Japan… 1854… a warm, sunny day. In a small village near the magic forest, life flowed on as villagers tended to crops and livestock. Just as their routine settled, a threat emerged: the banshee.

Banshees are a kind of fairy in Irish folklore, known for foreshadowing death. They prowl among trees or fly above the treetops, emitting screams that blend sounds of wild geese, a crying child, and a howling wolf, signaling impending death for a family member.

As misfortune struck the village and villagers began to die under mysterious circumstances, panic ensued. They turned to major cities in Japan for help. In response to their desperate pleas, one of the best hunters was dispatched — Loki.

Loki worked as a butcher in his spare time, slaughtering cattle with precision. Before he could recover from his last grim task, he found himself unexpectedly sent on a camping trip to this troubled village.

Without a chance to wash the blood from his hands, he hurriedly packed his belongings and set off early one morning. By lunchtime, he was deep in the forest, encountering creatures: fairies, elves, dwarves, and other magical beings as he passed a beautiful pond shimmering in the sunlight.

He dropped his heavy bag and bent down to the pond to cleanse himself. But when he raised his head, he gasped at the sight of a face poking out of the water just a few centimeters away, looking at him curiously with captivating eyes. It was a nymph. Judging by its appearance, very few nymphs were left in the world, perhaps around a hundred. The creature had feminine allure but displayed masculine features, suggesting it was a male nymph.

"Most likely a nymph…" Loki muttered, unable to tear his gaze from the enchanting figure. For reasons he couldn't understand, he felt drawn to the nymph, and a tense silence enveloped them, filled with unspoken thoughts and questions.

Nymphs are the deities of nature in Greek mythology, often depicted as young maidens, embodying life-giving forces of the Earth.