23 Im sorry, Im sorry, I (1/2)

That voice was completely unexpected.

As an undead, I can sense positive energy. But it doesn't mean I can detect it perfectly, even in very small amounts.

Just as you can't hear a small sound unless you listen carefully, you can miss it if you're distracted.

I was careless. Senri had fallen once, how could I have expected him to come back less than half a day later?

Even if she eventually came back to clean up the mess, she thought she had one night to spare.

A pair of absorbing purple eyes looked at me.

There was no emotion in that look, and it was so terrifying that it would have stopped my heart if it had been beating.

”You...

I thought for a moment.

The first thing I did was to check if Senri had any friends. The four demise knights that Senri had with him were not ....... This was good news.

Next, I checked the difference in strength between us. Senri was exhausted from his battle with the Lord. But the positive energy in his body was much more restored than what I had seen just before I left here. He was far from perfect, but he was a true monster.

His appearance was a little dirty, but no serious injuries. And judging from his persistence in the fight with Lord, Senri is likely to awaken during the battle, even if he is dying.

This is how necromancers are destined to be defeated in the story.

Finally, I imagined the other person's perception of me.

I've already been seen with Luu in the city. Since Luu was (almost certainly) killed by the Demise Knights, it seems only natural that they would judge me as an enemy.

Senri was staring at me. But for a very brief moment, I caught her glancing at the sun shining in the sky.

The only undead that can move in the sunlight are the lowly ones. It's probably wondering if it should judge me as undead, since I don't seem to be affected by the sunlight, but it doesn't attack me out of instinct.

I don't appear to be undead at first glance because I'm hiding my negative energy. If that's true.

He clutches his right hand, which is still in sharp pain, burned by the touch of the silver arrow.

The blessed silver arrow is a general weakness of the undead, even against ghouls. The power of the arrow is low enough that it is not fatal if it does not hit a weak point, but it inhibits the regeneration ability and leaves a scar for a while, and the scar is currently emitting white smoke.

There's no point in trying to hide it now. There's no way Senri wouldn't notice that.

In the first place, even if I were human, I'd be a target of the Lord's group. The Knights of the End are an aggressive group. Even in a children's fairy tale, there is a scene where they mercilessly beat down the people of the city who were controlled by a necromancer.

I don't know why Senri came back alone.

But if she runs, she'll be killed. If he attacks, he will be killed. Showing those signs is counterproductive.

Then you'll have to convince her.

If I were Senri, I wouldn't let her get away with this, but she's not me.

I saw her on the street and she looked a little different from the other third class knights. The one thing Senri had that the Third Class Knights didn't: ...... was mercy.

Maybe it was because she thought we were human, but she was trying to help us.

Let's be honest. If it had been a third level knight who came here instead of Senri, I'd probably be dead already.

Whether it was a third level knight or a second level knight, she was still a reaper that I couldn't fight, so it was rather fortunate that it was Senri who came.

She was different. She is merciful compared to the tortured demise knights of fairy tales. And that's an opening.

I tried to keep my composure and looked at Lou's grave with a sad expression on my face.

”Before she died, Lou asked me to ...... make her grave. I was praying for her to rest in peace.

”............ Yes.

The words that came out of his mouth were simple, but I could see a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not using honorifics or because I'm just being honest. We can't be too careful yet, but he doesn't intend to make us disappear right away.

Be friendly to them. Show her you're human. I haven't shown my undead-ness in front of her yet.

”Well, ............ Senri, right?　What's Senri doing here?

Senri was silent for a moment, staring at the grave, and then he spoke. Her silver hair swayed in the gentle breeze.

”.................. I came to get her body. We'll bury her in the city.

The words were unexpected to me.

”Well, ............, I guess I shouldn't have done that.

I really wish I hadn't. If I hadn't made Luu's grave, I could have left before Senri came.

I'm sure Luu would be happier to sleep in a beautiful grave in the city than in a forest like this.

I can't help it, I had a promise, but I didn't think the Knights of the End were such an auspicious organization.

As I keep silent, trying not to show my irritation, Senri closes the distance and stands next to me, looking down at the grave.

The soft white neck. The flesh smelled intensely appetizing.

If I extended my claws and swung my arms, it would take me less than a second to reach it. But I can't take that option. I mustn't give her an excuse to attack me (which is enough of an excuse when I'm undead).

You were friends?

Friend?　That's the kind of word Lou would be mad about.

Lou and I were never friends. In the end, we made a pact and joined hands, but if anything, we were enemies the whole time.

I held my face and made my voice as somber as Senri's.

No, the ............ family, you know.

”.............

Speak to your heart. Appeal to Senri's sympathy for this merciful god of death.

I can do that. He's not dead yet. I can do this. I'll use any despicable means at my disposal.

Fortunately, there's no need to mend. I've always been a sorry person, if I do say so myself.

But now Lu is finally at peace. There was no future for her if she remained a slave to Horus. Subconsciously, she wanted to die. I owe Senri a debt of gratitude.

”No, she's not. ......

I lifted my head and Senri said in a stifled voice without moving her eyebrows.

It's hard to tell what she's feeling because she barely moves her face, but there's no doubt she's compassionate.

I've taken a gamble.

Time is not on my side. If Senri didn't come back for any length of time, there was a chance that the Knights of the End would come looking for him.

He points to his own eyes, sighs deeply, and says.

The undead body is inconvenient at times like this. I'm so sad, but I can't even cry.

What?　You're still ......!

Senri's expression changed to one of conviction and she quickly took a step back. This is her match.

I haven't drawn my sword, but I'm in a dead zone. But I'm not in a hurry. I'm cautious.

I try my best to smile, open my hands, and raise them wide to show I'm not hostile.

”Ah. I'm a ...... 'ghoul'. However, for some reason, I still have memories of the time before I was ............ born, when I was human.

”..................What?

I'm not sure what to make of it. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

Holos Kamen did not doubt until the end that I had no memory of my life. And apparently, by the look on Senri's face, that's a pretty rare pattern.

I won. The arrow in Luu's chest was an arrow. Senri's weapon was a sword.

She can't cut the poor man. She can't cut me, a man whose body is a monster but who still has human intellect and reason.

Even if no one blames her, Senri has too much empathy for others.

She is fatally naive for a Knight of the End. Her fighting ability is incredible, but Senri has too much humanity in her.

No need to dramatize. Tell the story as it is.

I made a show of taking a breath I didn't need to take, and began to tell the story of the pitiful end.

§§

Senri listened to my story in silence, his face expressionless. However, her amethyst eyes were filled with a wave of agitation throughout.

There was no resentment. All I had before I died was pain and despair. There was no room for effort, and I ended my short life with nothing but an obsession with life.