V1C3

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The one who took me in is a very strange person. His name is Souma Nagi-sama.

Astarte called people like him as ‘Visitors’. They’re people from a different world, apparently, but I’m unable to comprehend it.

Even though he knows that I’m a Demon, doesn’t he feel uncomfortable? After all, Demons are hated by this world because we couldn’t get used to human culture. We talk to trees and animals like they were our friends. If there were some bystanders around, they would think we were creepy.

I live among humans now, so I understand how we look to them. We were like the elves and dwarves who couldn’t get used to human culture. That’s what a Demon is. Furthermore, I am the last of the Demons.

I know that everybody hates us, so I decided to act as a dark elf. With my brown skin and long ears, it was the only race I could “change” into. Well, not that there was much difference as they were pretty much hated as well.

That’s why when I was sold to the slave trader, I was given the darkest, and smallest room. I was told that no one would buy me. Everyone else around me were beautiful adults.

There were slaves that nobles would fall in love with at first sight, there were people who would flourish as an adventurer’s partner. Said people, also get paid for their work, in which case, they would be able to buy their freedom themselves. Even though we were called slaves, it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. However, I had come to think that such a happy future was not for me…

The only person I could talk to was Astarte, the Demons’ lingering thoughts. Whenever I was alone, I would always talk with Astarte.

“Astarte?” The Demon race ends with me right? Shouldn’t it be left ruined as it is?

“Astarte?” Why am I still alive?

“Someday, I’ll find someone who will resonate with you.” Astarte said.

“There’s no such person like that…” There’s definitely no one…

No one who will say that I’m needed…

No one who will say that I’m important…

There’s no such person that exists in this world.

Just look at me.

I’m small, my chest is flat, my skin looks like this, my eyes are the color of blood, and my only saving grace, my magic, is level 1.

Before my parents could even teach me the basics of magic, they passed away…

“Please, Astarte, don’t give me hope…”

“Someday, you’ll meet someone who will understand you.”

Alright, Astarte, if you’ll go that far.

In the 1 in 10000 chance- no, it’s even unlikelier than that- that there is someone out there who will understand me, and resonate with me, I will cling to that hope. I will continue the demon bloodline. It won’t end with me

I’ll become strong and I’ll stop giving in to despair. I will live, fight, and leave my legacy together with the one who resonates with me. While I was in the slave shop, I kept on believing as Astarte did.

Hey, Astarte, was I right after all? There was no one in this world who resonated with me.

See, the person who’s pulling my hand right now is not of this world you know? He’s so strange. The slave shop that I thought I would never escape from, he took me out from there in no time at all.

Goshujin-sama?

What is it, Goshujin-sama? Huh? Why are you apologizing for holding my hand?

You say that you wash your hands all the time so it’s fine? I don’t really care all that much though. After all, I’m your property right? I’m Goshujin-sama’s slave.

Why are you acting so flustered? Why are you looking around so frantically? Aren’t you used to this? Oh, I see.

I’m sorry, Goshujin-sama. Sorry, that your first slave was me.

I asked Goshujin-sama, “Don’t you feel uncomfortable around me, Goshujin-sama?”

To my question, this man just said, “Why would I?”

He’s such a strange person isn’t he?

“Because I’m a Demon.” What? Every race around you are all new to you, so everyone’s the same to you? Even elves, dwarves, or dark elves? Wait, humans are scary? Why?

“But the color of my skin is like this.”

Huh? A brown tsurupeta[1], is humanity’s treasure. I don’t get what you mean. Is ‘tsurupeta’ supposed to be a spell?

“But my eyes are like this…” What? What’s so cool about it? Evil Eye? Is there even something like that in this world?

“But I’m… I’m alone in this world…”

Goshujin-sama’s alone too?

That must be a lie. You’re human, aren’t you?

No, wait, didn’t you say that you were transferred here from a different world with a number of people?

What? You were kicked out when you asked too much questions about working conditions?

So you’re already used to being alone, even in your old world… Goshujin-sama, you’ve also had it rough didn’t you?

Could it be because of that lonely look in your eyes?

Ah! I’m sorry! I’m not trying to bad mouth you! Please don’t mind it. It wasn’t what this slave said.

“I don’t have even a single acquaintance here in this world, so I hope to have your assistance, Cecyl.”

If you’re fine with me… I can’t really do anything significant though. Before I was given the chance to be taught how to use magic properly, my parents died.

“I see, so we’re the same.” Oh, it’s a bit different? So your mother might be alive, but you don’t know where she is? She left before you were even old enough to know? Whatever the case, it’s too tough for a child to be thrown away at such a young age.

Just like that, Goshujin-sama slowly opened up to me, staring at nowhere in particular with a distant look in his eyes. My Goshujin-sama from a different world, perhaps, you’ve seen the same things as me?

Were there many nights where you reach out with lonely hands with no one that would reach back?

When I noticed it, I was already squeezing back Goshujin-sama’s hand.

Huh?

“Astarte?” Just now, did I resonate with someone? My heart was moved, quivering.

“Astarte…” Please, tell me; is it fine if the person that resonates with me is Goshujin-sama? What? I have to decide for myself? He won’t tie me down? How would you know that?

“Well, Cecyl.”

“Yes?”

“Best regards from here on out.” I squeeze his hand once more, as if like a handshake. “Cecyl Pharott, is it?”

“It is.” Pharott, the last family name remaining of the demons. Only Astarte and I knew about it, but this man from another world said my name, “Pharott”. My heart quivered once more.

It’s such a mystery… I wonder why? When my father and mother died, I thought I wouldn’t be able to love anyone else for the rest of my life.

However, Goshujin-sama’s hand is so kind; he slows down his steps to match mine, and before I knew it, I was already walking alongside him; I’ve become worried about Goshujin-sama’s lonely eyes. I find myself keeping an eye on them.

I don’t want to leave him alone – I don’t want to become alone.

I think I want to hear his voice calling out my name once more.

I wonder, what happened to me?

“Astarte.” I’ve decided. I think I’ll try to believe in this person. I feel that he’s the same as me. I won’t leave him alone, as we’re both the same, alone in this world.

As he continued to guide me, a feeling came over me; I shouldn’t let go of this hand. Should this lonesome man meet his demise like my parents, I will surely regret it until the day I die.

It can’t be helped, right? After all, there’s already a Contract in place.

What’s wrong with having at least one slave in the world fall in love with their master on first sight? Also, if I can resonate with this man who’s pulling my hand, then even death would be fine with me if it’s for his sake.

It’s definitely an exhilarating concept isn’t it? Isn’t it, Astarte?

“Souma Nagi? So, Nagi-sama?”

“That’s right, Cecyl.”

I start to walk, with this person’s hand in mine, towards a new place. And should this person be someone that I can believe in, then for this person… For Nagi-sama’s sake, I can give my all to him, right?

“Hey, Astarte?” I could feel my invisible friend laugh.

Thank you for everything, Astarte.

1. Smooth and flat, i.e., her chest area.

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