**Chapter 14: Vampire Hunt II**
The pain lingered, but if I could muster strength, my body would move.
A N/A was originally something devoid of pain. With my experiences from my previous life, I quickly recovered and escaped the smoke screen, but I rarely felt pain, nausea, or dizziness. If someone with a status as unfamiliar with pain as mine were to suddenly be struck by a debilitating weakness, they would surely freeze in place.
It was a terrifying combat technique. Had I not been who I am, I would have been killed. Moreover, I had yet to land a single decisive blow on the Master Beast.
Feeling a heavy sense of defeat, I carefully moved across the rooftops, trying not to make a sound as I returned to the inn. The Master Beast likely wouldn’t pursue me immediately, but time was of the essence. I wanted to take a shower and wash away the powder completely, but I had no choice but to give up on that. My life was more important.
Though I had been through a harrowing ordeal, I had obtained what was necessary.
The “Night Crystal.” It was likely not a fake object. I didn’t know how the Master Beasts had managed to capture me, but if I could conceal the presence of negativity, I would be almost indistinguishable from a human.
I could obtain it. A tranquil life awaited me. I would stealthily make my way to a distant town. With the “Night Crystal,” I could venture out freely and even indulge in some street food. For a while, I could live leisurely, occasionally feeding on blood.
Entering Senri’s room, I hoisted the gathered belongings onto my back. Pain still lingered in my body, but it had improved significantly since the initial shock. The powder must have been washed away during my rooftop escapades. I believed I would survive… After all, it was fortunate that vampires did not require breathing. Had that powder entered my system in large quantities, I would have felt a burning pain in my organs.
I placed my hand on the window. The meeting point was near the town’s exit.
The one who returned to the inn first was supposed to carry the belongings. This meant Senri had not yet managed to escape. That woman, referred to as Albatos… Her strength was indeed comparable to mine, but I doubted that alone would allow her to defeat Senri.
Knowing her, there was no need for concern. She might even be holding back to avoid killing. I brushed away the anxiety that threatened to overwhelm me.
—At that moment, the night sky suddenly shone white.
The air vibrated with a crackling sound, and a distant sound of destruction echoed. I recognized that sight. It was the light Senri had unleashed to obliterate the shadow dragon during her battle against the Lord.
The light vanished in an instant, and darkness returned. However, it was far from normal for Senri to use such a destructive technique, one capable of blowing away a mansion, against another person.
I leaped from the window and looked toward the direction of the light. My hesitation was fleeting.
I should not go to help.
Senri was strong. She wouldn’t mismanage the situation, and even if the Master Beast joined her, it wouldn’t pose a significant threat. In fact, I might even become a hindrance. Her blessing was a potent poison to me.
As people startled by the light and sound emerged, I slipped into an alleyway, making my way toward the meeting point.
§
“Try not to kill them,” Senri had said. For her, vampire hunting was not evil. The Order of the Final Knights was vastly outnumbered. The Vampire Hunters were a necessary presence in the world. I, as a member of the Order of the Final Knights, shared the same sentiment.
A N/A was, of course, meant to be eradicated. I was merely a pitiful monster resisting that fate for my selfish reasons. I wished to avoid being attacked, but I held no grudges. Unless it was a matter of life and death, or unless the danger was overwhelming, I wouldn’t kill.
Hatred breeds hatred. In that case, it was better to show leniency and cling to the mercy of others. After all, there were plenty of enemies… Losing one or two wouldn’t change much. Perhaps, albeit slightly, there was a chance my safety could be assured someday.
I hid between buildings near the gate, focusing my senses to detect any approaching presence of the Master Beast.
The quiet night in the town carried a sense of melancholy. Come to think of it, I hadn’t had the chance to explore this town at all. I had been too busy with Senri’s care, and I had promised not to go outside. While caring for her had been somewhat enjoyable, I wondered if there would come a day when I could stroll outside freely. I simply wanted to buy things and take walks…
A breeze blew, and I caught a whiff of a sweet scent, lifting my head. Though still distant, it was Senri’s scent. I turned my neck to look in the direction of the smell, squinting into the darkness.
Thank goodness… she was safe. No, I had believed she would be…
But soon, a strong discomfort flashed through my mind. I frowned and thought. I urged my aching legs to move and took off running.
Senri’s blood was indeed sweet. The flesh, skin, and hair that carried that blood smelled like the finest fruit. However, it shouldn’t have been strong enough to reach me from this distance.
Even with the burden of the belongings on my back, my speed didn’t falter. Passersby on the street were startled by my rapid pace and stepped aside.
Before long, I caught sight of Senri.
“Senri…!”
“…E-N/A, do…”
Senri was in a terrible state. She staggered as she walked, and though her right arm hung limply, she still gripped her sword tightly. The blessing that usually enveloped her was far weaker than usual.
Her body was drenched in the scent of strong blood. It wasn’t from a fresh wound. It was the familiar scent of Senri’s blood. Her beautiful silver hair was stained with blood, and from her left side, which she pressed against with her left hand, blood dripped steadily.
The sweet, potent aroma momentarily made me forget my pain, and my consciousness wavered. Her violet eyes faintly caught sight of me before her body crumpled as if the strings holding her up had been cut.
I rushed forward to support her. The moment her body touched mine, a sharp pain shot through me, coursing through my entire being. Her hair brushed against my cheek, and I felt my skin burn. I stifled a scream and gently laid her down on the ground.
A faint white mist rose from my body. It wasn’t as intense as when I had been hit by a silver bullet, but my instincts were warning me.
It was Sei’s energy. The energy that Senri had unconsciously wrapped around herself filled my void. During movement, I had been cut off from it. However, now that Senri was unconscious, she was enveloped in it. This was likely her normal state. Perhaps, in response to the life-threatening situation, her body was reflexively emitting it.
I closed my eyes and sharpened my senses, focusing on my own void. The death energy I possessed was quite strong. Even for Senri, it would take considerable time to fill it with the power she unconsciously released. Indeed, the mist that had risen was already dissipating. I wouldn’t die so easily.
But that didn’t mean I was free of pain. I picked up the sword that had fallen from Senri’s hand. The heat surged through my palm, but I managed to sheathe it at my waist.
Time was of the essence. I wanted to tend to my wounds, but I had already inflicted too much damage. The Master Beast and Albatos would undoubtedly be pursuing us.
There was no time to wait for her to wake up or to cut off her blessing.
Should I leave her behind? The Master Beast hadn’t ordered me to kill her. They would likely assist her. Albatos wouldn’t finish off an unconscious opponent either.
I took a deep breath.
No—this wouldn’t do. She had fought for me. I should fight for her as well. More importantly, if I lost Senri, my chances of survival would plummet. I would be left all alone. I could endure that, but the next time we met, there was a possibility she might become my enemy.
I trusted Senri, but that Epe I had encountered once was a monster I couldn’t afford to underestimate, even considering that.
I called out to the exhausted Senri.
“I’ll help you… right away.”
First— I needed to get outside. I had stocked up on medicine during my supply run. If I distanced myself a bit and tended to her, Senri, filled with Sei’s energy, would recover quickly. She should regain consciousness soon.
I slipped my arms under her and, gritting my teeth against the searing pain, lifted her up. Steam rose from my arms and body.
It felt as if I were carrying a weighty flame. The pain wasn’t unbearable, but the endless torment reminded me of the sun’s punishment. Yet, it was still better than being purified by the sun. I would much rather be killed by Senri. Sei’s energy flowed into my pitch-black soul, but at this pace, I wouldn’t have to worry about being completely consumed.
My— descent was faster.
The blood from my head had stopped, but the blood from my abdomen showed no signs of ceasing. Even now, as I lifted her, dark red droplets fell to the ground, leaving a trail behind.
What a waste… No, that wasn’t it. I had to stop it quickly… Senri had just given me her blood, and she was already prone to anemia. If this continued, she would die.
Master Beast, Alba-tos is coming. I feel guilty for placing this Negative burden on my body, but I can’t imagine defeating Alba-tos, who has already inflicted so much pain on Senri.
I endure the pain and run with all my might. Senri, cradled in my arms, groans, but I make sure not to drop him. The gatekeeper standing before the entrance widens his eyes in shock as he sees us. However, there’s no time for formalities. Without hesitation, I bend my knees deeply and leap. I easily clear the thick gate, which stands over five meters tall, landing gracefully on the other side.
My arms and body scream in protest. Perhaps it’s Senri’s instincts fighting against death, but the Blessing surrounding him intensifies, making my body feel as if it’s on fire.
But… it’s fine. We will survive. Together, we will endure. Compared to that death I experienced once, this is nothing.
With renewed determination, I charge into the darkness with every ounce of strength I can muster.
§ § §
The place where the former tavern stood was unrecognizable, a scene of utter devastation. Tables were thrown about, and the walls bore large cracks; it would take a considerable amount of time to reopen.
The most significant mark of destruction was a massive hole that pierced through the ceiling. There were no notable remnants left on the edges of the hole.
It seems the Blessing was transformed into pure Destruction energy and unleashed. A signature technique of the End Knights. The strength of the Order of the Final Knights revolves around their Blessing. The energy, capable of changing its properties at will, is far more versatile than similar Miracles, making it quick and powerful.
Amidst the ruins of the collapsed structure, Alba-tos bared his teeth, gazing up at the hole in the ceiling.
“They escaped, huh?”
“…You managed to escape as well.”
“Ku ku ku… Quite the formidable opponent. That Vampire… is accustomed to pain, isn’t he?”
Narrowing his eyes, Master Beast lets out a muffled chuckle.
He certainly doesn’t look like a fledgling Vampire. The hunting tactics that exploit every weakness are lethal against a ‘wild’ Vampire with little combat experience. Unfamiliar pain halts their movements. When movement ceases, even inhuman agility becomes meaningless.
Yet, they escaped. If Alba-tos had been present, they wouldn’t have gotten away, but next time, it won’t be the same.
The most terrifying aspect of a Vampire lies in its intelligence… its capacity to learn. The first battle may be overwhelmingly in our favor, but in the second, the opponent knows our tactics and the pain we inflict.
Of course, the opponent is a Lower rank Vampire. Not a match for Master Beast… but,
“However, allowing the bride to escape… you’ve made things troublesome. What excuse do you plan to give to that abomination?”
The Annihilation Epée. Among the End Knights who have annihilated countless first-class Vampires, it is a top-class abomination. It is an opponent that must be avoided at all costs, incomparable to a Lower rank Vampire.
With a sigh, Master Beast turns away from Alba-tos.
“…They flew away. But I left a hole in their gut. Next time, I will finish them off.”
“I’d prefer you not to finish them off… If you’ve inflicted such wounds, it will take time for them to heal. We must press the attack… before the Crying Knight gets angry.”
“When the moon is full… I will not lose.”
Alba-tos’s golden eyes shine brightly. His slender body swells, and the black clothing that enveloped him tears apart, transforming into tatters. The change occurs in mere seconds. What stands there now is a large black dog. A massive, intelligent dog that resembles a human.
“Looks like I’ll need to buy new clothes again. I told you to change after taking them off.”
In response to Master Beast’s exasperated voice, Alba-tos lets out a howl, as if to intimidate. His eyes glimmered with deep resentment toward Vampires.