As we enjoyed the delicious barbecue and marveled at Ein-san’s incredible abilities, Acht-san turned to me, holding a massive cup in his hand.
[Oh, Kaito. Have you been drinking?]
[Yeah, this alcohol is tasty.]
[Hahaha, there’s nothing more luxurious than enjoying good alcohol while taking in a beautiful view!]
In response to Acht-san’s words who told me so with a lively laugh, I nodded without hesitation. The setting sun shining on the gently flowing river, contrasting with the bright green trees. This spectacular scenery, which can be described as the great outdoors, provides a pleasant sense of freedom.
[However, you’ve got it rough yourself, don’t you? I’ve heard some things from Kuromu-sama, but you came from the same world as the person who holds the role of the Hero, right?]
[Yeah, well…]
[I’m not as smart as Lord Sechs, so I don’t know what to think even if they said you came from another world, but if you get sent to a random place without any reason, it must have been rough, right?]
[There certainly are various things I’m surprised about.]
Acht-san seemed to be acting like an older brother, talking to me over drinks as if he were concerned about me.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t had many chances to talk to someone of the same sex since coming to this world, but I couldn’t help shifting my gaze, feeling a bit pensive.
As I watched these people, from species I’d never seen on Earth, enjoy their meal together, I was reminded once again that I had truly come to another world.
[…I understand how you feel, being surprised by all of this. That guy, Neun, mentioned earlier that he’s the youngest in the group, right? Well, I’m also one of the younger ones here, and I was shocked at first too.]
[Is that so?]
[But even with that, I’ve been alive for over a thousand years, so I guess you could still see me as an old man, huh? Hahaha.]
As I watch Acht-san laughing and drinking again, a question pops into my mind. Come to think of it, the people here are, according to Kuro, her close friends…but looking at them, their races are all over the place, and they don’t seem to be her guardians or siblings. In fact, Sechs-san just mentioned he’s rich, and Acht-san said he’s an ogre, but what does any of this have to do with each other? (T/N: Kuro calls them 身内/miuchi, which means close friends, but it could also mean relatives.)
[Now that I think about it, Kuro introduced everyone as her friends, but are all of you part of the same family? I noticed your races are all quite different, is that common in the Demon Realm?]
[Ah, not exactly. It’s not that it’s normal, but… how should I put this? You know there are many different races in the Demon Realm, right?]
[Yes.]
[Well, some races, like Humans, have parents and give birth to children. But there are also races where children are born from the gathering of magical energy, without parents. For example, Sister Raz and I, from the Fairy and Ogre races tend to stick together with their species. Meanwhile, Kuromu-sama and Elder Sister Ein belong to races that are more self-reliant and usually stand alone. That’s why it’s so rare to see them.]
Just as I had imagined, I think I understand the concept of races gathering together. However, when it comes to Kuro’s friends, or to put it simply, the people we’re currently having this barbecue with, it seems that gatherings like this are rare, even in the Demon Realm. What does that mean? I have my doubts. Is this really a space where someone like me, an outsider, should be stepping into? As I was pondering this, Acht-san seemed to sense my thoughts. He chose to sit on the ground rather than in a chair, and began speaking while gazing at the scenery with a distant look in his eyes.
[…Well, instead of drinking, how about I share a few silly stories from the old days?]
[Yes, please.]
[As I mentioned earlier, I’m an Ogre, a Demon species with its own name. But in my case, I’m what they call a “Special Individual.”]
[A Special Individual…?]
[Yeah, it’s incredibly rare for someone like me to be born. Normally, ogres are green or red-skinned Demons with one horn, but I have blue skin and two horns. That’s why I’m called a Special Individual.]
Maybe it’s a little different, but I guess they’re like albinos or something like that? Anyway, it seems that Acht-san looks different compared to a normal ogre.
[It may seem flattering to be called special, but in reality, being special means being different. I experienced this firsthand, not just from those around me, but even from my own kind. Sympathy, fear, contempt… all of it was incredibly irritating.]
[…]
[I’m stronger than most ogres, and I don’t have the ability to blend in easily with others. It didn’t take long for me to distance myself from my tribe and leave my village behind.]
Being special means standing out. I can understand that. It’s similar for humans…Some people can still blend in with their environment, but Acht-san couldn’t. As a result, he separated himself from his own people and chose to live in solitude.
[At the time, I did a lot of foolish things when I was upset. I fought, caused trouble, and lived however I wanted. I even found a companion who was just like me. She was a black wolf, but like me, she was born with silver fur, which set her apart from the other black wolves, making her just as isolated as I was.]
[…]
[So, we went on a rampage, wandering from place to place, as if to release our anger. Thankfully, both the wolf and I were strong, and those days were undeniably thrilling… But in the end, no matter where we went, nothing changed about how others treated us. I should’ve realized then we had become wounded beasts, snapping at anyone we encountered. It was no surprise that we were hated wherever we went.]
Acht-san gave a bitter smile, as if mocking his past self. His expression was tinged with sadness, as if questioning why he hadn’t noticed something so obvious back then. Yet, there was no trace of regret on his face.
[Everyone always looks at us like we’re worthless. Then we’d lash out in frustration, grow more isolated, and lash out again. I just kept repeating that same foolish cycle over and over and before I knew it, I was exhausted. I got tired of the endless loop, so I changed…and did something even dumber. But I messed up, and my partner and I ended up fleeing for our lives to some ruins.]
[…]
[As my partner and I nursed our wounded bodies, I started to think. In the end, what did we really want? What were we hoping to gain? But…I couldn’t find an answer. The more I thought about it, the colder and heavier my heart became…It was as if all the warmth drained out of me. Isn’t that funny? Even though we may be big in size, we’re just childish brats at heart…It took me over a hundred years to realize that I was just throwing a tantrum over things I didn’t like, and that I’m just a complete idiot.]
I didn’t know what to say at first. From the day he was born, there was a wall in front of him called “difference.” He tried to navigate around it, but every path he took only led to a dead end. It’s easy to put it into words, but simple phrases like that might not fully capture the depth of what Acht-san and his partner experienced.
[That’s when I met Kuromu-sama. Honestly, it was the first time I felt something like that in my life. With just one look, it was as if my instincts, not my mind, were forced to submit instantly. I was ready to die right then. I knew I would never win against her. The gap between us was so vast that I wasn’t even allowed to resist or speak. I just thought, Ah, so this is how it ends. This High-ranking Demon who appeared out of nowhere would be our “death itself.”]
[…]
[In a way, I thought it was a fitting end for us, just a bunch of fools for so long. But it didn’t happen. Kuromu-sama looked at us, took out some food from nowhere, and said with a childish smile, “It must be fate that we met here. Come, eat with me.”]
[…I don’t know if I should say that’s like Kuro…She’s too astounding.]
[Hahaha, that really makes me laugh! I mean, why wouldn’t I? Kuromu-sama is a High-ranking Demon far stronger than us, and yet she talks as if we’re just friends she happened to meet.]
I can’t help but laugh when I think of the bewildered expressions on Acht-san and his partner’s faces after witnessing Kuro’s outrageous actions.
[It was the first time I had ever felt that. No pity, no contempt, no hostility, just a genuine smile and affectionate gazes, with no hidden motives. Before I knew it, both my partner and I were in tears as we ate. It felt warm, it was as if our cold hearts were being gently cradled in Kuromu-sama’s embrace. Her smile was so warm.]
[…….]
[And so, without even realizing it, we started following Kuromu-sama. She never looked down on us, treating us as equals. When something good happened to us, she shared in our joy. If anyone mocked us, she’d get genuinely angry on our behalf. All of it made me feel inexplicably happy.]
Acht-san, speaking in a really happy voice, shifted his gaze to Kuro, who was talking to Ein-san.
[I don’t know all the details, but I’ve heard that the others went through a lot before they met Kuromu-sama. However, one thing we all had in common was that we were all enchanted by her.]
[…]
[My partner and I pledged our unwavering loyalty to Kuromu-sama. If she told us to die, we’d willingly cut our own throats without hesitation.]
Then, Acht-san stops speaking and smiles after drinking his cup of alcohol in one go.
[Kuromu-sama is a High-ranking Demon with immense power. Yet, she never looks down on anyone. Whether it’s Elder Sister Ein, Lord Sechs, Sister Raz, Neun, or my partner and I, we all see Kuromu-sama as our one and only absolute master. However, Kuromu-sama has never referred to us as subordinates, attendants, or members of her household. Instead, she calls us her “family” and her “friends,” as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. We’ve never been given orders, what Kuromu asks of us are simply “entrustments” or “requests.” She treats us as equals, from the heart, even though we should be following her without question. Even Elder Sister Ein, who acts as her maid, does so out of her own will.]
It’s true that Kuro refers to Acht-san and the others as her friends. If I remember correctly, she asked one of her acquaintances to extend an invitation to me, entrusted Ein-san with the preparations, and requested the others to bring ingredients. There’s certainly no sign of command among them. That’s probably the clearest proof for Kuro that everyone is part of her family, with no hierarchy.
[The reason we’re all here with Kuromu-sama is simple. It’s because we love her deeply, someone who is stronger than anyone, yet kinder than anyone. Kuromu-sama’s dreams are our dreams, and her smile is our greatest reward. And since she calls us her family, then no matter our races, we will always be her family.]
[That’s really nice. I like that kind of thing…]
[Hey, hey, I’ve told you already, Kaito. Don’t act like we’re strangers, alright?]
[Eh?]
[If you’re Kuromu-sama’s friend, you’re one of us too. No need to be so formal. You can call me Acht, just like everyone else.]
[Oh… I get it now. Alright. Acht.]
[That’s the spirit! Now, let’s have another drink!]
When I saw Acht smiling, his expression reminiscent of Kuro’s, it hit me, what I had been feeling all along was the true sense of security Kuro gave me.
Yes, Kuro truly considers me her friend. It didn’t matter that I was an otherworlder or caught up in an unusual situation. Her smile reassured me that Miyama Kaito, the person standing before her, was her friend and equal. I suppose that’s why I feel so at ease around her, even enjoying the way she playfully pushes me around.
With that thought in mind, I raised a toast with my new “blue-skinned friend.”
Dear Mother, Father—I have made a friend in another world. Their appearance may have been all over the place, but I’m sure—They were family.