**Chapter Twelve: Trial of Strength**
As far as I know, there are those referred to as Demon Kings. In my previous life, I was never informed about the outside world, so I don’t know the details, but they were said to be a terrifying natural enemy of humanity. In terms of threat level, they might even surpass necromancers.
There are several reasons for this, but one is that the scale of a Demon King’s forces tends to be larger than that of a necromancer. Additionally, unlike the End Knights who serve as a clear natural enemy to necromancers, there seems to be no such counterpart for the Demon Kings.
Some are said to have destroyed multiple human nations.
I had always believed the Demon King’s army to be a fearsome presence. I thought they were far stronger than the magical beasts I fought in the forest or even the vampire hunters. However, after my encounter with SeルザーDoro, it seemed that wasn’t necessarily the case.
I changed out of my tattered clothes, wiped the blood away, and resumed my activities. Of course, I was on high alert for ambushes. I had let my guard down earlier. However, it seemed that while there were those watching from a distance, no one else approached. The distance between me and my guide, Monica, had also widened a bit.
“Were you perhaps close with SeルザーDoro?”
I had only retaliated in self-defense. I hoped she would think it kind of me not to gouge out his heart.
Monica hesitated for a moment before cautiously opening her small lips. “…No. However, SeルザーDoro was of the same rank as the commanders. He was a warrior respected by his subordinates.”
“Is he strong?”
“…While he may not match the combat prowess of Raiネル-sama, he is certainly among the upper ranks within the army.”
“…Well, it was about half an ambush, so…”
I had inadvertently implied he was the weakest. Feeling a bit guilty, I offered an excuse. Perhaps he was skilled in martial arts. I might have crushed him before he could fully unleash his abilities, but in any case, he didn’t seem as strong compared to a vampire.
Until now, every enemy had been wary of me. The third-tier knights like Nebira wielded holy silver weapons, and the Master Beasts were no exception. Albaトス had purely relied on brute strength, so there was no excuse there, but it seemed that compatibility was crucial for vampires.
Of course, my current strength compared to when I fought Albaトス was likely greater. I had been regularly consuming Senri’s blood during my journey, and according to the Lord, my soul was said to be continuously descending.
Monica clasped her hands in front of her ample chest and spoke softly. “Your fighting prowess exceeds what I’ve heard, End-sama. I’ve heard that even among the Demon Kings, there are differences in strength, but to treat SeルザーDoro like a child without using any special abilities… it seems you are indeed a considerably powerful king…”
It was a rather pointless flattery. Despite her bright voice, there was a strong fear in her eyes.
However, this information was important. The “special abilities” Monica mentioned likely referred to the unique powers possessed by vampires. Since I was still a lower rank, I could hardly utilize the original special abilities of vampires. Yet, it seemed Monica was unaware of this.
And as for my physical abilities… perhaps I was stronger than an average vampire. The reason was clear: it was due to consuming Senri’s blood. But if that were the case, I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t fully transformed into a pure vampire yet.
But it was pointless to ponder that. I would check when the remnants of the Lord’s essence emerged.
“This army is meritocratic. If it’s End-sama, you might even stand at the top here.”
Despite being right in the heart of Raiネル’s army base, Monica said something that took me aback. Was she gauging my reaction? If SeルザーDoro was a valuable asset to the Demon King’s army, it would be natural for her to be concerned about whether I was an enemy or an ally.
“I’m not interested. I have other objectives, and I plan to leave as soon as the time comes.”
“That’s… unfortunate.”
Monica lowered her gaze.
What if Senri left me behind and went somewhere? I was certainly intrigued by Monica’s blood, but it could never compare to Senri’s. My bloodlust was known to Senri. The time I had left… was at most ten days.
If I transformed into a dog, it wouldn’t be impossible to track Senri by scent. That is, if she hadn’t disappeared… she wouldn’t leave me behind, right?
I glanced at Monica, who was quite voluptuous. No, Senri. This isn’t infidelity.
It’s just that, being a vampire, I’m curious about blood. Being a demon, I don’t think it’s fine to be a bit rough when drinking blood. I swear it’s true.
Lost in thought, I followed Monica into the treasure vault of the army.
The treasure vault of Raiネル’s army was nothing like the glamorous building I had imagined. It was a plain stone warehouse, devoid of decorations.
From what I gathered, it seemed to serve merely as a storage space for plundered goods. I couldn’t imagine beasts having a taste for treasures, so the dull atmosphere was understandable.
The cold, damp air was mixed with a musty smell. Almost reflexively, my gaze was drawn to one door. Perhaps because I could now transform into a dog, my sense of smell had become unusually sharp.
A foul odor wafted from beyond the steel door. It was a mix of various scents, but predominantly human.
However, Monica ignored it and guided me further inside. The scent of blood, flesh, death, and excitement grew stronger. Monica stopped in front of a particularly grand door and hesitated before opening it.
“This is the dueling arena. The outcome of battles is decided here.”
What lay beyond was a vast chamber. No, it would be more accurate to call it a courtyard.
There was no ceiling, and looking up, I could see a sky full of stars. There was no stage to speak of, and the ground was bare, stained with traces of blood.
At that moment, two magical beings were engaged in a fierce brawl. They resembled humanoids but were at least twice their size. Their skin was as black as iron, and they sported two horns on their heads.
They were likely ogres, a type of subhuman categorized as magical beings, similar to lizardmen. The two ogres fought mercilessly, trading blows with their fists.
Neither of them bothered to defend themselves, nor were they wearing any armor. Each time a tightly clenched fist struck flesh, the dull sound was drowned out by their roars. Blood splattered, and the sound of bones breaking echoed. Black blood sprayed everywhere, yet neither seemed inclined to stop.
It appeared there was no significant difference in strength between the two, as others of similar appearance cheered them on with thunderous voices.
Monica explained in a small voice. “What they are currently fighting over is the great sword that belonged to the enemy commander when we raided ロN/Aブルク. A powerful weapon can elevate one’s status, and it’s an object that everyone desires.”
I wasn’t particularly interested. Rather, I was more intrigued by the ogres who were brawling. Ogres are known for their incredible strength. They are larger than humans, have skin like steel, and their attacks can be fatal. They have a culture of consuming the strong they defeat, making them opponents that seasoned mercenaries would absolutely avoid facing head-on.
The two currently fighting were unarmed, so they might not be at their best, but the ferocity of their brawl was filled with tremendous killing intent. Their expressions were twisted like demons, embodying the survival of the fittest that the Raiネル army espoused.
“No killing allowed. Everything in the Raiネル army belongs to Raiネル-sama.”
“What happens if someone accidentally kills?”
“No killing is allowed.”
Monica reiterated firmly. However, I thought that with such force behind those punches, a human would surely die. In fact, a strong stench of death lingered in this dueling arena.
As I watched, the fight reached its conclusion. A powerful kick from the larger of the two struck the midsection of the left ogre, who staggered but still managed to swing a wide punch. Perhaps even a species known for its strength couldn’t withstand such an attack from its own kind, as the left ogre spewed forth vomit and rolled across the ground with a tremendous sound.
He still seemed to be barely alive, but he was twitching and showed no signs of getting back up. The victorious ogre let out a triumphant roar, and his cheering comrades echoed the sound around him. They might have looked humanoid, but they were anything but.
As I covered my ears from the overwhelming cheers, Monica made a rather provocative gesture, emphasizing her chest, and cautiously said, “So… End-sama, it’s a bit difficult to say, but… living humans are considered prizes for the fighters.”
I see, it seems that even guests cannot be treated as special. I wondered what Oliver meant when he said he would prepare hundreds of them.
“…I’d be fine with Monica’s blood, though.”
“N-No!? P-Please, spare me!”
Was it really that undesirable? Despite being a demon dressed so provocatively, she was still afraid. I wished she would take a cue from Senri, who freely offered her blood and allowed me to touch her.
“No killing is allowed, right?”
“Absolutely no killing.”
Monica asserted with a tense expression. If killing were allowed, she would absolutely refuse to participate, but if there was no possibility of death, then perhaps joining the test of strength wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Even while watching the duel, she had no idea how her own abilities measured up against the ogre. The only way to find out was to face it directly. By comparing her strength with the ogre, she would understand the extent of her current physical capabilities. Even if she were to lose, she was accustomed to pain.
It is said that knowing your enemy and knowing yourself means you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles. This was a good opportunity.
As for living humans… she didn’t particularly desire them, but it felt better to take them rather than let them be captured by the Lynel army. She would only drink their blood; she had no intention of devouring them.
Not wanting to be saddened if her shirt tore again, she removed it and stretched her arms wide, checking her condition as she made her way to the center. Monica let out a small voice but chose to ignore it. If she were to test her strength, it was only logical to start with an opponent who was already injured.
The ogre, the victor of the previous round, widened its eyes in surprise at the sight of her.
The ogre, a massive figure covered in wounds, exuded an overwhelming presence. Its thick body, the girth of its limbs, and the armor of muscle were incomparable to her human form. However, after facing Alba-tos, this seemed almost trivial. The experiences with Alba-tos and E-pe had dulled her senses.
While she couldn’t gauge the difference in their strengths, it would be wise to remain cautious, given the example of the loser, Doro.
The ogre’s glass-like red eyes, similar to her own, burned with fighting spirit, even after the brawl had just begun.
“Gigi… what are you…?”
“Show me your strength, Chaniapion!”
Something deep within her mind flickered like a flame. Perhaps this was the primal combat instinct that made vampires so fearsome.
Then, without any signal, the ogre let out a growl and swung its fist down toward her.