"Are we really going to let them join us?　They may have saved your life, but they're definitely not the right people. And of all people, they're vampire hunters.

　In response to his companion's words, Razzal silently gave him a resentful look.

　In the event that you're a mercenary, you'll be able to slay demons, but the vampire hunters are a group of madmen who are feared even among mercenaries.
　They don't have any special powers like the Knights of the End, and their way of confronting monsters in their diminutive human bodies is interesting if it's in a story, but it's nothing short of terrifying if you actually witness it. It's not like Razzal and the others, who are happy to crush bone people.

　The absolute number of vampire hunters is small. There are a few people who use the name of vampire hunters to borrow their prestige, but these two were clearly not just mercenaries.
　The atmosphere they wore was different. No ordinary mercenary could come in the dark without a single light and cut down the Kuro Bone with a single blow, and even if they could, they wouldn't think of doing it.
　He was also dressed strangely. The man who called himself Baron was wearing sunglasses even though it was the middle of the night, and the woman was wearing incredibly light clothes. Razzal and the others were not heavily armed, but they were not dressed like that to visit the basement of the old castle of the former demon king.

It can't be helped. You're lucky to have a life. Besides, Barron's power is crazy. You saw him.　He can grip a copper coin. That's not human strength.

　I've seen a lot of brags about their strength, but I've never seen a man who could crush a copper coin with just his fingertips. Moreover, at first glance, he didn't look like a braggart, which made me feel very uncomfortable. This is not human work, but it is understandable if the opponent is a vampire hunter.
　The vampire hunters are crazy inside their heads, but they are also crazy in power.

And they said they didn't want a reward. I can work safer than usual.

　I continue to try to convince myself.

　It's strange that they don't want to be paid, but they want to be included in the work. If it had been a competitor, Razzal would have been suspicious.
　But this was a vampire hunter. The only purpose of a vampire hunter is to hunt vampires. Of course, they may be receiving money, but as mercenaries can earn money more easily, they are definitely obsessed with hunting monsters.

　In the first place - if the opponent was of the same rank, there was no way he could have refused in that situation. Razzal and the others already owed him.

　And then he glared at one of his friends, Boris, who had always gotten into trouble for his excessive womanizing.

"Forget it, Boris. Don't you dare touch Lou. With that kind of power, even one hit could easily break a few bones.

　They're too young to be husband and wife. I don't know if they really have that kind of relationship, but Luu didn't deny it verbally, and Barron's eyes and tone of voice had an intensity that could have been used to actually hit him.
　In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, it's possible that you've been through a lot of pain and have a keen sense of smell.

"Yeah, I know. I'll choose at least one partner.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one.

　I know it's starting to smell bad. I told my employer about the appearance of the Kuro Bone, but his reaction was no different. The Kuro Bone is a powerful enemy, but it is not that rare. It would have been unbearable for Razal and the others who had actually encountered it, but it could not be helped if the reaction was muted.
　In the first place, if there were undead, the logical thing to do would be to call the Knights of the End. It was clear that [Descend] did not consider this matter important when he did not take that step.

Oh. That's why you're bringing Baron in. Besides, if you're worried about him, you can put up a silver cross in the castle.

　This is supposed to be an easy job, so why is this happening to me?
　I sigh and look outside. Night is coming again. I must continue to slay the d*mned immortals in the basement of the castle.




§ § § §



　I put the pieces of the night crystal in a locket and hang it around my neck so I don't lose it.
　The locket Senri bought for me was made of pure gold, which seemed to be difficult to strengthen, but it was originally an accessory, and this was Descend, famous for its silversmithing, and even if the locket was made of steel, I would lose it if I lost it, so I had to compromise.

　Put it around your neck and you'll have a transparent vampire. For some reason, Senri is looking at me like I'm in a bad mood.

"End, you're out of it.

"It's not End, it's Barron. And it's not Senri, it's Lu. It's my wife, Lu.

............ Easy setup. There were so many better excuses.

It's better than nothing.

　Senri sighs deeply.
　I gave you the setting I wanted to play. I have to suck Senri's blood on a regular basis, and when I do, I have to be alone with her to protect myself. It's a reasonable setup. And this way, if those rough mercenaries try to touch Senri, she can beat them up without worry.

　In the first place, Senri said she would always be by my side. In other words, a family. And to be undead, I need more than a bond. A husband and wife. I put on a serious face and said.

Obviously there's something in that castle. ......



............ The Demon Lord of the False Shadow was a mage.

　I'm not sure what to say.

　The information we obtained from the interviews we conducted with Razal and the others was too little. But there are a few new things I've learned.

　There have been incidents of the undead invading from the outside for quite some time now, and a number of parties have already been involved in fighting them off. The upper echelons of [Descend] have no intention of reporting the matter to the Knights of the End at the moment. And that there has been no significant response to the announcement of the appearance of the mutated undead.

　In other words, this is not an unusual situation - mutated undead have appeared before.
　The "black bones" that nearly killed Razal and the others are not monsters that humans can't fight. If there had been dead people, the reaction would have been different, so I'm sure they would have defeated it without incident at that time.
　And I can see why this city is taking such excessive measures against vampires.

　I'm sure [Descend] has already checked the basement, but he missed the night crystals, so there's a chance he'll find something that only the undead can find.

We'll do some sightseeing when we have time. We didn't get a chance to look around the castle in Rynell, and I've always wanted to see it.

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

　Senri frowns slightly. But he didn't say anything else.
　Either way, Senri must be curious about the castle. He needed to be sure.



§




　The castle of the Demon Lord of the False Shadow stood calmly today. The old castle, illuminated by the moonlight, was in some disrepair, but it was still frighteningly beautiful.
　I don't want to become a demon king, but I would like to build a castle like this.

　Razzal and the others were waiting in front of the castle. There's no sign of the undead today.

"They're always waiting for us underground. Most of the undead come to the basement.

"Why ............?

I don't know. But they say that the most powerful undead live in underground labyrinths, so maybe they like it underground.

　These people really don't know anything, do they?

　I looked at Senri, but he was shaking his head.

　I agree with Senri. I love coffins, and I love underground places where the sun don't shine, but I'm not attracted to them like a moth to a light. I'm sure the same is true for the rest of the undead.
　That said, I don't think those bone men sensed the presence of the night crystals and went underground. It is true that I sensed the presence of the night crystals, but that was after I went underground. The power of the night crystals is not strong enough to detect their presence from above ground.

　The bonesman's movements were purposeful. That means someone had given those orders in advance.

　I can defeat most of the bone-men now. Even if Razal and the others betrayed me and attacked me, it would not be a problem. And even if the other bone men's masters came, I should be able to escape with Senri.
　I wanted to look around the castle, but for now, I followed Razal and the others, who had been hunting the undead for two weeks, to the basement.

　As I took the first step into the basement behind Razal and the others, I stopped.
　Senri, who was walking behind me, stopped immediately.

"......What's wrong?

"............ No, nothing.

　I frowned, closing my eyes and sharpening my mind.
　I didn't need much time. I thought for a moment that I was imagining things, but I wasn't. Rasar and Senri didn't seem to notice.



　There's a hint of the Night Crystal.

　I stare into the darkness. There is no sign of life in the underground passage, which was probably once built by the Demon Lord of the Void.



§ § § §











The crystals of the night are part of the ...... undead, it seems. The one who rules the darkness - the king of the skeletons who once led ten thousand bonemen - is the Night Closer. I don't know if that's true or not." ......