NAPE - 9

Bibi’s skin, once bruised and battered, had turned fair and clear, and her emaciated ribs had disappeared. Her flat chest, thighs, and hips had swelled like those of a woman in her prime. Her cheeks were rosy, as if she had just emerged from a rose, and her hollowed eyes now properly held her red pupils.

Her hair, which had been dry and coarse like seaweed, now flowed in rich waves with a smooth sheen. It was mesmerizing to keep looking at it.

Bibi, who had looked like a corpse, had transformed into a complete woman overnight. It was only natural that Namwon and Doyoon were dumbfounded and utterly stunned. Bibi’s large, sack-like clothes were now tight and on the verge of tearing.

“How long are you going to keep staring, you pervert?”

“Ah, just a moment for the clothes.”

Namwon, who had been spaced out, hurried to get the clothes at Doyoon’s prodding.

“…….”

Doyoon leaned against the wall, a confused expression on his face. Bibi was just as surprised. She had woken up to find the ragged clothes she had been wearing were now tight on her body. Looking down, her flat chest had grown larger, her hair had grown down to her waist, and her skinny thighs and hips were now filled with flesh.

Bibi awkwardly touched her changed body, feeling it over with her hands one by one. She was especially flustered by how much her chest had grown, kneading it several times as if it belonged to someone else, unaware that Doyoon was watching her with his arms crossed.

“Senior! I brought the clothes here.”

Namwon rushed in, panting, holding a large t-shirt. Doyoon quickly took it and closed the door. He strode towards the half-naked Bibi.

Bibi, who had been examining her body, saw Doyoon approaching and, as usual, narrowed her eyes sharply. She bared her fangs, taking a defensive stance.

“I wish you would put on some clothes. I don’t know where to look.”

Doyoon said calmly. But Bibi stubbornly refused his touch. She was confused by the changes in her body. She was even more fiercely resistant to his approach than usual.

There was no choice. Doyoon slipped his finger between his molars and bit down hard. Feeling the pain and the metallic taste, he held out his bleeding finger to Bibi. The pupils of Bibi, who had smelled the blood, narrowed. The woman who had been wary just moments ago was soon distracted by Doyoon’s blood and took a step forward.

Bibi was willing to do what Doyoon wanted to get blood, and Doyoon was willing to give a few drops of blood to get Bibi to put on clothes. Since their goals were the same, the distance between them definitely narrowed.

“Lower your head.”

Doyoon first managed to slip his t-shirt over Bibi’s head. All that was left was to put her arms through… he could just grab them and force them in. Ah, should he take off that tattered cloth first? While Doyoon was contemplating the order, Bibi surprisingly solved the problem.

She quickly tore apart the cloth wrapped around her body and put her arms through the sleeves of the shirt. Thanks to Doyoon’s quick turn of his head, her vital parts weren’t visible.

“Good job.”

As a reward, Doyoon held out his bleeding thumb. Bibi, with crazed eyes, instantly brought it to her mouth. Her red lips greedily swallowed the tip of Doyoon’s thumb. She used her tongue and fangs to suck and lap up the blood.

He hadn’t noticed when she looked like she was dying, but seeing her now, he truly realized she was a vampire. Pale skin with visible fine veins and eyes as red and luminous as blood. She had the form of a human, but her very aura was different, a creature of the night. Boasting perfect beauty, yet a cursed being of God, destined to take root in the lives of others.

“Senior! You haven’t been charmed and eaten, have you?”

Namwon knocked on the door from outside, asking anxiously.

“Come in.”

Doyoon withdrew his finger from Bibi’s mouth. Bibi stared at his fingertip with regretful eyes.

“No, what’s going on here? How did she suddenly grow like this?”

Namwon came in, asking what the situation was.

Pondering the reason, Doyoon looked down at his palm. Two black holes that were already fading. The marks where Bibi had bitten him yesterday were healing quickly.

Blood.

His blood.

A hunter’s blood,

More special blood.

It seemed to have the factor that could restore a malnourished vampire to full health overnight.

“I’ve never seen a hybrid recover like this. It seems she’s definitely a pureblood, just like you said, Senior. What are you going to do now? Are you really not going to report this to the association?”

Namwon wore a troubled expression. In contrast, Doyoon confidently raised his eyebrows.

“I’m going to tame her.”

He now knew how to tame her. Bibi was absolutely crazy about Doyoon’s blood. And she thought of herself as a hunting dog. Was there any need to take the difficult route?

“Bibi.”

Called by her name, Bibi slowly tilted her head back. Her bewitching face looked straight up at Doyoon.

“From now on, I’m your master.”

A sharp arc was drawn across his expressionless face. Doyoon had decided to become the new master of the hunting dog.

________________________________________

The new dwelling was on the top floor of a building in the middle of Seoul. Instead of cold concrete, thick, smooth glass served as walls separating the inside from the outside, and the interior was made of materials that reflected fluorescent light.

Bibi, who hadn’t paid much attention to the spaces she stayed in, found it fun for the first time to look around at the interior design.

Seoul, which she was visiting for the first time in her life, was a wondrous place. Solid concrete buildings stood densely packed like chicken coops, hundreds of thousands of people marched like ants, and the night was truly a city that never sleeps. Even at dawn, it was as bright as midday.

This place was paradise for a vampire. Aside from having a good view, young and vibrant prey was abundant.

She didn’t want to hunt, but she was confident she could do well if ordered to. Her body was healthier than ever, and she was bursting with energy. Unlike the frail old people of the past, she felt she could easily catch the young humans actively moving around outside.

But Bibi didn’t know how to go outside. Just like the villa, this place also had a tricky and complicated way to unlock the solid iron door. Without the password, she couldn’t leave. All the humans overflowing outside and the energy remaining in her body were useless. What did Doyoon, who had declared himself her new master, intend to do with her by bringing her here?

“You’ll live here from now on. Try to adapt gradually. Feel free to roam around as much as you want without being self-conscious.”

He didn’t ask for anything and didn’t explain anything. He simply came around once a day, around 6 PM, took out a blood pack, placed it down, turned on the television, and left.

Every time, Bibi would hide herself tightly in a corner and take a defensive stance. Doyoon didn’t seem to mind much that the vampire he had captured wasn’t visible.

After Doyoon left, Bibi would sneak out and stare at the television screen. The wide, desolate living room was filled with the noise created by dramas and various entertainment shows. Thanks to that, the loneliness she felt when alone was halved. It was a false comfort, but much better than silence. It didn’t make her feel completely cut off from the world.

Bibi crouched down in front of the television. Through the large screen, she indirectly saw and learned about human life and lifestyles. How modern society functioned, everyday terms and customs between humans, how to use household appliances and the bathroom, and so on.

Among the things she saw on television, the most impressive scene was of a woman with an appearance similar to hers, wearing flamboyant clothes and lots of accessories, having a party.

It reminded her of her former owner, and their happy laughter seemed increasingly strange to her the more she watched. Bibi had never laughed out loud like that in her life. She tried lifting both corners of her mouth, but it felt awkward and strange, like using muscles she had never used before.

If she wore clothes similar to that human, would she be able to laugh naturally too?

Imitating humans was a vampire’s instinct. She had already finished exploring the house, so she knew where the dressing room was and what kind of clothes were there.

Since she was alone and had nothing to do anyway, Bibi ran to the closet and took out a shirt with lots of cubic zirconia and tried it on. Fastening the buttons was difficult, but observing her reflection in the mirror for the first time in her life wasn’t too bad.

No, it was even interesting. Especially, she liked her face, which looked vibrant, healthy, and full of life, unlike before.

Bibi raised her arm. The wrist, which had been like a dry twig, now had soft flesh. Her hair curled with vitality. The shirt she had wrapped around her body suited her very well. Just like the humans on television.

Bibi smiled without realizing it. On a roll, she even tried on some accessories, but then she suddenly stopped, startled by her own actions. A hunting dog trying to look fashionable. It wasn’t against the rules, but she felt guilty.

Bibi belatedly realized Hunter Kwon Doyoon’s intentions. He was undoubtedly trying to tame her using blood and possessions. What an absurd thing. Bibi had no intention whatsoever of accepting him as her new master. If he tried to force a leash around her neck, she would bite him hard.