98 Episode 6: Town of Immortal Persons ③ (1/2)

With Senri's support, I walk through the night in human form.

It was selfish of me. Know your enemy, know yourself, know the land. That's how I've been surviving ever since I was resurrected by the Lord.

The streets of Descend were clean, beautiful even at night, and full of history.

Perhaps the city was at its brightest when it was fighting the undead. The waterways and the crosses here and there were remnants of that time.

The inn also had many doors. Wooden doors are so unreliable that even a strong person could break them down, but not for vampires.

Doors mean boundaries. I'm a lower rank, so I'm less restricted, but this city is really hard for vampires to live in. The Demon Lord of the False Shadow was supposed to be a bone man, so it's hard to understand why the city is so well protected against vampires.

It had been a while since the sun had set, but there were still many people on the main street. Streetlights lined the street, clearing the darkness and making it seem peaceful at first glance.

I walked through the crowd, but no one noticed who I was. Occasionally someone would look at Senri, but not at me.

Only a trained human can spot an undead that closely resembles a human. Those with good instincts may feel an instinctive fear when they see me, but even when I was going around crushing mobsters and bandits, no one noticed my true identity.

The only people who would be able to sense me from afar would be Knights of the End or Necromancers. Thanks to the control of my blood power, the negative power I release is considerably suppressed.

I took a quick look around the town, but didn't see anything strange. No mercenaries, and of course no undead.

I know negative forces as well as Senri. There's also a way to tell by smell. If someone walking around smells like death, they're undead. But neither of those methods work.

After patrolling the streets for a while, we entered a fancy restaurant where the smell of garlic was kept to a minimum.

We walked around for a bit, but I felt pretty bad. It was the crucifix, the garlic, and the running water. It was much better than when I was alive, but it was the first time in a long time that I was in such prolonged pain.

We took a table at the back of the restaurant and checked our surroundings warily.

Is there any chance that the undead we've spotted are strays?

”No. There is no information of a recent war in the vicinity.

Senri replied immediately in a low voice.

There are two main types of undead: those that are created by necromancy and those that occur naturally.

However, it is unlikely that a large number of undead will occur naturally unless a large number of people die in a large-scale war.

The undead that Senri has detected seem to be of a certain size. They are not that powerful, but they are dispersed in all directions.

As I wrapped my fork around a bowl of seafood pasta (without garlic), I asked.

”Do you think they're targeting the city?

.................. don't think so.

I don't think so.” Senri looks a little lost, but says it clearly.

I agree with you. It's very difficult to destroy a city that's been prepared for the undead. Naturally occurring undead will instinctively avoid approaching the city, and intelligent undead will know to be wary of the city at a glance.

I think it's more likely that our destination is the castle of the Demon Lord of the False Shadow.

We need to be cautious. But the situation is not so bad.

Senri's intuition is half the reason we're in this town. I thought there was a chance we wouldn't find anything, but if there are other suspicious beings, the chances of finding something are higher.

I looked at Senri's silver hair and thought for a while.

I knew that if I was going to investigate the castle, it would be in the morning. Bonesmen don't turn to ash in the sunlight, but that doesn't mean they aren't weakened at all.

She couldn't leave Senri, who had a wealth of knowledge and experience, behind, so it was only natural that she would choose a time when she had the advantage.

However, if there are other undead who want to get to the castle, there are other options.

”Senri, who's stronger, those undead or Senri?

”............

I'm sure you've heard of it, but I've never heard of it. I'm not doubting your strength, so don't give me that look. .......

I'm not doubting Senri's strength.

............ Maybe the end is a little ...... stronger.

”A little ......?

I'm not sure what the undead are that they're only a little weaker than me, who survived a fierce battle with the Demon Lord Rainer.

I'm not sure what to make of this. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

There is no way that ............ end will lose.

”............

A strange silence fell. It seems that I have really hurt her pride.

I felt a pang of embarrassment, but I didn't touch on it any further and continued talking.

The number of customers is increasing. But no one was listening to me.

”Can Senri's detection be traced even if the crystals of the night eliminate the presence?

”I'm not sure if it's ............ undead or not.

The answer was as expected. In the past, Senri had tried to find out the movements of Monica, who was looking for an opportunity to attack from afar with her trading party. If the night crystal is only to suppress the dissipation of negative power, then there is no reason why the body without it would not be caught by Senri's wide-area search.

There are two ways we can go.

We can either kill the undead first and check the castle afterwards, or we can carefully check the undead's movements and snatch the results. ...... Or we can ignore them.

There is a certain amount of risk involved in both. I hesitated for a moment and then said.

”Let's go hunt some undead. I want to know exactly what's going on.

...... Okay.

Sure, I'll come with you.

...... I know.

It would be easier to snatch the results, but Senri still has the soul of the Knight of the End. It would be against her will to leave the undead behind while she senses their presence.

In the first place, I don't know what will happen if I leave her alone. All you have to do is run when the time comes.

Senri looked at me straight in the eyes and nodded slowly.

§§

The gates were closed. Unfortunately, the city doesn't seem to accept visitors at night. I had no choice but to walk along the high city wall.