Chapter 32: Phyllis is Even Cuter Wearing a Collar!

‘I like you, my foot!’

That was what Phyllis originally wanted to say.

“However…”

Phyllis stared at the black collar.

It was inlaid with tiny rubies that shimmered with a blood-colored luster under the light.

It looked more like an expensive piece of jewelry than a Magic Tool — if one could ignore the fact that it was a collar.

“What? You don’t like it?”

Carola saw Phyllis’s reluctance.

“Th-this thing…”

Phyllis’s tail lashed restlessly.

“If I wear this, I won’t look like a pet anymore, meow~”

“But you already are.”

Carola nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, a light called pleasure flickering in her red eyes.

“My lover, or my pet, whichever title you prefer. But this…”

Carola took a step forward, and Phyllis took a step back.

“…It can save your life at a critical moment.”

Carola’s red eyes remained fixed on Phyllis.

“If it senses you’ve taken fatal damage, it will generate a highly defensive shield. Although it doesn’t last long, it’s enough for you to escape or hold out until I arrive.”

“……”

Phyllis fell silent.

“Do you really not want it?”

Carola shook the collar in her hand.

“…Fine.”

Phyllis eventually accepted the life-saving Magic Tool.

Faced with a threat to her life, even something with such symbolic meaning as a collar didn’t seem so unacceptable.

“Excellent! Come here, let me put it on you.”

Carola’s voice was gentle, as if she were coaxing a child.

“No! I can do it myself, meow~”

Phyllis rejected Carola’s offer to help.

“Be good, don’t move.”

With one hand, Carola easily pinned Phyllis’s resisting hands. With the other, she gently tilted Phyllis’s chin up.

“Ugh…”

Phyllis gave a token struggle.

Carola took the collar and brought it toward Phyllis’s neck.

*Click~*

The collar snapped shut.

The size fit Phyllis’s neck perfectly — neither too loose nor too tight.

The icy texture of the collar made Phyllis shiver.

Carola released her grip.

“Can… can I take this off, meow?”

Phyllis’s fingers clawed at the edge of the collar as she asked in a weak voice.

“Of course,” Carola smiled.

“I can take it off for you. However, don’t try to force it off~”

“What happens if I force it off, meow?”

Phyllis wanted to confirm the prohibitions.

“It will explode.”

Carola answered flatly.

Phyllis froze.

“Just kidding.”

Carola tilted her head, admiring Phyllis’s appearance with the collar.

“Phyllis had become even cuter with the collar on! I really want to…”

“It will simply trigger the life-saving mechanism early and generate the shield.”

“Oh, I see, meow~”

Phyllis felt relieved.

She took out the Mirror Magic Tool Carola had given her earlier to check her reflection.

Truth be told, it actually looked quite nice.

Furthermore, it suited Phyllis’s temperament perfectly.

Phyllis also realized that wearing the collar didn’t seem to interfere with Carola’s usual Blood Sucking!

It was clear that Carola must have specially designed it for her when she made it.

“Do you like it?”

Carola’s hand stroked the rubies on the collar.

Her cold fingertips occasionally brushed against Phyllis’s skin, sending shivers through her.

“The function is great…”

Phyllis curled her lip.

“But Master, your taste is so strange. Sending me a collar of all things…”

Carola’s eyes narrowed slightly.

In the next second, the world spun for Phyllis as she was pinned into the coffin by Carola.

Carola leaned over her, her white hair falling down and shrouding Phyllis in shadow.

“Strange taste?”

Carola’s voice turned cold, and her fingers pinched Phyllis’s chin.

“Then tell me, my little kitten, what kind of gift would be worthy of my lover — you?”

‘Crap, I said the wrong thing!’

Phyllis’s heart began to pound wildly, and her blue eyes darted around nervously.

“I meant that this gift is very special! It’s very unique, meow!”

Phyllis hurriedly tried to fix her mistake.

“That’s good then.”

Carola stared at Phyllis for a few seconds before suddenly letting out a light chuckle.

She leaned down and whispered into Phyllis’s ear, “Whether it’s the Ventrue Clan or any other entity…”

Phyllis felt Carola’s lips almost pressing against her ear.

“…If they dare to touch you, they must die.”

That statement, unique to a yandere, made all the fur on Phyllis’s body stand on end.

Oddly enough, alongside the fear, a strange sense of security welled up in Phyllis’s heart.

“Did Carola really love her that much?”

Even if that love was a bit twisted.

“O… Okay, meow~”

Phyllis replied softly.

Hearing Phyllis’s response, Carola stood up in satisfaction and pulled Phyllis out of the coffin.

“Tonight, I have to go to the Vampire Main City,” Carola said, smoothing her sleeves.

Her tone returned to being flat, but the red light in the depths of her eyes turned chilling.

“To think they dared to tamper with the blood I sent… I must make them pay the price.”

“Do I have to go too, meow?”

Phyllis pointed to herself.

“No, you stay at home.”

Carola looked at Phyllis.

“While I’m there, I’ll buy more fish for you.”

“Then how long will you be gone, Master, meow?”

Hearing that she would get more fish, Phyllis’s ears couldn’t help but twitch.

“Not too long. Three days at most, but it could take up to one week.”

Carola walked to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains, looking out at the night that was still pitch black.

“I heard a proverb once: ‘The night before dawn is the darkest.’ It seems something is about to happen on the side of the Blood Tribe as well.”

“Huh? Is the Blood Tribe going to war with another race?”

Phyllis could only think of that possibility.

“Was it her own Beastman Race? Or perhaps the Machine Race, who had always been the Blood Tribe’s sworn enemies?”

“Or maybe…”

“I don’t know,” Carola closed the curtains.

“But I believe I’ll find out once I reach the main city. After all, I do hold the title of ‘Blood Princess’…”

According to what Phyllis knew, “Blood Princess” was a title used within the Blood Tribe for members with special abilities.

Members with such titles might not necessarily be great fighters, but they were certainly unique.

And someone like Carola, who was both powerful and unique, was likely rare.

However, if a war was going to break out, even someone as strong as Carola might…

A strange feeling suddenly surged in Phyllis’s heart.

“Was she actually worried about Carola?”

‘No! No! How could I possibly worry about this yandere Blood Princess!’

Phyllis decided she must just be afraid of being bored staying here alone for too long! It had to be that!

“Then… then you should be careful, Master, meow~”

Phyllis turned her face away and spoke softly.

“Oh?”

Carola seemed somewhat surprised by Phyllis’s reaction.

Once she processed it, her lips curled into a genuine smile.

She cupped Phyllis’s face, forcing her to look back, and then Carola planted a gentle kiss on Phyllis’s forehead.

“I will. Wait for me to return.”