**Chapter 19: Homecoming III**
—
Negotiation could be described as neither good nor bad. My father requested time to think. Of course, that was to be expected. The proposal I had brought forth was of a nature that a noble would find unacceptable.
The stakes were too high, and if our positions were reversed… I would be tormented with uncertainty about what to do. I didn’t expect an immediate agreement; in fact, such a quick acceptance would be more frightening.
However, it seemed that Lord Doro-Formet was not as strict a person as I had imagined. The face of my father, which I hadn’t seen in a long time, showed the passage of time more than the memories I held of him, but from the nuances of his words, it was clear he still considered me his son.
With this, it seemed there was a chance of victory greater than I had anticipated. At the very least, while it might be difficult to secure a place for me to live here, I felt there was a possibility he could provide some financial support.
The presence of negativity was suppressed as much as possible by the Night Crystal. The real problem lay with the Vampire Hunters pursuing me; however, no matter how skilled the Master Beast was, it was unlikely they could catch up to me after the events of yesterday.
No, logically speaking, it was absolutely impossible. If they did catch up, it would mean they had somehow pinpointed my current location and possessed movement speed equal to or greater than my own, which would be the worst-case scenario.
I was grateful to have awakened from my slumber, and that the day had also begun anew. Crawling out from the closet, I lightly checked my physical condition before reuniting with Senri in the next room.
As always, the curse did not activate when I entered Senri’s room.
The sun was setting, casting a pale gray hue outside the window. It was time for our meeting. I had to see my father once more.
Depending on his response, I could be freed from my pursuers. However, there was also the possibility that my father was… I didn’t want to think about it too much, but he might be gathering forces to purify me.
A Dark Elf was an existence outside the rules of the world—a tainted soul. It was said that a soul that had fallen into the hands of a necromancer could not ascend to heaven unless purified. In other words, purification was not about killing; it was about salvation, at least in theory. (It was quite dubious whether heaven truly existed, considering that the stoic Senri had not immediately purified me.) For my father, the thought of my corpse being sold off and my soul being violated must weigh heavily on him.
Choosing purification for my sake would be an act of kindness, but it was also a possibility I could not entirely dismiss.
To my father, who had asked for time to think, I replied that I would return the next day. I only gave him a single day to reduce the stakes as much as possible. It would be difficult to arrange matters with the End Knights in just one day, and mercenaries capable of defeating a Vampire were rare.
I felt a twinge of self-loathing for not fully trusting my own father, but this was a necessary step for survival.
After changing my clothes, I turned to the waiting Senri.
“I’m going to hear my father’s response. I think the chances are low, but there’s also a possibility he could be waiting for us. Will you come with me?”
“…Of course.”
Senri agreed without hesitation.
Senri was a member of the Order of the Final Knights. She even had proof of it. I hadn’t mentioned to my father that I was bringing someone with me. He would likely find it hard to believe that the End Knights would cooperate, and there was a risk that my father might inquire with the Order, leading to information leaking to the enemy.
Moreover… she was currently betraying the Order of the Final Knights to assist me. To suggest using her betrayal would be cruel, considering her character.
However… seeing it with my own eyes might change things. If my father learned that Senri was cooperating with me, his perspective might shift. Additionally, Senri was pure. Despite having bitten me a few times, her soul remained untainted. Even if my voice could not reach him, there was a chance her voice could.
I felt an unusual tension. Senri gently took my hand, her delicate fingers entwining with mine. She smiled softly and spoke in a voice that was almost unchanged from the first time we met, soothing my anxiety.
“It’s fine… I won’t betray you. I’ll help you escape.”
—
Once again, we infiltrated Lord Formet’s mansion, making our way to my father’s study. The surrounding guards seemed slightly less vigilant compared to yesterday. Perhaps my father had reduced their numbers for my sake, but it felt overly careless. I wasn’t in a position to criticize, but I might need to suggest they bolster their defenses.
I focused on sensing the presence in the study from outside the window. Though I hadn’t undergone any training, perhaps due to my Vampire instincts, I could gauge the number of people present from a distance if I concentrated.
There was likely just one person—my father. At the very least, there were no signs of multiple living beings. The likelihood of being ambushed had decreased.
With Senri on my back, I ascended to the window in one swift motion.
As I approached… there was no ominous presence. I opened the window from the outside and slipped inside. The window swung open forcefully, allowing warm air to flood in.
In the study, Lord Doro-Formet awaited, alone. His complexion revealed signs of weariness; he must have spent the entire day in contemplation.
Upon seeing me, my father frowned, but his expression quickly shifted to surprise as he noticed Senri on my back.
“Ah, you’ve come… Who is that girl on your back?”
“Senri Sylvis. She’s… my ally. You see, I can’t survive without drinking blood now, so… with her consent, I’ve been taking a little.”
“…I wasn’t informed of this.”
My father’s expression twisted in clear dismay. Did he perhaps think I was living harmlessly as a Dark Elf without harming anyone?
That was far from the truth. While I hadn’t explicitly stated it…
The duty of a noble is to govern their territory and, by extension, protect their subjects. The psychological burden of having a son who has become a monster yet retains his sanity, versus one who has also become a monster but cannot refrain from drinking blood, is quite different. I had made a mistake. Perhaps I should have concealed this for a while longer.
Was it too soon to introduce Senri? Had I been too optimistic, thinking he wouldn’t sell my corpse?
A tense atmosphere spread between my father and me. However, at that moment, Senri dismounted from my back and fixed a resolute gaze upon my father.
In a voice that was slightly lower than one would expect from a woman, yet pleasant to the ear, she spoke.
“Lord Formet, it is an honor to meet you. I am Senri Sylvis, a member of the Order of the Final Knights.”
She produced a small emblem made of gold and silver from her robe.
The emblem of the Order of the Final Knights—a design combining a sword and a cross. The moment I laid eyes on it, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. It was my first time seeing it, but perhaps she had hidden it from me for my sake.
I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in surprise, staring intently at Senri’s back. She had shown her intention to return the sword to the Order. Given her character, it was unthinkable for her to exploit her effectively defunct status.
Yet, there was no hesitation in Senri’s voice. Without wavering, she turned her back to me and faced my father.
It was exceedingly rare for the Order of the Final Knights to come to such a rural area. Moreover, they would never have imagined that their son, now a Dark Elf, would bring one of their own along. My father’s expression contorted in shock.
“!? The Order of the Final Knights… you say?”
“Currently… I am temporarily separated from my comrades, but your son is truly strong. Even after having his soul violated by evil magic… he has not lost his sanity at all.”
Her words were unwavering. My father seemed to retreat, overwhelmed by the presence of this girl who was so different from the usual. It was a rare sight to see the usually blunt Senri speaking with such formality.
The words that left her lips were as straight as a blade, filled with conviction. I could feel a strong charisma radiating from her. Before me stood the embodiment of a true End Knight. It was said that those attacked by Vampires suffer from mental corruption, yet she showed not a trace of it.
I felt an overwhelming Bloodlust rising within me, and I grimaced, suppressing it.
Senri continued.
“Lord Formet… I understand your concerns. However, here… could you trust him and leave it to me?”
—
It was the best possible outcome I could have hoped for. The tense atmosphere that had existed just moments ago dissipated like mist. My father spoke with a relaxed expression.
“…It seems you’ve found an excellent partner. I feel a little more at ease now.”
“Yeah. Just this alone makes becoming a Dark Elf worthwhile.”
“…Don’t say foolish things, LiEru. …Ah, was it the End now?”
My father spoke with genuine exasperation. Yet… it was sincere.
It was a stroke of luck. If anything were to happen, I would be in a position to eliminate threats, but as a human, I wouldn’t have been able to drink Senri’s blood, nor would I have been able to gain a girlfriend like her.
At that moment, I never imagined that Senri would become such an ally to me. However, it seems that risking annihilation to negotiate with Epe was worth it.
What my father prepared for me was a case full of banknotes, a map, identification papers, and—one key.
“…………It’s an unused mansion. Cleaning is necessary, but it should serve well for hiding… It should be suitable for two people to live there. But be careful.”
I accepted the key he handed me, his expression tinged with concern.
This meant I could stay secluded in this territory for a while. I never expected that he would provide not only funds but also a place to stay. The Doro-Forme N/A has many things to protect. If the Order of the Final Knights found out, my head would be on the chopping block.
Thinking of my father, I knew I couldn’t stay forever. But at the very least, I could prepare myself. There were no ties connecting me to my father, and this key should be untraceable.
With my worries lifted, I felt elated. I wanted to talk a bit more, but it was a coincidence that someone entered the study. If all went well, there would be another opportunity to discuss things.
Cradling the case and the map, I thanked him once more and turned toward the window.
As long as a Knight of the End who could sense negative energy didn’t come too close, the likelihood of my true identity being discovered was low. Perhaps someday… I might be allowed to enter through the front door.
As I pondered this, my father spoke in a serious tone.
“LiEru… no, End. I cannot allow you to claim the name of the Forme N/A now. You are dead.”
“…Ah, of course, I understand that much.”
If our relationship were to be discovered, it would cause trouble for my family. I didn’t need him to tell me that. I had no intention of revealing myself. …Speaking of which, I had engraved it on Ruu’s grave. Well, I doubt anyone would care.
Shrugging, I noticed my father smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth.
“However… in exchange, I shall grant you the title of Baron (Baro N/A) as proof that you are my son.”
“……………………That’s a low rank.”
“N/A… Don’t complain. Originally, as my third son, you wouldn’t have even dreamed of such a title.”
He said with a frown, and I couldn’t help but find it amusing, chuckling softly.
“Ah, I get it. Thank you, Father.”
End Baron (Baro N/A). The name might not roll off the tongue well, but it didn’t feel bad. More importantly, there likely wasn’t anyone else of lower rank than a vampire who held a title.
“…………I have a private matter to discuss with Senri. It won’t take long, so wait outside.”
What could it be about? I was curious, but if it was something I absolutely needed to know, Senri would tell me afterward. I trusted him to that extent.
Nodding vigorously, I leaped from the window, feeling even better than when I entered.