For a vampire with a strong body, physical abilities, and five senses, climbing a steep cliff is no problem.
　Even if the cliff is uneven or smooth, they can easily climb it by piercing it with their outstretched claws. Demise knights can fly, but they are no match for vampires in terms of stealth.

　Neither darkness nor cold air nor fire can stop my progress. Only silver, garlic, and flowing water can stop the vampire's advance.

　I climb the cliff with Senri on my back. The castle of the Demon Lord of the False Shadows, seen up close, was ridiculously huge compared to the Lord's mansion, and even compared to Lynel's castle, which was also built on a mountain.
　It was much taller and much wider. Rainer's castle was built on a mountainside, but this Demon Lord's castle was built on a cliff.

　My eyes widened in surprise. The castle walls seem to be made of stacked stones, but I can't imagine how long it would take to build such a huge structure. Some of the walls are crumbling, but that also adds to the charm.
　There was not a single light around, and the place looked deserted. The nearest town, Descend, was said to be used for tourism, but it seems to have been mostly abandoned.

　Negative vibes were approaching from all directions. It seemed that some of them had already entered the castle, and we could feel some of them inside. There were so many of them that I couldn't tell how many there were, but regardless of the quantity, the quality wasn't too bad. Even I and Senri can easily slaughter them.

　A few skeletons appeared, clambering up a steep cliff. With Senri on my back, I quickly used "Hiding Shadow" and jumped onto the stone wall surrounding the castle.

　No sound came out. Pebbles rolled and fell to the ground, but the bones did not seem to notice. Their senses were not dull, but they could not compare to vampires.

　A little disappointed, I put down my senri and lowered myself to look below. The bones did not discuss anything, but walked into the castle, their armor making a rustling sound.
　The bones appeared from the other direction, also entering through the main gate with the same lean movements. It was as if I was watching the flow of water in a river.

　I had only just been watching them, but now...

　Senri answers my unspoken question.

There's a conductor. It's probably linked.

"A link to ......?

"A necromancer can create a link between the undead they create. Through them, the undead can communicate with each other.

　I see. ...... Indeed, I thought it was a remarkable move. It wouldn't happen with a single command.
　I don't remember feeling anything like that when I was an undead lord, but I was a special kind of undead, so I can't help you.

　Then I realized something important.

"Wait a minute, ......, are you saying that maybe they found out that I beat it?

It's possible.

...... Tell me first.

What?　I can't share my vision, so they can't see my face.

　Senri rolls his eyes and says in a strange voice.
　It seems that the word "wait and see" does not exist in the dictionary of the demise knights, or it has a much lower priority. As expected of an aggressive knight order. I'm sure they'd rather go in quickly and destroy everyone first than let them swim around.

　Senri adds.

But perhaps they changed their behavior not because End defeated some of the troops,......, I think.

　...... It's hard to tell.

　Senri said earlier that the presence in the castle disappeared. It is certainly possible that this was the trigger.
　Assuming that the individuals who entered the castle disappeared and that's why everyone who was waiting for them started to act - why did they disappear?　It could be that they died, or it could be that they found the Night Crystal inside the castle. If he could suppress the negative force released by the undead with that, it would seem as if they had disappeared from Senri who was searching for signs of them.

　However, there are ways to search for them even after the negative power is suppressed. The only thing it can remove is the presence. My nose can't be fooled.
　And there I was lost. Should I turn ...... into a dog?

"......

　Vampires have a keen sense of smell, but when you turn into a dog, it's even better. If you want to be safe, you should become a dog.

　But if you become a dog, you'll lose your clothes again. When you grow up, your clothes tear. I'd be naked in human form and it'd be too much trouble to get dressed every time.

　Senri watched me in silence. I'm sure she'd like to go after the bones right now, but she's always waiting patiently for me to think.

　The bones are invading the castle one after another even as I'm doing this. If only I could transform into a human form like Oliver. .......

　And then an epiphany hit me. It's outlandish, but it's worth a try.

Senri, watch this.

What?

　I pumped up my energy, channeled my blood, and used my cannibalism ability.

　As usual, I could hear the creepy sound of the skeleton changing.
　But only on my head. I know how to control the blood. If I can make it stronger or weaker, if I can increase the regenerative power of some by concentrating on them, then I can limit the range.

　The change went smoothly as usual.

　I look down. There's a hand, a leg. Your clothes are still on. No tears.


　Check your face. The back of my head is bushy. My protruding nose catches the scent of the dead clearly. My vision is wider than usual.

　I picked up my sunglasses from the ground. Unfortunately, I can't wear them because of the ears on my head, so I put them in my pocket.

　It's done--it's done. I can change only a part of my body. It takes some skill, but once you've done it, you can do it again.

　This way I can track you using my human traits while keeping my dog traits. I smiled at Senri with pride. The dog head caused my breath to come in gasps and my tongue to stick out.

"Here you go, Senri, let's track it down.

"End ......... that ...... you always surprise me with your actions.

　Senri's cheeks, always calm and collected, were drawn together. Her lips were trembling.

　What's wrong with her?　

　Senri took a step back and said apologetically.

But I'm scared as hell and I want you to go back to .......

"What?

　I'm not sure what to say. You can't believe that Senri, who was so brave in fighting all sorts of monsters, is scared.
　I'm not sure what to do.

I'm not sure if I'm ...... black?

I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if my head turned into a dog without warning.　

　"End, would you be okay if my head turned into a dog without warning?" Senri said unusually quickly. It was quite natural.
　If Senri's head suddenly turned into a dog, I'd feel a lot sadder than if my whole body turned into a dog.

　So that's what ...... looks like. That's a blind spot. After all, you can't see your own face, and even if you look into a mirror, you'll see a translucent reflection because you're a subordinate vampire.
　But since Senri says so much, I guess he has a very unbalanced appearance. I thought it was a good idea, but...

　I asked, with only a little hope.

"Can you give me some ............ blood?

"Don't get carried away with your end .......

　The cold voice hit my ears. And there I moved my nose.
　I looked down at the front gate. I smell ...... something. It's the smell of--

It's the smell of the living. ...... Senri, there's a man inside!

"What?

　It smells of excitement. Senri must have been too busy watching out for the undead to notice. I jumped down from the castle wall. At the same time, I channeled the power of my blood and dilated my jaw.
　I know. I know how to use my powers. I couldn't learn magic no matter how much I studied, but this power is instinctive.

　As I jumped, I opened my jaws at the head of the skeletal man who was about to charge through the front gate.
　The fangs bite into the skull, helmet and all. The indescribable smell of metal filled his mouth, and he threw up. By this time, the other bone men were in position, but even if they were in position, there was no reason for a mere bone man to be a match for me.

　There were no mutated individuals. I snatched up the spear and with a single swing, I destroyed all the bones in a defensive stance. That's when Senri finally jumped down.
　He threw away the spear. It's a good weapon and its reach is attractive, but my machete is even more powerful and it's not something you can wield indoors.

　I suppressed the force of the blood and returned the size of my head to normal.

Let's go.

"End, sometimes you're hard to follow. Go back to normal.

I smell someone. I don't smell blood, but we'd better hurry.

End ......, go back.

It could be dangerous. I'll go first. Senri, follow me. Doggie.

End ......

　I'm a little sad that I don't have a tail to wag.
　Perhaps it's because it's a tourist attraction, but the curse didn't seem to have any effect on my entry into the castle.

　Most of the traps would have no effect on me. Poison and magic don't work on me, and I have the ability to regenerate. I don't think there are any traps in a castle used for sightseeing, but I made up my mind and ran into the castle.



§§


　The inside of the castle was as desolate as the outside. On the outside, it looked more splendid than the Lord's mansion, but inside, there were no furnishings, not even lights, and the ceiling was covered with huge spider webs. Because of its splendid construction, I felt an indescribable sense of melancholy.
　Some vampires are said to build castles. If I survive long enough, maybe I'll have a castle too. ...... It would be difficult to do by regular means, but I don't think it's impossible to get around the law. If I had been able to take all the property of the mafia that I destroyed, I could have built a small castle.



　The air was damp and cold, but he didn't feel cold. Senri didn't seem to feel it either.
　I moved my nose, my sense of smell now capable of detecting an incredible array of smells. Albatross had caught my location, hundreds of kilometers away from the scent, and this sensation should no longer be called olfactory, but paranormal.

　I can smell in chronological order. I can smell the dead, and I can smell the living. I follow it and go on without stopping.
　Here and there I meet a group of bone-men, but I destroy them with a touch of armor. Senri's sword was brilliant even in the dark. After destroying the group of bone men, Senri said.

"End ...... back to the way it was.

　His ears twitch. There's a sound. The sound of a sword fight. I hear voices. I hear human voices, human breath.
　An unearthly pleasure tingles in the back of my head. My instincts rejoicing in my ability to be a vampire. It was a dangerous feeling.


That smell--it's underground.

End ......