My goal is survival. If there is even the slightest chance of that happening, I will do everything in my power.

　Why would I waltz into my opponent's field, no matter how desperately I want the Night Crystal?
　It's impossible. No matter how many people I surround myself with, no matter how much I set the time to my advantage at night, no matter how much I show that I have no intention of harming them, they are professionals who hunt the families of the night.

　I've seen all kinds of powerful enemies. I'm not so smug as to think that I can compete with them with a little bloodsucking.

"...... Plotted, huh?

　I'm not so sure I can compete with them with a little blood.
　Albatross turns around and stares at the owner of the voice with eyes that look like they're about to pounce.

　Senri was standing behind Kainushi and Arbatross.

　A deep hood hid his hair, and he was disguised by a pair of glasses. However, her piercing gaze, like a drawn blade, and the tip of her sword, a sign of the Knight of the End, are pointed right at Kainushi.
　Although she wasn't quite ready yet, I had asked her to sneak into the tavern before nightfall. Probably further than Cainusi and Arbatross.

　To watch over my dealings with the vampire hunters. I wasn't planning on coming out if nothing happened.

　But I knew from the start they would attack. I didn't know what to do when he tried to negotiate peacefully, but grudges don't go away that easily.

　Senri's skin was horribly bloodless.
　Maybe it was because of anger, or maybe because I had been a little too indulgent and sucked up too much blood.
　I couldn't help but say something embarrassing, but she didn't seem to mind.

　A second class knight with a power incomparable to mine pointed his blade at me, but the will to fight did not disappear from both of us.
　I'm not sure what to make of that.

"You've been seduced, ...... slut.

"Alba, stop. She's not ours to destroy.

　Kainushi gives a small shrug. But his eyes are as cold as his boisterous partner's. His hand is still holding the crossbow.

　To my knowledge, vampire hunters are a step behind demise knights. But I wonder... I can't afford this.
　I thought you'd retreat when Senri showed up. Don't tell me you still have a plan.

But the ...... treasured child of destruction. It's a little too ...... playful. Do you understand?　The vampire is still a lowly ...... singular individual created by Holos Kamen, the Ancestor. ...... I don't know. It's not as if the Knights of the End don't understand the dangers.

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

　"Ancestor". I've never heard of it. I've never even seen it in an atlas.
　But since Senri didn't interrupt, is it common knowledge in their world?

　Kainushi stroked the blade with his fingertips and continued.

You don't know what's in there. We have to kill it before it turns into a monster. If a new founder appears, there will be many victims. I don't mind, though.

"............ He hasn't bitten anyone yet but me. He's still got reason. Maybe he won't lose it.

It's--

　Kainushi's expression changed.

　He frowns, sighs heavily, and spits.

"That's - that's very troubling. If it's a characteristic, it's the worst ...... of the Ancestors that have been identified so far. It could be a poison that invades the world. Sounds like the kind of thing a second-rate necromancer would think of. Senri Sylvis, if that trait spreads it will become a force to be reckoned with. Are you raising ...... the worst vampire of them all?

　For a moment, Senri's face was filled with strong hesitation.

　Our eyes met. But I didn't say anything. There's nothing I can say.
　I don't know what the founder means or what the worst vampire is. I just have to believe.

　The silence lasted a few seconds. Senri frowns and makes a stifled sound.



"Go back to ............. I'll ...... keep an eye on him.

"...... ouch, negotiations broke down, ...... too bad. Alba--


　Kainushi didn't show a hint of agitation when he heard the answer.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that.

I'd rather not hurt you, but I'm not going to. I didn't want to hurt you as much as I could, but you can ...... kill me half to death.

"............ I refuse. I'll kill that vampire!



"............ Are you kidding me? You're asking me, a mere mortal, to fight the Knights of the End?　Just go. Just get him, and I'll let you help me hunt him down.

　Unbelievable. They're going to fight the Sentry?

　That was completely unexpected. Senri is stronger than me, even with limitations, and he doesn't have the obvious weaknesses that I do.

　Arbatross lifts a huge table with one hand and throws it at Senri with ease.
　His body is not that big, but his physical strength could possibly rival mine. I wonder if there's some kind of trick to it.

　But there was no time to think. At about the same time, Kainushi stepped toward me.
　The crossed swords in his hands were raised wide.

"Keep your eyes open, vampire.

"?

　The speed wasn't that fast. But it felt really bad.
　I stepped back and avoided the blow with time to spare. Droplets of water fly. To me, it looked like a clear, colorless liquid, but a powerful poison.

　For a vampire, a cross is not such a deadly weakness. But it makes you sick to look at it, and it weakens you to touch it. In addition, Cainusi's sword was made of silver and sprinkled with holy water.
　It is unlikely that the wound will regenerate as quickly as usual. Perhaps a single blow would disable him from fighting.

　This was his first fight with a vampire hunter. I can't afford to worry about Senri.

　Backing up, he lifted a nearby table and threw it as hard as he could, just like Arbatos had done.

　He was full of energy. I'm feeling great. Cainusi clicks his tongue in a small, slippery motion and sidesteps wide.
　Apparently he has much less endurance, strength, and regeneration than I do. This one has a lot of weaknesses to pay for, I hope.

　We got what we came for. All that's left is to run. Fall back, wary of the attack. On the other side of the Kainushi, Arbatos is attacking Senri with all four limbs, moving like a beast.

　Don't worry. Senri will be able to fight him off.

　Now-- pull the man in front of you away. As I retreat, the Kainushi follow me without hesitation.

I'm sorry, but I need you to deliver the Night Crystal.

What? The price is ...... your life!

　A crossbow is thrown at you. If you look closely, you'll see two more of the same swinging down at his waist.
　On the back side of the cloak, there was a large number of unidentifiable but foreboding objects.

　Evade the crucifix without getting hit. The long blade plunged into the wall and trembled loudly. But you can't take it away. If you touch it, you lose your power.

　A disadvantage. The man in front of you is not the type to come at you with force. Perhaps Arbatos is the one in charge of force.
　He is overpowered in physical ability. But it's dangerous to approach him when you don't know his M.O.

　I'm leaving the tavern. Kainushi's coming after us. There's a large crowd of onlookers outside the tavern. When they saw me run out, they screamed and ran away like spiders.
　You shouldn't take hostages. These guys can't take hostages, and Senri won't let them.

　Six small silver crosses come spinning out of the sky from all directions. It's like a boomerang.
　You really think of a lot of things. ....... I avoid it, half in disgust, half in admiration. With the senses and physical abilities of a vampire, it's easy to avoid.

It's a great trick, .......

............ I'm sure.

　The crucifix is thrown. No matter how many times you try, it's pointless.

　The moment you try to avoid it, you suddenly feel an intense pain in your body.
　Your hand almost stops, but you manage to pull out the machete at your waist just in time to strike down the crossbow. Kainushi was closing in on me.

　I realized that there was a black thread hanging loosely over my body. I endured the pain and forced my body to move to get out of it.
　A silver thread. A silver thread, painted black, that even a night-visioned vampire would miss. I don't need to think about when it was hung.

　Kainushi pulls back. The thread tautens, and the six crosses he'd just thrown come at him from behind.



"Shit!

　He quickly rotated his body and used his "Light Eater" to strike down the cross connected to the thread that was approaching from behind.
　At that moment, Kainushi was right in front of him, swinging his crossed swords.

　Strong. Not decisive, but he was used to fighting. If Arbatross had been there, he definitely would not have won.
　Ignoring his still aching body, he roared.

"Don't you dare!

!

　With a roar, I swung my foot down to the ground with all my might.
　My current physical strength is nothing compared to my training. A huge crack appeared in the ground, and it shook violently. Kainushi's stance collapses.

　Stunned eyes meet mine. I see a monster with bright red pupils in its cloudy eyes. I sneer.


　--Retreat.
　I can't handle them. If you think about it, they're hunters who can kill vampires. As a lowly vampire, I'm not the one to fight.


　As I took a large step back, Kainushi gave me a dumbfounded look. His arm reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ball the size of a fist.
　A few steps back, it slams into the ground.

　A white powder dispersed into the air.

　A smoke screen?　That's convenient.
　Just as I was thinking this, intense nausea and pain hit me.

　My knees buckled and I fell to my knees, then rushed to my feet. My head was dizzy. I show my back and run as fast as I can through the white powder.
　My bare palms were red and swollen. I feel like collapsing and falling asleep. I can't stop crying.

　This pungent smell ...... is garlic powder. There's even silver dust in the mix.
　It's awful to do this to a naive vampire.

　I'm not losing strength. Apparently silver and garlic aren't the kind to take away strength. I want to wash it off now but if I accidentally jump in the river I'll die.

　I'm going for the roof. My legs are strong enough to get me through the roof. Just as I was about to take a big leap, a high-pitched gunshot rang out.
　I felt a tremendous heat in my side and a rush of pain. There are bullet holes in the wall in front of me.

　You hold the wound with your hand. There's a thin white puff of smoke. A silver bullet. Fortunately, it seems to have only grazed me.

　Look behind you. Kainushi was holding a large revolver-type gun. I wondered how much training he'd gone through to be able to shoot at me with such accuracy in the almost total darkness.

"d*mn ...... you!　I hate you!

I hate you, too.

　That's odd.

　Kainushi pulls the trigger. He endures the pain and evades the incoming bullets.
　There's only a finite number of bullets, and vampires' reflexes and eyesight make it easy to avoid them. You could even cut them off with a machete if you wanted to.

　When he realized that he still had the strength to resist, Kainushi lowered his revolver and said in an astonished tone.

"Are you going to leave your princess, your bride, and run away, vampire?

It's ...... of course.

　If you run as fast as you can, they won't be able to follow you.
　Senri will be fine. I'm not going to be able to do that.
　I've already set a meeting place.

　I kicked the ground loudly and staggered to the top of the roof. Even though I was through the powder, my head still felt dizzy. I haven't felt this much pain in a long time.
　It's better than the sun, but please don't make me do it again.

We'll never see each other again. Goodbye.

End. I know your name. Next time ...... won't miss.

　A sword was thrown at my feet. I tucked my tail and ran.