Reject Humanity, Return to Monke

"Lupu." I muttered her name under my breath as I gripped my staff tight, before loosening and returning back to my post. "Well, I guess we were just faster."

"True that." She snorted, and from behind the bushes came her entire entourage, numbering more than two dozen. I looked at the group with an indifferent gaze, my physical exterior not showing any sign of intimidation.

Inside my mind, I was a bit at a loss at the numbers of their group. 'I'm pretty sure they can wipe out our group, but they would also suffer casualties, so they're not making any hasty moves.'

"Well, if you won't mind us, we'll just be making camp a few meters away that way. Tell Oshurkova I said hi." With her piece said, she went towards the spot where she designated her camp would be, her subordinates following suit with some of them glaring at us like their mother's killers.

Both Shrum and I observed them move through the foliage and into the plains as they set up their camps about a 300-meter distance away from ours.

'Looks like we'll be neighbors for the time being.'

"Oi, young'un. Go tell Lady Oshurkova about this development. I'll handle this place." I looked at Shrum and nodded as I quickly traversed our camp and into Oshurkova's tent, where the maid twins were once again guarding.

"Oh, Lord Jionnia-ta. Anything happen-ta?" Reia was the first one to approach me, her usual bright smile hanging on her face, with Keia not moving from her spot but nevertheless looking at me as a guard would.

"Yes. Lady Oshurkova must hear of this news ASAP." I brought out my serious face, causing the skimpy redhead maid to lose her cheery smile and adapt the persona of a subservient maid.

"Well then, follow me-ta." Reia gave me a bow and turned on her heels, moving towards the entrance where Keia stood waiting, her eyes still not leaving my form. I followed Reia and once we were next to the flaps, Reia pushed it open to get her lady's attention. "Lady Oshurkova-ta. Lord Jionni is here to see you regarding some important news-ta."

"Come in." Oshurkova's voice sounded from inside the tent, Reia raising the flap higher, making it possible to see inside. I gestured a quick thank you to Reia before entering the tent by myself. Once inside, Reia let the flap down and returned to her post. "Well, Jionni, what kind of news do you have for me today?"

"Oshurkova, the Lewko group has settled about 300 meters away from our camp." Once the words left my mouth, the vampire stopped signing the still growing stack of paperwork sitting right on her desk. After that, she got up from her couch and approached me with a strange look on her face. "Also, Lupu sends her regards."

She stopped suddenly after that last sentence. A moment later, she snorted and laughed a little, stray tears falling from her eyes.

"Well, I kind of expected that." She then began to plop herself on the chair beside me and laid her head on my shoulder, causing me to stiffen at the action.

"Uhh… Oshurkova…?" I squeaked out. I may have felt the body of a woman, but that did not make me used to their touch all of a sudden.

"Shh… Just let me have this…" She leaned in even closer, the entire side of her body now touching my arm. "You know, Jionni, somehow I feel safe around you. Have I ever told you that?"

"… Ermm… No, Oshurkova, you didn't." She chuckled and poked at my furry arm.

"Didn't I tell you to call me Kova when we first introduced ourselves?" She snorted as she continued to poke my arm with her fingers.

"… Yes, Kova." I sighed and relented, giving in to her wishes at the moment since I could see she really needed this. Her eyebags had eyebags for fuck's sake. That is not healthy, no matter if you're an ageless vampire.

"Hehe… Good…" Her voice grew weaker and weaker until she finally fell asleep, her arms clutching into mine like a hug pillow. I sighed and leaned back on the couch.

'Welp, might as well take a nap as well…' I closed my eyes and waited for the blissful agents of sleep to take me to their domain.

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My nap did not go so well. I was more tired than I was when I was trying to take a nap. The reason?

Motherfucking dreams about Shrum's sex life… Why? Why did it have to follow me there…?

Anyway, once I woke up, I realized that Oshurkova was still deep asleep, clutching onto my arm that was beginning to go a little numb. Looking around, I saw Reia peeking from the flaps, along with Typhial who was giving me a death glare and Catalina giving me a thumbs up with a lecherous smirk.

Keia… was being Keia as she continued to stand guard outside the tent.

They continued to stare at us, but made no noise. I mentally shrugged my shoulders and focused my gaze on the sleeping vampire. She looked so harmless, unlike the vampire who killed the betraying lamia in cold-blood.

I stroked her platinum-blonde hair, causing her to snuggle deeply even more. I heard a tiny squeal from the direction of the entrance, as well as a cry of rage, but that was ignored as I continued to stroke this vampire's hair.

It's just so silky…

As the time went on with stroking her hair, Oshurkova began to stir, her eyes slowly fluttering about, until they opened and she looked at me with confused, blood-red eyes. Taking a look around, she zeroed in on my face after her quick scan, and gave a dazzling smile.

"Thanks for letting me rest, Jionni. I appreciate it." Oshurkova let go of my arm as she stood up and stretched, her dresswear clinging tightly onto her lithe form, accentuating her bust and ass more.

If I wasn't sure, I'd say she was doing this on purpose, which judging by the knowing smirk on her face, made me conclude that she was doing it on purpose.

"Anytime, Kova." I shrugged and stood up, nodding towards the vampire who beamed at the use of her nickname.

We traded our goodbyes and one last direction on what to do about the new camp of the Lewko group nearby, and I made my way out of the tent, where Typhial was ready to strangle me to death for being able to stroke her queen's hair and be used like a body pillow.

'Sheesh… I need some more sleep…'