Ginka’s been worried about how slow the alliance seems to be. She figured it was because they weren’t working super well these days, but if what Davy-san’s saying is true... They’re slow because they’re falling apart.
“I do not wish to see the hunter alliance decline any further. That is my reason.”
“You want to create vampires in order to stimulate the alliance?”
Ginka’s question made David smile.
Ruka watched anxiously as she munched on her fries. Looks like a yes. His plan’s definitely over the top, and it’s gonna do a lot of damage. But if he wants the hunter alliance to step up, he’s not, like, barking up the wrong tree. Having vampires around would probably make the alliance strong again.
Ginka held up one of her fingers to object. “Reviving dangerous beasts we worked so hard to eliminate is utterly insane. Coming all the way to Japan just to try and spread such foolishness was a waste of time. Go back to England and check yourself into a mental clinic while you’re at it.”
Wh-Whoa, harsh!
David shrugged his shoulders. “How cruel. I came here to Japan for you, you know.”
“What do you mean by that?” Ginka furrowed her brows.
He looked amused when he answered her. “You, Ginka Shijunana, are the strongest vampire hunter alive, with unparalleled combat abilities and near limitless exoforce. Don’t you think it would be a terrible shame to let all that strength go to waste? I would like you to support our plan to revive the vampires.”
“What are you saying...?” She stared at him like he was a disgusting bug.
“I came to Japan to offer you an invitation. In fact, I created that retainer to call you out. After I joined the revival initiative, I searched for your whereabouts in the alliance database. That gave me a general region but not your specific address. The search app could not locate you either, hence that course of action.”
“You created a retainer just to lure me out? You’re the reason Ruka almost died?”
“My target was a man who would be better off dead. What occurred was an unfortunate accident. My apologies, young lady,” David said with a slight bow toward Ruka.
Ruka felt sick. Sure, that middle-aged guy didn’t take care of himself, and he was a stalker without a job. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to kill him! “Hey, that guy said he was gonna get a job, so—”
“You should have made contact with me right after that incident,” said Ginka.
Oof, she cut me off. Guess I’m an outsider here. And I don’t think Davy-san’s gonna apologize even if I tell him more about that guy. Maybe I’ll just keep eating my fries and salad...
“That was my wish, but I must follow the precepts. This young woman is a civilian, so revealing myself under those circumstances...”
The precepts again? Those are the rules vampire hunters have to follow. They’re supposed to keep vampire hunters from running wild...and from getting any praise for their hard work.
“You’re plotting to revive the vampires, yet you claim to care about the precepts?!” Ginka yelled.
David calmly held his arms out wide. “I followed the two of you that night and learned where you live. However, I am occupied by other work during the day, and your nighttime patrols make it rather difficult to meet with you. That’s where the young lady came into play.” He turned to Ruka and narrowed his eyes. “I intended to use her to approach you. But, as I continued to observe her, I realized she was aware of our existence. Thus I no longer needed to hide, and I could simply summon you by turning someone into a vampire.”
That was last night. Ginka gave him a solid kick, so he retreated before showing up in front of school this morning. That’s what he’s been up to, huh.
Every question about that retainer, Yoshiyama turning into a vampire, and David’s actions now had an answer. Ruka didn’t feel any better, though. His plan to revive vampires only made her more confused and overwhelmed. How do you deal with something so complicated?
There was an icy look on Ginka’s face. “I’m sure you recall my ability to see through lies.”
Oh yeah, she can totally do that. Guess it works on vampire hunters too.
“Unfortunately, most of what you have said is true. Your plan to bring vampires back, your needless fears regarding the alliance, and your motives... But I question your desire to recruit me. Did you really think I would join you after you created a retainer and endangered innocents?” Ginka moved her cup to the side of the table. “Eliminating me as a potential threat makes far more sense. What do you say to that?”
David shrugged his shoulders a little. “Feel free to think whatever you please.”
“Turning people into vampires, then protecting other people from them... For the sake of such a ridiculous charade, you abuse the knowledge cultivated by hunters to hurt people and bring disaster to this world. You’ve fallen far, Lucid Eye.” Ginka’s right arm started glowing silver with exoforce. She was ready to fight.
W-Wait, you’re gonna throw down with Davy-san? Here? Ruka moved her fries and salad closer to herself. Good, I’m next to the aisle. I can run for it if I need to.
“I’ve fallen, you say...?” David repeated with a sad smile. “I chose to follow unreasonable laws and forsake normal society just to kill creatures capable of communicating in our language... I lost my humanity long, long ago.”
“I tire of your foolishness. Your ambitions end here and now.” Ginka’s exoforce made a sound like a fizzy drink before it became a sword.
David stared at the weapon. “You are the alliance’s greatest combatant. I handle support. I can’t possibly face you in battle, so I’ll do this instead.” The sundae in front of him tipped over, and something silver appeared in its place.
What is that? I feel like I’ve seen something like it before, but I never really paid attention... It’s long and narrow, and there’s a hole at the end. It almost looks like a gun. There were a bunch at Ginka’s apartment, and I think they kinda looked similar...
No, wait, that’s a real gun. It’s pointing at me.
“Ruka!”
Ruka threw herself into the aisle as soon as she heard Ginka yell her name. She’d covered her head with her arms and hands, so her shoulder and hips slammed into the floor. Then there was a loud whoosh and the sound of wood cracking and splitting.
By the time Ruka dared to take a peek, their table was wrecked and David was gone.
“Stop, David!” Ginka’s leg shot past Ruka’s face. She was holding a silver spear now, instead of a sword.
With a loud crash, David jumped through the huge restaurant window.
“You’re not getting away!” Ginka got ready to throw her spear, but she stopped herself when she noticed people watching and made a frustrated face.
David ran farther and farther away until he vanished from sight.
“Damn...!” Ginka hissed.
Ruka got to her feet. She was dizzy, her body hurt, and she couldn’t figure out what to say. That was when something popped into her head.
Did Davy-san just dine and dash?
The employees at the restaurant had called the cops after seeing the absolute mess Ginka and David had made, and Ruka and Ginka were questioned by the police. Ginka did all the talking, Ruka just nodded whenever it seemed right, and eventually—just past noon—they were allowed to leave the restaurant and go to school.
“David... David...” Ginka’s voice was full of hatred, and she looked intense as she stared down at the ground.
Ruka wasn’t sure how to approach Ginka when she seemed so angry, so she tried to clear the air. “Th-Those cops really talked a lot, am I right?”
Ginka didn’t say anything.
She’s my pal, and she’s feeling down, so I wanna cheer her up. But this whole problem’s way too big, and I have no clue what to do. Ugh, so frustrating.
Ruka tried again. “Th-That was rough, but at least it’s, like, a step forward?”
“Indeed. I finally understand the enemy’s goal.”
The word “enemy” made a chill run down Ruka’s spine. As far as she knew, Ginka had only ever used that for vampires and retainers—for monsters she had to kill. If she’s putting David into that category...
Hie High’s front gates were closed, of course, so Ruka started going to the side entrance. That was when she noticed Ginka wasn’t there anymore. She turned and saw her standing in the middle of the road, and her expression was as cold as it had been on her very first day.
“I’m not going to school,” said Ginka.
Ruka tilted her head. Not going to school? Why?