Maybe it's because I'm distracted now that my brother's problems are solved, but I haven't had a dream in a long time.
　A dream of a previous life.
　When I was still Dean Nosferatu.
　When I was still Dean Nosferatu, teaching children in that old castle.


...



Mairoko!
Lyle. You're still here, huh?
Yeah!

　Eight-year-old Lyle-Carmine nodded with a laugh.

　This is the innermost room of the old castle. It's a classroom for children.
　The people in the village call it the Throne Room as a joke.

　Surely, there are chairs like that. A few generations ago, the villagers made it for us as a joke. It's a bit worn out, but we repair it every fifteen years.

　There is a calligraphy board on the floor.
　The children had been practicing their calligraphy and doing math problems.

　In the morning, children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old would come to this old castle and study. They usually return before nightfall.
　It sounds like a classroom, but half the time it's a babysitter's room.
　I'm always looking after the little ones while the big kids study.
　You can't teach a 4 year old to learn in the first place.
　I've been doing this for over 100 years, and Remilia is the only one who's ever really tried to learn anything at that age. That's true.

"So what are you doing here? Lyle.
Tell us the name of the game, Mairodu!
It's too late for today. Come back tomorrow.
Oh no!
But you know what?

　Lyle is Dick and Gerda's only son.
　He is a little guy for his age, and he likes studying more than exercising.
　However, he doesn't remember things very well.

　When I look at Lyle's transcripts I see a lot of grammatical and math errors.
　He's a bit of a nervous wreck, Lyle.
　I'm telling you to write with a little more composure.

"Look out, Lyle.
'It's dark!　Maillod!
You heard the evening bell.
I heard that. Maillard!
So what is it that you need to do?
To be taught a lesson!
Chiggah!　I told you to go home now!　It's going to be dark!
"There are no demons on the mountain roads around here, so I'll be fine!
That's because me and the guys in the village do exterminations on a regular basis.
'Thank you!　Maillod!
Don't thank me. I'll give you a lift.
Yeah.
Ka-ere!
Oh yes!　I want to gouge my head!

　But you're laughing.
　I really, really don't understand human beings.
　I don't know what it's like to be human.
　I've been alive for nearly 200 years, but I still don't know what humans do.

Why are you so eager to learn more?
It's just that I'm behind everyone else.
It's not like we're in competition, okay?
Woo. Duh, because...

　Lyle's cheeks (cheeks) turn red.
　He crouches down and begins to poke at the calligraphy board.

'What's wrong with Remilia's calligraphy board?
No!　I don't like Remilia!
Huh?
'It doesn't matter that Remilia said 'I like smart people'!　It doesn't matter that I said I want to be the wife of the chief!　It's not there!
'I see you want to marry Remilia!
Stop!

　Thump, thump, thump.

　Don't hit it. It doesn't hurt.
　So don't hit it don't cry while hitting it.
　...Oh, shit.

It's late. Go home. That's settled.
Uh....
Okay, I'll tell you what. Be there in the morning, half an hour early, starting tomorrow.

　Lyle, ha, looked at me.
　Before I know it, the tears have stopped. He's a cash cow.

'Tell Dick and Gerda that I asked them to help me clean up. I'll teach them how to learn before the other kids get here.
...Maillard.
Just saying. It's just that Remilia is one of the finest women I've ever taught. It took a lot of work to get her to fall in love with me...?　So don't kick me!

　...it happened once.
　It was getting late, so I had to give you a lift to the bottom of the mountain and then...

'Good morning!　Maillod!
'I said half an hour ago!　Why are you coming just after dawn!

　Humans really don't know what they are.



I don't know what we are, but...




I've decided to marry Lyle.

　It was a few years later that Remilia came to make such a report.
　Incidentally, her declaration of marriage knocked the men of the village into the depths of despair.
　She was such a beautiful girl that it was a waste of a country village, Remilia.

So please teach me the magic for restraint as a memento. "My Lord.
'How can that be?　What are you using it for?
'I'm fine!　I won't use it for anything but Lyle!
What are you doing to your newlywed husband?
Because that's what Lyle does, isn't it?

　I'm not so sure.
　I thought you were the only kid in the village who liked that guy after all.

'Lyle is cool, hardworking, responsible and very honest!　What girl wouldn't love that Lyle?!
I'm not so sure.
"...Please correct me. My Lord.
Well, I guess you two are a good match for each other anyway.
As I thought, 'My Lord' has a good eye for detail!
Stop pointing your finger at me. Don't prepare for the chanting. That's a threat.
Because only "My Lord" can understand how great Lyle is.
I know he was trying to get you to like him.
Of course.
'But, I've always liked Lyle, so why did you put all these conditions on him? Like being the village chief or being the best magician in the village.
'What?　Because isn't Lyle cute when he makes an honest effort?
...Human women are so scary.
When we get married, I plan to have them try to have lots of kids.
Go easy on him, okay?
If Lyle gets sick, please give him my best wishes.
'Don't assume you're going to rely on me before you get married!

　It can't be helped.
　I left Remilia waiting and brought some herbs from the warehouse.

This. It's the root of hermes grass that is effective for nourishing and tonic power. You can only use it once a day.
"I love 'My Lord'!
Okay.
As a thank you, Lyle and I would like to give you a gift.
A present?
Lyle is very fond of My Lord.
It seems.
'I love it too, of course. So the number one and number two on the "My Lord's Favorite Ranking" of "Feela Village" are getting married. What do you think will happen?
I don't know.
'Oh my gosh, I'm going to have a child who loves My Lord in the world, and she's going to be My Lord's wife!
Don't be absurd!
Why?
Because you're going to be dead before I am.
...Is that why you've always been alone?
'It was pretty tough when your parents died, too. What would happen if this was your wife?
I'm fine!
What?
Me and Lyle are going to have a lot of kids.

　Remilia smiles shyly.

''Then maybe one of them will become immortal and have children who can stay with their lord (Lord) forever, you know?
What are the odds?
We'll see. I'll do my best!
Well, just make sure Lyle doesn't die. And...

　I put the stone in Remilia's palm.
　It's the one I polished up from the Lapiris Stone, which has a magical power accumulation effect.
　It was quite difficult to find a highly pure one.

It's a wedding gift. I want you to be happy. Be happy, Remilia.
Yes!　"My Lord!



I don't know what to do.



'Hah ... hah ... my lord ...'
It's all right, Alice. You're not going to die.

　And then some more years later.
　This is my room in the old castle.
　Lyle and Remilia's daughter, Alice, was lying on the bed.

　At that time, the epidemic of the "death mark disease" was in full swing.

　The number of deaths in the royal capital was increasing.
　That's why I told the people in the village not to go to King's Landing or nearby villages, but they were caught off guard. We couldn't stop anyone coming from the other side. A message, a messenger, and so on.

　There were a few infected people in the village.
　The ones with lesser symptoms are kept in the back in the "throne room".
　But Alice's fever still hasn't come down.
　The crest of death that comes out when infected doesn't disappear. That's why I've been watching over her like this.

　I've taken care of it.
　I gave Alice my Myster Blood and continue to use the power of purification.
　The pass is over. Alice is going to be okay──and it's only a matter of time before she's okay.
　It's just a matter of time before they........d*mn it. We've said it over and over again, haven't we?
　Even though I've lived for nearly 200 years, I still think the same thing at times like this. You haven't grown up.

"Hey my lord.
Go back to sleep. Alice.
Why do you look so distressed?
...What?
'My Lord is immortal, isn't he?　But ever since Alice almost died, My Lord seems to be in a lot of pain. Why...?
...I don't like this kind of thing.
...like this?
I can't get used to the idea of people dying young. It's like I'm cheating by not dying. That's all.
Yeah, well....

　Kolon, Alice in bed turned over.
　She's staring at me with her big eyes.

Then, Alice, I'll do my best.
'Yeah, that's the spirit. The cleansing is going on, it's almost over. Good luck.
Are you going to reward me for my hard work?
Good.
So, when you grow up, you'll marry My Lord.
Okay.
My Lords, I'm an idiot.
You're not making any sense.
A maiden's confession will not be answered by that.
I'll ask you about that stuff when you're feeling better.
By the way, by the way, the word 'wife' means that Alice has become 'Alice-Nosferatu' and will be with My Lord for the rest of her life.
Well I'll think about that when you're older.
"...My Lord, haven't you told everyone that?
You're scary.
You don't think they'll forget about it when they grow up, do you?
"Don't read the mind of the 'Lord of the Immortals' (Nosferatu).
I think you're thinking...
'The time that flows between me and a human is different. I'm not going to let you in the future be responsible for what you are now.
Mm. Okay, game on.
Competition?
Alice will always remember this feeling for a long time, even when she grows up. So if you don't forget, make her your wife.
Okay, but who's going to take over at Lyle's house? Who's going to take over Lyle's house then?
I'm sure you'll be fine, because there's a second one in your mother's tummy.
'Lyle is using too much of the 'Harm's Weed'...'
I'm still young enough to know better.
You don't tell me. And don't let the kid tell you.
We're very open about it.
All right, all right. Go to bed.
Yes.

　I nodded my head and Alice honestly closed her eyes.
　This was shortly before I died.

　After that... I don't know what happened to Lyle, Remilia and Alice.
　You don't know... but...

　But....



　Zap, zap, zap.



　I heard a strange noise (noise).
　A sound like clawing at the stone pavement.
　Faint voices can be heard from beyond. What is this........this.

　This is──whose memory is this──whose memory (.........)?


I'm ... going to take ... my family ... my lord ... and I'm going to take my family ... my lord ... and I'm going to take it. ...

My Lord said 'see you later' so I'm sure that's what he meant. ...one day.

...I wish....

The brave man... I will entrust you to...

I'll understand.

No matter how long it takes, I will always be waiting for you so...




Some other time...



　Bump.




'....Huh?

　When I woke up, I was in bed in the baron's own room.
　...I dreamed that I was dreaming. A long time ago.

　At last, I heard voices. Lyle, Remilia, and Alice.
　One of them was a human voice that I didn't recognize.

　It's not my memory. Maybe it was in the last two hundred years.
　Something Lyle and his friends have been talking about for the past 200 years.
　Which makes me wonder who told me all of this...?

　I don't know.
　We don't even know why I was reincarnated in the first place. It doesn't matter what I think.
　But then again that Lyle guy did care about killing me.
　If that was actually his voice, then what did Lyle and his friends do after I died...?

What's going on?　Yuki-sama.
I had a strange dream about the old ... well, a strange dream.
'By all means, let me know. Yuki-sama.
More importantly, Martha, why are you in my room?
'You're leaving for King's Landing tomorrow, aren't you?　You told me to get you up early because you have a lot of things to do before that.

　That's right.
　In the end, Brother Xellos abstained from the 'Magic Guild' exam.
　It was decided that I would go to the capital to join the guild's educational institution instead.

Thanks, Martha. I'm up now.
But what were you dreaming about, anyway?
I can't remember.

　I'm sorry Martha, but let's just call it that.

I'm sorry.
Why?
I thought that analyzing my dreams would help me serve you better, Yuki-sama.
That's enough. Sorry, help me get dressed.
"Yes. Yuki-sama.

　Alright.
　From now on, I'll be studying Ancient Magic at the Royal Capital's Magic Guild.
　That's where it would be best if I could find out what happened to Lyle and the others.
　Let's be careful not to reveal their identities and be ready to disappear at any time.

　Because if they die and disappear they're going to cry, people.
　Let's just be honest and just get it over with, like they're missing.

Well, let's go.
Yes, Yuki.

　And so I left the room in the mansion.
　It's tomorrow that I'll be leaving for King's Landing. I'll do what I can while I still can.