**Chapter 2: Groping②**
The funds for my journey were sufficient. The spoils I had taken from the mafia and mountain thieves were merely a fraction of their amassed wealth—only precious metals that were easy to cash in and didn’t take up much space in any country. I couldn’t carry too much, and it was likely that what I had found was just a small part of the treasures they had hoarded, but I didn’t care. I had no interest in what had happened to the remaining riches. Money was merely a secondary concern.
The ‘Cursed Flame’ I had stolen from Hebram was perfect for erasing evidence. I still couldn’t fully control its power; its fuel consumption was far too wasteful. It was probably not irrelevant that I hadn’t properly paid the price (which involved consuming humans), but the fact that I had managed to unleash flames upon Rainer was likely due to sheer desperation or perhaps a remnant of Hebram’s last strength before his downfall.
However, unlike Rainer or vampires, humans burned quite well, so if I could ignite a spark, I could turn a person to ash in mere seconds.
I had no intention of pretending to be a champion of justice. Keeping witnesses alive would only lead to trouble, so it was best to eliminate them entirely. Still, it was terrifying how quickly information spread…
In any case, I changed into the inconspicuous black outfit that Senri had brought for me. It was made of smooth leather. I threw on a travel-ready, water-repellent outer cloak, and the reassuring weight of the ‘Light Eater (Brahma Ruler)’ at my waist felt solid.
Finally, I put on sunglasses to hide my red eyes, a characteristic of vampires, completing my transformation into what should have been a rather cool mercenary.
In this day and age, there were certainly many who bore weapons, and ordinary people couldn’t sense the negative energy I emitted. Thanks to the application of the ‘Sharp Fang’ ability, my canines could be reduced to a degree where they wouldn’t stand out, making it unlikely for me to be easily discovered. Additionally, while I didn’t really need them, I slipped on thin gloves to protect my hands. Perhaps I was just starved for clothing since I often found myself in the nude.
Senri entered the room and looked at me with wide eyes.
“…What will you say if someone asks why you’re wearing sunglasses at night?”
“Well, I’ll just say it’s because I look cool.”
“…”
“And besides, it’s not like there aren’t humans with red irises.”
Of course, I could have opted for black contact lenses instead. In fact, that would have posed a significantly lower risk of being discovered. However, contact lenses were expensive and not something you could easily acquire. If I had to buy new ones every time they got damaged in battle, no amount of money would suffice.
To begin with, while I had traveled quite a bit, it seemed that the Order of the Final Knights was indeed rare. The only Eclipse Knight I had encountered was Del-Gordona. If I were to remain in one place, it would be one thing, but if I continued my journey, I hoped I wouldn’t run into them too often.
Moreover, even Eclipse Knights couldn’t always sense the presence of familiars in the dark. While they could detect things within visible range, it required skill to sense someone far away. Thanks to Senri’s knowledge from his time as an Eclipse Knight, I was able to narrow down the timing of when those skills would be used.
The ‘Shadow Veil’ was truly excellent. Its unique ability didn’t just erase sounds and smells; it could significantly suppress the release of negative energy for a time. While it wouldn’t completely evade detection by an Eclipse Knight, it could be suppressed enough to avoid being identified as a vampire. The downside was that it turned my skin as dark as the night and was inefficient in terms of energy consumption, making it difficult to maintain for long periods. However, if I only needed to cover short bursts during the early morning and late night when Eclipse Knights often used wide-area detection, it wouldn’t pose a problem.
Of course, I couldn’t afford to be overconfident, but there was little else I could do. After all, if they approached, I would have no choice but to tuck my tail and flee.
I had torn through many outfits in my time. It had been a while since I had dressed so properly and stylishly. Excited for the new journey ahead, I noticed Senri looking down, a rare expression of guilt on his face.
“End… you should turn back into a dog.”
“…Huh?”
“…You look really cool now, but a dog would be much harder to find. Besides, when we came to this town, you were a dog. It would be strange if you weren’t a dog when we leave.”
“…”
“And besides, you’ll need to fit into the carry case when morning comes. You can’t fit in it like this.”
Senri’s words were reasonable. I didn’t think a vampire could turn into such an adorable dog.
But if I remained like this, I would be a vampire that could also become a dog. Moreover, in dog form, I couldn’t wear any clothes. Dog clothes were hard to come by. It was better not to wear any since I would just tear them apart anyway.
I tried to plead with my eyes for a while, but Senri’s resolve seemed unyielding. I needed to obtain the night crystal quickly…
“…Will you carry me?”
“…End, you don’t need to turn any whiter. You’re already… incredibly white.”
In response to my meager request, Senri looked at me with cold eyes and said something I couldn’t quite grasp.
§
Perched atop Senri’s head, I made my escape from the town. Not many people left the town at night, but there was no sense of suspicion. Senri was slender, but the sword sheathed at his waist was an object of great significance, visible even to elemental beings. He was likely perceived as someone with a story.
The unique issue arose when we crossed the ‘Flowing Water’ that surrounded the town’s borders, causing my strength to wane and nearly topple me from his head.
I playfully swatted Senri’s head with my tail and said, “You should look in the mirror. Those glasses aren’t disguising anything; they’re just an act.”
“Shut up, dog.”
“My disguise was perfect. I’m not saying I dislike being on your head, but you’re being a bit too cautious. I survived a battle with Rainer, you know. In this form, I can only sweep the floor. Being white means any dirt will show up immediately, but it’s quite difficult to see my own tail. You wouldn’t understand since you don’t have one…”
Senri listened silently to my complaints. Even when I tickled his neck with my tail, he remained expressionless.
In my current form, I was pure white. Moreover, unlike the first time I transformed, my fur and tail were fluffy. The cool appearance I had when fighting Rainer was nowhere to be seen. After reuniting with Senri, I had initially retained a sleek black form, but over time, for some reason, I had turned white. Perhaps it was a mistake to let my guard down around the unusually gentle Senri. He seemed oddly pleased, but for me, who was reluctant to part with my cool form, it was a complex feeling.
Waiting for the presence of people to dissipate, I leaped down from Senri’s head to the ground. The reason I had resolved to venture outside at night was that it allowed for greater movement distance. While morning would be better for surveying the town, nighttime had its advantages.
Looking up at Senri, I poured my blood power into myself. My bones and flesh creaked with a sound, but there was no pain.
The form of the black dog was lost. However, even as a white dog, there were still things I could do. Senri’s expression was oddly stern. The face that had once been so high above me was now at the same level as mine.
In an instant, I transformed into a large, adorable, fluffy dog. I was likely two sizes larger than a well-trained warhorse. My soft, fluffy fur was, of course, comfortable to ride on, and even with cargo strapped to me, there was enough space for Senri to lie down.
Moreover, even in this form, I had not lost my vampire abilities. I had grown accustomed to running on four legs and could sprint at incredible speeds without fatigue. I could confidently say that in this form, I was an excellent mount. If I could just overcome the sunlight, I could make a living like this.
As always, Senri quietly spoke.
“There are magical beasts of this size, but with a dog’s appearance, it feels quite uncomfortable.”
“…It’s not that easy to change appearances. Now, hurry up and get on.”
Of course, I could also use the Cursed Flame. Perhaps sensing the difference in power, magical beasts kept their distance from me. Since I had ridden on Senri’s head through the town, it was now my turn to carry him outside.
Senri hesitated for a moment but then climbed onto my back, securing the cargo tightly to my body with a strap. The soft sensation on my back made me wag my tail involuntarily. I could hear Senri’s voice near my ear.
“Let’s go, dog. I’ll guide you in the right direction.”
Power surged through me. And with that, I dashed down the night road with all my might.
—
Once, there was said to be a fearsome demon king of the Anadaros. This demon king had made an ancient castle his base. Leading countless fiends, he fought head-on against the Order of the Final Knights and was ultimately purified after a fierce battle.
It was a typical hero’s tale. However, according to the old records Senri had seen at the headquarters of the Order of the Final Knights, it seemed that nine-tenths of the Order had been mobilized for the battle against that demon king. And that was an exceedingly rare occurrence.
It wasn’t about strength. The demon king of Anadaros wasn’t particularly powerful compared to other demon kings. He possessed only one unique trait.
The Dark King—known as Anadoro—had somehow evaded detection by the Order of the Final Knights, despite his formidable power. To make matters worse, he had managed to bestow some of that very ability upon his subordinates.
The Order of the Final Knights had to ensure that nothing escaped their grasp; they were determined to eradicate this threat completely.
Senri insisted that there must be clues hidden within that base.
“The Phantom Dark King.”
This was the title by which the Dark King was known, and his castle had become one of the landmarks in the heart of the human kingdom, a place of both awe and dread.