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“What…!?”

The Abysscall let out a scream-like cry.
The reason was simple. The Pisces had vanished. If the object you were about to sink suddenly disappeared, you’d be startled.
The swarm of tentacles lost sight of their target and lashed out, tearing through the sea.
As a result, a violent spray of water rose up, but that was all.

As for me, I was looking down from a literal high vantage point—the sky—watching Abysscall frantically scan his surroundings.
What I did was simple. I simply stowed the Pisceus, my clothes, and the megaphone into the Blood Box, used my bat-transformation skill to change my form, and made a quick getaway.
Even as a tiny bat, my speed remains unmatched. I flew at high speed, weaving through the rain of tentacles, and managed to escape high into the sky.

…Tentacle play isn’t my thing.

The squid’s tentacles are thicker than my body, so I’d probably get squished before things even get hot, but I hate it either way.
Right now, there’s something dangling from my body as a bat. This is the one thing I can’t store in the Blood Box.
It’s something absolutely impossible to store even at Skill level 10, due to the Skill’s properties, so I’ve had to keep it on me the whole time.
Flying carefully enough not to drop it, yet quickly enough to escape the tentacles, was a huge hassle, but since I needed it, there was no choice.
After reaching a sufficient altitude, I reversed the transformation.
Being naked is cold and makes me feel vulnerable, but I can solve that by taking clothes out of the Blood Box and putting them on.
Though I say “putting them on,” I don’t actually need to slip my arms through the sleeves. That’s because the Blood Box possesses the ability to dissolve objects directly into my bloodstream.
My blood circulates throughout my entire body. Aside from my hair and nails, which lack blood vessels, I can retrieve items from wherever I wish.
Since my skin is thin enough for objects to pass through, I don’t need to injure myself to draw blood.
The clothes appeared as if seeping out from within my body, and the change of clothes was automatically complete.

Obviously, once I cancel my bat form, my wingless body will be pulled by gravity and fall into the sea.
But since I’m flying at a considerable height, I have plenty of time before that happens.
Plenty of time to eliminate that squid.

“Where is it!? Where did it go!?”

Screaming hysterically, the Abysscall swung his tentacles wildly in every direction. He’s even spitting out squid ink—he’s clearly furious.
Staring at the squid, I reached for something I’d been carrying on my body the whole time—a leather belt.
Hanging from the end of the belt is a large canteen. When I open the lid, I’m hit by a familiar scent.

…It’s blood.

I’d asked Samakah to collect small amounts of blood from the soldiers. That’s what’s inside the canteen.
Yes, blood is the one thing that can’t be stored in the Blood Box. Even a skill with a ridiculous effect like “dissolving existence for infinite preservation” can’t override this one rule.
You can’t mix blood with blood.

“Blood Arms”

It’s simple. Just scatter blood into the air and activate the power. It’s hassle-free and truly straightforward.
The “Arms” in Blood Arms doesn’t refer to the plural form of “arms” (as in limbs), but rather to “weapons” or “to arm oneself.”
As the name “Blood Arms” suggests, this ability creates weapons from blood.
The higher your Skill level, the more robust and numerous the weapons you can create with less blood. At max level, a single drop of blood is enough to make a sword.
A power bestowed upon me—one I would never choose myself, but was recommended by that Loli Grandpa. I made no hesitation in wielding this Skill.
The blood scattered into the air expanded, completely disregarding its original mass. Taking shape, it solidified. It ceased to be a liquid and established itself as a distinct weapon.
Just look at how enormous that squid is. Each weapon would need to be long enough to pierce that massive body. Sharp and long. Just as I had imagined, countless weapons were created.

“‘Trident’”

The shape I chose was a three-pronged spear.
The reason is simple. It’s shaped like the harpoons fishermen use. Since the opponent is a sea creature, this should do.
From the tip to the shaft, each is roughly five meters long. Naturally, the thickness is proportionate. Since I can even control the weight, I set them to a substantial heft.
I managed to create thirty of them from a single canteen. In a matter of moments, they deployed into the air, their three prongs aimed at the squid.
One of the characteristics of high-level Blood Arms is the ability to move them without touching them, provided the movements are simple. It’s a trait that fits this situation perfectly.
All I need to do is give them a slight push, and gravity will guide them toward their target.

…Seriously, what a rude squid.

That town is so warm—perfect for a nap. How dare it ruin that?
I have to leave that place now, but from here on out, I’m sure all sorts of people will take naps there. No one has the right to ruin that happy time.
I couldn’t care less about why it’s attacking.
I just don’t want that town—which is perfect for napping—to be destroyed. And I want to repay a small debt of gratitude. I don’t give a damn about my opponent.
It’s the same for the Abysscall, too. It probably couldn’t care less about my side of the story either. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have cut me off and attacked me.
So, since neither of us is listening to the other, let’s just get this over with.
After all, I just can’t wait to take a nap.

“…It’s a nice town.”

The port town of Alrescha. The climate is pleasant, the sea breeze is refreshing, and the fish is delicious.
Napping while breathing in the scent of the sea was the best, and since it’s a trading hub, there was plenty of food besides fish.
Here lives a former Royal Knight, serious to a fault that she helped a vampire she’d never met before, offering blood and a place to sleep.
And the lord here is a womanizer with zero tact, under the delusion that he’s a looker, but he’s a capable ruler all the same.
Samakah-san keeps the town of Alrescha peaceful, and above all—he’s the kind of person who can get angry when the townspeople laugh at him and just let it go. That means he’s so beloved that even the people under him can laugh at him.

It really is a wonderful town.
That’s why this town will be protected by its own people.
Not by a slacker like me, but by the people of this town.
All I’m doing is giving them a little push.
Just a tiny bit—something even a lazy vampire like me feels okay doing.
To turn the blood of this town’s people into a force that protects them.

“Well then, everyone—please protect your town.”

Following my nudge, the trident spears hurled themselves forward.
The initial velocity I gave them accelerates as they’re pulled by gravity. From here on out, even if I do nothing, everyone—everyone’s blood—will take care of it.
I’m just spacing out. I don’t work, and I don’t want to.
The swarm of tridents rapidly gained speed. Soon they passed me by and rained down on the squid.

“Wh—…Ohhhhhhh!?”

By the time the Abysscall realized, it was already too late.
Just like what it had done to others, just as the small boats it had sunk into the ocean.
It was swallowed, and vanished.

“Goodbye.”

I added a farewell to the rain of tridents.
As I watched the Abysscall get pierced countless times, I transformed my body into a bat.
After making sure the giant squid vanished into the depths of the ocean, I flew away from the scene.

…What a waste.

If only it’d listened to me properly, all the blood Samakah-san prepared would have been mine by now.
Since becoming a vampire, I’ve already drunk blood several times. Lately, I no longer feel that drinking blood is “outside the bounds of common sense”; rather, I’ve even started to take an interest in the taste of blood other than Felnoute-san’s.
A blend of blood from all sorts of people. I was really looking forward to it as a snack. Such a shame I had to use it.
Sighing inwardly—a sigh I couldn’t let out as a bat—I flew away from Alrescha.

…Flying is actually pretty tiring.

.

Since boarding the Pisces would draw attention, I had no choice but to fly like this, even if it was a hassle.
Mist Form and Shadow Form are too slow for travel, so this is the fastest and least conspicuous way.
Ah, man. I just want to get back to solid ground, lie down, and rest.
The sun is starting to set. Night is coming soon, which means it’s time to sleep.
I want to rest soon. I hear vampires are most active at night, but honestly, I couldn’t care less.