Shattered Shackles

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He isn't a vampire?

"So…"

"I don't need to be bitten?"

Avrora looked a bit awkward as she quickly tugged her collar up.

Vampire habits ran deep—showing her neck had just been a reflex.

Guess that led to a bit of a misunderstanding.

But if biting wasn't part of it. Then how did someone become a familiar, joining that "Familia" thing? 

Taking a calming breath, Avrora glanced at Lynn with uncertainty.

He silently pointed to the black manual in her hands.

"How about," he suggested casually, "you read it first?"

. . .

A few moments later, after reading through the contents of the black handbook, Avrora finally understood.

"Oh… so you use Devil Pieces."

But getting undressed?

Is that really part of a legitimate contract ritual?

Clutching her clothes tighter, Avrora looked up at Lynn and sneaked a glance his way.

To show everything in front of him…

Just imagining it made her cheeks burn red-hot.

Pointing at the manual, she hesitated. "This ritual… is this actually serious?"

Lynn's expression stayed calm. "What's so strange about it?"

"You vampires drink blood because of desire, don't you?"

"Hmm…"

He rubbed his chin, thinking aloud. "By vampire standards, you could see it as foreplay?"

Fore—what?

Avrora stared at him in disbelief, lips pursed into a soft pout.

Still, from a vampire's perspective… that logic actually kind of made sense?

She opened her mouth, ready to object—but no words came out.

Lynn glanced at her again, then said flatly, "Alright, stop wasting time. We've got more guests coming."

"Guests?"

"Yeah. People with even better cooking than Hayasaka."

"!!!"

Avrora's eyes lit up instantly. Without a second thought, she stripped off all her clothes, not even hesitating.

She even urged him on. "Then let's hurry up and get started!"

"…"

Lynn's expression turned a bit odd.

This girl… the moment food's involved, all her shame just flies right out the window?

Still, maybe that wasn't a bad thing.

He gave her figure—slightly developed—a quick, neutral once-over before conjuring a Devil Piece.

A single, jet-black chess piece appeared in Lynn's hand.

Avrora instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, covering the important bits, cheeks tinted pink.

She'd stripped so fast just a moment ago, but the second she felt Lynn's eyes on her, her embarrassment came rushing back.

Hugging herself a little tighter, she curiously eyed the Devil Piece in his hand.

This little thing, could it really turn someone into Lynn's familiar?

Didn't seem like anything special.

"Where do you want the blessing mark?" Lynn asked flatly, casually scanning her body as if choosing a suitable spot.

Feeling awkward under his gaze, Avrora looked away and mumbled, "B-Back… put it on the back."

She turned around, revealing her smooth, bare back to him.

Without hesitation, Lynn pressed the Devil Piece onto her back.

A second later—WUMMMM!

A brilliant light flared from Avrora's back.

"Ahh—!"

Her body instinctively arched as a soft gasp escaped her lips.

Her blood surged, heat exploding through her veins. Her deep blue eyes flickered with a faint red glow.

The Devil Piece's invasion had triggered a violent reaction—her cells instantly sensed the danger, and a terrifying aura burst from within.

BOOM!

It was like thunder had exploded inside her, as if some primal trumpet had sounded.

The vampiric elements in her blood roared to life and rushed straight toward the Devil Piece like soldiers charging the enemy.

Ferocious and unyielding, they moved to destroy the intruder—

But before they got close, an overwhelming force erupted from the Devil Piece.

A black mist poured out, smothering them instantly. And in that moment of contact, the vampire bloodline shuddered.

It was like they'd sensed something far more terrifying—those aggressive cells went silent in an instant, surrendering to the Devil Piece's invasion.

"Huff… Huff…"

Avrora's body went from burning hot to ice cold in less than a second.

It had taken only a heartbeat.

But to her, it felt like an eternity.

She wiped at the cold sweat that wasn't even there, heart still pounding.

Just then— A clear, melodic cry echoed in her ears.

Avrora blinked, startled. "The Cry of the Azure Ice Princess?"

How could that be?

Her eyes widened slightly.

What was going on?

Ever since she'd become the vessel for the Princess of Azure Ice, no matter how close she'd gotten to it… it had never made that sound.

She tried to reach out with her mind, to communicate with it.

Worry flickered in her eyes.

But after that one single cry, the Azure Ice Princess went completely silent again, offering no response.

She tried again. And again.

Nothing.

Eventually, Avrora sighed and gave up—then shifted her focus inward, checking for changes in herself.

"My scent's different…"

She wrinkled her nose and sniffed at herself.

Aside from her usual scent, there was now a faint trace of Lynn's.

More importantly, she could feel it—beyond her vampiric bloodline, there was something else now coursing through her veins.

"Devil blood."

She felt dazed for a moment.

She'd read about Lynn's race in that black manual. She knew exactly what it meant to undergo this "ritual."

She was now a devil.

And even though she had mentally prepared herself for that… The shift in identity still felt strange.

Though thankfully, her vampire traits and abilities hadn't disappeared.

That helped ease her nerves a little.

But more than anything else, she felt it.

Like some kind of chain inside her had broken.

Was it the blessing system?

She remembered reading about it in the manual.

Still, she wasn't all that interested in that part.

What did grab her attention, though, was something else entirely.

She looked down at her hands, staring in disbelief.

"The link to the Original…"

"It's gone!!!"

No. This wasn't just in her head.

She stared at her palms, eyes wide with disbelief.

Ever since she first gained self-awareness, she had been the "Fourth Primogenitor."

But she knew.

That title didn't truly belong to her.

It belonged to the Original—the true monster that could awaken at any moment and devour her from within.

Like someone had planted a ticking time bomb in her soul.

If she'd never gained sentience, maybe she wouldn't have cared.

But now, she wasn't just some disposable vessel.

She had her own will. Her own fears. Her own desire to live.

No one was more terrified than her of the Original Fourth Primogenitor.

Because when that day came… it would mean the end of her.

But now was she—

Was she free?

.

.

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