Chapter 2: A Pig dreams of eating a Swan - Vampires x Devils: Annihilation Master

The first class wasn't long, just the Nekomata, Shizuka-sensei talking a bit about what our next classes and teachers would be, how to handle them, and answering our questions, before allowing us free time to get familiar with the faculties of the Academy.

"Tsukune-san, come with me to have a look around the school. I heard there is a jihanki." said Moka as she jumped on me from behind, wrapping her hand around my arm and dragging me without even considering my response.

*Sigh*

"Sure, but make sure not to exaggerate. Your friendliness is… overwhelming." I accepted in defeat, it was pointless struggling against this Iron Maiden, feeling that I couldn't get my arms out from her grasp whatever I was doing. Having F-tier strength does this to you.

She dragged me around various places on the campus, from exploring the restrooms, at least she didn't drag me inside with her to hold her hand while she was doing her business, followed by the Locker-rooms, then Cafeteria. She went above and beyond to know most key locations of the Academy akin to a diligent student, but even she hesitated to go toward the Kochoshitsu (Principal Office) as it had this dark vibe around, being the last room of the 3rd floor.

"This area is creepy, don't you think the same, Tsukune-san?"

"Seen worse, but yeah, let's not bother the Final Boss. We should return to ground level and take a break. My legs are starting to hurt a bit from all the exploring."

Her eyes lit up with sudden, sharp curiosity. "Final Boss? Isn't that from the human games?" She leaned in closer, her gaze turning intense, almost probing. "Are you by chance close with humans? Any friends maybe?" asked Moka while giving me a silent stare, as if judging my life choices.

"What's wrong with being close with humans? Haven't you heard Shizuka-sensei in the classroom? We need to learn how to coexist with humans." I forced a casual tone, trying to deflect. "Besides, humans are cool, they have all sort of entertainment that you'll never get bored, as long you got money."

I finished with a flash of a money sign and a weak chuckle, my mind already racing to the future fortunes I could build. thinking on how I was sent back to 2008, and had so many chances of striking rich with my 'present' knowledge. Investing in Real Estate, Stocks, Gold, Lithium, and Bitcoin should be on a prio list if I want to have an easy path.

Moka fell silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she spoke softly, her words carrying a strange weight. "I don't know what to say... You sound so like a human Tsukune-san."

To this again, I simply shrugged, a non-committal gesture to bury the subject. But as we got to ground level, the news about Moka's attendance to this Academy and how her beauty was resounding, outmatching the popular senpais. The sight of me being held by Moka in such an close/affectionate manner might be like pouring hot oil into their skin.

Yep, I could feel the 'killing intent', if you could call it that.

"Curse him, how come a loser like him is with a hot babe like her!"

"It should be me all along! I'm such a cool Yokai."

"I must date her, even if it takes killing that bastard."

Now, now, relax you fuckers, before you get past me, you'll have to pass my bodyguard right here. Thinking that while holding an smirk back, I glanced at Moka's face and aside from her 'threat level' which confused the heck out of me, her expression was one of pure, innocent confusion at the commotion, completely unaware that her simple friendliness had just signed my death warrant.

[Name: Moka Akashiya]

[Threat Level: C(Shinso Vampire)]

"Hmm? You got goosebumps, Tsukune-san. Did you caught a cold? How silly of me, us Yokai don't suffer from human illness. Ahh, finally, let's check the jihanki. I want a refreshment."

Our path was blocked by the big blonde 'bully', clearly the archetype of a netorare champion, oozing condescension from every pore.

"They are right, you know... You are cute. Moka, isn't it?" He gave her a predatory smile. "My name's Saizo Komiya. Remember it." His voice was a low, dripping with smug entitlement.

His eyes then slid to me, filled with utter contempt. "Still, what I can't understand is... What's a girl like you doing with a thing like this?"

Seeing this bastard, I was already high on alert, and when he went forward, extending his hand, I just stepped back and took on a southpaw stance.

He let out a grunt of amusement, a cruel smirk twisting his features. "Hmm?"

"Aren't you amusing? Wanna fight me, just because I hang around with my friend? So stupid." I had taken some classes of MMA in the past and knew how to defend myself, and smash someone's face in, but that is if it was a human like me, against an Orc, regardless of how idiotic its form was, was a far cry dream.

Yet in my experience as an gambling enthusiastic, faking and pulling on a poker face was the right response against predators. A honeybadger, with its own craziness, fearlessness and aggressiveness, could fend off even against an Lion's attack. Also, I doubt he'll try to kill me while in the school campus.

"Sure, let's meet outside the school. You and me, the winner decides who has the right to date Moka."

The crowd of spectators erupted into excited chatters and whispers.

"I've heard of this Saizo Komiya!"

"They say he's a real monster masher, haha! He's always chasing girls, especially human girls."

"He caused so much trouble in the human world that they sent him here for fear the Five Principal Clans would retaliate and send him to an early grave. Its rumored that he even dared to mess around with the Vermilion Priestess, Suzaku Himejima."

Ignoring the chatters and whispers, in fact, he got even bolder that he ignored me and stepped forward, closer to Moka. "You just need to experience something better... like me. Once I smash him into a pulp, I'll pick you up next time. When do you want me to pick you up for our date?"

"EEEE!" Moka reacted like how any scared girl that didn't know how to decline people, by pulling me along and avoiding conflict.

"Sorry! I'm hanging with Tsukune now!"

From distance I could hear the fucker say arrogantly "Enjoy him while he lasts!"

You wish, you pig, I thought while glancing at the bastard while giving him a middle-finger that Moka failed to see as she was too focused on running.

After reaching a secluded part of the campus, closer to the teacher's faculty, Moka took a breath of relief that she wasn't followed by the creeper.

"Whoo, that situation was kinda scary, huh? Are you all right, Tsukune-san?"

"Me? I'm okay, but it's troublesome, I got into a shitty situation."

"It's all because of me..."

"It would happen eventually, but... I got to ask. Why are you being so friendly to me, Moka-san? You seem like one of them, the popular girl type all surrounded by people. As for me? I'm rather a dull person, boring and weak."

"Don't say that about yourself Tsukune-san. You are not dull. In fact you were quite cool there, standing out for yourself and... myself. Besides... you already let me suck your blood!" Moka blushed and giggled to herself as she remembered the sweet taste and scent of my blood.

"You should be proud! Your blood is awesome, way more delicious than any I've drunk out of transfusion bags. Your flavor has a sweet taste and the aroma is rich in mana."

*Chuckles* "When you put it that way, doesn't this make me your food supply or something?"

"NOO, you are wrong Tsukune-san. Well... to tell the truth... Tsukune... Y-You were my first... The first person I really sucked blood from, and a girl never forgets her first time!"

"..."

"It that so? Well, I can also say the same, you're the first girl to ever bite me on my neck."

Hearing that she blushed like a tomato, and pushed me hard into a wall that I was shocked to see myself inserted there while my body ached from all bones.

'Damn, she's really strong even as an C-tier threat. No, it has to be her S-tier strength.'

Realizing what she had done unconsciously while flustered, she quickly came to take me out from the wall, apologizing but also flashing that blush on her face.

She apologized once more, and I did forgive her, patting her gently on her shoulder and pulling a stray hair from her face around her ear, pleased with her new reaction.

'I forgive you, since I can't survive without you, and you'll be important in my growth plan. Besides, I kinda like her already, but she can get annoying at times. I think I'll enjoy more her mature persona, which I think was her true persona?'

By the end of the school hours, a collective sigh of relief seemed to pass through the student body as we all shuffled toward the dormitory zone. The area was strictly segregated, with one imposing, castle-like building for the girls and another, more... battered-looking structure for the guys.

It looked like it had survived several wars.

Now the heavy bag slung over my shoulder made perfect, depressing sense.

'So this is why I was carrying my entire life in this duffel bag, I thought with a groan. And the previous me only packed enough for two weeks? What an optimist.'

A wave of mundane dread washed over me.

'Please, let there be washing machines in the Monster World. If I have to scrub my socks with a rock in that blood river, I'm dropping out.'

Moka, walking beside me, seemed to float on a cloud of blissful relief. She clasped her hands together, her eyes shining with genuine delight as she gazed at the campus.

"Ahhh, it's the Dorm. What a wonderful place," she breathed, her voice full of warmth. "It's like Heaven, isn't it? Not having to worry about hiding or interacting with humans, and instead being filled with people just like yourself. Don't you think so, Tsukune-san?"

I couldn't hold back a dry, cynical chuckle. "Heaven? Haha, this is more like a dumping ground from the outside." I gestured with my thumb at the male dorm's scarred facade. "But hey, maybe it's cleaner on the inside? We'll see."

A flicker of hurt and confusion crossed her face, her smile faltering. Her tone became slightly defensive, tinged with a hint of accusation. "You seem to disagree with me. You must have had it so nice in the human world to look down on a peaceful, safe place like this."

'Was it like this for her?' The thought gave me a pang of guilt. While I saw a prison, she saw a sanctuary. My cynical retort died in my throat as a sudden CRASH from the male dorm's second floor rooms snapped our attention back to the present.

Before I could even form a response to her, a lanky, frog-like Kappa was launched through the window, landing in a heap on the dusty ground with a defeated croak.

My question was answered immediately. Towering at the window was a hulking, boar-like Oni, snorting with rage, his tiny eyes blazing and a single, chipped tusk gleaming. He cracked his knuckles, the sound like popping rocks.

"AND STAY OUT!" the Oni bellowed, his voice a guttural roar. "The top bunk is MINE! Anyone else want to challenge the hierarchy?!"

From inside, I could hear the raucous cheers and jeers of other yokai, clearly treating this as the evening's prime entertainment. So much for Moka's "peaceful, safe place." This was less like a dorm and more like a gladiator barracks where the first battle was for the best bed.

I sighed, the weight of my bag suddenly feeling much heavier.

"I hope I don't have roommates." I murmured under my breath.

But the vampire's keen hearing picked it up instantly. Moka tilted her head, a look of pure, innocent confusion on her face. "By the way, Tsukune-san, I didn't have the chance to ask you. What type of yokai are you?"

The air between us grew still.

"..."

Should I tell her? It wouldn't change much if I tell her now or if I attempt to leave this Academy which, let's be honest, I don't intend. I got the chance to transmigrate in this crooked world, at least let's make the best out of it and live my life to its fullest.

Yet my perceived hesitation seemed to spark a realization in her. Her eyes widened slightly, and she waved her hands in front of her face in a flustered panic. "Oh! That's right! It's against the rules to tell, huh? Sorry! You don't have to tell me! Forget I even asked!"

'Heh, a curious one, aren't you?'

Then let's give her a long night. As I readied to get on toward the men's dormrooms, willing to bet all my chips on the fact that the Headmaster wouldn't allow the monsters to kill me as of yet, since it would ruin his fun.

I paused and glanced back at her, my expression unreadable. "Actually," I began, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The reason you enjoyed my blood so much. You know why that is?"

Her confusion deepened, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Why? What is wrong, Tsukune-san?"

I met her gaze, holding it for a heartbeat, letting the weight of my next words hang in the air. "It's because I'm a... human."

The color seemed to drain from her face. Her eyes, once warm and curious, now stared at me in utter disbelief. "You are... a what?"

"Don't joke around with me."

I offered a small, weary smile that didn't reach my eyes. "I'll leave it at that," I said softly, turning my back on her stunned silence. "Have a good night, Moka-san."

And with that, I walked into the lion's den, leaving a very confused and troubled vampire alone with a secret that could get me killed.

Inside the dormitory, the process was unnervingly simple. I just handed over my student ID to the haggard-looking teacher slumped behind the front desk, a tired-looking old man with a long nose, and dark circles under his eyes. He barely glanced at me, just grunted as he checked his documents and slid a key across the counter.

"Room 007. Don't cause trouble," he mumbled, already turning his attention to a stack of complaint forms.

When I reached the dorm room and inserted my key, I couldn't help but let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

'A single-person dorm room. My assumption about the Headmaster becomes more certain, about 60% sure, I'm an entertainment piece for him.'

Looking around the room, it was a stark contrast to the dorm's exterior. In fact, it was surprisingly modern for the standards of year 2008. I had a private bathroom, a small fridge, and a functional desk. It didn't lack any of the comforts of the human world I'd left behind.

I managed to arrange my meager belongings without having to interact with any of the other yokai residents, catching only glimpses of them through cracked-open doors or hearing their raucous shouts from further down the hall. But as the last sliver of sunlight vanished and true night fell over the Yokai Academy, the dormitory came alive.

The chaos was something else entirely. If I wasn't an avid gamer with the ability of integrating quicker, I would be shaking in my boots, pissing my self in bed, thinking I was dead meat.

'Was this how Tsukune from the anime passed the first night here? I couldn't know, just guess based on his wimp personality.'

No matter, I wasn't a weakling, at least not mentally.

While standing in my comfy bed, staring at the ceiling I was also messing around with the System's Interface, mainly the Status Window which was all I had, for now? Who knew.

[Status Window]

[Name: Aono Tsukune]

[Race: Human (Infected - Shinso Vampire)]

---[Core Stats]---

Strength: F (1/100)

Agility: F (1/100)

Vitality: E (15/100)

Intelligence: C (60/100)

---[Supernatural Stats]---

Mana: E (10/100)

So, I have two paths I can take in this Academy, either awaken my Sacred Gear, which only God, like Big G, knows how to awaken, but, unfortunately, I think he's dead in this world. Or try to make use of the power-devouring of the System which can boost my attributes.

It says if I slay, defeat or subjugate any yokai or other supernatural races, I can gain an enhancement.

My eyes, adjusted to the gloom, caught a slight movement on the ceiling. A large, chitinous bug was slowly picking its way across the plaster. It was ugly as sin, with too many legs and a horned, almost human-like face that made my skin crawl. I had no idea what it's name was, but the system helped me identify its name and threat level.

[Threat Level: F(Lesser Uwan)]

A bitter, silent laugh escaped me. Hahaha... I'm as weak as a fucking bug in the Monster World. In their eyes, I was just herd animal, prey waiting to be culled.

But even a herd animal could learn to bite.

Locking my gaze onto the unsuspecting Uwan, my mind began to race, cycling through ideas from the stale to the downright crazy.

'How do I kill it? Smash it with a textbook? Poison it? Could the System even register such a pitiful kill?'

The bug continued its mindless journey, completely unaware that I was cooking something for it. I might be a weak soyboy right now, but my brain was my forte.

I moved silently, the noise from the hall masking any sound. I retrieved a small, sticky piece of dried fruit from my provisions and placed it in the center of the floor. Then, I took my heaviest textbook and my metal desk chair.

I carefully balanced the chair on two legs, propping the textbook precariously between the chair's back and the edge of my desk. It was a shoddy, Rube Goldberg-esque contraption, but it would do. The trigger was a length of string tied to the fruit, running back to my hand as I lay on the bed, pretending to sleep.

Minutes stretched long, but the Yokai form of cockroach finally stirred, its antennae twitching. Drawn by the scent of the fruit, it began a slow, deliberate descent down the wall, its multiple legs moving with eerie silence.

It reached the fruit, its body obscuring the bait. Now.

I yanked the string.

The fruit skittered away. The Uwan, startled, jerked forward. Its movement was just enough to disturb the delicate balance of the chair. For a heart-stopping second, nothing happened.