"I'm sorry to have scared you. But we don't intend to harm any of you. My name is Mujika, and this is Sonju. We don't eat humans."

That was the first time you met him—the enigmatic demon with piercing eyes. And that was certainly the first time he encountered so many humans, especially young ones, deep in the forest.

He couldn't remember the last time he stumbled upon humans, let along their young. You were from the farms, yet you escaped. A feat no human has accomplished before. He couldn't recall the last time he stumbled upon humans, let alone their young. Your species rarely ventured far, and those who did rarely survived.

True to their word, Mujika and Sonju left you and the orphans unharmed. They fed you, guided you out of the forest, and even shared their wisdom. After consuming Mujika's blood, Sonju's hunger for human flesh waned, replaced by a lingering nostalgia for the hunt.

But you were different—curious, adventurous, and unafraid, just like the others but so very different. Sonju watched from afar, intrigued by your frequent returns to the forest.

Why did you keep coming back?

Humans were complicated, and as a part-demon, he struggled to understand. Years passed, and Sonju found himself following you, leaving food baskets in the trees. It was an odd ritual, but one he enjoyed. You'd find the baskets, and he'd sense your gratitude.

Today was no exception. He had left a selection of juicy wild berries in the usual spot for you.

As he observed from a distance, Sonju realized his feelings for you went beyond mere curiosity. He had grown attached, and that was a problem.