**Chapter Seven: Demonic Nature②**
A petite figure transformed in the blink of an eye, morphing into a magnificent beast. It was a sight that could easily belong in the pages of a dark fantasy.
Ignoring the countless magical projectiles fired from the surrounding Demonic Nature, a single beast kicked off the ground.
With its supple four limbs and a silver fur coat that repelled nearly all forms of attack, including magic, physical strikes, and firearms, it was a formidable sight.
Once, Senri had told me that a Vampire, originally, was a creature so powerful that even an Eclipse Knight would hesitate to engage it alone. Particularly against a seasoned Vampire, it was said that even a group of Eclipse Knights could find themselves in peril.
Yet here was a Vampire, brimming with weaknesses, overwhelming an expert Eclipse Knight. The strongest point of a Vampire, in my opinion, was its overwhelming physical prowess. With boundless stamina and muscles capable of lifting several tons of debris with ease, its durability allowed it to move even with a gaping wound in its abdomen. Add to that its regenerative abilities and resistance to magic and poison, and it became clear that, despite the costs, a Vampire’s capabilities were purely superior to those of the average Demon Race.
The Familiar, born from a single drop of blood, was witnessing Mireille-Noah’s momentous first battle from my vantage point high above, transformed into a bat.
She undoubtedly possessed a talent for combat. Though I, her senpai, had guided her, she had seamlessly transitioned into a Vampire without hesitation. The beast she fought was a mere magical construct, yet she dispatched it with an ease that belied her inexperience. My own acclimatization to battle had come only after several skirmishes under the Lord’s orders, but she was different.
Mireille favored transforming into a wolf, and her wolf form was massive, agile, and adorned with a shimmering silver coat that was breathtakingly beautiful. While I had transformed into a dog during my first days, the disparity between our forms was striking, despite our similar circumstances. I had refrained from transforming into a wolf recently, fearing that I might look less impressive than Mireille.
Yet, she was still a fledgling Vampire.
Mireille was strong—far stronger than I had been at her stage. However, this world was not so forgiving.
I watched over her from the sky, ready for anything.
Since becoming an Adept, I had faced numerous trials. I had been decapitated by Eclipse Knights, hunted by Vampire Hunters who exploited my weaknesses, scorched by cursed flames, and assaulted by silver claws and blood stakes. Even now, I recalled those moments with a shudder, knowing that a single misstep could have led to my eternal slumber.
I had managed to survive those battles thanks to Senri, my understanding ally. Even when she wasn’t present, her existence had always been my support.
Now, it was my turn to watch over Mireille. I had no doubt about her talent, but the Vampire’s many weaknesses were well-known, and opponents would generally exploit them. A moment’s carelessness could lead to dire consequences, and even without being careless, one could still find themselves in a terrible situation.
This was Mireille’s first encounter against a formidable opponent. While this time she was facing a compatible foe for the sake of gaining experience, her opponent was a Demon King, and one could never predict the tricks they might employ.
As I had feared, from the very first strike, Mireille revealed her inexperience.
Having already sent a surrender request through Oliver, which had been rejected, she should have attacked stealthily to reduce their numbers. Instead, she boldly revealed herself from the front. The flag could have been raised later!
Unaware of my anxious feelings, the silver wolf charged at the soldiers of the Demon King, enduring a torrential downpour of magical attacks from the front. It knocked opponents aside with its body, crushed them under its paws, and sank its teeth into their necks, swinging them around. While effective, I knew that if it were to encounter flowing water, it would be instantly rendered powerless, and to attempt such a reckless assault on its first battle without support was audacious.
As one of the enemy’s bases, the town was teeming with soldiers. As I had investigated beforehand, many of the Demon King’s subordinates appeared to be mages, unleashing flames and lightning in rapid succession.
They must have known that their magical attacks were less effective against a Vampire, yet they could not restrain themselves from attacking. Despite the overwhelming numerical advantage, it was clear from my aerial view which side held the upper hand.
Mireille was incredibly brave. And that murderous intent was enough to intimidate the Demon King’s subordinates. With such a disparity in numbers, one would think a single Vampire could be easily dealt with, yet the soldiers hesitated, intimidated by the silver wolf, which effortlessly trampled over them.
Then, I noticed a group of dark elves armed with bows gathering on a rooftop a hundred meters away from the square where Mireille was wreaking havoc.
Dark elves were a Demon Race skilled in archery and magic. They could see well in the dark, and it was said that a skilled dark elf could shoot an apple from several hundred meters away.
With fluid motions, the dark elves drew their bows, their arrows glinting with a silvery sheen.
It seemed they hadn’t been blessed, which was a relief, but silver was a weakness for Darkness familiars. Vampires were no exception; silver weapons could easily pierce the robust physical bodies of Vampires and hinder their regeneration. While a Vampire’s pain tolerance was much higher than that of a human, receiving a silver weapon could be a different story. Some Vampires might find themselves immobilized by pain for the first time. If a vital organ like the brain or heart were pierced, they might not die immediately, but they would certainly be incapacitated.
Was this the moment of crisis for Mireille? Though she had grown accustomed to pain from the Death Soul Disease, I worried she might not be able to move if she were caught off guard!
I could have intervened, but perhaps it was better for her to experience pain at least once. I wouldn’t always be there to save her.
Mireille, having bitten down on the dark elf who had been firing spells at her, momentarily halted its movements. Seizing that opportunity, arrows were released.
A rain of silver arrows descended upon the darkness. Unlike firearms, these attacks were nearly silent. I would have noticed, but that was only due to my past combat experiences.
The treacherous silver arrows rushed toward Mireille from behind.
Just before the arrows could pierce her beautiful silver fur, Mireille spun around, shaking off the dark elf she had captured.
Most of the arrows were deflected, but the remaining ones struck the body of the dark elf she had bitten, causing a ripple of panic among the soldiers who had been firing from a distance.
This wasn’t a coincidence—Mireille was completely unfazed.
Could it be that she had anticipated this attack!?
Casting aside the now limp dark elf, Mireille kicked off the ground with great force. In a single leap, she closed the distance to the mage who had been momentarily stunned by the chaos, biting it down and charging toward the direction from which the arrows had come, like a whirlwind.
I couldn’t help but widen my eyes. She had accurately pinpointed the direction from which the arrows had come.
However, while a hundred meters was nothing for a Vampire, the enemy wouldn’t simply stand by and watch.
Once again, a multitude of silver arrows were released, but Mireille did not slow her pace at all, using her new shield to defend herself. I had always warned her to be cautious of silver weapons, but what kind of courage did she possess? The transformation into a wolf should have altered her body’s sensations and perspective, making it difficult to move, yet she managed to deflect and evade the incoming arrows with remarkable skill. I doubted I could do the same…
One of the soldiers cast a spell, causing water to erupt from the ground, forming a small river just a few meters ahead of Mireille. Flowing water was one of the Vampire’s weaknesses. While it might not pose a significant threat to a human, it was potentially fatal for a Vampire.
If she retained any sensibilities from her previous life, she would have hesitated at the sight of it. Yet, Mireille firmly planted her feet on the ground, leaping sideways to evade it, and hurled the captured dark elf toward the rooftop.
The bowmen were caught off guard by the sudden arrival of their comrade, losing their formation. If they allowed her to close the distance, they would struggle to contend with a Vampire without exceptional physical prowess.
It was hard to believe that she had only been a Vampire for a few months, given her dazzling display of combat prowess. Despite her earlier rampage, her awareness remained sharp. She was not letting her guard down. Normally, in the heat of battle, one’s blood would rush to their head, narrowing their vision, yet I had found myself in precarious situations time and again.
…Could it be that Mireille wouldn’t experience any pain?
The plan to swoop in heroically during her moment of crisis was slipping away.
Realizing their impending defeat, the soldiers under the Demon King scattered like frightened spiders. Despite still having numbers on their side, they must have found Mireille utterly terrifying.
Mireille attempted to pursue them, but a torrent of water conjured by several mages blocked her path, forcing her to halt.
In the end, what remained in the town were the scars of a fierce battle and the countless corpses of the Demon King’s subordinates.
On a night where the moon was hidden, drawing closer to true Darkness, the only light came from the flickering bonfires scattered across the battlefield. A silver wolf howled in victory, its presence unmistakable.
I flapped my wings in the air, my heart echoing a desperate warning:
“No good… If you do that, you’ll stand out and it’ll be dangerous… It’s dangerous!”
…This is bad. Mireille’s level is too high. She’s incredibly composed. At this rate, when I reunite with Senri, I might lose her.
Having not been given a chance to make my entrance, I began to worry sadly as I watched Mireille make a wide detour around the river to evade detection.
Then, sniffing the ground, she dashed off in the direction where the minions of the Eternal Night’s Demon King had fled.
—
The mansion, with its windows completely boarded up to prevent sunlight from entering, served as our hideout. In the basement, I listened intently to Mireille’s report, my expression stern.
She wore a fluttering dress of Dororess that reached down to her feet, likely acquired from the base we attacked. Despite having just fought her first battle, her cheeks were only slightly flushed, showing no signs of fatigue.
“So, you were trying to pinpoint the next base before the scent disappeared?”
“Yes. I intended to instill some Fear and then recommend their surrender… but even though many remained, all members fled…”
I had been keeping an eye on her from the sky, and Mireille’s rampage was nothing short of astonishing. She chased down the fleeing minions of the Demon King, attacking city after city to a level that made me feel pity for the opponents. Even I had never pursued an enemy so relentlessly.
Clearing my throat softly, I frowned.
“…I didn’t give such orders.”
Moreover, we had a clear restriction due to the sunrise… I couldn’t believe she managed to conquer multiple cities in one night. By the time dawn approached, I was the one feeling anxious.
In the end, the last remnants didn’t even retaliate; they all fled… Maybe they would have done the same even against me. She was far too reckless.
At my reprimand, Mireille looked downcast, her expression unexpectedly humble, as if it was hard to believe she had caused such chaos the night before.
“I-I’m sorry, Brother-sama… But I did make sure to raise our flag! Your might should have been conveyed properly!”
No, I think your might has already been conveyed too well. At this rate, we might not have a white puppy army but a silver wolf army instead.
I wanted to scold her for recklessly disobeying orders and putting herself in danger. I wanted to, but Mireille was unscathed, and she appeared so calm and collected while recounting the battle that I felt it would be strange to scold her. It would be odd to complain about her loyalty, as if I were jealous of her.
“…Didn’t you think it was dangerous?”
“I didn’t think so, Brother-sama… Most of them seemed to be Mages, not your enemies!”
Mireille asserted this clearly. Carelessness… carelessness is the greatest enemy… but was she careless?
I wanted to punish her for the damage done to the senpai Vampire’s face. I wanted to strip her of the title of Queen and give her the position of the assault commander instead.
“…Then, I’ll leave the conquest of the Eternal Night’s Demon King to Mireille.”
“!! Is this for real!?”
Mireille’s eyes widened, her expression breaking into a smile. Even though it felt like I was pushing a troublesome task onto her, why did she seem so happy?
“Leave it to me, Brother-sama! I’ll engrave your might within three days!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Mireille leaped at me. With a sigh, I patted her head, feeling a sense of helplessness.
I might have just made a dangerous girl my Familiar.
—
In this world, there exists a terrifying race that can rival an entire army with just a single entity.
For example, dragons, often likened to natural disasters. For example, high-ranking Demons who draw the ire of the gods, or high-ranking Angels, seen as agents of divine wrath. These beings, often spoken of in myths, are worthy of Alertness even to those known as the Demon Race.
And now, the forces of the Eternal Night’s Demon King, who had been conquering numerous human cities and growing in power, were being fiercely attacked by a Demonic Nature that was simply unimaginable.
By the Immortal species (An/Ade/N/A Doro), and the Vampires. A being that is both a Person and a Demon, a loathsome existence.
The Human race fears and despises the Demon Race, yet the Demon Races themselves are not necessarily friendly with each other. However, it is originally inconceivable for Vampires to attack the Demon Race.
An/Ade/N/A Doro instinctively seeks souls of its kind, and most of the highly intelligent Vampires are incorporated into the army led by the powerful An/Ade/N/A Doro’s Demon King, who directly challenges the Order of the Final Knights.
Even if there were rogue Vampires, why would they attack the Demon Race instead of the easy prey of Humans?
The cities that had already been conquered and dominated by Humans were being reclaimed.
The army of the Eternal Night’s Demon King is powerful. They boast a large number of Dark Elf Mages who have mastered magic that is gradually fading due to the advancement of science and technology. While sturdy monsters and Golems serve as a wall in the front lines, they annihilate enemies from afar, a strategy that allowed them to conquer multiple cities with minimal damage. Their offensive power is strong, but the might displayed in defense should be even greater.
However, the defenses laid down in the cities they had seized as a foothold for their next invasion were utterly meaningless.
And now, the stronghold of the Eternal Night’s Demon King—a fortress built using the steep cliffs—was in a state of chaos, as if a hornet’s nest had been disturbed.
In the innermost part of the fortress, in the throne room, the core of the army centered around the Dark Elves had gathered. Oni races such as Ogres and Hobgoblins, lower-ranked Demons like Imps, Golems, and magically created beings. And—Dark Elves, who possess intelligence and appearance beyond that of Humans, yet have been persecuted due to the Darkness magic power they harbor.
Leaning against a throne made of rough stone was a Dark Elf man. With long, jet-black hair and sharp, slanted eyes, a strange tattoo on his forehead was a relic of an ancient ritual to enhance his magical power. Though he was considerably shorter than most Dark Elves, his ears were pointed, proving his lineage.
A Mage of the Dark Elves who manipulates the magic of the night and leads various monsters. The Eternal Night’s Demon King, Disel, gritted his teeth and glared at his gathered subordinates.
“Unbelievable… In just a few days, we’ve had all the cities we painstakingly conquered over months taken back!?”
“W-Well, I’ve fought Vampires before, but that’s impossible. Such a tiny city isn’t worth mentioning. At the very least, we need a strategy against Vampires…”
Disel’s trusted advisor, who had served him for a long time, spoke, causing Disel to tear at his hair in frustration. The King’s visible anger stirred murmurs among the monsters.
“Now is the chance. The Order of the Final Knights is still holding out, and their attention is focused on that! If they are defeated by the Demon King Alliance, those who have been waiting will flood in! If that happens, we won’t be able to take cities easily!”
The initial response was delayed. No—everyone else was also slow to respond. No one had considered that the Order of the Final Knights would falter. Even now, three years later, the cautious ones remain inactive. Simultaneously, some have grown impatient over these three years and begun to move. Among them are those who have nearly annihilated the nearby Human cities and started territorial disputes among the Demon Races.
Disel’s main fortress is far too poorly located to serve as a foothold for domination.
“There’s still time. We must kill that Vampire at all costs! Can’t we throw them against other forces? There are other Demon Kings nearby!”
“That’s… for some reason, it seems like they are obsessively raiding only our cities…”
“What on earth did we do!?”
Unlike the half-hearted walls of the cities, this was a genuine fortress. High walls that even a transformed Vampire wolf couldn’t easily scale were patrolled by Dark Elf archers. The forest sprawling at the foot of the fortress was home to many monsters, ensuring that no intruder could pass through alive. It was precisely because of this fortress that the clan of the Eternal Night’s Demon King could survive even in an era dominated by the Human race.
Yet, despite having retreated to this fortress, which they had placed absolute trust in, the expressions of the gathered subordinates were grim. The Fear brought back by those who had narrowly escaped had spread even to those guarding the fortress. The situation was far from good.
“There’s a river nearby, and there’s a spring. Flowing water can be easily created. They are weak against sunlight; no matter how strong they are, if we lure them into a trap and stop their movements, we can buy time to defeat them.”
“Geh… N-NiN/Ani, garlic… and holy water…”
Seeing one of his subordinate Oni swinging around a necklace of garlic, Disel buried his face in his hands.
What a pitiful story this is. To think that, despite belonging to the same Demonic Nature, I must rely on the Weakness of Humans.
“Is there truly no heart to target!?”
As Dilse shouted in frustration, one of his subordinates timidly raised his voice. Dilse shot a glare at him, while Darkeruf, who had been defending the city under attack, stammered out a report.
“Um, now that you mention it… there was talk of an unexpected surrender request from another Demon King—claiming to be the ‘King of the White Puppy.'”
“The King of the White Puppy…!?”
What kind of foolishness is this!?
“We were just as incredulous. They claimed there were only four of them… We thought it was some kind of joke…”
The name, lacking any tension, made it hard for Dilse to muster any anger. It was clear why the report had not come sooner. If they had accepted a surrender request from an unknown Demon King, they would be unfit to be soldiers.
However, it was likely true. What had attacked them was not a dog, but a wolf…
“Is it a trap!? Damn it, these living dead fools—are their brains rotting? I will kill them! They will regret underestimating us!”
This is a war. Only those who have vanquished other Demon Kings will become the players of the next era.
And standing at the forefront of that era will be this King of Eternal Night. Darkeruf’s time is coming. The die has already been cast.
If they wish to compete for dominance, they will eventually have to face the Vampires. This time, the enemy is few in number; one could consider it a rehearsal.
As Dilse tried to calm his breathing and maintain his composure, his trusted advisor spoke up.
“Using offensive magic would be a mistake. It seems the Silver is alert; though they appear as children, they are seasoned warriors. Given our current combat power, we can only hope to catch them off guard.”
“Are you saying it’s one against a thousand…? Understood. Use any means necessary to eliminate them! Find that coffin in the sleeping quarters!”
I won’t allow us to be disturbed here!
Just as he issued that command, the walls, the floor, and the King’s chamber began to tremble violently. A scream echoed from outside, and he instinctively stood up.
What on earth is happening? There was no need to confirm it. It was unbelievable in its speed. How did they sniff out this base!? He reprimanded his flustered subordinates.
“Take your positions! Stay alert! This fortress won’t fall easily, even against Vampires! If we wait for dawn, victory will be ours! Don’t take your eyes off the Thief; we must endure at all costs!”
This fortress is surrounded by a wide moat, encircled by flowing water, a weakness for Vampires. The back is a sheer cliff, making it impossible for beasts to charge up, allowing them to keep watch from the walls.
If the enemy is Vampires, we can rest until morning; we can hold out.
His subordinates regained their composure at the calm words of their King and rushed out of the King’s chamber to take their positions. Dilse exited the chamber, his footsteps heavy as he rushed up the stairs, looking down from the high walls at the forest sprawling below.
Darkeruf had keen eyesight and could see well in the dark. It didn’t take long to locate the target.
That Vampire was—a girl with beautiful platinum blonde hair, exuding an otherworldly aura. She wore a flowing, sheer white dress. Without a weapon and with no companions, her arms and legs were astonishingly slender. It was hard to believe she was the fearsome enemy that had driven away Dilse’s subordinates single-handedly.
Vampires created by Death Mages typically cannot use magic. Without a weapon, how on earth did she launch an attack from that distance?
As Dilse regarded her with suspicion, the girl placed her small hand on a nearby large tree—and effortlessly pulled it out.
“What!?”
It was a scene that seemed like a joke. Even the Oni among Dilse’s subordinates couldn’t perform such a feat. It was absurd. The guards gathered atop the outer walls murmured in surprise as the girl, still holding the tree, wound up to throw it. Dilse understood.
There was no intention behind it, just a foolish display of strength. A projectile of mass. The guards unleashed spells and arrows in rapid succession, but the Vampire showed no concern whatsoever.
With a playful demeanor, the Vampire girl hurled the tree.
The massive trunk struck the thick outer wall, causing the fortress to shake violently. Could it be… she intends to bring down the castle with long-range attacks!?
There were countless things she could throw. The moat was deep, but if she kept throwing, the flow of water would eventually be obstructed. Dilse trembled at the sheer audacity of her actions and snatched the garlic necklace from a young Oni, shouting loudly.
“Kill her! Don’t let that woman do as she pleases any longer!”
=====
On August 27th, the second volume of the Twilight Palace’s Dead King, Komina, will be released. Unlike the current state of the web version, you must definitely check out the cool ending and Senri’s brave appearance!