Suspected Necromancer

Chapter 16 – Farewell, My Friend

Luna ran. Her speed was incomparably faster than even a horse, and she could easily leap entire buildings and houses. Since becoming an Immortal King, she had never truly exerted all her strength, so she was surprised by her heightened abilities.

She was headed towards Khan’s mansion.
The protective magic barrier was still in place, keeping people at bay.

The necromancy materials in Khan’s room had already been confiscated as contraband. However, Luna didn’t need those, and she had already confirmed their contents with Luciana.
Now, the room held magical materials and catalysts. These were not Khan’s belongings; they were items Luna had requested Luciana prepare in advance.
Luna carried these items and descended the stairs behind the remnants of a bookshelf. She hadn’t known about this secret chamber back when Khan was alive.

The basement she descended into hadn’t been touched since Rato and the others fought with Khan. Khan’s ashes still remained.
The core of necromancy is the ability to see into the future and the past through communication with the deceased. In essence, it is a conversation with the dead.
Luna had mastered necromancy, and as an Immortal King, she possessed the power to summon any spirit she desired.
Naturally, this time she would summon Khan’s spirit.
Luna arranged the items she brought around Khan’s ashes.
With the preparations for the ritual complete, she solemnly began to chant.
In order to become an Immortal King, Khan must have learned much about vampires beforehand.
Luna hoped that there might be a way to save herself through Khan’s knowledge.

After finishing a long incantation in the ancient language, the ritual was complete.
A vast amount of magic power supported the ritual, making the process far easier than Luna had anticipated.
Smoke rose from the ashes and began vaguely forming into a humanoid shape.

“…Luna.”

The figure spoke with a cracked voice.

“Master.”

Luna gazed at the smoky figure with an indescribable mix of emotions.
However, no matter how much magic power Luna had, a spirit couldn’t remain for long.
The remnants of the forcibly gathered soul could vanish at any moment.

“Master, is there a way for an Immortal King to survive without consuming blood?”

“…Bloodthirst… lasts for about an hour each day… If one can endure it… the bloodthirst won’t strike… until the next day.”

“Is there a way to endure it?”

“…Go… to a place where no one… is present… That will… suffice.”

Luna felt dizzy. Khan’s spirit spoke about it so casually, but he probably didn’t know how agonizing the bloodthirst truly was.

“Is there a way to overcome the thirst for blood itself?”

“…I do not know.”

Khan’s words caused Luna’s shoulders to slump. She had anticipated that it likely wouldn’t exist, but hearing a definitive denial was still disappointing.

“…Logan might… know… possibly…”

The name Logan sounded familiar. Khan had mentioned that name several times, it was the name of his master.

“Where is Logan?”

“…He resided… in the Asuran capital… within the ruins of Banukut… He doesn’t allow… anyone to approach… a barrier… has been erected…”

Luna was familiar with the capital of the Asuran people, Banukut.
It was a necessary topic when learning about the history of magic.
Despite being located considerably far from the Rama Kingdom, Luna had no choice but to travel there.

The smoky humanoid figure began to crumble. The remnants of the spirit were fading.

“Master…”

“…Luna… I’m sorry…”

The smoke dissipated. Luna felt something trailing down her cheek.

──

Luna ascended the stairs and emerged in Khan’s room, where Luciana was waiting.

“Is Rato alright?”

Luna inquired.

“He’s fine. He might be a bit weakened due to anemia, but it shouldn’t be life-threatening.”

Luciana answered with a faint smile. After confirming Rato’s safety, she had come here. She had entrusted Rato’s care to Killian.

“I’m going to Banukut. There’s a person there named Logan, who was my master’s master. He might be able to help me.”

“Logan… the legendary Archmage. It’s true that he was Khan’s teacher. If anyone could help, it’d probably him. But Banukut is quite far away. What will you do about the thirst for blood during that time?”

“Master said to go an isolated location. He mentioned that the bloodthirst would subside after about an hour.”

Luna replied cheerfully as if it were nothing. However, Luciana, who had been observing Luna’s demeanor, knew just how intense the impulse for blood must be.

“Will you drink my blood? If it can provide you even a little relief…”

“I’m fine. After all, I promised Rato that I wouldn’t drink anyone else’s blood since he’d get jealous.”

Luna chuckled. Luciana thought to herself that Luna had fallen in love. She felt a mix of emotions, including sadness.

“Your belongings have been prepared over there.”

Luciana pointed. A pile of stuff was arranged there, including water and food. It was a substantial amount of luggage.
Luna had promised Luciana that she would never return to the Rama Kingdom. These preparations were just a modest way to help her fulfill that promise.

“Thank you, Luciana.”

“…I’m sorry, Luna-chan.”

Luciana gently embraced Luna. To Luciana, Luna was a dear friend. However, for Luciana, Rato’s safety was of the utmost importance, and she was prepared to sacrifice everything for Rato’s royal future.
Luna understood that. She returned the embrace, and bid Luciana an eternal farewell.

“Okay then, I’m off.”

Luna effortlessly picked up the immense luggage. As an Immortal King, Luna possessed power beyond the realm of humans.
And so, Luna left Khan’s room.
Luciana watched her depart with a somber, lonely look upon her face.

──

Luna left Khan’s mansion and immediately headed for Banukut. The load on her back didn’t bother her at all, and it didn’t affect her running speed.
However, Luna still felt a sense of urgency.

Banukut was so far away that you could only reach it after months of travel, even by carriage. No matter how fast Luna was, it wasn’t a distance that could be covered in a day or two.
In other words, she would have to endure the bloodthirst several times.

(Well, I’ve had a lot of Rato’s blood, so I should be okay!)

Luna told herself.
While avoiding people as much as possible, she traveled west towards Banukut.
However, even so, Luna felt anxious. Therefore, on nights when she anticipated the bloodthirst, Luna decided to sleep as far away from human settlements as possible.
When she could no longer resist her impulses, merely seeing the lights of towns and villages could trigger an irresistible urge to head straight towards them. Therefore, Luna could only sleep in the mountains or forests.
The place was so dark and lonely that Luna felt like she was going mad. Lying alone in the darkness, she even regretted leaving the royal palace.
Yet, on the first and second nights, the feared bloodthirst didn’t come.
As Luna had thought, it was likely because she had consumed a substantial amount of blood from Rato.
By morning, she had forgotten the thirstless night and started heading towards Banukut again.

However, on the third night, it arrived.
Luna felt the onset of bloodthirst in the forest. An unendurable, insatiable hunger permeated throughout her. Her whole body felt parched, craving blood like she would water.
Drinking the water or eating the food she brought did nothing. Nothing but blood could quench her thirst.
Of course, there was nobody around to siphon blood from. Luna even resorted to biting her own arm, but it provided no relief either.
She punched a tree in a fit of rage. The trunk cracked, and the tree slowly fell. There were no wounds on Luna’s hand despite the forceful punch.
Perhaps sensing danger or being scared by the noise, the forest animals fled from around her.

(Keep moving forward.)

Luna thought. Not to reach Banukut, but to find people.
She sprinted through the forest, faster than during the day. Luna was an Immortal King, a superior vampire, so her strength was heightened at night, even though the sunlight wasn’t a bother for her.
She ran, searching for a road. Once she found one, she followed it. Finally, when she saw the faint light of a town in the distance, Luna bared her teeth greedily. Her canines were more developed than a human’s and had turned into long fangs.
Unconsciously, she bore a savage smile.

And then—with just a short distance before reaching the town, the bloodthirst subsided.
An hour had passed. Luna fell to her knees and wept.