Magical User Aozaki Aoko Case Files Chapter 195

Arcueid in this worldline was still the young girl who hadn’t experienced a love that carved into her bones, hadn’t faced death by being split into seventeen pieces, and spent her days empty-headed, occasionally gritting her teeth in hatred for Roa.

Yes, a young girl. Although she was probably born a thousand years ago, Arcueid’s appearance and mindset were roughly those of a 17 or 18-year-old maiden.

The blood-red fruit before her offered an extraordinary temptation. While it reminded her a little of Roa, that despicable villain, tricking her into drinking blood, this current feeling was clearly not a vampiric urge; she could distinguish it perfectly.

She brought the fruit close to her delicate nose and sniffed lightly. She didn’t smell any strange odors on the outside of the fruit, nor any alluring fragrance. It seemed the fruit’s attraction to her lay elsewhere.

However, Arcueid didn’t like to think too much at such times, especially since the planet’s support for her was currently isolated (due to the death of the Root-Bound Sea of Trees, Arcueid could still use Conceptualization if she forced it).

Forget it, don’t overthink. If she wanted to eat it, she’d eat it!

Arcueid took a small bite of the fruit. At first, she tasted nothing, but then it became unstoppable.

She felt as if the missing piece within her, which had been absent for so long, was being filled. It was as if her lost half had finally returned to her body, and she couldn’t stop.

Arcueid’s eating speed grew faster and faster. Soon, her cheeks puffed out like an adorable hamster, but her chewing speed only increased. Never question a True Ancestor’s dental health.

“Arcueid?” Aoko, who was scratching Cheshire’s chin nearby, noticed Arcueid’s unusual state and turned to look. “What are you eating…?”

Although Aoko asked with concern, Arcueid herself was in a state of focus where she “didn’t even notice if she heard it.” It was as if in her world, only finishing this fruit had become the most important thing.

The Root-Bound Sea of Trees’ fruit was slightly smaller than a small watermelon. Normally, a slender, not-too-tall young girl like Arcueid would probably need over ten minutes to finish something like this, but clearly, that wasn’t the case now.

By the time Aoko walked over and saw clearly, the princess had already finished the fruit. Only the red liquid clinging to her mouth and her unconsciously lit golden vertical pupils proved what she had just eaten.

If this were a Church Executor, or an ordinary person knowledgeable about vampire culture, seeing Arcueid like this would likely make them wet their pants. Aoko had long deduced that Arcueid’s golden-eyed state was likely a partial manifestation of the Crimson Moon itself.

However, Aoko and Touko, the two sisters, weren’t bothered by such things. Or rather, even if the Crimson Moon itself appeared, they wouldn’t be as humiliated as that time with the Jewel Master, where they won but were still ambushed and had their blood sucked. This was determined by the nature of their magic.

Aoko walked up to Arcueid, saying nothing, merely pulling out a clean white handkerchief and handing it to the True Ancestor princess, who was still somewhat dazed.

“…Huh?” Arcueid, who instinctively took the handkerchief, finally snapped back to reality. Her golden eyes returned to their ruby red color, and she stared blankly at Aoko, who had handed her the handkerchief. “I’m…?”

“…See for yourself.” Aoko drew a circle in mid-air with her finger, and a ‘mirror’ appeared from within the circle. Arcueid quickly looked into the mirror.

It had to be said, this appearance was indeed impactful. Arcueid actually startled herself when looking in the mirror and quickly used the handkerchief Aoko gave her to vigorously wipe her face.

Logically, a True Ancestor with self-purification abilities wouldn’t get dirty, but the Root-Bound Sea of Trees’ fruit was clearly outside that scope.

“If an ordinary person eats the Root-Bound Sea of Trees’ fruit, they’ll immediately become a ‘long-lived species,’ possessing an unimaginably long lifespan,” Aoko said, watching Arcueid frantically wipe her face. “But you already have the same lifespan as the planet. So, now that you’ve eaten this fruit, has anything changed?”

“Changed?” Arcueid stopped wiping her face and thought carefully. “It does seem like there’s some change… I guess I feel a lot lighter?”

While Aoko and Arcueid were chatting, a space near them slowly undulated and twisted like flowing, thick grease. Then, Touko appeared from this distorted space-time.

“Looks like you’ve already dealt with the Root-Bound Sea of Trees, Anash,” Touko said, holding the strange sphere in one hand. “Where’s the fruit of the Root-Bound Sea of Trees?”

“She ate it,” Aoko said, pointing her thumb at Arcueid beside her. “Probably couldn’t help herself.”

“Ahaha… hahaha…” Arcueid chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. “Sorry… I don’t know what happened to me then. I just couldn’t resist for a moment, so…”

“It’s nothing,” Touko waved her hand casually. “Or rather, I originally planned to give you the fruit after killing the Root-Bound Sea of Trees. I have plenty of ways to extend the lives of friends and family.” (Matou Zouken was silently envious)

“Eh?” Arcueid was a bit bewildered now. Give it to me? Why?

“Because the most important function of this thing is to suppress a True Ancestor’s bloodlust and enhance a True Ancestor’s power, you know?” Touko said. “I actually read about this in the Magic Association’s archives before. I’m surprised Aoko didn’t know.”

“Who has as much time as you to read useless books?” Aoko rolled her eyes. “I don’t even have enough time for my own research!”

Upon hearing Touko’s words, Arcueid froze. Or rather, for the first time in her life, she understood what “friend” probably meant.

She had kind elders, caring servants, and hateful enemies, but “friends” who treated her as an equal were something she had never experienced before meeting the Aozaki sisters. This friendship was precious to her.

“Enough about that, how’s the principle blood ring of Kromkray being handled?” Aoko asked.

“Control has already been seized!” Touko said excitedly. “The modifications aren’t completely finished, but this city is already in the Aozaki family’s pocket!”