"Your stubbornness leads you not to the goal, but to the grave."

His voice sounded with the softness inherent to Akaza. He stood three meters away from her, according to the habit ingrained over the years, not approaching a woman's body, fearing that he might accidentally cause pain. Why this demon forbade himself to even hurt any woman on refusal, she did not understand. And why did she have to think about the terrible demonic credo? If she had her way, she would never have caught his eye, but "luck" persistently brought them together in this damned forest near her village.

"The road down was washed away, you will roll there like a barrel. Stand under the crown of this tree and wait out the rain."

Akaza's voice rustled behind her again, muffled by the noise of the rain. He covered his face with wagasa, walking barefoot as always on the wet ground. The story of how they met was chaotic and vague, and she doesn't know him at all. Only a fool would decide to get involved with a demon. Because they are monsters, beasts. But for some reason, this monster has been in no hurry to justify his status for three long months.

"Stop or I'll bite you."