Chapter 6

Alexei had been abandoned in the Demon Forest, and three years had passed. The woman he called Pai had a body that had turned an even deeper green, and her skin had become slimy, but Alexei often touched her skin, saying he liked it.

"Ham-chan, you've really changed, haven't you?"

"No, not really. It feels soft and nice?"

"Sure, sure!"

She laughed and, with a quick motion, picked up Alexei and placed him on her lap.

"I'm big now! I'm nine years old, you know?"

"You're still small."

Even as he said this, Alexei liked sitting on her lap. He felt much happier here than in the cold castle where no one ever hugged him. This was the first time he had known a family and love.

"I've become friends with Usagi-chan, Fukuchan, and Torachan, who were so scary at first. Ham-chan did a great job."

When Alexei first started living in the Demon Forest, he was terrified of the magic beasts, especially after being nearly eaten by a three-eyed red bear. However, after seeing her getting along with the magic beasts when he wasn't around, it took him a year to approach smaller ones—though they were still quite large by human standards—like the two-horned rabbit and the fire-breathing great horned owl. It took another year for him to build friendships with them, except for the three-eyed red bear.

"Pai's naming is pretty random, isn't it?"

"Is it? I think they're good names."

"No, I mean, the two-horned rabbit is called Usagi-chan."

"Would Nika-chan have been better? Hmm, since she's so round, Maru-chan could be good too."

"Why not just use normal names like Dmitri or Tasha?"

His casual suggestion made her look a bit sad. Of course, with her skin like slime, a normal person wouldn't be able to tell.

"...When I lived in the village, people got angry when I called them by their names. They said I would be cursed. So, I couldn't give human names to my cute children. I wouldn't want them to be cursed."

"That's not true! Pai is the kindest person! I love Pai!"

"Thank you. But the villagers said I was a cursed monster, so they would be cursed too."

"That's just the cowardly talk of cowards."

"Ham-chan knows some difficult words. I don't understand what you're saying, but thank you for getting angry. I'm happy."

Alexei felt intense anger towards the villagers who had discriminated against and saddened the kind woman, and he was furious at a world where people were judged by their appearance or status.

After a while, as he stared at the ground in silence, she suddenly stood up.

"Ham-chan! Ham-chan! The forest creatures are acting strange. Something's wrong! What's happening?"

The sky suddenly darkened, and looking up, he saw many winged magic beasts flying north, blocking the sun. Then, many magic beasts started running north, causing the ground to shake. The magic beasts she had raised as her children were pulling on her skirt, trying to go north as well.

"What's wrong with you? Is something happening?"

In the next moment, a light so bright it was impossible to keep one's eyes open was released all around.

After the light subsided and she opened her eyes, the magic beasts that had been flying in the sky were gone, and a clear blue sky was visible. The magic beasts near them had all fallen.

"Usagi-chan, Fukuchan, what's wrong?"

She approached and shook the magic beasts.

"…!"

The magic beasts were dead. Looking around, he saw the bodies of dead magic beasts scattered everywhere.

She called out to Alexei, who was in her arms.

"Are you okay, Ham-chan?"

"Y-Yeah."

"What happened...? We have to get out of here. I'll protect you, Ham-chan! Don't worry, you'll be fine."

She was shocked by the death of the magic beasts she had raised as her children, but she hugged Alexei tightly, determined to save him. She turned to head back to the cave, but then she heard footsteps coming from the direction the magic beasts had gone.

They weren't the footsteps of magic beasts. It was the sound of boots, something Alexei hadn't heard in a long time. And there were not just dozens, but probably hundreds of them.

"Pai, humans are coming. A lot of humans."

"What's going on?"

"…I don't know. Maybe they're here to kill me."

"The magic beasts went north. Why are humans coming from the north? We have to run!"

However, before they could run, Alexei and she were surrounded by knights with swords and spears.

"They're the Imperial Knights."

Alexei whispered.