Monika watched the belt with feverish fervor.

—Matchmaker |C|—

Active: Bloodlust |C|

Flaw: Lust |C|

She peeked at it and reread the description of the skill.

—Bloodlust |C|—

Evokes lust in the specified target. Once affected, the target is consumed by a powerful lust directed solely toward the wearer. This desire includes an instinctual drive for procreation with the wearer—a longing for intimacy and connection that goes beyond mere physical attraction.

The wearer must make eye contact with the target to activate the skill. The skill can only be activated on a single target at a time.

Monika then reclarified the flaw.

—Lust |C|—

The wearer experiences a significant increase in sexual arousal upon the usage of |Bloodlust |C||. This arousal affects the wearer's ability to maintain control and focus.

“I don’t bow before nobles.”

Monika's beckoning eyes blazed with a fire kindled not just by defiance but by a seemingly burgeoning affection as if she were smitten with love that defied the very heavens. “How dare you!” Her voice was meant to impress upon Valentine the seriousness of her devotion.

“Kneel this very moment!” Her face flushed further as the admonishment carried the need to prove herself worthy in Valentine's eyes.

Monika tried to walk toward Hel but was stopped by Valentine before she could take more than a few steps. His cold hand warmly grasped her arm to stop her. “No need.”

A shudder ran through Monika's body, “Ahh.”. She hurriedly clasped her mouth to stifle the flush of arousal. His grip sent a wave of warmth through her that she relished. She found herself involuntarily leaning slightly into his touch. Her heart raced as she shakingly nodded.

“Monika,”

Ahhhhhhh. The way "Monika" rolled off his tongue was a spell wrapping around her heart. It was as if each hazy backdrop of a syllable was a note composed just for her. The very essence of his being that flowed through his fingertips seeped into her skin and spread through her veins.

“Is this vampire of low blood your familiar?

She found herself lost and willingly drowning in the depths of his allure. Monika felt as though she were standing on the brink of the precipice of the abyss. Valentine’s touch was the anchor that steadied her and pulled her into the abyss of longing awash with his scent and seduction that filled her lungs and made her pulse quicken. The warmth of his hand was a tenderly burnt burden—

“Monika?” Valentine shook her arm.

AhhhHHH. The way he repeated her name with that same commanding presence—

“Monika!?” The loud sound finally cut through her.

“What do you mean by a vampire, Sir Valentine? My familiar is a succubus.”

Valentine shook his head. “I can faintly feel the vampiric blood flow through his body.” He patted her arm. “Oh, you don’t need to call me Sir, Monika.”

“I never knew he had such side to him.” Monika wagged beside the vampire. “But, of course, that demon cannot be compared to you just because of such similarities, Val.” She leaned closer.

Monika couldn't deny the joy when she heard herself call him ‘Val’. A perceptible smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. It made her feel closer to him as the name lingered on her lips.

Val momentarily lost his mask of aloofness. But his expression smoothed back into one of composed authority. He didn’t seem to care much whether he was considered Valentine or Val.

He returned his attention toward Hel. Monika instinctively reached out her fingers in a curling fashion around his arm with a firm grip as he moved. And so Val continued his approach with Monika at his side.

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Hel stood tall despite the reprimand. He thought he was more or less used to Monika but the sight of her so desperately holding onto Valentine with such possessiveness was unsettling.

‘I think something is wrong with Mother,’ Lucy voiced in his head.

Hel narrowed his eyes as Val stood face-to-face before him. They were both considerably tall and approximately the same length.

“What’s your bloodline, boy?” Val asked Hel in a commanding tone.

“Not your fucking business.”

Val’s eyes darkened with fury. His composure began to fray as the muscles tensed beneath Monika’s hand.

Monika tightened her grip on his arm and quickly stepped in front of him. She struck as her fist connected with Hel's chest to send him staggering backward. She followed up with a swift kick on his knee to knock him off balance. Hel fell to the ground.

Monika stood over him. "You should respect Sir Valentine as you respect me," she said coldly. Monika’s foot pressed down on his chest. She kept him pinned to the ground. She leaned in, "But Hel, you wouldn’t want to repeat the same mistake, do you? There’s a broad line between brave and stupid." Her voice was a harsh whisper.

Val watched as she dealt with Hel. His earlier rage cooled into a cold. Monika stepped back after a full minute. Hel then struggled back to his feet.

He pushed through the discomfort. Hel then took a deep breath and lowered himself to one knee with a bow.

"My lady, Sir Valentine," he said, his voice strained but clear. "I apologize for my earlier non-compliance."

Monika noticed the way Val’s eyes remained fixed on Hel. She nudged his arm and drew his focus away from Hel to create a physical connection that would momentarily distract him from his anger.

"Val," she said with warmth. "Look at the remains of these gloths. Shouldn’t we try to absorb their hearts before their spirits diffuse into the air with the passage of time?" She pointed towards the scattered corpses on the floor.

Val shifted his gaze away from Hel to the scenery of death.

Unbeknownst to him, Hel’s posture was humble and subservient, yet his eyes were bloodshot, and his barely restrained fury was hidden from Monika and Val’s view. Blood slowly dripped from his lips. His hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles turned aghast.

‘Mister, are you alright—’

‘Shut up.’

“We should just ignore them and take the runes,” Val notes. “All the Karma dissipates in an hour at best. You can, at best, absorb a few hearts, so we shouldn’t waste our time on this.”

“Is that so?” This topic shift is designed to divert his attention from the source of his anger to a matter that demands his analytical skills and leadership. “Honestly, their numbers and strength were unexpected.” she continues to layer her words with a sense of urgency and importance. This framing technique places the current situation within a more pressing context.

Yes, I can see it clearly now.

This woman is not just crazy.

She somehow knows about my past. Did she just guess it?

Monika knows she has to maintain her influence over the noble and thus decides to use a more seductive approach to further ingratiate herself with him. She takes slow steps pompously, her hips swaying up and down. Hips only since she has no chest.

"Val," she purrs with a musical lilt. She reinforces the familiarity and trust she has been cultivating. She gently reaches out, her fingers brushing against his arm. This touch grounds the noble and heightens his awareness of her presence. “But I have a nice ability that could help you in your ambitions.”

“Oh? Tell me.”

"My commandment Obstruction," she says with a voice low and inviting, "Amplifies the Karma absorbtion." Her other hand comes up to splay just over his heart. The gesture is both intimate and possessive.

The relic undoubtedly has a mental attack skill. But how can a bare rank 3 skill compare to the mind of SS+? That’s why she pretends to be seduced. As such, the noble bastard is simply playing in her hands.

Monika knows I despise her. Perhaps she even knows about my plans.

Was all the insanity shown previously barely a facade?

No. I could sense her delirium.

A transparent screen forms before them.

—Obstruction—

I. The holder can absorb Karma from the target at a significantly increased rate by disturbing the target's spirit, making it difficult for them to resist the absorption process.

“Hah,” I sigh softly.

This is not what Obstruction does at all!

She can only absorb Karma due to her SS+ Willpower.

But how did she change the description—

Wait, don’t tell me. Did she use the Talisman of Trickery to create an illusion beforehand? Since when? Did she predict all this? How?

Frightening! Truly frightening!

The noble bastard smiles softly. The vampire turns to Monika with a look of genuine admiration. His eyes lock onto hers with intrigue.

I was mistaken. Of course I cannot deduce her state. How can a sane person understand the madness? Just how much does she know? Was what I’ve seen just a facade or reality or both?

Monika basks in his genuine admiration as the noble’s praiseful look washes over her. She is definitely aroused. Wait, did she purposefully let the relic’s ability affect her!? Don’t tell me she’s not trying to resist the seduction skill at all!?!?!

Monika—

Suddenly, Monika side-glances at me. Her smile deepens.

—Just who the hell are you!?