**Chapter Five: The Town of the Immortal Opponent II**
**Chapter Four**
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**Chapter Five: The Town of the Immortal Opponent II**
“End, your rate of growth is quite remarkable.”
With sincere eyes, Senri gazed at I, her tone almost sounding melancholic. Yet, she already understood well what it meant to be an Element. Senri Silvis, once an Eclipse Knight, was exceptionally kind to her comrades. Thus, I had no choice but to nod in response to her voice.
“However, this [DeSeN/ADoro] has an overabundance of strategies against An/AdeN/ADoro. It’s dangerous to go outside. I’ll investigate the situation… so please stay here quietly.”
“…Understood, Senri. Be careful.”
As Senri glanced at I with concern, she left the room. I leaned against the wall of the dimly lit chamber, trying to hear the sound of Senri’s footsteps fading away.
Perhaps due to my canine abilities, my sense of smell was far sharper than my other senses, making tracking her easy. However, I should not do anything that would betray her trust. Trust is difficult to earn but can be lost in an instant. Moreover, it wasn’t as if there was nothing I could do while waiting in this room.
After a while, when I was certain Senri had not returned, I slowly closed my eyes, concentrating my awareness on the image of myself sinking deep within.
What I sought was the memory and knowledge of Holos Carmen that should reside within me. Since becoming a lower-rank Vampire, I had grown considerably stronger. However, to contend with the numerous formidable Vampires ahead, the knowledge of a Lord was necessary.
Senri held a secret.
She didn’t seem to want me to grow too strong. She had taught me the basics of combat, but she had not shared any advanced techniques. Of course, part of it was likely because I hadn’t asked, but Senri, despite appearing to be of similar age, was a battle-hardened Eclipse Knight who had risen to the second rank. She must have slain countless Vampires and surely knew more about their combat methods.
For instance, she should have known that by channeling power into “Sharp Claw,” I could extend my claws like a sword, or that through the control of blood, I could enhance my regeneration abilities. Even if she didn’t know the exact methods, she must have witnessed these phenomena. Yet, Senri never conveyed this to me.
Looking back, she hadn’t even mentioned that I was categorized as an “Ancestor” until I asked.
I didn’t believe there was malice in her actions. Rather, she likely wished for me to lead a peaceful life. To that end, she was trying to eliminate all obstacles in front of me, regardless of her own safety.
I appreciated her feelings. However, this situation was no good. Senri’s absence would be a great misfortune for me. And surely, the calamities that would eventually appear before me would become something she could not handle.
Senri had her secrets. And of course—so did I.
I had yet to tell Senri that Holos Carmen resided within me.
This was both a point of concern and a source of power. In the aftermath of my battle with Rainer, it was the knowledge of the Lord that had saved me from the clutches of the Seーブル. Perhaps my strong survival instinct had unearthed the knowledge that lay dormant within me—now, I could do the same if I wished. And with a bit more digging into my memories, I would likely be able to manipulate skeletons like a Lord. Of course, I had no intention of controlling the dead. However, that abhorrent knowledge could serve as a means of self-defense.
As I pushed all thoughts from my mind and concentrated, my awareness began to sink deeper and deeper. Although I was supposed to be standing firmly on the ground, it felt as if I were floating in midair.
I could sense a mass of power moving at my core. It was blood. We, the Vampires, fed on blood. The Lord had altered Vampirism to create “Curse Absorption.” We were monsters of blood.
As an An/AdeN/ADoro birthed by the Lord, I understood that Holos Carmen was present. There was a connection between us. He was indeed within me, but his presence was faint. I could not discern his exact location.
It seemed the Lord’s knowledge was sealed more strongly than I had anticipated. Was it because of my cowardice, or was it simply that his knowledge was that dangerous? I had hoped for at least a hint, but it seemed unlikely that I could unearth it overnight.
I desperately groped for a means to access it. Perhaps if I were to come close to death again, I might be able to dig something up. But that would be too late.
It was foolish to strategize after an incident had occurred.
Surviving the encounter with the Seーブル had been a miracle. Had Senri’s arrival been even slightly delayed, I might have died, and there was no guarantee I would survive the next time something similar happened. And more importantly—next time, the roles might be reversed. If my power or knowledge fell short, and something happened to Senri, I would be unable to bear it.
Perhaps due to my intense concentration, a dull pain surged through my head. Still, I sought the depths of my mind with a blank slate. I felt something writhing within me—my Vampire instincts, which I always suppressed. My head grew hot, and my fangs ached.
Then, something emerged from the darkness. It could merely be a figment of my imagination; I couldn’t discern its nature. However, what materialized from the shadows was—a human skeleton. Clad in a black robe, with hollow eye sockets. Somehow, I knew it belonged to the Lord.
I was on the brink of death. The skeletal body was riddled with holes, as if eaten away, and it seemed on the verge of collapsing even now.
“———”
I couldn’t hear a voice, but I felt an intention conveyed to me. There was no resentment there. An absolute ruler would never harbor resentment towards their subordinates, no matter the circumstances.
Now was the time. There were many things I wanted to confirm: how to use power, the reason for not mutating, the source of the night crystals. Yet, the question that sprang forth was none of those.
“Did the Lord intend to absorb something with this ‘Curse Absorption’?”
The dark eye sockets were fixed on me.
“Curse Absorption” was a powerful ability. Yet, it was far too precarious. It was not a power that the strongest of the dead should possess. A curse was not merely a convenient supernatural ability. Curses came with drawbacks, some of which I might not even be able to tolerate.
Everything has a reason. The Lord was not foolish. He must have known that this ability was dangerous. There had to be a reason for granting this power to the entity he intended to take.
The skeleton did not respond. However, I sensed a mocking presence.
A strong shock coursed through my head, as if I had been struck. My consciousness began to surface.
—And then, I opened my eyes. Somehow, I had found myself kneeling on the floor. I pressed my head in my hands. My heart pounded fiercely, and my hands trembled.
The light filtering through the curtains had changed to a crimson hue, and the short hand of the clock had advanced considerably from my memory.
The presence of the Lord that I had felt just a moment ago was already gone. Vampires do not experience physical fatigue, yet I sprawled out on the carpet, arms and legs spread wide.
I stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
I had gained no information. However, I realized that the Lord’s will still lingered within me. The power dynamics had already been established. I was far superior, and it was unlikely to change anytime soon. Yet, Holos Carmen had not given up.
Even while I was in this state, my power was continuously rising, yet the presence of a necromancer was a nuisance.
Senri should be returning soon. I felt a desire to lie down a little longer, but I pushed myself up.
However, it was worth the attempt. I had learned one thing.
The information the Lord had sent me just before parting.
The reason I had not yet mutated was as I had suspected—because the Lord had placed a lock on me.
True Vampires are said to possess resistance to magic strong enough to repel necromancy. If my mutation was due to a program embedded in the curse by the Lord, it was only natural that the cautious Lord would strategize to ensure I did not mutate.
In the first place, the Lord had once told me that when he learned of the Order of the Final Knights’ incursion, he had planned to perform the ritual only after I became a lower-rank Vampire. At that time, I hadn’t thought much of it, but that must have been the final destination. There were many hints.
“Did you intend to show me mercy, Lord?”
No, that wasn’t it. The Lord surely had confidence that I would manage somehow even after gaining power. Even though he was already on the brink of extinction… what a terrifying man he was.
It was indeed dangerous to dive recklessly. Yet, I could not refrain from doing so.
As I took a deep breath, footsteps approached from outside the room. The rhythm of Senri’s footsteps. I relaxed the tense muscles in my face and decided to curl up in the corner of the room, hugging my knees.
§
“An earthquake…?”
“Yes. Apparently, part of the castle collapsed. That was five years ago.”
Senri spoke with a somewhat displeased expression. She likely found it hard to believe that the Order of the Final Knights had not received any information about it. However, considering that the castle had fallen hundreds of years ago and had remained tranquil since, it was understandable that the Order had not noticed.
And it seemed that something had indeed occurred.
“Since then, it seems the number of travelers has increased. But, I couldn’t find anyone who knows the details… We’ll have to go see for ourselves.”
I didn’t know the causal relationship. However, there was no harm in investigating, even if it turned out to be a wild goose chase. I decided to take a look at the castle built by the same An/AdeN/ADoro. Perhaps it would serve as a reference for when I might need to hide somewhere someday…
Nodding vigorously, Senri fell silent for a moment before speaking with a somewhat serious expression.
“End… I sense the presence of an Anadoro near this town. You should be cautious.”
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That’s terrible, Senri. Are you planning to cheat with another Anadoro!?
Next Chapter: End, abandoned. Stay tuned!
*Please note that the preview may differ from the actual content.
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/Tsukikage
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