Vol. 1 - Ch. 22 - Marie Wembelin

*That's right. I'd been doing missionary work here and it hadn’t even spread that much. This country is interesting. I don't think the idea that there is only one God and he is the absolute God will ever catch on here in Japan. In this country, there are far more people who believe that there is a God who inhabits all kinds of things.

However, church people do exist. Yes, there are those who are against us. They are the ones who look at us as the enemy. From the humans' point of view, we are monsters. But we don't attack humans mindlessly. There was a time when we used to coexist with humans.

They recognized that we were vampires and still stayed with us. But when did the gap between us start to widen....

Rick has loved and seen humans off since that time. He once said, "I love the way a budding flower blooms beautifully, lives out its most beautiful moments with us, and then fleetingly passes away like petals falling.”*

I followed Kazuya and arrived in front of another apartment building.

It was a big apartment*. Is it called a townhouse? How many floors are there?*I looked up in surprise.

“Many of my friends are living here.”

"Oh. Are there other family members here?”

“Yes.”

“There are only about ten of your family members in the world right now, including me. The Wembelin family does not have many dependents, so there are not many of them.”

He looks at me.

“You don't have any dependents either, do you?”

"Dependents are no different from vampires, but they are not immortal. It is sad to say goodbye. In my family, we often take our loved ones as our dependents. Kazuya, you must have been loved by someone in my family......"

“Yes. I was loved by a vampire of the Wembeline bloodline here in Japan. It was a happy time for me. But she went back to her own country. It was because of Japan's national seclusion."

Kazuya said sadly.

“My family is very affectionate. We always kept our household members by our side, you know?"

"Is it okay if we talk inside instead of standing here?"

"Kazuya, you don't have to be so awe-struck. At least call me Marc.”

“Ok. But let me at least call you Marc-san”

"Well, it doesn't matter. That's fine.”

Kazuya entered the apartment. I followed him inside.

“I became a household member shortly after the beginning of the Edo period. She was very good to us in the foreign country.”

He said in the elevator.

“I became a dependent of my own volition because I didn't want to leave her.”

“What is the name of this vampire?”

"... Marie Wembelin.”

"Well, you're my mother's dependent... Marie is my mother. She is one of the few descendants of my ancestors.”

Kazuya was so surprised that he couldn't speak.

“....and so, Marie-sama...."

"Let's talk about that too. I have something I want to give to you later."

I was talking and came across the door of a room. I rang the intercom.

"Come in, Marcus-san. My friends are waiting for you inside.”

He gave me a small bow and led me into the room.

“Oh! The founder is here!”

Everyone in the room fell to their knees.

“You don't have to be so formal. Make yourself comfortable."

"So? How much information do you have on the hunters?”

“They haven't entered Japan yet. The church is preparing for them. They're collecting a lot of silverware.”

“Anyway. They're probably making silver stakes or pistol balls.”

“They think of such barbaric things, don't they? But please no burning at the stake. It's too hot and it's hard to get out of the ashes. I had a few friends with me last time, so I could manage... but... I was naked."

One of Kazuya's friends said and some of them laughed in response.

I see, some of you were involved in that witch hunt.

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