Chapter 20: Trap
Master Beast thought to himself, without changing his expression, that it was a fine mansion. It was spacious enough, furnished adequately, and had plenty of hiding spots. And what was more—there were no nearby houses.
The key to hunting Vampires lies in preventing them from taking any action. To annihilate such a being, whose abilities far surpass those of humans, requires meticulous strategies. The disparity between them is indeed vast. No matter how much a normal person trains their muscles or hones their combat skills, they would still fall short compared to that monster. Only a Blessed End Knight or someone cursed equally could stand against that detestable creature with brute force.
Had the original Necromancer managed to eliminate the weaknesses of the Vampire, humanity would have been reduced to mere fearful shadows, cowering in hiding. Perhaps, in this current world, it could have been the Vampire that held humanity’s position.
Fortunately, the current Vampires possess numerous weaknesses. The history of humankind is a history of battling these monsters.
The cross-shaped sword, meticulously crafted to replicate the crucifix that Vampires fear, garlic and silver-infused bombs, and wooden stakes shaped for ease of use. The chainmail formed from holy water and silver mimics the armor of Blessing. The tools developed for the extermination of Vampires have advanced to the point where they can eliminate even a moderate Vampire as if they were mere pests.
Vampires are beings that must be eradicated. There are no exceptions.
They understand language and can wield human tools. Showing sympathy only invites exploitation. Particularly, Vampires possess the ability to trigger the ‘infection’ carried by the weakest of their kind, the Zombie, at will. Thus, they can proliferate far more easily than humans.
The target this time is a troublesome opponent.
The characteristics of this target’s Vampire differ from the norm, but more importantly, they are accompanied by a former End Knight’s escort. It is only natural that Annihilation’s Epe requested Master Beast’s assistance. Master Beast and Albatross specialize in tracking Vampires among the Vampire Hunters. If the opponent is a member of the Order of the Final Knights, who knows precisely how End Knights pursue Vampires, then conventional methods will not suffice.
The opponent has grown complacent after acquiring the ‘Night Crystal.’ Tonight, they will decide the outcome.
This evening, the moon was full. It was when Vampires gained their greatest power. However, that very fact also breeds overconfidence. Even if a lower-ranked Vampire is somewhat enhanced, it holds little significance for Master Beast.
It was a stroke of luck that he could predict the target’s next move. The fact that this creature retains memories from its human days is a troublesome factor. That abhorrent monster still foolishly believes itself to be human. What a tragedy that is.
The lord, who appeared to be the target’s father, responded readily to Master Beast’s intimidation.
The mansion, which had undergone meticulous preparations, still appeared unchanged at first glance, but it had transformed into a fortress against Vampires. No, rather than a fortress—it could be called an execution ground.
There are many fatal weaknesses in Vampires. Even if they possess some intelligence, once they are trapped, it is all over. If a gap appears, they can be swiftly annihilated.
To kill a Vampire, all means must be employed. That is the essence of Vampire hunting. The first opportunity was missed. The circumstances were unfavorable. However, the second time would not be so easily squandered. It was not only the Vampires who learned from the first encounter.
Hiding deep within the mansion, he awaited the moment the target would arrive. If the lord had followed Master Beast’s instructions, the target should appear soon.
And then, the moment arrived. The key turned, and the door creaked open. Small footsteps approached directly. Without a hint of tension, he merely concealed himself like a shadow.
Without taking action, he prepared to welcome the Vampire. It was imperative to trap it completely within the room. A Vampire’s power is significantly restricted indoors. They require a room devoid of sunlight to rest, so it was only natural for them to come to this place.
Surely, they would not suspect Master Beast was hiding within. If they were aware, there would be no reason to enter so boldly. The scent of his body had been masked with special herbs. The opponent was complacent. There was no worry of being detected from outside the room.
With lips twisted into a deep smile, he awaited the moment to strike. Then, the door to the room where Master Beast lay hidden swung open wide.
What appeared was exactly the opponent Master Beast had envisioned. However, the presence that should have accompanied them was absent.
The silver-haired, purple-eyed darling of Annihilation stepped into the room without hesitation and called out toward Master Beast, who should have been hidden in the shadows.
“Waiting is pointless. The end… will not come.”
He had been discovered. This was not a ruse. It seemed that the situation had changed significantly from what he had imagined. Master Beast rose from the shadows, furrowing his brow as he regarded the naive princess.
—
Senri-Sylvis was not well-versed in Vampire hunting. However, she understood that they were a fearsome foe.
Once, when the Order of the Final Knights had few members and the effective use of Blessing was not as clear as it was now, the Order and Vampire hunters had a cooperative relationship. By the time Senri became an End Knight, the hunting of Vampires had already been monopolized by the Order of the Final Knights, so she had never worked alongside them, but witnessing their methods firsthand revealed a resilience different from that of the End Knights.
Before the second-tier Knight, the man who called himself Master Beast showed no sign of distress.
“Have you come to surrender? Or perhaps for negotiation? Very well, my objective is solely you. If you surrender quietly, I will let that Vampire go.”
“Don’t… underestimate me.”
Furrowing her brow, she glared at the enigmatic man before her. Even she could tell that his words were a lie. The man standing in front of her was not so lenient. At the very least, Senri was not naive enough to trust a man who had lied once.
In response to Senri’s glare, Master Beast let out a small sigh and glanced around. The grandfather clock indicated that it was now midnight. There were still several hours until morning.
“Your presence here means the Baron has betrayed us… What a foolish man. No matter how much he loves his son, to shield a dead man is a grave sin. Does he not care for his house?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
There were several things she wanted to say, but resisting the provocation, Senri feigned ignorance.
Ludoro-Fomato had summoned Senri and informed her about Master Beast. Furthermore, he had entrusted her with the matter concerning End.
Senri did not comprehend how crucial the survival of a noble house was. However, there was undoubtedly a bond between father and son.
She considered fleeing, but that option could not be taken. The speed and precision of the man before her were far too great. If she did not eliminate him here, she would be unable to cope if he teamed up with the End Knights or other Vampire hunters.
“Noble corpses become powerful Abominations. There is a saying. Though it may be dubious, in most countries, nobles are mandated to be cremated. Hehe, if it becomes known that a corpse has washed ashore—the Fomato Baron family will be finished. It was a warning, but… it cannot be helped.”
“……”
Once he had finished speaking, Master Beast suddenly wore a suspicious expression, as if he were reproaching Senri.
“However—I’ve said it before, but I don’t understand. Why do you side with that Vampire? Surely, you haven’t been enchanted by him. It is utterly illogical.”
“……”
“You have already fulfilled your obligation by offering your blood. Are you planning to watch over him forever? That man has no lifespan. Are you truly intending to point your sword at me, rather than the Vampire, as an End Knight hunting Abominations?”
What a detestable man he was. It was likely that his verbal confusion was one of his tactics. However, his words struck directly at Senri’s concerns.
Indeed, End was dangerous. Though he was still weak, she had no idea how long he could maintain that weakness or when he might become stronger than her. There was also the difference in lifespan. There was a possibility he could drink the blood of others when she wasn’t watching.
Yet, despite that, the image of End she had witnessed thus far had touched Senri’s heart. He was so timid, resisting his instincts, and being tossed about by a bizarre fate.
She wanted to be close to him and support him. That alone was a sufficient reason to wield her sword.
Drawing her silver sword from her waist, the emblem of the Order of the Final Knights, she held the cold, shining holy silver blade aloft.
This is… my will.
“Do you think I cannot… cut you down?”
The enemies of the Order of the Final Knights are Abominations. However, among Abominations, there are those who manipulate human hearts, and there are those who have willingly joined their ranks. Moreover, there is a history of conflict with Vampire hunters. Her experience in human combat is as extensive as that against Abominations.
As Senri glared, sword drawn, Master Beast narrowed his eyes.
“You cannot cut me down. At least, you cannot cut me down. Poor… Vampire’s bride… because—”
“We are… not one person like you.”
“NO!!”
Suddenly, a black shadow leaped from behind, and she met it with her sword. As she parried, she stepped back simultaneously, deflecting the impact, but the weight of the blow was so heavy that her sword trembled, and her hand went numb.
The one who lunged at me was a black-skinned Dororess woman. She appeared to be several years younger than Senri, but the force behind her strike was astonishingly powerful, far beyond what one would expect from her slender arms. This was no ordinary human strength.
In the darkness, her golden eyes gleamed like twin stars. Alba-tos. The girl who had once defeated Senri wore a beast-like grin as she emerged from the shadows. In both hands, she wielded claw-like weapons—her claws.
It was an unusual weapon. Though she was supposed to be a Vampire hunter, her claws seemed to be made of a harder metal rather than silver, easily withstanding Senri’s previous attack. Despite her smaller stature compared to Senri, every movement she made was incredibly swift and agile; in pure martial arts, she might even surpass Senri.
It was clear that she possessed inhuman strength. Such power could only be achieved through a Blessing, but there was no aura of one surrounding her, nor did she seem to be using any magic.
Thus, there was only one conclusion to draw.
Cursed. She was someone enhanced by a curse different from that of a Vampire. Just as Vampires have numerous weaknesses, curses typically come with their own costs, but Senri had been unable to discern this during their first battle. It was more likely that the cost was not something that could be exploited immediately.
My escape route was blocked. Had she not been in the room to set up an ambush?
“Once, do you not remember the hole I put in your stomach, End Knight?”
“Your movements do not suggest someone with a gaping wound, but… Alba, this is not what we agreed upon.”
“Then let me make another hole for you, Once.”
Alba-tos lowered her stance, her long, dark hair swaying. Master Beast drew a cross sword from its sheath at his waist. Unlike with Vampires, the cross would not affect Senri, but the way he handled it showed remarkable skill.
“I thought the two of you would come together. However, if it’s just one person, that works in my favor. Princess, it seems you do not fully trust that Vampire. If I bind you, I can lure that man as well. If I cannot lure him… heh heh heh, you will wake up to reality.”
“…Master Beast, you are mistaken.”
Master Beast fell silent. Alba-tos continued to gaze at Senri with her shining eyes.
My spirit was fulfilled. The cool air brushed against my cheeks. I accelerated the Blessing flowing within me. My body radiated a strong heat, and power coursed through me.
Then, I ignited all of that energy at once. Power transformed into light, swirling around Senri-Sylvis like a fierce wind.
If the method of Vampire hunting involves using every means and tool to exploit weaknesses and set traps, then the fighting style of the End Knights relies on the versatile energy of Sei… combat techniques utilizing Blessing.
In the Order of the Final Knights, the condition for a third-tier Knight to become a second-tier Knight is to master all thirty-six basic techniques that utilize limited Blessing.
Body Enhancement Technique: ‘Junko’ (Circulating Light)
Suppressing the indescribable sense of fulfillment that coursed through my brain, I cloaked myself in light and glared at the two of them.
“Back then… I wasn’t at my best. Facing both of you… it’s not an impossible task. It’s not that I don’t trust you… it’s just that with End here, I can’t fight with all my strength.”
—
“Are you serious!? To think you’d fall for a little girl’s charms. Ah, how pathetic for one who is supposed to be the vessel of the King of the Dead…”
“Shut… up…”
“Oh, if you’re going to end up like that, I should have warned you to be careful around women from the start. What a foolish thing to say.”
I couldn’t argue back. But it was all Senri’s fault. Everything was Senri’s fault.
My entire body was numb, unable to move. Pain aside, this was my first experience with such debilitating paralysis. I lay on my back, barely managing to respond with my tongue to the remnants of the Lord’s voice.
The apparition of the Lord was not as calm as before. He pressed his forehead in disbelief, shaking his head in disappointment at my failure.
Why is he even here? Am I… dying?
As an An/A Doro, I shouldn’t be affected by poison, paralysis, or sleeping drugs. Yet here I was, barely able to move a finger, and the apparition of the Lord, which only appeared during my limits, was visible. It was strange to still have consciousness. I felt no loss of power.
“That little girl is quite the formidable opponent. Only the core of your being is paralyzed. She used a minor technique that no one else would employ. But I must say… it’s your fault for falling for such an obvious opening. You’re probably the only An/A Doro alive who has been hit by such a technique.”
“…”
“You were far too careless. What kind of Vampire would allow themselves to be bitten? Foolishness. Reflect on your mistakes, An/A!”
Who on earth developed such a terrible technique!?
It’s not my fault. I admit I was a bit too carefree, feeling things were going well. But I trusted Senri. When she invited me to let her drink from my neck, of course, I accepted. And when she whispered in my ear, “But before that, can I bite End too?” how could I refuse?
I never expected her to do something so cruel… I felt betrayed. After all, I didn’t even get any blood. I absolutely despise the End Knights.