Hunger

Rikuya... No... Lunareio stirred, shifting slightly beneath the thick silver-furred blankets. His body ached for rest, but sleep remained elusive. Something felt... off.

Then his stomach growled.

Loudly.

Beyond that, there was this strange urge building up inside him, something primal, like a natural instinct that was oddly familiar yet new.

Like something inside him felt hollow, and he had to devour something to fill it.

He exhaled, pressing a hand against his abdomen as if that would somehow silence the hunger gnawing at him from within.

It wasn't the kind of hunger he was used to—it wasn't a simple craving for food. No, this was the craving to devour dreams.

『Host, I advise consuming the dreams offered to you earlier.』

Lunareio grimaced.

'Yeah, no. Hard pass.'

He said that, but deep down he was actually starting to consider it. I mean, he couldn't stay like that forever—hell no, he'd go crazy, or perhaps these urges would just take over.

Turning him into some kind of crazed vampire out for dreams instead of blood.

『Your condition will worsen. This hunger is not one you can simply ignore.』

His stomach growled again, more insistent this time.

He squeezed his eyes shut, exhaling slowly through his teeth.

…Okay. Maybe Guardian had a point.

Lunareio sat up, raking a hand through his long, silky silver hair. He glanced toward the locked door, debating his next move.

Call for Lilith? Or go find her himself?

A part of him hesitated. Summoning her might be the smarter option, maintaining his supposed image as a deity.

But standing around waiting while his body screamed for sustenance? Yeah, no thanks.

"Fuck it," he said, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

He reached for his spear, and the weapon responded instantly, hovering into his grasp with a soft hum. He shrugged on his coat, adjusted the fur-lined collar, and stepped into the hallway.

The estate was quiet, except for the soft hum of enchanted lanterns casting a gentle, silvery glow along the corridors. His boots barely made a sound against the obsidian floors as he glanced around, hoping Lilith was nearby.

Then—movement.

A silver-haired, red-eyed maid approached from the opposite end of the corridor.

The moment she saw him, her crimson irises widened in shock, and she immediately dropped to her knees, head bowed.

"Lord Lunareio, I hope I haven't disturbed you."

Lunareio waved a hand. "No, you're fine. I've been unable to sleep due to... hunger, so I'm looking for Lilith."

As he said that, his eyes seemed to notice something they never had before—a swirling blue energy within the maid. It went up to her skull, down to her abdomen, and was also connected to her heart.

And for some reason, the sight made him gulp, and at the same time, the maid looked so...

'Appetizing. Fuck no, no, no, I meant attractive. Yes! Attractive... The fuck is wrong with me? Shit!'

The maid hesitated for only a second, noticing the intensity in her lord's eyes before replying, "The High Priestess left to act on the prophecy you bestowed upon her, my lord. She should be returning within a few hours."

Lunareio exhaled sharply through his nose.

Of course she did.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling deeply.

"I don't think I can wait that long."

'I'm losing my sanity here. I don't know what I'll do if I'm made to wait that long.'

As if to emphasize his point, his stomach let out another low, insistent growl. The silver-haired maid's lips parted slightly, but she wisely chose to say nothing.

Then—

Strange cosmic blue runes appeared within his line of vision, although he somehow understood them.

⫷『Soulflare Status』⫸

Dream Value: Soulflare

Intensity:

█████████▒░ ❖ 62% ❖⫷ Moderate ⫸

Max: 100% ❖Blazing❖

Purity:

██████████░ ❖75%❖ ⫷Clear⫸

Max: 100% ❖Pristine❖ ❖ Types: Loyalty, Devotion, and Joy. ❖

Seeing this, he instantly understood—

'That is her Soulflare, in other words... Her dreams.'

He could already tell her values were quite high, and for some reason, this sight seemed to only amplify the urge he was feeling.

He leaned in slightly and tucked some of her hair behind her short but pointy ear, a dead giveaway that she was a vampire. He couldn't help but stare at her, like a predator admiring the sight of their meal before a feast.

'I... I... What the fuck am I doing...' he slowly opened his mouth, revealing his rows of sharp teeth. His cosmic blue slit-tongue seemed to glow slightly as it slid out his mouth, anticipating the taste... eager to savor it.

But then—

『Warning.』

『Possible threat detected. Threat Level: Delta. Threat could possibly escalate. Investigation necessary.』

He suddenly pulled away from her, feeling some semblance of sanity return.

His grip on his spear tightened, his cosmic blue eyes shining slightly.

'Threat, now? Really, Guardian? Can't you read the room? But... I guess I should thank you... Wait, this is all your fault! Shit, I just want to get away from all this. Where the hell is the threat?'

『Presence detected in a ruined temple on the outskirts of the kingdom of Aradorn. Immediate action recommended. Refusal will trigger auto mode.』

He sighed. He didn't have a choice.

'Fuuuck, hopefully, I don't go crazy before I handle whatever this is.'

He glanced at the maid momentarily, then spoke, in his calm refined voice, "Tell me, maid, what is your name?"

Her hard eyes narrowed with a touch of seriousness, placing her hand above her chest as she lowered her head. "My name is Navria, my lord."

"Navria..." he repeated as he walked past her, pausing to glance at her from the corner of his left eye. Beyond his shoulder, he spoke calmly, "I want to step out for some fresh air, Navria. Also handle some things. Hopefully, I'll meet Lilith and get some dreams to eat."

His words caused the maid to rise to her feet in shock. "But, my lord... It was not long since your revival. You are undoubtedly still weak. It would be improper to let you leave without an escort."

Lunareio's gaze flickered over the maid, his lips twisting into a smirk. "I'm not as fragile as you think."

But then his stomach growled, causing him to look forward in shame, but he managed to keep a poker face but his pride had been bruised, "But if you're so insistent, bring me one—just in case."

The maid hesitated for a split second before nodding, rising from her kneeling position. "As you wish, my lord. I shall fetch an escort at once."