vampire are vampire.

"It seems that, for reasons unknown, I have been reborn in another world in the form of an infant... This world is either one of medieval antiquity, or my current parents are utterly eccentric. Further observation will be required. Additionally, I appear to possess a degree of night vision, and my physical constitution has been enhanced in some ways. Most importantly..."

He attempted to summon a trace of psychic energy, and in response, a faint, pale flame flickered to life on the raised finger of the newborn.

"My psychic abilities remain undiminished, and my innate talent surpasses even that of the artificially crafted body I once inhabited. This world is rich in psychic energy, a high-energy realm where such power flows naturally, unlike the synthetic methods of my previous existence. In a sense, this is a stroke of fortune amidst misfortune. After all, no matter how dire this world may seem, it cannot possibly be worse than the one I left behind. To simply continue living is enough."

Though his mind was still clouded with questions, the former sergeant, now awake for only a brief moment, felt the weight of exhaustion return. Like all newborns, the majority of his time was spent in slumber—even a former officer of the Cosmic Federation was no exception. Or rather, perhaps he should now be addressed as Vlad von Carstein.

The next time he awoke, it was daytime. The woman who had lain beside him, presumably his mother, was nowhere to be seen. The weather was cold and overcast, and the dimly lit castle interior was so dark that Vlad momentarily mistook it for night.

Yet, despite the gloom, he had no desire to return to sleep—another issue of infancy was plaguing him. He felt hunger, and without a second thought, he began to cry, shamelessly and unreservedly, like any other infant.

His cries roused the maidservants nearby, who hurried to his bedside in a flurry of activity. They lifted him gently, and with practiced ease, quickly discerned his needs. One of them fetched three small bowls containing warm rice porridge, milk, and minced meat, along with a spoon, ready to feed him.

Just then, the door to Vlad's room swung open. A girl entered, no older than six, dressed in a black Gothic-style dress with black-and-white striped stockings. Her skin was ivory pale, her hair long, dark, and lustrous, and her eyes a striking emerald green. Her features were delicate, though her lips were slightly thin. She exuded an air of precocious elegance.

"Young Mistress," the maidservants greeted her hurriedly. The girl, however, paid them no mind and strode directly to the maid holding Vlad. Her eyes lit up with delight as she gazed at the now-quiet infant.

Under her insistent gaze, the maid hesitated only briefly before handing Vlad over. The girl cradled him carefully, her fingers brushing his soft cheeks. A rare smile graced her lips, though her inexperience with holding a child soon made Vlad uncomfortable, and he began to cry once more.

"My dear little brother, why do you cry?" the girl murmured, her voice tinged with concern. She attempted to soothe him, mimicking the maids' actions, but her awkward handling only made him hungrier.

"My dear little brother, what are you calling for?" she asked, her tone now tinged with helplessness. Of course, Vlad could not answer.

"Um, Young Mistress... I believe the young master might be hungry," a timid voice piped up from behind the girl. Vlad glanced sideways to see another young girl, equally beautiful, with chestnut hair and brown eyes, dressed in a maid's uniform with a large skirt. Her expression was as timid as her voice.

"Is that so? Oh," the girl who called Vlad her brother replied with a hint of displeasure. "Then feed him quickly. Isn't that what you're here for?"

"Yes, yes... but, no—even if the newborn is a vampire, he shouldn't—"

The little maid's words were cut short as the girl, presumably Vlad's sister, interjected sharply.

"Shouldn't what? Are you questioning my judgment?" she demanded, her eyebrows arching in a way that nearly brought the little maid to tears.

"N-no, that's not what I meant," the maid stammered, waving her hands in frantic denial. The girl let out a dismissive huff and handed Vlad back to the maidservant, who stood frozen, barely daring to breathe. Then, drawing a dagger from her side, she turned to the little maid.

"Then hold out your hand," she commanded.

Realizing that further resistance would only worsen the situation, the maid, pale and trembling, reluctantly extended her hand. Without hesitation, the girl sliced open the maid's wrist and led her to Vlad, pressing the bleeding wound to his lips.

With a look of adoration, she cooed, "Drink up, my dear little brother."

Vlad was astonished, his suspicion that "these people are all cultists" deepening. Yet, inexplicably, the metallic scent of blood stirred a primal craving within him, far stronger than any desire for the porridge, milk, or meat. In an instant, he was captivated by the aroma. Without resistance, he allowed the blood to flow into his mouth, its taste igniting his senses. A wave of joy, confusion, and satisfaction washed over him, and he instinctively latched onto the wound with his toothless mouth, sucking greedily.

As the blood flowed into him, Vlad's thoughts grew clearer, and his hunger subsided. He felt his strength returning, along with a slight increase in his psychic energy reserves—though still a far cry from his former power. The sensation was intoxicating, and Vlad found himself unable to stop.

The little maid grew paler as her blood was drawn, though much of it was due to fear rather than actual blood loss. As a newborn, Vlad's appetite was modest; a few dozen milliliters were enough to sate him. Moreover, the chemicals in his saliva numbed the maid's nerves, sparing her from pain.

Finally, with a soft, milky burp, Vlad had his fill and drifted back into sleep. Were it not for the faint trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, anyone would have thought this exceptionally beautiful child was an angel.

"You may go now," his sister said dismissively, her gaze lingering on Vlad as if he were a priceless treasure. As for the timid little maid, whose beauty rivaled her own, she had no desire to see her again.

She snatched Vlad from the maid's arms, her clumsy handling causing him to squirm uncomfortably. Reluctantly, she placed him back in his crib, leaning over to admire him. She playfully poked his cheeks, tugged at his tiny hands, and finally planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, utterly enchanted.

"Yes, Young Mistress," the maid replied, relieved. Clutching her bleeding wrist with her other hand, she bowed and retreated. The other maids seized the opportunity to slip out as well, leaving the siblings alone.

The girl who remained by Vlad's side was Isabella von Carstein, the eldest daughter of the von Carstein family and Vlad's full-blooded sister. At just six years old, she had inherited her mother's striking beauty, already a vision of grace and charm. At family gatherings, she had caused quite a stir, with many predicting she would grow up to be the most celebrated beauty in Sylvanian.

While some of this praise was mere flattery, much of it was genuine. Beyond her looks, Isabella possessed remarkable potential. She had an innate talent for weaponry, alchemy, magical artifacts, and potion-making. Though her training had only just begun, her early achievements had already impressed her tutors.

Such gifts, combined with her beauty and noble lineage, had fostered a sense of superiority in Isabella. She looked down not only on other races—humans, elves, dwarves—but also on most of her fellow vampires. This arrogance had made her increasingly isolated, though her young age masked the full extent of her aloofness.

Yet, beneath her haughty exterior, Isabella was still a child, yearning for companionship. She often found herself thinking, "If only I had a little brother or sister."

When she learned of her mother's second pregnancy, Isabella was overjoyed. And when her mother gave birth to a son, she could hardly wait to meet him. From the moment she laid eyes on Vlad, she was utterly smitten with the impossibly beautiful infant.