Category: The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies

Chapter 290: Ready to Be My Little Sister?

Adele had imagined Kaiser’s home to be similar to Dorothy’s gloomy castle, or at least a Western-style building. This Eastern-style structure… was unexpected. But then Adele remembered the withered old man, Kaiser’s ancestor, a physical True Ancestor. She wondered if his physique and skills had reached the pinnacle. If it was him… it seemed reasonable for him to open a martial arts hall. After all, in this world’s setting, the West focused on magic, while the East had martial arts. So, it seemed quite normal for this True Ancestor, influenced by “martial arts and the Way,” to open such a place.

Shortly after Adele knocked, the door opened. Adele stepped back, seeing a girl in what looked like a “taekwondo uniform” sizing her up. Then, the girl said with surprise, “I didn’t expect you to come see Senior Sister.” It seemed she knew Adele’s identity.

“Senior… Sister? You mean Kaiser?”

The girl nodded. “If you want to see her, come in.” “But I’ll tell you in advance, before this, no matter who came to see her, she refused to see anyone.” “Let alone you… the femme fatale.”

“What’s with that description…” Adele shrank her neck helplessly.

“Isn’t it true? I don’t think Senior Sister Kaiser would lose to you.” Since Kaiser couldn’t have lost her points to Adele, she must have been tricked by this woman! The dojo junior sister’s logic was impeccable. Adele was a little annoyed. But from a certain perspective, she wasn’t wrong. To Kaiser, Adele was indeed a femme fatale, directly causing Dorothy’s rampage and her subsequent outcome.

“Just take me to her.”

“If Kaiser doesn’t want to see me, I’ll leave.” Adele said softly. The junior sister’s ponytail swayed in front of her, making Adele want to tug on it. She often exhibited a cat-like personality. One could say it was mischievous, or simply following her desires. Just like a cat seeing a bird, it would instantly become excited, chasing and pouncing. Fortunately, Adele still had a sense of reason and morality holding her back. Otherwise, she would have already… all the girls she set her eyes on, becoming a true “lady killer.” If she really did that, with her power as the Lewd Witch, she would probably become very strong, right? But if she only pursued strength itself, wouldn’t that “strength” become meaningless? Adele wouldn’t do such a foolish thing.

The dojo girl led Adele to a room on the second floor.

She knocked on the door to inform Kaiser that someone was there to see her. However, with Kaiser’s honed senses, she had probably already sensed their arrival through the slight vibrations of their footsteps long before Adele and the girl arrived.

The girl swallowed, visibly nervous about talking to Kaiser. But besides the nervousness, there was also a hint of other emotions. Concern, and care. Adele couldn’t help but notice. It seemed like Kaiser’s charm was quite potent. She didn’t need to do anything, just standing there with her over 1.8-meter tall figure, preferably with a melancholic look and an air of indifference, she was a cool and handsome older sister.

This type of woman was probably the favorite type of lesbians, except for straight girls. Even Adele had to admit that Kaiser’s appearance was very attractive, even to her. But it seemed few people dared, or wanted, to touch Kaiser’s heart. It seemed as if obtaining her outer shell was all that mattered, the rest irrelevant.

She didn’t know whether this was tragic or not for Kaiser. If Kaiser had a playboy personality, like True Ancestor Snyder, she could probably live a very “happy” and fulfilling life, partying every day. After all, physical Bloodkin had great stamina. But Kaiser’s personality… was too stubborn.

“Senior Sister, that… Adele is here to see you.”

“…” There was no response from inside.

The dojo girl breathed a sigh of relief. She could feel the charm of this girl named Adele. Not only could she not compete with it, but Adele’s achievements were also brilliant. Even the true Bloodkin Princess was infatuated with her. It was said that the Ice Queen, Miss Hermione, also… Otherwise, it couldn’t be explained why Adele was living in Hermione’s family’s residence. So, she was worried that even Senior Sister Kaiser would… If that was the case, it would be too enviable.

Fortunately, Kaiser remained silent. So, the girl could put on a calm smile and turn to Adele. “I told you Senior Sister Kaiser wouldn’t see anyone.” “I’m sorry, Miss Adele, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave.”

Adele ignored her words. She just took a step forward, extended her slender hand, and curled her fingers into a loose fist. Then—knock, knock. She knocked on the door. “Kaiser, I want to see you.” Just six simple words. The girl’s tone was casual, but the determination behind it was palpable. It was the momentum of “because I want to do it, so I’ll do it.” As if she would regret it if she didn’t say it. Straightforward and heartfelt. It was like two tsundere characters torturing each other, then one suddenly turning around and saying “I like you” with a direct gaze. Instantly ending the game.

“What are you talking about? I told you Senior Sister Kaiser doesn’t want to see—!” The dojo girl with the ponytail was interrupted by the suddenly opening door. The girl’s heart felt like it had been frozen by a cold wind. Until now, even Senior Sister Wen Xi, who was close to Kaiser, hadn’t received any response from Kaiser. It wasn’t that Kaiser didn’t want to see anyone. It was just that the person she wanted to see… hadn’t come. But now, she had come. So, whether it was them or herself, they were all superfluous.

The dojo girl looked at Adele one last time, then silently left. She would leave the rest of the time for Senior Sister Kaiser and Adele. In any case, she still hoped Senior Sister Kaiser could come out of the shadows soon. One loss wasn’t a big deal.

Adele didn’t pay attention to the girl’s thoughts. She just breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Kaiser still gave her face and opened the door. Otherwise, she would have been embarrassed. Also, her emotions fluctuated unusually. Because she thought… Kaiser had already rejected so many people, including her former friends, her relatives, and even her little junior sister who had a crush on her. They all ended in failure. Only she had successfully made Kaiser open the door. This special treatment was enough to make the girl’s heart feel as sweet as honey. It was the sweetness of someone she wasn’t very familiar with. But perhaps after today, they would become more familiar?

Adele also cared about Kaiser’s appearance. But just appearance wasn’t enough to move her. The time Adele and Kaiser spent in the Blood Secret Realm, however, was enough to be a catalyst for certain feelings. The fact that Adele had been worried about Kaiser ever since she heard about her seclusion proved this. Of course, it might also be because ninety percent… of the reason for Kaiser’s seclusion was because of her! She should comfort her a little. The girl thought this as she slowly stepped into the darkness behind the door.

The door clicked shut. Adele’s breathing quickened, and she hugged herself, complaining, “Don’t be so creepy… idiot.”

But with her good eyesight and the light filtering through the curtains, Adele could still see the entire room. First, it was certain that this wasn’t Kaiser’s bedroom. It should be a training room?

There was a lot of equipment Adele couldn’t name, a separate bathroom, a sofa big enough for one person to lie down on, and even a game console. Adele instantly imagined Kaiser sitting alone in front of a large screen, holding a controller and playing a fighting game.

Wasn’t this someone who seemed like an extrovert on the outside, but was actually more of an otaku at heart! Outwardly lively, inwardly lonely. So, she was too stubborn about certain things, trapped in her own world. And her inability to refuse others also brought her a lot of unwanted romantic attention.

But Kaiser should be the type of person who would be shy about intimate contact with girls, right?

Because in the Secret Realm, when Kaiser hugged Adele, her heartbeat was very fast, her breathing rapid. She couldn’t be a veteran. In comparison, the seemingly innocent Adele was the true heartbreaker.

Adele’s gaze continued to shift, finally finding Kaiser in a corner by the window. She wasn’t like those soft girls who would hug their knees and cry when they were feeling down. Kaiser was just leaning against the wall, relaxed, one leg crossed, the other knee raised, her arm resting on it listlessly. She wasn’t a lady, and she didn’t wear skirts. So, she didn’t have the usual worry about showing her underwear in this posture.

Adele took a few steps closer, trying to see the obscure expression on Kaiser’s face, to see her messy, medium-length blue hair. But what she finally saw were a pair of cold eyes like moonlight, devoid of their usual sharpness, just staring blankly at the girl who had entered her territory. But even if it was her territory, she probably didn’t care about protecting this meaningless dignity anymore, right? Whether it was being invaded by her own kind, being hunted, or like Adele… “prey,” seemingly unaware of the danger, approaching her, Kaiser didn’t care anymore.

Hesitantly, Adele called out the girl’s name, her voice tinged with worry. “…Kaiser?”

“…” Silence wasn’t a good way to communicate. But Kaiser seemed unable to do anything. Adele shook her head, becoming a little bolder, and continued to approach Kaiser. Kaiser shifted slightly, as if making space for Adele. And with her tall figure, even a small space was enough for Adele to sit down. But this didn’t mean she was showing closeness to Adele. Rather, she was currently in an extremely numb state. No matter what Adele wanted to do to her, she wouldn’t refuse. But at the same time, she wouldn’t care.

Come close to me if you want. Comfort me if you want, but I won’t listen. I’m hopeless. I’ll only make you regret it.

The aura Kaiser exuded was close to this. Gloomy, having lost the ability to communicate. Her pupils were unfocused, as if perpetually lost in a daze. Indeed, after realizing that she would never be Dorothy’s opponent again, all the effort she had put in for the past decade or so had become meaningless, like bubbles. Even her life, at that moment, had completely lost its meaning. If no one gave her life new meaning, Kaiser would be completely ruined, completely depraved.

What kind of person would she become in the future? No one knew. But it would definitely be someone bad. Either indulging in pleasures, no longer caring about anything meaningful, squandering her body, her mind and spirit wandering between virtual and reality, possibly ending up like a “transformation,” toyed with and then abandoned by the women who coveted her body, because that was the only way Kaiser could feel her existence had meaning. Or going to the extreme, a path that would lead to death. But the former path was just like living dead.

In a short moment, Adele thought a lot. She also thought of the high-spirited girl from before, the girl who, even when facing a strong enemy, didn’t show discouragement or retreat, but rather fervent excitement. Although at that time, Adele had called her an “idiot” in her heart, she was actually quite attracted to a woman like Kaiser. The more dominant the woman, the more interesting it was to conquer her. But now… Kaiser seemed to have lost that alluring charm. But Adele still didn’t want to give up on her. The girl wanted to give Kaiser’s life “new meaning.”

She didn’t sit next to Kaiser, but stood in front of her. The petite girl looked down at Kaiser, who was much taller than her even when slouching. It was unknown what emotions Adele’s eyes held because Kaiser instinctively lowered her head. So, she still had a last shred of shame, not wanting to face Adele, who seemed to still hold a glimmer of hope for her. But Adele held her breath, slowly bending down, and finally sat on Kaiser’s lap, her slender fingers lifting Kaiser’s unresisting chin, making her look at Adele. To see if she was still the same Adele who had momentarily moved Kaiser’s heart in the Secret Realm.

“Actually, at that moment, you wanted to kiss me, right?”

“…” Kaiser parted her lips slightly, at a loss. But Adele’s words made a passionate desire gradually surface in Kaiser’s chaotic mind. When she held the drowning Adele and broke the surface, the girl’s lips were rosy, covered with dew. At that moment, she really wanted to kiss them, to taste the girl. Nothing else mattered, just the admiration and affection between girls.

So, this was the meaning. Enough to build a small sand dune on the collapsed ruins of her “life.” It was actually very simple. What you wanted, I’ll give you. Although it was just a kiss, at this moment, it was more precious than anything else to Kaiser.

Adele didn’t wait for Kaiser’s response. She just kissed those dry but soft lips passionately, her arms around Kaiser’s neck, her lower abdomen pressed against Kaiser’s firm abs, feeling her trembling, savoring her shyness. But her eyes remained rational. Because this wasn’t purely from the heart. It was more like an exchange. Because she had given Kaiser what she wanted, Kaiser should also repay Adele with what she wanted. And the difference between what was given and what was received might be tenfold, a hundredfold… Because on a bad girl’s scale, there was never any such thing as fairness.

The long kiss ended. Adele’s breathing was erratic, her face flushed. Kaiser wasn’t much better. Probably no one could imagine that “Kaiser’s” face would one day show such a moving blush. And Adele whispered playfully in her ear, “Hey, Boss.”

“Ready to be my little sister~?”

 

Chapter 289: Mama’s Favorite Girl

It wasn’t just Hermione who was confused about whether it was punishment or reward.

Adele herself was also quite puzzled. Because she belatedly realized that she didn’t hate being… slightly bullied and toyed with by Hermione.

The experiences and sensations from last night became even clearer after she regained consciousness. Hermione’s actions, her own responses… were all so natural and ambiguous. And Adele couldn’t deny that, whether it was her intoxicated self at the time or her now sober self, she would accept Hermione’s actions. It was just a matter of modesty. The sober Adele could maintain a bit more modesty to emphasize her status and value.

She wasn’t just any woman! She was a girl who had to be loved wholeheartedly. Without such foreplay, Hermione would have to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, Hermione might think she was the type of girl who would meekly submit! And the punishment wouldn’t just be tying her up. Adele would have to teach Hermione a proper lesson when she returned at night. To let her know her place as a “queenly bottom”!

As for now, Adele had other things to do. She returned to the room Hermione had originally arranged for her, then took out the blood droplet that was Xiao Ai from a hidden place. She thought it was time to let her newly adopted daughter out for some fresh air.

“Xiao Ai~” It sounded like calling an AI on a smartphone. But Adele thought the name was quite good. The little one looked like a miniature version of her younger self. So cute that one couldn’t help but want to gobble her up~ Ahem, not that kind of gobbling up! Although Adele liked lewd things, she wasn’t that far gone. Not only did she not spare herself, but she wouldn’t even spare her younger self. That would be insane!

Xiao Ai, obeying Adele’s call, immediately transformed into a human form. But she carefully followed Mama Adele’s instructions.

First, conceal her aura, don’t let anyone notice. Xiao Ai did this; otherwise, the True Ancestors would have long discovered the blood droplet on Adele. And what would have followed would probably be a True Ancestor war that would shake the entire Bloodkin race. Because from any angle, Xiao Ai fit the image of the “thirteenth drop of God’s blood” mentioned by the True Ancestors.

This girl’s true form… was simply a drop of blood! However, there was an information gap between Adele and the True Ancestors. So, she still didn’t know that the so-called treasure in the Blood Secret Realm was the “thirteenth drop of God’s blood.”

The reason Adele didn’t find any treasure in the sacred ground with Azathoth’s help was because… the real treasure had already run out on its own two legs to find “Mama”!

Another point to ponder was that, logically, human blood contained genetic factors. Then, did the blood of the “god” mentioned by the True Ancestors… also contain the god’s genetic factors? If that was the case, shouldn’t the little girl transformed from the god’s blood look like the “god,” or at least similar? Putting aside what the god looked like for now, the point was that Xiao Ai looked exactly like Adele… what was going on? Was it because this was a “transmigration into a book”? The protagonists in books often had past life settings. Perhaps Adele was also like this. But even if there was such a setting, Adele probably wouldn’t care. Her personality was always like this, living only for her current life, freely living, freely loving. Bearing the burden of fate, no way!

Secondly, the rule Xiao Ai followed was not to easily read Mama Adele’s mind. Adele said it was to protect her privacy. But actually… Adele was more worried about Xiao Ai learning bad things! Becoming a reserve “heartbreaker” cultivated from a young age! Tsk, so Adele did have the self-awareness of being a “heartbreaker.” But preventing a little girl from learning bad things was still commendable. Her conscience wasn’t completely lost.

“Mama!” This was the first time Xiao Ai had appeared in human form outside the Secret Realm. But she didn’t seem to care much about the surrounding environment. Instead, she immediately threw herself into Adele’s arms excitedly.

Adele also opened her arms, welcoming Xiao Ai’s enthusiasm, spinning her around. Seeing this scene, most people would probably think they were sisters, rather than mother and daughter. Adele was already petite and looked young. In the eyes of others, saying she was a high school student might be too much; most people would guess she was a junior high student. As for Xiao Ai, whose height only reached Adele’s chest, she was undoubtedly an elementary school student. A junior high “mother” and an elementary school “daughter”! What kind of “jailbait starter pack” was this!?

Although Adele herself liked “taking both mother and daughter,” and had no resistance to this type of novel and manga, now that she had become the “mother” and Xiao Ai the “daughter,” heh, if anyone dared to covet them, Adele would probably call someone to beat their brains out!

Xiao Ai giggled in Adele’s arms, like a silver bell, incredibly healing. Adele was happy to spend this time playing with Xiao Ai and helping her understand this world. Xiao Ai’s learning ability was very strong. In no time, she remembered some of the common sense Adele told her. Of course, also some crooked logic that shouldn’t have been remembered. Like, “If you see a girl you like, just bravely go and cling to her!”

Xiao Ai nodded seemingly understandingly, then stood on tiptoe and kissed Adele’s cheek.

“Wah!”

“Mama is also considered a ‘girl I like’!?”

“Yes!” Xiao Ai nodded seriously. Rather, what she really wanted to express was that Mama was the only girl she liked. She wasn’t interested in other girls! Fortunately, Xiao Ai’s vocabulary wasn’t enough for her to express this thought to Adele. Otherwise, Adele would be very surprised. But this also laid a deep foreshadowing for the fact that Adele hadn’t yet discovered that Xiao Ai was actually a “mama-obsessed girl.” Adele just thought the little girl’s innocent words were cute~

“Hehe, Mama is very happy to be liked by Xiao Ai!”

Hearing this, Xiao Ai’s pink eyes also lit up instantly. It was mutual. Unfortunately, good times were short.

Adele still chose to let Xiao Ai return to her blood droplet form and hide her aura. Although she didn’t know that Xiao Ai might be the “thirteenth drop of God’s blood,” Adele instinctively felt that Xiao Ai, born in the Blood Secret Realm, might become the target of the high-ranking Bloodkin True Ancestors. This was an intuition. So, Adele would rather sacrifice Xiao Ai’s temporary freedom to ensure her safety. Anyway, she would be returning to Cromwell Academy in a few days. At that time, she would keep Xiao Ai in the dormitory~ The cute little one would definitely get along well with First Snow!

………………

Adele hid Xiao Ai, then left the room and walked out of Hermione’s family’s castle. She forcefully resisted the urge to look back at Hermione. She had to teach Hermione a lesson this way. Adele tried to leave the castle, but unfortunately, she was a modern-day directionally challenged person who couldn’t find her way without navigation. So, she had to ask the maids she met along the way. It was worth mentioning that these maids now treated Adele with sunshine and smiles. It reminded Adele of when she and Hermione first arrived here.

The maids basically treated her like air, let alone Hermione’s arrogant relatives. They probably thought Adele was a poor girl clinging to a rich family, a lowly woman who pleased Hermione with her body. But now, times had changed. When Adele met some of them, they immediately put on friendly smiles. As expected, it was different when one became famous. Like someone once said: After I became famous, everyone around me was nice. As for how many bad people there were before becoming famous, that was unknown.

However, Adele didn’t have the bad taste to call them out. One word, disdain. Instead, she politely asked about Kaiser, and more importantly, where she lived.

Hermione’s relatives answered everything, but without embellishment, simply describing Kaiser’s current situation. Something about becoming reclusive after leaving the Blood Secret Realm, refusing to eat or drink, and shutting herself in her house. Wasn’t this completely shutting down from Dorothy’s blow! On the one hand, Adele was grateful to Kaiser for giving her all her points, allowing her to become famous. Hermione’s family and the maids becoming respectful towards her was precisely because of this. On the other hand, she felt a little guilty. All of this prompted her to go find Kaiser as soon as she woke up.

So, besides asking how to leave the castle, Adele also inquired about the location of Kaiser’s family. After getting the directions, the girl smiled politely and said goodbye to Hermione’s relatives.

About thirty minutes later, Adele arrived in front of a martial arts hall. The girl looked up at the “Rule the world with force” plaque, dazed.

“This… should be the place, right?” How different it was from what she imagined! Oh well, she could only bite the bullet. So, Adele knocked on the door.

“Is anyone there? I’m Kaiser’s… friend!”

“I want to see her, is that okay?”

Chapter 288: Punishment or Reward?

Although there were reports claiming that people were rational when drunk, that didn’t apply to Adele. She wasn’t completely blackout drunk, but it was as if something was holding back her thoughts. Instead of thinking, she mostly used her slightly open eyes and sensitive body to perceive the outside world, to feel every kiss and caress.

When saying goodbye to Celeste, it was a rare moment when her mind escaped its restraints… the girl tightly gripped Celeste’s sleeve. Adele could feel the weakness and looseness in her fingertips, and the softness of the fabric. This occupied most of her senses, making it even more difficult for her to think.

She was driven only by that vague thought, like a child who would cry if they couldn’t get a toy. She didn’t want to be separated from Celeste, didn’t want to be separated from her doggy… Even if it was just going home after an ordinary dinner, to Adele, it felt like a distant parting. Actually, Adele could go find her golden retriever tomorrow. A gentle golden retriever with drooping ears and long, curly fur… Wait, long, curly fur… where?

But the girl eventually parted with Celeste because her fingertips lost their strength. And because she turned her head and encountered another softness. A faint, cool, milky fragrance wafted over. It’s Hermione—this thought surfaced in her mind. So, Adele’s attention instantly shifted from Celeste to Hermione. She thought, Hermione is also very good. Tsk, fickle woman! It was for this reason that Celeste and Hermione completed the exchange and farewell.

And then, Hermione kissed Adele wantonly in the car. It was a time that left Adele breathless. She didn’t think much, just offering her lips to Hermione, letting her enjoy them in various ways. In Adele’s hazy fantasy, she became the straw of a milk tea. Don’t suck so hard! And there was the sweet taste of milk tea swirling in their mouths. Adele was kissed into a daze, as if flying in the clouds. She occasionally felt vibrations. That was the fault of the broken roads in Twilight City, which hadn’t been repaired for centuries! In a sense, she and Hermione had experienced… a car quake.

Unfortunately, the space in the car was small, and there was an outsider present. With Hermione’s reserved nature, she could only go as far as kissing. Anything beyond that could only wait until they were alone at night. Hermione was looking forward to it. Adele was probably also looking forward to it. Because she had gotten drunk in front of Hermione without any guard. That meant she had at least half consented to anything that might happen next. The reason it was half, not all, was because she still wanted to leave room for embarrassment, to use it as an excuse to ask for something in return later. It sounded quite cunning. But Hermione just happened to like this cunning side of Adele. Moreover, she had already planned to let Adele punish her back tenfold, a hundredfold later.

She carried Adele back to her room and placed her on the soft bed, then impatiently kissed her. And this time, she wouldn’t just stop at kissing.

“Mmm… mmm~”

“Eek!”

“…” Even with her lips sealed, the girl could still let out such charming moans. It surprised and pleased Hermione. And her hands didn’t stop moving either. The first thing she undid was the buttons on Adele’s shirt. Adele’s body trembled slightly, sensitive even just from being touched through the fabric.

This gave Hermione a fresh feeling. Before this, she had always been gentle and submissive to the girl in these matters. She had discovered the devilish side hidden beneath Adele’s sweet, angelic face. However… even the devilish Adele was loved by Hermione. As for whether she would be laughed at for being the bottom, Hermione didn’t care. Today was the first time she experienced being on top of Adele, actively taking the initiative and enjoying the girl. Everything felt so fresh and interesting.

Perhaps Hermione was naturally suited to be the dominant one. It was just that she deliberately suppressed this for Adele. But the girl’s drunkenness today gave Hermione a perfect opportunity. She began to get used to this perspective, this gradually rising feeling. Her fingertips slid across the girl’s soft, undulating lower abdomen.

Adele felt a mix of heat and coolness. She shyly twisted her body, trying to avoid Hermione’s teasing fingertips. But it was useless. Being bullied didn’t feel good. But before Adele’s sense of grievance could surface, all discomfort was replaced by an inexplicable comfort. Hermione covered Adele’s chest with her hand, slowly moving upwards, cupping and gently kneading. Adele’s… although not big, Hermione liked the feeling of being able to hold them in one hand. And Adele’s shape… was beautifully perfect, even just from touch. It made Hermione linger for a long time, until Adele slightly furrowed her delicate brows and whimpered, seemingly uncomfortable… a little painful.

She was a girl who couldn’t stand the slightest grievance, but Hermione wouldn’t let her suffer.

“I forgot to trim my index fingernail, sorry~”

“If it hurts, I’ll lick it for you… okay?”

Adele was dazed. Besides agreeing, she couldn’t think of any other answer. Because it was Hermione… Hermione was very good to her. So, the girl blushed and nodded shyly. Hermione lowered her head and gently licked the spot where her fingernail had touched, a seemingly innocent but actually suggestive gesture.

“Eek!”

The ensuing sensation made Adele involuntarily hug the girl tightly, but it was like a sheep entering a tiger’s mouth, pushing her upper body closer to Hermione’s lips.

Hermione didn’t hold back, or rather, only today did she not restrain herself in front of Adele. She kissed and nibbled passionately… gently licking and sucking… In short, she kept bullying Adele until her eyes were teary. Only then did she slowly stop, raising her upper body and looking down at Adele’s beautiful, blushing face under the bright moonlight.

“…Waaah, bad… Hermione… bad!” Adele really looked like she was about to cry. She seemed to vaguely realize what was happening, but still couldn’t bring herself to resist. Still because… it was Hermione. But soon, Adele couldn’t even speak. Because since she was learning to be bad, Hermione decided to go all the way.

Hermione sealed Adele’s tempting lips with her own. Her hand reluctantly left the girl’s small mounds, slowly moving down, past her soft, white abdomen. Further down… Adele seemed to want to struggle, to say something. But her lips were sealed tightly. How could her weak body resist the queen’s attack? So, all that was left were whimpers and submissive pleasure mixed with pain.

The reason why it was “painful” was that before this, Hermione had never expected to have such a night with Adele. A night tinged with madness, but also full of pleasure. So… she had simply forgotten to trim her middle fingernail! Because of this, Hermione initially wanted to give up. But later, she gradually lost control. In front of Adele’s beauty, probably no one could have proper self-control. Hermione was already considered quite restrained. But in the end, she still succumbed. So, even if it wasn’t very gentle, Hermione still decided to follow her heart. Anyway, she was prepared to accept any punishment afterwards.

But this didn’t mean Hermione wasn’t gentle. On the contrary, she only allowed herself to use her middle finger with the sharp nail… It didn’t mean she would be reckless or careless. She was still very careful, afraid of hurting Adele’s soft… As her fingertip went deeper, Adele was like the most perfect and expensive instrument in the world, letting Hermione play and compose the best nocturne of the night.

Although it was Hermione’s first time doing this, in terms of actual operation, she was surprisingly skilled. Perhaps it was because of the principle of “practice makes perfect”?

Uh… she meant, after being… you know… by Adele so many times, she knew what rhythm to use and how to find and touch that sensitive spot. Adele probably wouldn’t have imagined that she had actually become Hermione’s teacher in this aspect, and was now being bullied by this bad student!

So—bad Hermione!

But it was useless to say anything now.

Adele’s already hazy mind, because of Hermione’s actions, became completely muddled. She had become a beast completely lost in desire! That was a true portrayal of Adele’s situation. She pressed close to Hermione’s equally naked body, her only sounds besides her seductive moans being soft, cuddly nuzzles…

It was as if she, not Hermione, was the one craving this pleasure.

“Such a lewd little fairy~”

“Adele, beg me, and I’ll… you know~” Hermione now understood the joy of bullying. No wonder Adele was so excited that day when she was on top. But Hermione didn’t really care. She had never been bullied before, pampered since childhood. Therefore, the first time Adele did that to her, what emerged in her heart wasn’t humiliation, but an inexplicable excitement.

Of course, that was limited to intimate contact with Adele. If it were anyone else, even a slight disrespect would be noticed by Hermione, and she would be dissatisfied and angry. Only Adele was an exception. Hermione deeply engraved this in her heart.

As for Adele, it went without saying. When had Adele ever been someone who willingly suffered grievances? So, even Hermione didn’t have much confidence that her words could move Adele. But the result was…

“…Please, please~”

Pfft…

well, now you see.

Hermione’s heart instantly raced, her eyes deep and hazy.

“Since this is Adele’s request…”

“Then I’ll gladly oblige.”

She launched another attack on Adele’s body, gradually escalating from gentle to rough, like waves upon waves.

At first, Adele was like a small boat, enjoying the swaying of the water. But soon, the ripples turned into waves, and the waves into a tsunami. Adele, on the small boat, could no longer escape. She was battered by the tide, already adrift, completely drenched. Was that really the amount of water a girl could produce?

Hermione was a little surprised, but also happy. Because it meant that Adele really liked being bullied by her.

………………

Adele woke up in a different room, in a different, clean bed. As for why the change… well, that was a question for Adele herself. The previous sheets were unusable, soaked through, mostly by Adele, only a small part by Hermione.

Speaking of Hermione, the Ice Queen was sleeping soundly beside Adele, breathing evenly, her heartbeat steady, a faint blush and a hint of a smile on her face. Adele tilted her head, dazed, staring blankly at everything, including Hermione.

What happened last night?

Who am I? Where am I…?

My body… my body is so tired…

Wah, so many red marks! Everywhere, from Adele’s perspective, her chest, waist, lower abdomen, inner thighs… all had them!

And the places she couldn’t see, like her neck and back… were they even worse?

Her legs were so weak she couldn’t move them, and if she squeezed them together slightly, she felt a slight pain from inside.

Looking at Hermione’s untrimmed middle fingernail, Adele couldn’t help but tremble. She shook her head vigorously, trying to recall what happened last night.

First, she got drunk, then Hermione took her home.

After that… fragmented images surfaced, enough to make Adele want to bury herself in the ground from embarrassment.

How could she have said… “Please… spoil me~”!

And turning into a beast… Ahhh!

This was too embarrassing!

Even Adele, the Lewd Witch, couldn’t handle it.

Adele covered her blushing face. And her whimpers woke Hermione. The silver-blue haired Hermione sat up, her elegant face showing no shame, but rather a post-coital satisfaction. She kissed Adele’s cheek.

“You…！ You’re bad!”

Adele, in her fluster, could only manage a “You’re bad” to Hermione.

And Hermione readily accepted this description. At the same time, she noticed that Adele didn’t resist her kiss. So, Hermione became bolder.

She leaned closer to Adele, trapping her in the corner of the bed. The soft blanket slipped from Hermione’s tall, sexy body, revealing her ample curves. Adele took a deep breath, finding herself unable to look away.

“You’re drunk, Adele~” Hermione murmured, her breath tickling the girl’s sensitive ear, making her shrink her neck.

“E-even if I’m drunk, it’s not a reason for you… to do bad things!”

“How are you going to compensate me, Hermione!”

“I’m serious, don’t, don’t…mmm!” Hermione’s tongue flicked across Adele’s earlobe, leaving a moist sensation that weakened her body. Now Adele realized that she might not have the power to restrain Hermione anymore. Hermione had tasted a certain supreme pleasure, and at least now, it was hard for her to let go.

So, she repeated, “You’re drunk, Adele.”

Now Adele finally realized, with a mix of shame and anger, that Hermione wasn’t saying this to excuse herself, not to express “You’re drunk, so I couldn’t help but get close to you.” What she meant was—”You’re drunk, you’re still drunk, so I can do whatever I want to you!” A Bloodkin version of “calling a deer a horse.” “Calling Adele a bottom!”

Waaah, Hermione, who did you learn this from!? You weren’t like this before!

However, if Adele really wanted to trace back who Hermione learned this from… she felt that no matter how she searched, it would eventually lead back to herself… Was this what it meant by “you reap what you sow”?

Adele angrily bit Hermione on the shoulder. The girl’s small, silver fangs were cute, leaving a mark like a “kitten” bite. Hermione’s fingernails accidentally scratched deeper than this when she showered. She didn’t feel the pain, but instead smiled mischievously. “A drunken kitten showing its claws needs to be punished~”

“Wh-who’s a kitten!?”

“You…mmm, n-no, don’t!” Adele’s body involuntarily arched because, through a night of experimentation, Hermione had already found Adele’s sensitive spots. Her neck, her back, her… Hermione suddenly buried her head between Adele’s legs, performing what she considered “service.”

Adele’s hands weakly tried to push Hermione away, but she couldn’t. In the end, she could only caress Hermione’s silver-blue hair, her body convulsing under Hermione’s teasing.

………………

Afterwards, Hermione was tied up on the bed. The ropes tightened around her ample figure, accentuating her curves. She blinked her “innocent” ice-blue eyes. Adele, dressed in her skirt and white silk stockings, came to the bed angrily and placed her foot on Hermione’s…

“Mmm…ah!” Hermione, however, felt an inexplicable pleasure. It seemed she was the type who could enjoy being both dominant and submissive. In other words, she and Adele were very compatible.

Adele, venting her frustration, trampled and ground with her toes. But she didn’t use much force, so what appeared to be “punishment” actually became a caress.

“D-don’t make that face like you want me to step on your face!” Adele said, blushing. “This is punishment! Punishment, do you understand!”

“Hmph, as punishment for your insubordination, Hermione, you’re not allowed to untie yourself or leave this room for the whole day.”

“Until I come back!”

“Understood!?”

“Understood~” Don’t say it with such a comfortable expression! And with such a willing attitude! Otherwise, Adele would wonder whether this was “punishment”… or a “reward”?

Chapter 287: Hermione’s Willfulness

Celeste probably wouldn’t have imagined that Hermione, with her seemingly aloof and dignified demeanor, would have such romantic fantasies. But Hermione would be a good caregiver, cold on the outside, warm on the inside, gentle and patient with their Master. This was something Celeste couldn’t deny, even though she still couldn’t get along with Hermione, like water and fire.

As Adele was transferred from Celeste’s arms to Hermione’s, she seemed reluctant to part in her drunken daze. She clutched Celeste’s sleeve tightly. “Mmm, doggy…”

Master is really like a child when drunk, Celeste thought. Such attachment and closeness. Undeniably, Adele was usually a girl skilled in acting. But in front of these girls who doted on her, there was no need for her to act. She used sincerity in exchange for the same, or even greater, sincerity. Celeste’s nose tingled slightly, but it was from happiness.

“Doggy will obediently wait for Master, and will never leave.” The blonde girl comforted her spoiled Master with gentle words, stroking her slightly flushed cheek.

Gradually, Adele loosened her grip on Celeste’s sleeve. The girl then snuggled into Hermione’s arms. One second she looked like she was about to cry, the next she was attracted by Hermione’s cold fragrance, her small hand reaching out to touch the Ice Queen’s chest.

“…”

“…” Shouldn’t she be sad for a bit longer!? Such a smooth transition… Celeste sometimes really wanted her Master to repay her with some touching emotions. Oh well, forget it. The girl smiled wryly, a mix of helplessness and affection.

Celeste waved her hand, watching Hermione carry Adele into a private luxury car prepared by her family and leave the restaurant, finally relieved.

In a hidden corner of the luxury car, Hermione couldn’t resist pressing the girl down, tasting her sweet, wine-tinged lips. Even if Adele made a sound and was noticed by the Bloodkin maid driving in front, the maid would just blush and continue focusing on driving, thinking to herself, Her Highness is really impatient… She couldn’t hold back as soon as she got in the car. It would have been more private and safer in the family residence. Also, the object of Her Highness’s affection is that… Adele, right? What a perfect match for Master!

But not long ago, Hermione’s family shouldn’t have accepted Adele, thinking Hermione should just play around with her. The maid’s change in attitude towards Adele was actually because, with the end of the Blood Trial, some of the things that happened in the Secret Realm had spread. The most famous was that Adele had become the top scorer. In the past hundreds, even thousands of years, there had never been a Bloodkin girl below Rank Two who had achieved this honor. And Adele, as a Rank Five, had made history. Whether she relied on women or her true strength, in terms of results, she was the final winner.

And in stark contrast was Miss Kaiser… who had unexpectedly gotten last place. And it seemed that Miss Kaiser had been shutting herself in ever since leaving the Secret Realm, refusing to see anyone, refusing to eat or drink. It seemed she had truly suffered a great blow. And this blow was probably related to Princess Dorothy. So, except for a few high-ranking individuals, most Bloodkin had the attitude of “don’t ask, don’t say, don’t know anything,” afraid of offending either side.

The maid, feeling hot all over from listening to the “whispering and flirting” behind her, returned to the castle. Hermione only stopped when they were about to get out of the car. And Adele was already dazed from being kissed, her pink eyes slightly rolled back, her small tongue sticking out slightly. This could be considered the biggest loss Adele had suffered since dominating the world in the book!

And if this appearance were seen by others, it would be too disastrous. Therefore, Hermione quickly tidied up Adele’s appearance before gently carrying her out of the car. Under the romantic moonlight of Twilight City, the elegant girl in a blue dress, holding the petite girl in her arms, stepped into the depths of the castle.

The lingering fragrance of wine and Adele’s sweet scent made Hermione lick the sharp tips of her teeth, wanting to taste more. It wasn’t until she felt a pang of pain that Hermione restrained herself. She endured until she brought Adele to her boudoir. Only there could Hermione be considered a true queen. And Adele, the forbidden pleasure she was about to enjoy.

Sorry… Adele. But I… really can’t hold back anymore.

“Later, I will make it up to you tenfold, a hundredfold, my dear Adele… the only love in my heart.”

“At that time, you can do anything to me, no matter how excessive.”

“I will obediently accept all punishments. As long as it’s you, I will accept it with pleasure.”

“So, tonight… can I be willful for once, Adele~?”

Her slender legs climbed the red-carpeted stairs step by step. Hermione held Adele steadily, so Adele barely felt any bumps. And Adele, in her drunken state, didn’t know whether she understood Hermione’s words or not. Or perhaps she had become a little fool because of the alcohol. Now, no matter who asked her, no matter how excessive the request, she would only reply with a soft, childish, “…Mmm.”

Her soft, nasal voice was like a child’s, making Hermione’s heart melt. Even her breathing quickened. The Ice Queen, who should always have a cold expression, keeping everyone at arm’s length, was now panting, her blush not only reaching her ears, but even the pale skin of her neck flushed with excitement, revealing faint blue blood vessels.

“I will pamper you well, Adele…” She promised, carrying the drunken girl into her boudoir, placing her on the cotton bed softer than clouds. Then, before she could even take off her dress, her tall and elegant body pressed down impatiently…

Chapter 286: Vengeful

Hope, followed by its shattering, is despair. This was exactly what True Ancestor Ron was facing. He took off his hood in the sacred ground, revealing his horrifying half-crystallized face to Lady Chen Xi. Ron’s appearance was dignified, with elegant silver hair. More importantly… he had pointed ears, longer than the top of his head! He looked extremely elegant and noble, reminiscent of the mysterious and noble race that had been passed down through countless legends since ancient times— “Elves!”

No wonder some said that Bloodkin didn’t originally exist in this world. The twelve True Ancestors originally belonged to different races, but they obtained a mysterious power and emerged out of nowhere, creating the Bloodkin. Using their blood as a bond, their bloodlines were passed down, like a large tree branching out and spreading its leaves.

Ron’s eyes were tinged with madness.

“Chen Xi! I can compromise…”

“I don’t care whether the thirteenth drop of God’s blood was hidden by you, or if it doesn’t exist at all.”

“Now, I only ask you to give Sheena to me!”

“You know, you have no right to dispose of a True Ancestor’s remains!”

Ron reached out, his gaze fixed on the woman Chen Xi was holding, his former companion, True Ancestor Sheena. However, he couldn’t care less now. Since the thirteenth drop of God’s blood didn’t exist in the Blood Secret Realm, or if it existed but was nowhere to be found, it didn’t matter!

He just needed Sheena’s remains! Because there must still be remnants of God’s blood in Sheena’s body! If he could obtain it, perhaps he could restore his body to its original state. Even if he couldn’t seek higher power or break through his current realm, he no longer desired that kind of power.

Now, Ron just wanted to live. Although in the past thousands of years, many True Ancestors, including Ron, had complained about their long lifespan, making everything seem boring, that was just the Versailles of the privileged. Like rich people saying they didn’t care about money, but try making them poor? Once the True Ancestors neared the end of their lifespans, they might become more desperate than anyone, resorting to any means necessary.

Just like True Ancestor Ron now. He had already set his sights on the remains of his former friend, Sheena! Lady Chen Xi naturally saw through Ron’s intentions, and immense anger swept through her heart. This was the first time she felt so angry and sad since her revival.

“Ron, I hope you take back what you said!”

“I thought we would grieve for the departure of every member, just like before…”

“Haven’t we gone through many difficult times together?”

“Sheena almost lost her life for you, for us!”

“But now, you want to disturb even her soul!”

“…I don’t remember such distant things.” Ron’s eyes were gloomy, his body emitting an ominous aura. “Now, I just want to get rid of this damned crystallized state!” “I just want to live, Chen Xi, don’t you understand!?”

The last glimmer of light in Lady Chen Xi’s eyes for Ron also extinguished. But it was certain that she wouldn’t hand Sheena over to Ron, even if it might lead to a battle between True Ancestors. Although Lady Chen Xi wasn’t good at fighting, her magic and abilities were mostly support-based. But Ron’s current strength was far less than before. The agility and talent inherent to elves had long since disappeared when his body was eroded and crystallized by the elements. So, Lady Chen Xi wasn’t without a chance of winning. Rather, her chances were quite high.

Ron gritted his teeth and swung his crystallized arm, condensing an image of the sun behind him. Using such high-level magic right from the start… almost at the level of a Legendary Mage. Was he serious, or was it more of a warning?

Lady Chen Xi’s eyelids twitched, feeling immense pressure. But she didn’t back down. Instead, she held Sheena’s body even tighter, not at all taboo about her current state. She truly treated everyone from the past as good friends, brothers, and even sisters… She could understand why Ron had become like this. But she wouldn’t think it was justified! Wrong was wrong. Even if Ron really used Sheena’s remains to prolong his life for a while, what would happen when he reached his limit again? Would he then target her, target Snyder, target the other True Ancestors!? Since that was the case, it was better to nip Ron’s thoughts in the bud, even if it meant becoming enemies.

Suddenly, a frivolous voice sounded behind them. “Hey, hey, there are only a few of us left, so let’s not fight amongst ourselves, okay?”

Snyder had re-entered the Blood Secret Realm at some point. Before this, the Blood Secret Realm had been exceptionally dangerous, even True Ancestors could fall. But now that the god’s treasure was gone, the danger no longer existed, so they could finally enter without worry.

Snyder’s appearance didn’t ease the tense atmosphere much. But with his next words, Ron’s expression turned gloomy.

“Still not listening… huh.”

“But have you forgotten who proposed that there would be no more Blood Trials after the last one ended?”

“All of us.”

“Because the god’s flesh and blood have been exhausted, no longer nourishing this Secret Realm, there’s no more new Blood Essence being produced.” The disappearance of the divine corpse on the cross… was proof! “In the end, the thirteenth drop of God’s blood is just a legend… isn’t it!?”

“Instead, hasn’t the god’s treasure always referred to the Blood Essence transformed from the god’s flesh and blood?”

“The existence of Blood Essence can greatly strengthen our Bloodkin descendants, purify their bloodlines, even allowing them to reach a level close to ours.”

“This is the real treasure, the secret to our Bloodkin’s prosperity.”

“Without the nourishment of God’s blood, the Blood Essence is useless.”

“But why has the Blood Essence, which we once concluded had been exhausted after thousands of years and was no longer being produced, once again sprung up throughout the Secret Realm like bamboo shoots after the rain?”

“Ron, have you thought about this question?”

“…” Of course, Ron had thought about it… He just didn’t want to accept that fact. And Lady Chen Xi was the one who realized it later. She looked at Sheena’s peaceful “sleeping face” with a surprised expression.

Now she finally understood. “It’s Sheena…”

“She replaced the god.”

She returned all the divine blood she had consumed to this world. That’s why the Blood Essence was reborn. She wanted to atone to the god in this way and bless the future prosperity of the Bloodkin.

As Chen Xi’s words fell, True Ancestor Ron roared, unleashing his power. The phantom of the sun behind him exploded, burning and destroying the surrounding sea of flowers. Amidst the flames, Ron, half of whose face had already crystallized into porcelain, looked like a devil. He could perhaps convert all of Sheena’s blood for his own use. But he couldn’t collect all the divine blood Sheena had dispersed into this world. The Blood Secret Realm would soon close. Staying here would mean being cut off from the world.

Lady Chen Xi knew she didn’t need to persuade Ron anymore. So, she just gave the man a pitiful look and prepared to carry Sheena out of the Blood Secret Realm. She wanted her companion to return to her roots in the Bloodkin capital she cherished.

Snyder waved his hand to stop her.

“Don’t be foolish. Think about what’s maintaining Sheena’s body now.”

“She has dispersed all the divine blood. Her original body will only decay and decompose with time, leaving no bones behind.”

“But look at her, Chen Xi, she’s still as beautiful as ever, as if she’s just asleep.”

“Her appearance remains as it was at the moment of her death.”

“That’s because she’s protected by this Secret Realm.”

“Or rather, it’s the power of her own divine blood that maintains her appearance.”

“But once you take her out of this Secret Realm…”

“Perhaps she will vanish into thin air the moment she leaves.”

“Sheena is like a sister to me. I still hope she can maintain her most beautiful appearance.” The man’s tone was filled with emotion.

Although Snyder seemed quite the scoundrel, at least he hadn’t lost his humanity for power or immortality.

Lady Chen Xi looked at him with a newfound respect. But then, she still stubbornly chose to take Sheena out of this world that didn’t belong to her. However, Chen Xi heeded Snyder’s reminder. She let the divine blood within her body converge on her fingertips, then drip onto Sheena’s lips, where it was quickly absorbed. Like ink dripping onto paper, the paleness on the woman’s lips disappeared, replaced by a rosy hue.

Ron watched this scene from afar, his eyes almost bloodshot!

This woman! She was actually wasting the essence of the divine blood just to maintain a corpse’s youthful appearance! This madwoman! If it weren’t for Snyder staying within five steps of Chen Xi and Sheena, watching his every move with a cold gaze, Ron might really have attacked Lady Chen Xi recklessly. But with his strength, he couldn’t possibly defeat two True Ancestors working together. So, in his grief and indignation, he could only give up this ruthless thought.

The current Ron had completely lost his humanity. He no longer cared about past friendships and memories. He just wanted to live…

After dripping the blood containing the essence of the divine blood, Lady Chen Xi’s face instantly paled. But she still maintained her usual elegance. “This will do.” She said, responding to Snyder.

True Ancestor Snyder shook his head slightly, but not to deny Lady Chen Xi’s actions or their effectiveness. On the contrary, this was the only way to maintain Sheena’s youthful appearance. It was just, as Ron thought, it was… too wasteful.

But Snyder liked this kind of waste. Rather, he knew it could be done this way, but he couldn’t bear to do it like Lady Chen Xi.

“I’ll be there for the funeral,” he said indifferently.

“…Yes.” Lady Chen Xi nodded. She would indeed hold a funeral for Sheena, but it would probably be limited to a few people.

Lady Chen Xi and Snyder left the Secret Realm one after another, leaving only True Ancestor Ron still venting his anger. However, it was all in vain. If he couldn’t find the thirteenth drop of God’s blood, he was destined to meet his end.

………………

Adele and the others left the underground palace just as evening fell in Twilight City. Coincidentally, the girls were also hungry. So, at Adele’s suggestion and Hermione’s expense, they went to a famous restaurant in Twilight City for dinner.

The reason why Hermione was paying was that Adele was currently living in Hermione’s family’s residence, and basically all her living expenses were covered by Hermione. Adele actually wanted to treat everyone to dinner with the money she had saved. She was always being taken care of by the girls; she felt bad~ But looking at Adele’s expectant smiling face, it didn’t seem like she felt that bad…

Unfortunately, Dorothy couldn’t join this dinner. Because she was taken away by her family as soon as she came out of the Secret Realm.

It was obviously related to Azathoth’s possession. Perhaps the Black Emperor’s family was happy to see Dorothy display such terrifying and powerful strength. But they definitely didn’t want Dorothy to become Azathoth’s puppet, controlled or even brainwashed by her, eventually being bewitched by her subordinate and sacrificing herself to let her descend into this world.

Of course, this was the worst-case scenario. The current Dorothy had only just mastered Possession. The later Summoning and Advent were realms her current strength couldn’t reach. However, this was also a problem that every Subordinate Bloodkin had to face. That was the relationship with their subordinate. Was it control, cooperation, or being controlled? Naturally, every Subordinate Bloodkin hoped to be able to control their subordinate. Then came cooperation. Being controlled was equivalent to becoming a puppet. Adele hoped that Dorothy could overcome this difficult process. Don’t lose to Azathoth!

After the ordeal in the Blood Secret Realm, Adele had completely forgiven Dorothy. After all, not everyone was willing to risk their lives for others. Dorothy had rashly chosen to let Azathoth possess her to save Adele, even at the cost of her own consciousness falling asleep. What a risk-taker… But if Dorothy was absent this time, they could just make it up to her next time. Adele thought this as she looked at her wine glass being gently filled by Celeste.

“Is this enough?”

“A little more!” The girl said confidently.

Celeste wanted to say something, but in the end, she just smiled and continued to obey Adele’s whim. Because this was her Master’s request, she wanted to drink, to celebrate and enjoy herself. But everyone present was more or less aware of Adele’s alcohol tolerance, so they exchanged glances. However, they also knew that Adele didn’t like others questioning her decisions. So, all they could do was silently pour themselves some wine. Even Sharon, who had never drunk alcohol before, carefully poured herself half a glass.

“Cheers!” Adele raised her glass excitedly, and the others also raised their glasses with smiles. Adele gulped it down. It was a special Bloodkin brew, and it tasted quite good. “Hmph, just a glass of wine, you underestimate me too much!” The girl wiped her mouth, put her hands on her hips, and put on a proud expression. But fifteen minutes later, she was already dizzy and leaning in Celeste’s arms, mumbling strange things like “Such great evil… wah, it’s pressing down on me!”

But from Adele’s perspective, it seemed to be true… Celeste’s figure had an unparalleled oppressive force. It felt like she hadn’t stopped developing during this time. She had already reached the level of being a poster girl for a certain mobile game. Hermione and Wofoo’s chests were also ample, but compared to Celeste, they were still slightly inferior. As for Sharon, she was pitifully nibbling on her small cake in the corner.

It seemed that being small also had its advantages. This dinner ended with Adele getting drunk. Edith was the first to leave because she had to return to her ancestor, Lady Chen Xi. But when she left, her gaze lingered on Adele’s blushing, soft cheeks. Celeste looked at her, then at Adele in her arms, and whispered in her Master’s ear with a smile, “Master, Edith is leaving. She wants to kiss your cheek. Is that okay?”

“Mmm…!” Hearing this, Edith immediately showed a nervous and shy expression. But it had to be said, Celeste really saw through her desire at a glance. Adele seemed to hear, but also didn’t seem to hear. The girl’s alcohol-addled brain seemed to have temporarily lost its ability to think, only mumbling incoherently. She was cute, but it was difficult to respond to others’ expectations. Edith could only smile wryly and wave her hand.

“…Forget it, I’ll go first. Let’s have dinner together next time.” But just as she took a step, ready to leave, Celeste’s slightly surprised voice came from behind her. “Miss Edith, look!”

Edith looked back. The next moment, she held her breath, her eyes trembling. Because in the scene she saw, Adele, nestled in Celeste’s arms, had unknowingly pouted her rosy lips. That alluring luster was like the glimmer on a fishhook. Edith would rather be the willing fish than miss this hard-won opportunity. The other girls, like Hermione and Sharon, didn’t show any jealousy when they saw this. After all, they all wanted Adele to be happy. Therefore, as long as it was in line with Adele’s wishes, they would usually choose to accept it.

Edith didn’t dare to waste this opportunity and quickly walked around the table to Adele. Then, brushing aside her purple hair, she closed her eyes and gently kissed Adele’s fragrant lips. There were no extra movements. Just a pure kiss, lips pressing against lips, like two petals touching. Then, she reluctantly let go.

“Goodbye, Adele…” Edith said goodbye to the girl with a faint smile and the sweet fragrance between her lips and teeth.

As for Adele’s belatedly extended pink tongue, Celeste shyly pushed it back. “Mmm… mmm!” The girl still seemed a bit dissatisfied, whimpering in protest.

Please, Master! Be a little more pure! So, the reason why she didn’t stick out her tongue when kissing Edith just now was simply because her reaction was a few beats slow! Fortunately, Edith didn’t see it. Otherwise, she might be slightly disillusioned with Adele’s image? Celeste didn’t really understand what had happened between Adele and Edith. So, she didn’t know that Edith wouldn’t be disillusioned. Rather, pushing boundaries… was one of Edith’s impressions of Adele. But Edith just happened to like this about Adele. She liked being completely controlled by her, whether it was rough or gentle.

With Edith’s departure, the dinner came to an end. Because it had been decided beforehand that Adele would stay at Hermione’s house tonight, the others didn’t linger, coming to Adele, who was drunk and asleep, occasionally whimpering like a cute little pig. They gently kissed her cheeks as a goodbye. Wofoo kissed Adele’s nose, then touched it with her own nose. Among canines, this was a symbol of closeness. Sharon conservatively kissed the girl’s right cheek. As for Celeste, she was a little greedier, leaving lingering marks on Adele’s lips. Hermione licked her lips, watching this scene with her usual cold expression, not saying a word.

“No need to be jealous of this moment, I’m leaving Master to you.” Celeste said, noticing Hermione’s gaze and smiling helplessly.

“…I’ll take good care of her.” Hermione responded.

“Just don’t go too far, otherwise Master is vengeful.”

“Then the one who won’t be able to get out of bed will be…”

“Stop talking nonsense, let’s go.” Hermione urged impatiently, but her ears were actually turning red after hearing Celeste’s words. As she took the drunken but still sweet Adele from Celeste’s arms, she couldn’t help but have some wild thoughts.

Vengeful, huh… that’s not bad either. Twice the fun for me?

Chapter 285: The Thirteenth Drop of God’s Blood

Although Lady Chen Xi didn’t find the treasure, she wasn’t disappointed. She released her embrace on her friend and looked towards Adele and Dorothy. “It’s alright now. Congratulations, your Secret Realm trial is over.”

Dorothy and Adele looked at each other, surprise and joy in their eyes. It… was over just like that? Adele had had enough of this place. And because of Kaiser, Dorothy had gone berserk… Adele still felt a little guilty about that. Fortunately, Dorothy didn’t really blame her. Otherwise, Adele would be devastated.

“Then… that Senior Sheena, Lady Chen Xi, you will bring her back to Twilight City for a proper burial, right?” Adele asked with concern.

Hearing this, Lady Chen Xi’s gaze softened.

It was probably because she felt the girl’s kindness. However, she would never have guessed the reason why Adele asked this… It was because Adele really thought that it was True Ancestor Sheena who had blessed her and Dorothy in the dark, leading to Lady Chen Xi’s arrival. But in reality… perhaps she should be thanking Azathoth.

If Azathoth hadn’t found this well-hidden sacred ground, Lady Chen Xi wouldn’t have been able to follow the magic mark she had given and venture into this place. However, judging from the current situation, perhaps her and the other True Ancestors’ worries were unnecessary. There was no longer any treasure left by the gods here.

“I will.” Lady Chen Xi said with a slight smile. Her face, quite similar to Edith’s but more mature and intellectual, made Adele stare blankly. The next moment, Lady Chen Xi opened a portal made of pure magic power for them. Adele and Dorothy held hands, took a deep breath, and walked through.

When they arrived in the underground palace outside, they found it was already filled with young Bloodkin participating in the Blood Trial. Including Celeste, Hermione, and the others, who had been sent back by Lady Chen Xi earlier.

Adele pretended to be calm, not letting anyone notice anything unusual. It had to be said, she did a great job.

Even Lady Chen Xi was fooled, thinking she was just nervous and timid from entering the sacred ground. But in reality… ahem, the girl’s fear was real! But it was also a necessary disguise. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be easy for Adele to successfully bring Xiao Ai, the blood droplet, out of the Secret Realm. But then again, Xiao Ai should have the natural ability to conceal her aura, right? Otherwise, Adele couldn’t understand why Lady Chen Xi, a True Ancestor, couldn’t detect her presence at all.

But in any case, Adele was truly thankful that she had brought Xiao Ai out of that lonely space. And she had a vague, bold thought. Was it possible… that Xiao Ai came from that “sacred ground”? That she had some connection to the mysterious being who was once bound to the cross? Or that she was the one who broke free from the cross! But seeing Xiao Ai’s innocent appearance, if Adele’s guess was correct, then she must have lost her memory for some reason. However, this didn’t seem to explain why she looked almost exactly like Adele, like a younger version of herself. Unable to figure out the answer, Adele could only comfort herself with the thought that perhaps she was the first creature Xiao Ai saw, so Xiao Ai imitated her appearance.

With Adele’s appearance, a commotion instantly arose in the underground palace. Obviously, the fact that Adele, a Sequence Rank Five, could survive until the end… was too unbelievable, no matter how you thought about it. But seeing her holding Princess Dorothy’s hand… well, it made sense now, it was only natural. After all, everyone would cling to a powerful figure. But the point was, most people didn’t have that opportunity! Many people instantly showed envious expressions.

But Adele didn’t care about these people. Her gaze focused on the girls who were rushing towards her. “Celeste, Hermione!” “Wah, Wofoo… don’t rub, haha, stop rubbing.” “And Edith, it was your grandmother who saved us. Please thank her for me.” “My little Sharon, don’t be shy, come for a hug~”

Adele, being so popular, was clearly the legendary “Queen Bee”! But she was just a Sequence Rank Five with no bloodline or family background. How could she… Adele didn’t need to respond to this. Her girls would immediately stand up for her upon hearing any doubts~

Also worth mentioning was that, unlike the joyful atmosphere around Adele, Kaiser stood dejectedly not far away, her tall figure looking particularly lonely. It seemed she still hadn’t recovered from the shock of Dorothy’s subordinate, Azathoth.

Dorothy also stared at her, her eyes filled with warning. Kaiser, once such a brave and fearless, unruly girl, felt like shrinking back for the first time. Like a lion with its teeth pulled out. Even if she roared again, it would only be laughable. Now it seemed that Kaiser’s faction had completely lost to Dorothy’s… or rather, Adele’s faction. Her expression was extremely gloomy. She lowered her head and turned to leave dejectedly.

Wen Xi wanted to approach her, but Kaiser pushed her away. Amaterasu Kuro and Tsukimi Shiro, seeing their newly found backer fall, and in such a disheartened manner, felt a mix of emotions. After all, this was far more serious than physical injury. Physical wounds could always heal. But mental setbacks, who knew when they would recover from those.

Amaterasu Kuro started to feel apprehensive. She was suddenly glad she hadn’t gone too far, hadn’t let the girl from the Witch Hunting Church verify Adele’s identity as a witch, making her an enemy of the Church.

As for Tsukimi Shiro, perhaps the silver-haired girl felt more envy. Envy for Celeste, Sharon, and the others… also envy for Edith, who could be forgiven even after making mistakes. She quietly clenched her hand, and after a long time, sighed.

It was about half an hour later when Lady Chen Xi and the other two True Ancestors left the Blood Secret Realm. What they discussed, what they found in the Secret Realm, was unknown. Only True Ancestor Snyder left with a grim expression and came to the outside of the underground palace. He was responsible for announcing the rankings and rewards of the Blood Secret Realm trial.

“The participant with the highest score this time… is Miss Adele.”

As soon as he said this, the whole place was in an uproar. And Adele also froze in disbelief. Had… she done anything? Besides defeating a Sequence Rank Three alone, it seemed like she had only worked with Wofoo to defeat Wen Xi, a Sequence Rank One. After that, she had just been staying put, leisurely spending her time in the Secret Realm. So, was there really no problem with this ranking!? But doubts aside, Adele wouldn’t waste an opportunity for benefits. So, she silently accepted it.

Then, True Ancestor Snyder began to announce the other girls’ rankings. Dorothy was second. Well, now most people would definitely think that Adele had only gotten first place by clinging to Dorothy. Maybe Dorothy had beaten everyone to low health, and then Adele delivered the final blow, taking the credit. What a touching story, a support carrying a crippled AD…

Further down the list, Hermione’s ranking was also very high. Then came Wofoo and Celeste. Edith and Sharon’s scores were much lower. Probably because they hadn’t participated in any decent battles since teaming up, so they couldn’t gain points from their fellow Bloodkin. But the point was the last place on the leaderboard. It was actually… Kaiser!?

Now Adele understood how she got first place. Kaiser had voluntarily withdrawn, transferring all her points to Adele!

“…” This first place made Adele feel a bit uncomfortable. But Dorothy seemed to think Kaiser’s actions were quite sensible. After all, Dorothy would have given Kaiser’s “big bounty” to Adele anyway. So, Kaiser withdrawing actually preserved her last shred of dignity.

The announcement of the rankings ended, marking the perfect conclusion of the Blood Trial. After today, Adele’s fame among the Bloodkin was destined to spread. However, Adele didn’t really want to attract too much attention…

What she really cared about was the reward for first place!

But the True Ancestors were still busy dealing with the aftermath of what had happened in the Blood Secret Realm. Including Dorothy, who was immediately taken away by one of the three True Ancestors loyal to her, Kaiser’s ancestor. Perhaps it was because her contracted subordinate, Azathoth, had shown amazing potential, or rather, not potential… but terrifying strength.

However, it was Kaiser’s ancestor, that seemingly withered old True Ancestor… that made Adele feel a little sympathetic towards Kaiser. It was Kaiser whose spirit had been crushed by Dorothy’s subordinate, Azathoth. But besides leaving alone and giving her points to Adele as atonement, she didn’t seem to receive any… concern she desired. Wen Xi’s fawning didn’t count. Kaiser could have a different woman every night if she wanted. What Kaiser truly wanted, putting aside material things, was genuine concern for her. She had once sought this attention from her family, seeking a sliver of… even if it was just biased affection given because of blood ties. But she failed. All the love and care in the family were taken by Dorothy. Compared to her, Dorothy was more like their chosen master, the future heir of the family.

After that, she was clueless about emotions. She didn’t know how to love, so it was naturally difficult for her to find someone who would truly like her. If Kaiser were to recall, the closest she had ever been to liking someone… was probably during the time she spent with Adele in the Secret Realm. Although it was as illusory as a bubble, the beauty before it burst was enough for Kaiser to reminisce about for a long time.

………………

Blood Secret Realm, the sacred ground.

Lady Chen Xi and True Ancestor Ron were in a standoff. As expected, in the face of profit, only struggle was eternal. True Ancestor Ron was probably the one who couldn’t accept the disappearance of the god’s “legacy” the most. If his current appearance… could still be considered “human.”

That was a secret known only to the True Ancestors. In order to go further, to gain the power to enter that realm, Ron’s body had undergone irreversible elemental crystallization. That was why True Ancestor Ron always covered himself with a black robe, his outstretched hand as smooth and white as jade, or rather, like porcelain. In fact, it wasn’t just his hands that had become like this.

Except for half of his face, along with half of his chest and his heart, the rest of his body had been crystallized. Perhaps soon, in a few years, or a decade or so, he would be completely sealed in consciousness due to elemental crystallization, becoming a sculpture.

The True Ancestors were almost immortal, so a decade or so was just a snap of their fingers, creating a sense of urgency. Moreover, for True Ancestor Ron, this wasn’t death, but it was more terrifying than death, a way of living like the living dead.

If he couldn’t find any way to save himself before then, perhaps he would go completely mad. Or perhaps he would calmly end his own life. However, no one knew what the future held. He just wanted to seize the present, to obtain something from the Blood Secret Realm that could give him a second life.

The treasure left by the gods… the thirteenth drop of blood!

Chapter 284: The Arrival of the True Ancestor

The thought that this might be the place where a True Ancestor fell made Dorothy instantly wary and alert. She protectively held Adele close. Adele herself was oblivious to this, only feeling Dorothy suddenly tightening her embrace, pressing Adele’s face against her chest. So soft… ahem. More importantly, the thump-thump of Dorothy’s heart. Was it racing because of her? Adele wondered romantically.

Honestly, even if Dorothy were a little forceful now… and wanted to be the one on top… Adele probably wouldn’t refuse. Until Dorothy whispered her worries to Adele, Adele’s heart stopped. All lewd thoughts instantly drained from her mind, leaving only a mess.

WTF!? A place where even a True Ancestor fell! How dangerous was this place!? “Wah! Dorothy will protect me… right!?”

“Of course, I will protect Adele.”

“Next, we have to be very careful.”

“Perhaps the priority is no longer searching for the treasure here, but…”

“Finding a way to get out safely!” After all, this place was full of strangeness. The sea of flowers, the cross… The being who disappeared from the cross… The Bloodkin True Ancestor who died praying… Adele nodded rapidly like a little rabbit pounding medicine. She was the most obedient!

Dorothy was prepared to let Azathoth possess her again if the situation turned bad, even if it might cause great burden and damage to her body and mind. But as long as Adele could leave this place safely, everything would be worth it. Also, it should be noted that Dorothy found that the magic mark given by Lady Chen Xi had no effect in this mysterious area. In other words, to leave the Secret Realm, they had to leave this folded space first. Therefore, after a moment of hesitation, Dorothy still chose to walk towards the True Ancestor. But to be safe, she cast layers of protective magic on herself. From Adele’s perspective, it looked like a golden barrier had been erected around Dorothy.

Because her contracted subordinate, Azathoth, was too powerful, many people had overlooked Dorothy’s own strength. But in reality, she was also a very talented mage. “Stay behind me, Adele,” she said. Adele naturally obeyed, tightly gripping Dorothy’s skirt, following closely behind her. Feeling the tugging force behind her, Dorothy quietly clenched her hand. A sense of responsibility arose in her heart.

They soon approached the praying woman, the being Dorothy suspected to be a True Ancestor. Only then did Adele carefully observe the woman. She was wearing a very ordinary cloth dress, old-fashioned, the attire of a commoner from some unknown era. But even so, it still looked decent and elegant on her. Her long black hair draped smoothly over her chest, still shiny despite the passage of time. Honestly, she looked more like she was peacefully asleep than dead. And Adele didn’t feel any discomfort or chills that usually came with being near the deceased. It was like an ordinary meeting, an ordinary parting.

This caused a ripple in Adele’s heart. No one knew what caused that ripple. Adele was especially confused. Also worth mentioning was that the woman had another noticeable characteristic. She wasn’t wearing any shoes or socks. She stood barefoot in front of the cross. This reminded Adele of the pilgrims of ancient times, who gave up everything to travel to where the gods resided, sometimes a mountain, sometimes a temple. To express their piety, they often chose to walk barefoot, regardless of the scorching or icy ground. Some even kowtowed with every step… In short, it was something Adele couldn’t understand. She was just reminded of it because the True Ancestor was barefoot.

“…Dorothy, do you know which True Ancestor she is?” After a long time, Adele finally asked, her heart filled with trepidation. It was mainly because she had been scared for a long time, but nothing seemed to be happening. So, Adele became a little bolder.

Dorothy replied solemnly, “Her name is… Sheena.” “I’ve only seen this True Ancestor in portraits.” “She disappeared a long time ago, and her life or death was unknown.” “I didn’t expect her end to be like this, in this place…”

“Sheena…” Adele silently repeated the name. The next moment, she put on a sincere and pleading expression. “Senior Sheena! We are descendants of the Bloodkin.” “We are trapped here now. We hope you can bless us to leave this place!” “We will repay you handsomely afterwards!”

“…?” Dorothy looked puzzled by Adele’s sudden superstition. However, Adele still clasped her hands together, facing True Ancestor Sheena in a pious praying posture, completely unmoved by Dorothy’s questioning. Perhaps this was the difference in thinking between East and West. Dorothy probably couldn’t understand Adele’s idea of seeking help from “ancestors.” A True Ancestor, no matter how powerful or renowned they were in life… they were already dead, how could they help them?

To this, Adele could only say, better safe than sorry! It was always right to try and build connections. However, it seemed that Adele’s prayers had no effect. This was something Dorothy had already expected. But she didn’t expect Adele to still be unwilling to give up. On the contrary, she even raised the stakes.

“…How about this, Senior!”

“You help us escape, and we will bring you back to the Bloodkin Twilight City, so you can return to your roots!”

“…” Although Dorothy felt a bit speechless, in this environment, Adele’s nonsensical personality and actions undoubtedly eased some of her tension. Of course, True Ancestor Sheena didn’t respond. Rather, if she did respond, not only Dorothy, but even Adele, the “culprit,” would probably scream in fright.

But—did True Ancestor Sheena really not respond? Just after Adele raised the stakes, a beam of light suddenly shone down from above the sea of flowers, directly towards them. It wasn’t a holy light skill, but just natural light. It fell into Dorothy’s eyes, making her pupils constrict. W-wait…! Could it be that Adele actually did it!? Could praying like that actually work? In fact, Adele herself was also dazed, staring at the appearance of the light with her mouth agape.

And the range of the light was still expanding. It looked like a skylight had opened above them, creating a connection with the outside world. The next moment, a figure in a black dress descended gracefully from the sky, like an angel descending to the mortal world. Adele’s pupils constricted. Because she recognized those ambiguous and gentle purple eyes. So similar to Edith’s, but Edith’s charm was far less than this mature and elegant woman’s.

“Lady Chen Xi!” Adele exclaimed in surprise.

Dorothy’s heart finally relaxed. Phew… so that’s it. Adele just happened to be lucky, and it wasn’t because she promised to bring True Ancestor Sheena back to Twilight City that her wandering soul opened the exit. The real situation… was that a True Ancestor came to rescue them!

“Lady Chen Xi, hello!” Even Dorothy, who usually had the sin of arrogance, didn’t dare to be disrespectful in front of Lady Chen Xi.

Hearing the two girls’ calls, Lady Chen Xi, who had gently landed, smiled and responded, “You were really hard to find, but… it’s good that you’re alright.”

But… was it Adele’s illusion? Lady Chen Xi didn’t seem like someone who had never been here before. At least, she seemed unusually calm. Her gaze quickly shifted from Adele and Dorothy to True Ancestor Sheena. Facing the death of her old friend, Lady Chen Xi showed regret, but not sadness. She wasn’t afraid of Sheena’s cold body. She stepped forward and gently hugged the woman.

“Sleep peacefully, Sheena…”

“You’ve finally gained freedom, no longer needing to bear the fate of blood.”

“Just a traveler returning home, just like you always wished…” Lady Chen Xi’s voice was very soft, only audible to herself. The corners of Sheena’s unchanging lips did indeed curve into a faint smile, as if her wish had been fulfilled, or as if she was simply resting after a long journey.

After a long time, Lady Chen Xi finally released the woman, raising her head to look at the cross and the broken chains on it.

“Nothing…”

“Or…” Lady Chen Xi muttered to herself, saying words that probably only she and a few other True Ancestors could understand. But then she shook her head, dismissing the thought. Because she knew Sheena wouldn’t take that “treasure.”

Her pursuit was never immortality, or a higher level, or greater power. This could be seen from her choice to stay here, a devout prayer, until the last glimmer of her life faded away. She wasn’t tempted by the “treasure” that was enough to create another True Ancestor. In this matter, even Lady Chen Xi was far inferior to her.

Lady Chen Xi was just indifferent to fame and fortune, but to say she didn’t desire the “treasure” would be a lie.

However, seeing the empty cross, Lady Chen Xi still breathed a long sigh of relief. Because as long as it wasn’t taken by another True Ancestor, she could accept any outcome. She didn’t want anyone to obtain this “treasure” left by the gods and bring back the dark “era of the Black Emperor.”

From Lady Chen Xi’s inner thoughts, it wasn’t difficult to analyze that the treasure of the Blood Secret Realm undoubtedly existed, and it was very precious and powerful, capable of creating a new True Ancestor. And if it were obtained by an old True Ancestor, that True Ancestor might gain the terrifying power of the “Black Emperor” of the past.

At that time, he might choose to revive the glory of the “era of the Black Emperor,” shattering the peace and starting a war. That was the last thing Lady Chen Xi wanted to see. So, she was glad that she was the first to discover this place and find Adele and Dorothy.

In fact, the other True Ancestors had also entered the Secret Realm. They could only stay for a short time, and the burden and consumption were great. But no one would refuse the opportunity for Dorothy’s subordinate, Azathoth, to find the folded space within the Secret Realm. They had tried to enter the Blood Secret Realm in the past, but for various reasons, they couldn’t find this hidden place. Who would have thought… that Dorothy’s subordinate would achieve it so easily.

Could it be that Azathoth had an unknown connection to this world?

Chapter 283: Where a True Ancestor Fell

Adele was touched. But in this situation…

“Dorothy, you should be concerned about me, right!?”

“What are you suddenly doing…”

“It was so scary…”

Adele’s grievances and anxieties, which she had been holding back, finally burst forth with the awakening of the girl who doted on her. She immediately threw herself into Dorothy’s arms, seeking comfort. Dorothy stumbled from the impact and fell back into the sea of flowers. Adele knelt on top of her, held gently by the now-awake Dorothy, who patted her back.

“…Alright, it’s okay, it’s okay~”

“Were you scared by Azathoth?”

“But she’s not bad.”

Although Dorothy said this confidently, Adele was still frightened by Azathoth’s presence.

“Also, I couldn’t observe the outside world while possessed.”

“So, what happened from just now until now?”

“Can you tell me first, Adele?”

Since Dorothy said so, Adele temporarily gave up on accusing Azathoth and recounted everything that had happened to Dorothy. First… she had to apologize and admit that Kaiser hypnotizing her… was a lie, a play.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Dorothy… I didn’t know that would happen.” Adele immediately apologized. Although it wasn’t her idea, but Kaiser’s, undeniably, she had agreed to Kaiser’s request and played a crucial role in her plan. This was Adele’s fault. She had thought things were too simple, and underestimated Dorothy’s concern for her. Therefore, Adele felt both guilty and warm, as well as anxious and worried, fearing that Dorothy would blame her and be disappointed in her because of this.

After hearing this, Dorothy was indeed silent for a moment. But then, she shook her head.

“So that’s what happened…”

“But I don’t blame you, Adele.”

“Kaiser is very strong, and she’s a physical type, which is strong against magic. If you hadn’t compromised, the result might have been worse.”

“She could have just eliminated you and used that to provoke me into accepting her challenge.”

“…” It seemed like Dorothy had a point. If Adele and the others had been directly eliminated by Kaiser, then Dorothy would have had a reason to fight Kaiser… But it probably wouldn’t have been as serious as letting Azathoth possess her. After all, if it was just a normal elimination, Dorothy could understand. But hypnotizing Adele right in front of her, that cuckolding…

The pure love warrior was enraged! Death to all cuckolds!

So, it was understandable that Kaiser ended up in her current state.

The current Kaiser… seemed to have been completely shut down by Dorothy. Because although she hadn’t won against Dorothy in the past, she had never been completely crushed like today, like an ant looking at a dragon, a dimensional reduction attack across an entire world…

It was uncertain whether Kaiser would ever have the will to fight Dorothy again.

Things like this happened often. A genius encountering another genius, then being crushed and losing their spirit. My genius—is above yours!

“So, Kaiser, she’s already…” Dorothy asked hesitantly.

Adele shook her head. “N-no, but Kaiser is very pitiful now.”

“Oh…” Dorothy seemed a little disappointed. It seemed that whether Kaiser had actually “cuckolded” her or not, as long as Kaiser expressed a similar intention, she would want to kill her.

Adele couldn’t help but shrink her neck.

She felt… as if she had triggered some terrifying potential within Dorothy! Yandere!? No way! Yandere should be a big no-no for harem protagonists, right? If it was a true yandere… But actually, most of the time, the yanderes in the novels Adele read were quite humane, not really doing anything terrible just because the protagonist fell for someone else.

But even so, Adele still didn’t want Dorothy to become a “yandere.” So, she quickly hugged the girl. “It’s, it’s enough, I can feel your feelings, Dorothy!”

Feeling the warmth and closeness from the girl, the regret in Dorothy’s heart gradually dissipated. Then she asked in confusion,

“But why did Azathoth give up on eliminating Kaiser? That was clearly the reason I let her possess me…”

“Also, where is this?”

Because Adele had pushed her to the ground, Dorothy was surrounded by colorful flowers. She couldn’t see the whole picture yet.

“I, I don’t know.” Adele’s answer was truthful. “I don’t know why Azathoth gave up on carrying out your order.”

“And I don’t know where this is.” “Azathoth found a folded space in the Blood Secret Realm.” “Then a cave appeared, filled with Blood Essence.”

“She asked me to go in with her… and then we arrived here.”

“Azathoth asked you to follow her?” Dorothy showed her most surprised expression and look of the day.

Adele nodded. She was very honest, her eyes filled with sincerity. She didn’t hide anything from Dorothy… well, only a tiny bit. The girl hid the fact that she had pushed Kaiser away and saved her when Azathoth was about to kill her. It was because of this that Azathoth’s attention shifted from Kaiser to Adele. And then things went in a strange direction. Compared to carrying out Dorothy’s order and eliminating Kaiser, Azathoth seemed more interested in Adele. And she even invited Adele to enter this folded, hidden space, as if she wanted Adele to know the secrets hidden within.

Or perhaps she wanted to leave the treasure inside to Adele and Dorothy. But was it possible that Azathoth actually mistook Adele… for Xiao Ai? Xiao Ai, transformed into a blood droplet, was still hidden on Adele. That way, Adele would look exactly like Xiao Ai, and there was no need to worry about their auras. In any case, no matter the situation, it should be certain that Azathoth had an inexplicable closeness to Adele.

This was something Dorothy had never expected. And it made her feel a bit strange. After all, the otherworldly subordinate who had signed a contract with her… was actually close to Adele. It was like a cherished being and a loved one overlapping, which should have been a dreamlike, happy time… why… why did it become like this?

Ahem, no negativity! Actually, Dorothy was still okay. She thought, perhaps Adele inherently possessed that unusually strong affinity. Otherwise, the Headmaster’s cat wouldn’t be so attached to Adele. And the reason Azathoth was close to Adele might also be because of her. Like “love me, love my dog,” or perhaps Bloodkin subordinates could empathize with the contractor’s emotions. So, Azathoth was showing goodwill towards Adele because Dorothy loved her deeply. If that was the case, then it would be great.

“I understand, Adele, don’t worry too much.” Dorothy tried to sit up.

Adele was still straddling her waist. So, the scene instantly became as if Adele was moving on top of her. Adele blushed, her mind racing. At this time, in this place, with no one else around, if Dorothy wanted… she, she could do it anytime…

But Dorothy seemed oblivious, her attention completely focused on the surrounding environment. She naturally noticed the quietly standing woman and the giant cross standing on the ground.

“That is…” Dorothy asked, gently pinching Adele’s waist.

“Ugh…!” It wasn’t painful, just a bit strange. Being pinched there… It felt like a good position for… “That is!?”

“…I don’t know, but that woman, she’s probably…” Adele didn’t finish her sentence, but Dorothy understood. However, what she was thinking wasn’t something Adele could know. Dorothy wasn’t surprised by the woman’s presence, but… shocked! Compared to that, the cross, and the being that might have been bound to it but had now disappeared, were no longer important. Because… that woman resembled a True Ancestor in Dorothy’s memory!

If, as Adele said, she was no longer alive, wouldn’t that mean… this was where a True Ancestor fell!?

Chapter 282: Dorothy’s Awakening

Adele and “Dorothy” stood before the sea of flowers, hesitant to take the next step. Adele had reason to believe that if there truly was a treasure buried in the Blood Secret Realm, it could only be here. But the giant mithril cross in the distance, and the woman praying before it, dead or alive, were too eerie. So, even if Adele had the desire, she didn’t have the courage to approach. She could only look expectantly at “Dorothy” beside her. Or rather… at Azathoth.

Azathoth seemed to be observing and analyzing the environment. Then, she lived up to expectations and manipulated Dorothy’s body, walking towards the depths of the sea of flowers. Perhaps there was something she wanted there. Or something she wanted to know. Despite being an outer god, Azathoth seemed to have some understanding of this world. At least, she must know something about the Blood Secret Realm.

Otherwise, she shouldn’t have known about the folded space, shouldn’t have known about this place. Thinking from this perspective, the reason why Azathoth signed a contract with Dorothy… was it really just because she recognized Dorothy, who had the bloodline of the Black Emperor? Or did she have other motives, and signing a contract with Dorothy was just a means to achieve that goal?

“…” Adele couldn’t help but worry about Dorothy. As expected, strength gained through one’s own training was the most reliable. Relying on others’ charity… would only make one controlled by others. In the end, one would lose control of themselves. Just like how Dorothy was now possessed by Azathoth. If the possession had no time limit… wouldn’t it be the same as “body snatching”!?

Adele’s scalp tingled at her own thoughts. Her heart was definitely biased towards Dorothy. So, after Azathoth’s possession ended… she would definitely warn Dorothy! At least before Azathoth gained Adele’s complete trust.

Dorothy had to rely on her own strength. Otherwise… she might follow in the footsteps of many Subordinate Bloodkin in history. They all chose to sacrifice their lives to summon otherworldly subordinates for various reasons, perhaps for revenge, perhaps for destruction… But perhaps some of them weren’t voluntary, but were bewitched by their subordinates after a long period of interaction, which led them to summon them into this world.

Or rather, not “summon,” but “descend.” Summoning was the third tier ability of Subordinate Bloodkin, after “Blessing” and “Possession.”

This ability ensured that the Bloodkin could summon the phantom of an otherworldly subordinate while conscious, unlike Possession, where the Bloodkin’s consciousness wasn’t guaranteed, temporarily giving their body to the subordinate. And the final Advent meant summoning the true body of the otherworldly subordinate into this world at a great cost, often their life. “Summoning” had a time limit. But “Advent” was permanent, representing them completely breaking through the barriers between worlds and arriving in this world.

It was unknown if she sensed something, but Azathoth suddenly turned around and looked at Adele, making the girl wave her hands repeatedly. “Wah! I, I didn’t do anything, I didn’t think anything!”

“…” Azathoth remained silent. But she seemed to see Adele’s fear. She walked over and suddenly held Adele’s small hand, their fingers interlocked.

“!?” What was going on now!? Although Adele knew she was charming, she shouldn’t be so attractive that even an outer god was interested in her, right! They weren’t even the same race! Love that transcended race, even transcended worlds… No!

An indescribable scene inexplicably appeared in Adele’s mind. The unspeakable, tentacled evil god reaching out countless tentacles towards her, and she couldn’t resist… Adele wanted to cry but had no tears. As expected, sometimes being too beautiful was a sin.

Fortunately, Azathoth didn’t make any further moves. And the phantom behind Dorothy gradually faded, like a flickering candle about to burn out. This probably meant that the time Azathoth could possess and control Dorothy’s body was running out. Then Adele just needed to endure it. And then she would have to face Dorothy herself.

Perhaps sensing that her time in this world wasn’t long, Azathoth suddenly ran towards the distant cross. Adele, whose hand was being held by her, had to quicken her pace to follow. It felt like a forced “elopement.” The girl’s skirt fluttered, and she was soon out of breath.

Aside from lewd matters, Adele’s stamina… was truly terrible. But the reason she was so energetic during lewd acts, becoming more and more energetic as she went on, was probably also because of the witch’s ability to “replenish yin with yin,” right?

Finally, Adele braced herself and arrived with Azathoth at the giant cross, next to the praying woman. The imagined traps didn’t appear. The surroundings were quiet and solemn. And the praying woman didn’t react to their arrival. Adele’s heart sank slightly. Because she realized that the woman praying alone in front of the cross might have already…

“…No offense.” The girl murmured softly. Azathoth didn’t understand the girl’s reverence. She also seemed completely unconcerned about the identity of the praying woman. After releasing Adele’s hand, Azathoth immediately went to the cross, manipulating Dorothy’s body. She reached out and touched the rusty, broken chain, touching the bloodstains that had already seeped deep into the chain, turning reddish-brown. Her fingertips trembled. The emotions in her eyes were so complex that just one glance made one dizzy.

Suddenly, she let out a howl like a wounded beast. “Ah…!” It startled Adele, leaving her at a loss. At the same time, the phantom behind Dorothy began to shake violently, as if it was about to return, to be released from the possession. Or as if it was venting its anger. The entire sea of flowers swayed, countless petals falling and scattering in the air, forming a beautiful and romantic rain of flowers. Like a farewell.

Adele had only suspected before. But after seeing this scene, she was convinced. Azathoth must have known the being who was once bound to this cross. There was a deep connection between them. An otherworldly evil god, and the person bound to the cross? It sounded like a strange combination. But it wasn’t impossible to imagine the story between them. As everyone knew, the cross was often associated with religion.

The most famous story was the “death of Jesus,” where Jesus was betrayed by his disciples and crucified on the cross. This world had a “Lord” worshipped by the angel Seraph. Then… could there also be a figure similar to “Jesus,” bound to the cross by chains and meeting their end? And Azathoth was an otherworldly evil god. In the context of religion, believing in an evil god was heresy. Then was it possible… that someone was once considered a heretic by the church for believing in an evil god and was crucified? And the evil god that believer worshipped… could it be Azathoth!?

Of course, all of this was purely Adele’s imagination. The truth, the connection between the person on the cross and Azathoth, was known only to Azathoth herself. Adele didn’t have the guts to be a curious little bee anymore. And the focus now shouldn’t be the relationship between the mysterious person on the cross and Azathoth, but… that someone was indeed once bound to this cross by chains. But now the cross was empty, the person nowhere to be seen. Where did she go? Or… was her body taken away? Also, who was the woman who died in a “praying” posture in front of the cross? When she arrived here, was the person on the cross still there, or had they already disappeared?

Hold on! Stop thinking, stop thinking. Thinking any further would make Adele’s head explode. She suspected she was being influenced by the evil god Azathoth beside her. It seemed to have some kind of magic power that made people unconsciously fall into a frenzy of seeking knowledge. Adele shook her head vigorously, giving up all thought, letting her mind go blank.

Fortunately, Azathoth didn’t pay attention to her anymore. And after touching the cross for a while, her phantom slowly dissipated behind Dorothy like smoke and dust… This meant the end of Dorothy’s “possessed state.”

At that moment, Adele cried out the girl’s name in surprise and embraced the swaying Dorothy, who seemed to have lost her soul.

“Dorothy!”

“…” Dorothy still seemed unable to wake up from her daze. But with Adele’s concerned calls, her spirit began to fluctuate violently. She wanted to respond to Adele’s call! She wanted to know if Adele was safe! She wanted… to bash Kaiser’s head in! But she had already used “Possession.” Azathoth should have already eliminated Kaiser in her stead, right? Even in the Blood Secret Realm, Dorothy had a vague feeling. Perhaps… Azathoth could really ignore the life-saving measures left by the True Ancestor and completely eliminate Kaiser.

She finally woke up with this expectation. The first thing she saw was a pair of beautiful, cherry-pink eyes, filled with concern, like a pool of spring water.

“…Adele.”

“It’s good that you’re alright.” This was the first thing Dorothy said after waking up.

Chapter 281: The Cross and the Woman

Although Adele read from “Dorothy’s” eyes that she was allowed to follow her inside, when it came time to make a decision, Adele still struggled and hesitated. Everyone knew that great opportunities often came with great risks. Of course, if you had insider information, that was a different story. But for Adele, should she really trust an evil god who had temporarily taken over Dorothy’s body and enter that mysterious spatial tunnel with her?

After a moment of thought, Adele decided—to go in with her! It wasn’t because Adele was greedy! Even if she was, in the face of a life-threatening situation, Adele would probably be willing to give up a large part, or even all, of her wealth in exchange for survival. Therefore, the reason she chose to accept “Dorothy’s” hint was simply because she realized a logical problem. That was, if “Dorothy” really had any hostility towards her, or wanted to harm her, then she should be able to easily eliminate her like an ant, right? Even Kaiser… was powerless in front of her. What reason did Adele have to believe that her defenses were stronger than Kaiser’s, who specialized in physical combat?

So, since she wouldn’t be harmed, why not be bold and accept the girl’s goodwill and trust her?

Moreover, Adele was really worried about this guy using Dorothy’s body to enter that mysterious place. She hoped to wait for Dorothy to wake up. Therefore, before that, Adele felt she needed to stay by “Dorothy’s” side. Thinking of this, Adele gritted her teeth and slowly walked towards “Dorothy.” She decided to accept “Dorothy’s” hint and enter that mysterious folded space. There might be the biggest secret of the entire Blood Secret Realm hidden there.

Of course, Adele wasn’t blindly confident or had unusual trust in “Dorothy.” There was another reason she didn’t say. That was, she believed she had the “protagonist’s halo”! So, for her, this must be an unmissable opportunity. And definitely not a trap! Go for it, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle! Even if it meant Adele might have to face any possible danger alone. But with the other girls incapacitated, Adele was always the type of girl who would—”rather make a mistake than do nothing.” Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suddenly risked her life to push away Kaiser, whom she had just met, at a critical moment.

Therefore, after taking a deep breath to relieve some of the pressure, Adele walked towards “Dorothy.” Under Kaiser’s watchful gaze, she and “Dorothy” entered the tunnel together. As they disappeared, the tunnel hidden in the folded space also vanished. “Dorothy” was gone. Thus, the unspeakable pressure, the fear and madness rooted in their hearts, disappeared from all the girls. Everyone returned to their normal state. They didn’t even have time to rest before rushing to the spot where Adele and “Dorothy” had disappeared. But no matter how hard they tried, no matter what magic they used, it was useless. None of the girls had the ability to break open the folded space like “Dorothy.” They couldn’t reach Adele! They could only pray for Adele and leave it to fate.

Sharon whimpered. Even Edith and the others had silent tears streaming down their faces. Kaiser walked over with a numb and empty gaze. Wofoo’s eyes reddened, and she rushed forward, punching Kaiser to the ground. The other girls, all from noble backgrounds and raised with proper etiquette, couldn’t possibly make such a rude move, even if they hated Kaiser. But Wofoo still had the wild nature of a werewolf and a clear sense of hatred. That’s why she impulsively punched Kaiser without considering the consequences. Although this action wouldn’t help Adele in any way, it had to be said… it was truly satisfying!

Kaiser didn’t know whether it was because she felt guilty or because she was still in a daze. She fell into the dirt, the fist mark on her face clearly visible. But her eyes remained lifeless, as gloomy as ever. It was unknown how long it took before Kaiser slowly stood up from the ground. Wofoo’s punch couldn’t hurt her. But at this moment, even Kaiser wished she could receive a more severe punishment.

The first thing she said to everyone was “I’m sorry…” But apologies were useless. Moreover, the person who truly needed her apology wasn’t even here. Therefore, her words were naturally ignored.

Although Celeste wasn’t powerful, her bloodline only Rank Two, her organizational skills were much better than Hermione’s, who was Rank One. Therefore, during Adele’s absence, it was Celeste who, suppressing her worry and sadness, comforted everyone. Even though she herself was one of the people who needed comfort the most.

“I believe… Master will be alright.” Not only because Celeste firmly believed in her Master’s luck, that good fortune would follow her, but also because she believed in Dorothy… She also liked their Master, so she wouldn’t hurt her. Finally, there was the unknown variable, Xiao Ai. She was a creature born in this Secret Realm. Perhaps she wasn’t completely unaware of that folded space. With her, perhaps their Master could escape danger.

………………

Fortunately, Celeste’s thoughts were almost entirely accurate. Dorothy, even the current “Dorothy” possessed by Azathoth, had no intention of harming Adele. As for Xiao Ai, the blood droplet, she flickered slightly in Adele’s arms, seeming excited about the surrounding environment. It seemed she was indeed familiar with this place. But because she didn’t have “Mama’s” permission, Xiao Ai still maintained the shape of a blood droplet, not revealing her true form.

Adele followed “Dorothy,” constantly moving deeper into the tunnel. At first, she was still interested in breaking off the blood-red crystals beside her and absorbing them, transforming them into pure blood elements. It felt good, her body seemed to be greatly nourished. But as for any changes or optimizations to her foundation or bloodline talent… To be honest, Adele didn’t feel anything. She seemed to be the only special Bloodkin girl. Everyone else, Wofoo, Celeste, even Hermione, a Rank One, all showed expressions of pleasant surprise after absorbing the Blood Essence. And it was said that they could clearly feel the transformation of their bloodlines during this process, as if the Blood Essence was helping them remove the impurities in their bloodlines bit by bit, helping them get closer to the pure limit of their bloodlines.

Thinking of this, Adele felt a little indignant. So, in the following time, she continuously absorbed Blood Essence and stored some in her spatial ring, preparing to take it out and share it with the other girls. “Dorothy” didn’t stop her. But during this time, Adele kept talking to her like a chatterbox.

“Hello~ You’re a creature from another world, right?”

“You should understand what I’m saying, right?” If she didn’t understand, how did Dorothy establish contact and communicate with Azathoth to sign the contract?

“Also, do you really look… like that shadow just now?” It was a little scary… But to put it into words, it was… “You look quite unique, very, very handsome.”

“Dorothy” glanced at Adele. Was it Adele’s illusion? She felt a hint of resentment in the girl’s eyes. Adele scratched her head. “Let’s just assume you understand.”

“My name is Adele, nice to meet you, Azathoth!”

“Curious how I know your name?”

“Hehe, Dorothy told me.”

“She said you’re very powerful, the ruler of another world.”

“I’m a little curious why you signed a contract with Dorothy.”

“It’s also the first time I’ve seen subordinate possession. I don’t know how long it will last.”

“Also, where is this place?”

“It seems like you knew this place from the beginning.”

“What’s your connection to this world?”

“Or do you simply see the folded space?”

Although “Dorothy” never answered any of Adele’s questions, Adele continued asking tirelessly. One might suspect she was trying to talk someone to death like Tang Sanzang. However, this level of mental attack, for an evil god like Azathoth… was probably like a little mosquito buzzing around. Not lethal, but very noisy and annoying.

Under normal circumstances, people would just raise their hand and swat the mosquito. But unexpectedly, “Dorothy’s” patience with Adele seemed unusually high. It was unknown whether it was because Dorothy herself was close to Adele, or some other unknown reason. But finally, Adele heard Azathoth speak using Dorothy’s body. It was when the tunnel was nearing its end, and Adele had almost filled her spatial ring with the highest quality Blood Essence.

“…There’s not much left.”

“Dorothy” suddenly said this out of the blue. Or rather, “Azathoth.”

Not much left? What was she referring to, the Blood Essence? Adele swallowed and timidly put the Blood Essence in her hand back onto the rock wall. If there wasn’t much left, then she wouldn’t take it… But she didn’t seem to notice that “Dorothy” wasn’t looking at the Blood Essence, but at the spatial ring on Adele’s finger. Perhaps what she meant was, “There’s not much Spatial Stone left?”

“I… I also know there’s not much left, but that’s why we came here…”

“Also, do you know why there’s not much left?” Adele was still the curious one, not caring that her relationship with Azathoth wasn’t close at all. At least, she thought it wasn’t close.

Azathoth didn’t respond at first. But after a while, she suddenly said, “It’s been collected.”

“…” It felt like Azathoth was a riddle master. But Adele wasn’t going to ask any more questions. Because that would only lead to more mysteries, making Adele restless.

Finally, they reached the end of the tunnel. What appeared before Adele was an incredibly beautiful sea of flowers. As the girl gasped in amazement, countless light spheres like fireflies slowly emerged from the sea of flowers, illuminating the only path in the middle. And at the end of that path, Adele saw the lonely figure of a woman standing in front of a giant cross, as if praying. The chains on the cross were rusty, seemingly unable to withstand the erosion of time.

Seeing this scene, Adele suddenly felt a chill. An inexplicable panic struck her heart, as if it was being gripped by an invisible giant hand, causing pain and suffocation. Until Azathoth spoke.

“It’s alright now.” She said. Or rather, was she comforting Adele?

Adele found her sudden thought ridiculous. But Azathoth’s words seemed to contain a gentle mental power, indeed calming Adele’s heart. Someone seemed to have been bound to the cross. But now the chains were broken, and the person was nowhere to be seen.

Who was the woman in front of the cross?

Was she… dead or alive?