The Undead King of the Palace of Darkness

“!!”

Golden eyes darted around in the dark. The ceiling and the walls were made floors to propel herself back and forth while she attacked Senri with her claws at a tremendous speed, which Senri met with her sword.

Senri’s sword is not made of ordinary silver. The base metal used is… holy silver.

Holy silver is a rare metal also referred to as mithril and it boasts a power superior to ordinary silver. It is much more durable and it is extremely easy to transmit blessing or magic through it.

It is seldom possessed by anyone save for the Death Knights.

The silver pair of eyes opened wide in surprise. The attack was easily fended off and the distance between them closed.

The attack that came from her blind spot was fast and it was the same or even heavier than the first blow, but Senri’s physical abilities were in an enhanced state now.

Direct Light is a skill where the blessing is circulated inside the body at high speed, thereby enhancing the physical abilities of the user to the level of the undead.

“… Shit…!”

Perhaps Albertus had sensed the disparity in their strengths in that single blow they exchanged, for she retreated.

The first time they faced off each other, Senri had been considerably weaker. One of the reasons being her having let End feed too much just prior and the main reason being the blessing in her had substantially depleted.

And that put Senri, who excelled at wielding her blessing, at quite a disadvantage.

The enhancement of one’s body through Direct Light depends on the amount of blessing in one’s body. Senri was much stronger now than she was back then.

Her body felt light. The room was dimly lit, but Senri could distinctly discern the current situation.

Having woven threads out of her blessing and spreading them out through the room, Senri had gained a new sense.

Heightened sense skill – Thread Weave. Senri Silvis had no blind spot now.

She swiveled on her heels and fended off the crucifix sword that came flying from behind her. Some watery substance sprayed from the sword, but Senri evaded that with ease.

The substance landed with a hiss and the floor became discolored. It was not holy water, but… poison. Something that does not work on a vampire.

“Looks like you weren’t bluffing… about being strong.”

The gloomy voice reached her ears. He did not stop attacking even as he spoke. She widened her scope only to discover that there were almost invisible fine threads strung up around the room. It was a trap.

Senri found the Keeper attacks too easy to fend off. However, if she were to let that sword to even graze her, the poison on it would penetrate her body.

I can… deal with this. Although the Death Knights exhibit enhanced physical abilities on par with the undead owing to the power of blessing, they are still humans at the core. Unlike the undead, poison would work on them and their recovery rate is a whole lot slower than a vampire. Not to mention, their stamina is not inexhaustible.

However, it was all fine. She fended off the crucifix sword that came swinging towards her. The sword that resembled the crucifix was slender and too fragile. It was not made to cross swords with another. It looked like it could break into pieces if heavy blows were to be exchanged.

And, the Keeper was well aware of that. After sending his sword flying towards me, the Keeper’s movements were fluid as he reached for the next weapon.

As Senri decided to give pursuit to the Keeper, from behind, she heard Albertus shoot across the walls and the ceiling and jump down from above. Senri clicked her tongue and was forced to deal with her instead.

… She is strong.

“Well, it’s quite a bother… hunting humans.”

Senri imbued her sword with blessing. Albertus twisted her body to avoid the light that quickly lit up along the blade, but the light extended further and grazed her flank.

Albertus’s face warped in agony for an instant. Her body twisted in midair before landing. Dark red matter trickled onto the floor.

Light sword was as strong and destructive as an actual sword. Although difficult to maintain over a longer period, it was a potent skill.

Photon Blade.

It was a skill passed down by her Master. It was also the skill used before Photon Delete.

With her senses heightened, she could sense one of the threads suddenly be pulled. From her blind spots came silver arrows, which Senri accepted without evading.

Almost as if it had run into an iron plate, the arrows rang loud.

The Keeper groaned for the first time.

“… Wouldn’t expect any less from Epée’s pupil. What a monster…”

“There’s no way… an arrow can pierce me.”

The arrows repelled by the clothes strengthened with blessing fell to the floor. Defense skills that may be useless against the undead can still protect against human weapons.

Well to begin with, the crucifix sword’s attacks might not even be able to graze Senri, whose body is strengthened with blessing.

The Keeper swiftly pulled out his gun and fired rapidly.

Bullets came flying at Senri, who cut all of them down with her sword. Bullets neatly cut in half tumbled onto the carpet on the floor.

“… Alba, this one’s troublesome. Combat mode. We’re going with battle plan B. Surprise attack.”

“!…”

Albertus’s eyes grew big. Her heartbeat grew faster and her thin arms rapidly swelled in size.

Glossy, black fur grew all over her body. Her swelling body ripped her dress to shreds and the scraps fell to the floor.

Senri could have attacked then. However, she retreated a few steps.

… A cursed.

“I’m sure you know about this as a Death Knight. About Werewolves possessing the ability unique to the original ancestor, King of beasts, Lukos.”

Werewolf. Anyone who fights against the vampires needs to learn about them.

Senri retreated further. Albertus’s face warped and so did her body, her soul transformed to that of an animal. The transformation of a human to werewolf was horrible no matter how many times she had seen it.

Lukos is one of the oldest and also one of the most famous ancestors.

Among the numerous abilities possessed by a vampire, one of them include transforming into a wolf called Lycanthropy.

By itself, it would be no more than a transformation, but that ancestor makes it possible for that ability… that curse to be spread and create followers.

Anyone bitten by that ancestor is bound to them and transformed into a mighty werewolf.

Lukos possessed countless followers.

Although the ancestor himself has long since died, his followers who inherited his power are spread throughout the world and are still a thorn in the Order’s side.

Senri has fought quite many herself.

However, she retreated a few steps after witnessing a transformation in person.

“It’s… not… a wolf?!”

In the dark, breathing heavily, was a big, black dog. It was clearly different from the werewolves she had seen so far.

The shape of the body and the face were different, and above all, she could still see the human behind the eyes.

Werewolves often lose themselves during transformation, however, Albertus did not lunge at her right away but glared at her warily.

The Keeper let out a muffled laugh.

“How pitiful. Seems an idiot tried to make a better curse by using the werewolf curse as reference. I suppose she could be called a weredog. Alba happens to be the only victim.”

“?!”

She was like a dark breeze. Not a footstep could be heard. Senri greeted Albertus’s claws with her sword.

She was quite strong even in the human form, but her blows as a beast landed even heavier and were much faster. The only thing that had not changed were her golden eyes that peered at Senri from close quarters.

The light sword grazed the dark-pelted body but did cause any wound. Perhaps it had healed. Silver is a werewolf’s weakness. Unlike the undead, they are not affected by holy positive energy.

Senri extinguished the light and attacked with her sword made of holy silver. However, Albertus deftly handled the attack, that was as fast as flash, using her claws. She landed on all fours and disappeared in a whirlwind.

Senri breathed deeply and further circulated the blessing in her body. She increased her area of awareness. As far as she could tell from the attacks just now, Senri was still much stronger. However, she was not as nimble. Speaking in terms of physical abilities, the werewolves surpass the vampires. Weredogs should be similar as well.

I will end this in one strike. The Keeper who lingered behind, did not bother to attack but uttered unconcernedly.

“The ancestor who turned Alba is dead. The curse failed. He disintegrated the moment he used up his power. Not that uncommon an end… to beings created by inexperienced necromancers. And that’s how Alba came to be the only weredog. Say, don’t you think that’s pitiful?”

“…”

She cannot heed his words. With her whole body covered in black fur, Albertus blended into the dark. It would be difficult to sense her using sight. I need to focus….

But the Keeper’s words naturally made their way into her ears.

The Keeper sighed and continued as if he was spilling all his secrets.

“It was by scent, Epée’s child. I used your scent. The werewolves have enhanced physical abilities, but she has an enhanced sense of smell. Much more than an ordinary dog… you see. She can discern scents and auras.”

“She has already learned your auras. As long as Alba is alive, no matter where you hide, or how far you go, you can never outrun her. Alba deeply… resents the vampire that turned her into that. Kekeke, so much so that… she doesn’t mind using the curse he gave her.”

A troublesome ability. It was awfully similar to End who is fated to live a life on the run.

And, such power… should definitely come at a heavy price.

The Keeper slowly walked the room. Senri focused on him as she stayed on her guard against Albertus.

She cannot afford to take a blow from those claws. If she were to lose her sword and get pinned to the floor, Senri, with her small stature, would be put at an overwhelming disadvantage.

“Due to her curse… she can’t stay in human form during the day. And, every time she uses that power… she’s slowly getting closer to fully becoming a dog… eventually she’d be unable to change back. Don’t you think she is in fact the kind of weaklings you’re supposed to protect? You’re pointing your sword at someone you’re originally meant to help.”

“… What about the counter-curse…”

“Vampire curses can’t be broken. I thought that’s the reason the Death Knights have been purging the victims… am I wrong?”

Fair enough. Senri bit her lips in an effort to keep up her spirits.

However, her grip on her sword did not loosen. It is true that Albertus’s circumstances are pitiable.

But, it was a different vampire that turned Albertus. Not End.

She glared at the Keeper. She had thought that his name was rather strange… so, it was Albertus that he was keeping.

If she will get taken over by her animal side upon overusing the ability, should he not make her fight to begin with?

“… You are… abusing that.”

“That’s right. But rather than abuse, call it a partnership. It’s her purpose to hunt down vampires. Moreover… weaklings need to band together, you see.”

The Keeper laughed out loud and picked up the crucifix sword from the floor.

That was when Senri came upon a late revelation.

It was too late. Albertus… was not going to attack her. Even for a plan, it was too….

“Did you think I went on and on to evoke sympathy in you?

“…!!”

Senri took off only to find dark threads strung up around her. It was not made of silver. It was made to deal with humans. Steel threads.

And subsequently, she heard a creak which was followed by a volley of arrows from all sides. Senri stopped them in their tracks by expanding the blessing around her body.

They sounded a little different from the arrows she first encountered. The arrows that she evaded had pierced halfway through the floor.

Even with the protection of blessing, she cannot escape those arrows unscathed should she take any directly.

They were countermeasures against humans… specifically, the Death Knights.

They were simply too powerful for use against normal humans.

I failed. I unconsciously did not take that possibility into concern. Because….

“Im…possible. You were discarded?”

She whispered, dumbfounded.

Combat mode. Battle plan B. Surprise attack. All of it… was a bluff.

The Keeper simply cannot keep Senri in check by himself. They barely managed to do so together. The difference in strength was apparent.

Using any and all kinds of methods would only serve to buy time. If the Keeper faced off against Senri by himself, he would surely die.

One of the arrows had pierced a corner of the room. White smoke emitted from the arrow slowly filled the room.

Standing in the middle of it, the Keeper frowned and declared as if offended.

“We are vampire hunters. And it goes without saying that we put our lives on the line for it.”

As for the Web Novel translation, we will continue until they tell us to stop.