Ch. I: Departure ― Episode 2: Setting Out

—For the first time in centuries, the immortal lord departs his castle, carrying his coffin upon his back.—

The following day, Victor dragged a coffin up from the basement.

It was made of solid oak―heavy, old, and unmistakably real.

Opening the lid, he began pouring in black soil he had carried from the courtyard, sack by sack.

“Portable, yes―but I still need enough to bury my body…”

Muttering to himself, he filled the coffin with a generous amount of soil, closed the lid, locked it, and secured it with two leather belts.

He then attached a leather harness to it, allowing him to slip his arms through and carry it on his back.

ーーー

Victor then went to the kitchen and began inspecting the glass jars lined up on the storage shelves. Inside each was a dark crimson liquid—blood, of course.

For a very long time, Victor had not attacked humans directly to feed.

Not because age had weakened him, but because he had simply grown tired of the excitement of the hunt.

To a vampire, blood is not merely nourishment.

It is a powerful symbol of human life itself, something that stirs an intense longing―and at the same time, a medicine that grants temporary relief from the irresistible urge to hunt.

That urge had faded with time.

Even so, he still needed blood, out of a faint but persistent anxiety:

'If I were to stop drinking blood entirely… would those old, violent desires return?'

Naturally, as a vampire of noble lineage, Victor had no reason to be ashamed of his instincts. Why should a lion feel shame for hunting its prey according to its nature?

Still, the modern world was not so simple.

Unlike in ancient times, humans had grown far more adept at managing danger. A single misstep in town could easily lead to something extremely troublesome.

To avoid such situations, Victor regularly drew blood from cattle and sheep at nearby farms, storing it in bottles.

It was admittedly bland, but it seemed human blood was not strictly necessary.

As a substitute, it worked well enough.

ーーー

Selecting several bottles, he wrapped them in thick cloth and placed them carefully into a leather bag―ensuring they would not break, ensuring they would not make a sound.

His movements were practiced, the result of repeating this task countless times before.

When he finished, he took one last look around the kitchen.

Stone walls.

A ceiling blackened with soot.

A cooking table long unused.

Here, the time of many generations of humans had passed by. To him, it was no more than the blink of an eye.

ーーー

“…Well then.”

Exhaling softly, Victor slung the leather bag over his shoulder and lifted the coffin onto his back.

As expected, it was heavy. Not because of its physical weight―but because it was the weight of a place to return to.

“I am a noble of distinguished lineage, you know. And yet―why must I play the role of a porter? This is all his fault…”

Grumbling to himself, he climbed the stairs and stepped into the courtyard, where the morning light wrapped around him.

Sunlight was still far from pleasant for a vampire’s skin. Even so, it no longer filled him with the same revulsion it once had.

Noticing how he unconsciously chose the shade as he walked, Victor gave a wry smile.

ーーー

He stopped in front of the main gate.

―How long has it been since I last passed through this gate?

He tried to remember, then gave up. Exact dates held no meaning anymore.

Beyond the gate stretched a narrow, unpaved road―one that led inevitably into the world of humans.

“Curse you, Buddha… ”

There would be no reply, of course. And yet, the casual curse strangely lightened his heart.

ーーー

Victor pushed open the castle gate and stepped outside.

At that moment, the coffin on his back swayed slightly.

It felt almost like a whisper―“You can still return.”
Or perhaps a nudge urging him onward: “Go.”

He did not stop.

He accepted the weight and began to walk.

Because, for the first time in centuries, he had chosen to move.

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© 2026 Kaori Yumesaki. All rights reserved.
The Japanese version is published separately.
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Next Episode: Chapter I ―

→ Episode 3: The Inn

Descending into the city, Victor is dazzled by the brilliant sights before him.

Confused by the gap of centuries, he first looks for an inn—because, really, carrying a coffin on your back is just far too conspicuous. 😅