**Chapter One: Conflict**
**Chapter Two**
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**Chapter One: Conflict**
The Order of the Final Knights serves as humanity’s guardians and the natural enemies of the dark denizens. Though few in number, its members are elite warriors who learn combat techniques and methods to fight against the dark denizens at their headquarters, before being assigned to various units as Third-Class Knights.
Senri is sweet. Yet, she is not merely sweet. If she were only sweet, she would never have allowed I to escape.
She has learned and experienced the battles against the dark denizens, and she possesses that knowledge.
To describe the intelligent dark denizens in a single word, it would be “demons.” In fairy tales, they are depicted with immense combat prowess and brutality, taking pride in their existence, and at times, using sweet words to corrupt the End Knights.
Just as I seduced Senri.
I is still human at heart. Though I cannot say this with much confidence due to a past life filled with suffering, I do not feel that my thoughts have changed.
However, as time passes, Senri will likely harbor doubts about that fact. No, she may already have them.
Senri helped I purely out of a sense of emergency. It was because I was on the brink of death that I impulsively offered my neck to a Lower-Rank Vampire.
The words I spoke during the negotiation with Epe were not lies; they were my genuine feelings.
She is an End Knight. I must not forget that. I have no intention of harming humans. Yet, the world will come to kill I in the name of justice, and I intend to retaliate.
Vampires are strong. While their weaknesses cannot be ignored, even a Lower-Rank Vampire possesses strength far beyond that of an ordinary human.
She offered I her blood. However, I cannot predict how long that spirit of self-sacrifice will last. Surrounded by powerful beings, it is hard to grasp the reality that I am, strictly speaking, not a weakling in the conventional sense.
If I were in her position, I would never choose to offer my neck to a monster. Moreover, there is no doubt that she, possessing knowledge of the dark denizens, would feel a profound aversion to such a choice. At that moment, there were simply more pressing reasons, a pact of sorts.
I needed to earn her trust. She is my lifesaver, my natural enemy, and my shield.
The struggle between Epe and I has continued since that encounter.
If I cannot gain Senri’s trust, they will win. And if I can gain her trust, my life will be extended, a rather unfair negative victory.
If I wish to live as peacefully as possible, I absolutely cannot afford to lose Senri. Blood is one thing, but I lack the knowledge necessary to survive.
When I was a Shiki (Ghoul), I satisfied my hunger with raw meat from magical beasts. Had I continued that way, I could have lived without harming humans.
But Vampires are different. Vampires must feed on “human” blood to survive. Since that day, I have drained the blood of wild creatures countless times, yet my hunger remains unquenched. I have never felt the euphoric thrill that surged through me when I drank Senri’s blood.
It is a curse. Vampires cannot live without consuming humans. One cannot simply live quietly alone in the depths of the forest. While I only need a little blood periodically, there are few humans with the kind-heartedness to allow such a thing. It is only natural that Vampires attack humans, and that humans despise Vampires.
I sever the head of a lizard and drain as much blood as possible, making my way deeper into the forest. A few kilometers from a water source, in a slightly open area, Senri waits.
The crackling of burning branches fills the air. The bright red flames of the campfire illuminate the darkness, casting light upon the silver-haired Holy Knight.
“End, what is that…?”
“A gift. There’s no salt or pepper, but you should eat some meat… it’s good for you.”
“…I see. Thank you.”
Senri murmurs softly, offering a faint smile.
After ten days of fleeing, Senri appears slightly worn.
She is human. Though her radiance remains intact, fatigue is evident in her expression. This endless escape, which began without any preparation, and the mental strain of being beside a Vampire like I must weigh heavily on her.
Originally, Senri is not like I, a mere anomaly.
As a Vampire, I am remarkably resilient. I may suffer severe stomach issues from garlic, but I can consume even spoiled meat without consequence. I can live without nourishment for extended periods. No matter how much I run, I hardly feel fatigue, and my sense of pain is considerably dulled. Even if I were to sustain injuries, my regenerative abilities are well-established. While I lack the unique powers of a Vampire, my physical form is quite similar.
However, Senri is not so fortunate. Though she is much stronger than an ordinary human due to the vast energy of her life force, and despite her training, her physical body remains that of a fragile human. If she does not eat daily, she will weaken, and there is a limit to how many nights she can stay awake. As fatigue accumulates, her thoughts will dull. Moreover, if she does not consider her nutrition, the blood she produces will deteriorate.
She is breathtakingly beautiful. Yet, that beauty and strength are not immortal.
Even from a distance, the intoxicating scent emanating from Senri, seated across from me, is undeniable.
The scent of blood, the scent of flesh.
Beneath her porcelain skin flows the highest quality blood, enough to send shivers through my body with just a single taste. Merely being near her quickens my breath and fills my mouth with saliva. No matter how hard I try to resist, it is an impossible task. This is proof that I am a monster.
I strive to push those thoughts aside, skillfully using my elongated claws to carve the lizard’s flesh. I peel away the skin, remove the entrails, and extract the bones. My hands quickly become stained with blood. I skewer the cut meat on a branch and roast it over the fire. Senri nibbles on a small fruit that doesn’t look particularly appetizing.
As I dispose of the entrails, I take the opportunity to find a water source and wash my hands.
Lower-Rank Vampires are incredible. Not only do they possess night vision, but all their senses are sharper than those of humans, and likely— their tolerance is broader. They can see in the dark without being blinded by the flames of the campfire. Their taste is refined, yet they can eat rotten meat without issue. The same goes for their sense of smell, hearing, and touch.
However, this indicates an insurmountable gap between I and Senri.
Returning to Senri, I observe her expression.
“Senri, are you not suffering?”
“…It’s fine.”
It cannot possibly be fine. Yet, Senri shows no sign of distress. She calmly chews on the skewered lizard meat, which is far from delicious, as I had suggested. There is no salt or pepper, just a simple dish cooked over the fire, and each day is merely a continuation of wandering through the forest. There is no joy to be found in these days.
When one’s basic needs are met, they begin to understand courtesy. It is against my will to impose such a life on her, my savior.
We must leave the forest soon… the quality of blood will deteriorate. That thought crosses my mind, and I chuckle self-deprecatingly. This is not the thought process of a human. While I utilize Senri, I cannot have been solely focused on turning my lifesaver into a meal.
This is a troubling trend.
Senri’s body is weakening. Before long, there will come a time when she becomes weaker than I, when she will reach a point of despair, feeling she can no longer control me. That moment will be the end. If that time comes before I capture her heart, I will surely be destroyed.
Senri’s body is deteriorating from malnutrition, stress, and fatigue. Yet, the energy of life that envelops her shows no signs of waning. In fact, it seems to be growing.
This is astonishing. I have always thought that the energy of life (which she calls a blessing) referred to vitality itself. However, it seems that is not the case. The power hidden within her physique is still more than enough to obliterate me. It is an absurd amount, without even needing to challenge it.
Noticing something in my gaze, Senri speaks in a slightly more melancholic tone than usual.
“Really, I’m fine. End should… just think of yourself.”
“…I wish I could walk under the sun…”
“…Don’t push yourself. You are— not at fault.”
Part of the reason we have yet to escape the forest lies with me.
As a Vampire, I cannot walk under the sun. Though I am still a Lower-Rank, I will not turn to ash immediately upon exposure to light, but I must sleep in shaded areas, and during this season— the days are long. Senri is forced to accompany me in this, which further cuts into her time for rest. While I dig a hole in the ground to sleep, she stands guard under the harsh sunlight.
This forest is not a viable option, as the Order of the Final Knights may be tracking us, but we must establish a base somewhere.
As I fell silent, Senri lifted his gaze. His deep purple eyes pierced through me with a quiet intensity.
With resolve firming within me, I gathered my strength at my core.
His fingertips trembled hesitantly as he lightly tugged at his collar, exposing a flawless, enticingly pale neck. The mark I had left just ten days prior was nowhere to be seen. My heart raced violently in my chest. Then, in a soft voice, Senri asked me,
“Shall we… drink the End?”