— — — — — —
Just as the atmosphere in the room was starting to get awkward, Asagi Aiba seemed to sense the tension and hesitantly asked. "So... it really won't work? Can't we at least talk it over?"
"Ahem." Sensai Aiba cleared his throat, gave his daughter a complicated look, and let out a helpless chuckle.
"Asagi, it's not a matter of whether it'll work or not."
He understood her desire to cure her mother—but he never expected his daughter to come up with such a… risky idea.
'Do you even understand what becoming a vampire, a Blood Servant, actually means?'
'You're putting your dad in an impossible position here!'
'And seriously, do you have that many issues with me as your father?'
But in response, Asagi only shot him a cold, sharp glare, like a warning.
That was when Sensai realized—no matter what he said right now, he was going to be wrong.
In his daughter's eyes, anything he said at this point probably looked like he didn't really want to save his wife.
If he pushed too hard, she'd probably start thinking he didn't care whether her mother lived or died—and just the thought of that gave him a headache.
Left with no good options, Sensai turned his gaze toward Ryo, silently pleading for backup.
Right now, only Yagami could defuse the situation.
"Ahem."
Ryo coughed lightly to draw Asagi's attention, then spoke. "Asagi, like I said—it's not about whether we want to do it. It's about whether it's possible."
Asagi turned to him, her expression showing confusion—but at least she wasn't glaring at him like she did at her dad. That alone made Sensai feel a little bitter.
Ryo paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "What does it take for a vampire to suck blood?"
"…Some kind of… desire?" Asagi's face turned slightly red as she realized what he was getting at.
"And there's the problem," Ryo said, spreading his hands in mock frustration. "If sucking blood requires that, then don't you think making a vampire might need even more? Yeah, it's sexual desire."
"Plus, becoming a blood servant to someone of the opposite gender is akin to marriage."
Asagi's face immediately turned crimson.
She finally realized she'd just asked a very stupid question.
Ryo sighed, watching her squirm in embarrassment. "Look, I really don't want to end up becoming your stepdad."
"That's enough! I get it already!"
Flushed with embarrassment, Asagi shouted and then quickly glanced toward her father, a little sheepish.
"You get it now, right?" Sensai said with a helpless expression. "I just want a son-in-law, not a romantic rival, you silly girl."
But the moment he said that, Asagi's rebellious streak kicked in.
"Maybe not... after all, Mom's been planning to ditch you for a long time."
She said it, but deep down she knew it wasn't true.
A woman who hadn't even filed for divorce after two whole years of being ignored by her husband clearly wasn't the type to leave just because someone else came along.
Sensai could only sigh at his daughter's teenage defiance—especially since her future boyfriend might very well end up being his boss.
'God, I hope she grows out of this phase someday…'
Still, now that Asagi had brought up saving her mother, it stirred something in Sensai too.
It's not like he hadn't tried to help. In fact, one of the main reasons he moved to Itogami Island was for the cutting-edge medical facilities.
After all, in the eyes of the world, this island was a massive research hub, housing some of the most advanced medical technology.
Even so, all the experts—doctors, scholars, even magic users—had written his wife off as a lost cause.
But none of those people were Primogenitors.
That thought lit a small spark of hope in Sensai's heart.
"You once said that even if normal people can't fix something, you might be able to. Is that still true?" Asagi asked with a rare note of seriousness.
Sensai opened his mouth, then simply let out a sigh.
Honestly, in a situation like this, it was better for the daughter to take the lead—especially when the guy she's asking already seems to have a mutual crush on her. It wasn't exactly the place for an old man to butt in.
"I did say that, but—"
Ryo didn't even get to finish before Asagi cut him off.
"I'll talk to Mom myself. I just want her to live, that's all."
Sensai stared at her, stunned.
"Asagi, that's enough!" he snapped, then took a breath to steady himself. "Don't be ridiculous. Your mother and I would never agree to something like that."
"Honestly... I'm a little disappointed in you."
His daughter recommending her boyfriend to become her mom's new husband just so she could survive? That kind of plot twist made his stomach churn.
But hearing that only made Asagi angrier.
"I don't care! I just want my Mom to live!"
Her voice was trembling with frustration. Sensai, on the verge of snapping back, took a sharp breath—
But just then, Ryo knocked on the table.
"Hold it. Let me finish."
His tone was firm, and immediately, the heated father-daughter duo froze in place.
Ryo looked over at Asagi, puffing out her cheeks, clearly fuming, and smiled slightly.
"Is turning someone into a Blood Servant really the only idea you've got in that little head of yours?"
Asagi blinked. Then, her eyes lit up. "There's another way?"
"Of course." Ryo nodded. "I can turn people into demons instead. Basically, I can give someone a new race and a new life."
He paused there and gave Asagi a sly, teasing look.
"Still technically a race change, but it's way less awkward. I'd much rather be the son-in-law than show up as the new stepdad."
Asagi's face went completely red. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
And then—thud.
Sensai suddenly dropped to his knees in a full dogeza bow, his forehead nearly touching the floor.
"Please, Your Majesty. Help my wife. I beg you."
"You—" Asagi was stunned speechless.
In all her life, she had never seen her father lower himself like this.
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Ryo stood up from his chair and gently pulled Sensai to his feet, patting his shoulder.
"Let's just call it an employee perk."
He gave a light-hearted chuckle, then turned to ask. "So, which hospital is she in?"
"She's at Itogami City Hospital, ICU B-2," Asagi answered quickly.
Ryo gave her a warm smile. "Mind showing me the way?"
"Mhm!" she nodded, eyes shining.
.
.
.