By noon, Mimori Akatsuki gazed at the five women before her with a broad smile.
Though their qualifications as mediums weren't exceptional, they were better than nothing. These were daughters of royalty or high-ranking officials from nations near the Warlord's Domain, or princesses of countries personally destroyed by Vatler.
Their beauty and sense of purpose were unmistakable.
They were maids, here to serve as mediums for Kojou Akatsuki, the Fourth Progenitor—not even qualifying as blood companions.
Hailing from noble or royal families, they were well-versed in etiquette and worldly knowledge.
With these five, they could likely awaken two more familiars. If one or two had slightly better potential, perhaps even three.
Added to the three familiars Kojou had already awakened, this would bring him close to half his total.
With that, Kojou's safety would be more secure. With five or six familiars at his command, even August would find it impossible to defeat him easily.
"Kojou, stop wasting time. We're running out of it. Get over here."
"But Mom, I don't even know them. Asking me to feed on them just like that—it doesn't feel right."
"What's not right about it? You need to understand, you're the Fourth Progenitor. There are only three others like you in the entire world. Have some confidence."
"But—"
"But nothing! Get over here right now!"
"Alright…"
Kojou sighed and stepped forward.
Still, the idea of drinking the blood of five people at once sent a small thrill through him.
He'd just fed on Yuiri Haba and Shio Hikawa earlier, and seeing their current state left him with a twinge of regret—had he done something wrong?
"Please, have mercy, my lord."
The leader of the group removed her top, revealing her figure to Kojou.
Knowing their purpose here, all of them wore provocative lingerie, their sole aim to become women of the Fourth Progenitor.
Even if they couldn't be queens, they could at least be concubines. With the Fourth Progenitor's protection, their families would gain a powerful ally.
The sight was too much for Kojou to handle. His nose started bleeding, and his eyes turned a vivid red.
The urge to feed surged within him. He grabbed her and sank his fangs into her neck.
As her blood flowed down his throat, the familiars within him began to stir.
But her quality as a medium was lacking—she alone wasn't enough to awaken a familiar.
Over the next few minutes, all five of the deep-sea girls offered their blood to Kojou.
"Inheritor of the bloodline of the Flame-Haired Night Lord, Kojou Akatsuki, release your shackles here and now—Number One Familiar: Diamond Ram! Number Two Familiar: Amber Minotaur!"
Two more familiars awakened, and Mimori nodded in satisfaction. It wasn't three, but two was still impressive.
Number One, Number Two, Number Four, Number Five, and Number Nine.
Kojou was making progress. Awakening three familiars in a single day had drastically boosted his magical power, though he'd need time to adjust.
Shio Hikawa watched as Kojou bit her and Yuiri, then moved on to five more. Disgust twisted her face.
Even though she was now his medium—his blood companion, even—she couldn't muster the slightest fondness for him. If she hadn't been raised by the Lion King Organization her whole life, she'd never have submitted to him.
Boom!
At that moment, the ceiling shook violently.
With a deafening roar, the ceiling above shattered.
"What's going on?!"
Kojou raced to the second-floor treatment room, where the one person he truly cared about lay—his childhood friend.
As he burst into the room, he saw a woman standing by the bed.
She had the same face as Yuma Tokoyogi, but her aura was entirely different.
"It's you, Aya Tokoyogi—Yuma's mother."
"Hm? Fourth Progenitor, your magical power's grown so much since last time. Did you find some high-quality mediums? Beyond my failed replica here, have you stumbled upon other exceptional ones?"
"Get away from Yuma right now, you woman."
"This child belongs to me. Why should I leave?"
"I'm not asking for your opinion—I'm ordering you."
"Interesting. Before my master, even after awakening a new familiar, your first instinct was to flee. What's giving you such confidence today?"
"Damn it—"
Kojou's anger flared. When he'd awakened Silver Mist Shell and bolted, it wasn't out of fear of August.
It was purely to protect Yuma Tokoyogi from danger. Though, at a glance, it could certainly look that way.
He'd never admit it, though—whether it was true or not was anyone's guess.
Aya Tokoyogi glanced faintly at Kojou, her gaze settling on Yuma.
This child, who shared her face, had become the Fourth Progenitor's blood companion, and it worried her.
She feared her master might take issue with it, potentially bringing disaster upon her.
Though she now wielded the Precept of Pride, she knew full well that everything she had was in August's hands. The precept's power was hers to use, but it didn't truly belong to her.
August could reclaim it at any moment, and she'd be left worthless.
That terrified her. She didn't even know why, but the thought of losing the precept—of losing August's power—filled her with dread. So today, she'd come to eliminate this loose end.
Since this was a clone created from her own cells, it was only fitting that it be destroyed by her hand.
As Aya Tokoyogi raised a hand to end Yuma's life, Kojou couldn't stand by any longer.
"Descend swiftly—First Familiar: Mesarthim-Adamas!"
Bang!
A massive crystalline gem enveloped Yuma, shielding her. Aya's attack was blocked outright.
The move caught Aya off guard. Before she could react, the Diamond Ram charged, sending her crashing through the wall and window, hurtling outside.
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