My relationship with Senri seems to have changed a bit.

　I can't relax yet, but it's a change for the better. She's started telling me jokes, she's given me knowledge. She's given me training. If this were a trap, I'd lose faith in people. I'm sure she'll be on my side as long as I don't take a wrong turn.

　I've learned many things during my journey.

　The amount of blood needed for the cycle of the bloodsucking urge to come. How I would react to the vampire's weaknesses, to the difference in power between me and the demon knight. The magnitude of my violent urges and how to control them.

　It's essential knowledge for my survival.
　Senri knew a lot about demon knights and how to kill vampires, but he didn't know how vampires could live longer. I began to understand myself one step at a time.

　I also began to understand Senri's own personality. He seems like a hard man, but he jokes. She even laughs. She seems serious but flexible, kind but able to accept both the good and the bad. And yet, he also has a weakness. Sometimes he even acts like he's asking me out.
　He's a complicated person. But her position, her strength, her knowledge, and her taste for blood made her an ideal partner.

　It was fortunate that Senri was the one who was after Lord. I had to make the most of this luck. He had to decide his next course of action while he had her as a strong ally.

　And without being caught by the pursuers, we reached the city safely.

　It's a medium-sized city like Engay. It has moderately high walls, a river nearby, and many people lined up at the gates even near sunset.
　Merchants with wagons or horses are searched, but other travelers seem to pass through unless they look suspicious. I was not asked for any identification at Engay either. I guess the outer wall is more of a protection against magical beasts.
　Well, there is an ID card prepared by the Lord as well: .......

　While standing in line, Senri whispered to me.

"End, look at your feet .......

......

　On the outside of the gate, a small trench had been dug. There was water flowing slowly in it.

　Obviously, it was a measure against vampires. If the ditch surrounded the entire city, real vampires would not be able to enter from the sky as bats.
　If I had stepped into the ditch without noticing, I would have suddenly lost my strength and fallen down.

　This is what scares me. If I hadn't known, I would have fallen for sure.
　It seems that in this world, there are measures against the undead here and there, just invisible to ordinary people.

　However, I think that a small gap like this can be overcome if you are prepared. ......

Does it happen often?

"Yes. In big cities, they are well maintained. There was one in Engei. It was ............ out of order, though, and the water wasn't running.

　Engay was near the Lord's home. If the Lord was going to take over my body, it wouldn't be surprising if the Lord was taking measures against vampires.

　Besides running water, vampires have a number of other weaknesses. You have to be careful. .......

　A gatekeeper with a spear is watching the travelers with a bored look on his face as they pass through the gate. He is probably checking to see if anyone is behaving unnaturally as they pass over the flowing water.
　Senri approached me with natural movements and squeezed my hand. I squeeze her slightly cool fingertips back.

　Then, with a single breath, I climbed over the flowing water and made my way into the city of Semesera. 　



§§



　I walk through the city in the dark of night and quickly find an inn. It's a medium-sized inn. I have no complaints except for the thin curtains.
　We took two single rooms and had a strategy meeting in my room.

　Senri said with the same cold eyes as usual.

In a city of this size, there's a chance they'll come after us. We'd better hurry and get out of here.

It's everywhere.

...... end ............ Are you in a bad mood?

...... A little. But don't worry about it. I know what's important.

　The city of Semesera is about the same size as Engage.
　The number of people and the bustle is about the same, but there is one clear difference.

　Perhaps because there is a large river nearby, there are many waterways in the city of Semesera.
　I could cross a ditch in one step, but I couldn't cross a long bridge by myself. If I pushed myself, I might be able to make it, but I would still be in a dizzy state for a long time.

　On the water, vampires lose almost all of their abilities. They lose all their special abilities, their strength, and probably their ability to regenerate. In my case, I don't have the special abilities of a vampire, but I can't use my claws and fangs that I learned when I was a werewolf before I was mutated. My abilities would be reduced to the point where a normal person could kill me.

　Of course, if Senri is with me, I'll be able to cross the bridge, but then I'll be too much of a liability.

I don't need your pity. I know you're on the run. I'm just being selfish. I just wanted to look around the city a little bit and eat and stuff. I've never done that.



　Senri rolls his eyes. I don't need that look, but I'm aware that what I want is very childish.

　Even when he went on errands with Luu, he didn't have time to look around the city. Even before I was born, I rarely walked alone in the city or ate at street stalls because I couldn't walk when I was ten or so.
　So I had a little bit of hope, but apparently human cities are much tougher for me than I thought.

　Most vampires do not choose to hide in the city, but live in old castles, ruins, or underground labyrinths.
　I thought they were like demons, but it makes sense if human cities are so hard to live in. 　

　In addition, the curtains in this room are nice and thin. Even if you close the curtains tightly, you'll probably get a little bit of sunlight.
　This means that even though there is a bed, you can't sleep in it. There is a closet, so you will have to go into it during the daytime to avoid the sunlight.

　Sleeping in the closet doesn't cause me any physical pain, but I still have some thoughts.

　A small sigh escaped her lips, and with a kind look in her eyes, Senri said.

If there's anything you want me to get for you, I'll get it for you.

　What do you want me to buy you? There are many things I want. I need a change of clothes, something a little more elaborate to eat. I want to drink Senri's blood.
　But it would be a problem to buy too much stuff. We'll be leaving town soon.

"............ I'd like you to buy me a book on magic, if you have one. As for money, we can exchange the precious metals we picked up from Horos' house.

"...... What kind of magic?

Anything. But I want something we can use to escape.

　I don't even know what that is. I've never read a magic book in my life, and the one in Lord's mansion was too difficult.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you.

............ Okay. I'll see what I can find. What else?

I'm not sure if I'm in a position to say this, but be careful. I'm sure they're not just after me, they're after Senri as well.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure it's a good idea.



§ § § §



　A completely collapsed and burned out mansion. In front of a simple grave built nearby, there was a shadow of one person and one animal.
　One was a man of mature years, dressed in a long black coat. He was large and deeply hooded, with three swords at his waist.

　The man smelled of thick blood. There was a certain intimidation in his appearance.

What do you think of Alba ......?

"............

　The other was a black dog. The other dog was a black dog, nearly two meters long and a meter tall.
　The black, shiny fur and strong, tough, well-developed limbs had the beauty of a beast. Its golden eyes were sharp, but there was a certain intelligence behind them.

　The dog called Alba put his big nose to the grave for a while, but soon looked up and turned his gaze to the depths of the forest.

"You chose ...... to go through the forest, ...... as expected. You are not so incompetent as to stand up to annihilation.

"............

　At the man's soliloquy, Alba looked up at her master as if she understood his words.
　In response to the man's gaze, a deep smile formed around the black man's mouth.

'Ah, yes. We're not going to Engay. But we need supplies. If we follow the path through the forest, we'll come to ............ Semesera. But that city is no place for a vampire to live. ............ Oh, no problem, don't worry, Alba. I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it. At the very least, you can work for your reward .......


　It's a good idea to keep your eyes on the road and not on the road.
　And then one and one disappeared into the darkness without a sound.