Chapter 91: Rachnera Arachnera
Returning back to the girls dorm didn't take long from the Academy grounds.
She was still wearing the maid outfit.
The frilly fabric rustled with each step, the short skirt swaying around her thighs, while her white stockings were just there to be the 'Cute' factor. She was lucky because most students were back at the dorm because walking back like this would've stirred quite the commotion.
Yet now, she couldn't bring herself to care since her mind was entirely captured by one person.
'He said he loves me. He actually said he loves me.'
'Ahhh, Tsukune-kun, I want to kiss you again so badly.'
She reached up and gently patted the small bulge nestled between her breasts. A tiny, furry head poked out from the neckline of her maid outfit, two crimson eyes blinking at her with some fake bite in them.
"You're so adorable."
[Stop saying that! I am not adorable. I am a dignified vampire here, a creature of the night, a—]
His voice echoed in her mind, a low chuckle, dripping with amusement, as he was using his telepathy, one of the many abilities he awakened since being turned into a Vampire. Even in his bat form, she could hear the smirk and cynicism he was carrying.
She bit her lip, holding back from grabbing the bat and smuttering in kisses all over its fluffy and furry body.
Suppressing a giggle, she said. "I can't help it, Goshujin-sama. You're just so cute like this."
[I am going to pretend you didn't say that.]
She laughed softly, the sound bright and unguarded. The bat's ears twitched, and she could feel his embarrassment radiating through their connection.
"The night is quiet. The Dorm Mother won't notice us."
[Don't say that. You'll jinx it.]
She made her way through the dormitory entrance, her footsteps silent against the polished floor, not stopping to make a fool of herself while some other girls from the Academy were outside, enjoying the cool temperature of the night.
Some of the girls were the nocturnal Yokai type, much like herself, and couldn't sleep in the heart of the night, so instead, they spent time sharing stories, talking, playing games, and amongst all girls gossiping about everything taking place in the Academy.
"Is that Kurono-san? What is she wearing?"
"Oh my, that's quite the bold outfit. Is she trying to attract someone's attention?"
"Did you see the way she walked? She looked like she was on a mission."
"I heard she's been spending a lot of time with that first year Vampire guy, Aono Tsukune. Maybe she's trying to—"
"Shhh, she might hear you!"
"What?? She's clearly about to send him some hot pictures."
Kurumu ignored them, rushing to her room as if that was the biggest mission of tonight. Top priority, indeed.
The hallway of the dorm was empty, the girls already in their rooms, at least those who weren't planning on skipping morning classes.
She paused, her senses reaching out. She could feel the presence of the crows, perched on the rafters above, their beady eyes fixed on her. Mother Vanga's familiars, watching, waiting, reporting.
"She's not here tonight." whispered Kurumu for only Tsukune in his small bat form to hear.
[I can sense her Yoki, but it's faint. She's elsewhere in the building, hmm, her Yoki seems to be somewhere down. Basement?]
"We should hurry."
She quickened her pace, the bat bouncing gently against her chest, and for once Tsukune now understood the Heaven that Kuriboh would usually find himself when he distributed him like toys to his girls.
The hallway stretched before her, lined with doors, each one identical to the last. She reached her room and fumbled for the key, her fingers trembling slightly with anticipation of what she was about to do with Tsukune. In her mind she was already too excited ready to eat him up.
Then she heard it.
A soft, rhythmic clicking of heels and she froze, her hand hovering over the lock. The sound grew closer, and she turned with an expression as if she was caught in the act.
Rachnera Arachnera emerged from the shadows like a specter, her form silhouetted against the dim light of the hallway. She was tall, taller than Kurumu, almost the same height as Tsukune, her presence commanding without being threatening.
Her short lavender hair fell across her face, covering her right eyes, while the other five, six in total, gleamed with a faint, pupil-less red light. On this part, Kurumu couldn't help but admire Rachnera for breaking the Academy rules on a daily basis by revealing a part of her Yokai identity. They were monochromatic, unblinking, and yet somehow warm, carrying an intelligence that made Kurumu's skin prickle.
Her sharp, pointed teeth flashed as she smiled, a knowing expression that seemed to see right through her.
She wore a flowing dress that hugged her curves, the fabric a deep purple that seemed to drink the light. A large skull design was embroidered on the back of the dress, a macabre touch that somehow suited her perfectly.
From her shoulders down, her arms were covered in a black carapace that gleamed like polished obsidian. Her hands ended in sharp, gauntlet-like points, long fingers that could easily tear through flesh, yet carried themselves with delicate grace.
Her ample cleavage was barely contained by the dress's plunging neckline, and Kurumu couldn't help but notice that Arachne's measurements were considerably more generous than her own. Girls were competitive in their nature, that observation she made was filled away with a twinge of envy.
She's two years younger than her, so of course she'll not lose the battle in the long run.
"Kurumu-chan," she said, her voice a low purr. "What a delightful surprise. I didn't expect to see you dressed so... exquisitely at this hour."
Kurumu's throat tightened. 'Of all the people to run into, it had to be her. The one person who always made her skin crawl...'
"Rachnera-senpai," she breathed once, trying to calm herself and also keeping polite. "I was just... heading to bed."
"At this hour? Dressed like that?" The Arachne's gaze swept over her, lingering on the frilly hem of the skirt. "Some might say you've been up to something ecchi out there. It's quite the bold fashion choice."
"Are you perhaps considering joining the Cosplay Club? I could put in a good word for you. We're always looking for new members with... presence."
Kurumu forced a smile. "I am good with the Newspaper Club. It just so happens that I took part in a shoot."
"Ahhh, a photoshoot, how nice." Rachnera's smile widened, "Well, if you ever get interested in the Cosplay Club, you know where to find me. After all, I have connections."
She moved toward her, her heels clicking softly. "The Tailoring Club, which I preside over, supplies the Cosplay Club with all their... specialized pieces. If you ever want something custom-made, you know where to find me."
Initially, when Kurumu had first interacted with this third-year senpai of hers, she had been quite fearful. Rachnera Arachnera's presence was intimidating, her Yoki so dense it made the air around her feel heavy. The difference between an S-tier Yokai and a young Succubus like herself was stark, almost insurmountable.
And yet, after overcoming the initial awkwardness, Kurumu had grown more comfortable. Rachnera was sharp, perceptive, and had a dry wit that caught her off guard. They had bonded over their shared interest in fashion, gossiping about human drama shows and the latest trends from the human world.
'She's always like this, giving the impression she's about to eat you, but it's nice to talk with Rachnera-senpai. She's amongst the few seniors that like to interact with us first-years.'
"Thank you, senpai. I'll... consider it," Kurumu said, her voice steady. "But again, I don't intend to change clubs, not now or ever. Only if... Tsukune-kun decides to leave the Newspaper Club."
When Rachnera heard that name, her smile couldn't help but deepen ever so slightly. Then she took in the scents around her, subtle enough that the Succubus didn't even notice. Immediately, her gaze shifted, and her six red eyes narrowed slightly. She stepped closer to Kurumu, tilting her head, her nostrils flaring for just a second.
"Kurumu-chan," she said, her voice carrying a note of curiosity. "Is that a pet you're hiding in your cleavage?"
Kurumu fought hard to suppress the chill that ran down her spine. Being found carrying Tsukune hidden in her bosom was a disaster she hadn't anticipated. She instinctively pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the small, furry form nestled between her breasts.
"I... it's nothing, senpai. Just a... a stuffed animal. For comfort."
"A stuffed animal?" Rachnera's smile was cryptic, almost mocking. "How adorable. May I see it?"
Before Kurumu could respond, a strand of silk shot out from Rachnera's wrist, moving with blinding speed. It wrapped around the bat, yanking it free from Kurumu's cleavage before she could react.
Kurumu gasped, reaching for the bat, but Rachnera was faster. She held the tiny creature in her palm, her six red eyes studying it with an intensity that made Kurumu's stomach churn.
"Ahh caught in the lie. Tsk, tsk. What do we have here?" Rachnera murmured, her voice dripping with amusement. "I didn't think that Succubi would get fond of having pets. You should be careful, Kurumu-chan. If the Hag finds out, you might see it being sent into the blazing cauldron in the basement."
She brought the bat closer to her face, her eyes gleaming. Her sharp, gauntlet-like fingers stroked its fur, and Kurumu could feel Tsukune's tension through the way he remained still.
"This one is cute," Rachnera continued, her voice low. "Quite responsive, and it has a particular fragrance that is to my liking." She paused, her gaze flickering to Kurumu. "Where did you get your hands on this one?"
Kurumu swallowed hard. "Someone gave it to me as a gift. Please give it back, senpai."
"A gift?" Rachnera's smile widened. "Let me guess. Based on the scent and the type... was it from Aono Tsukune?"
Kurumu's heart stopped. She opened her mouth to deny it, but no words came out. The silence was enough for an answer.
"You're not wrong about it. But how do you know Tsukune-kun's scent? Do you two know each other?"
Rachnera's laughter was low. "Do we know each other?" Rachnera's eyes glittered with amusement. "Far more than that, you could say that he's been my promised one."
Kurumu blinked, caught off guard. "Your... promised one?" Wait, was she also another rival trying to stake a claim into Tsukune's vampire, charming, handsome body?
"But he doesn't want to connect more with me because he fears how others would react if he was dating a senior. He fears how my suitors would react, but even when I told him I'll just kill all of them for him, he didn't want to date me outright." She sighed, a theatrical gesture that seemed almost mocking. "I already helped with information about the Academy, and even spun my silk for him to tailor some shirts for him, all of it with the affection of my heart. I even parted ways with some of my spiders to help with a pest problem."
She paused, her gaze growing distant.
"He was so adorable, trying his best to clean his room of those roaches."
Kurumu's eyes narrowed. "You sound like you've seen that in person."
'Hold up, stop the cap.' Tsukune who was being played around by the Arachne Senpai, one of the Heroines even thought she was more of a gothic mommy type, he couldn't help but get alerted by that revelation.
To anyone who didn't put much attention into her words, it might sound as teasing, but to Tsukune, he knew that Yokais, especially someone as strong as Rachnera who was an S-tier Arachne, she had the means to spy on him, and what easier method to surveil the only human in the Academy back when he stumbled in this place.
Rachnera's smile was enigmatic. "No comment, Kurumu-chan."
She gently stroked the bat's fur, her fingers tracing the curve of its tiny head. Tsukune remained still, his six red eyes fixed on the Arachne with an intensity that made Kurumu's skin prickle.
Kurumu's thought in the moment when she noticed Tsukune's reaction was to plead for her reputation.
'Please, honey, don't transform into your human form. It will be so awkward trying to explain myself to Senpai.'
"By the way," Rachnera said, her voice light, "how is your fashion article coming along? Do you need me to bring you any human magazines for research?"
Kurumu blinked, thrown by the sudden shift in topic. "I think I'm good. It still bums me that we're not allowed to get out from the Academy grounds on weekends to visit the human world."
"Give it some time," Rachnera replied, her voice carrying a note of wisdom. "This is how the experience for the first-year students is like. Until you prove yourself to be a non-danger to humans, you'll be confined to the campus. But afterwards, you'll be sent to complete various tasks for extra credit that will take you to the human world."
She smiled, gesturing vaguely toward the window. "Look at Nonko. She's going into the Human World so often that she's completely absorbed by the culture of the humans, especially Tokyo Culture."
Kurumu nodded slowly, her mind still reeling from the encounter. She watched as Rachnera's fingers continued to stroke the bat, her touch lingering a moment longer than necessary.
Finally, the Arachne extended her hand, offering the bat back to Kurumu. "Should I confiscate this pet of yours?? Hmmm, tempting since it has the scent of my beloved. But, if you complain to him, all of my hard work in building my relationship with him will go to ruin."
"Here you go, Kurumu-chan. I've had my fun."
Kurumu snatched the bat back, cradling it protectively against her chest. She could feel Tsukune's tension through the way he remained still, even the expression on his bat form remained as if being thoughtful, his mind racing with suspicion.
Rachnera's smile widened, as if she could hear his thoughts. "Good night, Kurumu-chan. Don't stay up too late, you'll miss your classes and complain again that you'll fail the exams."
She turned and walked away, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The movement was graceful, deliberate, the measured steps of a woman who knew exactly how much presence she commanded.
Kurumu watched her go, her heart pounding, her mind racing. When the Arachne was finally out of sight, she collapsed against the door for support, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Tsukune-kun," Kurumu said, her voice trembling. "Don't tell me she has figured that it was you?"
[Let's not jump to conclusions that quickly. I have been suppressing my Yoki signature, the only thing I can't mask is my scent.]
[You also did well not getting nervous and spilling the beans so to speak.]
[What intrigues me more is the possibility that she might have been spying on me since the start of the Academy.]
Kurumu holding the bat in her hands, looking down at Tsukune who remained in his polymorph shape, she gave him an questionable look, "Wait, you two know each other that early?"
[I can tell you more details about how I got to know Rachnera once we get in your room, so stop lingering, touching that doorknob absentmindedly and open the door already.]
[Do you want to attract the attention of Mother Vanga and see me thrown into a witch cauldron to pay for the broken windows that have not been touched by me, instead being the fault of that stupid dog, Gin?]
She nodded like a chick, then hurried into her room, locking the door behind her shut!
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