**Chapter 16: The Man-Eater**
The situation in Loblurk was dire.
One week. That was the time Senri had spent waiting for End and gathering information in Loblurk.
It seemed that End’s Bloodlust would reach its limit in ten days. Perhaps, given his strong will, the young man could endure beyond that period longer than Senri anticipated, but recently he had been considerably relaxed. If he pushed himself too hard, there was a risk that his instincts would overwhelm him. Thanks to the power of the “Night Crystal” obtained from the Master Beast, the release of End’s negative energy had been suppressed. Even with Senri’s strength as a former Second-Class Knight, tracking his whereabouts was no easy feat. However, conversely, End should be able to track Senri as well, thanks to the Sense of Smell he had stolen from Albatross.
Senri’s choice to remain still for a while was to wait for End’s return. The security in Loblurk was tight, but there were many ways to signal his location without entering the city. If End was nearby, some action would surely occur.
However, after all, there were no signs of End returning. Once again, the worsening situation in Loblurk clouded Senri’s expression.
There were several types of Demon Kings, but Demon King Rainer was the most well-known for possessing physical abilities beyond that of a normal person. His subordinates consisted of various powerful magical beasts and subhumans with high physical capabilities. This type of Demon King was particularly strong in simple confrontations. Their sharply developed claws could easily tear through steel armor, and their massive bodies could demolish sturdy walls. Their thick skin could even repel siege weapons at times, and their stamina was beyond that of any human.
The once-impenetrable fortress city of Loblurk was now on the verge of collapse due to repeated fierce assaults. For now, it was somehow holding on, but the massive walls had weakened from continuous attacks, and the number of defenders participating in the battle was decreasing daily due to fatigue and negative injuries. They were in a situation where they couldn’t even launch a counterattack against the enemy’s base. Whether it would be months or years, if the attacks continued, the city would inevitably fall.
In the end, it was fortunate that Oliver had been repelled. If the supply lines were cut and support could no longer reach Loblurk, its lifespan would have been drastically shortened.
However, intervening was also difficult. Since he was fleeing with End, he had to avoid drawing attention, but there was also a rule within the Order of the Final Knights.
The Order of the Final Knights must not intervene in battles against normal Demon Kings or wars between humans.
The enemies of the Order of the Final Knights were the Undead and Necromancers. Their eradication was their mission, and battles against other Demon Kings were generally outside their jurisdiction.
It’s a sad story, but this is the result of logical judgment. While intervention in wars between humans is out of the question, if they were to focus on defeating Demon Kings and let the Necromancers run rampant, the Undead would multiply endlessly, and among them, there were many who could increase their numbers. The number of Final Knights was limited, and very few possessed the aptitude to wield Blessings.
And more importantly—battling Demon Kings that were not Undead was a perilous endeavor for the Final Knights.
The reason the Final Knights could overwhelm the Undead was due to their compatibility and knowledge. They possessed vast Blessings and boasted abilities beyond that of a normal person, but Blessings were finite, and their effectiveness was diminished against living beings. Even though they were far stronger than average mercenaries, they did not possess the overwhelming power to easily defeat true beings beyond the norm. Even Senri’s Master, the Annihilation Epe, unleashed the extraordinarily powerful and wide-ranging “Light of Liberation (Soul-Lilith),” which could not even leave a scratch on living beings.
In the past, when they were still allowed to intervene in battles against Demon Kings, many Final Knights threw themselves into combat, resulting in significant sacrifices. Because of that, their response to many powerful Necromancers was delayed. At one point, it was said that the Knight Order itself faced the risk of annihilation.
The Final Knights were taught first and foremost: Do not intervene. No matter how tragic the situation may be. Facing off against numerous Demon King armies with just a handful of people was far too reckless.
The unique exception was when a powerful Undead was part of a Demon King’s army. The Undead were the enemies of the Final Knights. In such cases, they must risk their lives and mobilize multiple First-Class Knights to eradicate it. However, Demon King Rainer did not fall into that category.
Currently, Senri was half out of the Order of the Final Knights and was not bound by its rules, but he knew what he could and could not do. No matter how skilled he was as a Second-Class Knight, he was still just one person. There was no way he could annihilate a Demon King army.
During his stay, Senri gathered information from various places and, as a small help, healed the negative-injured soldiers.
The base of Demon King Rainer’s army had already been identified. They were camped openly on the slope of a clear mountain. Demon King Rainer was there, and it was highly likely that End, who had disappeared with Oliver, was there as well.
The Undead were largely divided into two evaluations among Demon Kings: they were either despised or their power was valued. Since Rainer already had Werewolves among his subordinates, it was likely that he would try to recruit End.
Senri intended to wait. However, the lack of any action until now suggested that something might have happened.
He was worried. It was the first time they had been apart for this long since they began traveling together. Surely, End was feeling anxious as well. Although End was a powerful Undead, his mind was still human.
The preparations for the journey were already complete. His Blessings were sufficient, and he had no lingering fatigue.
Senri made a resolution. He would head to the base of the Demon King army—not to defeat Demon King Rainer, but to retrieve End. It was dangerous, but Senri could fly. If it was just to escape, he could manage anything.
With his resolve set, Senri departed the fortress city of Loblurk, a tracking device in hand.
—
The spoils of Rainer’s army were abundant in both quality and quantity. It seemed they had considerably raided a human city. While the valuable items had already been distributed to someone, there were still magical weapons and armor left behind due to their size.
What I chose was a deep indigo cloak. The cloaks used by travelers were often dull in color. This cloak, at first glance, looked like an ordinary cloak, but it repelled water, kept warm, and seemed to possess a slight ability to conceal one’s presence. I also liked the stylish design. I had to be careful not to tear it while transforming into a dog.
Additionally, I borrowed a stylish golden magical knife and a belt. It seemed the magic on the belt allowed it to return after being thrown for a certain period, and the design was quite impressive. Perhaps it hadn’t been distributed to anyone because Rainer’s army was seeking more flashy, larger, and powerful weapons. Humans might have a different aesthetic sense, but I didn’t quite understand that. I would boast about it when I reunited with Senri.
The decisive battle against the Man-Eater was approaching. Even though it was a decisive battle, I had a high tolerance for pain, and since becoming an Undead, I had fought frequently, so I was somewhat accustomed to battle. Additionally, I had grown used to getting beaten up.
This time, killing was off the table, so it was a relaxed affair. It would be a good test of my skills.
Even if I were to face the Man-Eater, I was still relatively strong among this Demon King army. The prisoner of the Final Knights would have to give up, but if I managed to hold my own, Senri would surely forgive me.
In a good mood after acquiring new items, Monica cautiously checked in on me.
“End-sama, is it really fine not to drink blood?”
“There wasn’t any good quality blood around… I don’t want to sully my mouth with unappetizing blood. But if you offer, I’ll accept.”
“I-I see…”
Improvements in the prison environment were progressing, but I still hadn’t encountered blood that strongly stimulated my Bloodlust. There were some girls who seemed like they could shine if polished, but they were still lacking in nutrition, and even though the living conditions had improved, being captured in enemy territory hadn’t changed, so they were under stress. Moreover, perhaps because I was with Monica and the others, I was treated as a terrifying enemy by the prisoners, and they would cower whenever I showed my face. This made it impossible to enjoy drinking their blood.
However, if I hadn’t known the taste of Senri, I would have been content to drink the blood of those girls without complaint. Truly, to change the life of an innocent vampire, Senri was indeed guilty. He would have to take responsibility.
It’s fine; I was growing. I was growing and knew my limits.
I had practiced magic, so I could use it to some extent. Although I had no aptitude for elemental attributes, I could still perform simple life magic like producing water, starting a fire, or drying wet things. The magical power of a vampire was immense, so I could expect some effect.
The opponent was not an Undead but a living being. If it wasn’t an Epe or Albatross, I should be able to fight for more than five minutes.
Somehow, I’ve managed to survive up to this point. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing.
As I reminded myself of this, Oliver, in his Werewolf form, presented me with a rugged, imposing greatsword with a respectful demeanor.
It was a two-handed sword much larger than I, seemingly forged for a warrior of the Beastfolk, who are naturally endowed with great strength. Of course, it was far too heavy for a Human to wield; I hadn’t measured it precisely, but it likely weighed no less than a hundred kilograms. Without any magical enhancements, it appeared to be nothing more than a hunk of iron at first glance. I gripped it with my right hand and slowly lifted it. Giving it a light swing, I found it wasn’t light, but it wasn’t excessively heavy either. Given my lighter frame, I might struggle to wield it effectively, but against any giant opponent, striking them with this weapon would surely leave them in a world of hurt. For someone with my monstrous strength, it was the perfect weapon.
“Well then, let’s see if I can show off a bit of this army’s N/ABa-2’s power.”
Perhaps if I impress Monica, she might reward me with some blood. I needed to muster my resolve.
§
The N/ABa-2 of the Rainer Army, known as the “Man-Eater,” seemed to be quite the pariah. It might even be more despised than I, who had barged in from the outside.
Arrogant, brutish, and gluttonous, the lower ranks of the army had suffered under its tyranny. It was said that without its immense power, it would have been assassinated long ago, as claimed by the Demonfolk I had defeated. Perhaps that was why no one dared to call it by name.
Particularly fond of Humans, it seemed that all the finest prisoners captured from various regions had ended up in its maw, with no intention of sharing with others. The Demon King Rainer apparently did not consume Humans, and from what I gathered, all the grievances had been directed towards the “Man-Eater.”
While I engaged in similar activities, I did not devour Humans, so my prison remained empty, and I refrained from tormenting the lower ranks in any meaningless manner, which likely made me the lesser evil.
The battleground was not within the treasure vault but outside—in a plaza a short distance from the Base.
Surrounding us were numerous members of the N/ABa-2 and newcomers, gathered to witness the duel. Among them were those I had previously defeated, conversing with a mix of fear and awe at my presence.
“Look, that figure… it’s just like a Human.”
“A Demon. A Vampire. It became a Demon through forbidden arts—what a horrifying abandonment of its own kind.”
Unfortunately, the night was far from a Full Moon, and thick clouds obscured the moonlight. The ground was dirt, littered with large stones, making for a treacherous footing. While some trees had been felled, stumps remained, requiring careful navigation. The ground bore numerous footprints, stained with the scent of blood.
My strategy was to strike with a single, decisive blow.
Killing was off the table, so I intended to be cautious, but my opponent tonight was unlike any I had faced before.
The Demonfolk and Lizardfolk possessed remarkable physical abilities but lacked any supernatural powers. Other challengers had approached me with mere changes in weaponry, and there were no Mages among them. This was likely a cultural trait of those with such gifted physiques and capabilities.
It was only natural that I, empowered by the curse, had triumphed over them.
Among the information I had gathered beforehand, there were whispers that the “Man-Eater” was cunning. With strength rivaling that of the Demon King, it surely wouldn’t rely solely on brute force.
Would my opponent know of me? Would they be on guard?
Having been without a rival for so long, I hoped there would be some initial overconfidence.
I took a moment to check my condition while waiting for my opponent to approach.
At that moment, Monica, who had been watching us from a distance, suddenly called out in a short voice.
“Ah—”
A brief sound reached my ears. However, I was unable to evade it.
Though I believed I was being cautious, that strike was completely unexpected.
The impact from above slammed my body into the ground, and my flesh ignited in a fierce blaze.