

Because of instinct, I want to suck on it.

But because he couldn't do that himself, he used blood as a substitute.

A conclusion was drawn that is sufficient to explain the current situation.

Artoria was a little bit bolder.

"Take your time, there's no need to rush."

"I'll wait for you..."

so weird.

I have absolutely no idea why I wanted to say those things.

It might be out of kindness, or perhaps for some other reason.

But in any case, at least if I comfort him like this, he won't do anything more reckless, right?

But who taught him to do that?

That's too barbaric!

Fortunately, this blood extraction did not last long.

Soon, with a bloody smell lingering in his mouth, the boy raised his head.

That was a completely different look in her eyes than before.

"Delicious."

"You taste amazing."

"..."

Although it felt strange to be praised by a member of the opposite sex for something like this, Artoria could sense that the other person was saying it with gratitude in their tone.

"Yes, really?"

"Thanks for the compliment."

What kind of answer is this?!

Artoria, who subconsciously gave a reply, wanted to slap herself.

She quickly added:

"So, can you let me go now?"

"..."

The boy stood up, and the girl was also able to stand up.

The two of them being completely honest with each other made the air thick with awkwardness—at least that's how Artoria felt.

We need to change the subject!

"Come back with me first."

Artoria picked up the clothes beside her, her face flushed, and said...

"You look like you've suffered a very serious injury."

"Well, I see."

3. Don't let little Ian face me!

"No one's on the left—"

"There's no one on the right either—"

Artoria peeked out from the bushes, looking around curiously.

Her reason for doing this was quite simple:

If someone sees a boy with no clothes on next to him, what will happen?!

"Come here quickly!"

"Understood--"

Fortunately, because we had been fussing around by the lake for a long time.

It's very late.

Along the way, Artoria and Ian did not encounter many people.

"call--"

Artoria breathed a sigh of relief after finally managing to evacuate Ian safely.

"You shall stay here and not move."

"I'll go get you some medicine."

in the room.

Artoria sighed as she rubbed her chest, which had been bitten.

She took the herbs and then returned to the boy.

Come here—

"Let me treat your wound first."

The girl hadn't forgotten how the other person looked by the lake just now.

To be honest, it's a miracle that they survived in that state of being covered in wounds.

click-

Artoria lit something.

The flames flickered inside the house, illuminating everything.

But what she witnessed next made her uneasy.

The boy's body, which should have been covered in wounds, had now fully recovered.

Not only are there no scars visible, but it also seems to be much stronger than before.

Artoria pinched herself.

After confirming that it hurt a lot, she realized that this was definitely not a dream.

"No, what did you do?"

"Why did it suddenly get better?"

"..."

The boy looked at his hands and shook his head.

"I do not know either."

"It seems that it was because I felt that this would cause you trouble, so it was fine."

"Eh?"

A very straightforward answer.

Artoria coughed softly.

"Cough cough."

"Since we brought you back, we certainly didn't intend to avoid these troubles."

"You don't need to be so nervous."

"Ah."

"..."

"..."

"that--"

Artoria glanced at Ian, then turned her head away.

"May I have your name."

"Ian."

The boy answered without hesitation.

"And you."

"Artoria—"

The girl answered quickly.

"Um, Ian, may I offer you a small suggestion?"

"What advice?"

"that is……"