**Chapter 23: Secret③**
As could be seen from the door above, the underground area was astonishingly vast and intricate. Countless passageways connected to a wide cavern.
It seemed that Golems were still present. Footsteps echoed, but the sound reverberated in the sealed space, making it difficult to discern their direction.
The relentless, excruciating pain coursing through my body had somewhat subsided due to being enveloped in darkness. Perhaps the shadows had slightly enhanced my power. This pain felt like the result of a tug-of-war between my strength and the Seーブル.
That said, moving was still a daunting task—but I couldn’t afford to collapse now. Senri remained calm even in this dire situation. I couldn’t show any weakness in front of her, and since she had asked me to protect her, this was the moment to hold my ground.
Senri’s skin emitted a faint light, a quiet glow that didn’t radiate heat. She wore clothing that concealed most of her skin, so the light was minimal, but perhaps if she were to remove her clothes, she would shine from the tips of her toes to the crown of her head.
Noticing my gaze, Senri whispered, “The underground has… a low concentration of acid elements. It may be calm at the end, but—by circulating Blessing, we’re compensating for it.”
As expected of a specialist in countering A-N/Ade-N/ADoro. She was considering things I hadn’t even noticed. While I admired her insight, I couldn’t help but ask the question that lingered in my mind.
“…If I touch it, will it melt?”
“…I’ve ensured it won’t melt. But touching it is a No Good.”
So it won’t melt, but touching it is still a No Good… I see… I nodded in understanding, but in the darkness, I could see Senri frown.
“End, you’re… too curious.”
I wanted to touch it… Next time I get blood, I’ll definitely ask for Light. I shifted my thoughts.
“The fact that the Golems aren’t ancient objects means someone has been coming and going here.”
I wondered how difficult it was to manufacture Golems. That would determine the opponent’s strength, but if they were only at the level that had appeared now, it might be manageable.
In the first place, the moment traps were set, it was reasonable to suspect some kind of conspiracy. The problem was who that opponent was—and…
According to Senri, the mayor was just a human. She had been summoned during the daytime, and now, with the existence of the night crystal in mind, I couldn’t believe there was any mistake in that judgment. However, this underground palace—this labyrinthine space was far too inconvenient for a human to operate. Moreover, aside from Senri, there was no trace of humans coming from the underground.
It seemed there were quite complicated circumstances at play.
Looking down at the Golem, Senri explained to me, who lacked knowledge.
“Power absorption and slicing—Demon Steel is, at least in the present, hardly produced. Only a small part is in use, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen it.”
“Come to think of it, the A-N/Ade-N/ADoro that Holos controlled didn’t have any either.”
If they possessed a metal that could swallow Blessing, they would undoubtedly have used it. It seemed to be a considerably rare substitute. Just how much power did the master of this labyrinth possess to equip even these not-so-strong Golems with such materials?
Then, Senri added, pointing to the ‘Light Eater (Bladore-Ruler)’ I held in my hand.
“End, your machete is made with a small amount of Demon Steel and Adamantine Steel. Therefore, it can slice through Evil Spirits and withstand clashes with holy silver weapons without flinching.”
“Is it a good weapon?”
“It’s also cursed from above. Most likely, it can’t be handled by just any human.”
Thinking back, the sturdiness of this machete was indeed remarkable. I had acquired various items so far, but after fierce battles with Albatross and Rainer, only my body and this machete remained intact. As expected of a weapon prepared by the Lord for me. I should cherish it.
When I fell silent, Senri took a deep breath and closed her eyes. I couldn’t help but widen my own eyes.
The light emanating from her silver hair spread like a veil. If this were any place with even a hint of light, I might not have noticed it—a faint light. It was only because we were in true darkness that I could barely discern it. The light undoubtedly originated from Blessing, which A-N/Ade-N/ADoro struggled against, yet it caused me no pain or shock upon contact.
I could hear the sound of my heartbeat, the rhythm of my pulse. When Senri opened her eyes, she spoke in a soft voice, her breathing slightly ragged, though only noticeable if one paid close attention.
“A rather complex terrain. There are quite a number of Golems. This is… a nuisance.”
I see… Now the light was a manifestation of Senri’s perception. I hadn’t noticed before, but she must have been emitting it frequently. Upon closer inspection, I could see that only the area around the machete was disturbed by the light.
Senri’s words were unusually hesitant. Even when she had sustained severe injuries in the battle against Albatross, her demeanor hadn’t changed much. Could this be a sign of trust?
The pain that had been gnawing at me throughout my body eased slightly. I steeled myself. In the darkness, I was in my element. The versatility of Blessing was undeniable, but against monsters targeting someone who boasted the title of Yuan Eclipse Knight, I was at a disadvantage.
Senri cautiously took a step forward. I extended my arm and poked her lightly on the nape of her neck. Uncharacteristically, her small back twitched, and she turned to face me, her eyes narrowing as if to scold me for my mischief.
“…What?”
“There’s a trap floor. There’s something there.”
“!?”
I could see it. I felt another stage had been raised. No—perhaps I had simply grown accustomed to my physical body as a Vampire.
I crawled low to the ground, examining the meticulously carved floor. The scent. The color. The darkness was on my side.
“The color… is different. Senri, you’re—”
I could see the world in any darkness as if it were daytime. Identifying colors was easy for me. However, Senri likely couldn’t see that well. She was only grasping the surrounding situation by supplementing it with the power of Blessing. The power of the Eclipse Knight was formidable, but it was by no means omnipotent. That’s why I hadn’t noticed the door beneath the box until the mayor pointed it out. Well, I hadn’t noticed it either…
In my eyes, the spacious hall was clear, and I could distinctly see that part of the floor was a different color. There were slight unevennesses. It was likely a switch.
“This is… a trap to kill the Eclipse Knight.”
There were disturbances in the light of perception emitted by Senri’s Blessing. While she could grasp the general space, she likely couldn’t discern the precise situation. The weapon I held and the remnants of the fallen Golems mixed with the Demon Steel were disrupting her perception. The switch on the ground was probably made of the same metal. I crawled closer to the switch and gently pressed it with my hand.
The switch moved slightly. A sharp sound echoed, and arrows flew from nowhere. Just as one was about to pass over my head, I reached out and impossibly snatched it.
The arrowhead was made of Demon Steel. Now that I thought about it, the light had a slight resemblance to my machete.
I examined the peculiar-smelling arrowhead carefully, cautiously touching it with my tongue. The taste buds of a lower-rank Vampire mutated from Shiki had a wide tolerance. I felt a pleasant, tingling sensation. I snapped the arrow in half and stashed the arrowhead in my pocket.
I spoke, intending to dispel the dark atmosphere.
“It’s poison. The Eclipse Knight is too strong, so the counter-strategies are getting stronger too. It’s quite a nuisance for a weakling like me.”
“End, picking up food is No Good. That’s why you end up with a stomachache.”
“!? It’s because you don’t give me enough blood!”
“…Your meal times are too long.”
§
The labyrinth was designed in a way that made Senri frown. True darkness without a single light. Almost no air—and the Demon Steel that hindered perception through Blessing. And Golems lurking in the shadows, ready to attack.
For an average mercenary, resisting this mass of malice would be exceedingly difficult.
The 【デSeN/ADoro】 had devised relentless counter-strategies against Vampires, but from this castle, a strong intent to kill the Eclipse Knight could be felt.
I was filled with admiration for my senpai’s husband. I see… so constructing a castle like this could protect one from the Eclipse Knight. However, when I build a castle, I’ll implement even stronger counter-strategies. Strategies that could repel a pair of Vampire and Eclipse Knight.
The underground labyrinth was broadly composed of countless passageways, rooms, and doors. Thick metal doors existed not only in front of rooms but also along the passageways, obstructing the intruder’s footsteps. Since there were no locks, they were likely meant to increase the number of blind spots for ambushes.
The curse of a Vampire is unique. I cannot enter another person’s home without permission.
One of the criteria for that boundary is the door.
Now that I think about it, the reason I could enter the door to the underground space was likely that the master of this underground palace had invited me.
The doors of the labyrinth instilled in me a strong sense of not entering. As a lower-rank Vampire, the effect of the doors was minimal, but without Senri, I would have been greatly exhausted.
However, Senri resolved everything for me. She opened the door and, after confirming the safety inside, invited me in.
“End, come in.”
Curses are truly mysterious. For example, when I pass through flowing water, I lose almost all of my powers as a Vampire, but warm water only weakens me to a degree.
Perhaps it’s better not to overthink things.
The pain gnawing at my soul had transformed into a heat that enveloped me. My head spun as if I had caught a fever long ago.
“Thank you. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“…There’s no need to worry about it. In the end, you are proving to be quite useful.”
Senri is so kind. The fact that I am relied upon spurs me into action. With a swift motion, I cleave a Golem falling from the ceiling in two with my hatchet. The once-surprised Golems are now easily dispatched, as if it were a mere assembly line.
I wonder if Lazar and the others managed to retreat safely…
The underground labyrinth was a tangled web, making it hard to discern what lay ahead, yet I could feel our objective drawing closer. I widened my eyes, glaring at the wall—at the direction where I sensed a presence.
“I can feel it. We’ll reach it soon… the aura of an enormous Night Crystal.”