Two hundred years ago, when Yuki was Dean Nosferatu, the guardian deity of "Fira Village"...



'My Lord!　We have a baby. Please give him a name!
'Okay, I'll think about it. Congratulations.

'My Lord!　My little boy is well and he is now 7 years old. Please, please pat him on the head.
All right. He was so sick so often. It's good to see her back on track.

'My Lord!　My child (Alice) is now 10 years old. Please, please make her your wife!
Yeah, I'm gonna... you know... I'll take that hand!

　Dean almost nodded and shook his head in a hurry.

'Don't set weird traps for other people(people). Lyle!''
We were so close.

　Lyle, the village chief of Fira Village, turned sideways and muttered.

I'm the village chief. I'm the village chief and I'm working so hard, why don't you shake your head once in a while? My Lord.
Put that effort to work for something else. Lyle.
My Lord is the guardian of the village, right?
Yeah?
'If you're a guardian deity, shouldn't you be a guardian deity and take my daughter as an offering!　My wife, Remilia, has her bridal gown ready for when My Lord says 'I'll have Alice'....　My Lord!
Don't be cross with me!

　Seeing them shouting at each other, the villagers burst into laughter.
　To them, it was the usual scene.
　All this time, Lyle, the village chief, has been setting all kinds of traps in order to make his daughter, Alice, Dean's wife.

　This is the plaza of "Fira Village".
　Today is the first day of the year - the New Year.
　The villagers have gathered in the square to get the blessing of the guardian god Dean.

　In front of Dean, there is a line of children born in the previous year and people who have been cured of their illnesses.
　They were all watching the exchange between Dean and Lyle and laughing.

　The adults held up their cups and the children, with dried fruit in their hands, watched the battle between the guardian god and the village chief.

The children were watching the battle between the guardian god and the village chief, holding dried fruit in their hands. Now, you knew about Lyle's plan, didn't you?
""Well?"

　At Dean's prodding, the villagers looked away.

''........It's already a village tradition, you know.
...It makes me think, oh, it's nice to see it, it's peaceful.
...We just want My Lord to be happy...

Yes. Has anyone placed a bet on "My Lord Falls on New Year's Day"?　You'll just have to forfeit your winnings! Those of you who bet on "I'm not going to fall," come and get your dividends. The odds are low, but...
Gates!　You've been running the betting pool?

　My Lord shouts out to a bearded (bearded) man parading through the village.
　The man's name is Gates-Kufi. He is a skilled craftsman who lives in the village.

You're really a hard worker. You!
We like doing math.
Since you're so talented, why don't you leave the village and start a business?　You could at least build a small business association.
The village is very comfortable, you know. I don't want to leave while My Lord is here.
It's not my fault.
There's no other village that has an immortal guardian god. My Lord will still remember us after we die, won't he?　And they pass it on to their descendants. That kind of thing is a great relief.
I don't know about people's taste.

　Dean scratched his head.
　The villagers were drinking, eating and enjoying themselves around him.
　There is a large bonfire in the square, but everyone gathers around Dean.

　It's a New Year's afternoon and the snow is falling.
　The villagers gather around Dean and talk about what happened last year and what they want to do this year. Dean listens to their stories and answers one by one. Managing the crops, his family's health, and information about demons. Dean gives advice to the villagers from his experience living as an 'immortal sorcerer'.

　Eventually, the conversation turns to the children of the village.
　The conversation turns to the children's strengths, the jobs they are good at, their likes and dislikes...

You wanted to see me?　My Lord.
You were talking about us, right?
'You're not studying today, are you?　Play!

　Before long, a group of children gathered to hear their names and...

I'm not calling you... you're not going to crawl on my... body!　Don't pull the robe!　Play with the bat army...!
"'Goshujin!

　There was a rustling sound, and countless bats gathered around.
　After that, it was time for a party with the bats.

　The villagers offer food to the children, saying "Thank you for always guarding the village" or "Thank you for playing with the children" or "This is our thanks", and the bats skillfully swallow the food. The children put the food on their hands and start to give it to the bats.

　Dean is freed and goes to the center of the square.
　He grabs a pile of firewood and throws it into the fire.

　The sky is slightly cloudy. The sun isn't out, but that's what winter is like.
　It's not so cold this year. The villagers are in good health.
　The villagers are not in bad shape, and they will be able to make it through the winter.
　That's enough for Dean.

'....Come to think of it, the traveling merchant was talking about the epidemic (epidemic disease).

　It is unlikely that any diseases will come to this remote village, but we want to take precautions.

　Later, I'll go down to the town at the foot of the mountain and gather information. I don't like the power of groups like the Sanctuary Church in the kingdom, and I don't like them because they treat people like vampires - while thinking about this, Dean re-stacked the firewood pile.

　When he looked down, he saw that the skewers on the side of the fire had been grilled.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find the best way to get the best out of this.

'Just as well. Let's eat, Alice.
Does My Lord not like me?
You're not making any sense.
Because you didn't offer to marry me.
Hey, you...
Because, because, because...
Yeah, don't cry. Sit here.

　Dean tapped the ground next to him with a plop.
　They sat side by side in front of the bonfire.

'It's not that I don't like it or anything, it's just that I'm not supposed to marry a human.
Why?
Because I'm immortal.
I don't care.
Because you're going to be dead before I am.
Does it matter how short you have to be to live?
Yeah.
Then you should take me as soon as possible.
How could it be?
I'm running low on life expectancy even as I do this. The sooner My Lord takes me as his wife, the longer we will be together.
You're a smart guy.
It's all thanks to My Lord's education, you know?

　Alice's small body leans against Dean.
　Dean waits for the spit-roasted meat at hand to cool down. After a good amount of time, he blew a puff of air, just to be sure, and then handed it to Alice.

''So ... if I don't die, will you take me as your wife?''
Well yes.

　I hope so, Dean thinks.
　He's an 'immortal sorcerer'. All other humans die before him.
　Even if you live for 200 years, you'll never get used to parting with someone to death.
　It's hard to lose someone you've seen all your life, and it feels like your immortal self is cheating.

　That's why Dean has never hated his wife.
　Because it's too painful to have the closest family member die.
　Besides, it's obvious that as long as you're not a human being, your thinking and your way of life will shift. The more time passes, the greater the gap will become.
　But if the other party is immortal...

Well, then, you might as well make her your wife.
Really?
Well, I suppose that's unlikely.
Just checking it out then, okay?　If I don't die, you'll make me your wife, won't you?
Yeah, I know.
And then My Lord will make sure I don't die, won't he?
You will.
You won't know if I'm not going to die until I'm old and dead, will you?
Hey hey hey.
"Yes. I now take the name of immortality!　My Lord take me as your wife and make sure you are truly immortal!
Hey, that's not fair!
'Hmm?　So how can My Lord prove that I'm not immortal?　If you can do it, please do it! If you can't do it, then do it for me. Here you go.
"...So you didn't say 'immortality', you said 'never die'?
That's right. I'm going to be able to prove that I'm immortal.
Use that smarts for something more useful...

　Dean laughs bitterly and Alice presses her body against his shoulder.

''Well I'll figure out if I'm going to make you my wife or not when you're older,''
Hasn't that been said to everyone?
So you're too smart. You.
Alice will always remember this feeling. It's no use thinking that you'll forget it when you're older. If you were born again, you would remember it.
Alice.
So when you grow up ... if you remember this feeling when you're born again, will you take me as your wife then?
I wouldn't know what to do with it.
That's not fair.
Don't worry. I don't know, but I'll remember.

　Dean remembers all the villagers he's been with so far.
　He probably won't forget about Alice's promise, either.

'If I say I won't forget, I'll never forget. Can you believe that?
Yes.
Be happy with that for now, Alice.
I see. My Lord.

　Then Alice nodded.
　I rested my weight on Dean - and closed my eyes as if I was relieved.



　By the looks of it, Alice would never marry anyone but Dean.
　Besides, Alice is too smart. She is far more than her mother, Remilia.

　With Remilia, she had a partner named Lyle, but there is no child in the current "Fira Village" who is smart enough to compete with Alice. Then Dean would have to take them in. He will take care of them as his own guardian - and then Alice will be old and gone.

　It's in front of the bonfire, but it gives me chills to imagine it.
　Being immortal doesn't mean you can't become insensitive to the death of others.
　In fact, the more you can't forget it, the more it scares you.

　Sighing, Dean hugs Alice's body to keep it from getting cold and...

So, why are you guys so quiet?

　When I turned around, I saw the villagers all looking at me.
　With warm eyes and a gentle smile on their faces.
　And they held up the cup.


"'Here's to the future of My Lord and Alice!
'Don't do that now!　It definitely has a weird meaning to it, you guys!


　The sound of cups being struck together and the cry of My Lord echoed in the village square.

　It was a few months before the outbreak of "shimoniasis" and the "Sanctuary Church" began to interfere in the village.
This is how the New Year's day in Fira Village had passed.