Frankenstein felt like he was going to lose his mind.

It had only been a few hours since he'd kissed his Master in his office… And if he couldn't last just a few hours, how was he supposed to last the rest of his life?

He'd been so nervous, and so completely under his Master's spell, that he didn't have a chance to memorize all the little details of Raizel's kiss…

Frankenstein dug his fingernails into his thighs, forcing himself to stop reliving the memory.

Damn it! He was supposed to be forgetting about that! He never should have kissed his Master in the first place! The same mouth that had been dribbling toxic blood just a few hours before… the same mouth that had consumed the blood of countless people… He'd put that mouth on his Master's.

What was wrong with him?

"Frankenstein?"

He looked up from the calculations that he'd made absolutely no progress on. M-21 was looking over his shoulder.

"What?"

"It's check-up day?" M-21 reminded him.

"Right." He glanced behind M-21. "So, where are Tao and Takio? I need to check their conditions…"

"They're bringing down snacks..."

"Again?" Frankenstein snapped. "This is supposed to be a sterile laboratory, not a snack bar!"

The half-werewolf peered at him suspiciously.

"Are you still mad at us for walking in on you guys?"

Frankenstein clenched his fists under the laboratory bench. He was taking his anger at himself out on M-21, and that wasn't fair.

"No," Frankenstein said shortly. "Now, can we please never talk about this again?"

M-21 looked even more suspicious now.

"So are we just supposed to pretend you guys don't exist every time you do lovey-dovey stuff in front of us?" he asked.

"There won't be any need for that, because it won't be happening again," Frankenstein said, doing his best to stay calm.

"What do you mean?"

"Did I stutter? It won't be happening again. Master and I are not in any sort of romantic relationship."

There was a long, strangely tense pause after that proclamation.

"Uh… I know it's not any of my business, but…"

"If you know that, then please… stop talking," Frankenstein said curtly.

M-21 folded his arms over his chest, gray eyes narrowed.

"You didn't see Sir Raizel leave school today, did you?"

"I was a little busy, so… no, I didn't. I assume he went to the internet cafe with the children?"

"Yes. But… we saw him go."

"And?" Frankenstein said sharply. "What's your point? You live with him, do you not? You see him all the time."

"Right… I do see him all the time," M-21 shot back. "And I was the first person to start living here with you guys when it was just the two of you. So when I saw him today… I knew something was different about him."

"Different how?"

"Different like he was happy and actually smiling, that's what!" the half-werewolf persisted. "And you're just going to hurt his feelings by rejecting him right after you kissed him. Why did you do that if you didn't want to be with him...?"

It was taking all his will power to stay in control of himself at this point... They didn't understand... And it wasn't their business what he did with his Master!

"I have no idea why you think it's your place to interrogate me about this, but… I'm not rejecting him. I just can't be with him… like that."

"That is the most bullshit answer I've ever heard in my life…" M-21 growled.

But before Frankenstein could spit out an impulsive retort, the doors to the lab slid open and Takio and Tao came inside, each of them carrying a tray of snacks. They both stopped dead at the sight of the angry scientist and half-werewolf in front of them.

"Um… wow… this is awkward."

"Yeah… what's going on?"

"Just telling our Boss that he's being an idiot," M-21 said coldly.

"Watch it," Frankenstein hissed, his fingers twitching. He was beginning to feel dangerously close to spitting up blood again. "I just told you… I can't."

"Well, why can't you?"

"How many reasons do you want? I just can't. All right?"

"Anything we can do?" Takio asked tentatively.

"No. Thank you."

I can't get too close to Master like that... Not only would it be wrong... Not only do I not deserve him... but my emotions are more volatile than I thought. Raizel is just too difficult to resist. And he'll feel compelled to help me control myself, wasting more of his precious life in the process...

"Sorry," M-21 said grudgingly.

"Yes, yes... apology accepted," Frankenstein said briskly. "Now, if you're done poking your noses into other people's business... Let's get on with your check ups. Takio, you're first. I need to check on your condition after this morning."

Takio set down his tray of snacks and hopped up on to the diagnostic table. He shed his shirt before lying down and allowing Frankenstein to attach electrodes to his chest.

"Um, by the way... You know those werewolves we told you about?" Tao said hesitantly. "Well, we went out looking for them after school today, and we couldn't find a trace of them... We think they may have left the area."

"Ah…" Frankenstein said slowly. "About that…"

"Seriously?" Tao complained. "You killed them already, didn't you?"

Frankenstein finished preparing Takio for his diagnostic scan, walking over to the monitor and flipping a switch. While the machine did its work, he gave Tao an easy grin.

"It just sort of happened that way."

"I thought you were going to give us a chance to deal with them? We need a chance to try out our new abilities, you know…"

Frankenstein shrugged.

"I'm sure there will be more where that came from."

"Yeah, but we wanted to find out what they were doing here, too..." Tao argued.

Frankenstein tapped his fingers on the monitor. He wasn't sure he wanted this news to get out just yet... If he was right about who those idiotic werewolves were looking for... He wasn't entirely sure he wanted his kids getting tangled up with such a dangerous individual.

"They were looking for another werewolf," he said slowly. "They didn't say who, exactly. It sounds like it may be an internal struggle between different factions. So, for now... if you see more werewolves, just stay out of their way, all right? I don't want Master to get involved in a conflict between werewolves. It has nothing to do with us, understand?"

Everyone nodded. They understood that Frankenstein would be less than pleased if Raizel got dragged into a battle and used up more of his power, shortening his life. Frankenstein would have their heads if they started any unnecessary fights.

"All right... We'll just watch for now," M-21 said.

"Thank you. You may continue to monitor the situation, and defend yourselves if necessary, but... Master wants to live a quiet life here. If werewolves wish to tear each other apart, that's not our business."

"And... if they start attacking civilians?"

"Then you will call for me, not Master," Frankenstein said firmly. "I will deal with it."

"Like you did this morning? Oh... you need help moving the bodies or anything?"

"There are no bodies," he said bluntly.

"What do you mean?"

Everyone stared at him.

"I absorbed them with the dark spear," Frankenstein said. "You've seen it before."

Both Tao and Takio glanced at each other.

"Um, by the way... We were wondering... Is that something you have to do?"

Frankenstein frowned at them. Why were they suddenly changing the subject?

"Something I have to do?" Frankenstein repeated.

"Does the dark spear make it so that you have to consume your enemies like that?"

"I don't necessarily have to, but... I may have indulged once in a while," he admitted. "Sometimes it's easier to give the dark spear what it wants instead of fighting the urge."

"Yeah?" Tao said worriedly.

"Yes... You already know that the dark spear tries to consume its host, so... I discovered that it's possible to circumvent the issue by letting it consume someone else instead."

"Um... like who?"

Frankenstein tapped his chin reminiscently.

"Let's see... I've had murderers, serial killers, rapists, slavers... I'm always able to sense when people with particularly malicious souls are near me." He grinned wickedly. "The ones who abuse children always squeal when I find them, like the cowards they are."

Yes, he enjoyed those the most. A small piece of justice for his apprentice, a child killed for the crime of wanting to be like his teacher.

Tao gulped.

"Will we have to do it, too?" he asked hesitantly, as if he feared the answer. "Absorb people?"

Ah... now he understood. They were worried they were going to become sick, ravenous monsters like he was...

He shook his head.

"No. You do not carry the bulk of the curse. I have over thirty thousand evil souls housed in my body. You only have one. The two situations are not even close to each other," he elaborated. "All right? Feel better? You won't end up a bloodthirsty beast like me, stalking dark alleyways looking for murderers to devour so you won't lose your own sanity."

"Uh... that's not what I..."

"Don't worry, I took that into account when I gave you two pieces of my power," Frankenstein assured him. "Although if you're not comfortable with it, I can attempt to extract it, but that may not go well..."

"No."

Frankenstein glanced behind him at Takio. The sniper's face was dead serious.

"I don't want you to take it back from me," Takio said seriously from his supine position on the diagnostic table. "If you can control thirty thousand evil souls, then I can handle one. I'm not just going to give up. If you can live hundreds of years like this..."

"Is that what you think? That I managed this by myself?"

Frankenstein sighed and shook his head.

"I managed on my own for a while after taking the dark spear, but... I'm alive because of Master. And for no other reason," he explained. "So I can appreciate your willingness to try and cope, but you must let me know immediately if you are having trouble. All right?"

Both Tao and Takio nodded, seemingly reassured. Behind him, the monitor beeped as the diagnostic scan finished.

"Good... Then Tao, you're next."


"All right," Frankenstein said as he removed the electrodes from M-21's body. "You're all done. Get dressed and go see if Seira needs help with dinner."

After they had gone, Frankenstein sat down at his terminal, recording the data from the trio's check ups in their files. Thankfully, both Tao and Takio were only experiencing mild side effects from taking a piece of his power... Takio had an elevated heart rate and Tao's temperature was up, but those things weren't anything to worry about...

He sat up straight when he felt his Master's presence connecting to his mind. Master must have returned from the internet cafe.

Frankenstein?

"Yes, Master?"

Before Raizel said anything more, he sent a powerful surge of calming energy into his companion's head... Frankenstein involuntarily relaxed as if he'd just been given a massive injection of morphine, nearly slumping over onto his desk.

But why was his Master trying to sedate him?

Seira says dinner will be ready in twenty minutes.

"Yes... of course..." he murmured, his mind still half lost in the feelings Raizel was sending into him.

Frankenstein... are you all right?

"Heh... I am now that you're here, Master."

Despite Raizel's power over him, that was certainly true. When his mind was blended with his Master's... that was the only time he was truly safe from himself. Raizel's mind really was his only sanctuary.

Might I ask you something?

"Certainly..."

Did I make you uncomfortable this afternoon?

"No... After all, it was just for a moment, right?" he said softly.

Frankenstein sensed a confused jumble of emotions coming from his Master's mind. It seemed to take him a little while to gather his thoughts.

I thought perhaps you might not be opposed to... a few more moments?

Frankenstein wasn't sure how to respond, and he was all too aware of the fact that Raizel could hear everything he was thinking at the moment, even if he didn't intend for it to be heard...

"I... Well..."

Was my kiss not satisfactory?

"Of course it was..." he found himself saying before he could stop himself.

Then, am I... moving too fast?

What? His mind reeled in confusion.

Did I... Come on too strong?

Frankenstein was starting to get suspicious... None of these questions sounded like something his Master would ask.

"Master... are you reading relationship advice?" he asked.

There was an awkward, guilty pause.

...Yes, I am.

Frankenstein couldn't help the amused smile that spread across his face. Master was always so sincere...

I thought perhaps I had misunderstood something about how relationships proceed in this time period...

"No, you haven't misunderstood anything, Master. You haven't done anything wrong..."

Thank you... You know I wish to be close to you. So, would you please tell me... what I should do?

Frankenstein was starting to realize why his Master was feeding him soothing energy... Raizel was afraid he would try and avoid him. But there was no way he would ever run from his Master.

"Raizel... It's not that I don't wish to be close to you..."

Then... why can you not return my affections? I know you wish to do so... I don't understand.

Frankenstein felt like he was on the verge of breaking down and giving in to whatever Raizel asked of him... He could sense his Master's honest attraction to him, too, which wasn't helping... He took a moment to marvel at how bizarre this all was. He should be the one begging his Master for his affections, not the other way around.

Frankenstein... You of all people do not need to beg me.

"Then, Master, I... Could I ask a small favor of you?"

Of course.

"I don't wish to disappoint you, so... perhaps you could give me a few days to collect my thoughts? This... this all happened rather suddenly, Raizel..."

So the relationship advice was correct? I... moved too fast for you?

Frankenstein chuckled to himself. Master was trying so hard... He seemed pleased that he'd managed to figure out what was wrong on his own.

"I... Yes... But, Raizel... You know I'll always be here for you, don't you? You don't need to do this to keep me by your side."

I know. You don't need to prove your loyalty to me. But I'd like to be closer, if you...

He paused there.

Seira says you should come up soon.

"All right. I'll be up in a minute, Master."

Raizel withdrew from his mind, taking those calming emotions with him. Frankenstein immediately felt his body flood with nervousness... and desire.

Raizel wanted to be closer to him. And if Master kept this up, his poor servant was going to end up bending over backwards for him... possibly literally.

He leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

Frankenstein had only ever wanted to keep his Master safe and happy. And if he kept his Master safe by keeping his distance, then Raizel would be unhappy. And if he tried to make his Master happy by being intimate with him, then he wouldn't be keeping his Master safe... He was stuck between a rock and hard place.

Frankenstein knew he needed to think of a way out of this. He had to come up with a way Raizel could be both safe... and happy. The easiest solution would be to have Raizel love another, but if he absolutely refused to do so, then...

Then what? He couldn't stop holding on to the dark spear, and he couldn't be with his Master and not want to touch him and hold him... and...

Frankenstein bit his lip.

And other things.

He was in the middle of forcing those thoughts back down into his subconscious when his private cell phone started ringing. There were very few people who had this number... He groaned when he saw who was calling.

"Yes?" he sighed. "This had better be important..."

"You did tell me to call if I planned on stopping by again," came the authoritative voice on the other end.

"What?" Frankenstein said, nearly crushing his phone in his fist. "You're coming here?"

"The Lord heard from Regis and Seira that your school is hosting a formal dance. She would never ask this of me, but she wishes to attend," Gejutel explained. "I thought we would stay at your home this weekend."

"Gejutel, the is the Noblesse's home. I'm not running a bed and breakfast here! You can get your own room..."

"Yes, but your home is the safest place outside Lukedonia."

Frankenstein pinched the bridge of his nose. Why was it these nobles felt entitled to his house?

Although... This could possibly be the solution to his problem. Perhaps Raizel just needed to give Lascrea another chance. He hadn't exactly spent a lot of time with her since the nobles had discovered the fact that he was still alive.

"All right... fine," he said slowly. "I'll reserve another place for Lascrea at the dance. But two nights at my home is all I'm giving you."

"Well, we will see you this Friday, then."

Frankenstein hung up, and... he instantly felt guilty.

Well... It wasn't like he could refuse the Lord's request to attend the dance. He didn't harbor any bad feelings toward her. She was the previous Lord's daughter, after all... And Frankenstein owed that man a great deal.

But if Raizel ended up forming a romantic attachment to Lascrea, then... that would be for the best, right? It would be much more appropriate, Raizel wouldn't be kissing a monster, and his Master could have the chance to have children if he chose to. And it wasn't like Raizel would lose his companion if he had another romantic partner... He could have the best of both worlds.

Frankenstein nodded to himself.

With any luck, Master would change his mind... and Frankenstein would no longer be both tormented and aroused by the thought of touching his Master's body with his blood soaked hands.


My Comments: So they never clarify how being the Noblesse works. Is it an inherited thing? Frankenstein claims "Noblesse" refers to only one being. But in the flashback we see of Rai's brother, he seems to have the same blood wings as Rai, meaning they have the same powers. So which is it?! Is there only one Noblesse or what?

You know... in regards to the last chapter, Rai's self imposed isolation in his mansion never made sense to me. Supposedly, he isolated himself in his mansion because other nobles are afraid of him and he doesn't want to make them uncomfortable. But then what's the first thing Rai does after waking up after his 820 year nap? He immediately starts living publicly among humans, with a household of six people (including other nobles) around him. So what changed in his head to make him suddenly so comfortable with the idea of living like everyone else?

It just seems to me like Rai isolated himself in his mansion for absolutely no reason... And then also decides to not isolate himself anymore for no adequately explained reason. I mean, I go along with Rai's backstory because that's what's in the manwha, but it still never quite made sense to me. Perhaps after his 820 years of sleep, Rai finally wakes up and says "Screw this, I'm outta here!" Congratulations, Rai... You finally hit "Fuck it." (That's a Deadpool quote lol). I tried to set up a better explanation in chapter 15... basically Rai stays with Frankenstein in the human world because he promised he would one day.