**Chapter 3: The Crystal of Night**
“Perhaps… it was created quite recently,” Senri said in a soft voice.
For a long time, the Eclipse Knights and the Anadoro had been in a state of hostility. The balance had tipped in favor of the Eclipse Knights because they possessed absolute powers to counter the Anadoro. One of those powers was their ability to detect. Even from a considerable distance, the Eclipse Knights could sense the location of the Anadoro with just a slight expenditure of energy. With this ability, it was nearly impossible for the Eclipse Knights to let their quarry escape.
The reason Senri had lost track of Seibur was that she prioritized my rescue, and unlike the original Order of the Final Knights, she was alone.
Thus, it was only natural that the Order of the Final Knights would be alerted to the nuisance of the “Phantom King of Shadows,” who possessed the ability to conceal his presence.
“Your abilities, like the ‘Wanderer of Darkness’ and the power of the ‘King of Stakes,’ can suppress presence, but not perfectly.”
However, the presence suppression of the Phantom King of Shadows was flawless. And so was the power of the “Crystal of Night.”
Looking back, the Crystal of Night was not a widely recognized item. Senri’s senior knights—Nebira and others—seemed hardly aware of the ability to conceal presence. It was hard to believe that the Order of the Final Knights could overlook such an item that defied common sense for long. There was reason in Senri’s words.
And since only those two items had completely blocked the Order of the Final Knights’ detection thus far, it was understandable to question their relationship.
If the discovery was indeed recent, then that crystal was likely not just an ordinary mineral. In fact, it was somewhat dubious whether it had ever been a mere mineral at all. How did the Lord acquire that crystal? It was truly unfortunate that it had not surfaced until now.
I raced down the road like the wind. My fur coat made me resilient to temperature changes, so I had no issues. My back was fluffy, so Senri would likely be fine as well. I didn’t feel lonely. It seemed I was getting used to carrying someone on my back. I might actually like this.
“I wonder if it would be bad if someone saw us.”
“Right now, you… don’t look much like a magical creature.”
Just a large dog outside of common sense. People would be surprised, but there was no trace of ferocity in my current appearance. My canine body was quite impressive. With strong limbs, I could run nearly ten meters in a single bound, and with a little momentum, I could leap across a small river. Flowing water might drain the strength of a vampire, but it wouldn’t rob me of my inertia.
As I moved my legs, I sank into a sea of thoughts.
The power of the Phantom King of Shadows was something I desperately desired. And with my “Curse Absorption,” I might have a chance to seize it. It didn’t necessarily have to come from the King himself. The power of an “Ancestor” could be transmitted to a familiar. It seemed it wouldn’t be perfectly inherited, but even if it were weakened, that power would still be a reassuring asset for me.
“…If only the Phantom King of Shadows were still alive, I might have been able to steal his abilities.”
I inadvertently let my thoughts slip out, quickly realizing my blunder. I shouldn’t have spoken carelessly. To Senri, the power of a vampire must be something loathsome. Even if it was just a hypothetical situation, she likely wouldn’t think kindly of me recklessly wielding it.
However, after a moment of silence, Senri’s words did not carry disappointment towards me.
“That’s impossible.”
“…Why?”
In response to my question, Senri clung tightly to my back, her warmth contrasting with her chilling voice that sent shivers down my spine.
“According to legend… the Phantom King of Shadows was not a vampire. He was a king of the Skeleton lineage, so he had no blood flowing through him.”
—
In a small kingdom’s town, two men draped in silver cloaks walked down the streets of a mid-sized town that was not particularly well-known. Though there were only two of them, their demeanor was far too out of place for this town. The townsfolk stared at their unfamiliar appearance, but the men paid no heed to the gazes upon them. Their steps were unwavering as they turned from the main street into a narrow alleyway that saw little foot traffic.
The two men stopped in front of a dilapidated two-story apartment building. The iron stairs were rusted, creaking ominously under the slightest weight.
“Ah… so this is where they live?”
“According to the investigation from headquarters,” replied the blue-haired man with an untrustworthy demeanor—Nebira.
The brown-haired man leading the way—Rufuri, a third-tier knight—shrugged his shoulders. They had spent considerable time searching for this place. The fact that the results of their inquiry had been sent via letter indicated that their opponent had been well-prepared for a long fight. This time, they were only here to talk, but they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.
They headed for the room at the very back of the second floor. There was no presence coming from beyond the door, but with a slight use of Blessing to expand their senses, they could detect two life forms inside. Just as the report had indicated. It seemed their arrival had not gone unnoticed.
Rufuri knocked lightly, but there was no response. The door was made of metal, but it was intended for ordinary people. An Eclipse Knight could easily break through it. However, they decided to avoid violent means at first and called out instead.
“Liino-Koros. I know you’re in there. This is the Order of the Final Knights; we have matters to discuss.”
There was no reply, only the faint sound of movement from within the room. Nebira scoffed derisively.
“There’s no way they’re coming out! We should barge in and capture them before they escape.”
“Nebira, you’re too violent. They are people, after all… Hm?”
As Rufuri grasped the doorknob, his brow furrowed. The key was already in the lock. Frowning, he cautiously turned the handle.
Just as the door began to open, a presence stirred inside. The door swung open forcefully from within.
—And a silver flash zipped past Rufuri’s line of sight.
What appeared was a small shadow. No— a girl. She looked to be in her early teens. Her limbs, extending from a black dress, seemed well-trained, yet were undeniably slender. However, her sharp black eyes resembled those of a predatory beast.
In her hands was an axe nearly as tall as she was. I sidestepped a few steps to avoid the descending blade. Given her size, the strike wasn’t particularly heavy, but with that momentum, it could be dangerous if taken head-on.
The girl swung the axe around as if to spin her entire body. At first glance, it seemed she was being thrown off balance by the weight, but it was likely intentional. With arms that were thin and lacking Blessing, and given her short stature, she had few options for generating power. Yet, her movements still seemed unrefined.
Without drawing her blade, she shifted her right foot back to evade the axe. The thick blade struck the railing of the staircase with a deafening clang.
I could see that the blade had chipped slightly. Upon closer inspection, it seemed the axe was made of silver. Silver is a soft metal, not suited for combat even when alloyed.
“Stop! We only came to talk!”
Yet, the burning intent in the girl’s eyes showed no signs of fading. Although she was clearly younger than Senri, her fighting spirit was far stronger. It would be easy to overpower her, but I hesitated to subdue such a spirited individual.
At that moment, the girl hurled the axe at me. Nebira, who was behind me, effortlessly caught it with one hand.
Despite being an elemental, the girl lunged at me without hesitation.
“What?!”
I widened my eyes in surprise at her unexpected movement. The girl had opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp silver fangs that glinted in the light.
Then, she sank her teeth into Rufuri’s right arm.
The thin chainmail he wore beneath his clothing met her fangs. Of course, the chainmail won. A child’s bite couldn’t possibly penetrate the defenses of an Eclipse Knight.
However, the girl did not let go. Even as I shook my arm, she clung on desperately. She resembled a crocodile… though given her appearance, perhaps a snapping turtle would be more appropriate. Even a seasoned Eclipse Knight had never experienced being bitten by a human.
As I found myself at a loss, a voice echoed from deep within the room, like a low growl resonating from the depths of hell.
“Alba, stop. They are… guests. Uninvited guests, but… it seems they have business with me.”
At the sound of the voice, the girl, now identified as Alba, finally released her bite and nimbly retreated. It seemed she was on high alert.
In the back of the room stood a man clad entirely in black. His limbs and half of his face were wrapped in bandages, and a silver staff leaned against the wall nearby. Yet, there was an unmistakable aura about him, one that suggested he had survived against the odds for a long time.
Liino-Koros. A vampire hunter. Known in this area by the moniker “Master Beast.”
Rufuri frowned at the strong scent of herbs wafting from him.
“You were injured… but why didn’t you come to report with just a letter?”
“I’m not so shameless as to seek additional rewards after failing a request. Listen well, the key to vampire hunting is—humility.”
“You mangy dog… how dare you hide away in a place like this and spout such nonsense.”
“I am honored by your praise, but I am not nearly as impressive as you, Knight-sama, who dares to tread upon the homes of good citizens. To be called by a name I do not recall is quite astonishing… I cannot help but admire your audacity.”
Nebira’s forehead was creased with veins, and Master Beast merely shrugged in response. Alba glared at Nebira, her intent to kill palpable in the air.
Then, with an exaggerated gesture, Master Beast spoke, his murky eyes fixed on Rufuri.
“Ah, I understand your purpose. You wish to discuss the ‘Crystals of Night,’ correct? Given my profession, I am known for my discretion, but we are not strangers, so allow me to share this information with you at a bargain.”