“Mister, good mor- Well! You’re already up bright and early this morning!”
The Saint exclaimed gladly as she stepped into the bedroom.
Yes, he was awake. He had already gotten up, opened the curtains and was sitting on the sofa next to his desk, waiting.
Because today may be the last day.
For this girl who doesn’t believe in the existence of vampires, he intends to make her believe – and put an end to this talk of social rehabilitation.
To that end, today, the man had a secret strategy.
“My my, welcome. Let’s get started straight away.”
The man invited her to sit down on the sofa next to him.
The Saint looked confused.
“Then, excuse me… Um, mister, you seem different than usual this morning. Are you feeling ill?”
“Nothing of the sort. First off- Yes, how about a refreshment? My familiar can prepare some of the fruit tea that we keep in the cellar. Would you like to have some scones as well?”
“Um, no… I’m supposed to be the one doing something for you…”
“Do not worry about such things. This is a day of celebration, after all. Considering this is the last time we shall ever see one other.”
“Eh?”
Ignoring her surprise, the man snapped his fingers.
The door of the room opened immediately, as if this was all planned.
The young maid with the hair covering one eye entered.
A tray in her hands.
Fruit tea in a clear glass jug, the drink cold enough it causes the glass to sweat.
And on a plate, a scone so warming you can see the steam rising off it.
The girl in the maid uniform bows – and then places the scone in front of the saint and pours her a glass of tea.
Bowing once again, she stayed put.
The Saint looked at the food and drink in front of her eyes-
But without touching it, she looked back of the man.
“Mister, what did you mean that this is the ‘last time’?”
“Well, I think that after today, there’s a high chance you won’t be coming back.”
“In other words, you’re going to be returning to society?”
“No. I will not be doing that.”
He had an ambiguous smile on his face.
Of course, he has no intention to be ‘returning to society’ today.
“Today, I will have you finally believe that I am a vampire.”
“Mister…”
“Now now, do not look at me like I’m a pitiable old man. Indeed, today simply won’t be settled by debate or assertion. I will do something you can see with your own eyes.”
“If you could do something like that, why didn’t you do it before now?”
“I didn’t really feel like it.”
Basically, his levels of motivation were low.
And this method required… some preparation.
“By the way, Miss Saint, just how much research did you do regarding vampires?”
“How much you say… I read just about everything available to the public. There were some things that could only have been original fiction though, so I ignored those parts.”
“Original fiction…”
He didn’t like the sound of that.
To him, it was like a painful reminder that his race really had passed out of existence.
The man’s shoulders sunk slightly.
But he still went on.
“In any case, I’m going to prove to you I am a vampire. …Hey.”
The man clicked his fingers again.
With a nod, the familiar took something out from behind her.
It was a huge sword that easily doubled the height of the familiar.
“Did you investigate the regenerative abilities of vampires?”
“Uh… Um… Where did she pull that sword from?”
“They were holding it behind their back, of course.”
“Holding something that big behind her back!?”
“That’s not important right now. What’s important is that you understand I’m a vampire. Okay, young lady? Even if you denied my vampirism before – you’ll have no choice once I’m cleaved in half with that sword.”
“I’ll accept it…! Please don’t do something so dangerous! Um, I won’t take it back later, so please believe me! You don’t have to do something like that, I’ll definitely act like it’s true!”
“That won’t do at all. It simply won’t do.”
‘I’ll accept it.’, doesn’t it sound like she’s just playing along with the whims of someone she pities?
The man wants her to believe the truth from the bottom of her heart.
He doesn’t want to be treated like some kind of hopeless case anymore.
“Miss Saint, I’d rather you took me seriously.”
“If you seriously commit suicide, how could you ever return to society! I’m sure there’s someone in the world who will need your help someday out there that you’re abandoning!”
“If you could convince shut-ins to simply return to society with honeyed words like that, then they would never have gone through their personal struggle in the first place. No Miss Saint, for now, I will simply do the only thing I can. You can’t expect everyone to be the same. I can only be true to myself – Alright, do it.”
At his command, the familiar swung the sword down.
But, the Saint stepped between the man and his familiar.
“No! Your life is precious!”
Someone should be saying that to you.
Is what the man was thinking – although fortunately, the familiar managed to stop the blade before just before it hit her.
“Miss Saint, isn’t that dangerous? Didn’t the temple teach you not to stand in front of someone swinging a sword?”
“That’s not the kind of thing they teach us about! Anyways, please don’t consider this kind of thing! Don’t do it! Don’t even think about it!”
“Even if you say that…”
“Mister might have convinced himself that he’s a vampire – but if a person is cut in two, they will die you know!?”
“That’s why I’m trying to show you that I’m not going to die, but if you keep getting in the way…”
“Mister.”
The Saint crouched down.
And grasped the man’s hands in her own.
“Mister, you may be old and think that society has no use for you, but I promise that there’s a place for you to belong out there.”
“Ha…”
“So, don’t be hasty! Please treasure your life a little more. And, don’t worry. I will help mister find that place in society, it’s my responsibility. Please don’t throw your life away in order to satisfy your vampire delusions, please instead give society a second chance.”
“…No, what I’m saying is…”
“Let’s do our best together, okay? I’ll support you all the way, mister. So please feel at ease. Even if all I have is my high spirits, I am still a Saint. There are places that I can introduce you to, mister. So, don’t die. If you live, I will always do everything I can for you. All right?”
Tears were rolling down her face for some reason.
The man truly considered himself a vampire.
But, was he really? Isn’t he just a lonely old man who has cut himself off from the world?
That kind of thing…
“…No, I really am a vampire!”
“Yes yes. Whatever you say.”
Her eyes were kind as she looked at him.
The Saint let go of his hands and stood up.
“I’ll come by again. Next time, I’ll definitely return with a place that mister can belong!”
“No, I…”
“Just please don’t die! You don’t have to be lonely since I’m with you! If mister was dead the next time I came here, I… I’d cry for the rest of my life!”
With a final determined clench of her fist, the Saint left.
The man, who was a bit taken aback, sighed.
Today as well, the Vampire had failed to prove his Vampirism.