Chapter 60: Good Dog!
To anyone who knew their true identities, the scene unfolding before them would have been utterly baffling.
Adele, a lowly Sequence Five, the bottom of the barrel… and Sharon, a Sequence One, a powerful vampire who even in her weakened state was still a force to be reckoned with…
If you were to ask anyone who was more likely to be bullied, who would be the one coming to the other’s rescue… well, 99 out of 100 people would say Adele was the victim and Sharon was the protector.
And the remaining one person would probably just roll their eyes and call you an idiot for even asking such a stupid question.
But reality, as it often did, had a way of defying expectations.
Adele was the one comforting Sharon, the one vowing to avenge her.
It seemed that personality truly did matter. It wasn’t just about power.
Adele memorized the faces of the three bullies, her gaze cold, her resolve unwavering.
Sharon, enveloped in Adele’s embrace, her cheek pressed against Adele’s soft hair, her body trembling slightly, gradually calmed down. She clung to Adele, her touch almost desperate, her need for comfort palpable.
She was like a small, frightened animal, a rabbit or a kitten, seeking solace in the presence of a trusted companion.
Adele found it a bit ticklish, but she didn’t mind. It meant her plan was working. Sharon was becoming dependent on her, her need for comfort and reassurance extending beyond the realm of dreams and into the harsh reality of the waking world.
It had been an accident, really. Adele had simply wanted Sharon to experience the difference between interacting with strangers and interacting with her, to make her realize that the comfort and acceptance she craved could only be found with Adele.
Of course, no one else was as kind, as gentle, as beautiful as Adele~
She might have been a bit narcissistic, but she couldn’t help it.
But Sharon’s attempt at socializing had gone horribly wrong. To think that a Sequence One could be mocked and bullied… it was almost pitiful.
Adele sighed internally. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh, to further damage Sharon’s already fragile ego.
So, she simply held her close, allowing her to bask in the warmth of her embrace, until it became… well, a bit too awkward, a bit too suggestive.
She gently patted Sharon’s back, a silent signal that it was time to let go.
Sharon, thankfully, understood. She reluctantly pulled away, her cheeks flushed crimson, her gaze fixed on the floor.
“…”
Adele smiled, her fingers intertwining with Sharon’s, their hands clasped together as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Sharon’s heart skipped a beat. It was just like in her dreams… Could this really be happening?
Adele, sensing Sharon’s hesitation, decided to give her a little more encouragement, a taste of the sweetness that awaited her if she fully embraced this new reality.
In the original story, Sharon had betrayed Dorothy for the sake of a dream, a figment of her imagination. Surely, she could do even more for the real Adele.
“Come on, Sharon,” Adele said, her voice cheerful. “I just logged into the academy’s forum using a secure connection. Someone must have posted the location of that new Chinese restaurant.”
She held up her phone, her smile widening as she saw the spark of interest in Sharon’s eyes.
Sharon hadn’t even considered that option. The academy’s online presence, whether it was on search engines or encyclopedias, was carefully curated, a sanitized version of reality designed to keep outsiders in the dark. And ordinary people weren’t allowed anywhere near the academy, which meant there was very little information available online.
The academy’s forum, however, was a different story. It was a hidden corner of the internet, accessible only to students and faculty. Adele had only just remembered its existence. It made sense, really. The original Adele had had no reason to access the forum. It was filled with information about containment procedures, about the exploits of upperclassmen, and… about other girls. Girls who had been a bit too forward, a bit too eager to… well, let’s just say they had made Adele’s life rather uncomfortable.
“…Okay,” Sharon murmured, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
It was a lovely voice, soft and sweet, like a chilled watermelon on a hot summer day.
Adele found herself wanting to… well, let’s just say that certain images, best left unexamined, flashed through her mind.
They quickly found a post about the new restaurant, complete with pictures of the building and its surroundings. After a bit of careful scrutiny, Adele was confident that it was located near the academy’s South Plaza.
Of course, there was an even easier way to find it: ask Celeste. Her sense of smell was impeccable. But that would make Adele seem too dependent on Celeste, which would only inflate her ego.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant, its traditional Chinese architecture a welcome sight.
Were there different races of vampires? Of course, there were. They had different nationalities, different ethnicities, different cultures.
Celeste, for example, was clearly a Western vampire, the kind people used to call “vampires.” But contrary to popular belief, most of them weren’t afraid of sunlight, silver, garlic, or crucifixes!
Sure, there might have been a few who had contributed to those stereotypes throughout history, but it was more likely that those rumors had been spread intentionally, a way to mislead their enemies, to make them underestimate their true power.
Eastern vampires, on the other hand, mostly looked like Adele: black hair, dark eyes, delicate features.
As for why Adele, an Eastern vampire, had a Western name… well, go ask the author! It was a bit awkward, but thankfully, no one seemed to care.
And then there were the Middle Eastern vampires, those exotic beauties with their dark skin and alluring eyes…
*Ahem. Back to the story.*
Adele and Sharon entered the restaurant and took a seat at a table for two. A waitress, her smile bright and welcoming, approached them, menu in hand.
The academy was like a self-contained ecosystem, a miniature society with its own rules and customs. You could live a comfortable life here without ever having to venture outside. They had online shopping, food delivery, even robots that could deliver packages directly to your dorm room. It was the perfect environment for someone like Sharon, who preferred to stay indoors.
It was clear that she rarely visited places like this, places that were crowded and noisy, filled with unfamiliar faces. She seemed nervous, her body tense, her shoulders hunched. She sat beside Adele, their bodies pressed together, seeking comfort, reassurance.
Without releasing their auras, vampires could only distinguish each other’s ranks by their physical traits, primarily their hair and eye color. Pure silver or gold hair, for example, was usually a sign of a high-ranking vampire.
Dorothy and Hermione were exceptions. Dorothy had pink hair and crimson eyes, while Hermione had silver-blue hair and icy blue eyes.
Sharon’s silvery-gray hair, however, was fairly common among lower-ranking vampires, a clear indication of her mixed heritage.
It wasn’t hard to see why she had been targeted by those bullies. They preyed on the weak, and Sharon, a low-ranking half-blood… well, she had been an easy target.
If she had been more assertive, more confident… or if she had been any other Sequence One… well, those bullies would have been nothing more than cannon fodder, their humiliation a foregone conclusion.
The last Sequence Three vampire who had dared to mess with Adele… well, Dorothy had simply expressed her displeasure, and the girl’s family had disowned her, cutting her off completely. No one knew where she was now.
The academy hadn’t officially expelled her. After all, they were a neutral organization, not entirely under the control of the vampires. But they definitely favored vampires, especially high-ranking ones.
Adele, unfortunately, didn’t enjoy such privileges.
Thankfully, she had achieved financial independence by taming Celeste. She was no longer the poor, struggling student she used to be, forced to live on a meager allowance.
She ordered the couple’s set menu, paying for it before Sharon could even reach for her wallet.
Sharon’s mind, meanwhile, was stuck on a loop: *Couple’s set menu… Couple’s set menu… Couple’s…*
Her cheeks burned with a blush that rivaled the color of a ripe peach. She couldn’t think straight.
Adele, of course, had a perfectly reasonable explanation.
“It’s cheaper this way,” she said, her voice innocent. “Look, if we order separately, we’ll end up spending so much more.”
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“Unless… you don’t want to pretend to be my girlfriend?”
“N-No!” Sharon blurted out, her cheeks flushing even redder.
The waitress, observing their interaction, smiled knowingly. It seemed that the cute girl with the black hair and pink eyes had a thing for the shy girl with the silvery-gray hair. And the feeling, judging by the way the girl with the silvery-gray hair was practically melting under Adele’s gaze, was mutual.
*Ding ding!*
*Gaydar activated!*
One was clearly the pursuer, while the other was far from resistant to her advances. It was a recipe for a whirlwind romance.
Fast forward to the bedroom!
“Alright, please wait a moment. Your food will be ready soon.”
Ten minutes later, the waitress returned, a tray laden with steaming dishes. And to their surprise, there was an extra item on the tray: a glass of pink liquid, something that looked like a cross between wine and juice.
And there was only one straw.
“This is a complimentary drink for couples who order the set menu,” the waitress explained, her smile widening as she saw their curious gazes.
“It’s our homemade peach wine. It’s sweet and refreshing, with just a hint of alcohol.”
“I’m not very good with words, so… I wish you two a lifetime of happiness~!”
And with that, she turned and left, her mission accomplished.
Adele almost regretted not selecting the “tip” option when she had paid. If that wasn’t “good with words,” then what was?
Sharon stared at the glass of peach wine, her gaze lingering on the single straw, her thoughts racing.
Adele picked up the glass, took a sip, and smiled.
“Mmm~ Delicious!”
“Try it, Sharon! We really scored today~”
She offered the glass to Sharon, her expression innocent, her intentions… well, less so.
Sharon, flustered, stammered, “B-But I… And…”
“Try it, Sharon. Can’t you drink alcohol?” Adele asked, her focus seemingly on the wrong thing.
Or maybe… it was intentional.
Sharon shook her head, her small chest rising and falling rapidly.
“N-No…”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“…” Sharon couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Sharing a drink with the same straw… it was basically… indirect…
But Adele clearly had no such thoughts. She was just trying to share a drink she enjoyed. Sharon was the one overthinking things, letting her imagination run wild.
If Adele knew what she was thinking…
Sharon didn’t dare to imagine the consequences.
So, she reluctantly took the glass, her lips parting hesitantly before finally closing around the straw.
Her first impression was: sweet! So sweet!
And then, as the alcohol, a tiny amount, spread through her system, she felt a pleasant warmth, a slight dizziness that made her head spin.
*And this is just an indirect kiss… What would Adele’s real kiss feel like?*
*Would it be even sweeter, even more intoxicating?*
Her thoughts, fueled by the alcohol and the proximity of the girl she loved, spiraled out of control.
She coughed, startled by her own thoughts.
Adele gently patted her back, her touch soothing, reassuring.
Sharon blushed, her voice barely a whisper.
“…I… I choked.”
“Take it slow.” Adele’s voice was like a gentle breeze, calming her nerves.
Just as Sharon was starting to relax, a hesitant voice called out from behind them.
“Adele…?”
Adele turned, her brow furrowing in curiosity.
It was a girl with long, flowing golden hair, her gaze fixed on Adele, her expression a mixture of disbelief and… jealousy?
And of course, her gaze also lingered on Sharon.
There was only one person who could elicit such a reaction from Celeste.
Celeste’s eyes widened, her eyelashes fluttering, as she processed the scene before her.
“Who is she?” she demanded, her voice laced with a barely concealed anger.
The waitress, observing the drama unfolding before her, perked up, her eyes gleaming with interest.
*Ding ding!*
*Gaydar activated!*
*What’s going on here?*
*Is this… a love triangle?*
*So Celeste is the real girlfriend?*
*And Adele… is she playing both of them?*
Sharon’s heart sank. She could sense the connection between Adele and the golden-haired girl, a connection she was clearly not a part of.
She didn’t recognize Celeste. Sharon’s social circle was small, limited to a handful of people. She probably couldn’t even name ten people in the entire academy.
And unlike Hermione, she wasn’t the jealous type. She hadn’t paid much attention to Celeste, even though she had been aware of her… interest in Adele.
She was devastated.
But even so, she chose to trust Adele. Her hand, instinctively, tightened its grip on Adele’s sleeve.
“Celeste…” Adele said, her voice feigning surprise, as if she hadn’t expected to see Celeste here.
But she knew one thing: she had to protect Sharon.
The restaurant was buzzing with excitement, the other patrons eager to witness the drama unfolding before them. It seemed that “enjoying a good show” wasn’t just a human trait. Vampires were just as nosy.
Adele, unfazed by the attention, squeezed Sharon’s hand, her touch reassuring.
“She’s my friend,” she said, her voice firm, her gaze meeting Celeste’s without a hint of fear. “A very important friend.”
“And Celeste, don’t you think you’re being a bit too controlling?”
“You’re always clinging to me, trying to monopolize my time!”
“I told you, I’m not interested in a relationship right now. I need to focus on my studies…”
“I’m not like you. I don’t have your wealth or your connections. I need to work hard, to get a good job, to secure my future. Please stop interfering with my life, with my… normal social interactions!”
“Normal… social interactions?” Celeste repeated, her voice trembling with anger. She gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on the glass of peach wine with the single straw.
“I thought you had a phobia of germs… And yet, you’re willing to share a drink with her?”
Her voice shook, her words laced with a barely concealed jealousy.
“You’re basically… indirectly kissing! And you call that a ‘normal social interaction?’”
“I’m embarrassed for you!”
“All the money I’ve spent on you…”
“Fancy dinners, expensive makeup, designer bags…”
“You ungrateful little… I misjudged you!”
*Audience: !?!?!*
*Audience: This is getting good! Popcorn, anyone?*
Adele’s face turned pale, then red, then pale again.
*Celeste, you stupid dog! You’re really going all out, aren’t you?*
*I’ll deal with you later…*
But Adele was a master of theatrics. Her expression instantly transformed, her eyes welling up with tears, her voice trembling with a convincing mix of hurt and betrayal.
“But that was my birthday… Those were birthday gifts…”
“I was so happy, so touched… You were the only one who remembered my birthday, Celeste.”
“I was so naive… I thought you were being kind… But it was all just a way to control me…”
“You know… I kept all those gifts. I treasured them. Because they were from you.”
“I couldn’t even bring myself to use them…”
A single tear rolled down her cheek, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Here, take them back. Take them all back!”
“Adele…” Celeste’s heart ached as she heard Adele’s words, regret flooding her eyes.
But Adele wasn’t interested in explanations or apologies.
She grabbed Sharon’s hand, her own tears flowing freely now, and stormed out of the restaurant, deliberately bumping into Celeste’s shoulder as she passed.
Adele was small, but her anger lent her a surprising strength. Celeste stumbled, her heart sinking.
She watched them leave, her expression a mixture of pain and longing.
But Adele didn’t look back. She led Sharon out of the restaurant, her grip tightening on Sharon’s hand, her resolve unwavering.
She couldn’t keep up this charade any longer. Who knew what Celeste might say next? She might even… blow their cover!
As they were leaving, there was a slight… complication.
The three bullies who had tormented Sharon had apparently developed a sudden craving for Chinese food. They were entering the restaurant just as Adele and Sharon were leaving.
They were surprised to see Sharon, the timid little weakling, actually managing to find the place.
And as their gazes met, Adele’s anger, fueled by her protective instincts, surged through the magic crest, alerting Celeste.
Celeste instantly locked onto the three bullies, her senses screaming at her that these were the ones who had upset her master.
And what better opportunity to vent her frustrations than this? A heartbroken, emotionally unstable Sequence Two lashing out at a group of unsuspecting bullies… It was perfectly believable, wasn’t it?
She might not be able to go toe-to-toe with someone like Hermione, but dealing with three low-ranking vampires… that was child’s play.
The bullies, initially annoyed by Adele’s glare, started to mutter under their breaths, their words laced with a casual cruelty.
But then, they turned, and their smug smiles vanished, replaced with expressions of pure terror.
Celeste, her aura blazing, her eyes burning with a cold fury, stood before them, her power a palpable threat.
Their cowardly instincts kicked in, their pleas for mercy pathetic, their attempts at justification falling on deaf ears.
Celeste wouldn’t be so easily appeased.
As Adele and Sharon walked away, they could hear the bullies’ screams echoing from within the restaurant.
Adele smiled, a genuine smile this time, her heart filled with a warm satisfaction.
*Good dog… You did good.*