Chapter 16 - Lost Lamb (1)
Lost Lamb (1)
Translator : Elizabeth
I don't know how you managed to escape, but anyway, you did well."
"That's right. Let's run away together. If not now, there might never be another chance."
It's demons. And ones with sharp horns towering on both sides of their heads at that.
"You're talking to me, right?"
"Then who else is here besides you?"
"There's no time to dawdle. Let's talk while moving."
At first glance, they aren't much different from ordinary adult men and women. But looking at their bizarre eyes and the horns on both sides of their heads, one can tell immediately that they are not humans.
To think I would meet demons in a place I just came to randomly as my feet took me. But the demon I met at the abandoned church didn't have horns?
"By the way, you're a demon, but why don't you have horns..."
"Horns?"
"Don't tell me, are you a high-ranking demon?"
Seeing me without horns unlike themselves, the two demons flashed their eyes wide belatedly. At the male demon's bewildered remark that followed, I reflexively pricked up my ears.
"That can't be. The human bastards must have cut them off."
"Wh-What?!"
"Terrible bastards... doing such a cruel thing to such a young child..."
The female demon immediately refuted the man's words and bit her lower lip hard. Seeing this, it seems high-ranking demons don't have horns. Does that mean the demon I met at the abandoned church first was a high-ranking demon?
"Not only did they forcibly cut off her horns, but to dress her in such ominous clothes...!"
"It must have been very painful, right? Every day must have been terrible..."
While I was lost in other thoughts alone. The female demon carefully wrapped her arms around my shoulders with trembling hands.
"Let's go to our village. We'll protect you."
"...Village?"
"Yeah. There's a place where lower demons like us live together."
A village where lower demons live together... To think such an ominous place exists in this deep forest.
...Honestly, I'm a little curious. What would a village where demons live together look like? Since my head was a bit complicated from earlier events anyway. Should I stop by briefly to kill some time if it's close?
"Is it close from here?"
"We have to walk a bit, but it's not that far."
"Wow, that's a relief. Then I'll intrude for a moment."
"What do you mean 'a moment'? You can stay for good."
I accidentally became a pitiful demon child who was kidnapped by humans, had her horns cut off, and was even made to wear humiliating clothes. But well, thanks to that, I get to visit a rare place called a demon village. It's satisfactory in many ways. I should just kill some time there appropriately and come back.
"Where should I go?"
"Just trust us and follow. We'll make sure humans can't even come near."
The male demon tapped his chest reliably and took the lead without hesitation. His red eyes flashed eerily in the gloomy forest. But the gaze looking back at me was strangely warm, so it wasn't that terrifying.
"By any chance, are you two a married couple?"
While following behind the male demon, pushing through the thick bushes. I opened my mouth without much thought at the curiosity that suddenly arose.
"Wh-What?!"
"M-Married couple?!"
Then the man walking ahead suddenly stumbled clumsily. The woman next to me also waved her hands repeatedly with a face turned red like a ripe apple, not knowing what to do.
"No... We are living together, but not a married couple yet..."
"You live together, but you're not a married couple?"
"Yeah. I haven't even received a confession from Barzek yet..."
What is this? Living together in one house but not a married couple. Yet to call them lovers, she hasn't even received a confession yet.
"That's a bit strange?"
At my honest impression, the back of the male demon, Barzek's neck turned red as if it would burst immediately.
"S-Sudden question...?! That's not what's important right now."
"It's boring to just walk without saying anything."
"Do you properly understand what situation you are in right now?"
"Yes, I know. I am a very pitiful demon who was kidnapped by humans and had her horns forcibly cut off."
At my unhesitating answer, Barzek's body flinched greatly once again.
"Hearing you say it so unhesitatingly makes me feel a bit strange..."
"Did I ask too tactless a question?"
"N-No. It's a question you can sufficiently ask. Don't mind it too much."
Unlike his wild appearance, Barzek seems to have a quite delicate side. It seems not all demons are cold-blooded without blood or tears.
"Come to think of it, I haven't asked for your name yet."
"Ah, my name is Vivian."
"Vivian... That's a quite alien name for a demon."
"Is it strange?"
"I guess so. It's a name humans would likely use."
Barzek muttered quietly, resting his chin on his hand. Then the female demon next to me chimed in and suddenly stroked the back of my head carefully.
"Right. Lower demons like us usually have rough names like Barzek."
"Ah, so that's why."
"You must have looked as pretty as your name, so the humans coveted you. How pitiful."
I just simply introduced myself. Another unexpected misunderstanding was added. Although slightly flustered. Still, in the current situation, it's not a bad misunderstanding.
"My name is Mor. You can call me Unni comfortably."
"Hmm, Mor-ssi and Barzek-ssi. I remembered properly."
I wonder if there's any use remembering names since we'll only see each other briefly. But still, out of courtesy, I nodded and smiled slightly, and Mor held my hand tighter as if moved.
"You're more energetic than I thought."
Ah, come to think of it, I am currently a pitiful demon kidnapped by humans with forcibly cut horns, but I acted too much like my usual self.
"It's really fortunate that your heart hasn't broken too."
Speaking in a pitiful tone isn't an easy task either.
. . .
Following Barzek and Mor-ssi across the forest, we finally arrived at the demon village.
"This is the village where we live."
"How is it? It's nice, right?"
Since it's a village where demons live together, I thought it would be super gloomy and smell of blood. But the scenery unfolded before my eyes was too ordinary than I thought.
"People... no, it's not much different from a village where humans live?"
"I guess so? Eating, sleeping, and living together is the same for any race."
Low thatched roofs, wooden walls, and even small flower pots planted in front of every door. Compared to Trevin Village I saw before, it's a very peaceful atmosphere with not much difference.
"Let's look around the village slowly later, and go into the house first for now."
Barzek and Mor-ssi standing side by side on both sides of me, holding one of my hands each before I knew it. I feel a strange feeling like I became Barzek and Mor-ssi's daughter.
Clack─
"This is the house where Mor and I live."
Inside the house was cozy too. Dried herbs hung in clusters on the wall, emitting a fragrant smell. And in the middle of the living room, a warm-looking fireplace was burning softly.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll bring some warm tea and something to eat."
"Ah, I'll help too. Mor."
A rough sofa that smelled strongly of the passage of time. And the wooden floor worn small and slightly musty. Really, living is the same for any race. To think not only the village scenery but even the inside of the house would be the same.
"It must have been hard coming all this way, right? Drink this and rest a bit."
Dark brown tea steaming hot brought by Mor on a tray. Next to it, a few slices of flat bread emitting a savory smell were added like decoration.
"Wow, thank you. I'll drink well."
"Tell me if it's not enough. There's plenty."
As I gently wrapped both hands around the warm teacup, pleasant warmth seeped straight into my whole body through my palms. Carefully taking a sip, a bitter yet slightly sweet taste lingered slowly on the tip of my tongue.
"How is it, our village? Better than you thought, right?"
"Yes. I thought it would be terrifying, but I was a bit surprised because it's so peaceful."
Fiddling with the warmed teacup here and there, I answered Mor's question calmly. Then Barzek, sitting on the opposite sofa, watched me silently, then slowly smiled.
"When you finish drinking that, let's go around the village once with me. You'll definitely like it."
"I don't know if it's okay for me to receive such good treatment. You are really warm."
"What are you saying? We demons are originally a race full of affection."
Hmm, have I been looking at demons with too narrow a view all this time? Maybe we just have different positions, but essentially aren't much different from people.
"Is that so?"
"Of course."
Thinking quietly alone like that, I poured all the remaining tea in the teacup into my mouth.
"Now, if you're done drinking, shall we go out slowly? We can say hello to the other guys as well..."
"But, Barzek-ssi."
Barzek, who was about to get up from his seat at my call, flinched for a moment and stopped as he was.
"...Huh?"
I gently placed the teacup I was holding in my hand on the table.
And immediately raised my head slowly toward Barzek.
"I've been curious since earlier, whose portrait is that hanging on the wall over there?"
Barzek's gaze headed to the wall I pointed at. There, a faded portrait trapped inside a rough wooden frame was hanging conspicuously.
"It's a grandfather's portrait that suits the atmosphere of this house very well. But that grandfather doesn't have horns either?"
At my calm question, Barzek avoided his gaze to the side slightly. Then killing the momentum to stand up, he stuck his butt back on the sofa.
"He doesn't seem to be a demon... Why is a human grandfather's portrait hanging in this house?"
Why is an ordinary grandfather's portrait, not even a demon, hanging conspicuously on the wall of this house? Don't tell me, that grandfather is a benefactor who took in and raised Barzek and Mor-ssi...
"Ah, that?"
As soon as I thought that.
A shocking remark completely unexpected flowed very indifferently from Barzek's mouth.
"He's the original owner of this house. Although he's dead and gone now."
