I was born in a quiet countryside surrounded by horses and grasslands.
From childhood, it was normal for everyone to ride horses and herd sheep, and I thought that life would go on like this forever.
As the daughter of the tribal chief, I was taught that one day I wouldn’t just herd sheep—I’d become a great warrior who could fight humans and monsters alike. So I trained hard.
Life with everyone was fun, and I was happy.
But those days ended all too soon.
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“Run faster! Please, Rize!”
My best friend Luna, who had been protecting me, grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.
The tents were burning, the horses and sheep were dying, and so were the people.
Men with monstrous faces were destroying everything, shouting loudly.
I was so scared I couldn’t move, but thanks to Luna forcefully pulling me, I somehow managed to get outside.
“Luna, why… why is this happening…?”
“It’s the Kingdom’s army! If we stay here, everyone will be killed…! You have to escape, or our tribe will be completely wiped out!”
“But… what about everyone else…?”
“Just run!! They’re wearing armor, so they’re slow. If you ride a horse, you can escape!”
“Luna… are you coming with me…?”
Luna’s face stiffened at my question.
“Of course.”
“Then… I’ll go…”
It was terrifying, painful, and heartbreaking…
But if Luna was with me…! We had grown up together since we were kids, so surely the two of us could make it through anything…
“There! The stable!”
“Y-yeah…!”
Just a little further ahead, the stable came into view. Gasping for breath, we ran across the grassland and finally reached it.
Now we could finally…!
“Hey! There’s a girl over there!”
A rough male voice rang out.
We must’ve been spotted.
We were so close…!
“Haa… haa…”
Breathing heavily, I ran as fast as I could.
Through the burning fields filled with smoke, the men chased after us.
“Rize, listen!”
“…What?”
“I’m going to let go of your hand now. Don’t look back—just keep running!”
“What do you mean?!”
“Just do it!!”
Luna shouted at the top of her lungs.
I understood exactly what she meant.
“No! Together…!!”
“Just go, quickly!!”
Luna shook off my hand.
No, no…!
“Sorry to interrupt such a touching moment, but both of you are going to help line our pockets.”
Several men emerged from the stable in front of us.
They all wore disgusting grins on their faces.
I felt utterly repulsed and wanted to run away immediately…
“I’ll do anything, so just take me instead…”
“Do you think we’ll let that happen?”
Luna fell silent.
Before I knew it, several men had surrounded us.
There was no way we could escape.
I was so scared… so scared…
“Well, behave yourselves.”
“Let go of me…!”
“Stop it…!”
The men caught us and tied us up with ropes.
After a while, even more disgusting-looking fat men arrived.
They paid some money and took us away into their carriages.
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How much time had passed since then…?
We were brought to a big town in a carriage, stripped down to almost nothing, and locked up in a cage.
Sometimes men would look at us, and occasionally other girls would be sold off.
Since I stayed hidden in the back, no one looked at me or bought me.
The man who owned me threatened to “dispose” of me if I didn’t sell, but honestly, I didn’t care anymore.
I wonder how Luna’s doing…
She was taken away by another man and put into a different carriage, so I don’t know where she is now.
All my captured companions were already gone, leaving me alone in this cage.
Now I truly have nothing left.
Nothing remains for me… I’ll probably die quietly here soon…
“Ah! This is quite the surprise, Lord Phil! What brings you here today…?”
As I stared blankly outside as usual, a boy dressed in fine clothes stood in front of our cage.
He was unlike any of the other customers.
The shopkeeper bowed his head lower than I’d ever seen before…
“How many children are here?”
“Children…? Only that girl over there qualifies as a child.”
“Good, then I’ll buy her.”
“Understood!”
…Does he want a child because he’s looking for one?
He seems to be around my age, maybe a little older.
“Hey, get out!”
“…Yes.”
The shopkeeper opened the cage door.
I knew full well that this didn’t mean freedom.
It just meant a change of owner—I’d still be a slave forever.
So I didn’t care anymore.
“Bow and greet him!”
The shopkeeper slapped my behind.
It hurt so much tears welled up in my eyes…
“My name is… Rize… I’m ten years old…”
I struggled to speak due to nerves.
Ever since that day, it became hard for me to express myself aloud.
“Rize…? Got it. Nice to meet you.”
“Yes…”
Hmm… Is my name weird?
Well, whatever—it doesn’t matter…
“Alright, let’s proceed with the branding for the slave contract…”
“Not necessary.”
“But according to the rules…”
“I didn’t buy her as a slave. It’s not needed.”
“…Very well.”
…Not a slave…?
Then what am I?
Livestock…?
“Come on, Rize, let’s go.”
“Yes…”
As I followed behind him, the boy held out his hand.
“…?”
“Let’s hold hands as we walk.”
“O-okay…”
…I didn’t understand him at all.
That was my first impression of him.
