Gospel of Blood

The… the Progenitor?!

Seeing Bardock kneeling and hearing the title he addressed, all the Nez bloodbornes around were stunned.

Especially the high-ranking bloodbornes, the counts, and above.

They looked in shock at Elder Bardock, who had knelt down, then followed his gaze, looking uncertainly at Charlotte, who had calmly received Bardock’s salute.

In the hazy moonlight, Charlotte’s silver hair fluttered, and her golden-red pupils seemed to carry a mesmerizing power, drawing one’s gaze irresistibly into them.

Her black dress, woven with thorns and roses, was noble and mysterious, adding an extra touch of grandeur and majesty to Charlotte’s already deep and dark aura.

As the Blood Dukes, led by Great Elder Duke Robin and Duke Yorok, looked at Charlotte again, they felt a moment of dizziness. The long-forgotten memories seemed to be reactivated by Elder Bardock’s words… resurfacing one by one.

In the hazy moonlight, the tall, beautiful, and mysterious silver-haired girl before the kneeling knight gradually overlapped with a vague figure in their memories, and that figure… became clearer.

Gorgeous silver hair…

Golden-red pupils…

A black divine dress woven with thorns and roses…

No…

This… this image…

And this divine symbol, which they had been unable to identify before, as if their memories had been erased…

She… she…

She is…!

“Your Majesty… the True Ancestor!”

Great Elder Duke Robin’s voice trembled, his face showing fear, as he uttered the word that emerged unbidden in the minds of all high-ranking bloodbornes at that moment.

The True Ancestor!

She was the True Ancestor!

Hearing the Great Elder’s murmur, the surrounding low and mid-ranking bloodbornes finally reacted.

They almost simultaneously showed fear, instinctively stepping back, the “circle” that had originally surrounded Charlotte expanding instantly.

Counts and Dukes also had drastic changes in their expressions.

Their spirits instantly tensed, their magic becoming active in an instant, like cats with their fur standing on end, seemingly ready to attack at any moment—or perhaps to flee.

Charlotte glanced at Great Elder Duke Robin with some surprise.

This slight glance almost made the already jittery Blood Dukes jump in fright.

Like the lower-ranking bloodbornes, they instinctively took a step back.

Wherever Charlotte’s gaze swept, the high-ranking bloodbornes would retreat.

That kind of fear and dread, seemingly emanating from their very souls, was almost overflowing on their faces.

Mice encountering a cat would not react more strongly than this.

Seeing the Nez bloodbornes reacting like startled rabbits, Bardock, kneeling on one knee, also fell silent for some reason.

For a moment, it seemed to Charlotte that she saw a hint of regret and unease flash across the “knight’s” expressionless face beneath his armor.

Of course, that hint of unease vanished in an instant, as if it was just an illusion.

Bardock frowned, his crimson eyes looking disapprovingly at the surrounding bloodbornes, his dignified voice resonated deeply.

“What are you doing? In the presence of the Progenitor Cain, why do you not quickly pay your respects?”

Pay… pay respects?

Pay respects to the True Ancestor?!

Shouldn’t they join forces to surround and attack her, or run away, since she was alone?!

The Nez bloodbornes looked at Bardock in disbelief, their eyes widening.

“Lord… Lord Bardock, she… she is the True Ancestor!”

Duke Yorok couldn’t help but repeat, his tone turning agitated.

For a moment, Bardock fell silent again.

After a while, he continued.

“I… of course, I know the Progenitor is the True Ancestor, but… Her Majesty Cain is not the True Ancestor as you perceive.”

“I know what you fear. As the Guardian Elder of the Nez Clan, I, Bardock, can assure you that Her Majesty Cain… is not an enemy but a revered elder we should respect.”

Not the True Ancestor we perceived?

Hearing Bardock’s words, the Nez bloodbornes were stunned.

They looked at Charlotte again, their expressions momentarily blank. Especially the high-ranking bloodbornes.

Looking at the “girl”, whose appearance was almost identical to the gradually revived memories, and the symbol they finally remembered, their CPUs were about to overheat from Bardock’s words.

Wait…

Isn’t the Progenitor the same as the Ancestor, and the Ancestor the Progenitor?

Doesn’t “Progenitor” literally mean “the True Ancestor”?

Is there a difference?

Could there be two True Ancestors?

And Cain… isn’t that one of the most commonly used aliases of the True Ancestor?

The high-ranking bloodbornes’ faces were blank.

Their confused expressions were like hearing someone say, “A tomato is a tomato, but a tomato is not a tomato.”

T/N: Tfw I feel the same as them. I’ve been translating both into True Ancestor, and it came back biting my ass.

Only Great Elder Duke Robin, after hearing Bardock’s words, fell into deep thought.

He thoughtfully looked at his elder, then at the girl whose mere presence made his bloodline resonate.

Hesitating for a moment, he followed Bardock and knelt down.

“Paying respects… to Her Majesty, the Progenitor!”

This act once again left the Nez bloodbornes dumbfounded. However, the remaining bloodbornes quickly reacted.

In bloodborne society, the hierarchy is strict. Although they hadn’t figured out the situation, and didn’t know why the terrifying True Ancestor from legend didn’t immediately start a purge upon reappearing, since even the highest-ranking Elder Bardock and the Great Elder had knelt, they had no reason to hesitate.

So, from the Dukes to the Counts, from the Counts to the Viscounts, from the Viscounts to the Barons and lower-ranking bloodbornes and blood thralls, all knelt to Charlotte.

Only Duke Alec from Luna Island remained standing.

However, under Bardock’s sharp gaze, this lazy young Duke hesitated for a moment before reluctantly following suit.

Hundreds of Nez bloodbornes knelt in unison, creating a somewhat uneven sound in the plaza.

“Paying respects… to Her Majesty, the True Ancestor…”

Seeing the collective kneeling of the Nez bloodbornes, Bardock’s expression finally softened. He let out a breath and respectfully made a welcoming gesture to Charlotte.

“Your Majesty, the Progenitor, please.”

Charlotte nodded slightly.

Although the turn of events was equally beyond her expectations, and the reaction of Bardock and the collective kneeling of the Nez bloodbornes overloaded her CPU a bit, she knew… at this moment, she had to maintain her dignified persona.

Of course, now that she had invoked the blood divine power, the arrival of the “descending God” brought an absolute bloodline suppression that was enough to make all blood clans near her feel the pressure from their bloodlines and souls.

Accompanied by Bardock, Charlotte walked confidently toward the most imposing and majestic central castle in the Nez stronghold.

The Nez bloodbornes, understanding the situation, made way for her.

Yurst behind Charlotte hesitated a little. However, noticing the vaguely intimidating gazes from the surrounding bloodbornes, he swallowed hard and quickly followed.

Only Duke Yorok widened his eyes, watching his most valued descendant follow behind the “True Ancestor” like a little follower, his expression indescribably complex.

The Nez bloodbornes silently shifted their gazes and looked at Yorok in unison.

Duke Yorok: …

“What… what are you looking at?! I don’t know anything!”

He uncomfortably muttered before quickly getting up and following along, not forgetting to throw a parting line.

“What are you all standing there for?! Hurry up and follow! The True Ancestor… the True Ancestor seems a bit different from what we knew.”

By the end, his voice was filled with uncertainty.

The bloodbornes looked at the Great Elder.

Great Elder Robin nodded slightly.

Thus, the numerous bloodbornes reluctantly stood up and followed.

…

Charlotte entered the central castle of the Nez stronghold.

The layout of the central castle was quite familiar to her, and she quickly realized it was designed based on the Dark Night Castle.

Her gaze naturally fell on the place that should have belonged to the Blood Throne.

There was indeed a throne, but the symbol depicted on it was not thorny rose but constellations and a blood moon.

That was the symbol of the “Stargazer” Casey.

Charlotte paused, then walked straight over and sat down on the throne.

Well… she hadn’t done much else since coming to Starfall, but she had already sat on all the thrones.

As Charlotte sat down, the Nez bloodbornes filed in. Of course, only the mid to high-ranking bloodbornes entered this time. There were so many bloodbornes that there was no room for the lower-ranking ones to stand in the castle.

Inside the castle, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Nez bloodbornes looked at Charlotte on the throne, not daring to meet her eyes, only looking at the hem of her dress, their spirits tense and their expressions nervous. The atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense.

Bardock looked at the nobles who had entered, hesitating slightly. He pondered for a moment and then said to Great Elder Robin.

“Robin, I need to speak with the True Ancestor alone. Please take everyone outside first.”

After a pause, he added.

“I will explain everything that happened tonight to everyone afterward.”

Hearing Bardock’s order, Great Elder Robin nodded, signaling the other bloodbornes to leave the hall.

Only Duke Yorok did not move.

He stared fixedly at Yurst, his wide eyes seeming to say,

“You bastard, shouldn’t you give me an explanation?”

Yurst was instantly paralyzed.

He swallowed hard and cautiously said,

“Lo… Lord Bardock, may I stay?”

Bardock frowned and said,

“You go out too.”

Charlotte glanced at him, understanding that Bardock probably had something important to say, so she also waved her hand, signaling Yurst to leave.

You can avoid it for now, but you can’t avoid it forever. Since she had decided to appear as the “True Ancestor”, the relationship between Yurst and her could no longer be hidden.

This guy… sooner or later would have to face the “interrogation” of the Nez bloodbornes.

Of course, Yurst was Charlotte’s blood servant, so he wouldn’t be in any life-threatening danger under this aura.

As for how to “honestly confess”, that would depend on Yurrst himself. Charlotte couldn’t help much.

In fact, when bringing Charlotte over, Yurst had already mentally prepared for this.

Of course, being mentally prepared was one thing, but actually facing it was another. When it came to the moment, he was still scared.

Under the orders of the two big shots, Yurst had no choice but to retreat with stiff steps.

Feeling the gazes around him, he was almost paralyzed.

The other bloodbornes also left, and soon, only Charlotte and Bardock were left in the hall.

After ensuring the soundproofing enchantments in the hall were functioning properly, Bardock visibly relaxed.

This legion commander took off his helmet, revealing a familiar face. His previously stern and cold demeanor instantly broke.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking slightly relieved, and then, under Charlotte’s odd gaze, let out a long breath and smiled bitterly.

“Phew… finally managed to get through that. These Nez bloodbornes are really hard to deal with. Pretending in front of them is really stressful…”

After speaking, he looked at Charlotte with some excitement and said,

“Savior, I never expected to see you in this era…”

“It’s truly wonderful to see you again!”

Charlotte: …

Pretending… pretending?

She suddenly realized… things seemed a bit different from what she imagined.

After a slight pause, Charlotte said,

“Commander Bardock, I’ve been asleep for quite a long time and seem to have lost some memories.”

“When did you become the leader of the Nez Clan? Can you tell me… what’s going on?”

Upon hearing Charlotte’s words, Bardock was stunned.

“You… you’ve lost your memory too?!”

Hmm?

Too…?

Charlotte was slightly taken aback.

She frowned slightly, looking at Bardock, who sighed and said,

“Savior, it’s a long story. It all started with that protracted war…”

With that, Bardock began to recount the experiences after Charlotte disappeared…

The story began with the bloodbornes, under Charlotte’s leadership, defeating the Old Gods’ coalition from Myria.

Charlotte used her own bloodline to create the second generation of bloodbornes and relied on the power of the bloodbornes to completely defeat the Old Gods of the Northern Frontier.

The Old Gods fell one after another, and the Northern Frontier was officially incorporated into the Free City-States Alliance’s territory. The bloodbornes finally stepped onto the world stage.

Bardock also finally grew in the flames of war, breaking through Blazing Sun to become a Legendary.

The expanding power of the Free City-States Alliance finally caught the attention of the elves, and a war between the main forces of the elves and the city-states… was imminent.

At this point, Charlotte felt more and more that something was off.

“Wait… are you saying that I created the second generation of bloodbornes and led you to defeat the Old Gods and stand up against the elves in the western continent?”

Charlotte couldn’t help but ask.

Bardock nodded as if it was the most natural thing.

“Yes.”

“Where’s Lilith? Shouldn’t Lilith be the one leading you?”

Charlotte frowned.

“Lilith? Who is that?”

Bardock looked puzzled.