Chapter 252: Aurora

Hungry?

Hearing that, Liana's eyelid twitched. She almost couldn't help but glance at Avrora.

This...

Why is the Fourth True Ancestor so different from what she imagined?

Just from those few simple words, Liana couldn't feel even a trace of the dignity expected of a True Ancestor.

This... doesn't feel right.

Did she dig up the wrong one?

She couldn't help but start to doubt, but...

Avrora's scent was definitely that of a powerful vampire.

And...

She looked exactly like the other preserved bodies.

There was no mistaking it. She was the Fourth True Ancestor.

But then...

Why did it feel so off?

Yukari murmured under her breath, "The Fourth True Ancestor? She's just a child."

Himeragi Yukina stood to the side, unsure what to say, but...

The Fourth True Ancestor was undeniably adorable.

Lynn will probably take her into his Peerage, right?

Yukina thought to herself.

If someone had said earlier that she could witness a True Ancestor become a follower, she'd have thought they were either insane or utterly delusional.

Even now, no one should be shameless enough to try recruiting a True Ancestor.

After all, a True Ancestor was a Maou-class existence among vampires.

But...

Lynn was different.

Although she hadn't been in his Peerage for long, everything she had seen so far had shattered her understanding of what was possible.

So...

She wasn't surprised at all by the idea of Lynn taking the Fourth True Ancestor as a follower.

On the other side.

After a brief mental struggle, Liana managed to convince herself.

Sure, it was weird for a True Ancestor to be hungry, but...

It was normal to have an appetite, right?

Not to mention...

The Fourth True Ancestor had been asleep for who knows how long. Feeling hungry was totally understandable.

Liana's expression shifted several times before finally settling.

"Your Majesty, the Fourth True Ancestor, I'll go prepare food for you right away!"

As a proper subordinate, there was no need to question orders. She just had to act based on her master's needs.

But just as Liana was about to stand up, Avrora's voice cut through the air.

"No need."

"?"

Liana paused, stunned.

That voice...

Something about it had changed.

The tone was the same, but...

It sounded colder. And suddenly, a heavy pressure filled the entire underground mausoleum.

This...

This was—

Bloodline suppression!

Liana's heart tightened like it was being squeezed by a massive hand.

"Y-Your Majesty... the Fourth True Ancestor?"

She dropped to her knees, voice trembling.

In front of Lynn.

The timid look on Avrora's face vanished, replaced by cold arrogance.

She turned her gaze slightly and fixed her eyes on Akatsuki Nagisa, whose expression was blank. Her deep blue pupils turned scarlet in an instant.

The corners of her lips curved slightly. "That witch over there looks delicious."

"!"

Gajou's eyes widened sharply.

Nagisa's spiritual energy was being targeted by the Fourth True Ancestor!

This was bad. Really bad.

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his heart began to pound.

What now?

Panic flashed in his eyes.

Subconsciously, he turned to look at Lynn.

If he stepped in...

But...

Gajou didn't know Lynn well enough to expect him to act.

Tsk.

Gajou bit his tongue hard, trying to snap himself into focus and figure out a way to resolve the situation.

Meanwhile.

Liana lifted her head to look at Avrora's cold expression, her eyes filled with unease.

Akatsuki Nagisa...

She turned her gaze and saw the blank look in Nagisa's eyes. There was pity in her heart.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, to plead perhaps, but...

Avrora lowered her gaze, eyes as sharp as blades. That cold stare pierced through Liana's chest and froze her breath.

Her mind went blank.

The words she wanted to speak were caught in her throat, stuck, unable to escape.

Avrora frowned slightly. "Why don't you offer the witch to me?"

Her voice grew colder. "Or do you want me to take her myself?"

Whoosh—

The moment those words fell, a cold wind swept through the underground mausoleum.

Everyone's face stiffened. A bone-deep chill gripped their bodies.

Gulp.

Akatsuki Kojou swallowed hard. His legs trembled instinctively.

We're going to die!

But...

He didn't take a single step back. His feet planted firmly in front of Akatsuki Nagisa, fists clenched.

He didn't have the time or energy to blame Gajou anymore.

Absolutely.

He wouldn't let anything happen to Nagisa!

Kojou's eyes burned with resolve. Even though he was scared, he stared straight at Avrora, hoping to scare her off through sheer will.

Avrora looked at him with disinterest. To her, he was less than an insect.

"It seems," she said coldly, "that after sleeping for so long, the world has forgotten how to fear me."

She was clearly displeased.

As the Fourth True Ancestor, not a single person dared obey her command.

Liana felt a chill rise in her chest.

Originally, she had joined the Fourth True Ancestor to revive her family.

But...

What use was a subordinate who disobeyed orders?

There was no way the Fourth True Ancestor would need someone like that.

However...

She couldn't bring herself to harm an innocent person.

Especially not Nagisa, who was only dragged into this because of her.

That guilt weighed heavily on her heart.

What now?

Liana's legs began to wobble.

It felt like...

Everything she'd worked so hard for, all her dreams of restoring her family was collapsing before it even began.

Thinking that, her eyes dimmed with despair.

"Hmph."

Avrora snorted. But the scent coming from Akatsuki Nagisa made her hesitate.

That aroma was enough for her to temporarily suppress her killing intent.

Her scarlet eyes locked onto Nagisa. She licked the corner of her lips, breathing slightly heavier.

That girl's blood must be... exquisite.

After such a long slumber, being forced awake like this had definitely annoyed her.

But...

Having a delicacy like this presented the moment she woke up?

Her irritation started to fade.

She instinctively moved toward Nagisa, ready to feed.

Suddenly.

A large hand landed on her head.

"?"

A giant question mark popped into Avrora's mind. She blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her eyes.

Who?!

Who dared to place a hand on the head of the mighty Fourth True Ancestor?!

She turned her head sharply, her eyes cold as frost.

Then she saw.

Lynn's calm face.

"Avrora..."

"Well, maybe I should call you Aurora?"

(To be continued.)

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