Dusk was approaching.
Just as the last streaks of orange stretched faintly across the sky, the warrior squad arrived at Carne Village.
"I am Gazef Stronoff, Warrior Captain of the Re-Estize Kingdom. By His Majesty's command, I am traveling through the surrounding villages to hunt down the Imperial knights who have been ravaging these lands."
Mounted at the front of the formation, the imposing man—Gazef—stopped his horse before the village chief and Momonga. Without dismounting, he looked down at them, his gaze sharp, restrained, the kind that left no room for carelessness. In truth, he was assessing the inhuman being before him—Momonga—with visible caution.
Momonga, by contrast, felt a subtle wave of relief.
He didn't know whether the man was truly an ally, but a Warrior Captain of this kingdom was—at minimum—not the enemy of Carne Village. Of the two paths in his mind, fight or flee, he quietly discarded the former.
Gazef spoke again, still stern.
"You are this village's chief. Tell me—who is the woman beside you?"
"This person is—"
"That will not be necessary."
The village chief began to explain, but Momonga's clear, gentle voice cut him off. She faced Gazef directly. Even under the weight of her golden inhuman eyes, Gazef did not flinch.
"A pleasure to meet you, Warrior Captain. My name is Albedo. I came because the village was under attack, and I could not ignore it."
Gazef's eyes shifted—ever so slightly.
He swung down from his horse and stepped closer. The tension around him softened, if only a little.
"We owe you a great debt for saving this village. My gratitude—"
"Captain!"
One of his armed subordinates snapped sharply, reprimanding him. Gazef turned back with a calm "What?"
But by then, multiple soldiers had stepped between him and Momonga, hands on their sword hilts.
"Sir, look at her. The horns. The wings. She may look beautiful, but she is clearly not human."
The atmosphere instantly bristled again.
They weren't wrong. Trusting an unknown non-human was dangerous. A creature wearing the skin of a beautiful woman, only to charm and then slit Gazef's throat—such possibilities were not far-fetched.
"I don't mind—"
"Silence."
They cut off Momonga's attempt to speak. There were demons who manipulated people with words; letting her talk freely could be a risk. Swords were drawn. A wall of steel formed.
(…Ah. One of those developments.)
Not the worst-case scenario, but certainly among the lower end of favorable outcomes. Momonga lifted her guard. She could escape with a time-stop spell if needed, but relations with Carne Village were likely beyond repair.
(Well… I suppose that's how it is. An inhuman being like me blending peacefully into a place like this was always improbable.)
But the story did not unfold as she expected.
"Lady Albedo!"
"—Nemu?"
The one who shoved herself between them was Nemu, trembling yet resolute. She must've seen the confrontation from her home and run out.
"Nemu, it's dangerous! Come back!"
"No!"
Even as Enri shouted, the child shook her head violently, spreading her arms wide as if her tiny body could shield Momonga.
"A… child…?"
The soldiers were struck dumb. Momonga immediately stepped forward and pulled Nemu behind her protectively.
"Nemu, what are you—please stay with Enri—"
"No! No means no!"
She sobbed, hysterical, snot and tears streaming down her face.
Old trauma was clawing its way back.
When Enri had fled the village with her, Nemu had seen the knights run her parents through with swords.
Swords.
Those gleaming gray blades.
The weapons that tore her parents apart.
The weapons now pointed at the person she loved most.
Even if she knew Albedo was strong, the thought of those blades piercing her was unbearable.
So Nemu cried, screamed, and stood her ground.
And then—
"SHEATHE YOUR BLADES, YOU FOOLS!!"
The bellow shook the air itself.
With that single earth-shaking roar, the noise and panic froze into silence.
The wind returned. Gazef stepped past his men, voice calm but heavy.
"Tell me—what do you see before you?"
The soldiers gulped.
"Look at the child. Look at this village. What do you truly see?"
No one answered.
"Do you see a monster threatening humanity's existence? A demon devouring souls?"
He continued slowly.
"To me, she appears only as a courageous, compassionate woman who saved this village… and one who protects that child like a mother."
The soldiers flinched. The villagers watching nearby bore anxious expressions—yet none looked afraid of Momonga. Only of the men pointing blades.
"You acted out of concern for me. I understand that. But to insult the savior of this village because of appearance or race… that, I cannot permit."
The soldiers bowed their heads in shame.
"Our duty is to protect the peace of this kingdom. To protect the smiles of its children. And what are we doing now? Making this child cry as she protects a woman who saved her?"
"W-Warrior Captain…"
Gazef turned to Momonga.
"We were disgraceful. I beg your forgiveness. They meant no harm."
He bowed deeply—something a warrior of his status should not do lightly.
Momonga smiled softly.
"Their reaction is understandable. I do not resemble a human. But I do not harm people without cause. If that much can be accepted, I am content."
Her gentle voice washed over them. The soldiers blushed to the tips of their ears.
Thus the confrontation diffused.