Chapter 149: The First Subordinate
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Phew!
Aoki pulled his hand back.
"Is this all right?" he asked.
Kurome looked confused. She felt no sadness or fear, only deep confusion.
Why?
He had saved her before and had tried to persuade her to leave the assassination team, so why had he suddenly decided to kill her? Although they didn't know each other well, after spending a few days together, she was certain that Aoki wasn't an irrational lunatic.
Kurome's mind was a mess.
The confusion of being forced to become a traitor, the puzzlement over Aoki's sudden decision to kill her—everything that had happened recently felt like a pair of giant hands tearing at her sanity.
After some time, Kurome regained some clarity and suddenly realized something was wrong.
Why am I not dead yet?
Though her body had mutated due to prolonged medication, meaning she wouldn't necessarily die even from a critical injury, her heart had been pierced this time—she should have died long ago.
Moreover, she didn't feel any pain and hadn't felt like she was dying at any point.
Kurome looked down.
There was a tear in her clothing at her chest, and a few spots of scarlet blood remained on her snow-white skin.
But where was the wound?
Kurome touched her chest instinctively.
Was it just her imagination?
No!
There was blood splattered on the quilt from when her heart was pierced!
Kurome suddenly looked up and found Aoki watching her with a smile, showing no sign of surprise.
"Aoki, what's going on?" she demanded.
"You're actually dead," Aoki replied. "Seven days ago, you fainted after fighting the assassins."
"Wait, seven days ago? Seven days have passed?" Kurome asked, startled.
"Yes," Aoki nodded. "Your body was already on the brink of collapse, and being without your medication for too long caused significant damage. After you lost consciousness, your body completely shut down. When I found you after the fight, your heart had nearly stopped beating."
Kurome placed her hand on her chest. "Then why am I still alive?"
Aoki didn't say anything. Instead, he raised his hand and pressed it against his chest.
"Wait!"
Kurome realized what he was about to do and tried to stop him, but she was a step too late.
Phew!
As soon as she opened her mouth, Aoki's hand pierced her chest again. A large amount of blood flowed down her body, soaking her clothes instantly.
"What... what are you doing?" Kurome exclaimed.
Aoki pulled his hand away, and the wound on her chest healed instantly.
Kurome was stunned. She looked down at her chest and began to understand.
Aoki explained, "When we were in the secret realm, you probably noticed that I have a very strong regenerative ability. In fact, not just a pierced heart—even if my head were chopped off or my entire body cut into pieces, I'd recover easily."
"Is that even possible?"
The black-eyed girl's mouth opened slightly.
During their time in the secret realm, she had noticed Aoki's remarkable recovery ability. Even the Imperial tools didn't seem to possess such power. However, this was Aoki's secret, and she had never questioned him about it.
"I'm sharing this power with you," Aoki said, taking out a mirror and handing it to Kurome.
Becoming a demon would mean losing a lot. Initially, he had planned to get Kurome's consent before turning her into a demon, but her condition was dire. He had no choice but to act first and explain later.
After turning Kurome into a demon, he also administered three potions to her: "Find Yourself," "Overcome Cannibalism," and "Resist the Sunlight."
The combination of these three potions significantly reduces the weaknesses of demons.
Before leaving the Demon Slayer World, Aoki had specifically asked Miss Tamayo to prepare a few more sets. These potions could be used to save people, create subordinates, or even for trading purposes. The power of a demon, combined with these three potions, offered a pathway to eternal life. Although it had certain flaws, the prospect was still incredibly tempting.
If utilized properly, it could bring Aoki immense benefits.
Kurome looked at herself in the mirror, noticing her eyes had turned into blood-red, vertical pupils, and four sharp canine teeth had grown in her mouth.
"I see. No wonder I felt some changes in my body after waking up."
It wasn't that she felt uncomfortable; on the contrary, she felt too comfortable!
All the discomfort from prolonged medication, constant fighting, and injuries had vanished.
Aoki chuckled. "Do you understand now? You are indeed dead, but you've been reborn in another form. You can now honor your former companions and the Empire even more."
Kurome's expression was conflicted.
Aoki, knowing she needed a push, added, "I paid a huge price to save you! You can't just ignore that, right?"
"How... how do I repay you?" Kurome asked, looking at him.
Aoki stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Work for me—for free... for a thousand years!"
Since she had become a demon, she was now his subordinate. In the future, when dealing with three other super dangerous species, he would need help. Kurome was undoubtedly one of the best candidates.
"A thousand years?" Hei Tong gasped. "How is that possible? I can't live that long."
Aoki replied, "You weren't capable before, but now things are different."
Kurome immediately caught on. "Can this power extend my lifespan?"
Aoki nodded.
Kurome hesitated for a moment. "How long can I live now?"
"You can live until you get bored," Aoki said.
"Bored of living?" Kurome asked, puzzled.
Aoki explained, "As long as you don't actively seek death, it will be nearly impossible to die. No, even if you want to commit suicide, it would be difficult to succeed."
After battling with the super dangerous species, Aoki realized he had previously overestimated them. Their power wasn't limitless, and their powerful attacks couldn't be sustained indefinitely. At least, a single super dangerous species wasn't enough to kill him. And, of course, it wouldn't be enough to kill Kurome either.
Now that she had become a demon, her strength had increased significantly.
Hearing this, Kurome's mouth slightly opened, a silly and cute expression on her face.
Eternal life?
Could this power truly grant eternal life?
Is there really something in the world that can make someone immortal?
Aoki patted her shoulder. "In short, you no longer owe the Empire or your companions. But now, you owe me. Got it?"
"I understand!" Kurome nodded, still looking somewhat dazed.
Aoki thought for a moment before adding, "My power is strong, but it's not without its drawbacks."
"What are the drawbacks?"
"You might've noticed I never ate anything during our time in the secret realm," Aoki said.
"Didn't you eat secretly while I was asleep?" Kurome asked, puzzled.
"..."
"I didn't cheat... Anyway, you'll gradually experience the disadvantages. One of them is that, from now on, you can only survive on human blood. Of course, only a small amount is needed."
"The good news," Aoki continued, "is that you won't need to eat anymore."
"Isn't that an advantage?" Kurome asked blankly.
Aoki looked away, a bit embarrassed. "Not exactly. Although you don't need to eat, you also can't taste food anymore."
Both Kurome and her sister were big foodies. Not being able to eat was definitely a huge disadvantage for them.
"Ah?"
Kurome's face changed as she quickly grabbed the bag of snacks on the table next to her. Just as she was about to eat, she hesitated.
Aoki reassured her, "It's okay; those are just ordinary snacks."
Kurome glanced at him, then took out a biscuit and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed it twice, then gradually stopped moving as her expression froze.
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T/N: There is a Patreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early chapters.
Patreon link:- Patreon.com/ANelite
And also:
Imperial weapon = Teigu
Teigu = Imperial weapon