The Undead And Vampire Princess And Maid

“Rin, aren’t you tired?”

“No, I’m fine! Thank you for your concern, Master!”

I, Rin, Ekarraat, and the Sid party were currently riding along the road mounted on a Shadow Dark Horse.

Rin sat in front of me, riding double with me supporting her from behind.

By the way, Ekarraat was in the shadows.

She was keeping quiet because the wounds from the Fourth Stigmata—the damage Kaine inflicted—hadn’t fully healed.

“Is Dark Horse okay? I’m riding, so I’m heavier than usual, right?”

“Hii—n!”

In response to Rin’s concern, the Dark Horse answered with a reassuring neigh.

Having once carried an armored Dullahan and raced about, even being a girl’s weight heavier didn’t change its stride.

Truly dependable.

“Rin, have you no words of concern for me? I had a hard time too, you know?”

“Ah, I’m terribly sorry. Lady Ekarraat, are you not tired?”

“This one’s such a hassle…”

While grumbling at Ekarraat’s clingy behavior from within the shadow, Dark Horse continued down the road.

We abandoned the goblin-forest hideout where we’d lived for months and set out searching for a new base.

＊＊＊

Half a day ago.

It was because our hideout, which we had thought hidden—had been attacked by the Sixth Stigmata Annise Redby.

Even though we used Vanargand’s spatial transfer, how we were discovered remains unknown—but now that the Holy Church had pinpointed it, that place was unusable.

We packed up immediately and left the goblin forest.

Just as the flowers planted in the flowerbeds had finally bloomed and the vegetables in the field were about to be harvested, we moved for the second time.

Rin looked reluctant, but she agreed obediently.

Unlike when we had to abandon the manor in the capital, we were fortunate to have the time to pack our things.

We managed to move some flowers into pots, so we could replant them in the new land.

――And so.

Our ultimate destination was the southern part of the continent.

Rin’s homeland.

A settlement of the Ragiu tribe, distinguished by brown skin and purple hair.

We were heading for one of those settlements—the village called “Ringland.”

As we left the goblin forest――

“Rin, we can’t use that hideout anymore. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Master—I fully understand this may be a presumptuous request, but… I’d like to go to my hometown.”

――That was the reason.

According to Ekarraat, it would take about a month on Dark Horse to reach the Ragiu territory in the continent’s south from the capital.

With Vanargand’s ability, we could return to the capital at any time.

I thought it was a good opportunity to expand Vanargand’s transfer points, so I was looking forward to the leisurely journey.

Since the Holy Church’s stronghold was in the capital, keeping our distance would, we hoped, make attacks less likely.

“But Rin, aren’t you resistant to returning home? You were sold by your parents into slavery, weren’t you?”

Ekarraat asked from within the shadow.

It was something I had wondered about too.

“Yes—as you say, my hometown was a poor farming village, and they couldn’t support all my sisters, so they sold us to slave traders.”

“Do you not hate the parents who reduced you to slavery? Or do you intend to take revenge? If so, I’ll lend you a hand.”

The revenge-loving Vampire Princess laughed merrily.

I could easily imagine her wearing a gruesome smile within the shadows.

“I don’t hold resentment now. Life as a slave was certainly full of hardship. But because of that, I met my Master.”

“Rin…”

“I’m happy to work for my Master now. So I wanted to show I’m well… and I wanted to introduce my Master… hehe.”

Rin on horseback smiled shyly, looking embarrassed.

“You’ve been taking quite a liking to Sid, eh? Can’t hold that against you.”

“Yes, I might just be the happiest slave in the world.”

“……..”

But is that really so?

Rin may indeed be feeling happy now.

At the very least—compared to before she met me.

But—it’s only that her previously negative happiness level has returned to zero.

She’s only feeling relatively happier.

In fact, by killing the second prince Sylvan, I put Rin in danger.

By simply being near me, Rin is exposed to danger.

Wouldn’t Rin be happier living with her family back home?

I couldn’t help but think that.

I too was thrown into slavery as a child.

But unlike me, Rin still has her hometown and family.

Unlike me, she still has a chance to reclaim happiness with her family.

Therefore……..

“(The greatest happiness for Rin—might not be being by my side…)”

Rin’s journey home.

The end of the journey.

If Rin wished to leave me and remain in her hometown, I intended to accept it.

I had given up on ordinary happiness and chosen the path of a revenge-obsessed demon.

In exchange, I entrusted Rin with the chance to attain the “ordinary happiness” I had wanted.

I want Rin to be happy.

Because that is my wish.

“Master…? Is something the matter?”

Perhaps sensing my worry quickly, Rin turned around and asked with an upward glance, worried.

“It’s nothing. Look forward. It’s dangerous.”

I gently stroked her head and turned her neck forward with a little twist.

Dark Horse stepped forward.

Step by step—surely.

Toward the end of the journey.

What form that journey’s end will take—I do not know.