**Chapter One: Exploration**
Using the power of the *Shadow Veil*, finding the Night is rendered nearly impossible. This ability eliminates all traces of presence, scent, and sound, achieving an exceptionally high level of stealth. Even if someone were to catch a glimpse of the running Night, they would likely dismiss it as an illusion.
It is understandable why the term “True Ancestor” is used to describe those who have become vampires through repeated mutations rather than being simply bitten by one; they possess a power far more terrifying than that of a mere vampire.
Avoiding the main streets and streetlights, I dashed through the darkened town. During this time, no one paid me any mind. There were no pursuers. The senses of the Night are sharp. What initially felt overwhelming has now become a skill I can wield with some proficiency.
Upon reaching a desolate inn, I kicked off the ground and gracefully landed inside an open window. The room was dimly lit, with only a single lamp casting a soft glow. It wouldn’t harm me unless it was direct sunlight, but perhaps it was a consideration for my overly keen eyesight.
“It really didn’t go well, did it?”
“Is that so…? Were you hurt?”
Waiting inside the room was Senri. Her beauty, which carried a hint of coldness, had not changed since the first time we met. It seemed she had removed her glasses. I stood up and spun around to show her.
“See for yourself. Look, there aren’t even any holes, right? Not a scratch.”
“…I’m glad to hear that.”
Senri’s expression remained unchanged, but I could sense her relief through the rhythm of her heartbeat. I was unscathed. Their weapons were not silver, so even if they had pierced my flesh, the damage would have been negligible; in reality, not even a scratch marred my skin. Bullets had come flying at me, but I had dodged them all. This was a matter of practice.
While my body regenerates, my clothes do not. This was a subtly significant problem for me. Each time I was burned, torn, or transformed, I ended up naked. A human would likely perish if they were torn or burned, leaving no room to think about their clothing, but I was different, and oddly enough, such situations occurred quite frequently. While the *Shadow Veil* allows me to cloak my body in darkness, it does not serve as a substitute for clothing.
However, with caution, I could generally avoid bullets, arrows, knives, and slashes. In some cases, I could even catch them with my hands. Transformations were unavoidable, but I could generally subdue most opponents without needing to turn into a beast. Initially, I had been cut often and splattered with blood, but after taking down several mafia groups, I had become adept at evasion.
Yet… the Seablue was different. In the end, when I transformed into a bat and fled, the Seablue left no clothing behind. There must be a way. Senri seemed unaware of any method, and Alba was also left naked. Now, I couldn’t even fathom this, but the curse of being a vampire was indeed profound.
The fierce battles against the Demon King Rainer’s army had bestowed upon me various objects. Some were beneficial, while others were not, but the most crucial aspect was the existence of those pursuing me.
The King of Stakes. The familiar of the vampire Demon King, the Seablue was searching for the outside vampires. Moreover, it possessed methods to control me. This was a fact that could not be overlooked.
We were heading toward the fortress city of L/N/Aburg, one of the reasons being to escape the dominion of humans and hide from the Order of the Final Knights. We had a small *Night Crystal*, so it shouldn’t be impossible. Even without the *Night Crystal*, if there were no pursuers outside the Order of the Final Knights, there was a possibility of avoiding trouble. But all of this was now meaningless speculation.
Senri mentioned that she had not been able to capture the Seablue. Attempting to escape into the human habitat while being pursued by outside forces was far too risky. The King of Stakes was said to be a formidable demon king. Just how formidable? So much so that, despite being a vampire, he had not been exterminated by the Order of the Final Knights. He commanded countless magical beasts, and his scale was said to be incomparable even to that of Demon King Rainer.
I could tell at a glance that the Seablue was a vampire. That evil presence was likely the same one the Order of the Final Knights used to identify us.
The key item was the *Night Crystal*. After that, Senri. Without Senri and the *Night Crystal*, tranquility would never come to me.
From the very beginning, I had no intention of living in seclusion forever. I had planned to return to town once the heat died down. After all, living in seclusion would mean Senri wouldn’t get enough sustenance, and the negative impact would be significant. Besides, I wanted to see the town.
That plan was completely shattered by that man-eating Hebram. Ah, how I wished I could slap myself for not taking the crystal with me during the duel…
As I sat on the bed, Senri spoke in a whisper. I glanced at the large suitcase beside me. I could only remain human for a few more hours.
“End, it’s really better to run. This lifestyle will inevitably lead to impossibilities.”
“I know. I understand, Senri. The risk is too high now. The mafia is no good; they’re useless. The mountain thieves too. But simply running away is not a solution. That option has no future.”
Senri’s words were reasonable. It wasn’t difficult to take down humans, but information was spreading. If it continued to spread, someone would surely notice my presence. After all, it was absurd for a mere human to take down multiple organizations. This isn’t fiction. And if my presence were to be exposed, killing a vampire would become neither easy nor impossible.
Though I appeared calm, the situation was dire. I realized that the *Night Crystal* could not be obtained through normal means. The mafia didn’t even know its name, so asking merchants would be a waste.
If there was any possibility, it would surely lie with a vampire expert. Perhaps a *Vampire Hunter* like Master Beast, or the Order of the Final Knights. Or perhaps… a hunter.
If it were the corpse transporter who had dealings with Horos Carmen, that man who even procured the fangs of a colossal evil dragon, there might still be hope. In fact, it was possible that the crystal Lord had was procured by that man. But I had no idea where he was. My combat abilities were decent, but I lacked the ability to search for distant humans. I couldn’t use magic, nor did I yet possess the power to transform into a bat.
Senri gently grasped my hand, her touch warm and soft, calming my thoughts just a little. My fangs throbbed, but I had just fed two days ago. I had to endure.
In fact, even right after feeding, if I were to touch her, my fangs would ache, so I had to restrain myself to prevent Senri from becoming anemic. The thirst was partly due to the deliciousness of Senri’s blood, but perhaps it was also because I was in a growth phase.
“End, you shouldn’t think too much. You’re doing well.”
“…Yeah, it’s fine. The urge to kill hasn’t intensified. I’ve gotten used to it; it’s better since there’s no pain.”
“You are… very strong.”
My resilience to the current situation had already been forged in my previous life. While I wasn’t devoid of anxiety, wasting energy in a meaningless manner wouldn’t be wise. Especially, I should avoid acting in a way that would worry Senri. Fortunately, I still had time to think. During the day, while Senri carried me, I would contemplate how to survive alongside her.
Senri spoke again.
“But when you mutate into a vampire, the urges should become stronger.”
“Ah… thank you. I’ll be careful.”
I had become considerably stronger compared to when I was merely a head. Yet, the way Senri looked at me still held a concern for my well-being.
Now, I could somewhat sense a person’s emotions through their scent and heartbeat. For her not to feel fear in front of me, who was gradually becoming a higher-tier monster—even if Senri was still overwhelmingly stronger—was truly remarkable. That’s why I must never betray her, the only one who had stood by me from the very beginning.
Though it was a secret from Senri, I had already begun to speculate on why I had yet to mutate into a vampire. And if that speculation were true, I would likely never become a vampire if things continued as they were.
But that was fine. If I didn’t need power to survive, then I didn’t need it at all. Indeed, vampires are powerful, but the body of a lower-ranked vampire isn’t too shabby either. My current status had fewer weaknesses, and I could walk a little under the sunlight.
I loved the sun, and I still couldn’t shake off my regrets about it. If possible, I wanted to walk under the sunlight with Senri just once more… though I was too scared to try, I wondered if it would be alright to use an umbrella.
It had been quite some time since the attack from the Epe, yet there had been no further strikes. I couldn’t believe that the terrifying hero would be satisfied with just one attack, so it seemed they were waiting for the right moment.
And if a next strike were to come, as long as it was at the same level as before, it would likely be manageable.
As I placed my hand over my heart, I instinctively understood that my soul continued to descend into darkness even at this very moment. Compared to those times, I had become a deeper, more abominable monster.
My strength had grown, my regeneration powers had been enhanced, I could manipulate the power of blood, and I possessed countless supernatural abilities. I had become such a monster.
Senri, who had been sitting beside me, suddenly moved in front of me. Her beautifully shaped features, amethyst-like purple eyes, silky hair, and the glow of life reminiscent of moonlight. Rarely hesitating, Senri opened her lips.
“End… The likelihood is low, but I have one idea for you.”