Chapter 65: Snowy’s Gossip

I could only watch as Michael vanished into thin air. I turned around and glared at Li. "What are you doing here?"

Li looked in the direction where Michael had disappeared, his brow furrowing slightly, before he turned to me with a smile. "I missed you..." Seeing me arch an eyebrow, he released his grip and shrugged. "...your mixed drinks."

Ignoring him, I looked down at Snowy, who was huddled in my arms looking sickly. I strode across the street and headed back to the candy house.

"Are you hurt?" As soon as I reached the door, I heard Yang Weisheng's voice.

I lifted Snowy up. "It’s not me; it’s Snowy."

Yang Weisheng reached out and grasped my left arm. Following his gaze, I saw a burn mark on my own arm—it actually hadn’t healed automatically yet.

It was the spot where the monster’s saliva had touched me.

"What did you run into?" Yang Weisheng looked at me.

"A giant monster," I gestured excitedly, describing the encounter. "A huge one! And it was invulnerable to blades, fire, and water. I have no idea where it came from or why it would appear in the human realm!"

Yang Weisheng’s brow furrowed slightly, though he didn't seem particularly surprised.

I suddenly remembered what Michael had just said. Had something happened while I was in the dark? Holding Snowy, I walked into the candy house lost in thought.

"Ah, Aurora, you’re back..." Alastor, who was attending to customers, waved his hand at me with a smile, but his expression shifted slightly when he saw the injury on my arm.

Seeing Alastor’s reaction, I grew even more suspicious of my inner conjectures.

"We’re closing for the day."

As I spoke, I turned the "Open" sign on the door around.

Alastor didn't say a word; he just politely ushered the customers out with a smile.

The candy house immediately fell silent and felt much more spacious.

Alastor whistled as he paced back and forth, pretending to be industrious. Orlando, Usan, and Little Mountain were huddled at a table learning how to play Mahjong. Yang Weisheng sat in his usual spot drinking coffee, and even Li sat quietly without saying a word.

"Are you all keeping something from me?" Watching them put on their acts, I spoke plainly.

"No!" Little Mountain, holding a Mahjong tile, was the first to deny it—answering so quickly and urgently it was suspicious.

I turned my head toward Little Mountain; his face turned bright red from the pressure.

"Little Mountain, tell me. Are you all hiding something from me?" I decided to start with the honest one.

For once, Little Mountain didn't speak.

"Michael just came to see me," I said, calmly dropping a bombshell.

At those words, Alastor was the first to rush forward, looking me up and down for fear that I was missing a piece of myself.

"What did he want?" Yang Weisheng, being more composed, looked at me and asked.

Silence reigned for a long moment.

"Recently, there has been private talk within the Covens of the Sabbat. The legendary 'Final Night' is approaching, and the 'Final Judgment' is imminent. The Heavens have prepared to pass judgment on the Kindred."

Alastor kicked him. "Big mouth."

Li shrugged indifferently. "She would have found out sooner or later."

That day, when I destroyed the Inquisition, Michael had said: "An Oracle-foretold final war is coming. The signs and prophecies have appeared. What awaits you is the Judgment of the End."

The Final Judgment?

My heart felt a slight chill, but I merely kept my composure and gently stroked Snowy in my arms. "Oh, is that so."

"Oh? Is that so?" Li looked at me in surprise. "That’s it? You don't have any other thoughts?"

"What kind of thoughts should I have?" I chuckled, but suddenly felt a sinister gaze. I turned my head and met Yang Weisheng’s pitch-black eyes. My heart skipped a beat, and my smile froze on my lips.

Did he see what I was thinking?

I nearly forgot he could read minds.

Just as I was feeling inwardly startled, the bell at the door gave a crisp ring, breaking the eerie atmosphere in the room.

"Usan!" The tailor shop owner, Kaan Tung, pushed the door open with a smile. "Eh? Are you not open today?"

Usan frowned slightly.

I turned to her with a smile. "Oh, Kaan, you’ve brought more clothes for Usan again."

Kaan Tung blushed unexpectedly, twisting her hands behind her back. "Yes."

Usan glared at me.

"Eh? Do you not like the clothes I made? How come I’ve never seen you wear them once?" Kaan Tung blinked and asked suddenly.

Usan gave a stiff grunt.

I kicked him and turned to Kaan Tung with a grin. "He’s shy."

Muffled laughter broke out around us, and Usan looked ready to explode with rage.

I chuckled too, secretly wiping a cold sweat. Kaan Tung had arrived at the perfect time.

"Usan, take good care of Kaan. I’m going back to my room to change." Speaking with a smile, I carried Snowy back to my room.

Once inside, I sat cross-legged, and the smile slowly drained from my face.

The Final Judgment...

It was clear Alastor and the others intended to protect me.

Though I loved my current life, all this peace was something they had deliberately created. They all had their own places to go, yet they chose to stay with me in the human realm where they didn't belong.

And I, no matter how much I deluded myself, could never go back to a truly human life.

Before they met me, Albus was with Aurora-White; before they met me, Alastor was safely serving as the Archon of the Kindred; before they met me, Little Mountain, Usan, and Orlando were all clan leaders in their respective territories.

...If I plead guilty, could the Final Judgment be avoided? Could everything go back to before any of this happened?

To a time where nothing had changed.

If only Aurora Tung had never appeared...

If only Aurora Tung had never appeared...

Georges Bataille said that feeling joy in the face of death belongs only to those who believe there is no afterlife.

Morven told me that. On the day he predicted his own death, he returned eternal life to Li. What Li received, however, was the pain of eternity.

I was surprised that I could face the coming of the Day of Judgment so calmly.

But... if this is what Cass wanted, I will fulfill his final wish for him. If I accept the judgment, Cass’s soul will surely be redeemed...

Loving a demon is a sin.

I will atone for him.

As I pondered, I unknowingly fell asleep.

When I woke up, there was a coolness by my hand. I instinctively reached out and felt a strand of silver hair.

Eh? When did Snowy get this big? I blinked and looked down into my own arms, then my eyes widened in shock. "AAAAHHHHHHH..."

Why was there a man in my bed... and an unclothed... naked man at that! AAAHHH... and why was this naked man in my arms... AAAHHH...

"What are you screaming for?" A cold, slender hand covered my lips. A pair of frigid eyes swept over me indifferently as his other hand slowly took the blanket and elegantly wrapped it around his body.

My eyes went wide.

Albus!

It was Albus, who had been missing for ages!

When did he pop up!

I looked left and right—my precious pet Snowy was gone...

My eyes widened further. Could it be...

"Slow-witted idiot," he scoffed coldly, releasing his hand.

"You, you, you..." I reached out a trembling hand and pointed at his nose. This guy... no matter how I looked at him, he didn't match the image of the cute Snowy!

Then, all those times I forced Snowy to bathe with me... didn't that mean he saw everything!

And I held him tightly while sleeping...

And I...

I practically wanted to find a hammer and end myself.

"What’s wrong, Aurora?" Hearing my voice, Alastor burst through the door in a panic.

"He, he, he..." I looked at Alastor, pointing repeatedly at Albus.

"He?" Alastor looked around. "Who?"

I looked down in disbelief at my pet Snowy, who was currently lying on the bedsheets looking perfectly innocent...

This guy...

So treacherous...

"What happened, Aurora?" Alastor asked, confused.

"It’s nothing... I just saw a mouse scurry past." The corners of my mouth twitched several times. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed Snowy’s ears and began to maul him.

Snowy didn't make a sound; he just narrowed his eyes and submissively let me bully him.

"About what Li said just now..." Alastor looked at me with a rare moment of hesitation.

"What? The Final Judgment?" I blinked and patted his shoulder with a smile. "With you guys here, what have I to fear?"

"Yes! With me here!" Alastor automatically ignored the "guys" part...

I chuckled while continuing to pinch Snowy’s ears.

The moment Alastor left the room, I threw Snowy onto the floor and glared at him.

"Are you going to seek your own death?" Pet Snowy narrowed his eyes and looked at me coldly.

The feeling of my pet Snowy speaking... was truly bizarre.

"You!" Hearing the meaning in his words, I froze slightly. "How did you..."

How did he know what I was thinking?

"Last night, you talked in your sleep," Pet Snowy looked at me with disdain.

...A vampire who talks in her sleep is truly beyond embarrassing.

"What did I say?" I pursed my lips, deciding to ask in spite of the shame.

Snowy gave a cold huff, turned his head away, and said nothing.

I grabbed his ears and hoisted him up, watching his short tail dangle and sway in mid-air. "A pet should act like a pet! Why are you acting so cool? You’re not cute at all! Tell me, what was your intention in taking this form? Were you trying to voyeur me!"

"This is my original form," Snowy turned his head and spoke plainly, acting as if he wouldn't lower himself to my level.

"Original form? Aren't you a vampire?" I stared at him in astonishment.

"To be precise, I am a white fox."

"Huh?" I was dumbfounded. What kind of plot twist was this? I twisted his ear, sensing there was gossip to be unearthed.

"Aurora-White was originally the tenth director of the Inquisition, and also the most outstanding Exorcist..."

Earth-shattering gossip! The Vampire Queen Aurora-White was once the tenth director of the Inquisition—she was the predecessor's predecessor of Hino Umaba...