### Chapter Twenty-Seven: Otherworldly
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“Hmm… Senri has not returned yet, has she?”
“Yeah. What the hell is she doing? She’s just a mere object, after all.”
At her master’s words, Nebira glanced at the clock in the room with irritation. The hands of the clock indicated that the sun was already setting. Senri had left the room shortly after dawn, and it had been some time since then. Upon seeing Nebira and the others return, having adjusted their timing to ensure the sun’s execution would be effective, Senri had immediately dashed out without even a moment’s pause.
Rufuri frowned as he recalled Senri’s tearful expression.
The current mission of the Order of the Final Knights was the extermination of the second-tier necromancer, Horos Carmen. That task had already been accomplished. It signified Senri Sylvis’s promotion to First-Class Knight, but the atmosphere was far from celebratory.
Senri Sylvis had a certain softness about her. What could be described as kindness in an ordinary person was deemed unnecessary by the Order of the Final Knights. In their ongoing battles against the cunning dark denizens, the Order employed all means necessary to fulfill their missions, and their methods were not always righteous.
At times, they resorted to torture, and to serve as a warning, they would deliver gruesome deaths. They would kill humans who allied with the dark denizens and even disregard hostages. Among the members of the Order of the Final Knights, there were those who fought out of grievance against the dark denizens. And the world had tolerated all of this. With their unique abilities, which living humans did not possess, the undead were humanity’s natural enemy, growing stronger by consuming death itself.
In this instance, Epe had deceived Senri Sylvis. After stating that they would overlook a harmless undead she encountered, he had sent Rufuri and the others to exterminate it. However, Epe did not regret that action in the slightest.
He felt remorse for lying, understanding that it would wound Senri’s heart. Yet, he did not regret the act itself. It was, after all, a necessary action for a Knight of the End.
Senri was a precious asset. Her blessings had continued to strengthen over time, and she had quickly surpassed her senior Knights, including Rufuri. What needed to be honed now was her heart. As a Knight of the End, her mental preparedness was lacking. The current situation presented a significant opportunity for her growth.
Fortunately, she was intelligent. If they discussed it, she would likely come to understand. All that was needed now was a little time for her emotions to settle.
A harmless undead does not exist.
Undead attack humans out of instinct. They are envious of life. Ghouls feast on human corpses, dark stalkers ambush from the shadows, and vampires drain the blood of humans. To those undead, humans are akin to livestock.
Undead are a curse. The abhorrent necromancers have cast this curse upon them. That is why the Knights of the End purify their souls, granting them an end.
“However, Master. Is it truly possible for something that has died to become an undead while retaining memories of its previous life? I know that vampires have the power to turn those they drain into their kin, but… that undead certainly did not succumb to its instincts. It did not attack us.”
“The reason it didn’t attack was that Therma shot its leg with the first strike. It was mere coincidence! What have you seen up until now? You think they can be reasoned with?!”
In response to Rufuri’s question, Nebira clicked his tongue softly and spoke in an intimidating tone. Though a bit rough around the edges, Nebira’s fighting spirit against the undead was unparalleled. Such individuals were necessary for the Order of the Final Knights.
Epe narrowed his eyes, choosing not to answer the question, and replied in a calm voice.
“Nebira is correct. They are beings that must be eradicated.”
The existence of undead with memories of their previous lives was a secret known only to First-Class Knights within the Order of the Final Knights.
Death is the farewell of this life. While people grieve the loss of their loved ones, they can move forward because death is irreversible. If the possibility of overturning that were to become widely known, it would lead to great chaos in the world. Even within the Order of the Final Knights, there might be those who would attempt to resurrect fallen comrades using the abhorrent art of necromancy.
Even if the probability is exceedingly low—humans tend to think, without substantial grounds, that they themselves will be fine.
“However, it should not have been subjected to the sun’s execution. It should have been purified before it could feel pain. That is, Nebira, your weakness of heart. I have always believed that the sun’s execution should not be used without tactical reason.”
“…Tch.”
Rufuri and the others seemed reluctant as well, frowning as they looked at Nebira.
The sun’s execution is torture for the undead. Inflicting meaningless pain contradicts the very reason for the existence of the Order of the Final Knights, which is to purify the tainted souls. Nevertheless, this method of execution is accepted within the Knight Order because it serves as a form of solace for the Knights of the End who harbor grievances against the undead. They cannot operate solely on ideals; it is also a testament that the Knights of the End are humans who possess emotions.
However, Epe’s words to Nebira this time were not solely for humanitarian reasons. He narrowed his eyes, observing Nebira’s reckless actions.
“I intended to make it clear that it must be eradicated. That is why I dispatched you all immediately—before dawn could break…”
“The sun’s execution is certain. A lower-rank vampire can do nothing but that, you know, Master? There’s no chance of rescue, no allies. If there were even a possibility, I wouldn’t use the sun’s execution, no matter what.”
“……”
“I have confirmed that regeneration did not begin. Its power was completely exhausted. Even if it had, it would have lasted only about thirty minutes. Well, for that monster, it might feel like an eternity…”
“Master, what Nebira says is true. While it was indeed an emotional decision rather than a prepared execution, that undead was unsettling enough to make Nebira act that way…”
As if recalling that scene, Therma shuddered slightly. Generally, undead act according to their instincts. They attack the living, driven by their primal urges. The self-awareness that begins to sprout from ghouls is inherently based on strong instincts.
However, those who possess memories of their previous lives are different. Whether this is a unique trait of individuals who retain memories after death or a result of the mingling of human memories with the instincts of the undead remains unclear. Nevertheless, undead with memories of their previous lives are generally considered “otherworldly.”
There are hardly any examples of undead retaining memories of their past lives, so the number is limited to just a handful, but the headquarters of the Order of the Final Knights contains records of battles against these otherworldly undead.
They are beings that possess human intellect within monstrous bodies. They must be killed while they are still weak. Even if they have not attacked humans at this point, their very existence is intolerable.
“Nebira, it’s about time. Go find Senri and bring her back. We cannot linger in this city any longer.”
“Ugh… If she hasn’t returned yet, it means she’s being stubborn, right? I wonder if I can bring her back…”
“I sent you to exterminate it, but you chose the sun’s execution. It is also your responsibility to explain things properly, Nebira. It’s fine; Senri is a strong girl. She can face tragedy. If we discuss it thoroughly, she should come to understand.”
Thanks to Epe’s recommendation, Senri would become a First-Class Knight. Once she became a First-Class Knight, information regarding undead with memories would be disclosed to her. She would also be made aware of that “threat.” One might think that if their meeting had been delayed by just a step, it would have been better, but there is no point in saying so now.
“…I guess I have no choice. I’ll go get punched by the naive princess…”
With a deeply reluctant expression, Nebira sighed and stood up. Just as he did, there was a soft knock at the door.
All eyes turned toward it in unison. The presence felt from beyond the door was strikingly similar to Senri’s. Nebira’s expression softened slightly. He gestured dramatically to his companions.
“Senri, you’re late coming back. Stop moping around. Master is worried—”
“Wait, Nebira—”
Before Epe could voice his discomfort and stop him, it was already too late. Nebira had unlocked the door and turned the knob.
“Ah, I apologize for the intrusion. I felt that it was ‘forbidden to enter uninvited’—perhaps due to the lower-rank vampire?”
The door creaked open, revealing a slender shadow that entered the room with casual ease. Nebira’s previously relaxed expression turned blank, then twisted into one of shock.
A man, bearing an uncanny resemblance to his apprentice, stepped inside, his crimson eyes narrowed and a faint smile playing on his lips.