26: First Embrace (Part 2)

Tsukushi and Pony, who had just been lying limp on the bed, suddenly began trembling violently. Their mouths were wide open, drool dripped from the corners, and their tightly shut eyes sprang open. But their eyes were completely lifeless, empty like those of corpses.

Seeing this, the two women nearby couldn't help but exchange strange looks. Then they turned to Haruki, their expressions practically saying, "Are you really sure about this? They don't look like they're getting saved at all—more like they're on the verge of death! You weren't just putting on a show earlier to cop a feel, were you?"

Haruki, noticing their skeptical expressions, looked a little embarrassed.

"Don't worry, just watch. If you want real power, you have to endure pain that most people can't even imagine."

As soon as he finished speaking, the violent tremors running through Tsukushi and Pony gradually faded. A foul stench began to fill the room as their bodies expelled black impurities. Their physical transformations were striking.

Tsukushi's light brown shoulder-length hair grew nearly twice as long in an instant, now cascading down her back. Her hair lightened even further, starting to shift toward a pale blue hue. Her originally brown pupils had turned a deep crimson, radiating an intense glow. The baby fat on her face had disappeared, replaced by a more mature look. She had also grown significantly taller, now standing around 155 centimeters. Where she once resembled a little girl, Tsukushi now looked like a beautiful teenage girl—a pure appearance with a subtle hint of allure.

Pony had undergone a similarly dramatic transformation. Her dark brown hair and eyes had changed—her pupils were now the same deep red as Tsukushi's, and her hair had lightened noticeably, a faint blue tint showing through the soft brown. She had grown as well and now stood at about 155 centimeters, just like Tsukushi. The difference was, while Tsukushi radiated a gentle charm, Pony now exuded the vibrant energy of a girl bursting with life.

A sharp crackling sound rang out. Tsukushi and Pony's broken bones reassembled in the blink of an eye, and the wounds across their bodies visibly healed. Most noticeably, the rough, darkened skin they'd developed from years of outdoor training was now smooth, pale, and radiant. What no one except Haruki noticed was that both girls now had four new teeth in their mouths—sharp, vampiric fangs.

Watching the transformation unfold, even Haruki couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Back when he had fused with the bloodline of the True Ancestor Vampire, he'd gone through the same changes—except he passed out shortly after the process started and only woke up when it was all over.

The most shocked reactions, though, came from Gin and Nina. After all, what girl doesn't love beauty? Seeing how drastically Tsukushi and Pony had changed after taking Haruki's potion, Gin and Nina instantly rushed over to the sleeping pair. They poked and prodded the girls all over, verifying the changes with their own hands. Once they were sure it was real, they completely lost their composure.

Eyes sparkling, the two of them stared at Haruki like starving wolves spotting an unattended lamb. Nina was one thing, but even Gin—who usually looked like she didn't care about anything—was acting like this. Haruki could only sigh at how irresistible the allure of beauty was to every woman...

"Brother, do you have any more of that medicine?"

Nina asked, her face full of anticipation. Gin, standing beside her, wore the same expectant look as she stared at Haruki.

"You're not seriously treating it like some beauty potion, are you? I do have more, but are you sure you want to take it? I should warn you—it comes with side effects."

"What kind of side effects?" Nina asked quickly, clearly determined to go through with it no matter what.

"From today on, Tsukushi and Pony will stay like this permanently. In other words, they're now immortal, and their appearances will never change. They'll always look like this—stuck as children."

Haruki's words hit Gin and Nina like a thunderclap, leaving them stunned and speechless.

They didn't even care about what he said regarding Tsukushi and Pony being frozen in their current forms. Their attention was locked on one thing: immortality. The allure of eternal life is irresistible to anyone—and Gin and Nina were no exception.

"Brother, what exactly did you give them? How can something that grants immortality even exist?"

Even though they had already seen many unbelievable things from Haruki, the idea of an elixir of immortality still felt impossible to them.

"You really want to know what it was?"

"Don't be mysterious, Brother. Just tell us already!"

The two girls pressed him eagerly.

"Alright then. What I gave them was a heavily diluted version of my blood."

"Your blood?"

Seeing the confused expressions on their faces, Haruki began explaining.

"You've probably wondered before—how can a human have the speed and strength I do? That's because I'm not human at all. I'm actually the True Ancestor of the vampire clan, a race of powerful demons. Vampires naturally possess immortality. I've lived for over a thousand years. And Nina, haven't you always wondered why your father treats me with such respect—even fear? It's because this so-called Empire was actually founded by me. A thousand years ago, everyone called me the Imperial Advisor. And all those Teigu you mentioned? I created every one of them."

Beyond that, Haruki gave Gin and Nina a detailed explanation about vampires. Except for the matter of the System, he told them nearly everything about himself.

After hearing all this, the two girls were left in shock.

Everything that had happened today was overwhelming. First, Haruki brought out Vimana, that miraculous flying machine, and helped Gin get her revenge. Then he kicked a powerful Danger Beast to death. Right after that, he pulled out an elixir of immortality. And before they could even recover from all that, he revealed he wasn't human—and that he was the very founder of the Empire.

As the two of them stood frozen in place, Haruki said,

"I originally planned to tell you everything once we returned to the Imperial Capital, but since you asked, I figured I might as well say it now. Just remember—not a word of this to anyone else. Besides, even if you hadn't asked, I was planning to give you my blood anyway. Tsukushi and Pony were in a critical state, but you wouldn't want to be stuck in a loli body forever like them, right?"

He glanced meaningfully at both Gin and Nina.

The moment he said that, the two quickly shook their heads. Knowing they could become immortal, they naturally wanted to preserve their beauty in its prime. And now, when they looked at Tsukushi and Pony, their envy shifted into a bit of sympathy. Those poor girls—without even knowing it, they were now trapped in bodies that would never grow up.

At the same time, both Gin and Nina felt deeply moved. It turned out their dear brother had been thinking about them all along! At the very least, he'd planned to share his blood with them from the start. Now they'd be able to stay by his side forever, the two thought silently.

"Alright, go help Tsukushi and Pony take a bath. They probably won't wake up until tomorrow. Kurome and the others will be back soon, so I'm going to get ready."

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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