73 CHAPTER XV: Threats (1/2)

The Demon Lord Rainer's army is a good place.

What's good about it is that you can do whatever you want as long as you win the battle. The living environment isn't great, but it's a good place to live.

It's also good to have the experience of fighting a variety of subhumans. As subhumans come in all shapes and sizes, their characteristics also vary. Some of them can even use swords, and the best part is that there's no killing involved. Now if only Senri were here, it would be perfect.

There was a small knock on the lid. The night, my time, had come.

I slowly raise myself up, and with all my strength, shift the heavy lid. It was Monica's face that came into view in the moonlight.

Good morning, Mr. End. Did you sleep well?

”Yes, thank you. Monica. I'm doing very well.

In the black coffin, which was completely airtight, I raised my upper body and stretched out.

The coffin had been prepared by Monica. Originally, it was in my prerequisite knowledge that vampires sleep in coffins.

As a person who has died once, it's no joke, but it seems that sleeping in a coffin has its own meaning, and I'm feeling better than ever.

I feel much more relaxed. I haven't slept in a coffin this time because I'm in enemy territory, but it's the next best thing to having your blood sucked. I wish I had a portable coffin.

Has the environment improved?

”Well, yes. It's not going to be perfect right away because of the location, but as you said, it's .......

Monica's eyes were downcast, and she said in a quiet voice, ”What I asked for was a prison.

All I asked for was a better prison environment. There is no way that good blood can grow in an environment that is not cleaned well and not fed.

I don't think that improving the environment now will produce blood as good as Senri's, but it's okay because if we are nice to the prisoners, Senri might let us suck their blood in a tasty way later.

But there have been protests about it. ............ Fifteen of them.

”Okay, I'll take it.

I nodded without hesitation at Monica's fearful words.

It takes time and effort to improve the environment. It's the lower levels of this Demon Lord's army that will do it.

Yesterday, there were a number of people who came to oppose me, but I solved them all by talking with my fists.

It seems that the best way to solidify one's position in the Demon Lord's army is to show one's strength, and the number of new challengers is decreasing with each challenge I win. It's only been three days since she arrived here, but rumors have spread, and now she seems to be feared.

Today, Monica wore modest clothes that covered most of her skin, which was unusual. However, there is no hiding the fact that she has a great figure.

If I get better, maybe Monica will take a second look at me and give me some blood, so I'll do my best today.

Today's challenger was an Ogre. They are one of the major factions in this Demon Lord's army, and they've come to challenge me many times since I beat their champion on the first day.

He had the physique and skin of a demon, but his face was now tense from the moment I met him.

His eyes widened involuntarily. Normally it was a fist, but today the challenger was holding a sword. It was a blackened sword, clearly too small in length compared to his physique.

I knew it by instinct, even though it was dark. A silver sword.

I knew it would come. It would take something as powerful as Arbatos to do any real damage to me without exploiting my weaknesses.

Monica, realizing what the weapon was, started to open her lips in panic. I stopped her.

It's okay. But if I'm dying, you have to help me. ............ Did you think I was going to complain?

This is a great way to get the most out of your business. I'm not sure what to do.

My current body has almost no sense of pain. It is truly wonderful to be painless. But at the same time, pain is something you have to remember.

If I continue to win without incident, I'm sure I'll grow.

Senri says pain is a vampire's weakness. They don't always feel pain, so when they do, it stops them in their tracks. I've survived this long in part because I've never had to deal with it before.

Besides, what threat can a blackened silver sword that has not been cleaned well pose?

I know a silver sword that forms a perfect cross. I know a holy sword made of precious blessed silver. They will kill me easily.

Then I must learn to overcome my weaknesses before my next encounter with them. Engaging the silver sword with a low chance of dying is not a bad thing if you think about it.

It's a bit of a pain in the ass, so let's all go at it together.

”......, don't be stupid!　Vampires!

But it seems that there is only one silver sword.

The demon closes the distance with one step and swings the sword with all his might. It's a tremendous blow that seems to split the space. But the size of the sword doesn't fit the body.

I sidestepped the large fall and jabbed at the open side.

It was meant to be a light attack, but the demon's face contorted in pain and its flesh creaked. The sword swung down and cut back with the same force.

Too slow. Too slow. The demon is powerful, but not that fast. My eyesight is fast enough to see it. It might be good for evasion training.

Concentrate your mind while evading and activate the Dark Stalker's ability, ”Sen'ei”.

The sound disappears and blackness spreads across his skin. The demon's face becomes agitated.

This ability was originally designed for hiding in the shadows, but it seems to be effective even when used in battle. The smell is strong, but most of the sound is gone. It's a strong ally for me since I can't use my vampire powers yet. I'll have to learn to use it.

After three jabs in a similar exchange, the demon kneels down. He's got a better body than me, but he's so sloppy.