A Vampire Pastry Chef

Standing on the podium alongside them, I pressed my right hand lightly against my left chest, a dazed expression on my face.My heart…it hasn’t slowed down, I murmured.What’s happening?

The star-like flashes of the cameras below the stage, along with the host’s effusive praises, seemed to fade into non-existence before me.

Judging by the thrumming I felt in my palm, my power should have activated without issue…

Why, then, had I lost to that woman?

The finals had concluded, and despite my zero wins in the round-robin, I had somehow secured the third-place title.My anticipated reward, however, had dwindled to a mere set of exercise dumbbells.

After changing back into my everyday clothes and rejoining the others, I noticed a faint trace of doubt lingering on everyone’s faces.

Leidi, her voice tinged with concern, was the first to speak. “Xiaobai, did something happen during the match?”

Lowering my head, I pressed my right hand against my left chest once more. “I don’t know,” I confessed. “My power should have activated normally…” My heartbeat, I noticed, had already returned to its usual rhythm.

“Was it that contestant who looked as if they’d stepped straight out of a post-apocalyptic game?”

“…”

I offered no reply to Brother Mingdao’s inquiry, my mind still replaying the scene of my arm wrestle with that woman.

It had been an overwhelming defeat; I hadn’t even been afforded the slightest chance to resist.

“Xiaobai, perhaps that—”

“Ah! There you are!”

Ruka sister seemed poised to tell me something, but a familiar voice abruptly cut her off.

I immediately spun around, only to see that strange woman, still clad in her heavy attire, now with a large backpack slung over her shoulder!

“Ah, without the bunny girl outfit, it was truly difficult to find you…” The strange woman approached us.

She was looking for me? But why?!

“You must be wondering, aren’t you? Wondering why you lost, correct?!”

Just as I suspected! My power had indeed activated normally; the problem lay with this woman!

Ruka sister interjected, stepping between the woman and me. “Excuse me, who are you?” Her posture suggested a subtle caution.

The strange woman waved a dismissive hand. “You’re this little sister’s friends, aren’t you? I assure you, I mean no harm!” Then, clasping her hands together, she pleaded, “It’s not very convenient to talk here. How about we head up to the karaoke on the next floor? Please, I beg you, you absolutely must agree!”

Exchanging puzzled glances, the four of us ultimately decided to agree to her peculiar request.

After managing to shake off the persistent individuals who wished to follow and take photographs, we were led by this strange woman into a private room at the karaoke establishment on the fourth floor of the department store. She seemed to be a regular, as she merely offered a casual greeting to the person at the counter and proceeded inside without a word about payment.

Once everyone was inside, she closed the private room door, yet only switched on a single, rather dim light.

To be honest, I had never particularly cared for enclosed environments like karaoke rooms, and with the lighting now so dim, I felt a distinct wave of nausea wash over me.

Brother Mingdao was the first to break the silence, his voice carrying a subtle accusatory edge. “Can you speak now?”

The strange woman instructed, “Everyone, please sit down first. I’m just going to the restroom to take this off.” With that, she leaned her large backpack against the wall and disappeared from our view.

It occurred to me that if she could bring the outfit out of the arena, it must genuinely belong to her. Yet, why would she consistently wear such heavy clothing?

After we had waited on the sofa for a while, the strange woman reappeared, now clad only in a small tank top and fitted boxer shorts. This somewhat revealing outfit undeniably caused Brother Mingdao’s head to snap around a full 180 degrees, and even I felt a blush creep up, unable to meet her gaze directly.

This strange woman was stunningly beautiful. Her delicate features and slender, almost ethereal figure were undeniably of celebrity caliber, but what truly captivated the eye was her waist-length silver hair. Was she a foreigner? And her eyes—they seemed to be red!

Awkwardly scratching the back of her head, the strange woman settled onto the sofa opposite us. “Sorry to have kept you waiting,” she apologized. “It’s such a nuisance having to wear these thick clothes every time I step outside.”

Ruka sister didn’t seem particularly pleased. “Please explain everything,” she demanded, her tone edged with something akin to displeasure. Was she jealous again?

Arranging the cups, the strange woman poured drinks into each, then, with a small smile, placed them on the table before us.

“My name is Princess,” she introduced, “and I am a human with vampire blood.”

I gasped softly, “Eh?!”

So that was it? This woman wasn’t a pure human after all?! Was she afraid of sunlight because of her vampire lineage? Was that the reason for the thick, face-obscuring clothes? And was that, ultimately, why I had lost?!

Ruka sister, her tone now back to normal, straightened her posture and addressed Princess with a hint of seriousness. “Miss Princess, is it truly alright to disclose such a secret to us?”

Princess smiled, then pointed at me. “The fact that you aren’t overly surprised suggests you’re not ordinary people either, doesn’t it? Much like this little sister here.”

Silence descended upon all four of us. Though our circumstances differed somewhat, her words held an undeniable truth.

To be regarded as fellow non-humans… Well, she didn’t seem to be a malicious individual.

Princess exclaimed, “It’s been so long since I’ve encountered my own kind! Everyone hides exceptionally well within human society.” She paused. “Oh, by the way, would you like some chocolate? I’m actually a pastry chef! Today, I simply stumbled upon the competition while out buying ingredients and decided to join. My shop’s expenses have been quite high recently, so a million yen truly came in handy!” As she spoke, Princess unzipped her large bag, produced a bottle of chocolates, and set it on the table.

“This is one of my proudest creations!” she beamed. “It’s absolutely delicious!”

Ruka sister interjected, “Could you tell me, precisely, why you’re looking for my companion?”

Princess’s enthusiasm seemed to make no impression on Ruka sister. Then again, that was to be expected; they were, after all, strangers meeting for the very first time.

Looking somewhat dejected, Princess popped a chocolate into her own mouth and began to chew. “These aren’t poisoned,” she mumbled.

She was attempting to show goodwill, wasn’t she? It was a rather pitiful sight.

“…”

After a brief silence, Ruka sister also took a chocolate.

And then—

“Mmm?! Delicious!!!”

She had completely lost control.

Princess, beaming with delight, offered the bottle of chocolates to Leidi and me. “Right?! I’m incredibly confident in my craftsmanship!”

Since Ruka sister had eaten one, it surely had to be fine, right? I took a chocolate and popped it into my mouth!

Mmm!

What was this wondrous, ethereal sensation?!!!

In a burst of excitement, I abruptly stood up, startling everyone else on the sofa with my sudden movement.

“Miss Princess, are you the pastry chef who creates ‘Skull Chocolates’?!”

A collective “Eh?!” erupted from the others as they stared at me in utter disbelief.

Princess exclaimed, “Oh!!! You’ve actually tasted ‘Abigail’?! Your palate is truly incredible, to recognize it like that!”

This time, an even louder, more astonished “Eh!!!!!” erupted from the group as they turned their disbelieving gazes towards Princess.

I never imagined I would actually encounter the genius pastry chef I had so longed to converse with!