Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)

The Gentle the Coffin

I think I'll talk about Father

Father is a gentleman

He's always drary a lot of time because he ruins the entleman

Father always bluffs his way through things He's no good at fighting That's why he uses underhanded tactics soy'

I guess in that sense he's not a gentleman at all

But that doesn't matter

There's one thing about Father that entleman

You see, Father will always s work somehohenever and wherever

No matter what kind of a situation he's in, even whenis work

That's right I can't really put it into words, but I respect him

I respect him

Imyself

I don't want to have power

I just want to be able to do so that happens in front of me

The house was quiet, as though nothing had ever happened Relic and Hilda were leaning on each other's shoulders

”Say, Hilda Sorry about before”

”About what?”

”I drank a bit of your blood”

”I don't really mind”

There was a ain

”Say, Hilda Sorry about before”

”About what?”

”When you were yelling at that guy, I first thought what you said wouldn't help me I didn't believe in you I'm sorry”

”I wouldn't even have known that if you hadn't said anything, you know…”

There was another moment of silence

”Hilda! I-I'm sorry!”

”A-about what?”

”I forgot about your parents!”

It seeot to her feet in the hallway

”Oh no! Dad! Mom!”

As Hilda burst into tears, Relic truly understood his powerlessness

”L-let's head to the castle first They're all va!”

He felt foolish for having to turn to his father in the end

”Y-yeah… I'…”

And he was indescribablyon his father

Waldstein Castle, parlour

It was just about ht The viscount formed sentences in the air in an unnecessarily dramatic font

[My word, to think you would be so swept away by power that you would lose sight of your duty…]

”…You don't need to put it that gravely” Relic said as he sipped his tea, his eyes on the floor and embarrassment clear on his face

He felt incredibly weary It was only natural, seeing as he had sucked very little blood fro expended so much power

[I am ashamed, Relic! It is most fortunate that I was present to save Miss Hilda's parents What would you have done if we had been left without a single lead?]

”…Sorry”

In the end, Hilda's parents were hiding in the castle

Froic Man had imposed control over Hilda's parents after Hilda and Mihail left their house Hilda had been so rattled by the fact that her parents had hired exterminators to kill the viscount that she refused to speak to them

”But I honestly have no idea what's going on What happened here?”

[Ah, as long as Watt himself remains unaccounted for, we cannot understand the reasons behind this incident]

”And also… uh, never mind”

[They say that a true gentleman must make his intentions clear, my son Take these words to heart]

Relic could no longer escape Making sure that Ferret was not in the room, Relic asked his father for a word of confirmation

”Father, did you know that I was created artificially?”

[But of course!]

The viscount's incredibly confident answer left Relic in confusion

[Ah, I understand what you are trying to say First: I never told you because you never asked I saw no need to disclose the truth behind a h you may wish to ask if your heart is real, I will say to you that even a thoroughbred horse has the freedom to walk of its oill And thirdly: I presuaht to live a normal life But would you also say that a bull terrier has no right to live?]

Relic's questions were answered before he could even ask them

”…That's enough”

Relic collapsed into his seat and waved his hand lightly Father and son had been reunited after a year, and he had ht now, he wasn't in theto talk to Hilda

[Is that all? Even I aaps in my answer It would be enjoyable in itself to point the]

Deciding to ignore the work before hiain explained the details of the incident

Ferret and Mihail had just co to her parents in the next room over Relic wondered if her silent treatment of them had come to an end by now

”So what about Watt Stalf?”

Even Relic had heard of Watt before In fact, most people on Growerth knew his na around about his surprisingly youthful looks for a man in his thirties, but this was the first time Relic had heard that the man was a dhampyr

[That is the probles have coood would co me from my prison, when he was the one who sealedof some sort, from his personality, I can only assu on his part]

”What are you talking about?”

[Watt Stalf is a pettyto reach the top The sort to go out of his way to huer I have known Watt for quite soloating over the collapsed for robbed him of his money]

”That's terrible”

Relic wondered how a man like him had ever become a mayor

But all too suddenly, a gunshot rang out through the castle

”?! That was from the ballroom!”

The viscount lithely slid down the floor and appeared at the top of the ballroom staircase

It was an open area, with the stairs located at the central corner Nor fro, but it had been shattered by the custom-made explosive stakes fired by the exter Its remains lay in the ns of having been daed by explosions

Because there were hts installed in the hall, the room was still illuminated But the eerie air in the room left the atmosphere cold and tense

Hilda's parents were sitting in a corner, screaht out of a cheap police drama

A lasses stood before the fallen chandelier, spinning a s pistol

”Mayday, mayday Now, Count! It's time for Part Two”

He wore a pair of jeans and a leather jacket Watt Stalf, thethe day, irling a gun in a flashy show of dexterity

The viscount's family and Mihail were the only ones who had cole one of theun itself

And once Watt confirmed that their attention was focused on the Hilda's face, at which the gun was ai of the show

He spoke in a tone entirely different from that of a petty criminal Not only that, plastered on his face was a refreshi+ng sht wear for a school visit on an election can

”Just like I promised I'm here to crawl up to the top”

[…I had always known that you were a petty man, but have you fallen so far so as to lose yourdown the staircase [I cannot say I have any idea what you are atte to do And allow me to remind you that I am a viscount]

”Really? Quit your coht it was pretty dae How et?”

Twirling the gun again, Watt glanced around the ballroo the small steps at the very front of the rooer staircase, he lightly walked towards it Taking the gun away froh escorting a dance partner

Hilda, naturally, resisted But perhaps Watt had been using her elbow as a fulcruth did not allow her to put up le

Lightly taking a seat on one of the lower steps, he shot a glance over at those at the staircase on the other side of the roo before the chandelier He kept a tight hold on Hilda's wrist

”Count I' talk with you”

[I understand wholeheartedly But first, I ask that you release the young lady I shall gladly offer e!]

”You're still one hell of an idiot How the fuck aood is a hostage that can't even die?”

[You uarantee you that, were I to be stuffed into a rocketshi+p and launched into the sun, I would be killed Iht I ask that you release the young lady? If you do so, I uest to my castle]

The mismatched pair continued their conversation The humans and vairlfriend had been taken hostage, was ht

”A guest, huh? Right That's pretty decent”

As soon as he finished his sentence, Watt released his iron grip on Hilda's wrist

Hilda hurriedly fled, rushi+ng to Relic at the other end of the roo to Relic, treirl who had showed no fear before vaun

[Hm?]

Even the viscount seerew ever more cautious of the man

[What do you mean by this? What is your purpose? …Have you truly surrendered? Well, I suppose if you have learned your lesson, I could support you wholeheartedly during the next mayoral election]

”That's pretty danore your loyal citizens I was this close to losing last time because of that”

With a self-deprecating sun

”Besides, what good's a hostage now?” He said, aier

Click Click Click

Fro

Watt opened the cylinder The bullets fell, each round damp with blood The red splotches separated froround and returned to the viscount's main body

”Quick as ever, Count Da” Watt spat resentfully, throwing the gun itself at the viscount

[You worry me, mayor You show a distinct lack of pettiness today, and that worries reatly]

”What can I say? I'ood it's al ignored bymy cell phone But what happened just earlier cleared that all up Now that was one hell of a show Almost applauded Looks like ol' Melhil after all” Watt said, quietly turning towards Relic

”I mean, I've always been after him, but now I'm serious Relic von Waldstein, the perfected product The revival of a legend that never existed The Relict The one-man apocalypse”

[I must object to that final descriptor]

”Shut up Anyway… I'll apologize 'bout pouring liquid nitrogen into your coffin last month It was a waste of time and effort, anyway”

The viscount's memory seemed to have been spurred by Watt's comment

[Of course! So it was you after all! I had thought it strange that I could not move, but by then I had been sealed inside by soy entirely if I had been inside any longer!]

”Cut the co Just be thankful I didn't sink you into the ocean because I didn't want to risk breaking your coffin open So, what do you say? Any chance of getting your kid to share some of that poith me?”

[Your penchant for ed, I see Ah, finally back to your old petty self]

As Watt and the viscount went on about apologies and whatnot, the topic of their discussion--Relic--watched in silence

[And in any event, how in the world would you go about transferring this power? Abilities are not known to be transferrable between va… Hm? Then what did, pray tell, Melhilm intend for my son? Not a coup d'etat with Relic at its centre, I presume?]

Watt chuckled

”Let's just say there's a way to copy someone's abilities now And ould you think if this method transferred the abilities without the weaknesses? A way that would allow anyone in possession of Relic to create a legend”

[Preposterous! What is this]

But thevisitor entered the ballroom

”About that”

Standing with one ar woman of japanese descent

”…? Who's that?” Mihail asked Ferret, not a hint of tension in his tone But she stiffly kept her gaze on the newcomer

Relic also turned his eyes towards shi+zune, but she looked straight at the viscount

”I think I booked the first appointment with the viscount's son” she said slowly

Relic and Ferret, who could both understand japanese, looked at their father in surprise

shi+zune Kijima, the Eater, simply turned towards Relic

[…Still fearless of s, I see Where have you been all this tiht I ask?] The viscount asked, taken aback shi+zune faced down the vampires and spoke plainly

”Viscount, I have a full-courseto try and stop me now?”

[A moment, please I ask that you release yourself from this tension They say that relaxation is the best medicine for a broken heart, do they not?]

shi+zune thought for a moment, then came up with a proposal

”Right I owe you from before, too Then how about this? I sensed four va just one of them So which will it be? It's your choice, viscount”

The word 'eat' seemed to have surprised Ferret She turned to the viscount

”Father, who in the world is this woman?”

There was a tinge of anxiety in her incredulous expression The viscount attely in bold letters, but only ended up fanning the flames of fear

[There is nothing to worry about, Ferret Should that wohts on you, you and Relic must flee this place Do you understand?]

As though lasses and spoke up

”Well isn't that interesting, eh? Who's it gonna be, Count?”

”I ae?]

”Rukraane City in japan You know I can speak it a little, since I went back and forth even before I beca vampires, my brain's wired so it takes es But that doesn't matter” Watt shook his head ”I understand That woman is serious Gotta be, or else you wouldn't tell your brats to run But you know, if you only need to sacrifice one… Then you'd pick ht, pickthe viscount to choose However--

[I refuse!] The viscount uttered finally, and wrote out a short e to shi+zune in japanese

[Miss shi+zune, I ask that you devour me!]

”What?!”

”Father!”

”Father?!”

The other va on the floor confidently, as though his choice was only natural

[I have just noorn to accept the good uest! As lord over this castle, I bear the responsibility of ensuring the safety of uest Watt Stalf!]

”Not again, Father…” Ferret mumbled incredulously, but her eyes never left shi+zune, who re about her bothered Ferret--the incredibly cold atmosphere she wove around herself, for one, but there was so else

'There's so familiar about that woman…'

”Oh, is that all right?” shi+zune asked for confir his form prone on the floor

”I'onna end with just a bite It's not gonna end until I've devoured every last bit of you Are you seriously all right with that? Not scared at all?”

[Naturally, I intend to resist But if you should wish to challenge eainst a woman I shall bury my lower body in the earth before our battle]

”…Remehtly ree her mind

As they slowly began to tense, a vulgar burst of laughter interrupted them

”So the girl in white and the count are planning on going at each other's throats?”

Watt stood froame

”In other words, that leaves Relic for inal topic The viscount hurriedly co to solve the situation

[Wait a moment! I shall have a listen to your story at a later tih to even harin with?]

It was a natural point to make, but Watt shook his head

His strangely cal rin that showed off his fangs

”I thought I told you, Count”

A moment later, countless shadows formed spread from his body

”I'm here to crawl to the top!”

Watt's body scattered into dozens of bats, like an explosion of black As the shadows flitted around the ballroom, the pool of blood splashed in shock

[My word! I do not recall you being able to useyourself into bats! And I do recall… My memories do not lie!]

The viscount's for bewilder

[How could I forget those human-eyed bats? That is Melhilm's ability!]

The moment the viscount displayed his words, written in a font representing his surprise, three forks with strangely thick handles drove themselves into his main body on the floor

[Urgh! Miss shi+zune, I believe I already told you that electricity will]

The letters of blood hovering in midair tried to form neords, but their movements suddenly ceased

The blood pooled around the three forks began to go rigid Frost began to form on the surface

The frost spread incredibly quickly The viscount struggled to detach a part of his body froh unwilling to release the blood into the air

Several seconds later, the viscount's body froze over in a for into the air from it

”Father!” Ferret cried, and tried to run to the viscount's side But a table knife suddenly drove itself into the floor right before her foot

”…!”

Ferret had been unable to react when shi+zune had thrown the knife By the time she are that shi+zune had moved, the knife was already driven into the floor

Ferret ground her teeth and glared at shi+zune, who smiled faintly

”You're gonna get yourself burned if you touch that Although I doubt I'd even let you get that far”

As the bats chattered htly

”This tio for that boy beside you”

shi+zune glanced at Mihail A fierce look came over Ferret's face as she stood to shi+eld him

”Fe-”

”Please, do not say anything! Even I cannot understand why I a this!”

”…Okay”

”Hoeet” shi+zune rin that anyone who had seen her discussion with the viscount earlier would have found it difficult to believe that she was the same person

Which one was the true shi+zune? The viscount, who had witnessed both of her faces, did not seeth to say

The blood that had been for frozen But they fell powerlessly at a slight distance from the pillars of ice

He squir shi+zune

[…Soen? But why did you not use this during our first battle?]

”I aiting for your kids to get here” shi+zune answered

The viscount was slow to forreeak

[What… are you saying? I do not believe you knew of my children until after our ceasefire]

It was a question meant for confirmation But the answer ca beside her

”What, you don't get it, Count? Soer than ether?”

The bats gathered at a stop beside shi+zune, as Watt Stalf reassembled his body beside her

He sneered and gave an answer in shi+zune's place

”It means this”

The mayor reached out an arm from behind her and dramatically took her in his embrace

It was clearly not an act of romance, but possession

But shi+zune--

The Eater accepted it with a smile

[Of course]

The letters of blood reacted simply

[You knew each other beforehand]

Laughing like a third-rate villain, Watt began to reveal his plot to the letters of blood

”Hahah! Ahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! I planned it all, from the very start! This is my trump card I'm not a Goddamned idiot; there's no way my flunkies could've taken you on”

Despite the fact that Watt was essentially treating her like a tool, shi+zune did not react

”Hey, hey, hey You tellingto this island was a coincidence? You think she took her sweet tiends because she happened to be feeling nice today? You think she ate Melhilm by coincidence?”

[So does this have to do with the fact that you are wielding Melhilm's powers?]

”I told you, there's a way to transfer power between va another vampire's blood won't work; some sort of rejection on the level of the soul But you already know that, don't you? fucking Count This soul that flows in our blood is fickle The rejection between vaths of the soul are different But you know, once those abilities pass through a human, the human's blood acts like an adhesive The power sticks” Watt went on at length, looking as though he was truly enjoying himself

”You get it now? Eaters When you drink the blood of an Eater who's just eaten a vaain the vampire's abilities Melhilm noticed that, you know That's why he went after your son To take on Relic's powers and beco that power instead Want me to repeat that? Can you even hear me in the first place, Count?! Last time I froze you, you lasted a couple hours What about now?!”

The viscount, who drew energy from the sun, was cornered Not only was his body frozen solid, it was unable to provide energy to the smaller part that made up the letters

The viscount remained rooted to the spot shi+zune s Watt's explanation

”Oh, right About that question I ignored earlier… You asked ht? Where do you think I was? I was contacting Watt”

She bowed her head slightly, and put on a somewhat lonely look

”Sorry But I honestly enjoyed listening to your stories”

[Are you all right?]

Having been left with very few letters hich to compose sentences, the viscount wrote tersely

[Was the story you told me a lie?]

”That was all true And it's also true that I' to kill all vampires And… that's how it still is I let Watt off the hook because he's only half”

[I see A relief to hear]

With a satisfied shake, the viscount's letters reformed into sentences

[I aiveyou for even a moment!]

shi+zune looked at his words without expression but before she could react, Watt snorted

”Hah! How thea wo alh his sunglasses

”Whaddaya think, Count? Hule Day You looked down on me fro you back Ah, I shall ask Though youdisgraced yet, Count?! I hate losing, you know And Iback every last ounce of humiliation I felt!”

[I am a viscount And allow me to add that, coincidentally, I a pieces began, as though he had regained his power But at that very moment--

[But I make it a point to p a yb a c ki nt r i p l e]

With that, the letters of blood fell to the floor powerlessly, turning into a small stain

The pieces of the talkative viscount would no longer move

”Tch Talk about an anticlimax” Watt said, dissatisfied, and turned to the people at the other end of the ballroom

”Well, let's get to work… Hey, hey What're you looking at lasses Ferret and Relic were glaring at him

”It's not like he's dead He'll be back as soon as you thaw hi your powers on ic Man? Not likely, forain without drinking some blood”

Watt's comment had hit the mark Relic's look faltered for a moment

Satisfied at the boy's expression--a e--Watt opened his arms

”Man, you've got none of your old man's poker face I can read you like a book”

And in preparation for getting shi+zune to drink Relic's blood, he loudly called for his subordinate

”Oi, Clown! Take the hue!”

But there was no answer

”Clown! Hey! You listening?!”

She still did not reply Only Watt's voice echoed through the ballroom

”…Where'd that htfall”

As Watt narrowed his eyes, shi+zune quietly spoke up

”The afterlife… I guess”

”The hell?”

As Watt turned, a red object flew by past his eyes

It fell to the floor--a triangular hat dyed a deep red

Watt froze