The Lost Woods lay in the western part of the continent, the largest forest known to humanity to this day.

Fierce beasts roamed everywhere. Magical plants thrived. Peril lurked at every turn—yet it was the most natural hunting ground!

Countless powerful warriors wandered here. They fought life-or-death battles for profit or money!

After thousands of years of human exploration, the outskirts of the Lost Woods were no longer so dangerous.

Some great lords had even claimed the most beautiful spots, marking them as their own territories.

Of course, that was only the outskirts.

Deep within the Lost Woods, the most terrifying monsters still lurked!

Humans could leave them undisturbed. But once provoked, these beings would remind humanity who truly ruled the forest.

Yet, deep within this jungle-covered expanse, a towering structure was perfectly embedded!

An ancient-looking castle stood there. Its tall walls were covered in green vines.

Round towers, windows engraved with mysterious patterns, and wide semi-circular archways—all seemed long unused. Vines and bright red flowers entwined them.

From outside, it looked like an abandoned ruin.

Inside, the contrast was stark.

An extravagantly luxurious hall greeted the eye. Intricate chandeliers emitted a cold, faint glow. High walls cast dark shadows onto the soft burgundy carpet.

The spiral staircase and exquisite long table showed no dust. They were clearly well-maintained.

On the table, a half-drunk cup of black tea still emitted faint wisps of steam.

Who was the master of this eerie castle in such a perilous place?

Click!

A nearby room’s door gently opened from within.

A petite figure carried a stack of books almost taller than herself. She slowly walked toward the long table.

Her face was hidden by the books. Only her pure golden hair, nearly touching the ground, and her oversized white robe were visible.

With some difficulty, she reached the table. She set down the books and let out a small sigh.

Her exposed face was youthful. Fair skin paired with burgundy eyes gave her an age-appropriate purity and charm.

Sitting back on the soft chair, she lifted her teacup and took a sip. “That’s enough reading for today,” she murmured.

She picked up the black-covered book on top and flipped through it seriously.

But after only a moment, she yawned out of sheer boredom.

“As expected, ‘A Brief History of the Continent’ is so dull. It’s meaningless without seeing it firsthand.”

Pouting, she tossed the book aside.

Anyone would tire of reading the same book hundreds of times.

She had long finished all the books here. This one was the most reread.

Its contents were almost memorized.

But reading was one of only two ways to pass the time.

As for the other...

Hum!!

The empty hall suddenly flashed with dense light-red light!

The light swirled like a storm. It gathered toward the center.

From within, a tall figure slowly materialized.

Seeing this, the girl’s eyes instantly lit up.

When the storm faded, a woman in a black-and-white maid uniform stood there.

She appeared eighteen or nineteen. Short black hair reached her neck. Her tall, curvaceous figure made the maid uniform look oddly alluring.

But her delicate face wore cold indifference.

This woman was full of contradictions. Yet that contrast made her strangely attractive.

“Maria, welcome back,” Yuri smiled at her.

Once the spatial disorientation faded, Maria turned to the girl. She lowered her head slightly. “Apologies, Lord Akat. I’m late returning.”

Yuri shook her head, unconcerned. Her gaze fixed eagerly on the woman’s right hand.

More precisely, on the small purple gemstone ring.

Maria sighed faintly. She touched the ring with her left index finger.

A gray light flashed. A large pile of items appeared before her.

With a wave of her right hand, a gentle breeze lifted everything. The items arranged themselves neatly on the table.

“Ah... is this Snail Cottage’s red wine cake?”

Yuri sniffed the sweet air. She parted the bags, gazing at the food. A trace of glistening drool appeared at her mouth’s corner.

Seeing her kitten-like eagerness, Maria’s stern expression softened. She chuckled lightly.

“Yes. But eat less dessert. There’s a main meal too—your favorite type, Lord Akat.”

Yuri’s expression froze.

She set aside the cake. Her fair fingers lifted a transparent bag.

Inside, glaring red liquid shimmered under the light, radiating an eerie allure.

Even through the bag, a faint metallic scent wafted out.

“Ah... Type A blood. Thank you, Maria.”

As she spoke, the liquid poured into the emptied teacup.

She lifted the cup, took a small sip, and revealed an incredibly sweet smile.

“Type A really does taste the best.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

Watching Yuri’s eyes turn increasingly crimson, Maria bowed slightly. She didn’t understand blood classifications.

To her, human blood was all the same. Just food...

But who could blame her for having a ‘picky’ master?

This one’s habits had reached extreme fastidiousness.