1A/N: I know what you're thinking. A novelization of a Visual NOVEL? Really? It sounds so pointless, no? Stupid, even. Well, I've spent the better part of the decade wishing to play this game, until last year the wonderful folks at Suikogaiden Translation Project allowed that to come true (They'll be forever remembered in the Suikoden fanworld). Maybe I write this for those who, for whatever reason, are unable to play the game and read the gamescripts, or simply to satisfy my own desire. Regardless, I have taken great care to not using any line from the game to ensure even those who have played could enjoy, and I take creative liberties every now and then.
/
1. An Old Friend
Before joining the Harmonian Southern Frontier Defense Force, Nash Laktje had spent years on the rigorous training of the art of survival. Under his belt was the finest education money and status could buy to prepare him for any kind of situation he might encounter, to groom him into a man worthy of Laktje name.
During his tenure in the HSFDF, he had successfully accomplished countless missions, dealing with all sorts of trouble and foiled plans and life threatening conditions. He had the experience of socializing with the ragtag bunch of misfits comprising his special ops unit, even tackling the most awkward of team assignments with them. Nash Laktje wasn't a green new face in the darker side of the world. However, nothing in his twenty-two years of life prepared him to deal with this.
To deal with a vampire over a century old.
Who had taken a liking to his blood.
/
"That was quick. I thought you'll last longer. Guess I overestimate your ability."
The white haired girl smirked, legs sprawled carelessly over her suitcase while his companion panted for his life. His face was slick with sweat and red with anger.
"Damn it, woman! Do you have no mercy at all?"
In different circumstance, he could see his sister Julie scowling at him for the language. He couldn't bring himself to think about that now. She merely rolled her eyes at the complaint.
Never in his wildest dream Nash saw this happening. Traveling to the City-State on foot required more or less two had been on the road for three, first because he lost the map in the middle of his quarrel with this old bat of a girl, and second because he couldn't walk any faster with a giant suitcase on his back with its none-too-pleasant owner. Having denied the chance to hitch a ride earlier that day, there was no choice but hope to make it to the border before dark. He wasn't going to spend another day camping with this old hag. It would be somewhat more bearable if she hadn't threatened to drink his blood once every few hours.
The lead had better be worth it, Nash grumbled inwardly. This True Rune thing might grant its master eternal youth, but it certainly wouldn't protect against senility, if the 'lady' he carried was any proof. Too bad, really, because she was actually cute when she kept his mouth shut. Pretty innocent-looking too when sleeping.
He shuddered when he realized where his thoughts were leading. He must had suffered severe exhaustion and too much exposure to Dunan's scorching summer heat. Yes, Nash blamed the weather for the randomness of his mind. Certainly he had lost his senses to even think about the sadistic woman in such light. Perhaps he had to blame his stomach too. He had forgotten the last time he had eaten anything substantial.
The bottom line was clear: he was in no condition to continue traveling. So, in what could only be labeled foolishness in retrospect, the prospect of a decent rest robbed him of any logic and suspicion when Sierra told him they would be passing a friend's mansion soon. Sierra. Friend. Normally his brain would have trouble connecting the two words.
They were surprisingly welcomed despite arriving in such weird hours without notice. He briefly wondered about the butler's recognition of Sierra. Was she a regular guest? Well, perhaps in all her years, she had actually managed to forge some useful contacts.
/
A young servant was waiting for them, guiding them to a luxurious room in rivalry to the Laktje household. Sierra didn't waste the provided hospitality, asking immediately for hot water bath and food. Nash, while trying to keep the politeness for them both, was actually relieved for the service because he really couldn't stand the muscle ache worming in his whole body any longer. Ridding off the grimes from his body was a nice bonus.
The window couldn't be opened, somehow. As he looked around, the other windows were also shut tightly. He couldn't see a mansion built on such a strange piece of land visited often, so perhaps the servants did themselves a favor and didn't bother to open them everyday. Ayana, the servant, offered to fetch the key. They had taken advantage of her too much, thought Nash, so he decided to fetch it himself instead. In that half-second timeframe he thought he saw Sierra seething, so perhaps a bit of flirtations he attached to the request was inappropriate...
He was just trying to lighten the mood. What was the problem with her?
/
His mood improved considerably after bath, which he hoped worked as well to Sierra. He couldn't stand dealing with her attitude for the rest of the night when they actually could rest. In a real bed.
She sat on the bed facing the window, her face sporting a pensive look. He really had to admit, out of her stern expression and annoying comments, she was actually pretty. And...so normal for someone supposedly so old. She probably wouldn't appreciate the thought, so he wisely kept it to himself.
"What?"
"No, nothing..."
She noticed his absentmindedness, but this time no comment came out. Living for centuries...how did it feel? He was merely twenty-two but with everything he had gone through he might as well be over forty...yes, one might have chosen the number to estimate his mental age. But a hundred or two?
She smiled so good-naturedly, probably mistaking his sudden silence as one of his quirks. He didn't complain.
Forever was a long time...
A flash of image. There was Zaj, then Julie, then Aunt Lena, and he decided against asking about that particular question.
Everyone had their own demons.
/
Dinner was served in cold exchange of words. As of now, Nash had gotten enough of the unusual situation. Sierra sent her greeting to the house owner, but smile didn't reach her eyes and the butler seemed to radiate extreme unease. With his senses returning, he began to feel something was amiss.
Yes, something was definitely fishy. Like always though, Sierra would not tell him anything before she decided it as time for him to know. He hated this. With burning passion. He would only get to know when whatever would happen finally happened. He didn't like that at all.
Instinct kept him from sleeping. He hadn't had any real sleep since the day he left his house, but it was not everyday he woke up sensing bloodlust all over the place. He scrambled to wake Sierra, only to find her wide and alert, poising oh so calmly and innocently. He growled. She knew it was going to happen. She damn knew.
A scant few seconds later, footsteps could be heard approaching the door. They didn't bother concealing their movements anymore. What kind of enemies exuded such confidence? He turned his brain gear to decide the best course of action as fast as he could. At last, he upturned nearby furnitures and shattered a full-body mirror in the corner of the room. It would buy them some time as he laid out the next set of traps. The door barged in to reveal several sickly green people with red eyes, one hundred percent not friendly. Undead.
He eyed Sierra who gave him a curtsy nod. He groaned. He should have known.
"My old friend? He's the same as me, naturally."
/
Report-01
Mission Code XXX
Vampire blends well with human.
