Published: August 15, 2025
There was food there.
So, I ate it. That was the only thing on my mind.
Before dawn, in the warehouse district of the fish market, I sneaked into an unlocked warehouse and rifled through the crates.
There were many expensive-looking silk fabrics, but I didn’t even glance at them. I reached out toward the sweet scent wrapped in pretty paper packages. In the darkness, I couldn’t tell exactly what it was. But once I was sure it was food, I grabbed them all and shoved them into my mouth, swallowing without even bothering to chew.
Even after devouring one package, my dry, withered body wasn’t satisfied. I overturned wooden boxes, searching for more food.
Finally, I found food meant for humans. Something so clean and safe—I had no idea how many days it would be before I could eat again. Maybe never again.
I was desperate. I didn’t even think about the noise I was making or the chance of being seen—the owner of the warehouse might come back at any moment.
“What are you doing?!”
A sharp voice sounded, and I was kicked away. The unexpected blow sent me flying, rolling on the ground.
The man who seemed to be a boatman paid no attention to me, instead hastily inspecting the crates.
“Damn you, you beggar bastard. I just took my eyes off you for a moment—and ah, this is terrible, the lady’s sweets…”
While he was making a fuss, I bolted out of the warehouse. In the capital, thieves could be punished by having both arms cut off at best, or beheaded at worst. I had no choice but to run.
But as soon as I started running, several big men blocked my path. The man from earlier caught up to me and put me in a headlock.
If it had been me before, I could have shaken off these small men clinging to me and escaped. But after dozens of days without proper food or sleep, crossing mountains, I had no energy left to resist and let myself be beaten.
Taking advantage of my lack of resistance, they rained punches and kicks down on me from all sides. Eventually, perhaps tired of kicking, one of them stopped suddenly.
“...What’s with this guy? His hair color is strange.”
It was just around sunrise. My hair shone golden like the surface of water in the sunlight. Although not that rare in my parents’ homeland, the people of Mizuho looked at me as if they had seen a ghost.
My hair was grabbed and pulled, exposing my bloodied face. The men shrieked and backed off.
“W-what?! His eyes are bright blue, like the sea…!”
“His facial features and skin, too! I-is he human? Is he even one of us?!”
“He’s a demon!”
Frightened by their own words, the men hurriedly pushed me away and put distance between us.
—I am used to this kind of reaction. In fact, I am grateful if they run away like this.
Most Mizuho people scream when they see me. Some try to “exterminate” me outright.
...If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be like this now.
Thinking that way, I couldn’t feel sorry for their screams as they fled. I used their fear to escape. While they hesitated, I lifted myself up and looked for an opening to run.
But there was one person who didn’t care about my appearance at all.
“What’s all the fuss about?”
It was a young woman’s voice. She appeared from behind the men who had collapsed to their knees. Taking small, quick steps, she tapped their heads with a folding fan. Then she glanced at me and snorted.
“What’s this? Just an outsider.”
“B-but my lady, his hair and eyes—”
“Yeah, he just looks a little different... We had one like him here long ago, but he was just an ordinary man.”
Despite her bold words, she was small. She looked no older than fifteen, with round, peach-like cheeks and black hair cut just above her shoulders, just like a princess doll.
“Hey, you lot, stop cowering and catch him already. His weight is back on his heels. He’s planning to run.”
At her command, the men rushed at me. I didn’t resist and let them force me down to the ground. Even with half my face buried in gravel, I kept my eyes on her.
Her face was small and neat, but before I could call her cute, her expression was stern. Her jet-black eyes were sharp and showed intelligence beyond her years.