**Chapter Two: The Bloodlust**
“Enough is enough, Master! We need to go retrieve Senri right away!”
“Calm yourself, Nebira. Your impulsiveness is… a bad habit of yours.”
With a frown that seemed to chide, Epe watched as Nebira clenched his teeth in frustration. It had been ten days since Senri had vanished, and Epe and the others were still holed up in the city of E-N/A-gei.
The atmosphere was dreadful. Senri Sylvis was not particularly skilled in socializing, yet her strength and temperament endeared her to her companions. The fact that she had fallen into the hands of a Vampire—especially since Nebira and the others had failed to eliminate the threat completely—was a tragedy that even a strong-willed End Knight, who had faced numerous calamities, found hard to bear.
Nebira, who had chosen to punish End with the sun’s rays, wore an especially grim expression. His usual fierce gaze had turned into something akin to that of a cornered beast. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn’t slept well, perhaps haunted by nightmares, and there was no trace of composure left in his demeanor.
Rufuri, Telma, and the other Third-Class Knights were in a slightly better state, but they all cast dark glances at Epe.
Rufuri, who held a leadership position among the Third-Class Knights, spoke with determination. “Master, I share the same sentiment. That Vampire may be of a lower rank, but it cannot be trusted. It is a creation of that Horos Carmen. I cannot believe that merely reporting the situation is wise. Shouldn’t we at least send out a search party before the negative traces left by that Vampire disappear?”
“Exactly! Master, give me the order. I can go alone; I will bring Senri back!”
Nebira slammed his fist on the table, glaring at Epe. Though he was a Third-Class Knight, his strength was not to be underestimated. If it was a Vampire, especially a lower rank one, sending him alone would pose no issue.
However, Epe clasped his hands together and fixed a steady gaze on Rufuri.
“…Rufuri, sometimes waiting is just as important. Senri is currently lost. This is a strategy of my own.”
“But Master! Senri has a fragile psyche! If we continue like this, that Vampire will—”
“—Consume her, you mean? Is that what you fear? Rufuri, do you truly believe Senri is that weak?”
“Well, that is…”
Rufuri hesitated, perhaps recalling the battles they had fought together. While Senri had her weaknesses, she was undeniably strong. She had a tendency to pursue ideals, but she had also fought against many cunning Demons in the past.
“It’s frustrating, but as End said, what Senri needs right now is time to gather her thoughts. It is still too early for us to act.”
“But Master, wouldn’t that mean we are falling right into the Vampire’s trap? We cannot be sure how sincere End’s words are!”
Uncharacteristically, Rufuri’s voice was filled with fervor. Having served Epe long before Senri appeared, he viewed her as a troublesome little sister. Epe narrowed his eyes and offered a gentle smile to his concerned disciple.
“…Rest assured. Senri, in terms of raw power, is nearly a First-Class Knight. End cannot defeat her. Even if she were asleep, Senri’s blessings would easily incinerate that Vampire. The real issue lies with Senri’s will. It would not be wise to act before she regains her composure. Of course, we cannot afford to wait indefinitely, but if we rush in now, Senri might—protect End. Evading Senri’s guardianship would be far more difficult than defeating a Vampire.”
Senri was gentle and delicate. However, she was not one to dwell on her troubles for long. That disciple was simply too kind-hearted. If she were to endure as an End Knight, it was natural to encounter conflicts. The timing of her encounter with the memories of her previous life could be seen as a trial.
Epe thought of End, that unfortunate Vampire in such a peculiar situation. To die once and then resurrect as a Vampire was a tale too pitiful to bear. He claimed he merely wished to survive, yet his soul was already tainted. The body is drawn by the soul. End must have had confidence in his ability to persuade Senri. However, he was far too ignorant of the object of his affections.
Indeed, End was a powerful Vampire—not in strength, but in spirit. Despite being a lower rank Vampire, he retained a vivid human consciousness and sensibility, a rarity among his kind. Epe had been astonished to hear that he had restrained himself from draining blood during his first bloodlust (though had he attempted to drain it, End would have met his demise). But—
Epe clasped his hands together, a self-deprecating smile crossing his lips as he murmured in a low voice.
“End, the bloodlust of a Vampire cannot be easily suppressed. You will soon become the Demon that Senri must defeat. You are already— a monster.”
—
Breath coming in ragged gasps, I found myself mere inches away from Senri’s neck, easily within reach.
Why was it that I could feel the sweet, warm blood coursing beneath her porcelain skin? If I listened closely, I could hear the sound of her heartbeat, the rush of blood within her body, and my head began to spin with heat. Senri had released the blessings that usually enveloped her. Nothing now stood in my way.
I could easily push her down to the ground, sink my fangs into her neck, pin her struggling limbs, and drink deeply of her hot blood. The instincts of a Vampire whispered to me, a seductive call that was nearly impossible to resist.
My fingertips trembled, my body quaked in response to Senri’s sweet allure. My heart raced violently, sending sharp pangs of pain through me.
With all my might, I fought to restrain my hand, to keep my body from moving. I directed my gaze away from Senri’s exposed neck, forcing my consciousness to focus elsewhere.
Vampires prey on humans, drinking their blood like a cursed addiction. They primarily favor the blood of young, pure bodies of the opposite sex, committing all manner of brutal acts to obtain it. And once fangs pierce the neck, the act of draining blood rarely ceases until the victim is completely drained.
In the Lord’s encyclopedia, there was a section on Vampires that mentioned the term “bloodlust.” For Vampires, drinking human blood is instinctual. These fiends gain strength and sustain their lives through blood. Even the most cunning of Vampires, who can blend in with human society, can act on impulse and reveal their existence, indicating the overwhelming nature of this urge.
I had bitten Senri ten days ago. Since then, I had refrained from drinking blood. The encyclopedia was written from a human perspective, so it lacked detailed information, but I understood the strength of the bloodlust and the reasons behind it after having tasted that exquisite blood.
It was a transcendent experience. Not a metaphor, but a reality—my body, my soul, trembled with ecstasy. Had I died in that moment, I would have welcomed it with a smile.
That I had stopped just before draining her blood felt like a miracle. My reason had barely held on, and I had been able to stop because I understood Senri’s noble spirit. Had my target been a stranger without any ties, I cannot say with certainty that I would have been able to refrain from draining her completely.
A dull pain throbbed in my palm. Blood dripped from my clenched fist, and it was then that I realized I had gripped my hand tightly enough to break the skin. My eyes were likely bloodshot now.
When I was a Corpse Eater, I had felt empty. I had no pain, no fatigue, and no appetite. Desire is, after all, the will to live. Without the memories of my previous life, I would have been nothing more than a puppet.
As a Shiki, I gained appetite and the sensation of pain. Now, as a lower rank Vampire, I could sleep.
But what of the remaining desires? The three fundamental human desires are appetite, the desire for sleep, and sexual desire. Do Vampires possess sexual desire?
The answer is—probably yes. And this is where my speculation begins… If my assumptions are correct, then the sexual desire of a Vampire is likely integrated with their appetite.
According to the encyclopedia, those who are attacked and drained by a Vampire feel no pain, only overwhelming sexual pleasure. They are swept away by ecstasy, dying blissfully as their blood is drained.
Perhaps the Vampire experiences something similar. I had never felt sexual pleasure in my previous life, so this remains speculation, but it is not strange to think that a Vampire, especially one of a higher rank, possesses the ability to increase their numbers through blood-draining.
The dangerous pleasure I felt, which could potentially redefine my entire worldview, was the result of both desires being satisfied simultaneously, a synergistic effect.
I was nearing my limit. The only things keeping my hand from moving were a sliver of reason and a survival instinct that surpassed the three fundamental desires.
Once I succumb to the vampire’s impulse, I will hesitate less the next time. That could be fatal for me.
Now, it’s not that I am particularly reluctant to abandon my humanity, but if it leads to my own demise, that’s a different matter.
I can probably endure it. Even if I drink blood again, I won’t drain Senri dry. However, a sense of distrust lingers.
What I need most is not Senri’s blood, but her heart. I need her to be an unwavering ally, not just a fleeting source of sympathy. Senri’s blood is of the highest quality. Thanks to that, I have managed to survive for ten days without feeding. But it’s not that I didn’t want to drink her blood.
I held back. Without uttering a word about my thirst, I focused solely on evading my pursuers.
If I had been attacked by Epe’s hunters, Senri’s feelings would have surely leaned toward me. Yet, Epe showed no signs of pursuing. Despite the fury he had displayed just before our parting, he seemed content to watch.
He has seen through the essence of my defeat. He believes that I will fall simply by waiting in silence, waiting for the ‘Weakling’ within me to perish.
Ah, that’s true. Senri is kind. If I let my guard down, her instincts as a monster would almost consume her. In these ten days, she has never once directed a hostile expression toward me. Now, as she offers her neck again, it’s not a trap; she’s genuinely worried about me.
Yet, precisely because of that, I must stake my life and resolve to confront that kindness.
Do not underestimate me, End Knight.
“……End?”
“!?”
Before I knew it, Senri’s violet eyes were gazing up at me from mere inches away. I was left speechless. My hands rested on her shoulders, and her exposed neck lay bare before me. For a moment, I thought she had closed the distance, but that wasn’t the case. It was my body that had moved.
Despite the grueling days without even a proper wash, Senri emitted an incredibly enticing scent. Her hair, skin, blood, and flesh all radiated a sweet aroma that seduced me. My head felt hot. A strong dizziness and nausea washed over me. My hands, resting on her shoulders, felt as if they were commanded by a lord, refusing to move.
My heart, unaware of anything else, pounded fiercely. It beckoned me to feast upon the exquisite blood before me. I tried to pull away, but my fingertips merely trembled, unable to obey.
Senri tilted her head, her expression curious, further exposing her translucent, white neck adorned with veins.
“N/A!!”
My body moved of its own accord. My hands, which had been resting on her shoulders, wrapped around her petite frame, pulling her closer. My head shifted, bringing her neck into my line of sight. The warmth of her blood and the softness of her flesh sent shivers of joy through my entire being. My fangs, sharpened through my mutation as a lower-ranked vampire, pierced the skin.
—Just before I could sink my fangs in, I summoned all my strength and halted my movements.
My mind was ablaze. Dark, crimson liquid flowed down her unblemished skin. Blood. Not Senri’s blood, but my own. Tears of blood streamed from my eyes, tracing lines across her pristine skin. It was a sight that felt almost sinful.
I focused on not tightening my embrace, careful not to crush her as I breathed heavily and whispered in her ear.
“N/A… I can still endure. Senri, I can still fight. I want to remain human. Please… don’t seduce me.”
I will definitely drink blood. While I can endure it now, there will come a time when I absolutely cannot. There is no vampire that can survive without feeding; I would gladly drink blood to survive.
But that is— not now.
Senri’s arms hesitantly wrapped around my back. Just that alone seemed to quell my bloodlust a little. Her trembling voice broke through the silence. Something warm touched my neck. Tears. Not the tears I shed, but pure tears of concern for me.
“I’m sorry… End. I did something terrible. I won’t say it again.”
“…….”
“But if you truly can’t endure this anymore… please don’t hesitate to tell me. They say if you suppress the bloodlust too much, you might lose consciousness.”
“Ah… yes. When that time comes—”
I swallowed hard, steeling my resolve.
I will drink her blood in the best possible circumstances. I will ensure she is well-fed, alleviating any nutritional deficiencies. I will let her rest properly to recover from fatigue, and I will help her bathe, polishing her smooth skin. Then, on a clean, large white bed, I will undress her, pin her down, and sink my fangs into her pristine flesh.
For a vampire, drinking blood is not merely a meal. I had an inexplicable certainty.
The sacred blood shared through a bond would surely grant me a power I have never known. And when I accomplish that without purification, it will mean I have completely won Senri’s allegiance.
I pressed my cheek against Senri’s neck and glared intently into the darkness.
I need a human ally. Just as I would gather resources and prepare a home for my lord, I need an ally who can help conceal me from human society.
There are risks involved, but to live peacefully, I must seek them out.