The Man Who Remained — His Second Life Began with a Humble Bow of Apology. - Chapter 61: In Short, Every Single Member Of The Clan Is A Doting Fool.

In Short, Every Single Member Of The Clan Is A Doting Fool.

Because they were inviting a Pureblood, a true noble among vampires, Aura intended to hold a formal meeting as the Demon King. However, the Pureblood side politely declined such formality.

They had heard that their new kin was from a common background.

In that case, it would be better not to make things too grandiose.

That was their reasoning.

And so, instead of a formal audience between the Demon King and a Pureblood, today’s meeting took the form of a simple tea party – just sitting around a table with drinks and light refreshments, chatting casually.

Then, a little after nine in the morning, the man arrived.

Almost two hours earlier than the scheduled eleven o’clock meeting.

Aura had fully expected him to arrive early out of impatience, so preparations to receive him were already complete.

At the table sat Aura, the master of the Demon King’s castle where the meeting was held, and Roza, the guest of honor.

There was Cross, who had discovered her, and his attendant, Ellie.

Before them appeared a man so dazzlingly beautiful that even calling him “handsome” would be an understatement.

With silky golden hair and delicate yet well-defined features, he wore the formal attire of a noble.

His slender frame, so enviably elegant that any woman would covet it, combined eerily well with his sickly pale skin.

Though he looked ethereal and fragile, his presence was far stronger than his appearance suggested.

His very existence felt out of this world.

Even Cross could sense the overwhelming aura emanating from him with just a glance.

“I had intended to wait until the appointed time… but it seems this Demon King knows full well that we Purebloods are shamefully lacking in patience. Please accept my apologies for arriving so early. And my gratitude for having preparations ready so swiftly.”

He spoke with a flamboyant elegance, bowing deeply with gestures that would normally seem affected – yet on him, they fit perfectly.

“No need to apologize,” Aura replied warmly. “I know that Purebloods cherish their kin above all else. Please, do not call it shameful. You should be proud.”

At her words, the man smiled gently.

“Thank you. Allow me to introduce myself before I sit,” he continued. “My name is Valeria Garden. One of the progenitors of the vampire race. I now call myself Vaahl of the Crimson Rose – meaning I have a special fondness for your name. Today, I am honored to be the first among your kin to meet you.”

As he said this, Vaahl handed Roza a deep red rose, apparently the source of his title.

A thornless, vibrant rose radiating strength.

Roza took it with a startled expression.

“Th-thank you…”

Seeing her slight confusion, Vaahl simply smiled.

***

“V-Valeria-sama… Crimson Rose… don’t tell me… ‘The Bloody Garden’!?”

Aura uncharacteristically raised her voice in shock.

“…I’m not too fond of that name, but yes, I have been called that,” Vaahl replied calmly.

At this, Aura hastily lowered her head.

“M-my deepest apologies. I shall never speak it again!”

“There is no need to worry yourself so,” Vaahl said with a soft laugh, turning his gaze towards Cross, who was watching with his head tilted in curiosity.

“Does the Demon King’s reaction trouble you, Cross-sama?”

“Hmm… well, yeah, it does bother me… a little… but… no need to fuss over it.”

“You needn’t force yourself to speak formally. I am merely long-lived, nothing more.”

Cross glanced at Aura, who nodded silently, prompting him to speak.

“Got it. Then… don’t use ‘-sama’ with me either. It doesn’t suit me, and I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Very well, Cross-san. Then please call me simply Vaahl.”

“Alright, Vaahl. Nice to meet you.”

“And you as well,” Vaahl replied with a smile, extending his hand for a handshake.

It was an unimaginable fortune.

To be able to speak with a Pureblood as an equal, even become friendly with one.

Vaahl was known to be more open than most Purebloods, but even then, he was rarely this amicable without reason.

It was because Roza was here. Because Cross had found her. That alone placed him in such a joyous mood.

Only Cross himself remained unaware of how miraculous this was.

“As for that ‘Bloody Garden’ title… well, it’s the same as with you, Cross-san.”

“Same as me?”

“Yes. Being given a name that doesn’t suit you isn’t exactly pleasant, is it?”

“I get it. Totally get it.”

Cross, known as the Rainbow Sage, agreed without hesitation.

“My family’s estate has a massive garden filled only with red roses. That’s how I earned that name… though ‘bloody’ is a bit much.”

Vaahl smiled wryly.

“I see. Makes sense. I’d hate that too, if all I did was love beautiful red roses.”

“Indeed. Besides… that was merely a title given to me back when I was Demon King.”

“…Huh?” Cross paused, processing the words.

He glanced at Aura, who looked small and tense in her seat.

“…Oh. So that’s why,” Cross murmured, realizing why Aura had become so formal and stiff.

“Thirty-two Demon Kings ago,” Aura explained softly. “During the height of the Great War between humans and demons… he ruled with such wisdom that his people smiled despite the chaos. And he relinquished the throne while still alive.”

Though humans and demons were always at war, there were times when it flared into all-out conflict. When a hero would invade, that era was called the Great War.

Despite heroes rampaging through his lands, Vaahl maintained his nation’s stability, defeated the hero, and peacefully handed over his rule to his successor.

He was a Demon King so exceptional that Aura could not help but revere him.

Incidentally, he had also earned his epithet ‘Bloody Garden’ because he slaughtered countless humans without shedding a single drop of their blood upon himself, dyeing the battlefield red while disdaining the title of Demon King itself.

“I see… even so, you prefer not to be so formal today?”

“Yes. I don’t dislike social gatherings, but… in front of you, to whom I owe much, and our new family member, I wish to relax.”

“I get that. Then… why not talk to your new family? She seems to be hesitating to speak up.”

At Cross’s prompting, Vaahl smiled awkwardly.

“Heh. I must admit… I’m nervous too. But as the elder, it wouldn’t do for me to avoid her.”

“That’s right. …She’s important to you, isn’t she?”

“Yes. More than my own life.”

With those words, Vaahl stood and approached Roza.

He knelt before her, lowering his gaze to meet hers.

“Nice to meet you… and… thank you. For being born.”

His voice trembled as tears spilled down his cheeks.

There were so many things he wanted to say. Things he needed to tell her, messages entrusted to him by others.

But more than anything, what overflowed was gratitude, leaving him unable to continue.

To Purebloods, their kin are their family. The birth of a new kin is no different from welcoming one’s own child into the world.

It was the most joyous event, surpassing all else.

“…Really?” Roza asked quietly.

“What do you mean?” Vaahl replied, openly crying yet staring at her directly.

“Are you really happy I was born?”

She vaguely remembered being loved by her parents long ago. But such faded memories were like old records, and since then, no one had ever been happy about her existence.

So she couldn’t help but fear…

Was this truly joy? Or merely an act?

“…Yes. I am truly happy,” Vaahl said. “Unfortunately, I have no words to properly convey this feeling. So instead…”

He rose gently and wrapped his arms around her in a delicate embrace, as if holding the most fragile glasswork.

Though startled, Roza did not resist.

Having spent eight hundred years in loneliness, she could never reject such warmth.

In that embrace, she understood.

Vaahl, too, feared loneliness more than death itself.

She returned his hug, resting her body against him.

Warm, comforting… and she could feel that he truly thought of her as family.

Quietly, tears slipped down her cheeks within his arms.

As if reclaiming the centuries she had lost.

When they finally parted, both wore peaceful, relieved smiles.

“I apologize. I got a bit carried away,” Vaahl said softly.

“It’s okay. I understand how you feel,” Roza replied, prompting Vaahl to smile again as he returned to his seat.

“To other races, this may seem odd. But for us… this is simply how it is,” Vaahl explained to Aura, Cross, and Ellie.

“Hmm? Odd? It’s just strong family love, that’s all,” Cross said casually.

“…Thank you. That means a lot.”

“Still, don’t spoil her too much,” Cross added. “You seem like you’d just drown her in affection.”

“Hm? Spoil her? Whatever do you mean?”

“Aren’t you going to live together from now on?”

At that, Vaahl’s eyes widened in shock.

“S-s-such happiness… No, I mean, I intend to let her choose freely.”

“Don’t Purebloods have rules or customs she should learn?”

“There are, but she has thousands of years to learn them. For now, we just want her to live freely. To enjoy ordinary life, fall in love, get married if she wishes… to truly live happily. That is what we desire. And when she chooses to come to us, we wish to hear of her life from her own lips. That is why all 193 of us Purebloods live today.”

His voice was gentle, warm, and overflowing with genuine joy as he spoke to Roza, making clear that this was the shared will of their entire kind.

However, Roza looked down with a hint of sadness.

“…But… I was hoping… I could live with you… would that be… not allowed?”

She spoke hesitantly, almost fearfully.

In that embrace, she had felt his love and loneliness. If they would both be lonely apart, she wanted to be together as family.

Vaahl fell silent.

Without a word, he tilted his head upward.

Something dripped down his face.

It was a nosebleed.

“T-to live together with me… what bliss…”

He murmured like a man in a trance, wearing a look of utter ecstasy that was unmistakably unhinged.

“…Is he okay? In like… various ways?” Cross whispered.

“D-don’t worry. He’s just so happy he’s bleeding a bit. Of course I’m happy,” Vaahl managed to say, blood dripping from nose and mouth. “But truly, you may do as you please. Living here in the Demon King’s castle would also be wonderful – so much knowledge, so many places to enjoy… isn’t that right, Demon King-sama?”

“Y-yes, of course. We would welcome her gladly,” Aura answered reflexively, caught off guard by his sudden address.

Though it felt like coercion, Aura had no intention of objecting.

However, she knew she could never give Roza what she truly wanted.

“…Vaahl-san… is it really not okay… if I stay with you?” Roza asked softly.

Vaahl trembled as he bled profusely from his nose, struggling to contain himself.

His elegant, princely demeanor was completely ruined.

“And… one more selfish request… is it okay… if I call you… Father?”

It was a finishing blow so direct it could only have been intentional.

Vaahl gave thanks.

As a godless creature, he offered his deepest gratitude to his race, to the Demon King before him, and to Cross and Ellie who had brought Roza here.

Tears of blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

Aura frantically called for maids.

Cross watched helplessly.

Ellie calmly sipped her tea, unmoved.

Roza, worried, cradled Vaahl in her arms.

Vaahl bled out even more, losing a dangerous amount of blood.

The entire scene descended into utter chaos.

“…My dear kin… surely you will envy this overwhelming happiness… Surely you will regret not coming today… But still… my life… it must have been for this day…”

Most of his delirious words, however, were drowned out by the bubbling sounds of his own blood and reached no one’s ears.