**Chapter Five: Movement**
“I can sense the death energy radiating from the Annihilation. If I concentrate, I can detect it from quite a distance, but usually, I don’t sense such a wide area, and my accuracy isn’t that high. So… if we move stealthily from town to town, the chances of getting caught are low.”
As the sun set once more, I crawled out from beneath the ground and greeted Senri, who had been waiting. While preparing for our departure, we exchanged information.
Senri’s insights were worth their weight in gold. The book Lord possessed was written from the human perspective and contained no mention of the End Knight’s abilities. It was likely not common knowledge. Perhaps Lord knew, but I had not been granted that knowledge.
Understanding the enemy is essential for self-preservation. I was critically lacking in knowledge.
Maybe I should have discussed this sooner.
Having received a small amount of Senri’s blood, the Bloodlust that had consumed me yesterday had subsided. Now, I could comprehend just how close I had come to being engulfed by madness. If I had been in my right mind, I wouldn’t have suggested digging up Ruu’s grave, nor would I have even considered running such a distance.
Gradually, I had lost my sanity without realizing it. Senri’s kindness had saved me, but it had been a close call.
“Specifically, how far can you sense?” I asked.
Senri pondered for a moment before shaking her head slightly. “I… don’t know. But if I push myself, I think I can cover the area of a medium-sized town. The End Knight is required to perform wide-range sensing three times: before entering a town, before leaving, and at morning, noon, and night.”
“What about Senri’s Master?”
“Master… is on a different level. If he were serious, he could sense this place from the Annihilation.”
Those words were almost unbelievable. The distance from the Annihilation to here was considerable. We had been walking for nearly twenty days straight through the night. Even if I wasn’t in peak condition, the distance we had covered was far more than one or two towns.
As I stood there, astonished by such absurd power, Senri spoke quietly.
“But don’t worry. Normally, he wouldn’t sense that far. Wide-range sensing consumes a lot of blessings, and the wider the area, the more irrelevant Annihilation gets caught up in it, making it harder to discern.”
“Are there a lot of irrelevant Annihilation?”
“…Yes. Some are created by necromancer mages, and others arise spontaneously.”
Her voice, though the same in quality as before, now carried a sense of resolve. She was on my side, trying to understand me. It was undeniable that we had grown closer than before.
A vampire and an End Knight—our positions as enemies remained unchanged, but Senri didn’t seem like someone who excelled at deception. She was teaching me how to survive safely. I didn’t have to worry about being suddenly exterminated, as long as I didn’t become an enemy of humanity.
“Then, we should head for the town after all.”
“I want to prepare my equipment. I rushed here and left some belongings behind… I have clothes that don’t get dirty easily, but I still need a change.”
Senri had been wearing the same outfit for a while. It seemed she had bathed when I wasn’t looking, as she didn’t appear too dirty, but she was ill-prepared for a long escape. My own belongings were scavenged from the remnants of Lord’s mansion, and they were hardly plentiful. My cloak was in tatters. While my body could regenerate, my clothes could not.
I also wanted a watch. After that, I wanted to explore the town. Was I being too greedy?
“There are few End Knights. We’re always short-handed and operate in small squads. We have enemies. In a small town… there shouldn’t be any.”
“What about vampire hunters?”
The enemies of the Annihilation were not just the End Knights. At my question, Senri’s expression darkened slightly. When I looked closely, she spoke hesitantly.
“They… go wherever, but generally, they won’t move unless there’s a request. Stray vampires… don’t bring in any money.”
“I see…”
To them, vampires were no different from hunting prey. Moreover, since they turn to ash upon death, unlike magical beasts, they couldn’t be stripped of elemental materials, making them particularly tough prey. Strictly speaking, the relationship with vampires was akin to that of a bounty and a bounty hunter.
Regardless of whether I wanted to be friends, they were far more straightforward than the emotionally complex Senri.
Senri’s expression, as if she were looking at something pitiful, likely stemmed from her concern that I might be shocked. It was an unnecessary worry; I knew I was not human.
Even if I were told how I was perceived now, I wouldn’t be shocked.
I laughed and replied with a sense of relief, “That’s… reassuring.”
“Yes. Reassuring.”
Resolving that I was alone without allies, I felt immensely supported by Senri’s presence. My strength surged. The countless fang marks etched into my arms had already vanished. The heat that had smoldered deep within my thoughts was gone, and the phantom of Lord, who had looked down on me like a reaper, had disappeared. I felt as if I had been reborn.
Now, we would leave the forest and cross the grasslands. But before that, I had something to propose to Senri. I turned back to her as she covered the remnants of the campfire with dirt.
It was fine. I would trust Senri. That was the best course of action now. Taking a deep breath, I gazed into her violet eyes.
“Senri… there are likely pursuers, so I intend to run at full speed. Please ride on my back and hold on tightly.”
§
With a powerful step, I accelerated beyond belief. I felt a strong resistance from the air as I soared several meters into the air. There was no doubt that I was now faster than riding a horse.
In the endless grasslands that stretched as far as the eye could see, nothing obstructed my path. Below me were swarms of unknown black beasts and shining eyes, but I pressed on, surpassing them all.
Senri’s supple arms wrapped around my neck, holding me tightly. I could feel her heartbeat against my back, slightly tempering the overwhelming sense of power that filled my mind.
Her soft warmth pressed against me, and her faintly warm breath tickled my ear.
The sweet, fragrant scent of her blood wafted through the air. A shiver of sensuality coursed through my mind. To a vampire, she was like a living fruit. If any vampire were to see me now, they would be unable to contain their envy.
Senri, holding on tightly, spoke while suppressing her blessings to avoid harming me. “The endurance and physical abilities of vampires… far exceed those of humans. They hardly feel fatigue. Vampires are said to be the gateway to the ultimate Annihilation, conceived by the primordial necromancer.”
“Can I also become the ultimate Annihilation someday?”
“Only if you kill countless people.”
“Then, I don’t need to.”
I had no interest in strength… well, that wasn’t entirely true, but if it meant creating enemies, then that was a different matter.
Even at this stage, I possessed inhuman physical abilities and a body close to immortality, so I had no desire for more. If I could live quietly without being targeted by anyone, I would prefer to continue living as a lower rank rather than becoming a true vampire with great power but many weaknesses. I could even sunbathe for a short time.
“The End Knights have been studying vampires for a long time. Vampires that could never satisfy their Bloodlust eventually end up drinking their own blood. In the end, they completely lose their reason and gouge out their own hearts… and die.”
“……”
“But usually—most can’t endure that long. Before they drink their own blood, they drink human blood. If there are humans nearby, it’s certain… that’s how it goes. That’s… the curse. I believe you are the first vampire to endure to that extent.”
It was a terrifying tale. But it no longer mattered. There would be no opportunity for me to endure that much again. If I attempted it, Senri would likely provide me with blood before I went mad. And even in a half-crazed state, I wouldn’t be able to escape that seduction.
The scenery rushed by at an incredible speed. I moved my feet and hands carefully, trying not to jolt Senri on my back. Suddenly, I heard an unsettling whisper near my ear.
“…Perhaps… if Master knew about this, he might… help us.”
That was impossible. No way, Senri. I suppressed my emotions and swallowed the words that almost escaped my lips.
Epe, the Annihilation, was the perfect End Knight. That man was not as sweet as Senri and had overcome countless tragedies to create numerous legends.
Senri likely knew more about Epe than I did. That man was a complete ally of humanity. The fact that I possessed a human heart would not give him any reason to relent.
And—there were things only Epe knew. I was not the harmless being that Senri believed me to be.
The heart of a person, the Memory, the sensibility possessed by I—sometimes suppressing impulses and choosing actions in accordance with reason—may, in fact, be far more dangerous than an average N/A D/N/A.
If Epe were to learn that Senri’s heart had not changed, she would likely turn against Senri and attempt to kill I. And such an act would be fitting for her as the End Knight.
I could not simply stand by and watch her lean towards Epe. However, being the intelligent person she is, Senri would surely understand that Epe is not the type to show leniency towards I.
I decided to change the subject.
“By the way… I read in a book left by Holos that being drained of blood feels good… Is that true?”
“…………”
“I just hope it doesn’t hurt. What was it like when blood was drawn from your fingers? Did that feel good too?”
Senri fell silent for a moment, and as I waited for her response without saying a word, she finally spoke in a trembling voice, as if resigned.
“……………………Just a little.”
§
Eventually, a path came into view below us. It was not a well-maintained road, but rather one formed by the tracks of wheels. Following it would likely lead to a village or town. I had been careful about the direction, so there was no worry of accidentally arriving at an N/A gate.
At that moment, Senri, who had grown accustomed to being in the air, called out.
“End, look…”
“…………It’s fire.”
Far in the distance, slightly off the path, a light flickered. It was a campfire. Squinting, I could make out several wagons parked nearby.
Perhaps they were merchants. It seemed that civilization was not too far away after all.
Of course, we were a suspicious pair flying through the night sky. We couldn’t join the merchants, and we needed to find a water source before dawn, but there was something that caught my attention first.
About a hundred meters away from the merchants, a pack of black beasts had gathered. They resembled leopards, and their heads were clearly facing the direction of the wagons.
The wagons also had guards. They would likely be able to fend off an attack if necessary. A pack of beasts should not be too strong.
However—
“Is it okay if we take a detour?”
“…I don’t mind.”
Senri tightened her grip slightly on my arm.
It might be a bit obvious, but I wanted to score some points. Even if it was calculated, it was better to have more reasons not to kill. There was also the possibility that their pelts could sell for a high price.
With a smile, I made a wide turn towards the pack of beasts.