Lost Moon
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Chapter 176: Gathering the Shadows
🕑 Added 2026-01-29 19:30:39 +0000 UTCThe next day arrived.
When Yuki woke up in the morning, he saw Elisabeth sitting in the living room.
After greeting her, Yuki sat down beside her.
At that moment, Elisabeth wore a faint, ambiguous smile as she looked at Yuki.
"What's with you?"
Sensing Elisabeth's smile, Yuki asked curiously.
"Nothing much. It's just seeing Master looking so radiant today... I suppose Akane-chan's service was quite comfortable, wasn't it?!"
Elisabeth spoke to Yuki teasingly, her tone both probing and playful.
Yuki wasn't surprised that Elisabeth knew about last night's events.
He simply smiled faintly and replied very calmly:
"Naturally!"
"But from the tone of your voice, Elisabeth, you seem quite eager yourself!"
Hearing Yuki's words, Elisabeth gave a light smile.
Her eyes shifted slightly before she replied: "If Akane-chan hadn't beaten me to it, the one lying there today would have been me, you know!"
After saying this, Elisabeth gently blinked, giving Yuki a flirtatious glance.
Yuki hadn't expected this Vampire Ancestor, who had slept for so many years, to have such a side to her.
"Oh, that is indeed a bit of a regret!"
"But it's fine. After all, I'll be staying here for a while longer, so there's plenty of time! No rush."
Yuki smiled meaningfully at Elisabeth.
Hearing this, Elisabeth nodded gently, revealing a charming smile.
"Understood! Then, when the time comes, I'll have to trouble Master to help me... conduct a more thorough, more direct inspection of my body, okay?"
Then, as if remembering something, she glanced at the busy Mary nearby.
Her crimson eyes shifted slightly before she added:
"Of course, Mary mentioned she's been having some issues with her mana compression practice lately. She also needs your personal inspection!"
"Oh?! There's actually something like that? Then I should definitely help her properly!"
"Mhm, mhm, mhm! Master truly is a warm-hearted, understanding master!"
The two conversed while simultaneously wearing meaningful smiles.
At that moment, Mary happened to walk out of the kitchen and heard Elisabeth and Yuki's conversation mentioning her.
She was somewhat confused—when had her body developed problems? She had been practicing mana compression quite well.
"Lady Elisabeth, my body is fine!"
"There's no need to trouble Master..."
Mary was about to say more, but halfway through, Elisabeth stopped her.
"No! You need it."
"Uh..."
Seeing Elisabeth flatly deny it and noticing her serious expression, Mary had no choice but to comply.
"Mhm, my body hasn't been feeling well lately."
After saying this, Mary glanced at Yuki somewhat awkwardly.
Yuki simply smiled faintly and didn't say anything more.
After breakfast, Yuki left.
He still had matters to attend to. After all, he had already saved Alpha.
The remaining members of the original Shadow Garden—Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta—naturally also needed to be brought under his wing.
Only then could the entire organization operate effectively.
Although he had saved other little girls with Hero bloodlines when rescuing Alpha, their strength certainly couldn't compare to those mentioned above.
Yuki's figure soon vanished from the living room.
At that moment, Mary, still puzzled, approached Elisabeth and asked what she had meant earlier.
Seeing this, Elisabeth didn't hide it. Instead, she revealed her true intentions.
After hearing it, Mary's cheeks suddenly flushed crimson, and a look of shyness appeared on her face.
"Lady Elisabeth, I... do we really have to do this?"
"Naturally, Mary!"
Elisabeth nodded.
"Think about it. Although Master agreed to save me on the condition that both you and I become his subordinates,"
"Later, he even helped our vampire race overcome the blood-drinking urges. That debt of gratitude is beyond repayment. The only thing we have to offer... is ourselves!"
Elisabeth analyzed seriously as she spoke to Mary.
Hearing this, Mary, in a daze, also found it somewhat reasonable.
"And honestly, a man as exceptional as Master—even I can't help but feel drawn to him!"
At this point, Elisabeth held her cheeks with both hands, a blush spreading across her face as she spoke shyly.
"Don't you feel the same way about Master, Mary?"
"Ah, this... I don't..."
Asked by Elisabeth like this, Mary's gaze drifted uneasily, not daring to look directly at her.
Seeing this, Elisabeth knew immediately the girl wasn't telling the truth.
"Little girl, I know your personality well enough!"
"I can tell when you're lying!"
Elisabeth rolled her eyes, retorting.
"Alright, no need to worry. If you like him, you like him. If you don't, you don't. I won't say anything more!"
"And after all you did for me back then, how could I let you remain lonely? It's time to find a man, Mary!"
Elisabeth looked softly at Mary, who had remained loyal to her despite everything that had happened back then.
Her heart was filled with emotion and gratitude.
Hearing this, although somewhat embarrassed, Mary gently nodded.
Since Elisabeth said it was fine, there really was nothing for her to hesitate about.
Accept it openly, follow her heart's true feelings.
As evening approached, Yuki soon returned with a group of young girls.
Among them were all the high-ranking members of the original Shadow Garden, such as Beta, Gamma, and the others.
Their circumstances were similar to most Possessed—abandoned by their parents.
Yuki had found them and taken them in.
After resolving their curses, Yuki arranged for them to join Alpha's training.
Under Yuki's personal guidance, they were trained in mana compression techniques and combat skills.
Seeing Yuki return, Akane happily shared her gains for the day.
"Yuki-kun! When I woke up today, I found my strength had actually reached the surface level!"
Looking at Akane's delighted expression, Yuki smiled and ruffled her hair, offering words of encouragement.
Of course, he knew why Akane's progress was so rapid—it was naturally because she had absorbed Yuki's essence, which transformed into strength.
If Akane's internal mana pool was previously a small pond, it could now be described as a vast ocean.
Elisabeth also found this overnight change in Akane incredible.
Though she didn't fully understand, she could roughly connect it to last night's events.
Learning that such an effect existed, Elisabeth looked at Yuki with a somewhat peculiar expression.
After dinner, she couldn't wait to slip into Yuki's room.
Yuki happened to be in his room at the time. Seeing Elisabeth, he smiled knowingly.
Elisabeth, upon seeing this, showed no shyness.
She openly stated she wanted Yuki to check her body. Seeing this, Yuki smiled understandingly and agreed.
Afterward, Elisabeth finally understood why Akane's progress had been so rapid.
Turns out, the secret to gaining strength lay entirely within this process.
This also led her to call Mary over during the process.
So Yuki could check her as well while he was at it.
Yuki naturally didn't refuse. Treating them equally, he helped them resolve their "issues."
