Chapter 61: A Wholesome Life
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: A Wholesome Life
The classroom, already quiet, fell into a silence so profound it was as if my words had murdered all sound. The Regressor stared at me, her jaw agape, while Azzy continued to look down at Mr. Chap with melancholic eyes.
All the while, I remained on one knee in a posture of reverence.
It was a cheesy, old-fashioned line that belonged in a museum, but it worked wonders on an ancient being older than most national treasures. In the case of the 12th-century vampire girl, she was thoroughly pleased, even knowing it was all an act.
‘You certainly know how to flatter. Hmm, I know this is a jest, but I think I'll listen a little longer.’
“…I permit it.”
“Thank you, my Lady.”
Without a moment's hesitation, I kissed the back of her proffered hand. The vampire, caught up in the mood, accepted the gesture without displeasure.
I quietly lifted an empty chair, placed it across from her, and bowed to ask for her consent once more. Only after she nodded did I sit down, a half-beat later.
‘Hmph. You do know your etiquette.’
Her immersion was incredible. Like someone dabbing their eyes at a musical, she was overflowing with emotion, despite being fully aware this was a performance.
How could she claim to be fine with such sensibilities? I can't even imagine what would happen if she had a body with a properly beating heart.
In any case, I continued the act.
“Pardon my forwardness, but may I ask which noble house you hail from?”
“I have none.”
The vampire’s reply to my question was curt. But while her answer was short, her thoughts were not.
‘Back when I roamed the world, many were drawn to me, captivated by my appearance. When I gave this answer to those who assumed I was a noble, their reactions were one of three. They would either change their attitude and scorn me, treat me as if I were a mere servant, or feign magnanimity, pretending to be some special person as they hypocritically insisted it didn't matter.’
As if to test me, the vampire tapped her fingers on the table, urging a response.
‘Now then, though this situation is but an act, let's see how you answer.’
I had miscalculated.
The 12th-century girl's sensibilities far exceeded my expectations. Why is she only now remembering this is an act? Isn't she a little too into her role?
Well, there’s no harm in her being focused on her part. I’ll play along.
“Of course. You must have descended from the heavens.”
“Hm?”
“Are you truly a fairy? It is the only explanation. Such otherworldly beauty could not appear so suddenly, without context or rumor. How fortunate I am, to be the first to discover the beautiful fairy the heavens have gifted to the earth.”
‘…Quite the…’
It was an extravagant fuss, enough to make any listener blush with secondhand embarrassment.
But my audience was a vampire who carried the sentiments of the past. Lines so cringeworthy they'd make your fingers and toes curl were, by the standards of her time, just normal conversation.
“I am sorry to disappoint your expectations, but that is not what I meant. I meant that I have no family to speak of. My father was from a minor branch of a nameless house. He was all but cast out and started a new life on his own. In other words, I have no house to call my own.”
“Ah. So you are human, not a fairy. I find myself at once relieved and in despair. For a woman as beautiful as you, there must already be a knight as brave as a lion and as noble as a duke by your side, his eyes ablaze, guarding you lest any jackal try to steal his treasure. It is clear that for someone like me, with nothing but the clothes on my back, there is not a second of opportunity….”
As I placed a hand on my chest and lamented pitifully, the vampire replied with a small smile.
“You presume much from my silence. Did I not say I have no house to speak of?”
No house to speak of. Meaning, she had never been with anyone with whom she might share a name.
In the parlance of old, it meant she was not currently courting anyone.
And throughout history, the phrase "I'm not seeing anyone" has always been a passive affirmation.
“Then everyone in the world must be blind! To leave someone like you all alone! Or perhaps… have all other men made a pact? To only gaze upon the most beautiful flower on the highest cliff, but never touch it?”
“Hehe. Such nonsense.”
After a pleased laugh, the vampire replied with a self-deprecating smile.
“Perhaps they have perceived some other flaw in me.”
“That is what I call being blind. Beauty is without sin, and grace knows no station. People prattle on about not realizing one's true nature when sitting face-to-face, but it is those very people who are the worldly ones, chasing after the unseen coin, power, or bloodline.”
As I spoke, I reached out and took her hand. This time, she did not pull away. In fact, her grip tightened ever so slightly.
“I trust my eyes that behold you, my ears that hear your voice, and my hand that touches yours now.”
“…Even if you knew what I am.”
“Whatever you are, I am not afraid.”
After that short, firm declaration, I let my gaze drift to the side and added.
“My only fear is that my weak and pathetic self will be unable to satisfy you, unable to fill your heart completely. That is all.”
“How arrogant. Did you think someone strong and great could fill it so easily? Do you take my heart for a merchant's scale?”
The vampire, who had been listening quietly, suddenly raised her voice. As I feigned a startled flinch, she scolded me with a mock-angry expression.
“A heart can only be filled with time. It matters not what one looks like, or how little coin one has.”
“In that case, will you permit me to stay by your side, so that I may fill you with my time?”
“Go on, then. Try.”
I stood up. As I walked around the desk toward her, the vampire held her head high, staring straight ahead.
I sat to her left as if it had been my place all along, and took her left hand with my left. Taking her far hand naturally brought our bodies closer. I smoothly reached out my right arm and wrapped it around her small shoulder, which fit perfectly in my hand.
If I pulled her now, our bodies would touch. Yet, she did not resist.
Hmm. Pulling her in would be fun, but it would stray from my calculations.
Regressor, are you just going to watch?
“S-Stop it! Just how far are you going to go?!”
Nice timing, Regressor.
The Regressor slammed her hand on the desk, her face beet red. The spell was broken. I let out a smirk, raised both hands in surrender, and stood up.
The act was over. The air, which had been melting with sweetness, turned cold in an instant. My attitude flipped like a switch. I approached the vampire with a grin.
“Trainee Tyrkanzyaka.”
She answered a half-beat late.
“Y-Yes?”
“Honestly, you got a little swept up in the moment, didn't you?”
For a brief moment, my question left her utterly confused. The shift in my demeanor had been too abrupt.
But the mind follows the body. The turmoil was fleeting. With a heart that didn't beat, the vampire quickly feigned composure, and her stilled blood cooled her body in an instant.
She spoke in her usual, unhurried tone.
“W-What are you talking about? It was merely an amusing diversion, so I played along.”
“A diversion?”
“Yes. A diversion.”
A diversion, my ass. A vampire with the sensibilities of the 12th century, acting like this? She had to be kidding.
“So it was just a brief diversion, you say?”
“Of course. Since this was all an act, I, too, approached it with a light heart, did I not?”
The vampire nodded to herself as if trying to convince herself. She straightened her back, feigning nonchalance.
I sauntered over with a mischievous grin.
“Oh-ho. I see. So, Trainee Tyrkanzyaka, are you the type to readily let a strange man embrace you for a 'brief diversion'? Were you always so… easy?”
“What nonsense is this? Of course I'm not—”
If she said no, she'd be contradicting herself. It wouldn't explain her behavior just moments ago.
I'm always reminded of this, but the person who drags you down to hell is always yourself. Why say things you can't back up?
“I-I told you. I knew it was an act and, ahem, I approached it with a light heart.”
She scrambled for an excuse, but it was losing its effect. I crossed my arms and muttered.
“Amazing how a person can change so drastically once you lower a single psychological hurdle. Is this really okay? You, who scolds me for just holding Azzy's hand?”
“Woof?”
Azzy reacted to her name. Perfect timing. I'll show you exactly what you were just doing with me.
“Azzy, paw.”
“Woof.”
Azzy promptly offered her paw, and I took it. I stroked the soft, plushy paw with its claws retracted, watching the vampire's reaction.
Just as I expected, she was looking at us with an expression of scandal. And this from the woman who was sitting right next to me moments ago.
“Do you see? This is what Trainee Tyrkanzyaka was doing just now.”
“Th-That's not true! It's slander!”
“Trainee Shei. How was it? Please tell us fairly.”
The vampire and the Regressor's eyes met. The Regressor shyly averted her gaze and nodded. Her reaction was the most damning evidence of all.
Finally cornered, the vampire hid her face with her parasol and cried out.
“Fine! I let my guard down for a moment! I admit it! But!”
Snap. The tip of the parasol pointed at me. From behind it, the vampire shouted resentfully.
“What of it! You're the one who has already seen the inside of my chest!”
At that moment, the Regressor slipped and fell right where she stood. After tumbling in the most ungraceful way possible, she scrambled and looked our way.
‘What? Seen what? The inside... of her chest? What in the world have you two been doing?’
Oh, dear. Looks like she's getting the wrong idea.
Regardless, the cornered vampire paid no mind to the Regressor's presence and continued.
“Your fingers have already touched me countless times, and just this morning I received your service! What more am I supposed to be wary of?”
‘This morning?! What the hell? What were you doing first thing in the morning?!’
God, it's noisy. With one of them talking and the other thinking, I can't get a moment's peace.
“It's not really my place to say this, but Trainee Tyrkanzyaka, you tend to give your heart away too easily. I think you act that way because you're immortal and powerful, but these days, living like that will get you taken for a ride. You should try to cultivate a habit of being a little more suspicious.”
“By your logic, I should never have revealed my heart to you in the first place!”
“Oh, you got it.”
To think she'd grasp it so easily. I'm moved beyond words.
“How can you reveal everything without knowing what kind of person I am? If I were to harbor ill intentions, it would be incredibly painful even for you, Trainee Tyrkanzyaka. Opening your heart to someone—or opening your chest like that—is a dangerous thing.”
“But you didn't, did you?”
The vampire lifted her parasol slightly. Beneath the jet-black fabric, her crimson eyes, glowing brightly, fixed me with a reproachful gaze.
“You had countless opportunities, yet you never poured your malice into me. And still, you tell me to be suspicious?”
“There's no guarantee I won't in the future.”
“…Hmph. Fine.”
The vampire shot to her feet. For once, she used her own two legs to stride to the classroom door.
“As you say. From now on, I will live doubting everything.”
With that, she left the classroom. A wave of darkness followed her, slamming the door shut.
Once the vampire was gone, the Regressor, who had been standing there slack-jawed, stiffly turned her head and began pointing a finger at me.
“You, you, you, you.”
“There. Now you believe me, right? I've planted the seeds of doubt, so now she'll think twice about whatever Finlay says—”
“No! That's not it! What in the world have you been doing with Tyrkanzyaka?!”
Huh?
What's this? I did what you wanted and made her suspicious so she'd keep her distance from Finlay. What's the problem?
She talks a cool game, but she gets way too invested.
Sighing, I replied.
“As of today, I'm your new dad. You can call me Father.”