This Hero is Sleeping!

The door to Elric\'s room swung open with a bang. 

Like a raccoon that was just casted a light on, the young boy stopped with one foot mid-air and a hand above his head.

The invader, Claude, was slightly stunned by the sight. The urgency in his eyes almost disappeared before coming back in. It was just status quo for Elric, there was nothing to worry about. Claude shook his head and barged into the room.

"Elric, what the hell is that!?"

"Ew, don\'t step into a maiden\'s room!"

"Shut up, this my room too!" Claude ignored the \'maiden\' and dashed toward the window. He pulled the blinds away and leaned outside. Right there, banging his head on the backside of the building was the same old man that had just half a face. Something like those coffee and caramel candies that people just licked the coffee part of. "What in the world…"

"That? That\'s a rude old man! So what if he\'s injured, doesn\'t excuse rudeness."

"Injured!? Half his face is gone!"

"Oh, must hurt huh? Still, he shouldn\'t be rude."

"YEAH, HE SHOULD BE DEAD!"

"Wow, Claude. I didn\'t you were that petty."

Claude wanted to object, but that would just take more energy away. He took in a deep breath and looked down at the man again. No doubt about it, it was just like the creature he had offed back in the warehouse where he met Erika. 

How did Elric put it?

Chocolate Drive, yes.

"That guy is in chocolate drive…"

The door swung open again.

"It\'s obviously a zombie!" This time, the newcomer was Erika. "This brat is rubbing off on you, Claude!"

Right, Zombie. No way Claude forgot. No chance.

The fear of becoming like Elric was slightly scarier than becoming a zombie in the first place. Heaving a sigh, Claude turned back to Erika and glared at her. His red eyes were like a trap which made Erika feel like a hapless rabbit. 

"Why is there a zombie on the streets?" he asked. 

"It\'s not just on the streets," Erika muttered. "Come along."

At the girl\'s urgent call, Claude stepped out and followed her.

"Great, you guys do that and I\'ll take a quick nap—"

"Not this time."

Elric was dragged away.

With Erika at the lead, the two dashed down the unnatural wide stairs and their red carpets four times over. After pushing open a door, the lobby of the hotel came into view.

Closest to them was the reception desk, hiding underneath which were the two receptionists on duty. A wall of people had formed in front of them, all of them clad in their lavish nightsuits or morning gowns, the attire that announced relaxation was worn by faces that screamed anything but. The people were shriveled against the walls, quaking in their boots.

The ornate lobby was lacking furniture as the rugs below were haphazardly shifted away. Anything that held even a slight weight was being dragged over and placed against the doors and the windows by a few braves ones. Block their movement even if it could, the furniture was unable to stop the rattles that spread through the room from the doors and the windows.

The constant bangs.

The loud, pained groans.

"Party?"

"How do you even see it as one?"

"Fight then?"

Claude and Erika chose the best option, which was to ignore Elric. The red-haired boy, frowning, moved to the front of the room. He pushed away the gutless snobs and walked over to the few in the front, amongst which were Jamie and Quinton, the two adventurers of Kone, and Puzo, their contractor.

"Quamie, Jinton, were you able to see outside?" he asked. "What\'s the enemy like? Numbers?"

Quinton, the smaller one of the two, shook his head. "I don\'t know, I\'ve never seen things like these. They look like people, but gravely injured. Something like ghouls? Numbers were around twenty in the beginning, but the sounds and the bangs have increased since then. About… fifty?"

Claude clicked tongues. More zombies.

Right then, a voice from behind interrupted them.

"H-hey! Are you guys adventurers!?" The high-pitched voice came from a man with a stout belly and a long handlebar stache. "What is all that outside, huh!?"

The man\'s nightgown fluttered as he stepped ahead, revealing the overgrowth of hair on his body. 

"You! If you escort me out of here, I\'ll pay you thirty, no, fifty gold! It\'s an amount you can\'t even imagine! You just ensure my life."

The three adventurers tilted their heads to the side. They took deep offense at the man\'s words but knew arguing would just be counter-productive.

"Oh, what\'s with this guy? He looks right out of a cartoon! The type that dies first!" Elric\'s squeal wasn\'t unheard.

The stout man turned and glared at Elric in anger before his furrowed brows loosened and a snappy grin spread on his face.

"Hoho, you seem to be mistaken, young lady. Are you trying to get my attention?"

Elric squirmed.

"Haha, don\'t worry! I\'ll keep you safe too, it would be best to come over here right now."

The man could only take a step before a ball of fire fluttered from the front and knocked him away. Erika put a hand in front of Elric and glared at the man with a gaze as if she was looking at the worst of trash that wasn\'t only unusable but also stinky. She then grabbed Elric\'s wrist and pulled him along. 

"I knew I was right about not leaving you with the guys back then."

"Haah, so you were the prude!"

"Great way to say thanks, Elric Wald."

"Ah well…" Elric looked around with a faint blush before turning back to Erika. "You didn\'t have to, but thank you…"

Erika felt her lips loosening when she saw the undoubtedly drop-dead gorgeous Elric smile and blush, but managed to hold herself back.

"So, what\'s all this?" Asked Claude when those two stopped in front of him.

"This man thought he could hit on me so Erika taught him a lesson—"

"Not that!" Claude sighed. "Erika."

"I think…" the Archmage spoke. "It\'s the vampire."

Elric didn\'t feel that sleepy anymore.