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[Translation] Code: Realize Wintertide Miracles for Nintendo Switch - Saint-Germain Short Story

Source: Code: Realize Wintertide Miracles for Switch Limited Edition Exclusive Booklet

Scan credit: Kou

Episode_05 Saint

……It was the last day of the year.

Steel London.

Although the sun had just set, the streets and town were bustling with many people that were celebrating the new year that was just around the corner.

Although amongst them were likely families and pairs of lovers hoping to greet that moment in a more peaceful way.

Saint-Germain and I were a part of that group. The two of us were inside the mansion in the parlor, quietly reading. However, I couldn't help but become conscious of the new year's drawing closer with each tick tock of the grandfather clock as the needle moved forward.

It seemed that Saint-Germain felt the same way, as he put down the book on astrology he had been reading beside him and smiled.

'Fufu. One can't help but think about it, right?'

'Yeah……I feel like the clock sounds louder than usual today somehow.'

'The end of a whole year— we're about to face a significant turning point. It's to be expected.'

'......You're right.'

We sat before the warm fireplace.

We took turns looking back on the turbulent year that seemed somehow both very long and very short for the both of us—as well as memories of things that had happened since we had met.

'To me, who lived in that mansion in Wales as if I were a doll……time seems to have passed by in an instant since meeting you and the others.'

First, I spoke about the swiftness of time.

'Conversely— to me, living in eternity, where a mere year usually passed by in the blink of an eye……since meeting you, time has felt slower than ever before, each and every moment has become a precious memory.'

On the other hand, Saint-Germain spoke about the slowness of time.

When put into words like this, although the ways we had lived were the exact opposite, perhaps the way in which we experienced the concept of "time" was the same, in that it differed from that of a normal person.

'The two of us have "changed." Surely, that is something to be welcomed.'

'.....Yeah. For sure. It's why this is a special moment for us.'

We both chuckled together.

……And, as we did so, Sisi came to nuzzle up against us. It seemed that it was time for his supper.

'Ah, I'd better go prepare Sisi's dinner now.'

As I murmured those words and stood up, Saint-Germain looked as if he were thinking about something—

'It's New Years after all. Such an important day is to be celebrated, so let us try making dinner for ourselves as well.'

***

And so, we headed for the kitchen.

Saint-Germain had changed into some light clothing that was easy to move around in, and was wearing an apron.

He had opened a recipe book that Impey had left for us, and was following its instructions.

'Hmm……oh dear— The vegetables ended up in an odd shape.'

He looked down near his hands, and laughed self-deprecatingly. On the chopping board lay unevenly cut pieces of carrot. It seemed as if the usually skilful Saint-Germain had somehow botched the vegetable cutting.

'They'll break down when we put them into the stew so don't worry. But……heheh. It's rare to see you fail at something, Saint-Germain.'

'Haha. I am quite ashamed of myself.'

Regardless of his current embarrassed state, Saint-Germain continued to speak.

'Having tried to do it myself……I realise now just how much Impey exercised his ingenuity in making delicious food each day for us……back when we all lived together.'

Hearing what he said, I gave a small nod of agreement.

There had been a fair few of us in Lupin's gang.

Even just to cook our normal everyday meals, it must have been quite a bit of work.

'Yeah. But even then Impey always looked like he was having fun. He's to be commended.'

'Dear me, even if I was the one that brought it up, I shall be jealous hearing you praise Impey like that, you know?'

'Heheheh. You're pretty refreshing today, Saint-Germain. Messing up cutting the vegetables and getting all jealous.'

'Ah……it has to be because you and I have "changed" after all.'

They were gentle words, said as if reflecting on something.

In the time that had stopped.

In the time that disappeared.

I likely wouldn't be able to pinpoint exactly when the little changes in my beloved had occurred.

And surely……I would not be the only one to be unreasonably happy about that fact.

***

We successfully finished cooking dinner.

Sisi had quickly eaten all his dinner much faster than us, and apparently satisfied, had instantly fallen asleep, slightly snoring as he did so.

'This is delicious……you had the right idea, Saint-Germain. Adding sugar to the sauce gave it a smoother taste.'

'I am glad it is to your liking—although actually, it was something I learned from Impey a long time ago.'

'A long time ago……by that, you mean back when you first spoke to Lupin and Impey and invited them to stay in the mansion……?'

If I recalled correctly, it had all began when Lupin and Impey had been at a pub talking together about their work and plans. Saint-Germain had called out to them and offered his assistance, saying it seemed like fun.

'Yes, it was around that time. Heheheh, how nostalgic. Back then……even though I had been the one to offer my assistance, they also ended up helping me out quite a lot.'

'Helped you out?'

This was also a sentence I hadn't expected to hear. Saint-Germain looked toward the kitchen, and continued to speak.

'Yes. Because as you know…… I don't employ servants to help maintain this mansion.'

Although he had done enough to keep the place clean for appearance's sake, it had still been rather difficult for one person considering the mansion's size.

'In particular, when Impey saw the kitchen was completely unused, he practically screamed. "What on earth is this! What a waste!"'

'Ahaha. I can easily imagine.'

Lupin being Lupin, he took the initiative in helping out with cleaning here and there, saying that it was as thanks for Saint-Germain's assistance.

They were only two more people.

And yet, two more people there were.

'.......After Lupin and Impey came here to stay, I feel as if the time I used to spend meaninglessly changed just a little. And then—'

Saint-Germain quietly, but with a gaze full of love, looked at me.

'—Miss Cardia. Then, I met you.'

'............Yeah.'

I put down the utensils I had been using to eat dinner, and listened carefully to his next words.

'The person I was back then could never have imagined— that our relationship could become one in which we would spend time together like this. No, strictly speaking……I had probably completely erased from my mind the idea that I was an existence that could obtain that sort of possibility.

I……was an immortal monster.

Living time in perpetuity, a lonely traveller unable to stand at the side of another.'

As Saint-Germain looked around the dining hall where Lupin's gang used to eat their meals, as if chasing after their shadows, he murmured in a voice that was full of some kind of emotion—

'The reason you and others gathered here in this mansion was not a coincidence, but something I planned, it was an inevitability that we would be drawn together.'

'......Saint-Germain, that's……'

Though I tried to interject, Saint-Germain shook his head and cut me off.

'But it was fun. Truly…….to the point that I forgot the position I was supposed to be in. Miss Cardia, I will say it again and again. Meeting you "changed" my world.'

A few moments of silence.

The few emotions within his words.

As if answering them, I continued to speak.

'It's the same for me. I knew I was a monster, but even then, I couldn't help but feel the time that I spent with you and everyone else was……fun. I wanted it to continue on forever.'

In the indigo blue of his opened eyes, there was an overflowing joy—

The truth of Saint-Germain's feelings towards his friends was clearly conveyed.

'Just having all of us together, every single day was a huge uproar. Those days were so fulfilling…...it was a little too difficult to keep my distance.'

'Hehe……it's as you say, Saint-Germain. It was impossible to stay quiet in a group like that one.'

Impey's explosive inventions.

Van Helsing's tough love.

Victor's frantic persuasiveness and at times unusual medicines.

Lupin and Leonhart's two person cat-and-mouse performance.

'Delly and Sisi. And so many others, as well. ……Rather, it would have been stranger to have been able to stay indifferent.'

Each and every one of the memories that spilled out made us smile.

'Ah, the airship race….. The Black Gathering was particularly memorable. Although, of course it was a good memory because everyone worked together in order to win—’

‘But, I think the most memorable thing about it was “that”.’

‘Yes, without a doubt.’

And then we spoke at the same time.

‘—The Helsing Cannon.’

‘……….’

‘Fu-.....’

‘Fufufu-’

Unable to hold back at the words the two of us had spoken simultaneously, we burst into spontaneous laughter.

‘....Well, it cannot be helped. He really was just so intense.’

‘Yeah. Although I think Van might get mad if he heard you say that.'

* * *

After finishing supper, we continued to endlessly reminisce—.

At last, just a few moments before the time came for the date to change.

We were once again in the common room, spending our time quietly.

The needle of the clock moved forward.

A new year was about to begin.

‘Ah…..it’ll be time soon.’

Saint-Germain picked up the two glasses that were beside him. One he moved toward himself, and the other he handed to me.

And, after opening the wine bottle that had been prepared on the table— he held it out towards me.

‘This is a wine I prepared for you. A toast to celebrate the beginning of a new time. If you would.’

‘.....Yes, gladly.’

A beautiful wine colour was poured out into the glass.

‘If I hadn't met you, I would surely….have become a mere empty existence, one that only looked like a human.’

Quietly spoken words.

And then lastly, Saint-Germain lightly swirled the wine in his glass.

‘For meeting me, being by my side, loving me…..Thank you, Miss Cardia.’

—And then, finally.

In the time that we will spend together in the future, that it was a miracle that we met….I promise here and now, I won’t forget that even for a moment.’

Those were the last words he spoke this year.

With a clunk.

The clock hand conveyed the arrival of the new year, and the grandfather clock rang out as if to inform us of it. Surely all of London was feeling that joy.

‘I won’t forget either. This year, or the next….and even beyond that.’

As he held out his glass to toast.

‘So long as I live, I shall be by your side. Let us continue to walk together at the same speed.’

With slightly reddened cheeks and looking extremely happy— Saint-Germain smiled.

The End

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