Aozaki Aoko Case File

The Arcueid of this timeline is still that girl—one who hasn't experienced a soul-stirring love, nor the agony of being dissected into seventeen pieces of death. Her daily life is spent in a blank, carefree state, occasionally gritting her teeth in anger at Roa.

Though she was likely born a thousand years ago, Arcueid's appearance and mentality are essentially those of a 17- to 18-year-old teenage girl.

The blood-red fruit before her presented an extraordinary allure. Though it vaguely reminded her of Roa, that despicable man who tricked her into drinking blood, the current sensation was distinct. It wasn't the impulse to drink blood; she could tell the difference perfectly well.

She brought the fruit close to her delicate nose and sniffed lightly. She detected no strange odor or enticing fragrance on its surface. It seemed that the allure of the fruit stemmed from something entirely different.

But at times like this, Arcueid didn't like to overthink things, especially when her connection to the planet's backing was still severed (though she could forcibly use her power of Marble Phantasm due to the death of Einnashe).

"Whatever, no need to overthink it. If I want to eat, I'll just eat!"

Arcueid took a small bite of the fruit. At first, she tasted nothing, but very soon, she couldn't stop herself.

It felt as if a long-lost part of her had been restored, as though a missing half of her soul had finally returned to her body. She couldn't hold back.

Her pace of eating quickened. Before long, her cheeks puffed up like an adorable hamster, but her chewing speed only increased. Never underestimate the bite strength of a True Ancestor.

"Arcueid?" Touko, who was scratching Cheshire's chin nearby, noticed something unusual about her and turned to look. "What are you eating...?"

Even though Touko asked out of concern, Arcueid was already in a state of intense focus, so much so that even if she heard the question, it wouldn't register in her mind. It was as though devouring this fruit had become the most important thing in her world.

The fruit of Einnashe was slightly smaller than a small watermelon. Using common sense, a slender, not-too-tall young girl like Arcueid would take at least ten minutes to finish such a thing. But clearly, this wasn't an ordinary situation.

By the time Touko walked over to take a closer look, the princess had already finished the fruit. The only evidence left was the red juice staining her lips and the golden vertical pupils in her eyes, which had unconsciously lit up, hinting at what she had just consumed.

If this were witnessed by a Church executor or someone familiar with vampire lore, they would probably be so scared they'd wet themselves. Touko had long deduced that Arcueid's golden-eyed state likely represented a manifestation of Crimson Moon.

However, Touko and her sister Aoko weren't easily fazed by such matters. Or rather, even if Crimson Moon appeared, the two wouldn't embarrass themselves.

Touko walked up to Arcueid without saying much, taking out a clean white handkerchief and handing it to the still-dazed True Ancestor princess.

Arcueid instinctively took the handkerchief, finally snapping out of her trance. Her golden eyes reverted to their ruby-red color. She stared blankly at Touko, who had handed her the handkerchief. "What... happened to me...?"

"...You'll see for yourself." Touko drew a circle in midair with her finger, creating a floating mirror. Arcueid quickly leaned in to look at her reflection.

She had to admit, her current appearance was quite shocking. She even startled herself, immediately using the handkerchief to frantically wipe her cheeks.

In theory, a True Ancestor's body, with its self-purifying ability, wouldn't get dirty. But clearly, Einnashe's fruit was an exception.

"If an ordinary person ate the fruit of Einnashe, they'd immediately become a longevity species, gaining an unimaginably long lifespan," Touko commented as she watched Arcueid hurriedly wipe her face. "But since you already share the same lifespan as the planet, what changes do you feel after eating it?"

"Changes?" Arcueid paused her wiping and thought carefully. "I do feel like my body is a lot lighter...?"

As Touko and Arcueid chatted, a nearby space began to ripple and distort, like viscous oil flowing and twisting. From within this warped space, Aoko appeared.

"Seems like you've already dealt with Einnshe," Aoko said, holding a strange orb in one hand. "So, where's the fruit?"

"She ate it," Touko said, gesturing at Arcueid with her thumb. "I guess she couldn't help herself."

"Ahahaha…" Arcueid laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. "Sorry... I don't know what came over me. I just couldn't resist..."

"It's fine," Aoko said casually, waving her hand. "I was planning to give the fruit to you after we killed Einnashe. I have plenty of ways to extend the lifespans of family and friends."

"Huh?" Arcueid was taken aback. "You were going to give it to me? Why?"

"Because its most important function is to suppress a True Ancestor's blood-drinking impulse and enhance their power," Aoko explained. "I read about it in some old archives from the Mage's Association. I'm surprised Touko didn't know."

"Not everyone has as much time as you to read useless books," Touko retorted, rolling her eyes. "I barely have enough time to conduct my research!"

Hearing Aoko's words, Arcueid froze. For the first time in her life, she seemed to understand what the concept of friendship truly meant.

She had kind elders, devoted servants, and even hateful enemies. But the idea of having equals she could call friends was something she hadn't experienced until she met the Aozaki sisters. This friendship was something she deeply cherished.

"Let's not dwell on this. How's the processing of the Principle of Chromclay going?" Touko asked, changing the subject.

"I've already seized control of it!" Aoko said excitedly. "The modifications aren't fully complete, but this realm is already firmly in the hands of the Aozaki family!"