I'm Playing as a Nun.

Chapter 48: Children Never Surpass Their Parents (3)

As soon as I took a sip, my eyes flashed, and my mouth began to water.

Unconsciously, I savored the deep, rich taste that filled my mouth.

The umami that enveloped my tongue and the thick texture flowing through my mouth was simply exquisite.

I almost let my instincts take over and down the cup's contents in one gulp.

But I barely held back and slowly set the cup back down on the table.

"...What did you just make me drink?"

"As I said before, that's tomato juice..."

"That's impossible. Just touching it to my lips has covered my whole body in an inexplicable discomfort."

"What?"

"What exactly do you think I am...? I'm really disappointed."

In truth, far from disappointed, I was actually a bit happy.

My whole body tingled with a strange sense of transgression at having consumed blood at such an unexpected moment.

Until recently, rather than consuming blood through the Transfusion skill.

I felt a strong aversion to consuming raw blood directly, and the taste was also unpleasant and grating.

However, due to continuing anemia, I had no choice but to consume raw blood directly to increase efficiency.

Before I knew it, I no longer felt any aversion to the act and gradually came to know blood's taste, becoming addicted to the deep satisfaction it brought.

"I'm human. Not some vile demon who drinks and enjoys blood."

In short, I had become a perfect vampire with no room left for excuses.

Though I don't drink human blood.

Still, just the fact that I feel no aversion to drinking blood shows how much I've changed.

"B-blood?! Besides, we've never once thought of Sister as anything other than human!"

"Ellie's right, Levi. We just..."

"Did you think I wouldn't notice you just added sweetness to animal blood? Keep your pranks within reason."

Though I'm trying my best to maintain a calm appearance.

Sadly, my mind was now in a state of extreme confusion that I couldn't do anything about.

Why did Ellie hand me a cup containing blood?

And moreover, why was everyone here calmly watching—

Though I've spent quite a long time with the children and experienced many things.

I've never openly revealed that I'm a vampire, nor have I ever directly encountered such a situation until now.

Yet I had no idea why such an atmosphere had naturally developed.

"Don't tell me you think I'm a vampire?!"

I thought I had put on a decent act as a nun...

"W-wait... The atmosphere is getting too heated. Let's all cool our heads first..."

As I was raising my voice in agitation.

While silently observing the situation, Rune suddenly stood up from her seat and hurriedly began mediating between me and the children.

"How can I cool my head in this situation?! I just almost drank blood..."

"I know you're very confused. But as Ellie said earlier, that's tomato juice, and this absolutely isn't the situation you're thinking of."

When they tried to deceive me to the end with such an absurd lie, I unconsciously frowned and made a fierce expression.

But something was strange.

Unlike the other children, even Rune, who already knew my identity, was speaking this way, which created an odd atmosphere.

Rune had been quite perceptive and intelligent since we first met.

She's definitely not the type to thoughtlessly blurt out such words.

"...I seem to have gotten too excited."

Though the situation itself was still incomprehensible.

Nevertheless, I slowly bowed my head and quietly apologized to the children.

Getting angry here wouldn't solve anything clearly anyway.

As Rune said, I need time to cool my head and think calmly.

"I'm going for a short walk... I'm sorry for making the atmosphere heavy."

"N-no... That's what we should be saying..."

"There must have been some reason. Though I don't understand why, I still trust you all."

With those final words, I slowly rose from my seat and headed straight out of the dining room.

Though I could feel the children's worried gazes on my back.

Deliberately ignoring those gazes and quietly stepping outside, the cold air was the first thing to indifferently brush my face.

Finally, I took a deep breath.

"..."

Weakly moving footsteps while holding the parasol.

I approached the round table, sitting alone in front of the World Tree.

"I guess I should consider myself discovered...?"

Though I had been thinking I should prepare myself mentally soon.

This still feels too sudden.

I hadn't particularly changed my behavior, and I hadn't displayed any notable abilities since the demons' large-scale attack.

I really don't know what made them suspicious of me.

"So it was external factors after all..."

There's no way people wouldn't know about the demons' large-scale attack that happened here 10 years ago.

And there's no way the children, who are now proper adults active in the royal capital, could be free from such rumors.

Therefore, I had earnestly asked them not to say a word about this church while outside, worried that unnecessary, complicated situations might arise from being associated with me.

It's just sad that the situation has inevitably developed this way.

"...Wait."

As I was slouching and endlessly staring at the ground.

Suddenly, a thought quickly crossed my mind.

"Do I really need to rack my brains over this...?"

A quiet self-mutter while standing still in the World Tree's shade.

Honestly, there's nothing I can do about the rumors that spread rapidly after the demons' large-scale attack.

Ultimately, my identity revealed to the children was just a matter of time.

"If I just brazenly continue on as usual..."

Wouldn't things work out somehow?

It's not like anything particular is happening right now just because my identity was revealed, and the children don't seem to be too concerned about it either.

This wasn't something I needed to worry about in the first place.

It wasn't something that would be solved cleanly by worrying either─.

"Phew─"

With that thought, I took a deep breath.

However, I hesitated to return to the children's side since my mind had cleared faster than expected.

But since it also felt strange to just spend time here, I decided to return to the dining room and somehow wrap up the situation.

–Step, step

Back at the convent building.

As I calmly took steps toward the dining room with a lighter heart, the rather chaotic sound of the children's conversation grew increasingly louder.

It seems they're still seriously discussing matters related to me─

"What, what─!! You said it would be fine─!!"

"No, I thought Levi would like this... It's sad seeing her always suppressing her instincts while watching our reactions."

My footsteps stopped right next to the dining room entrance.

As soon as the children's conversation became clear, my ears perked up, and my breathing quieted.

"Even so, this was too hasty. It must have been difficult for her to accept this situation."

"I told you it would be best to just pretend not to know..."

Even Iris and Rune's quietly whispering voices were heard very clearly.

Given the situation, it seems all my senses had instinctively focused on hearing.

"Honestly, rumors about this church are spread everywhere we go. Isn't it stranger for us not to know?"

"That's true, but seeing how she hasn't said anything until now, it seems she didn't want us to bring it up."

"No, why? It's not like we'd hate Levi just because we know about it."

"If I were in Sister's position, I would never tell, even if I died and came back to life."

A very serious atmosphere that made it impossible to enter the dining room.

As I listened to Iris's words, my heart seemed strangely quickened.

"That's just because you're naturally timid..."

"Idiot, that's not what I mean. She's been hiding her identity while raising us until now. How could she possibly tell us at this point?"

"So if we speak up first and make Levi comfortable, wouldn't that solve everything?"

"I think that would rather be deceiving Sister. Besides, what I'm most worried about at this point is..."

Iris suddenly trailing off felt quite meaningful.

I don't remember doing anything particularly worrying until now.

What could Iris be most worried about regarding me...

A question I couldn't even begin to guess.

As I listened more intently to Aizen and Iris's conversation at that moment.

Iris's quiet words flowed directly into my ears and immediately threw me into confusion.

"Perhaps Sister has forgotten that she's a vampire."

The moment I heard those words, my mind went blank.

"For the past few years, Sister has been trying to get more sunlight and be more active during the day than at night."

"Right. I thought that was strange, too."

"Maybe something happened to her body after that incident back then..."

I couldn't help but doubt my ears and couldn't understand why such words suddenly came out.

"Anyway, let's not act too hastily. Though it's not certain, I think there's no harm in being careful."