Chapter 05: Creature of Darkness

"Breakfast's ready, brother. Hurry up," Sophie announced from the kitchen in her sweet voice.

I finished arranging the cups and chocolate chip cookies on the tray, getting everything set for us to enjoy together.

Usually, we'd stick to simple and affordable meals, just having bread in the morning. But thanks to my recent raise as a librarian, we could treat ourselves to a few luxuries every now and then.

As I saw Sophie sitting across from me, radiating her usual grace, I couldn't help but notice how much her appearance had improved since we started eating properly again.

Her black hair looked shinier, straight, and flowing down to her lower back. Her fine face was accentuated by those large, deep blue eyes. Her skin maintained a whitish tone, but in her case, it was a pure and healthy white.

Despite her petite figure, she exuded a natural elegance without overdoing it. Standing at around 5'6", she wasn't particularly tall or curvaceous. Everything about her was simply cute, delicate, and sweet.

Seeing her like this after years of barely eating or eating properly made me happy.

Suddenly, I noticed her gaze fixed on me. I returned a warm smile that seemed to satisfy her. She nodded imperceptibly and turned her attention back to her coffee.

I eagerly took a bite of my favorite cookie, craving its sweetness. However, the moment the first bite touched my tongue, my smile vanished instantly.

The sensation on my taste buds was far from pleasant, quite the opposite, actually. It was the most repugnant taste I had ever experienced.

Not that I had ever consumed feces before, but if I were to draw a comparison, I'd say they weren't too far apart. It took all my willpower not to spit out the fece... I mean, the massive amount of mass in my mouth.

I watched Sophie with bated breath. She let out little moans of satisfaction with each chew.

Clearly, something was wrong with me, not the food!

Could this be part of the transformation, rendering me unable to enjoy food like a regular human? Do I only crave raw blood and hearts? Screw me!

I turned my face away as soon as I tasted the bite, hastily removing it from my mouth. Sophie noticed my displeased reaction.

"You look like you've just sucked on a lemon. Is something bothering you, brother?" She asked with genuine concern.

"Nah, it's nothing. Just got a sudden stomachache. I'll be right back!" I lied, swiftly getting up from my seat.

Once in the bathroom, I emptied the entire contents of my stomach. As I glanced at myself in the mirror, my complexion appeared sickly.

I rinsed my mouth repeatedly until the taste was completely gone. Then, I splashed water on my face to freshen up and ensure my discomfort was no longer visible.

'Damn! Am I a freaking ghoul now?'

Upon returning, I made the decision not to disclose my recent discomfort to Sophie. I didn't want to needlessly worry her.

However, knowing how observant she was, it was clear that she would notice the change, no matter how hard I tried to conceal it. When she turned her gaze back to me after finishing her meal, all I could do was sigh.

"Feeling better now? You're looking paler than your usual self today," she remarked, carefully examining me from head to toe. "Hold on a minute... you look different, very different."

Before I could react, she was already standing next to me, inspecting me closely. She lifted my shirt and ran her fingers over my abs. Feeling my new muscles, she opened her eyes wide.

"You've got muscles, and you've even grown more... I didn't notice it before because I was concerned, but... you definitely look different! What have you been up to?"

Fortunately, she didn't lift my shirt any further, or else she would have noticed the abnormality in the form of a tentacled tumor on my chest. Still, her furrowed brows revealed her confusion as she looked up, locking eyes with me.

"There's no way I wouldn't know every single detail about my brother. I've always kept an eye on you since we were kids. So, I can definitely tell that you're different today."

I offered her a slight smile and gently patted her hair, trying to reassure her.

"Let me explain. I think I've hit a delayed growth spurt, you know, the long-awaited late puberty." I said with my best 'trust me' smile. "I mean, I'm 19, but hey, better late than never, right?"

That excuse was really lame but I had no better option.

I couldn't tell her I was injected with Super Soldier serum either.

Sophie raised a skeptical eyebrow, though she allowed herself to be comforted by my touch.

"Really? The famous puberty, huh? How impressive," she played along with my little game.

"Yep! Puberty works wonders. I grew 5 cm, developed muscles, and even became handsome. My skin even turned pale!"

"Hehe~ You're not sounding very convincing..." She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "But I have to admit, you do look more handsome than ever. I'm glad to see you strong after all those years where you could barely carry your own weight."

Her tone reassured me. Even if she didn't fully buy my excuse, at least for now, it seemed like she didn't want to dig deeper.

"Soph, could I borrow your phone for a moment? Mine ran out of battery."

"Sure, here you go." She responded, pulling her old cellphone out of her pocket. "What do you need it for?"

"I need to call the bookstore manager and explain my absence today." Luckily, I had the number memorized.

After dialing, I had to endure a lecture from the manager. Nonetheless, I managed to resolve the matter and obtained permission to take the day off. Problem solved!

I took advantage of my day at home to fully dedicate myself to understanding my new changes. Under the guise of studying, I spent most of my time locked up in my room.

Those hours were primarily focused on gaining some control over my overwhelming strength. I started with light exercises and gradually increased the intensity.

Though I still struggled to fully master it, I made progress that allowed me to move without the fear of breaking everything in my path. Before, even holding a tray was a tremendous effort.

Speaking of which...

"When I held Sophie's shoulder, it must have been my protective instinct that made me adjust my strength. I also stroked her head," I muttered to myself.

Just the thought of potentially hurting her sent a shiver down my spine.

During that time, many doubts also plagued my mind.

Was I truly someone's slave now? If so, why did that so-called werewolf bring me back home safe and sound, even leaving food to satisfy my thirst? His actions seemed too kind.

I also couldn't shake off the voice that faintly echoed in my mind that morning. I couldn't place it, but it sounded eerily familiar.

And... I placed my hand on my chest.

A connection. A soft pang resonated in my chest at the thought. When I mentioned the small hope of finding salvation earlier, I was referring to this connection. Maybe that person can help me.

×××

Another day came, to my misfortune.

"I'm heading out," I yawned lazily as I stepped out of the house.

"Take care."

Sophie waved goodbye to me with a smile from the doorway. Poor thing, she still hadn't returned to school after the incident.

As I walked, I couldn't help but squint my eyes against the midday sunlight—damn, it's annoying! Lately, the sun has been giving me an unsettling feeling. Every ray of sunshine feels like a searing stab on my skin.

"Damn, that lying mutt said we were immune to sunlight. Instead, I feel like I'm being roasted alive."

If that stupid lycan were right in front of me right now, I'd spit in his face first and then kick his ass.

Anyway, the sun and I are not compatible. At this rate, I'll end up turning into a damn Dracula.

On the other hand, though, last night I felt stronger than ever. It was as if something inside me awakened and filled me with power. I think I've truly become a creature of the night.

I went from being able to stay awake until 1 a.m. to being sleepless until the next day. I haven't slept at all! If it weren't for those sun rays, I wouldn't even feel like going to bed.

Last night, I decided to go for a run through the streets just to test it out, and to my surprise, I could see in the dark as if it were daytime! After my transformation, I was already fast, but under the cover of night, my speed and strength reached a whole new level.

If I had to give an example, my human version would be a snail, my daytime version a turtle, and my nighttime version a super-fast rabbit.

But it's a shame... Unlike during the night, I become completely lazy during the day.

Anyway, I finally arrived at my school.