It's a nice house, Cainusi thought without changing his expression.
　It was reasonably spacious, well furnished, with plenty of places to hide, and best of all - there were no houses nearby.

　The secret to hunting vampires is how to keep them from doing anything. In order to destroy the undead, who are far more powerful than humans in every way, it is essential to take careful measures.
　The difference between them is enormous. No matter how many muscles an ordinary person builds or how many fighting techniques he learns, he will never be able to match that monster.
　Only a blessed demise knight or someone who has received an equivalent curse can stand up to that abominable monster with brute force.

　If the original necromancers had been able to eliminate the undead's weaknesses, humans would have been reduced to nothing more than frightened hangers-on. Or perhaps there would have been ...... vampires in the position that humans are in today.

　Fortunately, today's vampires have many weaknesses. The history of man is a history of battles with the undead.

　The crossed swords are extremely precise reproductions of the crosses that vampires fear. Bombs laced with garlic and silver dust, and wooden stakes shaped for ease of use. Mail made of holy water and silver to simulate the armor of blessing.
　The undead extermination tools that have been refined and developed can destroy a certain amount of undead as if they were pests.

　The undead are to be destroyed. There are no exceptions.

　They understand language and can use human tools. Pity them and they'll take advantage. Vampires, in particular, have the power to "infect" the weakest of the undead, the zombie, at will. If you let them, they can multiply far more easily than humans.

　This target is a tricky one.

　The target's vampiric characteristics are different from the norm, but more than anything, he is being guarded by a former Knight of the End. It's no wonder Epe of Annihilation asked Cainusi to help him.
　Cainusi and Arbatos are vampire hunters who specialize in the pursuit of vampires. If the other party is a member of the Knights of the End, and knows all about how the Knights of the End chase vampires, then it is impossible to catch up with them by ordinary means.

　Your opponent is on his guard now that he has the Night Crystal. Tonight will decide the outcome.

　It was a full moon tonight. This is when vampires are at their most powerful. But that's why they can be so careless. It doesn't matter much to Kainushi if the lesser vampires are a little stronger.

　It was fortuitous that he could read his target's next move. It's also tricky to have memories of your human life.
　That fearsome monster still thinks he's human, poor thing. What a tragedy.

　The lord, who seemed to be his father, gladly responded to Kainushi's threats.

　The carefully prepared house looked unchanged at first glance, but it had turned into a fortress against vampires. Or perhaps it should be called an execution site rather than a fortress.

　Vampires' weaknesses are often fatal. Even if you're a bit clever, once you trap them, it's over. If there is an opening, you can collapse the trap and annihilate them at once.

　If you want to kill a vampire, you have to do everything you can. That's the nature of vampire hunting.
　I missed once. The circumstances were bad. But not the second time. It wasn't just the vampires who learned from the first engagement.

　Hide yourself in the depths of the house and wait for your prey to strike. If the lord had followed Cainusi's orders, he would appear soon.

　And the time had come.
　The key is unlocked, and the sound of the door quietly opening continues. The sound of small footsteps coming straight towards you. You don't tense up, you just lay low like a shadow.

　Without taking action, just accept the vampire. You have to lock yourself in the room completely.
　The vampire's power is severely limited indoors. Vampires need a room out of the sun to sleep, so they'll come to this place.

　They wouldn't think Kainushi was lurking. If they know, they have no reason to come here.
　His body odor is masked by a special herb. He is on his guard. There's no danger of being noticed from outside the room.

　Her lips twist into a deep smile as she waits for the hunt. Then the door to the room where Kainushi was hiding was thrown wide open.



　What emerged was just as Kainushi had imagined.
　However, the being that was supposed to accompany him was not there.

　The silver-haired, purple-eyed treasured child of Annihilation stepped into the room without hesitation and shouted to Kainushi, who could not see him behind the desk.



There is no point in waiting. The end is ............ not coming.



　They know. I'm not trying to trick you.
　Apparently, things have changed a lot from what he had imagined. Kainushi rose from the shadows and looked at the naive princess with a scowl.



§



　Senri Sylvis did not know much about vampire hunting. But he knew that he was a fearsome opponent.

　In the past, when the Knights of the End had few members and the use of blessings was not as clear as it is now, the Knights of the End and vampire hunters had a cooperative relationship.
　In the event you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your business, then you're going to want to take a look at the following tips.

　In front of the second class knight, the man who called himself Kainushi did not show a single sign of agitation.

Did he come to surrender? Or negotiate? Fine, I'm only here for you. If you surrender quietly, I'll let the vampire go.



"............ Don't be ridiculous.

　He frowned and glared at the unidentifiable man.
　I'm not sure what you're talking about. The man in front of her is not that naive. At the very least, Senri is not pure enough to believe a man who has lied to her once.

　As Senri glared at him, Kainushi gave a small sigh and looked around. The pillar clock indicated that it was midnight. There were still a few hours until morning.

You are here because the Baron betrayed you. ...... You are a foolish man. It's ...... a felony to protect a dead man, even if he is your son. Don't you want your house?

I don't know what you're talking about.

　I don't know what you're talking about." There were a few things he wanted to say, but without provocation, Senri turned a blind eye.

　Rudolph Fomet called Senri over and told him about the Kainushi. He then entrusted Senri with End's affairs.

　Senri had no idea how important it was for a nobleman to keep his family alive. But there was definitely a father-son affection there.

　She thought about running away, but she couldn't take that option.
　The man in front of him was chasing too fast, too accurately. If I don't kill him here, I won't be able to deal with him if he teams up with the Demise Knight or other vampire hunters.

"The corpse of a nobleman becomes a powerful undead. There's a saying. It's a myth, but that's why in most countries, nobles are required to be cremated. If they find out the body's been washed up, Baron Fomet will be finished. That was my advice, but ...... it's unavoidable.

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

　As soon as he said that, Cainusi suddenly looked at him quizzically. I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Why are you taking the side of that vampire? I don't think you've really bonded with him. It's completely unreasonable.

"......

You've done your duty when you gave him your blood. Don't tell me you're going to watch him forever?　That man doesn't have a life. An undead-hunting demise knight turning his sword on me instead of a vampire?

　What an abominable man.
　Perhaps verbal distraction is one of his tactics. But his words were right on target with Senri's concerns.

　You're right, End is dangerous. He's still sane, but he doesn't know how long he can stay sane, and he doesn't know when he will become stronger than Senri. There's also the difference in lifespan. There's also the possibility that he'll suck the blood of others when Senri isn't looking.

　But still, what she had seen of End had struck a chord with Senri.
　He was so cowardly, defying his own instincts, and at the mercy of a strange fate.

　She wanted to be there for him and support him. That was enough reason for me to wield the sword.

　He pulls a silver sword from his waist. The sign of the Knights of the End. It's a holy silver sword with a cold glow.


　This is ...... my will.

"Do you think I can't ...... kill a man?

　The enemies of the Order are the undead. "Do you think I can't slay a man?" The Order of the End's enemies are undead, but some undead can manipulate minds, and some have even joined their ranks.
　And they have a history of warfare with vampire hunters. They have as much experience in human combat as the undead.

　As Senri held his sword and glared at him, Kainushi narrowed his eyes.

You can't cut me. At least, not for me. Poor ...... vampire bride, ...... because--



"We're not alone, unlike you .............

Aah!

　You'll be able to use your sword to intercept a black shadow that unexpectedly leaps at you from behind.
　As soon as you receive the blow, you retreat and let the impact pass, but the blow is so heavy that your sword trembles and your hand goes numb.

　The one who attacked me was a woman in a black dress.
　She looked to be a few years younger than Senri, but the blow was so powerful that it was hard to believe it had come from her slender arms. It was not the strength of a human arm.

　Her golden eyes shone brightly in the darkness. Arbatos. The girl Senri had once defeated was smiling like a beast in the darkness.
　In her hands was a claw-like weapon - a claw.

　It's a strange weapon. It was supposed to be used to hunt vampires, but its claws seemed to be made of a harder metal than silver, and it easily caught Senri's blow last time.
　His body is even smaller than Senri's, but his every move is incredibly fast and light, and if it were purely physical, he might even surpass Senri.

　It was clearly an inhuman power. If it were a human being, it would be impossible for it to have the physical strength of a human unless it had been strengthened by a blessing, but there was no sign that it was wearing a blessing, nor was it using magic.

　Then there is only one conclusion.

　Cursed. A person enhanced by a different curse than a vampire.
　Just as vampires have many weaknesses, the curse must come at a price, but Senri couldn't see that in the first fight. In the first place, it is more likely to be a price that cannot be immediately exploited.



　They blocked our way out. You weren't in the room because you were going to pin us down.

Have you forgotten that I put a hole in your belly once, demon knight?

That's not the move of a man with a hole in his belly. ...... Alba, you're wrong.

Just give him another chance.

　Albatross lowers himself, his rich black hair quivering.
　The Kainushi draws his crossed swords from their scabbards at his waist. Unlike vampires, Senri are immune to crosses, but his gesture showed extraordinary mastery.

I thought you two would come with me. "I thought you two would come with me, but it's better if you're alone. Princess, you don't seem to trust that vampire. Capture you and you'll catch him. If you don't catch him, he'll ...... wake up.

"You are mistaken, ...... Kainushi.

　Cainusi is silent. Albatross is looking at Senri with glowing eyes.

　The spirit was satisfied. The cool air brushed his cheeks.
　It accelerates the blessings flowing through her body. The body has a strong heat, and power flows through the whole body.

　And excited them all at once. The power became radiance, and a strong wind swirled around Senri Sylvis.

　If the vampire hunter's way of fighting is to use all means and tools to exploit weaknesses and trap them, the demise knight's way of fighting is through combat techniques using versatile raw energy ...... blessings.

　In the Knights of the End, a third level knight must become a second level knight.
　It is to master all thirty-six basic techniques using the limited blessings.



　The Art of Strengthening the Body "Junkou



　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.


I was not ...... at my best at that time. It's not ...... difficult to deal with the two of you. It's not that I don't believe in you,......, it's just that I can't fight to the fullest when End is around.






§ § § §





You're not taking this seriously, are you?　I never thought I'd be beaten by a ...... little girl's tricks. Ah, the vessel of the King of the Dead, ...... how pathetic.

"U ...... ru ...... sai ......

"Oh, if it's going to be like that, I should have taught you to be careful with women in the first place. Oh, how shameful. You're a fool.

　I can't argue with that. But it's Senri's fault. It's all Senri's fault.

　My whole body was numb and I couldn't move. Pain aside, this was the first time I'd ever been paralyzed to the point of not being able to move.
　I rolled over on my back on the bed, my tongue barely turning, and tried to argue with what was left of Lord.

　Lord's vision was not as calm as it had been. He held his forehead and shook his head with a tight face, as if he was disgusted by his son's poor performance.

　I mean, why is he even out here? Is it possible that I'm ...... dying?

　As an undead person, poison won't work on me, and neither will numbing or sleeping pills.
　But here I am, barely able to move a finger, and I'm seeing visions of Lord that have only appeared when I've been on the edge. It's really strange that I'm conscious. There's no sign of diminishing strength.

That little girl is quite good. Only her central nervous system is precisely paralyzed. She's using a minor technique that no one else is using. But I'm telling you, ...... it's your fault for taking such a vulnerable move. You're probably the only undead person alive today who's ever been hit by a move like that.

"......

"You're too careless. In what world would a vampire bite him? Nonsense. You should be ashamed of yourself!

　Who the hell invented such a terrible technique?

　I can't help it. I'll admit I was a little carried away with how things were going.
　But I had faith in Senri. If she offered to let me suck her blood out of her neck, I would accept, and if she hugged me and whispered in my ear, "But first, can I bite you too, End? I'd say yes.

　I had no idea she was capable of such a terrible thing. ...... I was betrayed. After all, I didn't even get any blood. I hate demon knights.