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  Chapter 12: Sharis Again

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  The Blood Race, as the name suggests, is a species intrinsically lio blood.

  What sets them apart from other races is their uhod of acquiring energy. While most races replenish their strength through natural means or by ing on foods, the Blood Race must extraergy from the bodily fluids of others—most notably blood.

  Of course, there are many races in this world, and the Blood Race is not the only oh sueeds. Creatures like zombies, or the little one following Aris and Veridith around, are quite simir.

  Because of this, the Blood Race is typically endowed with a special ability: the manipution of blood. For instance, Elyssa’s earlier use of "Blood Surge" was but one such application.

  "Ah, we don’t really need blood sves anymore, you know," Elyssa mentioned. "I years, we've developed a substitute for blood. It’s still in its early stages, but it has signifitly reduced the y for fresh blood."

  Within the Blood Race, there's a clear hierarchical structure. Lower-ranked Blood kin not only possess weaker abilities, but they also require more blood to sustain themselves. In trast, higher-ranked members are siderably stronger and e ordinary food, though it’s far less effit than blood for energy.

  In the past, the Blood Race ofteheir innate abilities ical tracts to bind other races as blood sves, which earhem quite the notorious reputation.

  However, the advent of this blood substitute has been a boon for the Blood Race, and even for other simirly depe races, i their public image.

  "I see... It seems this world has progressed rather well..." Farkonia murmured under her breath.

  "What did you say?" Elyssa asked.

  "Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself," Farkonia responded casually, still careful not to reveal her ins from the Abyss.

  "Well, since Elyssa’s shared, I suppose it’s my turn! I’m from the Dragon Race!" Diana suddenly announced.

  "Wait! Diana, you—!?" Elyssa, armed, tried to stop her, but Diana had already blurted out the truth.

  "…It’s not a problem for me, but for you… that’s another matter," Elyssa whispered sternly in Diana’s ear.

  "Hmm... But since you shared, I felt left out not saying anything," Diana pouted.

  "Wha—?! You idiot! Absolute fool!" Elyssa turned away, her pale plexion now tinged with a blush that was distinctly uncharacteristic for the Blood Race.

  Across from them, Misako observed the two with a mischievous grin, clearly scheming something in her mind.

  As for Farkonia, the mention of Diana being a dragered her memory on cssifications.

  Dragons are typically categorized by their color, each possessing different attributes, abilities, and even personalities. Red Dragons, for instance, are known for their affinity with fire, while Blue Dragons excel in water manipution.

  A dragon's color also mas in their humanoid forms. Farkonia, as a Green Dragon, breen hair and, in both her dragon and human forms, had red eyes.

  Following this logic, Diana’s silver hair could only meahing—she was a Silver Dragon.

  "Holy, how is it that all Silver Dragons are supposed to be smart, a you’re such a dunce?" Elyssa huffed once she’d regained her posure.

  ‘Smart? Silver Dragons are known for being clever?’ Farkonia mused.

  In truth, the defining characteristic of Silver Dragons, aside from their mastery over various types of magic, was their ing aive nature.

  Realizing this, Farkonia took a moment to study Diana more closely, and soon it all made sense.

  "‘Sesame dumpling’... Seems the seniors were right after all."

  "Oh, by the way, it’s quite the ce, but I’m a dragon as well," Farkonia casually revealed her own lineage, causing Elyssa and Diana to grow visibly nervous.

  "...Is something the matter?" Farkonia inquired, her curiosity piqued.

  "N-No! Not at all!"

  "Of course not!" they both stammered, their denial only making their rea all the more suspicious.

  "R-right! Since Lady Farkonia has shared, why don’t you tell us something about yourself, Lady Misako?" Diana asked quickly, diverting the versation.

  "‘Lady Misako’? Really? I’m much older tha of you!" Misako retorted, pg her hands on her hips in protest. However, with her diminutive form, her words carried little weight.

  "Uood, Miss Misako. But judging by your ears, you’re from the Beastfolk, aren’t you?" Elyssa asked, gazing at the fox-like ears atop Misako’s head, which were almost indistinguishable from her cherry blossom-coloured hair unless one looked closely.

  "Ah... something like that," Misako replied vaguely, only now recalling that revealirue heritage as a bck demon might be problematic. After all, bck demohought to have been wiped out in a great war some five hundred years ago. If word spread that they had reappeared, it would certainly cause an uproar.

  She would have to bide her time until the moment was right to reveal herself.

  "Hmm, the Beastfolk, huh... Things haven’t been going well for them retly, have they?" Diana remarked.

  It was said that not only the Beastfolk, but also some rational monsters and even a few Demonkin living outside their territories had faced harassment tely, with many mysteriously disappearing.

  "...I see. Be careful, Misako," Farkonia said with .

  "Pfft, what’s there to fear? I’m still strohan most fully-grown dragons, and I’m not even a Beastfolk," Misako replied with a dismissive wave of her hand.

  "But you’re awfully pretty and adorable. Even if you’re not one of them, you might get targeted just for your looks," Diana pointed out with a cheeky grin.

  "...W-What?!" Misako stammered, momentarily flustered.

  ‘...Do you hear yourself? If anyone should be worried about being targeted for their beauty, it’s you!’ Misako thought as she g Farkonia, who was notably taller than her, dressed in a monoe gown that atuated her graceful figure. With a face that exuded a youthful yet mature allure, Farkonia would undoubtedly cause any young girl to swoon and call her "Big Sister" in adoration.

  And Farkonia could, indeed, py the part of the protective older sister if asked. Just ask the fool who’d once destroyed aire dragon valley in a fit e.

  "Hmm? Isn’t that…"

  Quite tally, as Misako thought about that very person, she appeared.

  A young girl with golden hair streaked with hints of bck strolled dowreet, apanied by a little green-haired girl with a peculiar creature perched atop her head. Trailing behind them was a rge group of burly men huddled together, h in the air. They drew the attention of everyone oreet, causing passersby to step ba caution.

  "...Ah! Lady Farkonia!" The green-haired girl, Veridith, spotted Farkonia and dashed over.

  "What’s the matter, Veridith? We only parted less than an ho," Farkonia asked gently.

  "Well... this is what happened..." Veridith reted the ret events: how she had been lured into an alley, had her meal spilled, and how Aris had e to her rescue.

  "...I see. As much as I’d like to hahis personally, given the circumstances, we should leave it to the city guards." Farkonia’s expression remained warm, but Misako could tell that beh her calm surface, she was seething with rage.

  Recalling the ret time she'd been disciplined by Farkonia, Misako couldn't help but shiver slightly.