Saito glanced at the driver, dressed in the uniform of the Byakuya Sect, realizing time was running out.
He wanted to pick up the suitcase behind Krul, but Krul was not about to let him have his way, sending a direct sweep kick toward him.
Left with no choice, Saito halted his advance, his face dark as water.
Not far off, a military off-road vehicle could already be seen speeding toward them; if he didn't leave now, he would be in deep trouble.
Saito understood that taking Qiuyun Yuhe with him was no longer realistic.
Failing to accomplish a single thing on this trip to Nagoya left Saito in a thoroughly foul mood.
Right before getting into the car, at the cost of completely ruining his previous experiments on his right arm, Saito slammed Krul straight into the wall.
Did she seriously think she could trade blows with me equally? If my experiments weren't still unfinished, to say nothing of finishing you in a single move like Lest, ten moves would be the absolute limit.
Watching Saito get into the car and drive away, Krul spat in defiance.
"That person just now—he seemed to be from the Byakuya Sect. What kind of relationship does Rigr have with that organization?"
Krul evidently knew of the organization's existence.
The Imperial Demon Army's vehicle had already arrived. Krul casually grabbed Saito's suitcase and left, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
The Imperial Demon Army was left with a massive headache at the sight, forced to continue chasing the Byakuya Sect's vehicle.
...
Qiuyun Yuhe only felt himself being carried upright by Saito one moment, then dragged sideways the next, bouncing and jolting every now and then.
What is going on with Saito? Is he walking in a squat?
He had to figure out a way to escape; the virus outbreak was just over a year away, and he couldn't afford to gamble on whether his mother would survive.
A short while later, Miku's sudden voice shocked Qiuyun Yuhe beyond measure.
"Mission: Find the entrance to the Vampire Underground World completed. The reward can be claimed at any time."
Qiuyun Yuhe: ? Did Saito just raid their home? No, wait... could it be that Princess Krul won?!
Was Saito, the Second Progenitor, a fraud?
Qiuyun Yuhe was clearly overlooking many details, forgetting that victory in battle relies on the right time, advantageous terrain, and the harmony of people.
And clearly, Saito possessed none of the three.
"What did Rigr pack inside this? There's a wonderful scent of blood—is it a daily snack?"
It was Krul! She actually won! Long live Princess Krul!
The moment Krul opened the suitcase halfway, she saw a hand reach out from the gap, and she froze in surprise.
Still alive?!
"Ah, the scent of freedom!"
And the scent of Krul—it smelled good.
Qiuyun Yuhe climbed out of the suitcase and stretched his body.
Being folded into a suitcase was hardly a pleasant experience, and this wasn't even Vertin's suitcase.
Krul looked with curiosity at the little boy standing a head shorter than her.
His silvery-white hair was slightly disheveled, resembling clouds scattered by a gentle breeze, and his nose was faintly flushed. Yet those purple eyes were like a deep starry sky—mysterious and captivating, as if they held endless secrets, pulling anyone who looked into them straight in.
His features were delicate, his bone structure distinct, though still carrying a trace of childishness.
Qiuyun Yuhe was only six years old, yet his looks were already exceptionally striking—enough to make someone into a total shotacon.
Before setting out, Qiuyun Yuhe had made minor tweaks to his original handsome face; once he grew into it, it wouldn't be fair to call him shockingly handsome, but rather just right.
If Krul had to rate him, he looked utterly delicious.
"Who are you?"
Krul's voice sounded beside Qiuyun Yuhe.
Qiuyun Yuhe turned his head and saw Krul, with her crimson eyes and pointed ears, examining him.
She looked even better in person than in the anime!
That was Qiuyun Yuhe's first impression.
"H-Hello, Princess Krul..."
"Oh? You recognize me?"
Krul looked somewhat surprised.
Qiuyun Yuhe bluffed, "I heard Mr. Saito call your name."
Krul was stunned for a moment before processing it.
"You mean Rigr Stafford?"
Qiuyun Yuhe scratched his head.
"Must be. I've always called him Mr. Saito."
"Why were you packed inside the suitcase by Rigr?"
Krul nodded and asked.
Qiuyun Yuhe's brain crashed for a second. How am I supposed to know? Probably wanted to catch me as a test subject?
Speaking of which, Hiiragi Mahiru didn't seem to have approached Krul for a partnership yet, which meant Krul didn't know about the Seraph of the End experiment. Should he tell her?
Never mind, I'll wait and see how things develop. I still have to go back and give my mother the anti-Apocalypse Virus drink; I can't draw Princess Krul's attention right now.
"I... because..."
Qiuyun Yuhe was just about to start bluffing when he abruptly saw a black mass hurtling straight toward him.
What the heck?!
Krul noticed the black mass as well, her delicate brows knitting slightly.
"Arukanu, what madness have you gotten into again?"
Arukanu didn't care what Krul was saying. Something delicious—I'm here!
Qiuyun Yuhe hurriedly dodged, and Arukanu pounced on empty air.
Failing to drink Qiuyun Yuhe's blood, Arukanu began jabbering incoherently at Krul.
Hearing this, Krul's eyes lit up. When she looked back at Qiuyun Yuhe, her expression shifted from doubt to curiosity, and she nodded.
"So it was you."
Qiuyun Yuhe: ?
"What?"
"Mm... You really do look delicious."
"Let's put other matters aside for now and see what your blood actually tastes like—something that keeps Arukanu dwelling on it and even gives me an inexplicable sense of attraction."
With that, Krul slowly walked toward Qiuyun Yuhe.
Qiuyun Yuhe instinctively stepped back. Biting someone on first meeting seemed inappropriate—wasn't this progressing a bit too fast?
Just as Qiuyun Yuhe prepared to increase the distance between them, Krul moved with lightning speed, pulling him straight into her arms and casually tearing open his down jacket, exposing his sheep-suet-jade-like neck.
At that moment, Qiuyun Yuhe suddenly remembered the reward from a mission he completed when he was four.
Random blood traits.
After receiving the reward, he hadn't felt anything different, so he hadn't paid it much mind.
Oh man, a trait that makes vampires even more attracted to you?! Krul had only met him for two minutes, and before she could even finish asking about Saito, she couldn't wait to have her way with him.
Feeling the pain at his neck and the touch of Krul's lips, Qiuyun Yuhe gave up struggling.
Since he couldn't beat her, he might as well enjoy... accept it!
Arukanu hurried over as well. Krul was holding Qiuyun Yuhe in her arms, leaving no easy access to his neck, so it bit down on the back of Qiuyun Yuhe's hand instead.
Last time, to avoid exposure, it had only taken a hurried sip; this time, it was going to drink its fill!
"Ah, truly delicious blood food! I've never tasted blood this delicious!"
Krul caught her breath, then bit down again.
The blood draining rapidly from his body made Qiuyun Yuhe's complexion visibly pale.
Don't drain the pond to catch the fish, Princess Krul!
Don't just suck me to death like this!
Come to think of it, Krul smelled so nice, and being held in her arms felt so comfortable...
Qiuyun Yuhe's consciousness was already beginning to blur.
After a while, Krul finally let go, releasing Qiuyun Yuhe.
His entire body went limp as he collapsed, like a doll being tossed aside at random.
Krul wore a look of satisfaction, two rosy flushes rising on her fair cheeks.
"Human brat, I am very satisfied with your blood. From now on, you are my exclusive blood source!"
Qiuyun Yuhe was completely drained of strength and didn't want to reply.
Krul sat upon her throne, resting her pretty cheek on her right hand. She suddenly felt a bit sleepy.
Though this human brat's blood was exceptionally delicious, drinking it seemed to make her a bit dizzy. She needed to... sleep for a bit...
On the other side, Arukanu wasn't doing much better, having collapsed to the side into a deep sleep.
Qiuyun Yuhe lay on the ground for a long time, noticing that the commotion around him had died down and his stamina had recovered somewhat.
Dragging himself up with all his might, he saw Krul resting her head in one hand, eyes closed, breathing evenly—she appeared to be asleep.
Yet Qiuyun Yuhe didn't dare lower his guard.
He knew Krul had a habit of pretending to sleep while resting her head in her hand.
It wasn't necessarily to trick anyone; she might just be resting her eyes or contemplating something, but she wasn't actually asleep.
So Qiuyun Yuhe had no way of knowing whether Krul was truly asleep right now.