Once she recognized her own weakness, Bronya became invincible!
By acknowledging the desires deep within her heart, there was nothing left to avoid.
In that rain-soaked bus stop, the duckling completed her [Metamorphosis].
This wasn't some vague statement about her state of mind; a tangible change had occurred.
Bronya's contract was different from the others; it had been elevated to a [Vow].
A contract versus a vow—a [Vow] was the ultimate relationship Ye Feng could currently forge.
Only when he resolved to make the Vow-taker's everything his own, and the Vow-taker offered their entire body and soul, was it possible to achieve this highest and strongest connection.
If successful, one could attain different levels of ascension. In return, however, it would form a taboo relationship that could never be broken.
Ye Feng had attempted it with Elysia before, in the church presided over by Aponia.
But he had failed.
Afterward, he could only stand rooted to the spot and watch how Mobius and Aponia… took hold of the future.
If Elysia had accepted it from the bottom of her heart that time, she might have gained an authority even greater than Mobius's.
But given Elysia's state of mind back then, it was impossible.
Ye Feng was naturally aware of this. He had only tried it with a nonchalant attitude, thinking, "If it's Elysia, maybe she can cause a miracle." In the end, nothing happened.
The [Vow] was also based on willpower, but unlike with magical girls, if it didn't work, it just didn't work. One couldn't force the phenomenon to change by simply saying things like "There's always a way!" or "This is the bond between us!"
Although Bronya's weight hadn't changed, her aura was now completely different from before.
That was why Kiana hadn't been able to process it right away.
If Kiana knew about the experience that led to the duckling's upgraded [Vow], the Little Bug would surely be shocked: Seriously? Getting cucked has this kind of effect? This must be what they mean by 'He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight.'
Of course, Bronya certainly wouldn't argue with Kiana. She had grown up. She would only retort with a single吐槽 sentence, "Stupid Kiana, as expected, you only see the surface. How vulgar."
But right now, the Little Bug and the duckling were actually in the library, seriously discussing academic problems.
"Hi, what are you two talking about? Can I join in?"
Elysia gracefully approached, as light and ethereal as an elf.
She was also wearing a sailor uniform today; it seemed she had taken a liking to the outfit.
The pure, bright blue-and-white sailor uniform, paired with her brilliant pink hair, was a refreshing sight.
Elysia sat down next to Bronya, her bright eyes sparkling as she looked at her.
Elysia had also been a witness to that "downpour," though her view wasn't as clear as Mobius's.
But Snake-Snake had still "guided" Elysia, allowing her to understand what was happening inside that bus stop.
As for why Mobius did it, her explanation to Elysia was: "Don't misunderstand, Elysia, and don't look at me with that disgusting expression. I just want to know what an elf becomes after she has fallen. That's all."
But Elysia had still gratefully accepted Snake-Snake's "good intentions."
And then, Mobius had left in a huff.
Bronya: "?"
The duckling felt that the way Elysia was looking at her was different from before, as if she were sizing up some rare animal.
"It's really incredible."
"What is?"
Elysia touched her chin and said softly, "I can't see any trace of the 'little duckling' anymore."
"Right? Right?!" Kiana said foolishly. "It's like she's a completely different person. I bet it has something to do with Bronya's husband."
Bronya paused for a moment, then the corners of her lips curved up into a beautiful arc.
The smile of a three-no girl was truly captivating.
"That's right. It's all my husband's fault."
---o---
The vampire, Luna Kindred, had the real name Theresa, with no surname.
Her older sister had given her the name.
The girl had a small wish, one that flickered like a firefly in the night.
She wanted to go out and play in the outside world. It didn't need to be especially exciting; just being able to experience it would be enough.
And then, if she could go to the place her sister had described and see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, she probably wouldn't have any regrets even if she died.
But such a minuscule wish had been an extravagance ever since she became self-aware.
Her aspirations, or rather, the things she wanted to touch with her own hands… were all cursed by the existence known as "vampire."
A vampire, a creature that should not appear in the light.
The more humans there were, the harder it was for her to restrain her blood-sucking impulse. Yuexia… was just that kind of tragic creature.
"So, hasn't the [Contract] already eliminated your impulse?"
In a classroom in the middle of a lesson, Ye Feng, sitting in the back row by the window, lowered his head to look at Yuexia kneeling on both knees under the desk. He gently stroked the girl's head as he spoke.
Yuexia raised her chin, her blood-moon-like crimson eyes shimmering with a hazy light.
Gulp~~
Her fair throat moved as she swallowed the substance that could suppress her "blood-sucking impulse" into her stomach. Afterward, Yuexia slowly rose and elegantly sat back in her seat.
The girl sat properly in the classroom, her back straight, her long white hair falling down smoothly, looking like a well-bred young lady and an honor student.
Her lips were exceptionally crystalline and rosy from being moistened, but for some reason, a curly strand of short black hair was stuck to her fair cheek.
The honor student Yuexia seemed to notice this. She gently picked it up with her fingers, stared at it, and hesitated for a moment as if pondering something.
Finally, with the look of a curious cat, she stuck out her pink tongue and licked it into her mouth.
"Mmph… Ptooey ptooey ptooey!"
There was no substance in that hair that could suppress her blood-sucking impulse at all.
Yuexia couldn't help but shoot Ye Feng a dissatisfied glare.
"You're blaming me for that?"
Yuexia also felt she was being a bit unreasonable, but she was unwilling to admit it was her own fault. She could only huff in shy annoyance, lifting her fair chin and saying:
"It's true that I don't have the blood-sucking impulse anymore, and I can go out on the streets normally, but—I've become your slave."
Ye Feng couldn't help but laugh. "What kind of rebellious slave are you, throwing tantrums at your master at the drop of a hat?"
Miss Yuexia glared fiercely at Ye Feng. "Ha, so you admit you signed a slave contract with me! Eh? What are you doing?"
Yuexia watched in surprise as Ye Feng also knelt down under her desk.
"Your over-the-knee socks are dirty. I'll clean them for you."
"!!"
Yuexia instinctively clamped her legs shut, saying in shame and anger, "N-No, thank you, we're still in class…"
"Oh, so you do know it's class. Then why were you replenishing your mana just now?"
"Guh…"
The little vampire miss's face grew redder and redder.