I could get used to a peaceful life in a small town like this one. Life is not easy, but it's not bad either. Maple Town is a small farmer's town; as far as what they farm in such horrible weather still beats me, but I've seen large fields full of what I presume would be this world's version of wheat, which they use to make flour and eventually bread not that it mattered for me.
As I've stated before, I can tolerate eating human food but don't get any nutrition from it since I am a Vampire. The only thing I need aside from blood is water, and that's it. I've been eating human food for the past three days, so on this occasion, I ditched that annoying Chimaru kid and got myself out in the forest to hunt something.
I am already faster and quicker than the average human thanks to my buffs as a vampire, but my abilities are even higher thanks to Buster's breathing technique. I didn't think there was much impact on your breath, but there's a huge difference in stamina consumption.
As to how much stamina I use, that's simple. I just measure how tired I get with and without breathing strategy. I don't have access to magic or magical artifacts that would let me read my stats, so I have no other way to measure my strenght, stamina, and speed other than using comparable things.
When it comes to speed, I am fast enough to catch up to a moose for a couple of seconds, quick enough to catch a rabbit without letting it escape, and strong enough to shatter trees with specific conditions like I have to be in that steaming state that enhances all my attributes but primarily enhances strenght.
Come to think about it, I am pretty darn strong, but even so, against trained soldiers, I still get beaten to a pulp, so it's not that I am weak but that my opponents are just overpowered! Just by living around normal people, I've realized that I am already stronger than most regular folk but still get beaten to a pulp if I go against anyone who is trained.
My one massive advantage, however, is that while I have been on close calls, I have fantastic power thanks to my vampire blood. I can regenerate any wound with enough blood. So far, I've been able to regenerate entire limbs, so it wouldn't be crazy to speculate I could even survive a decapitation with enough preparation.
Still, it's not like I want to find out if I can survive getting my head cut off if I drink enough blood, so forget about it! Oh, man! I missed this fantastic blood flavor! It's been weeks without a proper source of fresh blood, so I'll enjoy this poor rabbit's blood until they start to look like raisins.
"I am sorry, Mr rabbit, but it's kind of your fault for having tasty blood flavor! Don't blame me! I am just surviving!" I say to the blood rabbit in my hands as I finish licking my fingers clean while also preparing to gut the animal for Nefricoral. Man, her name is so hard to remember!
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Nefri-coral! It doesn't even make sense or sound good, but what do I know about names!? I seem to be the only one in that town with a regular name. To my dismay, I soon noticed some weird smoke in the direction of the road I took to arrive in town, which meant someone was there, but I was reluctant to check it out.
The smoke was very far away, and it would take me days to get there even with my speed, so I returned to town with the dead, dry rabbit in my left hand. If my fears were correct, which they have always been, then the smoke came from an imperial camp, making its way to me, which means they know I have survived the avalanche! FUCK!
What would happen to the town if I just left it, though? The people of Maple Town barely know me, but based on what they did in Frescoes, I am a little worried they will do the same even in foreign territory. I know another government controls this land, but I must remember that they're just a kingdom while the ones chasing me are an Empire.
In my world, whoever commanded the Global stage could always get away with doing despicable things because who would say something to them!? Nobody! I can't imagine things are much different in this world just because there's magic and stuff; reality is still firm.
Yet what could I do to help this town? The people living in it are all weaker than me. I can barely hold my weight against a few soldiers before I tire! Should I tell them the truth and see if they can get reinforcements from the King? I have to think about it all evening and decide by tomorrow.
"Hey! I am back, Nefricoral, and I brought dinner!" I try to act natural once I return, seeing how the sweet old lady Nefricoral, who turned out to be Chimaru's grandmother, receives me with a cup of hot tea and a smile while Chimaru eats calmly at the table. The thought of them suffering or even dying because of me now pierced my heart more than ever.
If I stay and pretend to help, I will just become those guys' trophies, or well, my head will be, and that's just not conducive to survival at the same time if I just flee and do nothing about it while these kind people who help me get slaughtered. Will I ever be able to sleep again!?
"Aren't you something! Chimaru told me you beat him in a race! That's just great! It means you're getting better! Come come! Eat! Eat!" Nefricoral pieces my heart even more with her constant kindness and care for me even though she barely knew me, if at all!
Can I just abandon them without feeling guilty!? They torched and killed people in Frescoes; what's to say they won't do the same here!? UGH! Stupid morals! I have no morals! I am a gamer and a hikikomori at heart! Where are these feelings of remorse coming from!? Not from here! I keep telling myself this while distastefully thinking about leaving.
What if I leave town in the middle of the night and try to reach a bigger town nearby? Then they could send reinforcements and beat the empire troops for me so my hands would be clean, and the people from Maple would be okay! YEAH! I don't have to stay to fight and die like an idiot! There's nothing wrong with being a messenger!