Chapter 15: Escape
The pain forgotten, I ran through the night with unwavering determination. There was no specific destination in mind; I only focused on putting as much distance as possible between myself and Master Beast.
I paused for a moment to tend to my wounds. Senri’s condition seemed somewhat stable. As long as she hadn’t been poisoned, she should be safe from death. However, the Blessing that enveloped her remained unchanged. Even wrapped in a thick robe, the pain I felt was unrelenting. But there was no time to linger.
I had a time limit. The radiant moon was directly overhead. In just a few hours, dawn would break. Once that happened, I would have to find a way to endure the sunlight.
Among the many weaknesses of vampires, the greatest was the sun. It was hard to believe that the fearsome vampire hunters wouldn’t exploit that weakness.
I dashed across the tranquil grasslands until a massive black mountain came into view. Perhaps the mountains would provide the perfect hiding place—there might even be a cave to take refuge in. Given the current situation, if dawn arrived before Senri regained consciousness… it would be disastrous. There were magical creatures lurking outside as well.
But the mountains weren’t without their own dangers. They were home to mountain-dwelling magical creatures, far more cunning than those found in the grasslands or wastelands. Some were said to understand human speech and even establish their own kingdoms.
The rulers of their own realms, the kings of magical creatures—commonly referred to as demon lords. They were hostile to humans, claiming vast territories outside human settlements and commanding numerous magical beings. Among the foes depicted in fairy tales, half were undead mages and aberrations, while the other half were such demon lords. They possessed powers beyond human comprehension and lived by rules that were utterly foreign to mankind, making them formidable adversaries.
There shouldn’t have been a demon lord nearby, but they were known to expand their territories without regard for human affairs, and it was entirely possible that a new demon lord could emerge.
I pondered as I moved my legs. However, the conflict lasted only a few seconds. I changed my course toward the mountain.
If I had to fight, my chances against magical creatures were better than against vampire hunters. Moreover, the dense trees of the mountains would shield me from direct sunlight, allowing me to remain active for as long as possible even after dawn broke. The abundance of food sources in the mountains was also a significant advantage. Lighting a fire would be less conspicuous there than in the plains.
I focused solely on survival, choosing the path with the highest probability of success. The Night Crystal was safely tucked away in my pocket.
I ascended the gentle slope of the mountain, where no clear path existed. Yet, branches and thickets couldn’t inflict pain upon me. I followed the scent of water. Magical creatures were scarce; I encountered a few but they did not attack.
Perhaps they sensed the disparity in power through their wild instincts. The allure of devouring the unconscious Senri was outweighed by the risk of confronting me. Defeating someone with abilities nearly on par with a vampire, without exploiting their weaknesses, would be a daunting task.
As I pushed through the underbrush, Senri suddenly opened her eyes slightly in my arms. Weakly, her violet gaze met mine.
“E… End…?”
“Thank goodness… you’re awake…”
If possible, I wanted her to release the Blessing, but I doubted she had the strength. Perhaps the Blessing was aiding in her healing. Well… it was fine. I could still endure. Holding Senri securely, I quickened my pace.
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Eventually, I stopped near a small stream.
Night was about to give way to dawn. I couldn’t keep running forever. I gently set Senri down on the ground, and though she wobbled, she managed to stand on her own. The pain had subsided, bringing a sense of relief.
“What time… have I been asleep?”
“It’s not yet dawn.”
“……Liar.”
Senri rubbed her head and lifted her shirt to check her abdomen. Her white skin, illuminated by moonlight, appeared almost ethereal. The scar from the Albatos was barely visible, and the blood had been thoroughly wiped away.
Senri pressed her stomach, speaking in disbelief.
“……My clothes have changed.”
“I changed you. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to hold you if you kept bleeding. I didn’t take off your underwear, though.”
“……Why are my wounds healed?”
Senri’s injuries had been severe. I couldn’t fathom the nature of the attack she had endured, but merely applying pressure with cloth wouldn’t have sufficed. The wound on her head was no different. I had no choice but to act as I did.
Maintaining a calm facade, I responded.
“……I licked them. It’s not like I couldn’t help myself or anything.”
“…….”
“See? The bite marks disappear quickly, right? So, I thought maybe vampire saliva has healing properties… and besides, the blood that flowed was a bit too precious to waste… it was for your sake, Senri.”
If asked whether it had been a sensual experience, I would have to say yes. Undressing the unconscious Senri to lick her wounds had felt incredibly pleasurable, and there had been a thrill to it. But I had done it for her benefit. Moreover, my power had increased, albeit not as much as when I had sunk my fangs in. It had been a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.
As I had anticipated, the wound on her abdomen closed up quickly. The blood that had flowed likely hadn’t regenerated, so she needed to remain at rest, but she had escaped the worst of it.
“Of course, I washed it away with water afterward. My magic came in handy immediately.”
“…….”
“I didn’t stab you with my fangs. If it hadn’t healed… I would have had to.”
The more I made excuses, the more I felt I was digging my own grave. Senri had been giving me a sulky look for a while, but she sighed softly and lowered her shirt, covering her white skin.
“Thank you, End… you saved me.”
“No, no, you should be thanking me. If you ever need help again, just let me know… though it would be best if you didn’t.”
The blood that had flowed was sweet. I had heard that drinking preserved blood or blood from corpses wouldn’t quell the urge, but it seemed that fresh blood was a different story.
Using my immense magical power, I cast an impossible, non-attribute spell. Though I had only been practicing for a few days, I had become quite adept at handling magic. My magical energy was far greater than that of an average person, allowing me to practice more frequently. If this continued, I might not have to worry about survival for long.
A few sparks of fire danced in the air, and I used them to ignite some leaves. Smoke drifted away with the wind.
Senri spoke softly, her small fists clenched tightly.
“I let my guard down… that Albatos was cursed.”
“Cursed?”
“An aberration of yours. Not as strong as a vampire, but a fearsome opponent that gains power at the cost of something.”
Indeed, the way the creature had effortlessly thrown a table with one hand was clearly abnormal. The Albatos wasn’t particularly large, nor did it have thick arms. It didn’t seem to possess much muscle at all.
I see, that trait certainly resembled the vampire I had encountered. My body was a bit more rugged, but it didn’t appear to have the muscle necessary to throw a table with one hand.
However, I didn’t know what the cost was, but since it was hunting alongside Master Beast, it was likely not a vampire. Regardless of the circumstances, it had undoubtedly inflicted serious injuries on Senri.
“I could only escape… it was pitiful.”
“The End Knight specializes in hunting the dark’s minions, so it can’t be helped.”
In response to my consolation, Senri shot me a disgruntled look. Rubbing her neck, she said,
“……End, it’s because you drank too much blood. I couldn’t muster my strength.”
“!? You said it was fine. You told me I could drink a little more because you were worried.”
“Too much. I told you I didn’t want it… but you didn’t stop for a while.”
Senri glared at me, as if blaming me.
It had been a long time since I had fed directly from a neck. I had never drunk alcohol, but perhaps that was what intoxication felt like. When I had only fed from her neck, I hadn’t had the luxury to savor it, but this time everything felt different. The satisfaction and pleasure were extraordinary, and Senri, who had been trembling with delight at that moment, hadn’t seemed to mind at all.
She hadn’t said she didn’t want it… she had only said “no” once.
I had stopped when I needed to, so I hoped she would forgive me. I wanted to drink again.
“Next time… I can’t allow you to drink so much. If you don’t drink a lot of blood, we can win.”
During training, I had sensed that Senri was quite stubborn.
From my pocket, she pulled out a Night Crystal the size of a pinky claw and said,
“There won’t be another opportunity for a while… I’ve obtained the ‘Night Crystal (Knight-Crystal).’ After this, we just need to hide.”
“……That’s true. But even if we hide, we need to choose our location carefully… they must have developed tracking techniques that don’t rely on the scent of blood.”
That was the problem. I didn’t know how they had tracked me. Of course, I didn’t expect to be able to hide my presence completely. While I might be inconspicuous, Senri’s appearance was distinctive, and if they focused on those who entered at night, it wouldn’t be impossible for them to find us.
However, Master Beast’s actions were far too swift. Despite the distance that should have separated us, he managed to track us down to this very room in just a few days—such a feat was nothing short of extraordinary.
Merely fleeing normally would not suffice.
Doubt lingered in my mind. Fear gripped my heart. Yet, I could not afford to take my time with this decision. I needed to restore Senri’s strength as quickly as possible. We couldn’t remain hidden in the mountains indefinitely.
With a serious expression, I turned to Senri and proposed,
“I think we should rely on the house from my previous life…”