**Chapter 24: Rebellion**
“Y-You are—”
The End Knight, Del-Gor Doro, wielded a sword that was classified as a weapon of strength, unlike Senri’s Object. With a single strike, it cleaved through the air, producing a thunderous sound as it sliced through the Oni Person along with its armor. The power of Blessing surged through its body, every muscle pulsating with intensity. Its movements were akin to a storm, effortlessly cutting down the three subhuman warriors who had coincidentally encountered it in the treasure vault.
Del readied the broad sword he had seized from the treasure vault, his guard unwavering. It went without saying that I was among those he was wary of.
Watching the Oni-like prowess of Del, I thought to myself.
—Not that impressive.
Strong. Certainly, he was strong. He could likely defeat the general opponents of the Rainer army, and in a one-on-one match, I might even struggle against him due to the nature of our abilities. However, he was far too weak for the role I had in mind.
Without considering compatibility, Del’s abilities were likely inferior to mine. Considerable time had passed since our chase by the water’s edge with Senri. My current power was on an entirely different level compared to that moment. In a direct contest of strength, I would probably come out on top against Del, who was enhanced by Blessing. I could kill subhumans in an instant, and if it were me, I wouldn’t even let out a sound.
I hadn’t expected much, but at this rate, there was no way we could stand against Rainer. I had hoped to distract Rainer, but whether Del could even manage that was questionable. That beast was an absolute powerhouse. Its overwhelming strength would likely render any tricks ineffective, and even if we collapsed the castle with explosives or something similar, that Demon King would not perish.
Perhaps Senri’s *Annihilation* could defeat him, the same spell that had blown away the Lord’s evil dragon? …Well, that was a last resort. If possible, I wanted to settle this before Senri arrived.
Del was eager for battle, but it seemed he did not intend to confront the entirety of the Demon King’s army. My betrayal had likely not been revealed yet. Ignoring the other prisoners for now, I slipped out of the treasure vault ahead of Del to survey the surroundings.
The camp was far noisier than usual. Black smoke was rising from the direction of the mountains. Voices that were clearly not human reached my ears.
“Intruders—don’t let them escape!”
I suppressed the instinct to fight with reason. Subhuman warriors, who were advanced fighters in the Rainer army, hurried past. I watched them expressionlessly. Some widened their eyes at my presence, but perhaps having witnessed the battle with the man-eater, none dared to approach.
The battle had only occurred two days prior. Although it was not yet a full moon, Rainer likely did not anticipate my swift actions. From here on, it was a race against time. I was unfamiliar with the structure of Rainer’s castle. While Monica had informed me of its layout, I did not possess a map.
Fortunately, the castle was located very close to the treasure vault. Demon King Rainer was the strongest among this army. He was not like a human king. The castle’s defenses should not be overly thick, and the few guards would have likely rushed toward the source of the commotion.
Confirming that no one was paying attention to us, I sprinted toward the castle, with Del stealthily following behind.
“To think we would proceed without a strategy…”
“Strategies are meaningless against that opponent.”
Del’s voice, laced with exasperation, echoed my own thoughts had I been in his position.
However, while this rebellion may not have been driven by emotional motives, it was still a calculated action. I had considered quietly whittling down the weaker foes from within, but ultimately, if we could not defeat Rainer, it would be pointless, and I was running out of time.
“Rainer intends to raid near Ro-Nabulk. We must strike before he prepares.”
“……Why would a vampire defend a human city? Ro-Nabulk is your enemy.”
“There are circumstances. Just as you have… your own reasons.”
Del was unaware that I had allies among the End Knights. I had no intention of revealing that. The current situation was complex. My actions were driven by my own emotions, for Senri, and for the caravan people who had sweetly offered me treats.
I could firmly state that the city was not within my sphere of protection, nor did I intend to risk my life for it.
Yet, I never imagined that I, an Anada Doro, would end up collaborating with an End Knight outside of Senri. The End Knight was keenly observing my movements even now.
“I went out of my way to help you, so you better pull your weight. Don’t betray me during the decisive battle.”
“N-No… I never asked for your help!”
It seemed we wouldn’t be getting along well.
The castle was constructed of smooth stone. Perhaps it was made with magic… I entered through a large, open entrance devoid of guards. Del stealthily followed behind.
A beastly scent lingered in the air. It was the unmistakable odor of Demon King Rainer, a smell that once inhaled was impossible to forget. The stench wafted down from above. No—wait.
Amidst the pungent scent of the Rainer army, there was a faint but distinct smell of Senri. It was coming from the foothills of the mountain. Though still distant, it was clear that something was approaching. Perhaps it was coming to fetch me… Another reason to hurry.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed from deep within the castle.
“End… Why are you in the castle?”
“……Seirza Doro.”
Emerging from the shadows was the lizardman warrior who had dealt me a painful blow on the first day—Seirza Doro. His towering figure was accompanied by a swarm of lizardmen, indistinguishable from one another save for their armor.
I couldn’t help but click my tongue in frustration, though I kept my expression neutral.
Seirza Doro and his subordinates were fully armed. They bore long spears and wore armor tailored for their bodies, glaring at me with fierce eyes (though I could not discern the emotions of a lizardman). Just days ago, I had put a gaping hole in his torso, yet here he stood, seemingly unscathed—a testament to the remarkable regenerative abilities of living beings.
Could I kill him? Perhaps. But the ease with which I had pierced Seirza Doro before was due to an opening he had left. Now, regardless of quality, there were simply too many of them. Their gazes were also directed toward Del, who was hiding in the shadows.
After a moment’s hesitation, I spoke as calmly as possible, suppressing my emotions.
“There are intruders in the camp. If Seirza Doro wants to earn some merit, you should go.”
“Ah, that explains the commotion.”
Seirza Doro did not show much reaction to my words. His nostrils flared as he sniffed the air, his eyes darting around. Perhaps lizardmen possessed superior senses of smell?
“I smell the stench of cursed flames. It seems we have quite the nuisance of intruders.”
“Then go. If you are a loyal… servant of Rainer-sama, you should take action.”
I had first encountered Seirza Doro outside. He likely wouldn’t usually be found in the castle. Why did he have to stand in my way at such a time? Frustrated, I spoke, and Seirza Doro glanced at his subordinates before responding.
“Yesterday’s battle was—truly magnificent.”
“Ah, thank you. The man-eater was a foe beyond rumors. My victory was mere coincidence.”
“If Rainer-sama had not intervened, you would have slain the ‘man-eater.'”
“…No, that’s not true. I intended to stop just in time. Killing is strictly forbidden; even vampires must adhere to some rules.”
Hurry up and leave. This was not the time for idle chit-chat.
Seirza Doro’s demeanor was markedly different from our first encounter; he was now utterly calm, scrutinizing me with a steady gaze.
There was a scent in the air. It was not the smell of fear. There was no fear in his emotions. What lingered was—excitement.
Seirza Doro handed his trident to a subordinate and smoothly drew a sword from his waist.
At that moment, I finally grasped the situation.
Seirza Doro had not heard my words at all. He had no intention of listening. Yet, he was acutely aware of my reasons for being here.
The lizardman warrior, renowned for his combat prowess even within the Demon King’s army, had drawn not a sword in the strictest sense. It was a blade that shone silver. A holy silver sword—Rainer’s main weapon, which I had not seen in the treasure vault.
The blade that dispelled darkness was pointed directly at me. His subordinates also readied their spears and swords in unison. Seirza Doro flicked his tongue and spoke in a grating voice.
“You’re late, End-BaロN/A. I’ve been waiting… for you.”
“……How did you know?”
There was no way he could have. Monica was watching Oliver, and despite a few detours, I had come here without much delay. After all, Seirza Doro and I had only conversed once.
To my tense demeanor, Seirza Doro replied.
“Your cold fury cannot be quelled without vengeance… can it?”
“……I’m at a loss.”
I never imagined that a being mostly lizard would read my actions so easily… Had I been that transparent? I must have been… especially with the man-eater involved.
Del, still clad in his thick cloak, readied his rugged sword.
“Seirza Doro, I bear you no grudge. I’ve been pierced through the heart, and I’ve made a hole in your body. Let’s call it even.”
“…………”
Seirza Doro did not respond. I channeled the power of Blood into my right arm.
The sound of creaking echoed as the white blade took form. Del gasped at the power of I, which he was witnessing for the first time.
“A holy silver weapon, huh… The blade created by 《Sharp Claw》 is part of I’s body, but is it really fine to clash with it? Unfortunately, I have no other weapons due to certain reasons.”
“If you don’t want to die, step aside. I don’t wish to kill you like the ‘Night King’ who attacked your deceased homeland.”
I wanted to minimize any exhaustion. I didn’t need the holy silver sword; it wouldn’t work against Rainer anyway, and it might be better not to have it at all, considering Del, who had acquired an original weapon, might try to kill me.
Se Lizardoro’s expression held no hatred. Yet, there was no hesitation in his response to I’s call for surrender.
“There is no retreat for the warriors of the Lizardfolk!”
“…You all have families, don’t you?”
“We are the Lizardfolk! For the King, we fight!”
Se Lizardoro roared, and his legion spread out around him. In their eyes burned a desperate resolve, a conviction that was unwavering.
This was quite troublesome. What mattered now was time, and we didn’t have the luxury to waste it fighting here when we were already at a disadvantage against Rainer.
I was reasonably strong. Even if Se Lizardoro, who lacked in physical abilities, wielded a holy silver weapon, it wouldn’t be so easy to take me down. At the very least, it would be simple to wipe out Se Lizardoro’s subordinates. They were more likable than the ‘Man-Eaters’ for not resorting to underhanded tactics, but now that they stood in my way, I had no hesitation in killing them.
“Regardless of you, your subordinates are dying for nothing. You should at least let your comrades escape—”
Just as I was about to say more, Se Lizardoro’s subordinates charged at me from all sides. Their spirit was incredible. The fear they had shown when I overwhelmed Se Lizardoro on the first day was nowhere to be seen. It was hard for someone like me, known for my tenacity in the face of death, to understand why they would throw themselves into a fight with no chance of winning.
So this is what it means to be a warrior.
Their strikes were sharp, and the physical abilities of the Lizardfolk far surpassed those of humans. I dodged the slashes and thrusts coming from all directions, stepping back and evading with careful movements. If I took a direct hit, I would be easily blown away. There were too many of them—like a wall. Some wielded shields, and others held weapons. I welcomed the chaos, but the presence of Se Lizardoro, who wielded a blade capable of inflicting fatal wounds on me, was a nuisance.
Holy silver dealt a significant blow to demonic nature. That weapon could easily slice through my ultra-hard 《Sharp Claw》. I thought I had acquired a good weapon, only to discover an immediate weakness.
“Del, go on ahead. I’ll hold them off!”
“What!?”
I deflected a blade with my claw. The strike was heavy, but not as heavy as a vampire’s. I could heal from the wounds quickly. The only one I needed to watch out for was Se Lizardoro. However, this horde was a nuisance for Del. There was no way he could handle them alone. Even if he could, he would surely suffer injuries.
Monica had mentioned that she had cut down thirty elite warriors, but she likely hadn’t faced them all at once. A single cut could be fatal for a human.
I lightly deflected an attack and retreated while shouting.
“Their only goal is me! You can slip away if it’s just you. We don’t have time! Take care of this quickly and follow after me!”
Se Lizardoro was focused solely on me. Even if Del dashed through, Se Lizardoro wouldn’t pursue him. He believed that a lone knight couldn’t stand against Rainer. And he was determined to kill only me. Had I shown any signs during the battle with the Man-Eater that would lead him to think that?
“I need to hurry; reinforcements might arrive. I can’t fight at my best if allies are around! Please, go on ahead!”
“…”
I bit my lip in frustration, but Del took off. He dashed through the encircling Lizardfolk. As expected, Se Lizardoro didn’t even attempt to chase him. I deflected the rain of blades while forcefully parrying them, questioning aloud.
“I wonder, did I do something to make you dislike me so much?”
“No. This is—respect. You are strong. Therefore, I will annihilate you with all my might.”
Truly, how is it that the Lizardfolk are always so hostile? I clicked my tongue and took the offensive. I transformed my left hand into a blade and charged forward with all my strength. I deflected spears and pierced through the Lizardfolk who were guarding my left. Blades grazed my body from all sides, but it was of no concern. The Lizardfolk were as fragile as paper.
Perhaps feeling overwhelmed, Se Lizardoro joined the fray. It was my first time fighting against a sword, but it shouldn’t be much different from a blade. I evaded the beautifully arcing slashes and kicked away a nearby Lizardfolk, grasping a spear with my left hand, which had returned to its original form.
As expected, the Lizardfolk didn’t seem to use garlic bombs or crosses. The Lizardfolk before me were noble, but in terms of being warriors, they were inferior to the Master Beasts.
I swung my spear to parry their slashes. However, in terms of weapon quality, I was at a significant disadvantage. If I wasn’t careful, my weapon could be cleaved in two.
Se Lizardoro shouted, his voice filled with fierce determination.
“What’s wrong? Are you afraid of death? Your comrades have already gone ahead!”
Am I afraid of death?
“Of course I am.”
But letting my comrades go ahead was part of the plan.
Even if Se Lizardoro didn’t appear, I intended to let him go first for a reason. I didn’t know the extent of Rainer’s power. I understood he was formidable, but while I had heard stories, I had yet to experience his strength firsthand.
I had no intention of dying a meaningless death. A test of courage was necessary. If the seasoned warrior Del-Gor Lizardoro was killed in an instant, then I would—run away gracefully. It would mean I wasn’t ready to face Rainer yet.
With that thought, I shifted my mindset. I couldn’t just keep being passive. I caught Se Lizardoro’s blade with my newly acquired sword and smiled at him.
“But really, I’m amazed. I never thought I’d see a warrior who would resolve to fight despite the odds being against them.”
“…”
Se Lizardoro didn’t say a word. However, his unease was sufficiently conveyed through the blade.
I could tell at a glance. A large number of subordinates. A formation with many shield bearers. The holy silver sword.
At first glance, it seemed like they were prepared to face me with their maximum strength, but this wasn’t a formation aimed at victory. What was necessary in the battle against vampires were elite warriors. Foot soldiers without silver weapons posed no significant obstacle to me.
This was merely a stall tactic. Se Lizardoro was buying time with his life. The fact that he hadn’t attacked until I took the offensive was proof of that. I didn’t know the definition of a warrior, but to stand in my way without the resolve to win or the spirit to survive was, to put it mildly, not very warrior-like.
“Are you waiting for reinforcements? Who are you waiting for? Monica? Oliver? Or perhaps the Oni named Chapiro?”
The wounds were piling up. Shields shattered, spears broke. Blood splattered, and countless warriors fell. Yet, I bore no injuries on my body. My mind and body were ablaze. The flames of my fighting instinct coursed through me, heightening my excitement. I opened my eyes wide and looked up at Se Lizardoro. My fangs throbbed painfully. I shouted, driven by impulse.
“No, Se Lizardoro. What you’re waiting for, what you’re calling for—is the ‘Man-Eater.’ The cowardly beast that inflicted a unique wound on me.”
Se Lizardoro didn’t respond. However, his silence was an answer in itself.
Ah, surely that beast could kill me. Why? Because Hebram was intelligent. He possessed the wisdom to analyze the factors that led to his defeat and devise counter-strategies, executing them immediately out of cowardice. That beast resembled me in many ways, so he must have sensed the killing intent I harbored.
Se Lizardoro’s choice was very cowardly. It’s not something one could easily do—asking for help from someone they had previously despised.
If there was a unique miss, it would be—
“Hebram won’t come. I’ve already killed him.”
If you’re going to kill someone, you should do it long before things escalate.
There was no way a coward like me would leave that strong, clever, cowardly, and cunning beast alive. I would certainly kill him first.
The clash of swords rang out. The unblessed blades pierced my body from all directions. For the first time, Se Lizardoro’s face, which had remained unresponsive to my words, twisted in shock.
I blew a small breath toward the protruding jaw typical of the Lizardfolk.
The small black embers mixed in my breath scorched his scales. Se Lizardoro’s eyes widened in horror. That was all he could manage.
The black embers did not extinguish. The flames spread like magic, enveloping Se Lizardoro’s head, and soon his entire body ignited like a black torch.