Moka runs toward the shattered glass window and looks down to find Kurumu, only to find that she’s not on the ground or anywhere.

Realizing that Kurumu wasn’t down for the count, she turns toward Tsukune.

"Tsukune! Run while there's still time!"

Still affected by the lingering power of Kurumu’s charm, Tsukune didn’t fully understand what was happening.

"Wait a minute Moka! I have absolutely no clue what's going on! Can you clue me in here?!"

Moka gives Tsukune a reassuring smile.

“I’m sorry you got wrapped up in this little drama Tsukune. That girl is a succubus and her real target is me. She chose you to hurt me.”

What?

Kurumu’s pinkish lips come to Tsukune’s mind.

I was just about to betray Moka…

Tsukune stands up from the clinic bed and goes to Moka but before he can check for Kurumu, they both hear a loud voice from the outside.

“To be thrown so far from an amateurish attack… I underestimated a vampire’s strength. Their power is really something… even in their human form…”

Kurumu spreads her wings and showcases her long steel-like claws.

“Come down here so I can kill both of you together!”

Her voice was angry but it still had some beauty to it. Tsukune couldn’t help but flinch at the idea of being charmed once again.

Tsukune contemplated running away but Kurumu wasn’t like Saizou. She had more reach and was capable of mingling with the student body. Sooner or later-

“Tsukune, sooner or later… she’ll still be able to harass us. We have to finish this here.”

Moka’s words were determined. Tsukune found that very impressive and he nods.

“I…”

“What are you two waiting for?! Don’t tell me that two vampires are afraid of a single succubus??”

Kurumu’s taunts were laced with trace amounts of minor magic that both Moka and Tsukune did not sense.

That should be enough agitation. They’ll come down, whether they want to or not!

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Tsukune thought about Moka’s words and turned toward Kurumu.

She’s so determined… Moka’s right… she won’t let us go.

“Moka, let’s go down… We’ll face her.”

Moka nods and gives Tsukune a feeble smile.

Tsukune turns toward Kurumu.

“We’ll come down. Wait for us.”

Kurumu smiles.

“You can have that determined look after all.”

Moka and Tsukune make their way downward. They were both silent, thinking about the things they’d come to know today.

Is Tsukune… really just blood for me?

Kurumu targeted me… Moka, I don’t want to be a burden to you…

Eventually, the two of them reach the ground floor. Exiting the academy, they reach the area where Kurumu is supposed to be. And as expected, she was leaning on a nearby tree, relaxing. Her powerful wings surrounding her gave Kurumu a regal but demonic appearance.

Moka quickly turns toward Tsukune.

“Tsukune, take off my rosary.”

Tsukune nods, aware of Moka’s intentions. Grasping her rosary, Tsukune pulls, only to find that the seal refused to budge.

“Ah, it won’t come off!”

Tsukune frantically tries to pull away the rosary but it stays put.

Kurumu unfurls her wings and walks toward them, only to see Moka and Tsukune so close to each other. Seeing them flirt strikes a nerve and Kurumu shouts.

"What are you two idiots doing?! Don't you realize that you're about to be killed?!"

Kurumu charges ahead and springs into the air, using her wings to propel herself upward with a burst of energy. Reaching a high enough altitude, she stops flapping her wings and executes a graceful descent. Enveloping herself with her wings to enhance her speed, she accelerates toward her targets.

As she’s about to get closer to the ground, Kurumu expands her wings and she raises her arms to swing at Moka and Tsukune.

Hearing the powerful beat of Kurumu's wings, Tsukune lets go of Moka's rosary and swiftly moves forward to push her aside. As they both dodge away, Tsukune catches sight of a Kurumu's blade-like claws slicing through the air just above his head with incredible speed. Glancing upward, he notices Kurumu's flight path as she arcs toward several nearby mature trees. Her claws effortlessly cleave through the trunks as she passes by.

“She can cut trees like butter?!?”

Moka quickly stands up and pulls Tsukune away.

“Tsukune! Try again!”

Kurumu changes her flight path and goes toward Moka and Tsukune. She raises her claws again, prepared to rip them apart.

Tsukune puts all his strength in his arms and tries to remove the rosary, only to find it unmoving.

Why?! It worked against Saizou and Rainee but why not now?!

“Moka! I can’t take it off! It won’t even budge!”

Moka starts to panic as Kurumu gets closer.

“Why?! It came off earlier!”

Kurumu sees the two of them bicker, causing her to laugh.

Ah, that cross is sealing your power away, Moka… Perfect.

"You stupid monsters! What's the point of being vampires if you can't even use your strength?!"

Kurumu scans Tsukune’s body for any sign of a cross and quickly finds that he doesn’t have one.

“I guess those rumors were true! You barely have any youki! What kind of monster are you?! You’re nothing but a burden!”

Seeing no progress in the rosary, Moka purses her lips and pushes Tsukune behind her.

“Tsukune, run. I’ll stop her.”

Moka trembled but quickly resolved herself.

Tsukune isn’t just blood for me… And just like how he quickly throws himself in front of me… I’ll do the same!

Almost like a whisper to the man behind her, Moka speaks.

“At a time like this, I don't have any hesitation. I know exactly what I want to do."

Tsukune, I want to protect you. These true feelings of mine… I don’t want to lose you.

Seeing the fast-approaching Kurumu, Moka shouts.

“You’re wrong! Tsukune is and will always be my precious friend! It has nothing to do with blood! If you want to harm me, harm only me!”

Kurumu shouts at that.

“Don’t make me laugh! Both of you are dying here!”

Tsukune was taller than outer Moka but right now, she felt massive. She was protecting him and once more, Tsukune felt like he was useless. At that moment, Tsukune remembers Inner Moka’s words.

Know your place.

For a moment, he despaired but seeing outer Moka’s determination, he quickly quashes that weakness. He steps forward and pushes Moka behind him.

“I’m not a burden! I refuse to be one!”

Moka tried to pull back Tsukune who inadvertently snatches the Rosary while pushing her aside. This movement was enough.

Tsukune unseals Moka by removing the rosary from her choker.

~Finally.~