"I know how to track the undead. So we'll get behind it. ......

　After a night in Semesera, Senri, who had changed into sober colored clothes different from the ones he had been wearing for a long time, looked down at the large map and said in a serious voice.
　Her words imply that she's using the knowledge she's learned to track the undead for the exact opposite purpose, but there's no hesitation in her voice.

　But what I'm more interested in is something else.

"Senri, ...... why are you wearing glasses ......?

"...... disguise. It's a disguise, but ...... my hair and eye color are very noticeable.

　Senri was wearing brown-framed glasses with purple eyes looking at me intently through thin lenses.
　She was wearing a pair of brown-framed glasses, and her purple eyes were looking at me intently through the thin lenses, but because of the quality of the material, she looked almost the same as before. There's no way you can disguise the color of your hair and eyes just by wearing glasses.

　It looks good on you, but ...... I wonder if he's serious about it. I want to suck his blood.
　You can't always hide behind thick robes and hoods because it would be too suspicious, but the demise knight doesn't seem to have any sense of disguise.

　Senri had bought a gray cloak for me. I would have preferred black, but I heard that vampires prefer black, so it was meant to camouflage them. As an uninitiated, I just obeyed.

　Senri showed me a route that crossed a large river that bordered Semesera. It was definitely a route I could not have taken alone.
　The current was swift, the water several meters deep, and it was crossed by a thick stone bridge.

　I gasp and Senri cautiously checks me out.

"Do you believe me?

I've been on the ...... side of this for a long time now. I'm really grateful to you, Senri.

　This world is too hard for a vampire to survive in, especially one who knows nothing about it.
　When Senri first gave me his blood, I had the option of running away on my own. A flustered Senri would not have pursued me even if I had run away.
　But I'm really glad I chose to take the risk of negotiating with Epe and getting Senri on my side.
　At the time, I didn't even know that only human blood could satisfy my blood-sucking urges.

　I am now choosing the path that is most suitable for my survival.

"....... This is what a Knight of the End does.

　Senri said, his eyes downcast at my words. But her voice sounded a little gentler and a little sadder than usual.

　Senri still has doubts. She's smart enough to know that.
　No matter how well we get along now, no matter how good I am, I'm still a monster who can't live without causing trouble for others.

　When Senri is gone, I'll have to suck the blood of someone else.
　If not, I don't have a life expectancy. There will always be a time when I go wrong. So I have to win her over somehow.

　There is no tangible benefit to her in helping me. The s*xual pleasure she feels from the bloodsucking will not be a benefit either. .......

　I wish there was a way for me to live without sucking blood.

"How will you cross?　Can you hold me up by my shoulders?

　As a lower level vampire, I can still barely walk on water. When I'm a full vampire, even walking will be difficult.
　But it's probably impossible for me to cross a bridge this big if I'm about to fall.

　I could ask Senri to support me on my shoulders, but she's shorter than me. It would be a little unnatural. I have luggage too.

　When I asked, Senri shook her head.

"No. ............ end and fly. If we fly under the bridge, we won't be noticed, and I think we can manage to get over a river this big.

　That's a pretty wild way to go. But I'm sure Epe and the others didn't expect Senri to be so supportive of me. Not bad.
　I narrowed my eyes, looked at his neck, and said jokingly.

If you're going to drop me in the water on the way out, I'd like to have some blood before you do.

It's okay. Even if you fall into the water, you won't need to breathe, and with the river the way it's flowing, you'll eventually be washed ashore. ......

If I had weights, I'd be at the bottom of the water for the rest of my life. If you had weights, you'd be at the bottom of the water for the rest of your life, and you wouldn't have the strength to cut out your own heart.

　It's a horrible thought. Vampires are really strange beings because they can take showers and baths without any problems, but not in the river.
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a vampire.

I think that's a very good idea ....... I've never thought about it because the demise knight is sure to destroy the undead, but if you want to contain them alive, it might be perfect.

"...... Stop it. It doesn't hurt and it's not painful in the water, but it's not okay.

Then stop talking nonsense. Come on, I'll give you some ...... food.

　My head is getting hot.
　Senri said hesitantly, and gave me a finger as smooth as a white fish.

　The limit of the blood-sucking urge is ten days. If I could only endure it for twice that long, my abilities would be greatly diminished and I would lose my mind.
　If I ingest Senri's blood, the urge will subside for the time being and the deadline will be reset. The amount of blood needed is probably not that much.

　Even when I was almost consumed by the urge, I could come back to my senses with just a little blood from my fingers. The only time I needed to take more blood was the first time I was restored from the neck state.



　I wanted to bite her neck, but she wasn't ready for that.
　I took her fingertip and rubbed the smooth skin once, then guided it into my mouth.

　Senri's eyebrows twitched. Stroking the inside of her mouth felt indescribably good.

　He sucked on his finger and thrust his canine teeth shallowly into its surface. The act of bloodsucking is painless. It is like being bitten by a mosquito.
　Perhaps the intense pleasure of the act of bloodsucking is also intended to facilitate bloodsucking. According to tradition, once bitten by a vampire, the next time the vampire will offer its head. This didn't happen to Senri, but that's probably because her spirit is so strong.

　The heat in her head ebbed in the sweet blood. The gentle pleasure that passed through her brain made her exhale hotly.

　The sensation of this blood sucking is indescribable, though it is a little lacking. Senri's eyes were a little more relaxed than usual as he held out his finger, and his cheeks seemed to have a hint of vermilion in them.

　Observing this, she carefully licked her finger. He then traced the back of her hand with his fingertips and stretched out his arm to slip his hand into Senri's loose sleeve. As their silky skin meets skin, I feel as if I am gaining more and more power.

　If all I wanted to do was suck blood, it would be the same no matter where I bit. But the power I get now is clearly different from when I bit my neck.
　Taking into account what Senri told me the other day, that vampires take their time to suck blood from the neck, the feeling of satisfaction and the amount of power gained by sucking blood may be closely related.

　He just squinted in pleasure and licked the blood off. His fingertips brush against Senri's elbow.
　He was about to go further, when Senri suddenly withdrew his hand. Her fingertips, glistening with saliva, retracted protectively, and she lightly slapped my outstretched arm away.

　A small bite mark appeared on her white finger, but no blood came out. And the bite mark will disappear soon.

"...... over. You've had enough, haven't you?

".......

　Don't answer that, just bask in the afterglow of the bloodsucking.
　Not enough, of course. It's not enough, but it's enough to keep the blood-sucking urge at bay.

　Lack is also a spice. My mind is not so weak as to be carried away by this level of desire.
　With my excellent hearing, I could clearly see that the always calm Senri's heart was beating a little faster.

　Carefully wiping away the saliva, Senri raised her glasses in an unaccustomed motion. It was as if she was trying to get the air back to normal.

Once we're past the river ......, we'll head west. There's a small town. There's also a large city to the east, but the small city is less likely to be hit by the Demise Knight.

"...... Copy that. I'll follow.

　Senri's words are comforting. I think it's possible that the Knights of the End will come to the small town and anticipate our choice to cross the bridge. But there's nothing I can do about that.

　After a night in the inn, a shower and a change of clothes, Senri looked radiant.
　Wild life should not continue for long. There will always be a time when you will come up against an enemy, no matter how long you live.

　I was already prepared to face the fire when I made my plan to defeat the Lord.

　My blood makes me strong. It's propelling me to a new level. I can see that my existence is falling at a tremendous rate.

　And maybe that speed is much faster than Senri imagined.



§§


　We leave the city and head for the bridge. It's a stone bridge, several meters wide, with enough room for a carriage.

　The sun had already set, and few people were passing the massive, sturdy structure. However, the bridge was illuminated by light from a nearby tower-like structure, perhaps to protect it from attackers in the dark.

　Senri was heavily armed. He wore a plain brown cloak and a large backpack, the sort of thing a traveler with no money for a carriage or horses would be forced to carry. It was a stark contrast to the other day, when he was wearing the white gear of a demise knight.
　The flat glasses seem to have little meaning, but looking at it this way, the impression is quite different.

　I don't have my backpack. I don't have a backpack, because I can't afford to carry one when crossing the bridge.

　Avoiding people's eyes, I sneak to the foot of the bridge.

"The light wings are made of blessing. Be careful not to touch them.

"I don't think I have the energy to touch them.

　It's really tough on the water. Senri stands behind me, his face tense, and gives me a soft hug from behind.
　If I were a human being, I might feel adoration in such a scene, but unfortunately, what I felt was the delicious smell of blood.

　I really hope I don't get an appetite.

"Hold me and fly. The end is nothing to worry about.

"Oh. ...... got it.

　Senri slipped his arms under my armpits and held my body. And then, with all his might, he leaps forward.

　My whole body relaxes. I surrender my entire being to Senri.
　In the dark water, I see the reflection of the thin moon and the translucent me.