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Chapter 8.5 – Noel

Chapter 8.5 – Noel

Noel had lived a happy life in a beastkin village, lacking for nothing. The beastkin were a physically strong race who bore the traits and abilities of animals, other than humans.

But precisely because they bore traits of both man and beast, the 「Normals」, the human race, didn’t view them kindly. Sometimes they were called demi-humans.

That’s why beastkin often lived far from human settlements, forming their own villages. Noel’s home was one of them.

「There used to be lots of the Demonkind around, you know. Life was easier for beastkin back then.」

「…The Demonkind?」

「Yeah. If it was a woman, they called her a Witch-sama. If it was a man, a Sorcerer. They had powerful magic, never aged, and lived much longer than us. They gathered knowledge and didn’t discriminate by race. It used to be a great honor for a beastkin to serve one of the Demonkind.」

Noel often heard these stories from his parents. About how the Demonkind had been wiped out in a war with dragons about five hundred years ago—leaving behind only one survivor.

Until then, many Demonkind had lived, and the beastkin had thrived under their protection. But once the Demonkind disappeared, those left behind were mostly races that discriminated against beastkin, making life harder than ever.

That one surviving member of the Demonkind now served the king, so it was said a beastkin would likely never meet them.

(The Demonkind… the Witches, the Sorcerers. I want to meet one…)

From that point on, Noel listened eagerly to stories about the Demonkind from the village elders.

He learned that they often specialized in one type of magic, and were known by that specialty. That they rarely revealed their true names—only to those they truly trusted, if at all.

They sounded incredible in every tale. To think there was only one left—it made him feel lonely, but also filled him with a quiet hope that he might meet them someday.

Noel’s peaceful life came to a sudden end when a deadly illness began to spread.

One by one, people in the village died—adults and children alike, without warning. Within a week, fewer than ten remained, including Noel. Those still alive, terrified of the disease, fled the village.

His parents had died too. Noel left as well—but he was already infected. His body rejected food and water, and he couldn’t keep anything down.

(It’s over…)

Just as his body gave out, some deep beastkin survival instinct kicked in, and he transformed. His family were wolf beastkin, so he turned into a wolf, but even in that form, his weakened state left him helpless.

He collapsed to the ground, unable to move, waiting to die. And then—he saw a soft, glowing light.

(…Someone…?)

Someone picked up his filthy, collapsed body—without hesitation, cradling him in gentle arms.

In the dim light, he saw a breathtakingly beautiful woman. Her dark, glassy eyes looked down at him calmly.

(…So pretty… like a doll…)

She looked just like those delicate dolls a traveling merchant once showed off.

She pulled out a rod from somewhere and placed one end in his mouth. Then she put the other end in hers.

And then—a sweet liquid began to flow into his mouth.

(Sweet… Juice? Is she doing this… because I can’t drink on my own? Holding it in her mouth to feed me…? But…)

He thought he would throw it up again—but strangely, this liquid stayed down. The moment he drank it, his body felt lighter. The nausea, the fatigue, the chills—all faded, leaving only drowsiness behind.

(…Did she… save me? Could she be… a Witch-sama…?)

Could she be that last surviving member of the Demonkind?

Even though he was a dirty beastkin child, she held him gently and tried to help. Only the Demonkind were said to treat beastkin without prejudice.

Held in her arms like a cradle, gently swaying, Noel fell asleep. When he next awoke, her beautiful smile was there to greet him. Smiling softly, looking down at him as he opened his eyes.

「Um… th-thank you… very much…」

He managed to say it, but she only kept smiling in silence. He wondered why she was staring, and then he realized.

(M-My clothes…! They’re gone…!)

After turning into a beast, his clothes had slipped off, and he hadn’t had the strength or awareness to pick them up again. He was completely naked. And being seen like that… made him curl up in shame.

While he was doing that, the woman began to move her hands—almost as if knitting. But she had no yarn, no needles—and yet clothing began to form between her hands.

(This… is magic…!?)

In no time at all, clothes just his size appeared. Still smiling, she held them out to him. They smelled faintly of grass, likely made from plants.

She had used magic to control plants and make these clothes.

「That was… plant magic, wasn’t it…? Are you… a Witch-sama…?」

He had dreamed of meeting one, someone who could use magic freely, even without incantation. His words were clumsy with excitement, but she only smiled and nodded.

(She’s really… a Witch-sama…! They really exist!)

The clothes she gave him were simple, but to him, they were more precious than treasure. But he was so dirty, he didn’t want to ruin them.

Just as he thought that, the Witch-sama beckoned him over and led him to the river. In her hand was a plant that looked like a sponge… She must mean for him to wash.

(…Will she… still be there when I come back…?)

Worried she might vanish, Noel kept glancing toward her as he bathed. But she remained right there, tending a fire by the river.

Even that fire was strange, she made unfamiliar plants appear and ignited them directly.

(This Witch-sama must have mastered plant magic… I wonder what her name is…)

When he finished washing and came out of the water, she was there waiting. She gently dried him off with a cloth. She really didn’t seem to have any prejudice against beastkin. She was kind.

「Witch-sama… my name is Noel. And you are…?」

He wanted to know her name, to say it out loud. But when he saw her tilt her head, finger to her chin, as if troubled, he remembered…

Witches don’t reveal their real names. Only to those they truly trust. She had only helped a dying child out of kindness—they weren’t that close.

He quickly apologized.

(Since she controls plants… maybe she’s the Plant Witch-sama? But… flowers really suit her…)

She wore so many lovely, fragrant flowers. The 「Flower Witch-sama」 seemed a more fitting title.

Thanks to this kind and beautiful Flower Witch-sama, Noel had been saved. But—

(…I don’t have a home… or a family anymore…)

His village was gone. His family was gone. Even if he’d been saved, he couldn’t return to his old life. Maybe this kind Witch-sama would let him serve her, if he asked…

(…I don’t know how else to live. I’ll ask her…)

He wanted to tell her: I have nowhere else to go. Let me serve you. Let me repay you. But the grief overwhelmed him and he couldn’t get the words out.

Sobbing, Noel felt her wrap her arms around him. Her hand rested gently on his head. Who else would treat an unknown beastkin child so kindly?

(I’ll… make sure to be useful to you. I swear… I’ll repay you…)

With that silent vow, he cried, wrapped in the Flower Witch-sama’s warmth.

Then, just as he tried to lift his head, he realized—

The thing resting on his head wasn’t her hand.

It was her large chest.

(Wait, what!? I thought it was her hand… Chest? Turns out, they aren’t that soft…)