**Chapter 20: Stubbornness**
I endured the stomachache while listening to Senri’s quiet voice. The information she had extracted from the mayor was highly suspicious.
“A sanctuary that the Adaro are targeting, huh…”
“……”
According to the mayor, it seemed that beneath the ancient castle lay a sanctuary of sorts that attracted the Adaro. To deal with the frequent appearances of the Adaro, the Desendoro had called mercenaries from the Outside to guard the castle. The scale of last night’s raid was apparently beyond what the Desendoro had anticipated.
It felt far too unsettling. Even with my concentration scattered by the stomachache, I could clearly sense the discomfort of an impossible situation. After all, this didn’t justify the reason for not contacting the Order of the Final Knights. It was possible to come up with an excuse, like wanting to contact them only after seeing -sama, but the likelihood of that was low. After all, there were no drawbacks for the Desendoro side in making contact.
Senri spoke with a serious expression.
“Something’s being hidden…”
“To begin with, the reason I was drawn there… isn’t just the place.”
If the sanctuary truly attracted the Adaro, it should have had an effect on me as well. However, the reason I frequently visited that place was because the Night Crystals had fallen there, and the presence of those Night Crystals could hardly be sensed from outside the castle. If we could capture the necromancer who was supposed to be controlling the Adaro army, we might have gained some information, but with that Poison Blood Vampire involved, it would be difficult.
Senri dangled a large key in front of me, one that was about the size of her palm. It was rusty and seemed to have a story of its own.
I frowned. Senri took a small breath. I watched her chest rise and fall quietly as I endured the stomachache.
“There’s… more below that basement. This key was given to me by the mayor.”
“……What’s down there?”
Senri shook her head slightly.
It was clearly a trap. I had no idea what could be further beneath the old Demon King’s castle, but it surely wouldn’t be anything good. Yet, I understood. Senri was resolute. She embodied righteousness. Calmness and stubbornness could coexist. It was far too dangerous, but looking into her serene, lake-like eyes made it hard to even think of stopping her.
“I’m going too.”
“……”
“I can at least be a wall. Even in this state, I’m much sturdier than you, Senri.”
My stomach hurt, but my regeneration ability was intact, and even if I lacked my usual vigor, I could probably handle general monsters with a full-force strike. Senri was strong, but she was still human. She lacked the durability and regeneration abilities, so if something were to happen, it would be irreparable. I declared firmly as I embraced the delicate Senri, who seemed fragile enough to break.
“This is different from just gathering information in town. I’ll stick with you, no matter what.”
“……You don’t have to cling to me.”
“I won’t let you go. I haven’t forgotten what happened during the Albatos incident. I’ll be the one doing the biting this time.”
“……Leaving you behind would be far more dangerous. This town is too perilous for you.”
Senri evaded my outstretched arms with minimal movement. While I had the strength, her delicate and agile movements were still beyond me. But that was fine. When it came to drinking blood, she would hold on tight.
Even while feeling a burning pain in my stomach, I straightened my back with determination and put on a brave face.
“This is the last time. Let’s wrap this up quickly and get out of this town.”
—
A strange sensation lingered at the back of my neck. It felt like a tingle—or perhaps a chill. It was a familiar feeling before stepping into a dangerous place.
Senri looked up at the ancient castle, enveloped in a silence devoid of any signs of life, her brow furrowed.
How many times had I visited this castle at night? Yet, it was clear that something was different this time. It had only been the day before that we had defeated a massive horde of Adaro. However, the heaps of remains that had been piled high were now nowhere to be seen—not even a fragment of bone. If the mayor’s story was true, they must have cleaned up the mess…
Somewhere, it felt reminiscent of the moment just before we infiltrated the Holos Carmen mansion. The strong presence of darkness was not merely a remnant from the Demon King’s era.
“To come back here after what we went through, Ruu really loves danger, doesn’t she?”
Behind us were Lazar and the mercenary group. Though they hardly showed it on the surface, their demeanor was clearly hesitant.
It was understandable, Senri thought. While Lazar and the others hadn’t directly engaged with the Adaro horde, they had witnessed the massive remains. Even if they were formidable beings, it was unacceptable to be intimidated by something as trivial as the Black Bones.
Still, they had come this far, accepting the mayor’s request, perhaps out of curiosity or a sense of guilt for leaving everything to someone much younger than Senri.
One of the mercenaries spoke up, his fearful gaze directed at End, who was clutching his stomach and looking pale.
“Barona seems to be in considerably poor condition today. Shouldn’t we head back?”
“I think so too. But Ruu would go alone even if it’s just one person. As her husband, I can’t just stay silent.”
I felt a bit of admiration for End’s determination to keep up the act even in such circumstances.
After all, it was no ordinary feat for someone who literally didn’t want to die to push through in such poor health. While this mission had initially been for End, we were here now because of Senri’s whims. I had anticipated that if I moved, End would want to follow. That thought made me feel a bit—no, extremely—guilty.
“It’s love. I love Ruu so much that I came along despite this awful stomachache. I love her so much.”
“Ah, I see. I get it. Enough already, Barona. But can you really fight in that condition?”
End was glancing at Senri while making a rather embarrassing assertion. I had sensed it for a while, but it seemed End was the type to speak his mind. He probably didn’t care what Lazar and the others thought.
Regardless of what he said, I wished he would be a bit quieter. While the atmosphere of the castle strongly suggested that something was waiting for us, the tension was hard to maintain.
End was passionately arguing with a face devoid of any blood. He was trying to appear calm, but I could see his body occasionally twitching as if in pain. He was indeed suffering.
“Of course! But if things get dangerous, Lazar and the others should run away quickly. If they die, my beloved Ruu will be sad! My beloved!”
End was strong, but this time, I couldn’t rely on him. With a deep sigh, I gently admonished him in a low voice.
“Barona, please be a little quieter. I love you.”
—
The atmosphere of the ancient castle was clearly different from before. It had never been a particularly bright place, but now it was enveloped in a dreadfully oppressive air that made me feel uneasy. If it weren’t for the stomachache, I might have even hummed a tune.
However, despite the pain, I remained alert. The instincts of a lower-rank vampire had already kicked into battle mode.
Leading the way was Senri, followed by Lazar and the mercenary group—and me. In this battle, Lazar and the others would likely be of little help. Thus, they would serve as a wall.
A wall to protect Senri and me from traps. I wanted to avoid any deaths as much as possible since it would only sadden Senri, but I wouldn’t trade our lives for that. We had come this far knowing the risks, so I was prepared for whatever came next.
When we reached the castle’s main gate, Senri stopped. For an instant, hesitation flickered across her face, but she quickly drew her sword and carved marks into the castle wall.
One vertical line, one horizontal line. The sharp cuts formed a cross that faintly glowed white.
Perhaps noticing my puzzled expression, Senri spoke with a hint of apology.
“…This is a mark in case I don’t make it back alive. A warning for those who come after.”
…I see. Such a fierce resolve was fitting for the Order of the Final Knights, who risked their lives to subjugate the Adaro.
I wanted to commend her, but as someone who loved reading, I knew better.
“That’s ominous. That’s what they call a death flag.”
“……”
Well… I was already dead, after all.
I looked down at the heavy machete in my right hand. My stomach hurt, but I could still swing it to shatter any death flags.
I hesitated for a moment but merely shrugged it off.
No matter what, I wouldn’t let Senri die. That was all that mattered. I didn’t need a mark of resolve; it was already within me.
I felt as if I could hardly muster any strength. The curse of the Seablue that I hadn’t fully absorbed was likely contributing to my poor condition.
My physical strength, regeneration ability, senses, and overall physical capabilities remained intact, but I couldn’t activate any of my powers effectively.
The Dog Transformation, Cursed Flame, Sharp Claw, Sharp Fang, and Shadow Veil were all impossible. Perhaps if I poured every ounce of my strength into it, I might activate them, but I had no desire to test that theory.
The relentless agony was dulling my focus. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to concentrate solely on Senri, diverting my attention from the pain. Surely, if I could figure out the Cause, Senri would reward me. With that thought in mind, this level of suffering felt manageable.
I walked through the familiar corridors of the castle. Normally, I would lead the way, but this time, I had no choice but to let Senri take the lead; my presence would only be a hindrance. The scent in the air was unchanged, yet the atmosphere felt different against my skin. We slipped through the crumbled wall and descended into the underground passage.
I held a flicker of hope, but there was no sign of the Night Crystal. With sufficient alertness, I pressed deeper into the shadows.
At last, we reached a dead-end corridor. Several large wooden crates were stacked haphazardly, giving the place an air of neglect. Though I had been coming here for some time, the Night Crystal had never made an appearance.
By the way, when I first arrived, I had confirmed that the crates were empty. I had heard they were left behind by the DeSeN/ADoro. Senri scanned the surroundings before dragging one of the crates aside.
The faint glow of the torches held by Lazar and the others illuminated the exposed stone floor. Upon closer inspection, I noticed—there were gaps between the stone slabs. This was something that wouldn’t be easily noticed at a glance. There was no scent either, making it undetectable even to a vampire.
I couldn’t risk flipping the stones with delicate fingers like a whitefish. Stepping forward in Senri’s stead, I inserted my trembling fingers and attempted to flip the impossibly heavy stone slab. It creaked ominously as I moved it. It was quite heavy, but it seemed it wasn’t fixed in place. While it might be difficult for a human to manage, flipping one slab to create a significant gap would make the rest easier to remove.
I carefully pried each slab away. What lay hidden beneath the stone floor was an ancient black door.
“…It’s a trap. No doubt about it.”
Could this floor have been buried by the DeSeN/ADoro? Or was it something that had originally been exposed, covered up to hide something foul? Either way, it was troublesome. The door was firmly shut, and no scent escaped from it. I glanced at Senri, but she shook her head in response.
“…It’s been counter-strategized.”
So even the Blessing detection had its weaknesses. Zen was also a possibility. This was the underground of a castle once belonging to a dead king; it would be strange if such precautions weren’t in place.
Yet, while there was tension in Senri’s expression, there was no fear. She must have been engaged in battles like this for a long time. Therefore, I had no reason to be afraid. I extended my hand toward her. Senri hesitated for a moment but soon handed me a rusted key.