Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 162: Conflict

Kiera gulped, her eyes locked on Kaiser’s neck.

Those simple words made her wary, but hunger overrode reason.

Behind her, Emily remained stiff, enveloped in fear and confusion.

’What... are they... does he know what she is?’

Before she could think further, Kiera surged forward. She arrived before Kaiser in a blur, though he blocked her from crashing into him.

"Drink slowly." Kaiser warned, noticing as the girl struggled to control herself.

He gently released her, just enough to reach his neck. The girl pressed her lips against his neck first, then bit him.

Her fangs sank into his skin, puncturing his blood vessels and allowing blood to flow into her mouth.

The instant the blood touched the tip of her tongue, she shivered. Kaiser’s blood always had a chilling sweetness to it, much to her confusion.

’There must be something unique about him...’

She thought as she drank slowly, savoring the blood in her mouth before gulping.

They remained like that for a minute, then Kaiser tapped her shoulder.

"Is that enough?"

The girl froze, retracting her fangs and moving back—flustered.

Some blood leaked from her lips, making her look dangerously alluring.

’If she were to have a color... what would it be?’

Kaiser couldn’t help but wonder. Putting away that thought, he turned to the still-frozen Emily.

"What are you going to do about her?"

He spoke casually, but his eyes were incomparably cold and empty.

Those eyes gave Emily a feeling that she could die at any time.

Kiera looked at the scared girl, her expression guilty.

"I shouldn’t have taken out on her. I’ll just wipe her memories of everything that happened."

Hearing this, Emily’s eyes widened further. She unconsciously took a step back, her hand reaching for her sword.

’I know their secret now. They surely won’t let me go easily. I have to do something... fa... eh?’

"Don’t move."

The two words rang in her head like an absolute command. Her whole body froze again—not from dear, but from obedience.

’Move! Move! Damnit!’

She screamed at herself internally, but her body refused all her commands. It was as if she was a soul trapped in another body.

Kiera was slightly astonished, but used to it. Kaiser had used this same ability on her during their first meeting on the rooftop.

Amazed in her heart, she approached Emily, staring directly into the girl’s eyes.

Her red eyes were reflected in Emily’s black eyes, and her lips parted softly.

"You came here with me so I could retch and relax. Once we’re done, were going back."

Emily’s brows twitched, but her expression eventually slackened and became blank. She nodded absentmindedly, confirming that she had truly been compelled.

Kiera stepped back and turned to Kaiser. She unconsciously lowered her head, feeling guilty of trying to drink from another human.

Over the past three weeks, he had been giving her simple tasks like getting things from the convenience store or getting information from some girls in the class. As a reward, he would allow her to drink from him twice every week.

’He was quite generous, but I...’

"Kiera." He called out to her, his voice carrying no emotion.

The girl looked up, locking eyes with him.

"Do you think... I should kill you or not?"

’Eh?’

Kiera blinked, taking a step back instinctively. Seeing this, Kaiser nodded.

"Good. You still fear death."

He took a step and appeared beside her.

"Next time you try drinking from any other person... I will end you."

After saying this, he disappeared in a blur, leaving her to herself.

Her knees weakened and she hit the ground, gasping for breath.

’This guy... crazy, but he’s the perfect host right now. I don’t need to erase people’s memories.’

She could still feel the lingering headache from having to erase erase some of Emily’s memories. She had tactically hidden this from Kaiser, hoping he didn’t notice at all.

"Are you feeling better now?"

From behind her, Emily asked in a concerned voice, having regained consciousness. Although she was a bit disoriented, seeing Kiera on the ground, she assumed the girl felt like vomiting.

Kiera immediately wiped the blood trail on her mouth, then stood up shakily.

"I’m feeling better. It doesn’t hurt as much." She turned to the girl and smiled faintly. "Thank you. Let’s go back now."

Emily patted her shoulder, then turned around to lead the way.

Behind her, Kiera stared at her neck again, but immediately shook her head.

Mentally chiding herself, she followed behind the girl. Unknown to her, Emily’s eyes revealed a flash of purple glow and a sly smile appeared on her face.

It was only brief though, and her expression reverted back to normal.

In just a few minutes, they returned to meet the others, only to arrive at a heated confrontation.

Liam and the others were faced with another group of four students from Class-B. Seeing the two of them appear, all attention turned to them.

"Uh... what is going on here?" Kiera asked with a frown, directing a sharp, displeased gaze at the Class-B students.

Liam sighed and explained. Apparently, not long after she left to take care of herself, these Class-B students arrived and wanted to take the essence crystals from the corpses of the Glutton Slaves.

"That’s... wrong!"

Emily stomped the ground, immediately unsheathing her sword. Kiera also summoned her gauntlets, ready to fight at any moment.

"Guys, wait. Let’s solve this peacefully. We don’t have to fight."

Ysabella waved her hands with a panicked expression. She didn’t want the two groups to engage in conflict.

Liam would have agreed too, but these Class-B students were too overbearing.

Leading them was a student with a weird haircut on his head. He had a cold, domineering expression on his face, like he was a royal.

"What are you saying? Of course we don’t want to fight too. Just hand over the area and leave."

Liam’s expression darkened. "You’re asking for something unreasonable. These essence crystals belong to our Class-E’s group."

"Class-E group?" The boy scoffed. "What Class-E? You guys are a bunch of nobodies with no place in this academy."

The three other students behind him snickered, their expressions mocking.

"Nobodies?"

A cold, sarcastic voice interrupted their laugh, and a dagger struck the boy’s left shoulder.