Since Then and Going Forward
A month has passed since then.
The table and chairs were delivered to us without incident. The bed was moved to the spacious room designated as the bedroom, making the living space more comfortable and suitable for humans to live in than before.
At first, when I told Mil that the bed was in the way of placing the table, she said, "Then we don't need the table." But in the end, she seemed to understand that it was better to have one and agreed to move the bed to another room.
Occasionally, fully equipped individuals who appeared to be former Self-Defense Force members delivered vegetables and meat to us. They were also the ones who delivered the table and chairs that needed assembly.
Sometimes I would serve meals to these people, and the days have been rather pleasant.
"Mil, do you like that sofa-bed thingy?"
"Mmhm...! It's comfortable to sit and sleep on... I feel like it’s telling me to become a shut-in!"
Mil's recent favorites were the sofa that could transform into a bed and the beanbag chair, and she was living more and more like a shut-in.
Well, maybe it makes sense, since vampires are modeled after bats, which are naturally reclusive?
"Hey, what strange things are you thinking about while vacuuming?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
As we were going about our day on this ordinary day, the current Japanese Minister of Defense entered the room.
"You're Masato, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Defense Minister Sasahara. I came here today because I have business with that girl and you."
"..."
Mil's face, which had been smiling until just a moment ago, gradually clouded over.
"To start, your vacation is over, Princess Miltia. Shall we move to another location, along with Masato?"
"Ah..."
While slightly surprised at Mil, who had changed clothes without me noticing, I followed the Defense Minister who introduced himself as Sasahara.
"By the way, Masato," Defense Minister Sasahara said as we walked.
"You understand that the existence of vampires, including that girl's existence, is a secret that we must keep between us, right? And you also understand that it’s a big secret known only to a few people over the twenty years since vampires appeared?"
"Yes... I haven't been told in detail, but I know it's a secret that I'm not allowed to talk about..."
"Good, as long as you understand... Well, we've arrived, so let's start the strategy meeting, Princess Miltia."
It was a strange residential unit. Unlike our place, there were surveillance cameras installed everywhere to eliminate blind spots, and there was only a long table with chairs.
"Now, both of you, take a seat. It's time for the vampire extermination strategy meeting."
"What are you planning to do this time...? Another fire attack? Or are you going to use those ineffective firearms?"
"Hahaha! The princess becomes talkative the moment she sits down... We're not going to do anything like that. This time, it's going to be something much simpler... a decoy operation using you, Princess..."
The man called Sasahara spoke calmly while maintaining a smile, but his eyes were chillingly cold.
"Are you sure? If I’m captured... I heard it took a hundred of you to subdue just one vampire."
"It's different from that time. This time we have Masato..."
Bang! Something hit the table hard. It was the usually smiling Mil who made the sound. The table cracked, and its fragments flew through the air.
"Don't be ridiculous!!!"
"Woah, so scary. No need to get so angry... Let's talk calmly, yeah, princess? It's simple, a knight is essential to protect the princess, and that's him, right? That’s why you made him your kin, because you needed him to protect yourself, isn't that right?"
"That's not true! I thought it would leave a bad taste if he died, so I resurrected him as a kin intending to let him return to living as a human, even if he couldn't return to being one. But you people said you wouldn't let him go back. You have a way to erase his memories, yet you didn't do it..."
"Listen, Princess. Why don't you just say it clearly without making excuses? Just say, 'I made him my kin because I was lonely!'"
Sasahara slammed the table, splitting it in half.
"You’re wrong... I didn't make Masato my kin for such a reason..."
"Right, right. The reason doesn't matter anymore... If you participate in this operation, you won’t have to go to that place anymore, you know?"
"No... I can't stand... that place..."
"Then we have your approval, right? Your knight, Sir Masato, will protect you..."
Mil was about to say “Yes” when I gently covered her mouth with my hand.
"Um, please don’t proceed with things without me!"
"...You do have a part in this, but... Do you have any complaints when we already asked your master?"
"I do... How can I not? In front of the person who saved my life—who rescued me when I was suffering—I can't just watch in silence anymore. I've reached my limit."
"Then I'll ask you, who has made her unable to answer. Will you go?"
"Noo! I'll go alone!"
"Whoa, can we have the princess be quiet for a second? You say you'll go alone, but you should understand well enough that hundreds of people could die because of that, right?"
"Arghh...!"
"Hey now, Masato, violence is not good. You're half vampire, after all. If you hit me, I might die, you know?"
"I just have to go, right?... If that's what you want, I have no need to oppose it..."
"I'm telling you, don’t... You have no chance against vampires...!"
"Hahaha! That's more like it... You really are a pure boy."
"However, Minister of Defense Sasahara, I have a condition."
"Are you in a position to set conditions for me at this point? Well, I'll hear you out anyway. Go on, tell me."
"When I come back, let me punch you once... I'll hold back, so don't worry..."
"Hmph," said Minister of Defense Sasahara, and then he left the scene. We walked back to our unit after that.
Today, I saw such an expression on Mil’s face for the first time. It was a very scary face that I can't forget.
"Hey, Masato... Come here..."
"? Yes, what is it?"
Mil stood still at the entryway of our home, not even taking off her shoes.
"Bend down right there. Mm..."
The moment I bent down, she hugged me.
"Ah... Um, what..."
"Mm..." she signaled me to hug her back, and I embraced her as gently as I could.
"It tickles... Hehehe..."
"Ah, should I hug you tighter...?"
"No... This is fine... Thank you for today... For protecting me from that man..."
"... Today, I realized it again. I've been protected by you all this time, Mil… In this base, I’ve made you face those scary adults and feel afraid..."
"Yeah... I'm scared of those men. I hate everything about them, from their looks to their gestures that try to take everything from me. You're different... You always act in my best interests. That's why I wanted to let you go home..."
"Yeah... Thank you. Hearing that really made my day."
After the hug, we headed to the living room for a meal. I had instant curry rice for the first time in a long while, while Mil drank a blood pack. We enjoyed a pleasant meal with smiles on our faces.
Since I met Mil, I wonder if I've changed a bit. I feel that I have changed in the sense that I’ve become accustomed to blood.
