"Ah! I lost again!"
I had already won so many rounds, yet Lina shouted in frustration.
It felt like we had been playing for a long time, so I looked up at the sky. The sky had already turned orange-red.
"Lina, it's already evening."
"Oh no! We have to go home now, or my mom will scold me!"
"Let's go."
We started walking toward the village, Lina following behind me.
When we were still some distance from the edge of the forest, we heard loud noises coming from the village. Lina tilted her head and asked,
"The village sounds noisy… did something happen?"
"Let's hurry back."
"Mm."
Our village was rarely this noisy. Usually, people only raised their voices when monster appeared. But something felt wrong. I didn't know what was happening, so I could only quicken my pace.
Just before we reached the forest's edge, I noticed someone standing on a rooftop in the distance. It looked strange, so I stopped walking. Lina, who was behind me, stopped as well.
"Karen, why did you stop?"
"Lina, don't go forward yet."
"Huh?"
"Look—there's someone on the roof."
"You're right. Isn't that Ali? Why is he standing up there?"
Before we could figure it out, Ali suddenly fell forward—just like he'd been hit by something. The moment he fell, the house burst into flames.
Something felt off. Was Ali attacked by something?
Then, from beside the burning house, a small green creature appeared. It held a sword and walked out into view.
(Is that… a monster?)
When it comes to green creatures in another world, the first thing you'd think of would be goblins.
But this one didn't have the same features as a goblin.
And it seemed to be talking to another blue creature.
So that meant… they were Demon Race.
Demon Race were intelligent beings—they could talk and wield iron weapons. Monsters couldn't.
Lina trembled beside me, her voice shaking.
"Karen… what is that?"
"I'm not sure. Let's stay here for now."
Seeing the green demon made it clear—Ali had been struck down by it.
Even if he'd survived the fall, he'd surely be killed afterward.
Panic rose inside me. The thing I'd always feared had finally happened.
When I was a baby, my mother used to tell me bedtime stories about The Brave and Demon Lord.
If demons were here… then the whole village was in danger of being wiped out.
Our village had always been peaceful. The most we'd ever faced were monsters.
No one here had any real combat experience—if we tried to fight, we'd only be slaughtered.
We could only rely on the kingdom for help… but there was no way to even send a message.
A small village like ours could be destroyed in moments.
I'd often thought about what to do if demons attacked, but no matter how I planned, I could never find a way for everyone to survive. The best I could imagine was helping a few people escape unnoticed.
Even though I'd imagined this countless times to mentally prepare myself, now that it was real, fear gripped me. My breathing turned uneven, my heart pounded, and cold sweat ran down my back.
But I couldn't panic—not with Lina here.
If I lost my composure, we were both done for.
(Calm down, Karen! You've prepared for this. You can do this!)
I slapped my own cheek to force myself to focus.
Lina turned to me, startled by the sound, but I didn't let her speak.
"Karen?"
"Lina, we need to hide!"
"Why—"
"Quickly!"
I pushed Lina into the bushes and hid with her. Then I peeked toward the village.
The green demon walked away, and more appeared—blue and purple ones. They gathered together and headed in the same direction.
(If they're moving as a group, then no one in the village will survive… That means… Father and Mother too…)
My chest tightened. I had feared this outcome all my life, but I'd hoped it would never come true.
(Even if they're already gone… I have to live on. I'll bury them properly. And I'll see the face of whoever led this attack.)
Determined, I watched the demons move toward the east side of the village.
The burning houses blocked our view, so I decided to shift closer to another bush for a better look.
"Lina, let's move over there—Lina?"
She didn't respond. I turned and saw her trembling, unable to speak.
"Lina, don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
"Mm…"
She nodded weakly, gripping my hand tighter. Her face was still pale with fear.
As we crept closer, I saw houses burning and bodies lying everywhere.
Then—I saw two familiar figures on the ground.
One had light brown hair, the other golden.
I dug through my memories, comparing hair colors and hairstyles.
There were only two people in the village who matched—my father, and Lina's father.
Even though I'd tried to prepare myself, I didn't want to believe it. I turned toward Lina.
"Lina…"
She was staring at them, her face frozen in horror and disbelief. Tears began to fall silently as her grip on my hand loosened, and she took a step forward.
"That's… Dad, isn't it? W-Why… Dad…"
She was falling apart. I couldn't let her lose herself. I tightened my grip on her hand.
"Lina!"
She looked back at me, her voice breaking.
"Karen, let me go! I have to go to him!"
I shook my head. "No, you can't."
"Why!? He's lying there, not moving!"
"I know."
She struggled harder, trying to pull away.
"Then why won't you let me go!? Let me see him!"
Her desperation made me raise my voice.
"Lina! Calm down and listen!"
She froze, eyes wide, then burst into tears.
"Uwaaah!"
I held her shoulders firmly so she'd focus on me.
"I'm sorry, Lina. Don't cry. Please—listen to me, okay?"
Her sobs slowed. She sniffled, her eyes red and swollen, waiting for me to continue.
"Lina, you know the Story of the Brave, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Those creatures—they're Demon Race."
"D-Demon Race?"
"They serve the Demon Lord. Once they appear, everyone in the village is doomed. Our parents too…"
"Mom… Dad… Everyone will die?"
Her voice trembled. My hands fell weakly to my sides. I couldn't look at her.
"…Yes."
Her tears started again, but I forced myself to look up.
"But we haven't been found yet. That means we can still live."
"L-Live?"
"Yes. Your parents, my parents—they'd want us to survive. To grow up."
"…"
Slowly, her eyes began to steady.
"Lina, even if your parents are gone, I'll stay by your side."
"Karen…"
"We'll both live long, okay?"
Saying that felt embarrassing, but it was all I could think of.
Lina looked down in silence, thinking for a long moment.
I didn't want to pressure her, so I watched the demons instead. They were heading northeast—toward the village chief's house.
(That's the village center… Is their leader there?)
Finally, Lina spoke again, her voice steadier now.
"Karen… I've decided. I'll live. That way, Mom and Dad won't be sad."
Hearing that lifted a weight off my chest. I took a deep breath and said,
"Lina."
"What is it?"
"I want to see what their leader looks like. If you don't want to go, stay here. I'll just take a quick look."
"…"
She hesitated, torn between fear and loneliness.
"Karen, I'll go with you."
She chose to come. I smiled softly and held out my hand.
"Alright. Let's go."
"Mm."
Lina took my hand tightly.