A mission befitting a vampire specialist agent of the Special Management Bureau for Heteromorphic Organisms finally came down. But I couldn’t put strength into my answering voice.
I’m not a field agent anymore though.
I protested inwardly, but since I don’t have superpowers, that was the end of it.
*
“We meet again.”
I reunited with the man in the living room of the Presidential Suite where we had parted 10 days ago. Rashanin stood up from his seat and welcomed me with a smile. Even looking with critical eyes, it was a bright smile that seemed to have no ulterior motive.
That’s why it felt bad.
“It’s been two days.”
You’re not the only one who can smile. I can smile too. Hiding my uncomfortable feelings, I smiled brightly. Then Rashanin smiled even more.
It seemed like we were having a competition to see who could more elegantly scratch the other’s insides while smiling. It was very childish, but I had no desire whatsoever to lose.
“I didn’t expect Rashanin-ssi to designate me as a guide.”
“I have something I want to do.”
“Rashanin-ssi has a separate person in charge.”
“I like you. It’s before dinner still, right? Shall we go eat?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s 8 o’clock, the perfect time to eat dinner. Isn’t that right?”
Asking for agreement whether that wasn’t right, the man was smiling. Surely, surely he didn’t designate me as a guide just to eat dinner? Because I refused on Saturday?
“I understand your suspicion, but I didn’t call you as a guide just to eat dinner.”
As if reading minds, the man answered exactly the question I held in my heart.
“Saying it’s not just dinner is the same as saying it’s one of the purposes.”
“How strict. As I said on Saturday, I’m not used to being refused. I just arranged a place at my discretion. Ah, of course the biggest reason is that I hope kind and friendly you will be my guide.”
Liar. The sweet smile and wonderful mid-low voice seemed like they could steal a person’s soul, but I didn’t believe it. Rather than a kind guide, he definitely held a grudge about being rejected. I don’t know what he expects me to believe when he openly says he’s not used to being refused.
“I’m lacking in many ways, so I feel burdened to take on such a heavy responsibility.”
“How modest. Your pronunciation is poor, but it’s okay.”
“If my pronunciation bothers you, I’ll recommend another agent.”
“No, because I need you. Rather than talking like this here, let’s have a meal and discuss in more detail.”
Rashanin, who said flatly that he needed me, moved a few steps, then stopped for a moment and sent a look asking what I was doing not following. At his too-nonchalant appearance, only one thought came to mind.
Irritating.
So irritating I could die.
I really wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him, but since it was an impossible wish, only my fingers twitched.
*
The restaurant of the only 6-star hotel in Korea was completely full without a single empty seat despite being a weekday. More than half of the people eating dinner in this place were men and women on blind dates, or lovers.
Among the couples, there were tables with only women or families seated, but the only table with strangers was me and Rashanin.
Up to there wasn’t bad. The problem was that only the tables around us had a very high ratio of women seated together. Moreover, the furtive glances weren’t insignificant either.
I stared intently at Rashanin ordering this and that from the waiter. I didn’t want to admit it, but it was true that his every small action looked like a pictorial. Blonde hair and pretty violet eyes. Despite having thick features and looking manly, the word beautiful suited him. Fine. I have to admit what I should admit. His hands were white, long and pretty, and in addition, his body was good so the black suit suited him well.
I understand why the women are glancing at him with sparkling eyes.
“It wasn’t like this originally, but at some point the seating arrangement became like this.”
Huh? Then? I looked at Rashanin with slightly widened eyes. He smiled lightly and nodded.
“The food here is quite good, so please enjoy it.”
Because of the subtle nuance, it seemed like he was saying to enjoy the people’s gazes rather than the food. But whether food or gazes, I wasn’t in a state to enjoy comfortably. I wasn’t used to such a high-class restaurant, and with people’s gazes of course and even Rashanin in front of me, I was just tense in every way.
Setting aside enjoying the taste, I’d be fortunate if I didn’t get indigestion.
“You’re quiet.”
“I’m originally not talkative. To be honest, it’s awkward for me to open my mouth first in this situation.”
“I know you’re very guarded. Fine, since I broke the ice, I’ll ask first. I was curious from the beginning, but you said everyone is registered with the government?”
“Not everyone. There must definitely be those we haven’t identified.”
“So everyone except those few?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
I answered with certainty. Korea’s vampire registration rate was surprisingly high even globally.
“How is that possible?”
“The land is narrow, the number is small, there was a big war half a century ago, and there was a strong military regime.”
“How many are there in total?”
I, who had been answering briefly and accurately, hesitated at the question of how many vampires there were in total. Rashanin wasn’t an ordinary person, but neither was he a Bureau official.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why?”
“Aren’t you not an official?”
“Is there a problem if I, an Immortalitas from another country, know?”
Immortalitas. It means immortal in Latin. It was what proud vampires called themselves. However, Korean vampires didn’t hesitate to call themselves vampires. Because there was no focal point to integrate and lead them with power as strong as the man before my eyes.
While I was hesitating about how far to talk, a waiter appeared with wine. Since the content was what it was, the conversation stopped for a moment.
“Try it. You’ll like it.”
At Rashanin’s recommendation, I lifted my glass and took a sip. I originally drank alcohol reasonably well, but wine wasn’t my taste. I didn’t have any particular expectations, but it was much better than I thought. To the point where I thought this might be what flavor means, something was definitely different from the wines I’d drunk so far. Just one more sip, more, and I ended up completely emptying one glass.
“It seems you like it.”
“Ah. Yes.”
“Shall we continue the interrupted conversation?”
Rashanin, who was pouring wine into my empty glass, urged me. I took a small breath.
“This is a slightly different question, but is it correct that you came to Korea for tourism?”
“Are you going to change the subject?”
“It’s to help understanding. Rashanin-ssi, do you know that there are no VKN in Korea?”
“VKN?”
“It’s a convenience classification of residents of the night, called Vampire Knights. I don’t know what they’re called in Russia… You can think of them as the immortals directly beneath you.”
“Ah, knights. I understand.”
“Then can you guess what meaning Rashanin-ssi’s entry has?”
When I asked if he understood, Rashanin raised one corner of his mouth and nodded. It’s a sneer.
“They cleverly allowed entry.”
“Yes. So everyone is showing great interest in Rashanin-ssi’s movements.”
I didn’t speak in roundabout terms. As I was waiting for what answer Rashanin would give, he stared intently at me.
Our eyes met. Not his lips but his violet eyes smiled.
“How delightful.”
「…?」
「Your blinking eyes, your wavering pupils, it’s really fun. I think I chose well in selecting you.」
「Rashanin-ssi?」
I called out the name of Rashanin, who was spouting incomprehensible words. What’s so fun, what’s so enjoyable that you chose me well?
I wanted to grab him by the throat and shake him, asking what he was scheming, but there was an enormous distance between desire and reality.
In the meantime, the appetizer came out. I had no appetite, so I just ate half-heartedly while continuously bringing wine to my lips. In contrast, Rashanin ate the bread and salad deliciously with elegant hand movements.
They say watching someone eat is the most unsightly thing, but still, my eyes kept going to the man’s appearance. It was fascinating how elegantly he used his knife and fork, and most of all, it was strange that a vampire was eating food.
A vampire’s energy source was blood, and food was merely a luxury item. The vampires I had seen until now drank alcohol and coffee, smoked cigarettes, and ate ice cream at most. But they didn’t eat ordinary food. Of course, since I only met them once or twice a year, I might not know the reality, but anyway, it was the first time seeing one eat greens.
