붉은 달의 로제/4권

제4회　검은 흡혈귀

달빛에 비친 제도에 2명의 그림자가 달리고 있었다.

앞을 달리며 남보라색 외투를 펄럭이는 그림자. 로제는 눈을 부릅뜬 채 민감하게 주위를 둘러보며 흡혈귀의 모습을 찾고 있었다. 여성의 움직임이라고는 생각할 수 없는 발걸음에 따라가는 두 번째 그림자. 알폰스 또한 로제를 따라 주위로 시선을 돌렸다. 소꿉친구인 루카의 모습을 찾아.

술집의 사장이 말한 가게와 그 근처에 있는 길에 그녀의 모습은 보이지 않았다. 대신 흉흉한 흡혈귀의 인기척을 로제는 느끼고 있었다. 실을 끌어당기듯 인기척의 위치를 따라간다. 루카를 찾고 있음에도 불구하고 흡혈귀의 인기척을 쫓는 것에 둘은 아무런 의문도 품고 있지 않았다. 그만큼 너무나도 불길한 예감이 들었기 때문이다.

「꺄아아아아아아악！！」

찢어질 듯한 비명이 울려 퍼졌다. 동시에 알폰스의 등줄기가 얼어 붙었다. 틀림없었다. 그것은 익숙한 소꿉친구의 목소리였다.

「루카, 어딨어！？」

「냄새는 이쪽에서 납니다！」

그녀는 크게 소리치며 혼자서 골목으로 뛰어들어갔다. 알폰스도 그녀를 따라갔다. 숨이 한계까지 차 올랐지만, 알폰스는 그조차도 잊고 있었다. 버려진 나무상자나 쓰레기더미를 헤치며 달려가자, 시야가 트이고 옆에 있는 길로 나오게 되었다.

거기에는 무언가가 서 있었다. 검은 외투로 전신을 큰 천을 두르고 양쪽 눈까지 숨기고 있었다. 유일하게 노출된 얼굴의 아래 부분은 너무나도 창백했고 그 입에는 뒤틀린 미소를 띠고 있었다. 인간의 모습을 하고 있었지만 알폰스의 본능이 그것은 인간이라 아니라고 말하고 있었다.

흡혈귀다. 이 녀석이.

검은 옷의 흡혈귀는 약해 보이는 무언가를 안고 있었다. 루카였다. 알폰스가 달려나가는 것과 동시에 흡혈귀는 그 입을 크게 벌렸다. 찰나 사람의 것이라고는 생각할 수 없는 짐승처럼 날카로운 이빨이 보였다. 사건 피해자들의 목에 있던 이빨 자국이 알폰스의 뇌리에 떠올랐다. 이는 정신을 잃은 루카의 목에 그대로 박혀──

먼저 움직인 로제는 그곳에 도착함과 동시에 망토 안쪽에서 꺼낸“무언가”를 전부 망설임 없이 흡혈귀에게 던졌다. 알폰스에게 준 것보다 조금 더 작은 나이프였다. 그녀가 말한“흡혈귀 사냥을 위한 무기”중 하나였다. 그것이 흡혈귀를 향해 몇 줄기의 궤적을 그렸다.

흡혈귀는 이빨을 세우기 직전, 이쪽을 슬쩍 보더니 서 있던 곳에서 몸을 날려 그것을 피했다. 잡혀 있던 루카는 그 자리에 쓰러지고, 흡혈귀는 높게 뛰어올라 알폰스의 등 뒤를 빼앗았다.

너무 순식간에 벌어진 일에 알폰스의 몸은 미동도 하지 못했다. 바로 등 뒤에 있다. 제도에서 연속살인을 일으킨 흡혈귀가. 녀석은 루카에게 독니를 들이대고 있었다. 절대로 용서할 수 없다！ 알폰스는 허리에 차고 있던 검에 손을 뻗었다. 뒤돌아서면서 혼신의 힘을 다해 검을 휘둘렀다. 검은 흡혈귀의 흉부를 통과하고, 알은 손에서 확실한 타격감을 느낄 수 있었다.

하지만 흡혈귀는 이쪽을 보며 기분 나쁘게 웃고 있었다. 방금 전 생긴 가슴의 상처는 눈 깜짝할 사이에 치유되었다. 흡혈귀의 주먹이 눈에도 보이지 않을 정도의 속도로 알폰스의 명치를 쳤다.

「크악……！！」

날카로운 충격과 함께 폐의 공기를 전부 토해냈다. 가까스로 급소를 피했으나 정통으로 맞아, 너무나도 심한 격통에 상체를 숙이고 마는 알폰스.

「엎드리십시오！」

뒤에서 로제의 목소리가 들렸다. 그녀의 말을 들을 수밖에 없었다. 무릎에 힘을 빼고 그대로 쓰러지는 그의 머리 위로 레이피어가 엄청난 속도로 지나갔다. 목표는 흡혈귀의 심장.

방금 전까지 비웃음을 치고 있던 흡혈귀도 그 은색 섬광에 위험을 느꼈는지 즉시 왼쪽 팔로 방어했다. 날카로운 검끝이 왼쪽 팔을 관통하고 흉부에 꽂히려다 직전에 멈추고 말았다.

레이피어에 찔린 왼쪽 팔에서는 슈욱슈욱 하얀 연기가 피어나오고 있었다. 알폰스의 공격과는 다르게 확실한 충격을 준 듯했다.

『크크큭…… 그렇군. 네년이 “흡혈귀 사냥꾼”…… 언데드들을 봉한 것은 네년 짓인가』

흡혈귀의 소름끼치는 목소리가 울려퍼졌다.

『지금까지 내 동족이 몇 명 당했다고 들었는데…… 설마 그 흡혈귀 사냥꾼이 꼬마 계집이었을 줄이야』

「몇 명？ 짐승 주제에 인간 흉내를 내다니, 말세로군요」

로제는 평소보다 더 신랄한 말투로 답하면서도 레이피어에 계속 힘을 주고 있었다. 하지만 흡혈귀는 팔 근육을 강제로 조여 날이 더 움직이는 것을 막았다.

쓰러져 있던 알폰스는 힘을 쥐어짜 쓰러져 있는 루카에게 다가갔다. 아무래도 정신을 잃기만 한 듯했다.

통증에 얼굴을 찌푸리면서도 안심하는 알폰스.

「이대로 새벽이 오면 흡혈귀의 힘이 차차 약해질 테지요. 괜찮다면 그때까지 동석해 주셨으면 합니다만」

『……아름다운 아가씨. 그거 참 반가운 말이지만 이번은 안 되겠어. 네녀석들 때문에 저녁 식사도 물 건너 간 것 같고』

그렇게 중얼거린 흡혈귀의 윤곽이 일그러졌다. 그 몸은 바깥쪽부터 서서히 검은 안개로 변해 사라져 갔다.

『흡혈귀 사냥꾼 아가씨. 그리고 너무나도 왜소한 인간이여. 앞으로도 내 식사를 방해하려거든 각오하는 게 좋을 것이다』

이 말을 남기고 흡혈귀는 완전히 안개가 되어 어딘가로 사라져 버렸다.

잠시 동안 찾아온 정적. 알폰스가 흉부에 받은 타격의 통증도 서서히 잦아들었을 무렵. 골절은 피한 듯 정신을 잃은 루카를 업고 비틀거리며 일어선다.

「쓰러트린…… 건 아닌 것 같군」

「신체를 안개로 만드는 것은 흡혈귀의 기술 중 하나입니다. 놓쳤지만 왼팔을 회복하는 데에는 시간이 걸릴 겁니다. 오늘 밤에는 누군가가 습격당하는 일은 없을 테지요」

「흡혈귀란 정말 엄청나군…… 어쨌든 다행이다」

「다음에는 놓치지 않을 겁니다. 반드시 쓰러트리겠습니다. 좀 더 강력한 무기를 준비해서」

「당신도 정말이지 대단한걸……」

일단 위기는 벗어났다. 루카를 구하고 새로운 흡혈귀 사건의 희생을 미연에 방지할 수 있었다. 이 또한 로제가 없었으면 불가능한 일이었다.

「고마워 로제. 당신 덕분에─」

「감사는 됐습니다. 무의미합니다」

그저 자신의 일을 했을 뿐이라며 여전히 냉담한 태도로 말을 끊는 로제.

「사건은 아직 끝나지 않았습니다. 그 흡혈귀의 정체를 밝혀내야 합니다」

「그래. 그렇지. 아까 술집에서 말한 대로 내일은 다른 현장을 보러 가자」

「예. 그럼 이만」

로제는 그렇게 말하고 알폰스의 인사도 듣지 않은 채 자리를 떠났다. 이만한 일이 있었는데도 너무 담백하게 구는걸. 알폰스는 다시 어깨를 으쓱였다.

그 후 알폰스는 루카를 집까지 옮겨주었다.

집에 가던 중 그에게 업힌 채 눈을 뜬 루카는 얼굴이 새빨개졌다. 지금까지 정신을 잃고 있었던 그녀는 기억이 불분명해 알폰스도 자세히 사정을 들을 수 없었고 「길가에 쓰러져 있는 것을 발견했다」 「요새 일을 너무 많이 해서 지친 모양이다」라며 둘러대자 루카도 그럭저럭 납득했다.

그녀를 안심시키기 위해 웃으면서 알폰스는 좀 전의 싸움에 대해서 계속 생각하고 있었다. 그는 흡혈귀 상대로 아무런 힘도 쓰지 못했다. 순식간이었다고는 하나 받은 은단검의 존재도 잊고 있었다. 최소한 로제에게 방해되지 않았던 것은 다행이었지만 제국군인으로서 부끄러웠다, 흡혈귀 사건을 해결하기 위해서도 다음에는 반드시 로제의 힘이 되겠노라고 알폰스는 속으로 다짐했다.

로제는 혼자 밤거리를 걸으며 떠올리고 있었다. 흡혈귀의 강타를 맞고 쓰러지는 알폰스의 모습을. 목숨을 잃고 언데드가 될 위기를 간신히 모면한 그의 소꿉친구의 모습을. 그리고 떠올리기 싫은 “그 광경”을.

「저는 또 다시 같은 실수를 반복하려고 하는 걸까요」

멈춰선 채, 살짝 미간을 찌푸린 신묘한 얼굴로 로제는 달이 뜬 하늘을 바라보았다.

Chapter 4 - The Black Vampire

Two people ran through the streets of Heimdallr down cobblestones dewed with moonlight. In the lead was Rose, her navy blue coat flapping in the wind like the wings of a hawk as she pursued their foe. Just behind her (and shocked by her speed) was Alphonse, head whipping left and right as he searched for Lucca. There had been no sign of her on the short path between the tavern and the grocery store where she had apparently been sent.

When Rose had sensed the ominous presence of the vampire outside the tavern she immediately set about following it. Alphonse didn't know what kind of trail she had picked up, but she flew down streets and narrow paths without hesitation, as if following a  puppet's strings back to its master. To find his friend they now followed the vampire, spurred by that terrible certainty that the two were connected.

'Eeeeeeeeeek!'

The sound of a piercing shriek filled the air, sending a chill up Alphonse's spine and freezing him to the spot. There was no mistaking its owner - it was Lucca's voice.

'Lucca?!' Alphonse cried. 'Where are you?!'

'The scent is coming from this way!' Rose called before rushing down a narrow alleyway. 

Alphonse followed, stumbling over his own feet in his desperate attempt to keep up with her. He could barely breathe from running so much, but he ignored the tightness in his chest and sped on. Kicking aside boxes and garbage piled here and there on the path, he eventually reached the other side of the alleyway and emerged into a neighboring street.

In it stood someone - or something. It was draped in a black overcoat, the upper half of its head wrapped in a large cloth. Not even its eyes were visible. The only part of the body that remained uncovered was the bottom half of its face, a deathly pale expanse of flesh with a twisted smile at its center. At first glance, it almost seemed human.  Alphonse was not fooled. 

This is it, he thought. This is the vampire.

It was then that he realized the black-clad  figure was holding something in its arms.

Lucca.

Just as that realization hit, the vampire's rictus of a grin yawned wide as it opened its jaws. Alphonse caught a fleeting glimpse of beast-like fangs, too long, too sharp to be human. Seeing them, Alphonse instantly recalled the bite marks on the murder victims' necks. As he watched, horrified, those needle-like teeth descended towards Lucca's throat. 

Rose was the first to act. In a movement so fast he could barely track it, she withdrew several thin objects from the inside of her cloak and threw them at the vampire. Alphonse remembered her showing him them as a part of her 'vampire hunting' kit. The knives flashed in the moonlight as they sped towards the creature.

As it was about to sink its fangs into Lucca, the vampire turned towards them, dodging the knives just in time. Lucca fell to the ground, and the vampire jumped high into the air, descending just behind Alphonse. 

It happened so fast that Alphonse was still staring at the spot the vampire had been when it landed silently behind him. The creature that was terrorizing Heimdallr, the murderer of countless women, the thing that had attacked Lucca...it was so close.

Anger overrode fear. Alphonse clasped the hilt of his military saber and drew it. He spun around, slashing horizontally across the vampire's chest. The blade made contact. 

The vampire laughed. Alphonse watched transfixed as the wound on the creature's chest healed. The next instant, the vampire punched its right fist out towards the pit of Alphonse's stomach at incredible speed.

'Gah...!'

The impact was so great that it forced him back, expelling all of the air from his lungs. And while he was able to protect his vital organs, he had still suffered the full brunt of the blow. He doubled over in agony. 

'Get down!' Rose cried out from behind him.

With no choice but to obey her as best he could, he let himself fall limply to the ground. As he did, the stir of air from Rose's lightning fast rapier thrust ruffled his hair as it passed.

The vampire didn't laugh this time. Perhaps sensing danger from the rapier's silver radiance it threw up its left arm in defense.

The blade pierced flesh, and Rose followed through with her strike, skewering the limb right through to the other side. The tip stopped just before reaching the creature's chest. 

White smoke poured from the wound. Unlike Alphonse's earlier attack, it seemed Rose's had actually been able to damage it. Rose tried to move the sword, but it was stuck fast.

The vampire smiled again. '...Heh. So you must be the vampire hunter responsible for sealing those ghouls.'

She ignored him and tried the sword again.

'I had heard that many of my brethren had fallen at the hands of a vampire hunter...' he continued in a low, sibilant voice. 'But I certainly did not expect the hunter in question to be a mere girl.' 

Rose gave a derisive laugh. 'Brethren? I think you will find that word is meant for humans, not beasts like your kind.'

The vampire hissed and she bared her teeth at it as they both fought for control of the sword. Rose tried pushing forward, urging the blade on while the vampire kept the muscles in its forearm as rigid as steel to thwart her movement. Still lying on the ground, Alphonse gathered just enough strength to begin crawling his way to Lucca's side. When he reached her, a quick check lessened the mad pounding of his heart. She was unconscious but otherwise unharmed. Relief washed over him. 

Rose's voice brought Alphonse back to the situation at hand. She and the vampire were still locked together, each refusing to yield.

'If we were to stay here like this until morning, your power would be sure to weaken significantly. I would be happy to spend the night with you until then, if you wish,' she suggested to it.

It made an unsettling sound somewhere between a snort and a laugh. '...I'm afraid I will have to refuse your kind proposal, my beautiful lady. Not least because thanks to you and your pitiful human friend, my evening meal has been rather spoiled.' 

As it uttered those words, the vampire's outline began to blur. Alphonse blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision, but it was no trick of the shadows. The creature's form was dissipating into a fine, black mist.

Though its mouth was disappearing like the rest of it, its voice somehow carried on.

'Should either of you ever seek to disturb my dinner again, I hope you are prepared for the consequences...' 

And then it was gone. Silence fell.

Gradually, Alphonse got used to the pain in his chest from the vampire's blow. He counted it good fortune that he'd only lost his breath and not broken any bones. With a final steadying wheeze he hoisted the unconscious Lucca on his back and rose slowly to his feet.

'I...guess that's not the end of our vampire, then,' he said unhappily.

Rose was inspecting her sword for damage. Finding none, she returned it to its sheath.

'Turning their body to mist is one of the many abilities vampires have. It escaped from us this time, but I expect that it will take some days for its left arm to heal. At the very least, I think it's safe to assume that no one else will be attacked tonight.' 

'It sounds like vampires are unbelievable foes to be up against... That's a relief, though, at least. Still,' he added. 'You're pretty unbelievable yourself.'

Rose shook her head. Their loss obviously rankled her.

'Next time,' she said with steel in her voice, 'it WON'T get away. I'm going to find some stronger equipment...and I will finish it for good.' 

Alphonse nodded. Next time they would have it. They might not have been able to defeat the vampire, but at the very least, they had earned a short respite from danger having saved Lucca and prevented another murder from occurring. And without Rose's assistance, none of it would have been possible.

'Thank you, Rose. If you hadn't been here--'

She cut him off with a dismissive wave of the hand. 'There is no reason to thank me. I was simply doing my duty.' 

Dejected, Alphonse fell silent.

'But these murders are not over yet. We will need to discover the true identity of the vampire for that to happen.'

'Yeah,' he said at length. 'You're right. Either way, should we go and investigate another crime scene tomorrow like we discussed earlier?'

'Indeed. Farewell for now.'

And with that, she left. She didn't even wait for Alphonse's response - a fact that left him feeling even more downhearted, considering all that they had been through that night. 

Afterwards, Alphonse took Lucca to her home. As he walked, she finally woke up. Finding herself on his back, she flushed and stammered her way through his questions. She remembered nothing of what had happened to her, it seemed. Unable to tell her the truth, Alphonse simply said that he had found her collapsed outside. It was probably just fatigue from work, he told her. Thankfully, she seemed convinced.

All the while, as he tried to feign cheerfulness to put her at ease, his mind was still focused on the battle earlier. He hadn't stood a chance against the vampire. He had even forgotten the silver short sword that Rose had given him. In the heat of battle he had simply fallen back on his military training and used his saber...for all the good that had done. While he had at least been able to avoid getting in Rose's way, he felt ashamed as an Imperial soldier. Next time, he swore to himself, he would not let her down. He would help bring an end to the murders once and for all. 

As Alphonse hardened his resolve that night, Rose navigated the dark streets alone, her mind fixated on the past. The sight of Alphonse on the ground after being struck by the vampire, the image of his friend who had almost lost her life and been turned into a ghoul, the vision of that one cursed memory she  desperately sought to forget... 

'Am I on the verge of making the same mistake a second time..?' she wondered aloud.

She stopped in her tracks, brow furrowed and  expression meek, and looked up to where the crimson moon hung like a great malevolent eye in the sky.

第４回　黒き吸血鬼

　月に照らされる帝都を、２つの影が走っていた。　

先を走る紫绀の外套をはためかせる影——ロゼは、目をカッと见开いたまま机敏にあたりを见回し、吸血鬼の姿を探す。女性のものとは思えない俊足についていく２つ目の影——アルフォンスもまた、ロゼに仿って辺りを探し回る。幼驯染の少女、ルッカの姿を探して。

酒场のマスターが言っていた食材屋と、そこへ至る短い道に彼女の姿はなかった。代わりに、祸々しい吸血鬼の気配をロゼが感じ取り、糸を手缲るようにその大本を目指していく。ルッカを探しているのに、吸血鬼の気配を追うことに、２人は何の疑问も感じていなかった。それだけの、途辙もない嫌な予感が、２人をまとっていた。

「きゃああああああああああああ！！」

つんざくような悲鸣が辺りに响く。同时にアルフォンスは背筋を冻りつかせ、立ち止まる。闻き间违えるはずがなかった。それは、见知った幼驯染の声だ。

「ルッカ、どこだ！？」

「匂いは——こちらからです！」

ロゼは凛とした声を上げると、细い路地の一つに駆け込んでいった。足をもつれさせながらもついていくアルフォンス。もはや息は限界に近いほど上がっていたが、そんなことはどうでもよかった。积まれていた木箱やゴミの山を蹴飞ばしながら进むと、视界が开け、隣の通りに出た。

　そこには——何かが立っていた。“それ”は、全身黒ずくめの外套に身を包んだ不気味な格好をしていた。颜面の上半分にまで大きな布を巻いており、両目すら覆い隠してしまっている。唯一露出した下半分の颜はあまりにも青白く、その口元には歪んだ笑みが浮かぶ。人间の形をしているように见えるが、アルフォンスの本能がそうではないと告げる。

　吸血鬼だ、こいつが。

黒衣の吸血鬼は、手元に弱々しい何かを抱き抱えていた——ルッカだ。アルフォンスがそれを确认すると同时に、吸血鬼はその口を大きく开けた。

人间のものではありえない、獣のごとき锐い牙が一瞬だけ见えた。事件の被害者たちの首元、そこにつけられた“咬み迹”がアルフォンスの脳裏に浮かぶ。そして牙は、気を失っているらしい彼女の首もとに、まっすぐと突き下ろされ——

先行していたロゼは、その场に足を踏み入れると同时にマントの裏侧から何かを数本抜き、その全てを迷いなく吸血鬼へと投掷した。アルフォンスに渡したものより、もう一回り小振りなナイフだ。彼女の言うところの“吸血鬼狩りのための武器”。それが吸血鬼に向かう何本もの线となる。

吸血鬼は牙を突き立てる直前、こちらに一瞥をくれると、すんでの所で身を翻してそれをかわした。抱きかかえられていたルッカはその场に倒れこみ、吸血鬼は高く跳跃してアルフォンスの背中侧に降り立つ。

あまりにも一瞬の出来事で、アルフォンスの体は咄嗟に动くことができなかった。真后ろにいる。帝都で连続杀人を起こしている——吸血鬼が。奴は今まさにルッカを毒牙にかけようとしていた。绝対に许さん——！　头の中を駆け巡る言叶がそこに帰结したとき、ようやくアルフォンスは腰に供えた剣へ手をかけた。振り向きざまに浑身の横剃ぎを放つ。剣は吸血鬼の胸部を通过し、确かな手応えをアルの手に感じさせた。

だが——吸血鬼はこちらを见て不敌に笑っている。たった今切り裂かれたその胸の伤は、瞬く间に塞がってしまった。次の瞬间、吸血鬼の右の拳が目にも留まらない速度でアルフォンスの鸠尾に放たれる。

「ぐはッ……！！」

钝い冲撃と共に肺の空気が全て吐き出される。咄嗟に急所を外すことはできたが、まともに喰らってしまった。アルフォンスはあまりの激痛に、思わず身を屈めてしまう。

「伏せてください——！」

　后方からロゼの声が闻こえてきた。もはや言叶に従うしかなく、膝の力を抜いてその场に倒れ落ちるアルフォンス。彼の头上すれすれを、レイピアによる神速の突きが通过する——狙いは吸血鬼の心臓だ。

　直前まで笑みをこぼしていた吸血鬼も、その银の煌きに何か危険なものを感じたらしく、咄嗟に左腕で防御する。

锐い切っ先は左腕を贯き、胸部に突きたてられる——寸前に、止まってしまった。

　レイピアが串刺しになった左腕からはシューシューと白い烟が上がっており、ついさっきのアルフォンスの攻撃とは全く违う、确かなダメージを与えているようだった。

『……クク、なるほど。贵様が“吸血鬼狩り”……尸人どもを封じていたのは贵様の仕业か』

　完全に胶着した场に、吸血鬼の祸々しい声が响く。

『过去に几人もの同族が灭ぼされたと闻いたが……まさか贵様のような小娘だったとはな』

「“几人”？　ド畜生が人间気取りとは、世も末です」

ロゼはいつもよりさらにキツい调子で冗谈めかして答えながらも、さらにレイピアに力を込め続ける。

　だが、吸血鬼は腕の筋肉を无理やりに绞り、それ以上の进行を许さない。

倒れ伏していたアルフォンスは何とか力を振り绞って、横たわるルッカの元にたどり着く。彼女は気を失っているだけのようだ。痛みに颜を歪めながらも、安心するアルフォンス。

「このまま夜明けが来れば吸血鬼の力は格段に弱まるでしょう。

　よろしければ、それまでご相伴をお愿いしたいのですが」

『……丽しきお嬢さん、嬉しい申し出だが今回は远虑させてもらおう。

　贵様たちのせいで今夜のディナーもお预けのようだしな』

　吸血鬼がそうつぶやくと、その轮郭がじわりと歪んだのをロゼは感じた。そして、吸血鬼の身体は外侧から徐々に、黒い雾へと化し、消えていく。

『吸血鬼狩りのお嬢さん。そしてあまりにも矮小な人间よ。

　これからも私の食事を邪魔するつもりなら、覚悟するがいい——』　

そう残すと、吸血鬼は完全に雾となり、何処かへと消え去ってしまった。

——しばらくして、访れた静寂。

アルフォンスが胸部に受けた打扑の痛みにも、徐々に惯れてきた。骨折は免れているようだ。気を失っているルッカを背负いながら、アルフォンスはよろよろと立ち上がる。

「倒した……わけじゃなさそうだな」

「身体を雾と化す技は、吸血鬼が操る术の一つです。

　逃がしてしまいましたが、左腕の回复には时间がかかるはず。

　今夜はもう、どなたかが袭われることもないでしょう」

「吸血鬼というのはとんでもないな……だが、よかった」

「次は逃がしません。必ず仕留めます——

　もう少し强力な武装を准备して」

「……とんでもないな……君も」　

だが、ひとまずの危机は脱した。ルッカを助け、新たな吸血鬼事件の犠牲を未然に防ぐことができたのだ。これも目の前にいるロゼがいなければ成せなかったことだ。

「ありがとう、ロゼ。君のおかげで——」

「お礼など结构です。无意味です」

　私は自分の仕事をしたまでですから、と相変わらず厳しく断じられ、肩をすくめるアルフォンス。

「事件はまだ终わっていません。あの吸血鬼の正体を何としても见つけ出さなければ」　

「ああ、そうだな。さっき酒场で话した通り、明日は别の现场を见に行こう」　

「ええ、ではまた」

ロゼはそう言うと、アルフォンスの别れの挨拶も闻かずにさっさとその场を去っていってしまった。あれだけのことがあった割には、あまりにあっさりしているな、とアルフォンスは再び肩をすくめた。

　その后、アルフォンスはルッカを家まで送り届けた。　

　帰り道、彼の背中で目を覚ましたルッカは颜を真っ赤に红潮させながら慌てた。今まで気を失っていた彼女の记忆はあいまいで、アルフォンスも详しく事情を说明するわけにもいかず、「道で倒れていたのを助けた」「最近働きすぎて疲れてたんだろう」などと误魔化し、ルッカは何となく纳得した。

彼女を安心させるように笑いながら、アルフォンスは先ほどの戦いのことをずっと考えていた。彼は吸血鬼相手に手も足も出なかったのだ。咄嗟のこととはいえ、渡された银の短剣の存在をも失念していた。せめてロゼの足手まといにならなかったことが救いだったが、帝国军人として情けなかった。吸血鬼事件の解决のためにも、次は必ずロゼの助けになることを、アルフォンスは心に誓う。

——ロゼは、一人で暗い夜道を歩きながら、思い出していた。

　吸血鬼の强打を受けて倒れたアルフォンスの姿を。

　危うく命を落とし、尸人と化すところだった彼の幼驯染の姿を。

　そして、思い出したくない“あの光景”を。

「私は、また同じ过ちを犯そうとしているのでしょうか——」

立ち止まって、少しだけ眉をひそめた神妙な表情で、ロゼは月が颜を出す空を见上げるのだった。