45 Escape. (1/2)

Forget the pain and just run through the night.

There is no target city. All I could think about was getting away from Kainushi.

Once he stopped, he gave himself a full treatment. Senri's condition had stabilized somewhat. If he hadn't been poisoned, he shouldn't have died.

But that didn't change the blessing he wore. Even wrapped in a thick robe, the pain I felt was the same. But there's no time to stop.

I have a time limit. The moon was already shining above me. Dawn will come in a few hours. Then I'll have to make do with the sunlight.

Of all the vampires' weaknesses, the sun is the greatest.

It was hard to believe that the dreaded vampire hunter would not exploit that weakness.

As he ran through the calm meadow, a large black mountain came into view.

Perhaps the mountains would be a better place to hide--perhaps a cave could be found. As it stands now, if morning comes before Senri wakes up, he'll be ...... out. There are demons out there.

But the mountain is not without its dangers. There are monsters in the mountains. They are wise and different from the monsters that live in the grasslands and wilderness. It is said that some of them understand human language and have created their own kingdoms.

They are the reigns of the natural world, the kings of the demons, commonly known as demon kings. They are hostile to humans, and have large territories outside of human cities, with many demons under their command. Among the enemies in fairy tales, half are necromancers and undead, but the other half are demon lords. They are tricky beings who have powers that people don't have and live by rules that are incompatible with people.

There were no Demon Lords in the vicinity, but since they don't care about the convenience of humans, it's possible that they are expanding their influence, or that new Demon Lords may appear.

I think about it as I move my legs. But the struggle lasted only a few seconds. I changed my path to the mountains.

The odds of fighting a demon were better than hunting vampires. More importantly, in the mountains, where the trees blocked out the direct sunlight, I could work to the limit even after the sun came up. Food is also more plentiful in the mountains. It is also less conspicuous to start a fire in the mountains than on the plains.

The only thing to think about is survival. I'll go with the best chance I have. The night crystals are in your pocket.

There was no path up the gentle slope of the mountain at night. But branches and bushes can't hurt me.

I followed the smell of water. Demons were few and far between. I passed them a few times, but they never attacked me.

Perhaps it sensed the difference in strength between us with its wild instincts. Did the risk of fighting me outweigh the benefit of eating an unconscious senri? It would be very difficult for her to defeat me, who had a physical ability very close to that of a vampire, without exploiting my weaknesses like a vampire hunter.

As I stepped over the bushes and continued down the beastly path, Senri, who was in my arms, suddenly opened his eyes thinly.

The purple eyes looked up at me with no effort.

”E......nd............?

I'm glad you're here, ...... I really am.

I wish I could cut off the blessing, but I don't know if I can afford it. It is possible that the blessing is healing her wounds.

Well, ...... is fine. I can still stand it. I held Senri tightly so she wouldn't fall, and I increased my speed.

§§

Eventually, I stopped near a small stream.

Night would soon fall. I couldn't keep running forever.

I gently lowered Senri to the ground and got to my feet, though unsteadily. He was relieved that the pain was gone.

How many hours ...... have you been asleep?

I haven't slept all night.

”............ Lies.

Senri rubs his head and pulls up his clothes to check his abdomen. Her white skin, illuminated by the moonlight, is a bit mysterious.

The scar left by Arbatross was almost gone. The blood had been thoroughly wiped away.

Senri held his stomach and said in a stunned tone.

...... Your clothes have changed.

I had to change her clothes. I was going to lose my patience if I held her bleeding forever. I didn't take off your underwear.

............ Why are your wounds healing?

Senri's wounds were deep. I don't know what kind of attack she had, but it was not something that could be stopped by pressing down hard with a cloth. The same goes for the wound on her head. I had no choice.

I kept my composure and answered.

”............ licked it. It's not like I couldn't take it anymore.

”............

You see, bite marks disappear quickly, right?　That's why I thought that vampire saliva had the power to heal wounds. ...... Also, the blood that flowed was a bit wasteful. ............ It was for Senri.

If you're asking me if it wasn't a sensual experience, I'd say yes.

Taking off her clothes and licking off the scars on her unconscious skin felt good, and there was some excitement. But I was doing it for Senri. It also increased my strength, though not as much as when I sunk my fangs into her. I was killing two birds with one stone.