[Scene: Hafil Village – Aftermath of a Monster's Visit]
After the Demon King left, the village of Hafil became a scorched battlefield. Blood stained the earth. Corpses of demons and humans alike lay scattered across the ruins. The villagers waited inside their homes, afraid to step out.
But the little girl—Lilia—she knew he was gone.
The demon who had pulled her away earlier dragged her into one of the homes and threw her to the ground.
She hit her head on the floor.
As she began to cry, others joined in—beating her. Her arms and legs turned a deep purple, like overripe eggplants. Her eye swelled shut, and her vision blurred. She didn't even understand what was happening.
Because Lilia was only three years old.
One villager finally had enough. He rushed forward, scooped her into his arms, and shouted at the others:
"What the hell are you doing to little Lilia?! She's just a child! Do you really expect her to understand what's going on?!"
The rest fell silent, their guilt silencing their mouths.
He rocked her gently until her crying softened, then laid her on a straw bed and pulled a blanket over her. Lilia's bruised eyes fluttered shut, and she drifted into sleep.
And there, in her sleep… she dreamed.
[Scene: Lilia's Dream – A Family She Never Knew]
In the dream, she saw her brother.
She was with her "family" in a tiny cottage surrounded by green fields. She ran barefoot through the grass with her brother, laughing as yellow and red flowers swayed in the wind.
From inside the house, a voice called out:
"Come on, time to eat!"
Three white, glowing figures sat at the table. Lilia, with her bright blonde hair, joined them, her eyes sparkling.
But these "family members" had no faces—just shapeless beings of light. Because Lilia… had never seen her family.
Her tiny brain couldn't fill in what her heart had never known.
Yet the villagers had told her she once had a brother. That belief, no matter how fragile, became her hope. In her dreams, that hope took shape.
She believed one day… they would come back for her.
That's why she slept so often—not to rest, but to return to the only world where her family still existed.
Lilia had begun showing schizophrenic symptoms at the age of three. But the truth was stranger—she had only been born two months ago, and already she looked three.
She was developing abnormally fast.
Her mind, however, remained infantile.
In her dream, she scanned the fields—lush greenery, singing birds perched on trees, vibrant flowers dancing in the wind. She felt safe in that world.
Because in her eyes, the dream was real.
But the illusion shattered every time she reached for her brother… and her hand passed through nothing but light.
As always, she jolted awake.
[Scene: A Fractured Reality – A Fragile Child]
Her body ached with pain.
When she tried to climb down from the bed, her short legs couldn't reach. She tumbled to the ground. A demon nearby heard the fall and ran to her side. He had oddly shaped, twisted horns and a face full of concern.
Scooping her up, he whispered gently:
"It's okay now, my girl… You're safe, I promise."
Lilia turned her face to him and kissed his cheek. The demon's face turned red like a tomato.
Some in the village had come to love and protect her because of her sweetness. But others… continued to hate her.
This contrast—the constant shift between cruelty and kindness—was what slowly broke her emotionally.
The caring demon helped wash her face at a small basin, gently wiping her bruises. He brushed her golden hair and stood her up.
"Come on," he smiled. "Let's go outside."
[Scene: Remorse in the Ashes]
The village had begun cleaning up. Blood was scrubbed away, and the dead were mourned in silence.
Lilia waddled outside with small, wobbly steps and joined the crowd grieving for the fallen.
But as soon as a demon saw her, he snapped. He kicked her and shouted:
"You were with that monster when our people died! You filthy little human!"
The blow knocked her back—but before he could strike again, other demons intervened.
One punched him in the face.
Though many were angry at her, they couldn't forget the truth: she was just a child.
Lilia, now on the ground, brushed dust off her clothes. Then, quietly, she hugged the leg of the one who'd kicked her.
That single, warm gesture stunned everyone watching.
Even the ones who had harmed her felt guilt stab their hearts.
The demon who kicked her began to cry.
Lilia looked up at him, blinking.
"Why are you crying, mister?"
"Me? N-No, I don't cry…"
But even as he spoke, tears streamed down his cheeks.
Everyone waited for him to embrace her. As he reached down with his clawed hands, he noticed something—
Her arm was broken.
He hadn't realized before. She had hidden her pain behind that small, brave smile.
Panicked, the demon scooped her up and ran through the village.
[Scene: Kira Patrick – The Village Healer]
The village nurse lived in a small stone house. Her name was Kira Patrick, and she looked like an ancient vampire in a blood-red nurse outfit. Though old, she had dedicated her life to protecting the villagers.
"Please! Look at her arm!" the demon cried, breathless.
Kira rose from her wooden chair and gently took Lilia from his arms, laying her on a soft cot. She ripped open the torn fabric around the girl's arm.
To keep her from biting her tongue, she slipped a wooden stick between her teeth.
Nurse Kira gently pressed along Lilia's tiny arm, carefully searching for the fracture. The child shed silent tears from the pain, but the old nurse continued her work with practiced focus.
When her fingers reached the broken area, they sank slightly—confirmation.
She marked the location and immediately began preparing a splint. Meanwhile, the demon who had carried Lilia stood quietly, eyes fixed on her condition, his claws trembling.
Kira aligned two wooden sticks to fit the break and tied them tightly with forest ivy. As she adjusted the bones one by one with her fingers, Lilia whimpered softly, her lips clenched around the wooden bite-stick.
After securing the splint, the nurse applied a healing ointment made from a rare forest herb. The moment it touched her skin, magic activated—a soft, glowing warmth flowed through the child's arm.
This was no ordinary herb. It carried a healing spell within it.
Once the wound was treated, Kira gently removed the stick from Lilia's mouth and kissed her forehead.
The demon who had brought her hid his joy behind his claws, pretending to wipe his face before slipping outside.
When Lilia slowly stood up, Kira helped her down and knelt to speak face-to-face.
"Please take care of yourself, sweetheart. Demons aren't always kind like you think. Just like today—some bad demons could come again… and do even worse."
Lilia nodded solemnly, her golden hair bobbing with the motion. As she walked out the door, the villagers stood waiting.
Their expressions were filled with regret.
Some knelt on the ground, heads bowed in apology.
Lilia walked up to them and wrapped her tiny arms around their heads.
Her hands were so small they barely reached over their horns. Some villagers, unable to take the sweetness, lifted her into their arms instead.
She hugged each of them one by one.
Finally, she came to the one who had kicked her. As he held her close, sobbing, he whispered:
"I'm sorry. I never should've hit you… It wasn't your fault people died. It was ours. You… you tried to get close to that monster to stop him."
Lilia reached for his large horn with her tiny fingers and asked:
"Do you love me?"
And then… the crowd spoke as one:
"We love little Lilia!"
"Without you, this village has no joy!"
"You should be our leader!"
"Even demons are weaker than your heart! You're our queen!"
"As long as the gods bless us with you, we'll keep going!"
They cheered and lifted her into the air.
Lilia had become the most beloved girl in the village.
The village was no longer the same. A new sense of peace—fragile though it may be—had taken root.
[Scene: A New Threat Approaches]
As Lilia explored the village, the others returned to their daily routines. Life had to return to normal.
But not far away, the demon army had received word of the incident.
A scouting unit of twenty was sent. Their dark purple banner bore two demon horns, a skull, and behind it, a glowing magic circle.
Because Chief Koloton permitted it, the soldiers did not harm the humans.
Their commander resembled a giant bear, complete with thick fur and a broad nose. His weapon was an enormous whip.
When the chief knelt before him, the other villagers followed suit—except Lilia, who stood still, confused.
She didn't understand what kneeling meant.
The commander noticed her and let out a booming laugh. He knelt in front of her and grinned.
"Hahaha! What a sweet little human. She stands tall even before me. Come, let's interrogate these idiots together."
He took Lilia's hand and walked her to the village chief. He ordered him to rise.
As the chief stood, the others still knelt.
The commander gave the order:
"All of you, up! Now tell me—what happened here? Why is this little girl's arm broken? Are you abusing your human captives?"
"Yes, sir… It's our fault. We harmed her."
"What?" His voice grew colder. "You laid a hand on a child?"
As he drew his whip, fear spread like wildfire. His aura surged, causing villagers to tremble.
He lashed the chief several times, drawing blood.
Lilia, distressed, tugged at his pant leg.
The commander knelt to reassure her.
"Don't worry. He deserved it. This is how they learn."
And with that, he resumed whipping.
But just as he moved to punish the others, his expression changed.
He sensed mana—fierce, unstable, overwhelming.
"Chief, turn around," he growled.
"A demon approaches. And his aura… it's thicker than a viscount's."
The chief turned, eyes wide with horror.
The moment the commander withdrew his aura, the villagers recognized it instantly.
It was Tokito.
Panic erupted.
They screamed and fled.
Confused, the commander grabbed the chief by the collar.
"What the hell is going on?! Why is everyone running?!"
With a trembling voice, the chief stammered:
"T-That monster… the one who killed so many and vanished… he's coming back! He went toward the prison, and after that, the monsters calmed down. But now… he's returning."
Even the commander, strong as he was, felt unease.
Tokito's aura had vanished once before. But now it was back—stronger, darker, deadlier.
Why was Tokito returning?
What happened to Rodius and Nanagi?
Had the beast come to destroy the village once more?
The answers…
lay buried in the ruins of that prison.