After stepping out of the ward and walking only a few steps, Shichen heard footsteps catching up behind him. He stopped.
"Shichen-sensei," Aiba Asagi ca up to his side.
"Mm, heading to see your mom?" Shichen asked.
"Yes." Aiba Asagi nodded.
"Then let's go together. I'll pay her a visit too."
"Really?" Aiba Asagi looked at him in surprise.
"Off we go." Shichen smiled and patted her on the head.
"All right!"
Shichen didn't stay long at Asagi's mother's room—just gave a simple greeting before leaving.
He didn't directly use spatial magic to teleport ho; instead, he left the institute openly and even released his own aura. Naturally, before he'd even walked out of the front entrance, he felt countless gazes converging on him—scrutinizing, doubtful, all sorts, utterly undisguised.
He ignored them, strolling away from the research facility in the direction of his apartnt.
Compared to these irrelevant strangers, Shichen cared more about the person at ho waiting for him—Natsuki Minamiya—who might give him the chance to stroke her tiny head again.
Misdeanor or not, that head-pat was addicting: once you've done it once, you'll do it a hundred tis. Compared to head-pats, these people hardly mattered. At present, he had no need to worry about anyone causing trouble.
Before, he hadn't had any powers, though he didn't fear danger. He simply refrained from drawing attention. But now that he had drawn attention, he could intimidate them.
He hated needless complications. It was enough now that nobody dared find fault with him; if they did, he might take it as an opportunity to show his strength.
All the way back, no one approached him directly—maybe they were still observing or uncertain, or just didn't dare. After all, Shichen was continuously emanating a Primogenitor's aura. No one with sense would casually approach a Primogenitor.
He wasn't purposely flaunting his power, but he didn't want people investigating him from the shadows. Anyone sensible should just co see him openly.
Entering the apartnt, as soon as he stepped in the door, a folding fan ca flying at him. He raised a hand and caught it.
"Natsuki-chan, what are you doing?" Shichen looked toward Natsuki, who sat calmly on the sofa.
She seed indifferent, not even glancing at him, as though the matter had nothing to do with her.
"No idea. Maybe the fan had a mind of its own," she said placidly.
"…Don't ss around. Are you really still holding a grudge?" Shichen changed into indoor slippers and walked over.
"Hmph!" Natsuki turned her head, finally acknowledging him. "It's just to teach you a lesson. Don't you dare keep acting all rude and informal."
"Heh heh~" Shichen snickered. He ca up behind her without hesitation and ruffled her hair.
"Forgotten? We're at ho, and at ho, you aren't my sister."
"…"
"All good?" Shichen withdrew his hand, returning the fan to her.
"You…!" Natsuki accepted the fan, glaring at him.
Shichen smiled. "Would you like so black tea?"
"…What do you think?"
"I'll go make it."
"Rember to wash your hands."
"Sure thing."
"And make dinner while you're at it."
"Alright, alright."
Shichen happily agreed. He felt great today and wanted to celebrate by cooking.
Natsuki watched him enter the kitchen, withdrew her gaze, sat quietly for a mont, and then lifted a hand to press it against her own head.
She tilted her head in puzzlent.
What's so special about patting soone's head…?
…
After dinner, Shichen put away the dishes and was about to return to his own room, when he suddenly recalled that there was soone quiet in the house.
He arrived at Nina's door. Without knocking, he pushed it open and entered.
Nina's room was practically empty: just a bed and a desk with a computer on it. Currently, Nina—with her dark skin and dressed in a white swimsuit—was floating above the keyboard, her tiny rear end slightly raised, eyes fixed on the screen, which was full of text.
Shichen went over and took a look, realizing it was all historical data.
She'd been in here for days, still reading up on history. So diligent—if it were academic work, she'd be unstoppable.
…Wait, why was he thinking about academics?
"Master, what brings you here?" Nina noticed the silhouette blocking her screen and snapped out of her reading trance.
"Just to see you. Why do you stay in your room every day?" Shichen asked.
"I have to study this era, otherwise I'll be an antique," Nina said.
"An antique… but you don't really need all that history." Shichen curled his lips.
He suspected Nina wasn't only reading up on history but probably surfing the internet too.
"It's necessary—otherwise I'd slip up outside."
"Well…makes sense. But co out occasionally so I don't forget you exist."
"Master is so an!" Nina puffed her cheeks, looking very much like a teenage girl.
What the…? Where'd that girlish vibe co from?
Shichen felt awkward and swiftly left Nina's room.
"What's up?" Natsuki, still drinking tea in the living room, noticed him rush out in alarm.
"…It's nothing."
"Talk."
"Umm… Nina might be getting corrupted by the internet."
"That's all?" Natsuki took another sip of tea, uninterested.
"It's weird, though."
"Not my problem. She's your servant, not mine."
"You forgot? She calls you 'Master' too."
"…"
"Anyway, keep an eye out so you don't get startled."
"I'm not you."
"You're so stubborn."
"Shut it!"
"All right, all right. I'm heading to my room. Don't be surprised if you sense commotion."
"Commotion?" Natsuki frowned. "Don't wreck the house."
"It's fine, I'm just going to experint with my powers."
"…Sure."
Shichen smirked, went into his room, and shut the door behind him.
He settled onto his bed and crossed his legs, channeling his focus inward.
Spreading throughout his body was magic power, intermingling with his blood—vast, seemingly boundless, ceaselessly flowing.
Between the Sage's Blood and the Fourth Primogenitor's mana, plus her ancient years, his current strength didn't lose to the other three Primogenitors.
But he lacked the power to truly contend with them—Familiars.
Shichen hunted inside himself for the Fourth Primogenitor's Familiars, but no matter how he searched, he couldn't sense that beast at all.
The Twelfth Familiar of the Fourth Primogenitor—"Alrescha-Glacies"—was nowhere to be found!
That shouldn't be possible!
He rembered consuming everything along with the Fourth Primogenitor's consciousness, mana, and Familiars!
Why were they missing?
Not seeing another option, he sank his consciousness into his mind, returning to the blank white space. Landing there, he voiced his question, "Where's that Familiar I devoured?"
Unable to find a cause himself, likely "she" was behind it.
[That Familiar does not belong under your control,] she responded.
"What do you an?"
[You have your own Familiars, sealed within the Divine Fragnts.]
"My own…" Shichen was no longer surprised by such remarks. "Then why can't I sense them?"
[They are part of a vampire's power. Breaking the seal and earning their recognition must be done in the vampire's way.]
"The vampire's way…" Shichen grimaced.
He obviously understood what "she" ant—that he needed pure maiden's blood to gain their acknowledgent.
That was problematic for him.
He wasn't averse to the notion of biting soone, but due to his past worldview, it felt awkward. And the first ti was always nerve-wracking. He'd never seriously considered it.
Worse, in this world, he didn't have any suitable maidens for feeding! The people he knew were either little girls or… little girls. Vampires cannot—at least shouldn't.
At ho, one was a fake dragon maid, and the other was not even human. That definitely wouldn't gain the Familiars' acknowledgnt.
The only plausible choice was Sasasaki Misaki, but Shichen wasn't interested in her. He wouldn't exploit her just for power.
For now, it seed there was no way forward.
~~~
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