With Senri's support, I walk through the night in human form.

　It was selfish of me. Know your enemy, know yourself, know the land. That's how I've been surviving ever since I was resurrected by the Lord.

　The streets of Descend were clean, beautiful even at night, and full of history.
　Perhaps the city was at its brightest when it was fighting the undead. The waterways and the crosses here and there were remnants of that time.
　The inn also had many doors. Wooden doors are so unreliable that even a strong person could break them down, but not for vampires.
　Doors mean boundaries. I'm a lower rank, so I'm less restricted, but this city is really hard for vampires to live in. The Demon Lord of the False Shadow was supposed to be a bone man, so it's hard to understand why the city is so well protected against vampires.

　It had been a while since the sun had set, but there were still many people on the main street. Streetlights lined the street, clearing the darkness and making it seem peaceful at first glance.
　I walked through the crowd, but no one noticed who I was. Occasionally someone would look at Senri, but not at me.

　Only a trained human can spot an undead that closely resembles a human. Those with good instincts may feel an instinctive fear when they see me, but even when I was going around crushing mobsters and bandits, no one noticed my true identity.
　The only people who would be able to sense me from afar would be Knights of the End or Necromancers. Thanks to the control of my blood power, the negative power I release is considerably suppressed.

　I took a quick look around the town, but didn't see anything strange. No mercenaries, and of course no undead.
　I know negative forces as well as Senri. There's also a way to tell by smell. If someone walking around smells like death, they're undead. But neither of those methods work.

　After patrolling the streets for a while, we entered a fancy restaurant where the smell of garlic was kept to a minimum.
　We walked around for a bit, but I felt pretty bad. It was the crucifix, the garlic, and the running water. It was much better than when I was alive, but it was the first time in a long time that I was in such prolonged pain.

　We took a table at the back of the restaurant and checked our surroundings warily.

Is there any chance that the undead we've spotted are strays?

"No. There is no information of a recent war in the vicinity.

　Senri replied immediately in a low voice.
　There are two main types of undead: those that are created by necromancy and those that occur naturally.
　However, it is unlikely that a large number of undead will occur naturally unless a large number of people die in a large-scale war.

　The undead that Senri has detected seem to be of a certain size. They are not that powerful, but they are dispersed in all directions.
　As I wrapped my fork around a bowl of seafood pasta (without garlic), I asked.

"Do you think they're targeting the city?

.................. don't think so.

　I don't think so." Senri looks a little lost, but says it clearly.

　I agree with you. It's very difficult to destroy a city that's been prepared for the undead. Naturally occurring undead will instinctively avoid approaching the city, and intelligent undead will know to be wary of the city at a glance.
　I think it's more likely that our destination is the castle of the Demon Lord of the False Shadow.

　We need to be cautious. But the situation is not so bad.
　Senri's intuition is half the reason we're in this town. I thought there was a chance we wouldn't find anything, but if there are other suspicious beings, the chances of finding something are higher.

　I looked at Senri's silver hair and thought for a while.

　I knew that if I was going to investigate the castle, it would be in the morning. Bonesmen don't turn to ash in the sunlight, but that doesn't mean they aren't weakened at all.
　She couldn't leave Senri, who had a wealth of knowledge and experience, behind, so it was only natural that she would choose a time when she had the advantage.

　However, if there are other undead who want to get to the castle, there are other options.

"Senri, who's stronger, those undead or Senri?

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

　I'm sure you've heard of it, but I've never heard of it. I'm not doubting your strength, so don't give me that look. .......

I'm not doubting Senri's strength.

............ Maybe the end is a little ...... stronger.

"A little ......?

　I'm not sure what the undead are that they're only a little weaker than me, who survived a fierce battle with the Demon Lord Rainer.
　I'm not sure what to make of this. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

There is no way that ............ end will lose.

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

　A strange silence fell. It seems that I have really hurt her pride.
　I felt a pang of embarrassment, but I didn't touch on it any further and continued talking.

　The number of customers is increasing. But no one was listening to me.

"Can Senri's detection be traced even if the crystals of the night eliminate the presence?

"I'm not sure if it's ............ undead or not.

　The answer was as expected. In the past, Senri had tried to find out the movements of Monica, who was looking for an opportunity to attack from afar with her trading party. If the night crystal is only to suppress the dissipation of negative power, then there is no reason why the body without it would not be caught by Senri's wide-area search.

　There are two ways we can go.
　We can either kill the undead first and check the castle afterwards, or we can carefully check the undead's movements and snatch the results. ...... Or we can ignore them.

　There is a certain amount of risk involved in both. I hesitated for a moment and then said.



"Let's go hunt some undead. I want to know exactly what's going on.

...... Okay.

Sure, I'll come with you.

...... I know.

　It would be easier to snatch the results, but Senri still has the soul of the Knight of the End. It would be against her will to leave the undead behind while she senses their presence.
　In the first place, I don't know what will happen if I leave her alone. All you have to do is run when the time comes.

　Senri looked at me straight in the eyes and nodded slowly.




§§





　The gates were closed. Unfortunately, the city doesn't seem to accept visitors at night. I had no choice but to walk along the high city wall.
　Once again, it's a formidable defense. The city wall can be surmounted by vampires, but there is no way around the large, wide moat with roaring water that awaits immediately after. If you fly hard enough, you might be able to get over it by inertia, but it is difficult to detect the existence of the moat from the outside.

　However, the guards on the city wall seemed to be minimal. There was little light.
　The facilities are perfect, but they seem a bit inadequate considering that. I poked Senri in the shoulder as he walked ahead of me.

"Hey. Don't you think we can do anything with just the two of us?

　A vampire who's invincible by night and a former Knight of the End who's invincible by day. The two of us can't save the country, but we can run as far as we want.
　I've enjoyed traveling with the guards. I don't hate people. But there are advantages to traveling alone when you consider the fences that can be built. If it hadn't been for the merchant, I wouldn't have been separated from Senri and taken away by Lynel's army.

　Senri paused and stared at me, then said with a dumbfounded expression.

"............ Baron, be a dog.

"Again?

　And again!
　It's more convenient to fly with a dog, but it's a pain in the ass to change. I'm a dog all day long. It's not like I'm forced to do it like Albatross. .......

　I'm not sure if I had a pathetic expression on my face, but Senri smiled slightly for the first time in a long time.

"Just kidding. End ............ hold on.

　Senri held me by the shoulders. She was thin and supple, and her body smelled soft and sweet. I wanted to suck her blood, but I didn't want to tell her that, because she would want me to stay in dog form forever.

　I could feel Senri's heartbeat against my skin. The blessing inside of me explodes, but it doesn't reach the skin I'm touching. A perfect manipulation of the blessing. Perhaps it can be used as a reference for manipulating the power of blood.
　Then Senri held my shoulders, which were bigger than his, and kicked the ground hard.

　A faint sound. All at once, the ground became distant, and then the strength left my body. And soon I landed on top of the city wall. He bent his legs and absorbed the sound of his footsteps.
　His power was truly inhuman. No mercenary would be able to do such a thing. The high city wall was meaningless to the Demise Knights.

　When you think about it, it's no wonder that the Knights of the End have an ironclad code that states their power is to be used only against the undead.
　This power is too terrifying to not be justified.

　Senri hadn't lost a breath. The guards didn't even seem to notice us.

　Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've fought with Senri.
　I was Baron when we were escorting the merchants and we ran all the way. When we fought bandits and the mafia, Senri and I were separated.

　This might be a good opportunity to show Senri what I'm capable of.

"?

　I walked around in front of Senri and lifted her up on my back without asking. Senri's body shuddered.
　She's as light as ever. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it'll be fine.
　Senri was not wearing any armor. He also took off the armor he originally wore. The armor of the Knights of the End has silver in it, which is poisonous to me.

　I'm used to the blood-sucking urge. Even if I can't suck blood, just a hug cheers me up.

"It's been a long time since I carried a human form. I want you to put your hands around me.

"End ...... I can run too.

　Apparently, he's so used to riding as a dog that he has some reservations about riding as a person.
　He protests to Senri, who whispers in his ear.

Senri hasn't hugged me lately, except when he gives me blood. Besides, I should work a little too.

　I've always been indebted to Senri. I haven't been able to pay her back at all.


　It's a debt that can no longer be managed because of the circumstances, but if you don't pay it back when you can, you will be abandoned one day.

　Senri was silent for a while as I spoke, but then he firmly put his arms around my neck and leaned back.




§§




　Running through the moonless night.
　It was a ten-minute drive from Descend, on top of a very steep mountain.

　It's a huge castle that you can tell even before you climb it. In terms of scale alone, it was incomparable to the simple castle that Rainer had used as his stronghold.
　It would have been better in the morning, but looking up in the darkness, the old castle looked like a monster even to my night vision.

　However, the road that was built was too steep and seemed to have no consideration for convenience at all. Isn't it inconvenient to live in a castle like this?
　Senri on my back explains.

The Demon Lord usually builds his castles in places that are difficult for human forces to attack. If you're undead, you don't need food. ......

It's a shame to abandon a castle that you've taken for granted, but I guess it's only fair that you abandon it.

　I wouldn't be able to live there. If you want to hide out after you get the Night Crystals, it would be in a human city. It's a good source of sustenance for Senri.

"There's one undead presence in the castle, all the others are around it. They've stopped moving. Perhaps the same master.

　They're sending one of them inside and keeping the rest around. ...... I don't know who's controlling them, but it's an organized move.
　Lord was selling the Bone Man to Huck. Bone men are not necessarily available only to necromancers.
　We don't know who this Lord is yet, but it seems that even those who use the undead don't know much about this castle.

　They're already in the castle. Even though we had to check the city, it seems we were too late.
　Is it dangerous to follow them inside?　In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the following web site: .......

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　I don't understand the situation at all. The first priority is safety. If we die trying to get the night crystal, we're screwed, and if Senri gets hurt or killed, we're screwed. Well, I'm already dead.

　Perhaps she didn't think it was necessary to go on from here, but Senri climbed down from her back even though she didn't have to. I would carry her on my back all day if I could. .......

............ Let's take a careful look around.

............ "End, get a grip.

　I'm sure I put on a serious face, but how did they find out?
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.