Ghost 15: Outsider

Previous summary

Blood > Devoured it (｀・ω・´)

Ghost > What are you doing? Fool, are you trying to die? (##゜Д゜）

Spider > None of my concern (-_-)

They glare at each other.

Straining to suppress the rising anger boiling within the chest.

If anger erupts now, the outcome is certain—again losing control to rage.

Thus, while glaring at Sophia, they mobilize reason to suppress the searing fury burning inside.

What Sophia did cannot be forgiven.

Enchantment, brainwashing, forced servitude.

These are the things I abhor most.

To act so calmly, then justify it with "because I am a vampire"—there is no way to forgive that.

At the same time, a corner of the mind registers that the conversation has strayed from its original intent.

It all began when Sophia turned Wald, a demon, into a vampire.

Going further, it traces back to Sophia’s earlier actions involving enchantment, but that is best left unexamined.

Thus, what matters now is how Wald feels about becoming a vampire.

"Wald."

"Y-yes."

Wald responds with a strained voice at my call.

To him, both Sophia and I are monsters.

This space, where the two of us glare at each other, must be unbearable.

It is no surprise he cannot hide the tension in his voice.

"How do you feel about becoming a vampire?"

Wald pauses for a moment.

"I consider it an honor."

He likely decided in that instant what answer would be most advantageous.

Even if he had said he chose to become a vampire, and even if he had heard the tale of enchantment, that much was clear in just those few words.

Then, I will say no more about Wald.

But this matter is separate.

"Wald says this. If he desires it himself, I have no intention of judging. But he should apologize to Fermina. Her life was destroyed because of Sophia. That is undeniable—your fault. Not because of vampires, but because of what you did."

I do not look away from Sophia as I state it.

I have understood, in these brief moments, Sophia’s fixation on being a vampire.

But that is a different matter entirely.

Whether vampire or not, the sin of destroying one life does not vanish.

Moreover, to have completely forgotten that fact—there is no accounting for it.

Sophia stood motionless, glaring at me.

Yet her eyes flickered slightly.

She must sense her own disadvantage.

Her expression resembled that of a child who has been scolded, desperately searching for an escape.

A sudden unease.

Sophia, too, is a reincarnated being.

She has lived through multiple lifetimes—considerable age by human standards.

And yet, her mind feels childish, proportionate to her appearance.

What does this mean?

“Sophia.”

My question was cut off by Shiro’s voice.

Small, yet impossible to overlook.

Upon hearing it, Sophia’s eyes flickered with light.

Perhaps she had hoped for support.

“Apologize to Fermina.”

But the words that came from Shiro’s mouth were not what Sophia had expected.

Sophia’s expression froze for a moment, then flushed crimson in an instant.

She glared sharply at Fermina.

“Don’t get full of yourself just because she added ‘-chan’!”

She turned and walked away.

Even for a parting remark, that was excessive.

The room was thick with an awkward silence—not just mine.

Wald was the first to move.

He glanced at the other three, then flicked his eyes toward the door Sophia had exited through.

Fermina, noticing Wald’s expression, turned to Shiro as if seeking permission.

Shiro gave no reply. He nodded once.

Fermina rose, accompanied by Wald, and left.

Only I remained, and Shiro.

I studied Shiro’s face.

As always, expressionless.

Yet, subtly, displeased.

“Could you… give me a moment?”

Anticipating Shiro’s intent to rise, I spoke first.

I came here for a reason—specifically to see Shiro.

I was drawn into Sophia’s affairs by accident.

Beyond that, it is their matter. As an outsider, I have no right to interfere.

"Why did Sophia act like that?"

Yet the question that left my lips was this one.

There was something more important I should have asked.

We’ve fought to the death before. Perhaps some strange sentiment stirred.

Shiro did not answer immediately.

I was accustomed to interrogations in the extradimensional realm, but conversing with Shiro required patience.

Not standing meant he was willing to respond.

If he had no intention of answering, he would have left without a word.

"Because he is not human."

The answer, delivered with deliberate spacing, was too concise for me to grasp.

Not human. So what? I am not human either.

Yet, despite being the same kind of non-human, I do not understand Sophia.

“A human cannot comprehend a spider’s feelings. A spider cannot comprehend a frog’s feelings.”

A look of doubt appeared on my face.

I understood, just slightly, Shiro’s words.

Even among non-humans, I am a demon. Sophia is a vampire.

We may share the category of humanoid outsider, but that category holds clear distinctions.

That is what Shiro meant. I cannot understand because of the difference.

Indeed, I know nothing about vampires.

I do not understand why Sophia insists on being a vampire. I do not understand her way of living.

The refusal to apologize, despite the clear fault—perhaps there was something unyielding in her as a vampire.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her.

Yet blaming her outright might be misplaced.

I might need to learn more about vampires.

After organizing my thoughts, I looked up. Shiro was eating something.

If I wasn’t mistaken, it resembled the leg of a very large frog.

Shiro chewing it with no expression.

Ah—indeed, I clearly lacked understanding of the non-human.

I understood that much just from the sight.

No desire remained to ask further questions. I failed to confirm anything I had originally intended to ask, and left quietly.