Published: September 2, 2025
This is not from the protagonist’s point of view.
It’s from the perspective of Yuni, a servant at the inn in front of the gate in Seryu City.
Note: On 4/13, I corrected the subtitle and some parts of the text after being told it was strange that Yuni, who cannot read or write, could keep a diary.
Note: On 6/11/2018, typos were fixed.
Today, I made new friends.
They are demi-human girls named Pochi and Tama.
Until now, the demi-humans I had met were all scary kids who, when our eyes met, would bare their fangs like hungry stray cats to threaten me. But those two were a little different.
◇
My mornings start early. I have to get to the inn in front of the gate before dawn, or I’ll get scolded. I leave the orphanage around the time the sky begins to lighten and run along the main street.
It’s dim, but not scary. There are other children running down the road toward their workplaces just like me.
The large gate where carriages enter is closed, so I enter through the back door. That door is locked too, but since I’m short, I slip through the gap under the gate and get inside.
I pass through the courtyard and enter through the service entrance. When I peek into the water jar, there’s hardly any left. I have to fetch water before the landladies wake up!
I grab a bucket and head to the well.
“Ugh~~~~, so heavy~~~~”
I pull on the rope connected to the well’s bucket with all my weight. Drawing water is hard work, especially for someone as light as me.
I wonder when I’ll be able to draw water as effortlessly as Martha-san?
“An intruder~?”
“A suspicious person~”
A voice calls out from the darkness, and I accidentally let go of the rope.
Ah, I was just about to pull the bucket up…
I turn toward the fool who suddenly spoke.
There are four lights floating in the darkness, contradicting their carefree voice!
“Kyah~~~~~!”
“Unya~~~~”
“Nyu~~~~~”
I couldn’t hold back a scream. But it seemed whoever was in the dark was just as surprised as I was.
Encouraged by that fact, I scolded whoever was in the darkness.
“Don’t just call out like that! Now I have to draw the water all over again!”
“Sorry~?”
“We’re sorry~”
Whoever they were apologized so easily it made me feel a little let down.
As the sun gradually rose and it got brighter, I could see the children.
They were beastmen kids.
◇
Startled, I first told them, “Go away!” or something like that.
But Pochi and Tama didn’t care about that.
“We’ll help~” “We’re sorry~”
They said that and started drawing water for me. Pochi reeled up the rope at an unbelievable speed as if it were a joke.
Beastmen kids are really strong. Or maybe Pochi is special?
When Pochi finished drawing water, Tama said, “That’s unfair~? I want to do it too~” and began drawing water herself. Those two definitely thought this was some kind of game!
God forgive me, Yuni is a bad kid.
Using the two who were having fun, I got them to help until the water jar was full. Not only did they draw the water, they even helped carry it.
As a thank-you, I plan to share today’s meal with them.
◇
I bring the rye bread and the soup, which had cooked until it was almost mush, that I got for breakfast to the two.
The work is tough here, but the delicious meals make it worthwhile.
Even without ingredients, it’s much tastier than the thin salty soup that sometimes comes at the orphanage, and it goes well with the a little sour rye bread.
At the orphanage, they sometimes serve just steamed bitter Gabo Fruit or pickled Gabo leaves!
I’m sure those two will be happy!
Thinking that, I went to the stables.
But there wasn’t just the two of them—there was also a large lizardman woman!
I was so scared that I almost dropped the deep soup bowl, but I can’t let my precious meal fall! I held on desperately.
“Yuni~?” “We’re sorry~”
They welcomed me.
But wait?
Hey, what’s that you’re holding in your hands?
“Meat~?” “Cheese~”
No way~~~~~!
Eh? Eh? It can’t be, right?
You don’t get to eat meat many times a year, right?