“Here it is.”
Hamel scanned the village. Though it was midday, there wasn’t a single ant-sized shadow—only the villagers’ hastily abandoned belongings lying scattered in disorder.
“Not everyone left,” Hamel said, glancing over the row of dark houses. Fires were out, windows curtained, but he felt an uneasy presence behind those sills.
Their identities weren’t hard to guess. A few quick-witted members of the party nodded. “They’re elders.”
“Yes.”
Hamel nodded calmly. The refugees they’d met last night suggested the whole village had evacuated, yet none of the elders had been among them.
“Did they abandon them?”
“That could be the case.”
Hamel’s gaze drifted. He answered as if it were obvious, but inwardly he doubted it. The place where they met the refugees was far from this village; retracing their route had shown no trace of a monster. They hadn’t been fleeing in a panic.
‘They wouldn’t abandon their elders and run.’
Only one conclusion fit: the elders hadn’t been abandoned.
‘They chose to stay.’
As if to prove him right, a door creaked open and an old man peered out cautiously.
“What brings you here?”
He looked tense but not despairing—hardly the expression of people who’d been discarded. Hamel answered plainly. “We intend to find out.”
“…?” The old man blinked, puzzled. Hamel pressed on. “I heard a monster has appeared.”
“…Where did you hear that?”
“We met some of the villagers.”
“Ah.”
A flicker of emotions crossed the old man’s face—relief, joy, and something like bitterness. “It seems they left safely.”
“Yes.”
The old man gave thanks and then, hesitantly: “But even knowing there’s a monster, why… why did you stay?”
“I want to know about that monster,” Hamel said. “And why you chose not to leave this village.”
Surprise showed on the old man’s face. He hesitated, then began. “Where should I start… Shall I explain why we stayed?”
Hamel nodded, listening. The old man spoke slowly.
“This village has long worshiped a guardian deity called the Three-tailed Cat.”
‘An ancient god?’ Hamel thought—perhaps a long-lived beast revered as a deity. ‘Like how Ajidahaka turned from a demon into a revered evil god.’
“At some point the cat’s whereabouts became mysterious. Those of us who’d long believed trusted it watched over us unseen, but the young didn’t.”
“So the monster appeared recently?”
“A few days ago.” The old man’s gaze went to the mountain behind the village, trembling with unease. “In the middle of the night we heard a howl we’d never heard before. The young went to check.”
He fell silent, then pleaded: “If you’re thinking of going to look, don’t. I’ve heard it’s like nothing we’ve seen.”
“…”
“Some say it must be that monster from the rumors.”
“You mean Azidahaka?”
The old man nodded, worried. Hamel met his eyes and asked, “Then why didn’t you flee?”
“…That is…”
“Because of the cat deity?”
The implication was clear: if even the villagers abandoned their posts, the cat would lose its divinity. Hamel offered a solution. “Tell us where that monster appeared.”
“You said not to go…”
“Then we’ll find the whereabouts of the cat deity for you.”
The old man drew a breath. It wasn’t only Hamel’s offer—when they met each other’s eyes the old man’s breath quickened. Hamel hadn’t glared or threatened, but his presence had an overwhelming force to it.
‘Why does this person’s presence resemble the cat deity’s…’
“Are you all right?”
“Ah—yes, I’m fine.”
The old man collected himself and accepted. “All right. I’ll guide you personally.”
“Yes. Please.”
“But you’ll have to wait. Night hasn’t come yet.”
“Ah.”
‘We heard a howl in the dead of night we’d never heard before.’
“Do you know what it is?”
“I don’t.” Hushed, Hamel shook his head at Daniel’s question. With only the old man’s description—a cry like a rusty hinge, a massive bulk, saw-like teeth, footfalls that shook the ground—there was too little to go on.
They had to see it directly.
The old man walking ahead suddenly stammered, “Th-there. I heard a monster is dwelling in that cave.” He pointed with a trembling hand to a large maw in the mountainside.
Hamel patted the old man’s shoulder. It must have taken courage to guide them here. “Let’s wait.”
The sun had set not long ago. At the mountain’s edge, the party hid among bushes and trees, watching the cave. In the hush only owls hooted and insects chirped; centipedes crawled over their boots, flies landed on their skins. Hamel didn’t move. Time stretched.
A sound made them tense. It came not from the cave but from the opposite bushes. Hamel dipped a finger in holy water and flicked it into his eyes. Beyond the foliage, a red heat haze shimmered—the afterglow of demonic energy.
A demon had truly appeared.
“Gerruk.”
Under the moonlight something slithered into view: Argis—chameleon-like creatures that lurk in marshes to ambush passersby. One blinked, a giant lizard revealing itself. Then dozens followed.
Could that be the monster the villagers had seen?
The old man shook his head, drained of color. ‘No.’
Then what had they seen?
A creak, like a rusty hinge, brushed their ears. The Argis pack stopped, drooling. Light burst from the cave the old man had pointed to and a massive shadow loomed at the entrance—a shape with sharp teeth and dozens of protruding horns, straight out of legend.
When the shadow moved, a roar erupted from deep within the cave, shaking the ground.
The Argis, frozen, turned and fled in haste. Some hesitated, reluctant to retreat, but the successive thunderous sounds from the cave sent them scattering.
“So it’s that thing,” Hamel murmured, watching the cave. The old man, stiffened, nodded.
The fleeing pack raised concerns, but Hamel’s attention stayed on the monster. Something about the place nagged at him—the grotesque, persistent noise continued. The party tightened their grip on their weapons.
Only Hamel tilted his head, listening.
Then, without warning, he began walking toward the cave.
“That madman…!”
“P-priest?”
Ono, Lena, and Daniel followed in a flurry, bewildered by Hamel’s sudden move. The monster’s shadow writhed and the cave thudded as if its very heart struck the earth. The old man collapsed to the ground under that savage force; Ono clicked his tongue, supported him, and hurried after Hamel.
The party entered the cave.
In the next moment all sound ceased and the light went out. The others hesitated, but Hamel summoned the Azure Flame, lighting the passage, and strode deeper.
“Hamel!” they called, startled by his recklessness.
He stopped, glanced around, and spoke softly. “Come out.”
“…Who are you talking to?” Ono asked.
Hamel shook his head. “I’m not speaking to you.”
“…?”
He continued calmly, “I’m speaking to the three of you hiding there.”
A startled gasp answered him. After a beat, one by one three men revealed themselves from behind a rock.
“P-please spare me,” one sobbed, tears in his eyes. Two others followed, shaken and terrified.
“…What are those guys?” Ono wondered. Where had the monster gone, and why did beggars appear instead?
Daniel stepped forward. “Did you perhaps see any monsters here?”
“M-monsters?” The man trembled, shaking his head. “We didn’t see any. A monster?”
“Don’t lie. We clearly saw and heard things outside.” Ono’s sour expression made them swallow hard. “W-we really…”
Hamel cut them off. Calm, as if stating a fact, he said, “You couldn’t have seen them.”
“…Why?” Ono asked.
Hamel answered, blunt and certain: “Because they are that monster.”
