I was fed up.
It had been that way for a while already, but still — I was thoroughly, fundamentally fed up.
"What is this, seriously!"
Over the past few months, I'd suddenly and inexplicably become absurdly popular.
Can you believe that? I'm ten years old.
And yet, grown men — older men at that!
Were directing their leering gazes right at me.
Right now, too. I could feel them stealing glances.
Honestly, I don't get it.
Apparently, I'd changed. Apparently, my appearance had become unbelievably beautiful.
And apparently, I exuded some kind of incredible allure. No, no — I'm ten.
"Radiating the peak sensuality of a mature woman" — what are people even talking about?
What even is "mega-super-duper pervert"?
That was a phrase from my own mother — ugh, I never would've guessed she was that kind of person.
Well, whatever. It's not okay, but whatever.
If they're only looking, at least it's harmless — my mood isn't great, but it could be worse.
Being spoken to is really awful too, but they back off when I turn them down, so that's at least something.
What really makes my blood boil are the egotistical, bottom-of-the-barrel scum.
They pull rank. They resort to violence. Coercion. Force. Threats. Kidnapping.
Every one of them is filthy and loathsome — they make me sick, and all I feel is disgust.
It's not like I became this way because I wanted to be beautiful.
Even if someone says something like that, it doesn't help and I don't understand it anyway.
That's why the stress builds up.
On days like that, I take a bath, barely even dry myself off, and throw myself into Wof's bed.
Being naked under the futon is embarrassing, but nobody's looking and nobody's noticed, and it feels good.
Also, I don't really understand why, but somehow it's Wof's fault.
It's Wof's fault that I ended up like this too.
Idiot.
There is, technically, a countermeasure. The fairial state. But that feels like admitting defeat.
It really does feel like losing. I don't want to lose. I don't want to lose.
That's how I went up against my mother, and I realized I didn't want to lose even more.
And I understand what I'm lacking. It was pointed out to me, and I accept that.
"Hey. You."
A voice suddenly called out to me from behind.
I'd come here because I wanted somewhere quiet, and the moment I'd stepped into a low-traffic area, of course.
Naturally, I ignored them, but the voice kept calling out.
Annoyed, I let out a sigh and turned around.
I could already tell from the voice, but it was a man.
He was tall, wearing a black cloak, and his clothes were plain.
He had long black hair, and a strange hairstyle.
How to put it — the top of his head was shaped something like a bird's beak, and the beak part was white.
His features weren't bad, exactly. But those murky black eyes... the look in them sent a shiver crawling down my spine.
Nope. Absolutely, definitely not my type.
A small white horn peeked out from between his strands of hair. A fairial.
And he had a sword in his hand.
A long, strange white sword. It had no guard, was slightly curved, and resembled a horn.
"Do you need something?"
"Hey. You."
"That's not my name."
I answered, irritation coloring my voice.
"Become mine."
"Huh?"
"Ah, good. I never expected to get my hands on someone with this kind of potential."
"Huh?"
What is this guy even talking about.
There are always people like this. Every so often, you run into one. When I gave him a deadpan look, the man scowled.
"What's with that face?"
"Just a normal face? So, what exactly do you want?"
"You bastard... You're mine, yet you've got quite the nerve."
"Huh? Who said you own me? Hey, you. What are you—"
The man pointed his sword at Anna Kreuzen, who was standing beside me, looking uneasy.
Before I could shield her, Anna Kreuzen was blown away.
"That's what happens when you defy me."
"Anna!"
She slammed into the wall of a building, sending up a plume of white dust.
When I tried to rush over, my arm was grabbed.
"Let go of me!!"
"If you keep going against me, I'll have to punish you too, y'know."
"Shut up!"
With my other hand, I drew the Demon Star Manifest Spear from my waist.
The man noticed and released my arm.
I immediately activated all the detachable "star" parts of the spear.
The white patterned sections separated into nine triangular "stars."
I sent three of them spiraling toward him as an attack.
But the stars bounced off, as if hitting an invisible wall... The man sneered.
And then those clouded eyes fixed me with a sharp, piercing gaze.
Slap! I was struck across the cheek. I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood, but I glared right back at the man.
Channeling every ounce of my willpower, I made all eight "stars" wrap around the Demon Star Manifest Spear and spin.
According to Wof, it's called a drill.
Faster, faster, faster, faster—the sparks flew off like scattered stardust.
"Hmph. So what?"
"Starlight Braaaaver!!!"
I poured everything I had into a killing thrust at the man—but it was deflected. Effortlessly.
As if I'd give up now!
From far above—at the very limit of [Remote Manipulation] and [Spiral]'s range—take this!
I dropped the ninth "star" straight down onto the man's head at high speed.
"Starlight Striiike!"
But even that was blocked by something just in front of the man.
I charged in. It was still useless.
A barrier? But this hard?
"Haah. Don't get cocky with me."
The man grabbed my arm again.
"Let go!!"
"Enough already—acknowledge that you belong to me."
Slap!! He struck my cheek harder than before.
My eyes stung with tears from the pain, but I glared at the man with savage hatred.
"Drop dead, scum."
"What was that? You. Those eyes? That way of speaking? Looks like I need to teach you some discipline—to understand you're mine..."
"Gyaaah!?"
The hand gripping my arm tightened, and the man clenched his free hand into a fist.
In an instant, a brutal, dull pain lanced through my abdomen as if I'd been struck with a bludgeon... He hit me.
I coughed up blood and groaned.
"Shall I throw in two or three more? That ought to finally get through to you about where you stand. Hm?"
Something entered my field of vision. Ah, that was—Anna Kreuzen, battered and broken...!?
I tried to punch the man, but was knocked away.
"What!?"
"You're still alive, huh."
The man dropped me, kicked me in the stomach, then turned his sword toward Anna Kreuzen.
"R-run... away..."
Even so, Anna Kreuzen refused to stop throwing punches, no matter how many times she was repelled.
"You're an eyesore. Die."
"DUKAS!!!"
A thunderous shout rang out, and when the man turned toward it, he said in surprise:
"Hoss?"
Hoss...? I swung my halberd at the man.
"It's been a while."
The man caught it on his sword.
"What do you think you're doing. DUKAS!!! They're my comrades!!"
He was furious. I'd never seen Hoss like that.
The man... Dukas laughed.
"Your woman? No. This woman is mine."
"Are you out of your mind!?"
"Don't get in my way. I won't hold back even against an old friend."
"Dukas!!!"
Hoss was sent flying. But he got right back up and charged.
"You—"
"Shut up."
"Guhhaaa!!!"
Hoss was slammed into the ground with a sword.
"I'll spare you for old time's sake. But if you oppose me again, I'll kill you."
Anna Kreuzen tried to use that opening to rush in, but she was deflected and cut down.
She collapsed in a spray of blood... Anna Kreuzen.
And into that fallen Anna... Dukas drove his sword through.
Dukas let out a bored sigh, then kicked me in the stomach.
"Guuh— gahh..."
"Hey. Your blood got my shoes dirty."
So saying, he stepped on my face.
He ground his sole into my face, twisting and crushing.
"Guaaah!"
"Can't have you getting in the way again. Let's go."
"Guaah!"
Duukas grabbed my hair and started dragging me along without a second thought.
I wanted to resist, but the pain made my body refuse to move. Tears sprang to my eyes.
Frustration, sorrow, and rage made the tears spill over.
No. No, no, no, I don't want this. I don't want it. I don't want it. To be with someone like this...
Right. Become a fairial— No. He'd do something even worse.
He might even kill me.
"When we get back, I'll carve it into you, body and soul, that you belong to me."
I don't want to! I don't! No. No. No. I don't want this! Not like this!
I absolutely don't want to! I'd rather die than let this happen! No. No. No. No. No.
No no no no no. I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to.
Being separated from everyone, from Wof... I don't want that... Please, someone...
Help me, Wof...
Hel... p...
That's when a single knife slid into the ground with a soft thud right beside Duukas's feet.