A Red Flower Blooms

"So, you were trying to run away?"

Sitting in seiza before Ria, who was seated on the bed, Shizuna looked contrite.

"She was acting suspicious so I caught her and brought her back. That was the right thing to do, wasn't it?"

The other person in the room, the vampire Asuka, asked.

"Yeah, it was. Some things happened during the day, you see."

She had tried to secretly slip away from the village under cover of the night's darkness, only to be caught by Asuka, who happened to come by.

"I see. Shouldn't you keep your promises?"

Having heard the circumstances, Asuka spoke with her arms folded in a haughty posture.

"B-but we're both women!"

Although they weren't particularly close, since they were both women, she ought to understand just how abnormal this was.

However, common sense didn't apply to Asuka.

For vampires who lived for nearly an eternity, something like the gender of the person they loved wasn't something they particularly cared about.

The fact that vampires had extremely low fertility rates was probably also related to that.

Also, there's both BL and GL in demon territory. This isn't solely Maou-sama's fault.

"Isn't it fine? I usually suck from girls too."

"Huh?"

Suck… what exactly?

"Besides, if it's this girl…"

Once again, Asuka looked Ria over thoroughly.

There was no lecherous element in her gaze, only the bearing of a pursuer admiring beauty.

"Yep, I could sleep with this girl."

"I see. As for me… right, I could sleep with you."

It was impossible.

Shizuna's parents were a happily married couple.

Starting with Shizuna as the eldest, they had three children.

A man, a woman, and children. That was the normal arrangement.

If she herself were a man, she would probably fall in love with Ria. She would worship her like a goddess. There was no other girl as beautiful as her.

If Ria were a man…

She would, probably, no, definitely…

But that was just a hypothetical.

"… And that concludes my report on the Cordova information. Now, give me my reward."

"Can't be helped. Here."

In front of Shizuna, Ria removed her outer garment, exposing her white skin to Asuka's eyes.

"Hehe, itadakimasu."

Right in front of Shizuna.

Asuka pressed her lips to the muscle on Ria's shoulder.

What emotion she felt at that moment, Shizuna didn't know.

It was similar to anger.

"Phew, gochisousama."

"W-what was that just now…"

"Um, let's see… a kiss?"

She had to keep being a vampire a secret for now.

She had sucked skillfully, so the blood stopped quickly and the mark was only slightly red.

"Now then."

With her chest still exposed, Ria pulled Shizuna's hand.

She was strong. Far more than any man.

Shizuna found herself pushed down onto the bed.

"It was a promise, after all."

"But…"

Her voice of resistance was weak. Being wanted this strongly, was she going to give nothing in return?

"If you're a warrior, steel your resolve."

"Tha—"

Before she could utter a word of refusal, her lips were sealed.

Short kisses. Repeated again and again. The gaps between them were extremely brief, making it hard to breathe.

"Ooh～, such technique."

Asuka watched with a grin, though her cheeks were faintly flushed.

"So, how long are you planning to stay there?"

"Eh? I can't watch? That girl's reactions are so fresh and incredibly cute."

"N-no…"

Weakly, but clearly, Shizuna spoke.

"At least… the first time… just the two of us…"

"Ah, you're right. Then the nuisance will take her leave."

Asuka left the hut that had been prepared exclusively for Ria. She flew off into the sky saying "Devil Wing," but no one saw it.

"Now, let's continue."

While kissing her deeply, Ria's hands explored Shizuna's body. She stripped away her clothes one piece at a time, carefully.

"When kissing like this, stick your tongue out more."

When she stuck out her tongue as told, it was lightly bitten. A sweet pain resonated down to her hips.

Tears came.

Ria's movements stopped.

"Y-you're…"

She spoke her thoughts freely.

"You don't really like me, do you?"

Ria was filled with the urge to click her tongue.

She had wanted to tease Shizuna, but not make her feel this insecure.

Rather, she had even been prepared to let her go if she truly hated it.

But the heartbeat she could feel through her palm right now—wasn't it responding to Ria's movements?

"I don't know what it means to 'truly like' someone, but… at least since I was born until now, you're the first person I've wanted to embrace from the bottom of my heart, Shizuna."

"Really? What about Lulu?"

"She's like family to me. All I've done is fondle her breasts."

"Is this also… um… your first time, Ria?"

"I just have a lot of useless knowledge."

"I-is that so…"

The stiffness left Shizuna's body.

She softened in Ria's hands.

"Then, it's okay."

Shizuna was no longer crying.

"If it's Ria, it's okay."

She had been scared.

She had been scared of Ria.

She was scared of herself, who might fall in love with this person.

"Hey, just one request."

"Hm?"

"Don't do this kind of thing with that girl from today."

"This kind of thing?"

Ria moved teasingly.

She whispered in Shizuna's ear as she whimpered sweetly.

"I won't. I promise."

They touched.

They embraced.

They overlapped.

They made love.

Shizuna woke to the sound of a sword being swung.

Actually, it wasn't a sword but a katana.

It was still dark inside the hut. The only thing illuminating Shizuna's naked body was a faint light created by magic.

Seeing the aftermath of the previous night, Shizuna felt depressed. If anyone saw this, it would be obvious what had happened.

"Ria…"

She called softly to Ria through the window.

She called to that indescribably beautiful person wielding her katana.

Ria noticed immediately and came back to the room. She scratched her cheek when she saw the red stain on the bed.

"Can't we just wash it?"

"But if someone sees it, it'll be embarrassing."

"Well, I suppose there's magic for that…"

With cleaning magic and drying magic, the traces were gone. Though the sheets might have dried a bit too much.

"That should do it. Is your body alright?"

Ria asked, same as always.

But the Shizuna receiving those words was different from usual.

"Yeah, you cast healing magic on me."

"Don't push yourself."

Even though Ria was always being reckless.

Shizuna laughed. It was a flower-like, girlish smile.

"Hey Ria, be my sparring partner."

And so the two exchanged sword blows as they exchanged love.