Chapter 70: But What Is the Cost? (Bonus Chapter 33)

Herbert ultimately acted like a human once again.

Though inwardly regretful, he did not push the coffin lid back to clamp Elizabeth’s tongue.

Instead, he extended his finger forward slightly, just enough for the blood to land on Elizabeth’s tongue.

Look how hard she’s trying—just satisfy her a little.

After all, Elizabeth’s essence blood truly granted me some abilities; there’s no reason to default on this debt.

Drip.

The moment the first drop of essence blood touched her tongue, Elizabeth’s entire body trembled.

This taste…

This taste!!?

Elizabeth forgot everything else, pressing her whole body against the gap, stretching her tongue as far as it could go to wrap around Herbert’s finger.

But the distance was too great; she couldn’t reach it.

After several failed attempts, the excited woman completely abandoned all dignity and began pleading:

“Give… me! Give it to me!!!”

“Please!”

“Give it to me!”

“Give me the blood—I’ll do anything afterward—”

Herbert was startled by her frenzy, his eyebrows twitching as he barely restrained himself from stepping back.

His blood had somehow become the catalyst, plunging Elizabeth into this near-deranged state.

“This… is an opportunity!”

Herbert keenly sensed the scent of opportunity.

He knew that if he gave her the blood now, her favor would rise dramatically.

That was good.

Moreover, the remaining nine drops were already his obligation under their agreement… which was even better.

A free favor, essentially.

But he did not act immediately.

Giving coal in snow is always better than adding flowers to brocade!

Instead, he waved his finger in front of her eyes, waiting until her gaze grew hazy and she was on the verge of collapse before finally bringing it to her lips.

“Alright, but don’t suck too much, okay?”

If you’re going to help, help all the way.

Herbert shoved his finger straight into Elizabeth’s mouth—the interior wasn’t warm, but neither was it cold; merely slightly cool.

Quite comfortable.

Herbert was comfortable; Elizabeth descended into utter madness.

Her crimson eyes widened as she sucked fiercely on Herbert’s finger, as if trying to drain every drop of blood from his body.

Glug.

Glug.

Glug.

As the intense stimulation surged through her body, her heart thrashed violently—spurting blood with a pulsing *puch-puch*.

“Aaaah, aaaaah!!!”

Accompanied by a scream composed of seven parts excitement, two parts exhilaration, one part lust, and ninety percent madness.

Boom!

The entire black iron coffin shuddered violently, a wave of crimson energy bursting from the gap and hurling Herbert backward two steps.

“Whoa, what a commotion!”

Herbert blinked, staring in surprise at the trembling coffin.

The noise grew louder, more terrifying, spreading from the center outward across the entire area.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst the soul-shaking vibrations, a pale white hand suddenly shot out from the gap and seized the heavy iron coffin lid.

With a screeching scrape, the massive lid was effortlessly pushed open.

Creak—

Then, a streak of silver, strikingly bright against the darkness, slowly emerged from the widening gap.

She’s out!

Her head is out!

When that exquisitely shaped head emerged from the coffin, Herbert nodded in quiet appreciation.

Silver hair, crimson eyes… it was indeed her.

Her pale skin now flushed faintly pink, lips curled upward, face radiant with delight and intoxication.

“Hahaha, hahaha!”

This beautiful, eerie, slightly mad visage matched exactly the memory of the kin-slayer.

Herbert admired her for a moment, then suddenly blinked.

Why…

Why is she only showing her head?

Why isn’t her body coming out too?

He hesitated, then asked: “You… aren’t coming out?”

Elizabeth fell silent at Herbert’s question, then silently tilted her neck upward.

Clank-clank-clank…

As the sound of iron chains echoed from within the coffin, Herbert’s eyes widened—he saw the black iron chains bound around her neck.

“I want to come out, but…”

Elizabeth’s face twitched as she strained her neck upward, helplessly saying: “This is already my limit.”

She had assumed that regaining partial power would let her escape this damned coffin.

But she never imagined that damn chain couldn’t be broken!!?

So though her condition was vastly improved, she could only manage to protrude her head from the coffin.

Herbert stared at the scene, speechless.

Coffin, woman, head, vampire, darkness…

Put those keywords together, and it looked exactly like a horror movie set.

A bit too R-rated.

“Then… hmm?”

Wait.

Herbert suddenly thought of a fascinating question.

He hesitated, but couldn’t suppress his curiosity, asking tentatively: “Are you crouching inside?”

The coffin was barely over a meter tall, yet she was only showing her head—so… what position was Elizabeth in inside?

The philosophical depth of this question was like asking whether the three groundhogs underground were three muscular men hugging each other.

As the subject, Elizabeth remained silent for a long while, then sighed weakly and nodded.

“...Yeah.”

She wanted to ask… what else could she be?

What other position could I possibly be in right now?

The two stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, until Herbert finally broke the silence.

He nodded, then extended his hand toward the vampire prince who had only a head exposed.

“Alright, since you’ve recovered now… pay up.”

Huh?

“What payment?”

Elizabeth blinked, turning her head in confusion.

“Of course your essence blood—or are you trying to renege?”

Herbert waved his now shriveled finger before her eyes, saying slowly: “You just sucked far more than ten drops.”

Elizabeth recalled her earlier actions, grimaced awkwardly, and muttered defensively: “Fine, I’ll give you one more drop—such a miser…”

“One? Ten!”

Herbert smiled faintly, meaningfully: “Who told you the ratio is still one to ten?”

???

Elizabeth exploded: “What!? You’re cheating!”

Dishonorable!

Are you even a Holy Knight!?

Herbert smirked, coolly replying: “I don’t care. It wasn’t me who sucked the blood. Stop whining and pay up!”

Don’t you understand the value of “Pay after you eat, not before!”?

At the very same moment Herbert was extorting the Vampire Prince.

In the treehouse, Sfan Ni furrowed her brows and tapped the table impatiently.

“How much longer is he going to waste?”

“Why hasn’t he come yet?”

Three more chapters today; one extra chapter added. (5/9)

It’s the end of the month—how about some monthly votes?

We’ve hit 700 votes; it feels like another extra chapter is coming soon.

Reaching 1000 votes for another extra chapter doesn’t seem far off…

In short, please follow and vote for monthly votes!

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(End of Chapter)