Watching the Vampire disappear from his line of sight, the smile on Amamiya Rin's face also vanished.
His nerves, which had been taut all along, suddenly relaxed. He collapsed onto the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
"What kind of world is this? It's not a remote alley, but a Vampire haunting the streets, and with such strength?"
While grumbling, Amamiya Rin maintained his breathing rhythm, regulating his neurotransmitters and autonomic nervous system to let his body exit combat mode and avoid unnecessary physical exertion.
(So embarrassing! You couldn't even beat such an ugly monster!)
(Pretending to be a good person with just this much skill? Truly stupid!)
(Keep it up, Amamiya-kun, hurry up and get killed!)
...
The voices of individual Tomies rang out in Amamiya Rin's mind, carrying undisguised mockery and malice.
(That's enough. Your 'quality score' is also within the selection criteria for the third requirement.)
With a single sentence, Amamiya Rin blocked the Tomies' train of thought.
He turned his head to glance at the wound on his shoulder.
There are two types of vampires in the Junji Ito series.
One type: if they scratch a person, a blood jade tree grows from the wound, and the blood in the body condenses into fruit. After eating the fruit, one becomes a vampire; if the fruit isn't eaten, one becomes the vampire's blood field.
The other type serves as a maid to a capitalist and doesn't display special abilities or monstrous strength.
The Vampire he encountered seemed different from both of those.
"Mister! Are you okay?"
Rapid footsteps approached. The brown-haired girl ran over with several security guards and orderlies, her eyes looking at Amamiya Rin filled with worry and lingering fear.
"No need to worry, I'm fine."
Amamiya Rin straightened his back and answered unhurriedly.
"Isn't that an injury?"
The brown-haired girl ran to Amamiya Rin's side. Seeing the blood oozing from the wound on his shoulder, she couldn't help but cry out in alarm.
"It's mainly superficial, plus exhaustion. As long as there's no virus..."
Before Amamiya Rin could finish, an orderly shone a flashlight on his shoulder. Seeing the scratches clearly, the orderly gasped: "These claw marks are deep! They need to be treated immediately!"
"Is this... damage caused by a medium-sized feline?"
Another security guard leaned in to look at the scratch on Amamiya Rin's shoulder, his words carrying uncertainty and surprise. Such deep scratches didn't look like they could be made by a small cat or dog, or human fingernails.
"It's not a cat! It's a Vampire! That woman's canine teeth were very sharp, her nails were long too, and her strength was enormous—she simply wasn't human!"
Hearing the security guard's speculation, the brown-haired girl refuted excitedly.
"Miss Fujino, you probably saw wrong because you were too panicked and it's dark here. The culprit was likely a junkie or a paranoid stalker."
The security guard obviously didn't believe the brown-haired girl's words.
Vampire?
If it were really a Vampire, would it fail to beat a cripple walking with a cane?
The security guard turned to ask Amamiya Rin: "Sir, which way did the culprit run?"
Amamiya Rin pointed out the direction, but he didn't think these security guards could catch that Vampire.
"Tanaka, Yamamoto, come with me to chase. Sato, Kameda, you take this gentleman and Miss Fujino to the hospital."
The two named orderlies immediately stepped forward. The girl named Fujino also hurriedly stepped forward to help an orderly support Amamiya Rin, while the other orderly helped pick up the cane.
The security guards shone their flashlights and chased in the direction the Vampire had left.
Soon, Amamiya Rin and the orderlies left the dim woodland and returned to the brightly lit sidewalk. The white building of Toto General Hospital was not far away.
"Thank you so, so much! If not for you, I might have already..."
Fujino's face was filled with gratitude. As she spoke, she subconsciously looked back at the pitch-black woods, a few traces of terror still remaining in her eyes.
"It would be one thing if I hadn't encountered it, but since I did, it's only natural to draw one's sword and help when seeing injustice on the road."
Amamiya Rin spoke calmly, his voice steady as usual, his breathing long and even.
Even after just experiencing a fierce battle, his breath was not chaotic in the slightest.
"So cool!"
Fujino almost blurted it out. Her bright eyes lit up, twinkling with the light of adoration and respect.
"Even though you have trouble moving yourself, you still disregarded your own safety to help a stranger. You're just like a Chinese knight-errant! Ah, I haven't asked for your name yet. Although it's untimely, I am Fujino Terumi, an entertainer."
Hearing this, Amamiya Rin also gave his name.
"Amamiya Rin. Currently considered unemployed, I suppose. A patient transferring to Toto General Hospital today."
While speaking, the group entered the inpatient lobby of Toto General Hospital. The smell of disinfectant mixed with the warmth of the heating hit their faces, forming a sharp contrast with the chill of the night outside.
Under the bright lights, the flesh-turning scratches on Amamiya Rin's shoulder looked even more terrifying. Blood had soaked half of his patient gown.
The nurse on duty at the reception desk saw their combination and hurriedly stood up.
The orderly explained: "This is Mr. Amamiya Rin, seemingly a patient transferring over, and this Miss Fujino. They encountered an attack on the road."
Amamiya Rin nodded and gave his information: "I am Amamiya Rin, transferred from Morita Hospital. Dr. Kuroda should have already sent my files over."
"Yes, Mr. Amamiya, your bed is already prepared in Ward 705."
The nurse checked on the computer and confirmed quickly.
She looked up, scanned the physical conditions of Amamiya Rin and Fujino Terumi, and reminded them.
"Mr. Amamiya, Miss Fujino, please go to the treatment room to handle your wounds first."
Hearing this, Fujino Terumi finally felt the stinging pain in her arms, calves, and back. Looking down, there were several abrasions with broken skin on her arms and legs, likely left from fleeing earlier.
The two were then led to the treatment room by the nurse.
The doctor on duty cleaned and bandaged the scratch on Amamiya Rin's shoulder. Although the wound was deep, it didn't hurt the muscles or bones; it counted as a superficial injury.
Fujino Terumi's abrasions were also given simple disinfection treatment.
"Amamiya-kun, thank you so very much for today. If not for you, I wouldn't dare imagine what would have happened."
After the wounds were treated, Fujino Terumi bowed to Amamiya Rin, solemnly thanking him again.
"No need to keep thanking me like this. I didn't help you seeking your gratitude."
Amamiya Rin waved his hand, speaking openly and honestly.
"I know, but I won't forget this kindness. Please rest well first, I will come to visit again later."
Fujino Terumi straightened up, looking at Amamiya Rin with admiration in her bright eyes.
After speaking, she bowed slightly again. After bidding farewell to Amamiya Rin, she turned and left.
And Amamiya Rin also sat in a wheelchair, helped by an orderly, and was pushed to the ward on the third floor.
____
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