**Chapter Ten: Concealment**
The town we arrived at was indeed smaller than SeメSeラ and エN/Aゲイ, just as Senri had said.
Stone buildings lined the streets, with the earth exposed beneath our feet. The number of carriages and people was noticeably fewer compared to SeメSeラ, and a tranquil atmosphere enveloped the dimly lit streets.
As expected, there was a ditch in front of the gate with water flowing through it, but it seemed poorly maintained, as the flow had nearly stopped, allowing us to cross with little trouble. It was a nice town. While there weren’t many mercenaries, it wasn’t so deserted that hiding would be impossible. A quick glance revealed that there were at least a few essential shops. If we weren’t being pursued, staying here for a while wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Ah, if only the Shadow Amulet hadn’t been destroyed… we could have relaxed.
Senri firmly pulled on I’s hand, which had been distracted by a nearby food stall.
I had been resting on Senri’s back during our movement, but perhaps due to the fatigue from our forced march, her complexion wasn’t looking too good. Maybe the lack of proper preparation for traversing the forest was the main culprit.
Though we were trying to act inconspicuously, the scent gave us away. I had caused her so much trouble up to this point. Even the resupply of goods in SeメSeラ had been handled by Senri. I had wanted to do it myself, but there were hardly any shops open until nightfall.
“Senri, you should rest a bit. Now that we’re here, it shouldn’t be easy to find us, right?”
“End, if you don’t take care of yourself… I can’t rest. Recently, I think you’ve been a bit too relaxed.”
Senri’s voice held a hint of admonishment. It was a harsh way to put it. I reflected on my recent actions for a moment.
…Indeed, I might have let my guard down a bit too much.
“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s the first time I’ve had someone I could let my guard down around.”
“…I see. What about Ruu?”
“Ruu was a bit of a different case. She… wasn’t strong enough.”
Even if Ruu had somehow survived, I wouldn’t have been able to relax this much. She might have been capable of handling things on her own, but as a partner, she was unreliable.
I stopped looking around and followed Senri. Her back seemed incredibly small.
“Let’s stay in this town for a bit. If we stay holed up in an inn, we won’t have to worry about our identities being discovered, at least until the End Knight shows up in this town.”
“But…”
“It’s fine. I’ll take care of you diligently. Just like how you took care of me, Senri. I enjoy moving around.”
Senri seemed hesitant. However, she was likely aware that her condition wasn’t at its best. For me, it would be quite troublesome if Senri were to collapse. I knew well that humans weren’t that resilient.
She was delicate. Though she was trained, she felt soft when embraced, and without her Blessing, she wouldn’t be able to fight against the dark minions. I had relied on her up to this point, but it was about time for our roles to reverse a little.
In any case, it was necessary to take a break somewhere.
With a small sigh, Senri offered a slightly troubled smile.
“…Alright. But please, just stay calm?”
“I get it. What do you think I am…?”
Even I wouldn’t wander around the town leaving Senri behind. No matter how alluring the town might be, the important thing was to remain cautious. I had survived this long by doing just that.
§
We booked a mid-range inn, similar to the one in SeメSeラ, with two single rooms. It seemed that the Lord’s jewels had fetched a considerable amount even in a hurry, so we should be able to get by for a while.
Since it was already late at night, I had Senri prepare to rest immediately. The main factors contributing to her poor condition were likely sleep deprivation and a disrupted internal rhythm. Humans are creatures that function during the day and require a fair amount of sleep.
Senri had worked while I slept, and she was mostly awake when I was up. With this kind of schedule, it was no wonder even an End Knight would struggle with their health. Now, it might be a bit lonely, but it would be better for her to get some sleep at night.
Though I was used to being taken care of, being the caretaker was a new experience. Humming a tune, I picked up the meals and carried them to Senri’s room. The innkeeper didn’t say anything, but I wondered how we appeared to others—travelers, merchants, and mercenaries alike. We certainly didn’t look like any of those.
When I reached the door, I paused in front of Senri’s room.
Vampires are cursed to be unable to enter a room unless invited. This is perhaps one of the most peculiar drawbacks they face.
A true Vampire cannot invade another’s home. As a lower-ranked being, I could probably force my way in, but it would feel incredibly unpleasant on a sensory level. I couldn’t quite understand what was determining this, but the curse was quite strict. Inns and shops, being places that invite guests, allow entry without permission during open hours, but once closed, entry is forbidden.
In larger inns, one can enter the lobby or dining area, but not the guest rooms. It seems that each room requires the permission of the guest who has rented it.
Because of this curse, Vampires cannot secretly enter rooms to drain the blood of their hosts. Even if the window is open, or if there’s a chimney to sneak through, or if a pure maiden lies defenseless in bed, they cannot enter the room. In that sense, Vampires are public monsters.
Well, for now, I had no intention of sneaking into anyone’s room to drink blood, so it wasn’t a weakness, but eventually, it might become a significant hindrance.
However, setting that aside, I had come up with a way to effectively utilize this curse.
Holding the tray laden with food, I stared at the thin wooden door. I hadn’t knocked yet, but I didn’t feel any discomfort. That fact made me happy.
I didn’t have a key. This meant that I was not an intruder to Senri; I was accepted. It was a sign of trust. If Senri had been hostile towards me, she wouldn’t have allowed me to enter her room, and I would have felt incredibly uneasy due to the curse.
This was, at the very least, proof that Senri was not currently hostile towards me. If I had the ability to turn into mist, I could have slipped through the keyhole without issue.
Ah, what a comforting feeling it was to know I was accepted. It was partly for this confirmation that I had chosen to rent two rooms this time.
Lost in thought, I heard the sound of a key turning, and the door opened. Senri, having just finished bathing and changed into her nightwear, looked at me with a furrowed brow and a puzzled expression.
“Why are you just standing there, not knocking? What are you doing?”
“Well, I was just about to.”
“…Well, that’s fine. Standing in the hallway could attract attention. Come in.”
With a small sigh, Senri explicitly invited me into her room.
§
While Senri rested, I decided to spend my time reading in my own room.
There were plenty of things I wanted to do. Unlike when I was in the mansion, I couldn’t go out hunting, but I needed to strengthen myself.
I chose not to spend my time watching Senri’s sleeping face out of consideration for her mental strain. The aura surrounding the AnAデN/Aド, who were originally our enemies, was likely eroding Senri’s spirit unconsciously. A wall separating us might not mean much, but it was better than nothing.
And of course, it also served to keep me from succumbing to the urge to drink her blood while watching her sleep.
I was reading a bestiary of AnAデN/Aド that I had brought from the Lord’s mansion, along with an introductory book on neutral magic that Senri had purchased for me.
I hadn’t known this before, but it seemed that the magic used by Mages was categorized by attributes. Broadly speaking, there are five main attributes: fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. Each person is born with a natural affinity for a specific attribute, which determines the type of magic they can wield. Those with fire magic cannot use water magic, and vice versa. There are rare individuals born with powerful magic across multiple attributes, and these fortunate ones become Mages.
The Mage who had shot a fire arrow at me was likely one who possessed fire magic.
So, what is neutral magic? Neutral magic is a form of magic for those who possess magical power but lack any specific attribute.
All living beings have magical power, but it seems that most do not have a suitable attribute. Such individuals can use magic from all attributes without having a specialty or weakness, but they find themselves unable to exert any real power compared to attribute-wielding Mages. Thus, neutral magic was created as a means to effectively utilize the magical power of these unfortunate souls!
While neutral magic lacks many offensive spells, it includes a variety of handy techniques, such as starting small fires, creating a cool breeze on hot days, extracting water from the air, and molding clay to make mud balls.
I possessed magical power, though it was well-known that Vampires held vast reserves of it. However, I lacked any specific attribute. The attribute measurement crystal that Senri had brought me emitted only a colorless light, indicating the fact that enhancing my combat abilities through magic would be a challenging endeavor.
Senri wore a stern expression, but it wasn’t her fault, and even if I wielded attribute-less magic, it was still magic. I had never been able to use it in the first place, nor was I aiming to become a Mage. It didn’t bother me. Learning and growing were enjoyable pursuits. In a good mood, I asked Senri to buy me an introductory book on attribute-less magic so I could study.
Fortunately, as a Lower Rank Vampire, I possessed above-average magical power. I would have no shortage of practice. If I could learn to use even a little magic, it would make my travels with Senri much more convenient (by the way, it seemed that Senri couldn’t use magic. Her healing spells utilized Sei energy rather than magical power, and were, strictly speaking, not magic at all).
And then—there was one thing Senri hadn’t told me.
It wasn’t included in the introductory book on attribute-less magic, nor would it likely be found in commercially available spellbooks, but perhaps—Necromancy was an attribute-less form of magic.
Senri still didn’t know, but I was the vessel of the King of the Dead. Previously, she had defined the King of the Dead as a special An/AdeN/A who could wield Necromancy. If that were the case, then I, adjusted by that formidable Lord, had the potential to wield that abhorrent art.
There were no textbooks or guides for this magic. However, the knowledge held by the Lord resided within me. It was merely sealed deep within, but there had to be a way to access it.
Of course, even if I learned it, I couldn’t boast about using Necromancy in front of Senri. Still, it was wise to keep that possibility in mind. Power could extend my life.
Life now was incredibly enjoyable. I traveled the world with Senri, receiving regular blood donations from her and sharing jokes along the way. While there were inconveniences, my freedom was never hindered. Everything was perfect. Perhaps she might even let me bite her neck occasionally.
However, the more I thought about how long this life would last, the less optimistic I became.
I recited spells according to the textbook, struggling to refine the magical power within me. A small spark of fire danced at the tip of my index finger. I confirmed it and smiled softly.
§
It was on the third day of my hiding that an anonymous letter arrived at my doorstep. I had been careful not to raise any suspicions whatsoever. The letter bore the mark of a cross, a symbol of the Vampire’s weakness, as if it were a cruel joke.