Looks like I'm in a small, nameless town in the outskirts of the Beastin kingdom, Savania.
This world has two major regions. The holy region, and the unholy region, the holy region being on the northern side of the world, and the unholy region being on the opposite side. We are currently in the latter.
There also seem to be two types of races. The blessed races, which reside in the holy region. And the cursed races, which reside in the unholy region. The blessed races usually just consist of humans, but there can also be: dwarves, fairies, divine dragons, and elves. Meanwhile, the cursed races usually consist of everything that is not human, but there can also be dark elves, dark fairies, dark dwarves.
Alex, in which one of these two regions do I fit?
[Your existence is a mystery in this world, you possess both God's blessing and the demon king's curse. making you fit in either both regions or neither of the two.]
I don't know how to feel about that, it kind of reminds me of my previous life.
"By the way, why would you, a human, save a beastin village? (Denzal)
"Oh me? I'm not human, I'm a homunculus."
"Please, don't make such scary jokes, haha" one of the elders said trying to laugh what I just said off.
"hmm, I really am a homunculus though." as I took off my shirt to show them my mannequin-like body."
"M-m-monster!"
The villager's faces were screaming out fear and hatred. Did I say anything shouldn't have? Are Homunculi taboo in this world? They all ran away with terrified looks on their faces. Deema didn't move an inch though, nor did she look afraid.
After everybody except for Deema, ran out of the Denzal's hut, I felt a painful silence and started tearing up.
I'm scared that in this world, I won't fit in anywhere either. I don't want to live another life like my last…
I don't want to be alone again.
All of the villagers ran away once they found out I'm a homunculus.
Because of the fear I have of my future and past, I fall to my knees. This time, I don't think I'll be able to hide my tears. I'll break.
Tears start rolling down my cheeks as I'm making ugly crying sounds, my eyes are closed and my head is facing down.
"Why… why me, God? Why do you I have to be alone again? I say as I punch the ground.
While crying and cursing, I suddenly feel 2 small arms embracing me from behind.
"Don't be sad, big sis. You're not alone, I'm not scared of you."
It was Deema's voice, and also Deema's arms, that embraced me.
"…"
I tilt my head back up, and wipe my tears, although my eyes are still watery. I look at Deema and notice her eyes were also watering.
I stand up and put my hand on her head.
"I'm sorry you had to see me like that, Deema. Thank you."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry… I asked you to save the village and this is what you get in return."
"hehe, It's alright." I'm honestly still pretty frustrated, but it's alright. I don't want to make a kid like her worry about me any more than she already has.
"Oh, by the way, I'm Amon, and I'm a guy."
I just had to tell her, being called big sis makes me feel even less manly than I already am, hehe.
Her face turned red out of embarrassment. "Oh, sorry.. I didn't notice. She let out.
Doesn't that make it worse?!
"…"
"What will you do now, Amon?"
"Hmmm, I don't know… for now, I'll start by leaving this village."
She's looking at me as if she's got something to say.
"And what will you do after that?" She says
"I guess I'll go on an adventure and explore this world, there's still so much I don't know about it."
"Amon…"
Deema looks sad, is it because I'm leaving?
"Please take me with you, Amon." She said, after a silence that probably felt very long for her.
"Huh, what do you mean?"
"I meant what I said, I want to leave this village with you."
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes, I've made up my mind. I'll do anything to be useful to you, and I promise I won't hold you back."
I don't know what to say, I have to be careful with my words because it looks like she has another reason for wanting to leave this village.
"…"
"Also… I'm worried you'll feel lonely again. I know what it's like to be lonely, so if we stay together we'll never have to feel that way again." She added.
"What about the village?" I ask her, to test her determination.
"I don't have any family here, and I don't know my parents. the village leader found under a nearby tree. when I was 2 years old, I've stayed in this village ever since, but I actually always wanted to go on an adventure to find out who my parents are. I'm sure they're still alive."
So that's why she wants to leave hmm, she wants to find her parents and learn more about herself.
"Still, won't you miss the people from this village?"
"No, I won't. I've known them for 10 already and they've never been as kind to me in those 10 years, as you have been to me in just 1 day. I also feel safer with you."
I'm happy that there's someone that needs me, but I want to be responsible about this.
Alex, what do you think?
[She is a fox-type beastin, they're apparently quite rare and they show a lot of potential, having her tag along may not be a bad idea. Also, she seems to have gotten quite attached to you already.]
Hmm, you're right. Thanks, Alex.
"Good, you can come with me. I'll allow you to accompany me on my adventure, but I'm warning you now, I'll work you to death."
She jumped in my arms as soon as she heard that.
Heh?! Didn't I just tell her I'd work her to death?
"Amon's kind of like a big brother." She said as she hugged me tighter.
It must have been hard for her to grow up without a family. She did grow up with the people here in this village, but to be honest, they didn't really seem like the type of people you'd want your child to grow up with. I guess I'll try to be a good brother figure for her so that she'll have at least one less thing to worry about.
"Let's go, Deema."
"…"
I just left the village, Yesterday, I was still wandering these lands alone, so I'm glad that today, I'll be continuing my adventure with a companion.
"Are you sure you want to leave without saying goodbye? You still have time."
"It's alright, Let's focus on our own adventure for now."
"You're very strong for such a little girl aren't you." And I really meant that. She was the only one that took initiative to look for help when her village was being attacked, and she is already able to leave the people who raised her for a greater ambition of hers, I'm sure she'll grow up to be a fine woman."
Her face turned red "I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm already 12 years old you know."
"Hahaha, you should enjoy being young while you still are."
"By the way, how old are you, Amon?"
"Hmm, good question… How old am I? I guess I'm only 3 days old."
"Hmmm, so you want to hide your age hmmm, you must be pretty old then…"
I feel like I just popped a vein in my forehead out of frustration. Damn it, she's sharp for a little girl.
[pffht] Alex chuckled.
"I don't even want to try to imagine how many years you've been around for already, you idiot."
[Technically, we're the same age, considering I am part of you.]
"Stop trying to sound smart already, you shitty fantasy A.I."
[Sorry, I do not know what an A.I. is. My name is Ale-]
"Alexandria yes yes, I know."
Tsk, who gave me a skill with such an attitude…Wait don't answer that.
[hmph.]
"hmm? Who's Alex"
OH… I forgot she was here. I'm not used to traveling with someone. I don't want anyone to find out about Alex so in the future I guess I'll have to keep my conversations with Alex in my head.
"Oh, ehmm don't worry about it."
"Hmmm, if Amon says so…"
According to Denzal's information, the capital of Savania is northward, and the closest neighboring country is Crasmere, which is a 3-day walk southward.
Crasmere is a country where every race is allowed to come, It's a place where mostly merchants and adventurers live. I'd like to go there and register to the Adventurers' Guild so I can start earning money by killing monsters and doing quests.
"Hey Deema, those adventurers that attacked your village, do you think they're from Crasmere?"
"Yea, they probably were, why do you ask?"
"Well, my first destination is Crasmere, I want to register as an adventurer so I can start earning money."
"Oooh, sounds fun, I'll help you!"
"I don't think you understand, those adventurers that attacked your village, probably did so because you're beastin, you know... So if any of the adventurers notice you in Crasmere, you'll be in a lot of danger."
"Yea, I know… humans hate beastin."
I feel bad for being so direct towards Deema, but she's not in that little village anymore, so I must prepare her for the cruel world she has yet to discover.
"That's why I want you to wear a disguise when we're in Crasmere. You could get in trouble if anyone sees your ears or your tail."
I wish I could confidently tell her I'd protect her no matter what, but I don't know how much stronger the adventurers in the city will be compared to those I killed In that village. I'm also not yet completely confident in my own skills.
"Oh don't worry about that, I already had a solution in mind for that," Deema says as she put her hands on her hips and then tilts her head up, she's probably waiting for me to praise her.
"Y-you did?" I'm surprised that she was already thinking that far ahead. She really is an impressive little girl.
"Yea, watch me"
Deema suddenly transformed into a fox that was small enough to sit on my shoulder.
"YOU CAN TRANSFORM?!"
"When we're in Crasmere, I'll keep this form and I'll act as your familiar."
"AND YOU CAN SPEAK?!"
I can't believe my eyes, I'm actually talking to an animal right now.
"Of course I can, we've been talking all day, haven't we?"
"Y-yea..."
Oh yeah, this is probably normal in this world.
[False, Beastin are usually only able to transform into a more beast-like form, Deema seems to be an exception, she really does have potential after all.]
How is she able to fully transform then? What is she?
[Deema is probably what you'd call, a true beastin, they're beastin who have full control over the beast version of themselves and thus, are able to do a full transformation.]
Hmmm, that sounds impressive... Wait, is Deema actually amazing?
"..."
Anyway… I'm gonna have to hide the fact I'm a homunculus as well, I want to lay low so it's better if I avoid causing another scene.
[If you want to change the fact that you're a homunculus, you should do something about that vicious aura of yours.]
Aura? What's that?
[The aura is the essence of every living creature. It's a form of spiritual energy that stays around the body and it's visible to everyone who is able to focus magic in their eyes.]
Then, the reason those people in the village didn't know I'm a homunculus is that they can't focus their magic in their eyes?
[In the case of that village, they didn't even have magic. Deema was the only one in that village with magic.]
Is magic rare?
[No, it's not. In bigger cities, most people are able to use magic.]
Hmm, that's interesting, anyway is there anything I can do about my aura?
[No, but I'll try to create a passive spell that hides your aura right now.]
After a minute of hearing Alex spit out a bunch of magical-sounding words. Alex finally said
[Passive skill: Hide aura, completed.]
Great, is my aura hidden now?
[No, I just finished creating the spell. Now we have to actually use it on you.]
/absconde ab oculis
[Aura successfully hidden.]
Woah, Alex just made a brand new spell and used it on me in only a matter of minutes. She's pretty amazing as well, isn't she?
[Hmpht, Of course I am.]