**Special Edition 1: End-BaロN/A Will Not Regret After**
**Interlude 3**
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**Special Edition 1: End-BaロN/A Will Not Regret After**
“What does it feel like to be a Vampire?”
“Huh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden…?”
Moving my body is enjoyable. Vampires don’t gain muscle from training, and I don’t tire from movement, but the restlessness that comes from inactivity must be a remnant of my previous life as a human.
Even on this day, as I confirm the joy of my body moving without pain while performing my daily routine of handstand push-ups, Senri, who had been sitting in a chair observing me intently, suddenly posed that question.
With a powerful push from my arms, I leaped high, spun in mid-air, and landed gracefully.
It’s rare for Senri to ask me something like that. She seems to make an effort to help me forget that I am an N/AデN/ADoro.
I don’t mind it at all, but it seems that for Senri, my becoming an N/AデN/ADoro remains a tragedy.
However, it’s quite difficult to answer the question of what it feels like. If someone asked a human what it feels like to be human, they would probably struggle to articulate it as well.
I furrowed my brow, pondering seriously, and cautiously replied, “Well… if I had to say… it feels like being a dead body that’s still moving.”
“…I see.”
I possess great power, feel no pain, my throat gets dry, but I don’t feel particularly hungry, and I have no need to use the restroom. There are several critical weaknesses I must contend with, and I have to hide from humans, as well as avoid being hunted by wild Vampires, the Order of the Final Knights, or the wild Demon King. But overall, compared to my previous life, it feels incredibly good. After all, Senri provides me with blood.
As I blinked, caught in the habit of once upon a time, Senri eventually spoke in a heavy tone.
“A long-lived dead person’s king loses their humanity. The soul of a person cannot withstand the passage of time… it is far too long.”
That raises a question… isn’t there something fundamentally wrong with a death spirit mage who becomes a dead person’s king? Indeed, living as a single person for decades, centuries, or even millennia could drive anyone mad. However, I have only just become an N/AデN/ADoro. While N/AデN/ADoro are immortal, I still appear to be the same age as I was, and I have a bit more time before I have to grapple with the burden of an immortal body.
I’ve had some anxiety about this for a while, but since there’s no point in worrying, I’ve decided to put it aside for now.
I spoke to Senri, who looked like she had something to say, in a serious tone.
“Senri, I will… take on the night shift.”
“…I see.”
“Everyone hates the night shift, right? I will definitely take it on once I am recognized by human society.”
“Night shift…”
It’s the perfect job for me. I could be a security guard or anything else. If I can’t stand sunlight, I’ll just live without it, and if I can’t eat garlic, I’ll avoid it. Even with a body full of weaknesses, I can get used to it over time. After all, I won’t die even if I lose my head or become engulfed in flames, so I should be able to tolerate a certain level of weakness. Well, if I weren’t a Vampire, I probably wouldn’t have to worry about losing my head or being set on fire in the first place, but this world seems to be fraught with danger.
If I were to be reborn, I would choose to be a Vampire again. After all, if I encountered a werewolf as a human, I would surely die.
“I’ll be a guardian during the night shift. I possess strength several hundred times that of a normal person, and I won’t die even if I lose my head. I’ve even gone toe-to-toe with the Demon King. And I’ll take care of you, Senri.”
“…End, your positivity is… an admirable virtue.”
I was unexpectedly praised.
But Senri, too, was bedridden once upon a time, and now she is an Eclipse Knight. Perhaps the fact that things are better than they were once upon a time is… an incredible strength.
So, Senri doesn’t need to hold too many negative views about me. I am not pitiable. I have been feared as a monster, hunted by the Order of the Final Knights, and chased by Vampire hunters. While my fear of immortality is not zero, I am still enjoying myself.
Once, I was dead. Normally, that would be the end. Now, being able to move like this is a bonus. Complaining about it would be unreasonable.
Standing in front of Senri, I made a serious face and opened my arms wide.
“Besides, I have you, Senri. I am… not alone. Therefore, I am not lonely at all.”
If I had been a Vampire alone, I might have fallen into despair. I might have attacked people to drink their blood. But Senri has prevented that with her very being; she has always been my understanding companion.
Noble, considerate of me, strong, and—kind. Wishing for anything more than this would be sheer luxury.
Senri gazed at me with her clear, transparent eyes, then stood up and opened her arms without saying a word.
See? So very kind.
With a smile, I gently embraced Senri—
—and then pushed her down onto the nearby bed.
The power of the Eclipse Knight’s Blessing is formidable, but without it, Senri’s strength remains within the realm of a normal person. In such close proximity, where swordsmanship doesn’t matter, I felt her warmth.
Senri’s eyes widened in surprise. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced with a youthful expression that was fresh and—adorable.
“!? End!?”
“Senri, you’re so kind—”
“No good! That’s not what I meant! I just gave you blood the other day!”
A sharp kick landed on my stomach, but even if I had a hole in my gut, I remained relatively calm. As I drew closer, I caught the strong scent of blood beneath her delicate skin. My heart raced.
I restrained Senri’s arms and legs, rubbing my head against her neck. Why do I feel this way? My Vampire hunting instincts were being stirred.
Her pale skin was smooth, her limbs delicate, and wherever I touched, they felt soft. Even in the dim light of a candle, my Vampire eyes could clearly see Senri’s flushed skin.
Senri protested, her voice rising.
“End, no good! This is not what we agreed on! Blood is only once a week!”
“I won’t drink blood! But I will cuddle! According to what I’ve learned about Vampire knowledge, male Vampires love beautiful girls!”
“!?”
Research is important. I need to find the best spot to drink blood next—where Senri reacts the best.
As I focused all my senses, more seriously than when I was training, I noticed the soul within Senri’s body shining brightly.
“‘Light of Liberation (Soul-LiLiース)’!”
§
“…I will never trust you again.”
Senri said as I was knocked back and rolled onto the floor from the shock of the Light of Liberation. The “Light of Liberation” is the weakest of the Blessing spells. While it can purify low-level N/AデN/ADoro, it only serves as a light punishment for me.
Rubbing my stomach, I stood up and said, “I’ve heard that about five times already.”
“…”
I remained calm. There’s no need to worry. No matter what happens, I won’t be discouraged, I won’t regret it afterward, and I am happy. I hope you understand that?
Senri turned away, pouting.
Thanks to regularly receiving blood and being strengthened, I was starting to get used to the “Light of Liberation.”
Next. This time, I will definitely succeed.
As I felt confident, Senri turned her narrowed eyes toward me and let out a small sigh.
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This is the first part of the Special Edition Interlude.
Today, the first volume of the manga version of *Twilight Palace* featuring the Dead Person’s King is released. It comes with an original manga and a beautiful cover featuring End and Senri. Thank you for your support!
In the activity report, we have released the cover illustration for Volume 1 of the Book Edition and information on store bonuses. Please be sure to check it out!
Please wait a little while longer for the main story update.
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/Tsukikage
The first volume of the novel version is also available from EN/AターブレイN/A / Famitsu Bunko. It includes illustrations of a somewhat colorful Senri, illustrations of Ruu showcasing her powers, and plenty of original short stories. Thank you for your support!
Update Announcement: @ktsuki_novel (Twitter)