NOVPUBWhile he was calmly contemplating in his mind, he did not neglect to play his part—
"Miss Beyard..."
The girl let out a soft and uneasy voice, "Why reject him? Sir Lindt seems a bit angry..."
She had already fallen for Beyard’s beguilement. It was quite normal for her to think and consider for Beyard—Aiwass did not deliberately twist his thoughts, nor did he forcefully resist. Instead, he rode the impulse in his heart, adjusting it according to his own understanding, adding a bit more embellishment.
In short, he had put a bit of "tea" into it.
If you listened carelessly, the taste of the "tea" was quite noticeable. But at that moment, as Aiwass was affected by the Beguile Kiss, what she was saying were all true words, and of course, Miss Beyard knew this. As such, anything she said now would only make the other party think she genuinely cared about her—that it was not tea, but rather something to evoke pity.
Beyard, of course, had no idea that within the shell of number 14, whom she had been pointing to for three days, another person had quietly taken her place.
She just felt that the child was becoming more and more adorable.
So she gently said, "I’ve told you, call me Sister Beyard."
As she spoke, she kissed Aiwass’s earlobe, then licked her way to the back of her ear and down her neck.
She whispered, "Lindt doesn’t want to protect you, my cute one... he just wants to use you as a topic to flatter me.
"Because his mining company is in trouble—there’s a group of angry spirits in his mines. He needs my financing, and he needs my people to get rid of those troublesome spirits."
Beyard chuckled lightly, "But I don’t need his shoddy company. So he has to offer a higher price, much higher."
"...Can’t he find someone else?"
Aiwass suddenly asked.
She sharply sensed Beyard’s attitude—she had no reason to talk about these things to a blood slave unless she wanted some proper feedback.
Thus, Aiwass, driven by the "beguile" state, began fishing for information with the psychological excuse of "making her happier." Read new chapters at freewebnovel
Beyard saw that Aiwass responded to her, she was not only unperplexed but became happier, "I thought you weren’t interested in these things, dear.
"Yes, he could indeed find others. But no one would accept it."
Beyard said calmly with a smile, "That would mean making an enemy of me. And we value mutual affection."
As she spoke, the corners of her mouth curled into a mocking smile. She didn’t avoid anyone when saying these words—not just the men in black, even her own kind could hear them. But no one commented on her words; some even raised their glasses to her from a distance.
Beyard buried her head against Aiwass’s neck, breathing in the fragrance of her blood, while letting out an almost inaudible sneer.
And as Aiwass listened, her heart tightened slightly.
Beyard’s words, her attitude... it meant that Beyard’s identity and position might be even higher than he had imagined.
—So what level of strength did this Son of the Moon possess?
Fifth Power Level, or Fourth? Without Lily as a turret to unleash the full strength of the Shadow Demon, and with only second-level Shadow Affinity, he couldn’t fully leverage the Shadow Demon’s strength...
"Then... could you take me with you?"
She actively turned her body around, seated herself on Beyard’s lap, and gazed directly into her eyes.
The body that appeared extremely frail from excessive blood loss, opened those clear eyes, and let out a pitiful voice, "If I stay here... I’m bound to die someday."
"Then please me, dear."
Beyard smiled gently, but there was a hint of aloofness from high above in her smile.
She looked at Aiwass as an equal, just as she looked down upon her own kind.
"If I’m happy, I might consider it."
She said so, and scrutinized number 14.
And Aiwass raised her neck, embraced her, and closed her eyes.
She whispered softly, "I willingly offer my blood... to you."
Watching the girl’s awkward reaction, Beyard couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.
What was she thinking? She was just a little girl...
Beyard bent down, kissing the girl’s neck.
Sharp fangs pierced flesh, and blood flowed through hollow fangs into her body.
But the very next moment, Beyard’s eyes shot open.
The sweet and mellow blood that rushed into her mouth brought her an unprecedented stimulus—tinged with a light wine flavor, yet not harsh; as rich and sweet as top-quality crème brûlée, without being overly sweet; it also carried a refreshing fruitiness mixed with pineapple and pear.
And there was also a faint sense of holiness that she couldn’t confirm...
Miss Beyard’s pupils filled with a consuming crimson red in the blink of an eye. She suddenly lost control and violently pressed Aiwass down onto the table, fervently drinking her blood.
The Aiwass she was embracing did not close her eyes.
She stared blankly at the ceiling, her empty pupils gradually becoming clear.
The blood willingly offered, compared to the blood taken... There’s no difference to ordinary people, but it was different for her.
—Yes, this was the Nurturing Skill.
But it wasn’t a successful Nurturing Skill because, at this moment, Aiwass’s Path was not yet balanced.
However, even a failed Nurturing Skill didn’t matter.
[Sacrifice of Flesh (Purple): You have mastered the art of self-sacrifice. And now, you will become even more adept.]
This was the Path trait Aiwass had acquired during her last promotion— the ability that made her flesh and blood even sweeter.
Even the Shadow Demons, who had been raised on the true Shepherd’s Nurturing, wanted to have a taste. To a vampire who had never tasted the blood of a Shepherd, this was considered the ultimate delicacy.
This was also the first time Aiwass had used this Path trait...
The only risk was whether she would be drained to death by the out-of-control Miss Beyard.
But Aiwass had considered even this risk.
She had already agreed with the Shadow Demon that after she lifted the Beguile Kiss and the prohibition against harming her master, if Miss Beyard did not stop feeding, it would intervene immediately.
It was the worst-case scenario, but it was the only option left.
And the Shadow Demon agreed without hesitation.
So, as soon as she felt the Beguile Kiss on her being broken, she also lifted the Nurturing Skill.
The way to lift it was simple.
When Aiwass was no longer willing, it was not to be considered "dedication," and thus the enhancement from the Path trait faded away.
When that holy and demonic essence in the blood faded, Miss Beyard was stunned for a moment, then sobered up, realizing what she had done.
She was incredulous at first, then, noticing the pale and weakening No. 14 who looked as though she might pass out the next moment, her expression changed drastically.
In that instant, it seemed she thought of many things. But after a moment’s hesitation, she bit her finger and put it into Aiwass’s mouth. As the girl instinctively sucked like an infant, her complexion visibly began to recover.
—This was Blood Therapy.
The mystical skill called "Blood Therapy," a Transcendent ability of the Path of Love—using the power of superior blood to heal the weakened, ignoring the cause of illness. It was also an innate ability of the Son of the Moon.
For No. 14, who only had a first energy level, just a drop or two of Miss Beyard’s blood was enough to restore her body to health.
Before their very eyes, Aiwass’s skin, which had been somewhat dry, cracked, and pale, returned to being smooth and fair. Even her dull hair regained its luster. This made her features appear even more refined.
Seeing Aiwass recover some vitality, Miss Beyard promptly lifted her into her arms.
"Open a rest room."
She spoke to those in black clothes wearing animal masks beside her.
"Room number 1."
The person in black promptly took a key from the wall and handed it to Beyard.
As for Aiwass, she closed her eyes, cuddled in Beyard’s embrace pretending to sleep, and asked the Shadow Demon in her mind, "You don’t seem to worry about me getting into trouble at all, do you?" n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
"There will be no trouble, my mistress," the Shadow Demon simply replied. "Miss Beyard is not that kind of person. Despite being the Son of the Moon from the Path of Love, she possesses an exceptionally strong rationale and humanity. Just needing an inconsistency... She would break free of all control."
"You know her?"
Aiwass suddenly became somewhat interested.
The Shadow Demon had always been reluctant to tell her its true name.
Now, it had finally revealed a bit of its own true information.
"...Yes."
The Shadow Demon fell silent for a while before saying, "I once lived in this era.
"I also died in this era."
