**Chapter Nine: Stronghold**
Carried by Monika, I enjoyed a leisurely flight through the air.
The Demon’s flying speed was quite impressive, even while carrying one person, and the ride was comfortable with minimal turbulence. Moreover, it seemed she could maintain that speed for a long time. Perhaps this was the reason Monika had been chosen from King Rainer’s army for the raid on the Caravan.
Oliver, in his Werewolf form, raced across the ground. Dust kicked up around him, and his speed far surpassed that of Monika soaring through the sky. In terms of pure physical ability, he was likely superior to me, and he had no issues with the sunlight either. This world felt incredibly unfair.
“I apologize for this treatment. We—well, the sunlight isn’t a problem for us,” Monika said, her voice tinged with apprehension.
It was clear that returning in such a hurry was not part of the plan. I nodded nonchalantly.
“No, it’s not as bad as you think. Being carried while flying is a refreshing change.”
I was usually the one doing the carrying, and my jumps were more akin to leaps than actual flights. The slightly chilly night breeze felt pleasant against my skin. The moonlit wasteland below was desolate yet breathtakingly beautiful. If I could escape to a place beyond the reach of the Empire, traveling the world might be enjoyable. I could visit all the stunning landscapes.
As Monika held me securely and continued to fly, she hesitantly spoke up.
“To reach our camp before dawn, we’ll have to either cross a large river or fly over the N/A Fortress.”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“The N/A Fortress is heavily guarded… Even if Oliver takes a different route, if we fly through the sky unprotected, we will likely be attacked. It would make us easy targets for tracking spells.”
That sounded troublesome. While I was curious to see the N/A Fortress, I certainly didn’t want to be attacked. Magical attacks wouldn’t affect me, but Monika was different… Would I be safe if I transformed into a dog?
The fact that she hadn’t even suggested crossing the river was likely due to her consideration for me.
“We can just cross the river. Flowing water is indeed frightening, but there’s no need to make an entire city our enemy. It’s fine; I’ve crossed rivers before coming here. Besides, the sunlight… it’s manageable for a little while.”
Having endured the sun’s punishment before, I felt that with my current strength, I could withstand a couple of hours of strong sunlight, as long as it wasn’t too intense.
At my words, Monika seemed to tremble, and we suddenly dropped in altitude. She quickly regained her composure and spoke in a quivering voice.
“!? …I’m deeply sorry, my King.”
Her reaction… What on earth was going on?
I felt a flicker of suspicion, but upon reflection, it made sense. A vampire who could withstand sunlight was certainly not normal. My ability to endure it was due to my lower rank and the thinness of my curse. If I were just an ordinary vampire, even the slightest light after dawn would have been a serious blow.
“Is this your first time seeing a vampire who can endure sunlight?”
“…Well, there are rarely night kings around.”
It seemed that such beings were indeed uncommon. Now that I thought about it, there hadn’t been any vampires among the Lord’s subordinates.
“Well, it’s not that I’m saying this, but vampires have a lot of weaknesses.”
“!? …No, if one has the power of a night king, there’s no need to ally with other demon kings.”
Monika’s tone was serious, a stark contrast to her alluring appearance.
Another vampire… I probably wouldn’t be able to get along with them. If I became friendly with another vampire, they would surely set their sights on Senri.
I had my own possessiveness. The thought of sharing her blood with another vampire was unimaginable.
After a while, a massive black object came into view. Flickering lights dotted its surface as Monika ascended rapidly, gaining significant altitude. I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the breathtaking sight below.
It was a wall. This enormous artificial structure seemed to slice through the wasteland, stretching to the horizon, with lights twinkling all over its surface. It was the first time I had seen such a scene. Watching the tiny humans bustling about from above gave me the illusion of being a supernatural being.
My heart raced.
I wanted to go there. I wanted to see it up close. I wanted to explore! All I could see was the long wall, and there were no signs of a city. Perhaps noticing my excitement, Monika began to explain.
“That is the dreaded long wall of the N/A Fortress. It was originally built for human territorial disputes, but now it serves as a stronghold to thwart our army.”
“I can’t see any city.”
“The city lies further west—near the turbulent Burk River. But please rest assured, if we stray a little off course, we can cross the river without being detected by humans.”
The fortress looked unlike any city I had seen thus far. It had a somewhat futuristic appearance. I felt a pang of regret. Surely, there were countless things within that city that I had never laid eyes on before.
“Hey, Monika. Is there any way we could explore the city? You can transform into a human, right?”
Back then, she had proper clothing instead of the revealing outfit she wore now, and while I was unsure how I would sneak in, the Caravan hadn’t reached the city yet, so perhaps I could manage it in dog form…
As I excitedly posed my question, Monika responded with a troubled tone.
“I’m sorry, but that city has taken extensive measures against vampires, and their vigilance against nighttime visitors is even greater.”
“…That’s unfortunate. I really wanted to explore the city.”
If it weren’t for Monika and Oliver, I could have enjoyed the sights with Senri… The real challenge would be convincing the Caravan. Was there any way to start over from here?
Seeing my serious inner turmoil, Monika spoke hastily.
“However, our stronghold is nothing to scoff at. I believe you will find it considerably satisfying compared to a human city.”
“I was actually quite satisfied living in dog form.”
“…End-sama, you’ve changed.”
Even after gaining the freedom to move my body, things weren’t going smoothly. I let out a small sigh as I watched the distant lights fade away, feeling a sense of longing.
—
From above, the wide Burk River was clearly visible, its swift current unmistakable as we crossed it and ventured into the wasteland. The sky gradually brightened, and the sun peeked over the horizon.
My body began to tingle, but I didn’t mind it.
The scenery had transformed completely from a moment ago. Ahead of Monika, a massive mountain range loomed. But it wasn’t just any mountain. Nestled in the midst of the peaks was a colossal stronghold that was unmistakably visible from afar.
The stench of blood, flesh, and iron mingled in the air, carried by the wind, emanating from the crude houses that had been hastily constructed. Even before the night had fully passed, fires burned, and a group that was clearly not human let out eerie cries. Some of them seemed to notice Monika soaring through the sky and began to howl.
“You may already know this, but King Rainer is also known as the Lion King. Eighty percent of his subordinates are intelligent, fierce beasts.”
My eyes sparkled with excitement. While this place was not suited to my sensibilities, it felt like I had stumbled into a fairy tale world, and I was a little thrilled. The stench that would have made me grimace as a human didn’t bother me now. This was a trait of being a vampire.
If it were safe, I would love to explore.
“That over there is Lord Rainer’s castle. It’s a temporary structure for the conquest of the N/A Fortress…”
Monika pointed to a magnificent castle that stood apart from the sordid city below. The castle, carved from part of the mountain and utilizing its natural resources, was majestic in a different sense than the N/A Fortress. If the Lion King meant the king of lions, then it could be said to resemble a lion’s den.
As I gazed in awe, clearly a country bumpkin, Monika spoke.
“However, the sun will rise soon. It may be a humble place, but please wait for a moment at my home. I must also deliver good news to Lord Rainer.”
“Ah, understood. I’ll behave myself.”
If eighty percent of his subordinates were beasts, then I could likely move around unnoticed in my beast form.
As I pondered this cheerfully, Monika watched me with a worried expression.