“Grandma. Read me this picture book today! “
When a young boy pulled out a picture book from the bookshelf, and presented it to Camilla, a grandmother who was knitting on a chair.

"──this one again? Mikhail really likes this story. "
When Camilla stopped her hand, she received the picture book from his small hand. It"s Mikhail"s favorite picture book that he has read hundreds of times before.

As if to prove it, the frayed part is quite noticeable. The cover is particularly bruised, and the picture drawn is barely noticeable.
But Camilla still remembers it clearly. A jet black sword was placed on the hilt, of a person looking somewhere far away was drawn.
── Hero of Duvedirica. That is the t.i.tle of this picture book.
"I love it! that"s because this is the strongest hero amongst the picture books I have! “
Saying that Mikhail energetically moved his small limbs while breathing. he seems to be imitating the hero appearing in the picture book. Camila"s cheeks naturally loosened up seeing this lovely figure.

At least once in a lifetime, all boys have a longing for heroes. Mikhail is no exception.
"Now Mikhail . sit here I"ll read the story for you.
When Camilla encouraged him to sit on her lap, Mikhail sits down with a smile. his high body temperature peculiar to children was transmitted over his back.
“quickly quickly! “

Mikhail raises his face while making his feet flutter. Camilla opened the first page while gently stroking his silver thread-like hair.
“Once upon a time, there was a girl raised by a grim reaper–“
This is a story about a girl who was once called the jet-black hero.
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The start of a great tale is never trivial.
Further inside a remote forest. A deep forest so dark it felt like daytime never came, with a large number of trees lined up as if trying to pierce the heavens. Furthermore, as if to hide the existence of the forest itself, a deep fog is always present.
Since a long time ago, people called its name with fear and awe.
── Forest of no return.
Once you enter the forest, it"s the end. No matter how good your sense of direction is it"s impossible for you to get out, hence the name was given. A brave man who heard the rumor tried to enter it, only to never be seen again by anyone.
Now no one even dared to go near the outskirts of the forest.
In the middle of the forest lays A tower-like building with black shining stones neatly laid on it, with layers of moss and coc.o.o.ns enhancing its solemnity.
In addition, there are six huge black stone pillars with intricate patterns engraved around the building.
However, three of them were already partially destroyed a long time ago. The remaining pillars are cracked everywhere, it wouldn"t be strange if it suddenly crumbled and fell at any moment.
It was A temple that was called the gate of the underworld in ancient times.
There A baby wrapped in a blood-stained cloth somehow slept near the entrance of a temple so old n.o.body even knew it existed .near it was a b.l.o.o.d.y man leaning on the pillar. in his hand was a sword with its blade missing.
The forest is a world dominated by beasts. there a sweet-scented baby and a human corpse with a b.l.o.o.d.y smell are considered a delicacy it wouldn"t be strange if the inhabitants crowded over it. However, in reality, not to mention the appearance beasts, you can"t even hear the birds cry.
It"s as if all the living creatures around the temple had fallen asleep. To put it badly, it was wrapped in an eerie silence.
From the deep dark corners, Three shadows are approaching the temple. When a Shadow noticed the presence of the baby and the man, he stopped moving.
"what"s with that stray child? I"m having a bad feeling about her. the Shrine had traces of ritual shelf ( 律家棚 ? ). although the man had become a spiritual cup and couldn"t be helped. the baby is still alive and well”
another Shadow peeked at the baby and corpse alternately, whispering.
"it"s covered in blood… her soul seems pretty weak–without anyone to protect her she won"t be able to resist any beast out there. I think it would be better if we end her life now"
without warning, a shadow swung its scythe towards the baby"s heart.
However, another shadow took a gesture to reach out and stop the orbit of the scythe. Just before the blade touches the baby, the scythe scattered.
“… why did you stop me? wanna have a fight with me? “
"No, wait. let me take care of the baby for a while I wanna observe it”
"your bad habit from before is showing up again huh. what"s so fun in observing a human child anyway? … good lord, fine have it your way “
After saying that, two of the shadows suddenly disappeared as if they melted on the ground. the remaining shadow approached the baby without making any sound, he gently holds the baby with his swinging arms.
The baby"s eyes opened as if it were timed. her clear jet-black eyes reflected the shadows image.
When she looked at the shadows for a while, she smiled.
“Hum. I hope there"s a real reason for me to observe you”
He saw An amber jewel on the baby"s neck. While staring alternately at the gem and the smiling baby, the shadow nodded to himself.