Chapter 12

Morning.

*Yawn* It's been a while since I had a good sleep, and I missed it. I should try to sleep more regularly. I feel refreshed now, but I know things are going to get busy soon with the upcoming festivities in the nearby town.

I decided to take a break after finishing the first three volumes of a manga for Veldora. I hope he'll like it. I can't help but imagine him firing a Bijūdama, considering he's like a bijuu sealed in Rimuru's stomach right now.

I should send the manga volumes to him now before I forget. Still half asleep, I don't want to get up, so I try to reach for the books wherever I left them.

Hmm, why is it warm? Oh, right, it's her hand. I must have been holding her hand without even realizing it.

Why did she have to sleep next to me?

Despite my groggy state, I can't help but notice how cute she looks while sleeping, and how serene it is with her not talking at all.

"Inner peace," I murmur to myself, appreciating the tranquility of the moment.

"Mmmh not there~" Henrietta mumbled in her sleep.

"She must be having a dream," I shrug it off and get up.

"Blood won't come off from there~" a vein pops on my forehead, and she is supposed to be a professional spy.

"Whatever," I muttered, sitting cross-legged, and began my communication with Shwred. "Have you finished analyzing [Blood Raise]?"

"Yes, master. The preparations are complete."

Excellent. I've been contemplating this for a while, and with this skill finally analyzed, it should be a piece of cake. [Blood Raise] is one of the intrinsic vampire skills, and I possess it. It enables me to bring someone back to life using my own blood. I find this skill intriguing, although I hope I won't ever need to use it.

Nevertheless, my current interest lies not in the revival aspect but in how you manipulate your blood to achieve it.

From my understanding, the skill appears to self-cancel if it's not utilized on a subject. To harness this ability effectively, I should consider the following approach:

Thinking of blood as a liquid, similar to flowing water, should grant me greater control over its manipulation.

With determination, I commanded, "[Blood Raise]!" Observing my blood's fluid motion as it sought out a target, I acted swiftly, intervening just before it had a chance to self-terminate. This was akin to bloodbending, yet I preferred to perceive it as a distinct element with its unique properties and potential.

Talking about blood's properties; it can take any form and shape, it can be liquid, solid and more importantly squishy. It's potential is endless, be it attack or defense.

With my eyes closed and my palm up, I gather the blood in a cylinder form. I channel my concentration and magicules into the liquid, causing it to gradually change its state. As I maintain my mental grip on the pulsating, scarlet flow, I visualize the transformation I desire.

Slowly, the liquid blood begins to thicken and coalesce. The once-free-flowing liquid is now a malleable, solid construct, ready to serve its purpose. 

I won't stop at this point. I intend to go further, dismantling the solid staff. It's not so much breaking as it is melting, transforming it into a molten state. Then, I gather everything together into a single, compact sphere, roughly the size of a tennis ball.

Today, my goal is to attain one ultimate state: a squishiness unparalleled, an indomitable, unyielding squishiness.

As I close my hands around the compact sphere, I refocus my energies.

This proves to be a tad more challenging than the two prior states; my imagination must be fully engaged.

"Squishy, squishy, stress balls are squishy, rubber bouncy balls are squishy, boo-" I muttered, and then...

"Tada! I finally succeeded!" After further inspection, 

But I feel like something is missing …

Oh, never mind!

From a distant voice, the proclamation «The individual Mamoru Tempest acquired the Unique Skill [Blood Mold],» echoes.

You startled me! But you truly are a remarkable entity, even spanning into this world.

"Sweetie, could you please provide a brief explanation of this new skill?" I asked.

{YES MASTER!}

"uh ?" I tilted my head, intrigued by the unusual response.

{The Unique Skill [Blood Mold] enables the user to exert precise control over their own blood, allowing alterations in its state of matter and molding it into user-defined shapes and forms.} 

She delivered the information with her usual monotone and robotic voice, but there was something different in her cadence, a subtle touch of enthusiasm. I couldn't help but smile; today was indeed a good day.

While copying a skill is undeniably valuable, there's an unparalleled joy in creating something entirely your own.

Henrietta was gradually stirring from her slumber when she noticed the crimson mass resting in Mamoru's palm.

After a peaceful night's sleep, she released an involuntary sigh while stretching and inquired, "What is that thing?" Her finger pointed directly at the unusual object.

"Ah, good morning. It's a new skill, quite useful. You'll see it in action soon," Mamoru responded with eager anticipation.

"A new skill?" She tilted her head, her voice quivering with unease. Did this guy learn a new skill while I was asleep? In such a short time?

"This doesn't bode well. I've tried to befriend him, but to no avail. Dwargon banished him and his friends from the kingdom. If he wants to take revenge, I'm genuinely afraid he might... I need to reconsider my plan," she mused, her brows furrowing in concern.

She then frowned, gently pressing her fingers against his cheek. "Mhph, what happened to your face?"

"Oh, that," Mamoru chuckled. "We're heading into town, a human town. They're not particularly welcoming to vampires, and you should consider hiding your ears too."

…

Stalls lined the roadside, showcasing a diverse array of products that got lost in the chaotic sea of shoppers.

After an extensive tour of the city of Vaizel, Henriette's hunger began to intensify. Just as her stomach threatened to betray her with a growl, a curious noise echoed from a nearby alley.The unexpected sound mercifully masked her stomach's imminent protest, saving her from any potential embarrassment.

"Let's grab a bite to eat after this," he suggested as he stepped into the alley. With a resigned sigh, Henrietta followed him, conceding to her hunger's insistence.

In the alley

Bandit 1: "Ha! We hit the jackpot this time, lads. These clueless tourists had no idea what hit 'em." He was slyly counting the coins.

Bandit 2: "Yeah, and it's all thanks to that festival. They were too busy keeping an eye on the goods to notice us slipping by," he said with an ugly grin.

Bandit 3: "Well, that's easy money for us. Now, let's split it up and celebrate our victory. The festival's still going on, and the tournament should start soon. We've got plenty of time to enjoy it!" He chuckled.

Both Henrietta and Mamoru observed the scene. If it had taken place in Dwargon, she would have swiftly dealt with these thieves once and for all. However, being in an unfamiliar town, she restrained herself.

Mamoru, on the other hand, had a different perspective. He took a step forward as the scallywags noticed him.

Bandit 2: "Who are you?"

Bandit 1: "Let's get the hell out of here," the most sensible bandit suggested, and Bandit 2 readily agreed, prepared to leave, but Mamoru had other i

"Come on, lads, leaving so soon?" he said, his tone mocking. However, Bandit 3 didn't take kindly to his sarcasm.

Bandit 3: "Don't play games with us! What's your deal? Trying to play the hero in front of the lady?" he retorted, causing his companions to pause in their tracks.

Henrietta and Mamoru exchanged glances, each having different thoughts. It was as though they were silently questioning themselves; « Playing the hero?... in front of the lady? »

Mamoru decided to embrace this notion. Gently, he took Henrietta by the waist, much like young brides walking down the central aisle.

"I stand for justice, and I simply won't allow these unsightly bandits to persist in front of my beloved wife," he declared with a determined half-smile, his eyes blazing with righteous fury. "Right, Milady?"

"Darling, could you kindly teach them a lesson for me? Pretty please," she implored with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

*****

AN: It's me again. You can go to the auxiliary chapter to discuss which character to include in the harem, or share your ideas here, based on the sds and tensura verse.