Chapter 16

Epilogue Recovery “Senli, your talents are surely a divine gift.” She’d been having a dream. A dream from long ago, of when she still hadn’t known the way to control her all-too-powerful blessing, of when the power that should have affected her for the better was instead binding her. After collapsing for unknown reasons, with no pain, unable to move, Senli had a man come to her with a smile like the sun, saying, “I will teach you to use your power. If you master your colossal blessing, you could do anything. Save anyone. This world… It needs your strength.” She’d had the option to refuse. But the moment she’d heard those words, she had almost reflexively agreed. Not that she’d wished to be a hero. No, she had only thought one thing: that it would be nice, just like how those around her had rescued her in her moments of frailness and when her physical condition had deteriorated, to be able to save others. Apparently, people like Senli were born in this world every so often with naturally powerful blessings. Most of those people—called souls who climbed ever higher—did, however, leave the Ender Knights after learning just enough technique to let them control their blessings. The war against the denizens of the dark was not something one could get through with only the power of one’s blessing. Even Senli had seen her fair share of struggle to become a second-rank knight. And she knew she still lacked things in certain departments. The Ender Knights were by no means purehearted allies of justice. Their goal was to exorcise the darkness. Sometimes they killed humans, and sometimes they would abandon the weak for the sake of a greater cause. Thelma shooting Lou, who had suddenly attacked them, had been intolerable from Senli’s point of view, but that didn’t mean it was the incorrect action for a knight to take. Logically, she understood that. And she understood that she was all too softhearted. But even so, Senli still wanted to save others. That was why she’d become a knight. She’d witnessed many tragedies in the past. Many people had slipped through her fingers. But she couldn’t abandon him. Because now she knew—there were irregulars, even among the denizens of the dark. The miserable dead who retained memories of their life, resurrected along with their humanity. Her master probably knew about it. He’d known, and he hadn’t told her. And she had a feeling she knew why. End was just so weak. Senli, who had experienced battles against many kinds of undead, couldn’t believe how perfect his memory was and how much of his sense of self remained. On top of that, he knew he was something to be purified. His expressions were absent of the personal grudges most other undead harbored. He pretended to be calm, but his inner feelings were as clear to Senli as a fire in the dark. Fear. End was constantly terrified of Senli, who was of an age not unlike his own. And it was…the same as what innocent townspeople displayed with the undead. His eyes sought salvation. And it was…the same as what innocent townspeople looked to the Ender Knights for. Senli deeply understood how dangerous the undead were. However, there was no doubt that End was supposed to be the kind of person she needed to protect. While she knew purification was salvation for the soul, she couldn’t bring herself to kill the all-too miserable dead before her. Her guilt at what Nevira and the others did certainly wasn’t negligible in her decision to offer her neck to him, but she’d still done it of her own volition. And her decision to go with him had been a choice she’d thought about herself. There were many in this world who hunted the undead. If left alone, End would be ruthlessly killed by the Ender Knights or vampire hunters before long. And even if he managed to avoid all that—he’d need to be watched. She didn’t understand how it had happened, but upon seeing him again, End had mutated into a lesser vampire. And vampires needed human blood. A vampire’s urge to suck blood was considerably strong. Vampires had been detested for so many years because when they drank a person’s blood, they tended to drain it all, killing their target. End had overcome his initial bloodsucking impulse. He hadn’t drunk Senli’s blood until she died. He’d stopped once he didn’t have to worry about death any longer. One could call it a rare strength of reason; but she didn’t know if his reason would hold out next time. Senli Sylvis was End’s ally. If he needed blood, she would give it to him. That timid young man was fighting against his undead instincts. She didn’t regret her choice. But she needed to make sure she was prepared. If End was to ever be consumed by his instincts and attack someone, she would need to kill him. For nobody else’s sake but his own—for the one who had tried to be human. It was her responsibility as the one who had handled this situation in a way unbefitting of the Ender Knights. Noticing his presence approaching, she opened her eyes. She felt just a little anemic, possibly due to having had so much blood sucked, but it wouldn’t deter her from moving. She rubbed the spot on her neck where she’d been bitten. The bite marks from the fangs were already gone. I left the building and dashed through Enge in the night with all my strength. Leaping clear over the gate on impulse, I headed for the forest. In my mind were two things: intense fear—and relief. Epe was more of a monster than I’d anticipated. He was humanity’s ultimate weapon. Our mortal enemy, who existed only to hunt inhuman beings like us. His sheer presence alone was so overwhelming that a newly mutated lesser vampire like me couldn’t even hold a candle to him. If he’d been serious, I’d have been killed instantly. But I ran. And I got away from him. Arriving at the forest, I stopped for a moment and sharpened my senses. There was no sign of any pursuers. Even Epe wouldn’t have been able to follow me unnoticed, since I could sense living beings. And if he was going to chase me, he might as well have killed me on the spot and headed to the forest himself. Senli’s feelings were what was critical. And now that they’d lied to her once, there was no going back. I was keenly aware that my life hung by but a single thread. But Senli was absolutely crucial to me. I had a premonition—a strong one. If I’d run away alone, we would have had no connection. I was prepared to turn the world against me when I became an undead. But I knew…that I wasn’t strong enough to keep on living without anyone who understood me, even if it was a facade. And Senli fit the bill—she knew all too well how fearsome vampires were but still offered me her neck. Even if I met my second death as a result of this decision, I probably wouldn’t regret it. Catching my breath, I went to the meeting place. It was near the watering hole a short distance from the ruins of the lord’s mansion. She was waiting there, hidden among the trees. I didn’t let the relief show on my face. Her silvery-white hair, cut to shoulder length, dully reflected the moonlight. Her skin was as fair as could be, seeming somehow ephemeral—perhaps because I’d sucked her blood not long ago. She looked exactly the same as when I first met her: a messenger of the moon. When she saw me, ignorant of my own discretion, Senli Sylvis breathed a short sigh. “End, thank goodness…” My expression shifted in spite of itself at her heartfelt words, but it quickly went back to normal. I was…a terrible person. I’d taken advantage of her feelings, her sense of justice, her kindness. Her future had been sure to give her glory as an Ender Knight, but now it was sure to veer significantly off course. But even if it meant tricking the only person who had sided with me since receiving my second life…I wanted to survive. Her blood had given me the ultimate pleasure, such that I had never felt before. It was hard to resist. The blood tasted sweet, but more than that, her act of voluntarily offering her neck had moved me greatly. Still, I…would never be carried away by my bloodsucking impulse. I couldn’t afford to make an enemy out of Senli. Nor least of all humanity. This was the most ideal route to survival. And the one that Epe and the others would probably hate the most. I was a coward. I’d feared death my entire life, and now I feared being killed. This time, though, there was something I could do about it. I had a way to fight against it—I had power. I had a body that could move freely. I had a future. The Knights hadn’t pursued me, no, but that in no way meant they would tolerate or forgive me. I’d already become the king of the dead: intolerable and unforgiveable, an enemy to the world at large. But that was fine. I would use everything at my disposal. I would sacrifice anything. Kindness, emotion, anger, happiness—I’d take advantage of all of it, if it meant gaining freedom and peace. I was more than happy to become the most terrifying monster in the world. I offered her the sword Epe had returned. Senli was silent for a few moments, then took it without saying anything. “I figured as much to begin with, but I couldn’t persuade them. They were furious. It’s a miracle I even came back alive.” “…I told you…,” said Senli softly, not seeming surprised. But I’d won my gamble. Making as apologetic a face as I could, I told her, “I was thinking…of leaving the forest and running far away. They’ll probably follow me. Unfortunately, we can’t live peacefully here. They broke the pendant that concealed my presence, too.” “…All right. I think that’s a wise plan.” The wedge had been driven. Even so, when they realized after a time that Senli wasn’t coming back, they were sure to follow me. I was abnormal for an undead, but I was also a complete amateur, and it would be nigh impossible to escape from undead-hunting professionals. But allied with someone who had all the techniques of the Ender Knights, my chances rose. “Are you all right? That was my first time. I might’ve drunk too much blood.” “Not enough to be an issue,” answered Senli in a somewhat cold voice. But it was clear she was forcing it. She possessed enough strength to defeat the lord in a straight fight, but she was still only human. If her blood was drained completely, she’d die, and her stamina wasn’t endless. She needed food, too. Our escape would likely be tougher on her than it would on someone hardy like me. After thinking for a moment, I looked up. Staring straight into Senli’s eyes, I said in a hoarse voice, “Senli, it may be a little late for this, but you do have a choice. You can return to town. I’ve been alone the entire time I was bedridden and ever since I was revived. I could probably make it on my own going forward, too. Even though I need blood now… If I do a lot of research, there might be a way out of it. Siding with me will cause you nothing but problems.” This was probably the last time I’d be saying this. My final…act of kindness, in my own way. Senli, though, didn’t seem especially hesitant at this half-truth I offered. “You needn’t worry, End. I’ve decided to help you. It’s my responsibility.” She was kind, compassionate, and courageous. She was so straightforward it was dazzling, and she had faith. An exact replica of the heroes who appeared in fairy tales. I constructed a worried-looking smile. We’d only spoken to each other for a brief time, but I could tell what Senli was thinking. When she’d offered me her neck, if I’d let my bloodsucking impulse take over and tried to drink until she died of blood loss, she probably would have killed me. She felt compassion for me. Regret, compassion—and responsibility. The words I’d said to Epe hadn’t been lies. Far from it. She would not tolerate my becoming a monster. Part of why she was with me was out of compassion for me, but the other part was to take responsibility for letting a vampire, albeit a lesser one, go free. If I was to become a true vampire who recklessly attacked people, she would, without doubt or hesitation, kill me. With compassion—and for my sake, while I was still human. She wasn’t letting her sympathy get carried away with her. She had chosen to be my anchor out of her own empyreal convictions. When I looked at her fair skin, my fangs gave a dull ache. Recalling the sublime, sweet taste of her blood, I felt a strong thirst. A thirst that would probably never be slaked. But I had to beat it, using any methods I could find. At least until the day Senli had complete faith in me. “I’m all packed. We should get as far away as possible before day breaks.” “……Yeah, you’re right. We’ll have to be careful…when we go to sleep.” “…Are you all right? You don’t look so good. Do you need more blood?” Senli was nose to nose with me, close enough that I could easily embrace her if I reached out my arms. She looked up at me. My keen sense of smell picked up the scent of the blood flowing beneath that skin, white as virgin snow, and I was stricken with a sudden bout of dizziness. The edges of my mind throbbed. I pushed it all down and gave her a smile. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay. Sure, the impulse to drink blood is there, but I can overcome it just fine.”