Volume 3, Chapter 7-3 – Just Borrowing It for a Bit

The streetlamps in the dark alley lit up one after another. Aetlana walked close to the wall, cautiously avoiding everyone’s gaze and not daring to show herself on the bustling streets of Nightmare Street.

The pursuers from the Samael main family were getting closer.

Aetlana could sense the blood-linked malice.

Dragon-type demons of her own clan were harder to shake off than any hunting hound.

They knew how she fought, knew her weaknesses, knew every place she might hide, and knew her scent even better.

The Abyss was vast, but for her, there were far too few places she could go.

Being caught was only a matter of time.

Aetlana leaned against the wall and closed her eyes for a moment.

Her hand instinctively touched the photograph tucked inside her clothes.

All she needed was to find a way into Lilith School.

As long as she could see the Young Mistress once, even if only from afar, confirm that she was doing well, confirm that she had grown up safely, confirm that the smile in the photograph was real, that would be enough.

For a moment, Aetlana felt like a weary seabird.

After flying such a long way, even with its wings drooping and blood at the corner of its beak, it would still desperately return to its nest, just to care for its chick.

But how was she supposed to get inside?

Aetlana had been thinking about this for a long time.

Gehenna Jelansika was destined to be an obstacle she could not overcome.

Sneak into the school right under Gehenna’s nose?

If she were still at her peak, perhaps she would have had a forty-percent chance. But in her current state, with her severe injuries still unhealed, there was no way she could do it. Even stealing the Pale Egg had only been possible because Mara had helped her from the inside.

Not to mention that she was having difficulty even leaving Nightmare Street right now.

Samael’s pursuers were nearby.

Aetlana could smell the faint traces of her own clan in the air.

The Samael dragon attendants were searching through the district inch by inch like hunting hounds, and the one leading them was a higher demon named Lavinia.

Aetlana remembered Lavinia.

Lavinia had once been Aetlana’s subordinate, but after the Pale Lord fell, she had immediately chosen to betray Aetlana to protect herself.

Aetlana had never expected to encounter Lavinia again more than a decade later.

But now was not the time for revenge.

Aetlana clenched her fist.

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She had to think of a way.

‘If… if only I could somehow get my hands on a student from Lilith School.’

Aetlana touched the small leather pouch at her waist.

Inside were three bottles of pre-made potion that she had prepared as soon as she arrived on Nightmare Street.

She had planned this a month ago. Taking advantage of Lilith School’s break, she would randomly knock out a student who came alone to Nightmare Street, hide her somewhere, use a compound potion to take on her appearance, then swagger straight back into the school and approach the Young Mistress.

No matter how powerful Gehenna was, she couldn’t possibly remember the magical aura of every single student.

But Aetlana had never been able to find a suitable sample.

It was only the first day of the break. Most students were still at school packing their luggage. Although plenty of demons walked the streets of Nightmare Street, only a handful were actually wearing Lilith School uniforms.

And most of those walked along the crowded main roads, making it impossible to make a move.

Aetlana took a deep breath and continued forward.

She would deal with things one step at a time.

Maybe she would run into one soon?

Aetlana turned a corner. At the end of the dark alley were the lights and clamor of the main road. Just as she was about to turn around and head back, she heard footsteps not far away.

Very light, very steady.

‘Someone from Samael?’

Aetlana instinctively tightened her grip on her sword hilt.

She saw a figure turn into the alley.

Long crimson hair lifted slightly in the night breeze, scarlet eyes overlapping with the glow of the streetlights. She wore Lilith School’s dark uniform, every button at the collar fastened meticulously, while long, slender calves showed beneath the hem of her skirt.

And Aetlana had seen the girl’s face in Prophet Weekly, right beside Stella’s photograph. The headline had clearly stated that she was the one who had lost to the Young Mistress in an internal family struggle, the former eldest daughter of Valentine.

Cheryl Valentine.

Stella’s… younger sister.

Cheryl slowly approached Aetlana.

She walked with the awkwardness of a young foal, yet possessed the elegance of a small beast.

“I finally found you.”

The girl said as soon as she arrived.

“The person who abandoned Elder Sister for more than ten years, who left her wandering outside and struggling alone, and who now wants to come back and pick the fruit once it’s ripe…”

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“I won’t allow you to hurt Elder Sister.”

Aetlana said nothing.

She merely looked quietly at the girl before her.

Valentine blood. Stella’s younger sister.

A thought flashed through her mind.

If…

If she could obtain a sample from Cheryl and use the compound potion to take on her appearance…

Then she could walk openly into Lilith School. She could claim to be the younger sister and approach Stella.

Gehenna wouldn’t suspect her, the students wouldn’t suspect her, and even the Young Mistress wouldn’t suspect her.

She could walk right beside the Young Mistress. She could listen to her speak. The two of them would be so close that she could even hear each breath the Young Mistress took and smell the fragrance emanating from her. For all the remaining years of her life, she could rely on that fragrance alone for comfort.

Aetlana narrowed her eyes slightly.

She had made her decision.

She knew the compound potion’s effects could not last forever. At most, it would remain effective for only a few Watches before automatically wearing off. And the pursuers from the Samael main family could still track her through the aura of her magical power. There was no way she could remain disguised forever.

But even if it were only for a few Watches.

Even if she only saw her once from afar.

As long as she could see that the Young Mistress was safe, she would be satisfied.

Then she would leave.

She would return the girl’s face to Cheryl, return the Young Mistress’ safety to the Abyss, then throw herself back into her endless exile.

Aetlana raised her eyes.

Cheryl had already drawn her weapon.

Blood-colored magical power gathered around her, transforming into four sharp Tail Thorns.

Her thorns glowed scarlet within the shadows of the alley, like blooming red spider lilies.

Aetlana said nothing. She tightened her grip on her sword hilt as well.

There was no need to kill her.

Just knock her unconscious.

All she needed to do was hide her in a corner and make sure she wouldn’t be injured or die.

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Once she was finished borrowing this face, once she had seen Stella from afar, she would return everything to her.

Aetlana closed her eyes, then opened them again.

Golden slit pupils lit up in the darkness.

She was only…

Borrowing it for a bit.

“I won’t let you get close to Elder Sister.”

Cheryl’s voice was as cold as ice.

Feather Thorn, Scale Thorn, Armor Thorn, Tail Thorn.

After more than a month, she had long since mastered them to perfection.

The instant the battle began, the Feather Thorn disintegrated into countless tiny blood crystals that filled the air, pouring down toward Aetlana like a torrential rainstorm.

Firepower covering every possible angle.

Aetlana raised her greatsword horizontally.

The blood crystals crashed against the broad blade, the tremendous impact forcing her to slide backward.

Aetlana knew that she truly was no match for Cheryl.

Relentless flight and the grievous wounds she had suffered in the White Tower had long since drained her stamina dry.

And the former eldest daughter of Valentine before her had clearly already begun to reveal her talent, reaching the threshold of the higher demon realm.

Cheryl dispersed the Feather Thorn and advanced over the shattered blood crystals covering the ground, pressing toward the steadily retreating Aetlana.

Scale Thorns emerged from her sleeves, agile and unpredictable, sealing off Aetlana’s escape routes like venomous snakes.

Aetlana dodged them one after another, then smashed the hilt of her sword heavily into Cheryl, only for it to produce a dull thud.

“Armor?” Aetlana murmured.

At some point, dense Armor Thorns had already covered Cheryl’s fair skin, forcibly blocking the blunt strike. Aetlana had only managed to leave a shallow white mark across the blood-colored scales.

Attack and defense reversed in an instant.

Cheryl’s Tail Thorn suddenly stabbed out.

Aetlana failed to dodge in time. The Tail Thorn grazed her flank, carving open a deep wound.

The tremendous force sent her entire body flying. She slammed heavily into the brick wall, blood flowing down through the gaps between the bricks.

Aetlana immediately understood that Cheryl had come fully prepared and held an absolute advantage.

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If this dragged on, her severely wounded body would undoubtedly be worn down and killed by the endless blood thorns.

Aetlana closed her eyes.

And began playing dead.

As a higher dragon-type demon, stopping her own heart was not particularly difficult. Old veterans who had lived for a thousand years generally possessed all sorts of techniques for playing dead.

The rise and fall of her chest instantly ceased. The flowing blood congealed around the edges of her wound, while her breathing and faint magical fluctuations gradually stilled as well.

The dark alley fell silent again. Cheryl stopped walking.

She stood several steps away, staring at the lifeless woman leaning against the wall.

No heartbeat?

No breathing?

Cheryl frowned slightly.

She had won quite smoothly, but the other party was still a higher demon who had once struck fear throughout the Abyss. She had just died like this?

It was somewhat unexpected, but after Cheryl thought about Aetlana’s relentless flight and the devastating injuries she had suffered in the White Tower, it made sense.

She took one step forward, preparing to confirm it herself.

Two steps.

One step.

Aetlana’s eyes snapped open. Golden slit pupils lit up within the shadows.

The higher demon who had been playing dead exploded into motion without warning.

The hilt of her greatsword traced an afterimage through the air, carrying the last remaining burst of strength from a dragon-type demon as it smashed viciously toward Cheryl.

The Armor Thorns covering Cheryl’s skin shattered inch by inch like fragile glass.

The heavy blunt strike landed precisely on the back of Cheryl’s neck.

Bang!

Translator Note

Nooo Cheryyylll TvT