Little Pink Starfish

Once again, Asher was in the darkness. He looked around, but there was nothing in sight.

As he started walking, he spotted someone crouching in the distance. As he got closer, he realized it was a small child.

— What are you doing here?

“Everyone hates me.”

— Why?

“My brothers think it would have been better if I was never born. Father doesn’t care about me at all.”

— That’s not true.

“…And also, beastmen’s ancestors used to eat humans. They started the war. They’re savage creatures.”

— …Wars aren’t caused by just one side.

“…I hate everyone. I’ll become king and make them all regret it. I’ll drive all the beastmen out of my country.”

— Why would you say that?

“Because…”

— Because?

“I have to. If I don’t, I’ll be killed.”

— Who told you that!?

“…I just wanted to get along with my father and brothers…”

— Tell me! Who said that to you!?

“…I don’t actually want to expel the beastmen… But I’m scared… They try to eat me in my dreams.”

— It’s just a dream!

“…No, no, no! I hear them everywhere. They yell at me. They scold me all the time… It’s too loud… Too loud!”

— Who is doing this to you!? Tell me!

“…I don’t know. It makes me anxious. I don’t want to think about anything…”

— Wait!!

“…No one listens to my voice.”

The boy curled up, his figure growing more and more distant.

That child—was me, Asher.

---

A loud voice rang out in the distance.

Asher tried to open his eyes, but they would barely open. The sounds gradually became clearer.

“Enough, Gallan. You’re going to kill him.”

“Shut up! I’ll keep beating him until he dies.”

“We’re already in trouble for kidnapping the prince without the boss’s permission. If we kill the Black Knight, we’ll be executed too… He wasn’t even part of the plan.”

Asher couldn’t see, but the one scolding the tiger beastman, Gallan, was likely the wolf beastman.

Gallan clicked his tongue in irritation and fell silent.

Finally, Asher’s vision cleared. He was in the dark. He didn’t know where he was, nor how much time had passed since he lost consciousness.

Theodore… Where is Theodore?

Near where Gallan stood, someone lay collapsed. Squinting, Asher realized—it was Theodore.

“…Theo…dore.”

His throat was dry, making it hard to speak.

“Oh? You finally woke up. You stayed unconscious, so getting you out of the castle was easy.”

“…What did you do to Theodore?”

“Gallan just played with him a little so he couldn’t move. We’re almost at our hideout.”

At the same time, Asher noticed the rattling motion around him—he was inside a wagon.

“Theodore! Are you okay!?”

“…Your… Highness… I’m… fine…”

Theodore coughed as he spoke, making Asher go pale. Blood was flowing from his head. He was not fine.

His heart pounded with terror.

Because of me… I dragged Theodore into this… Because of me…

Seeing Asher tremble, the wolf beastman let out a snort.

“So this weakling is a prince of Dias? He’s nothing compared to Murofsa’s royalty.”

“No kidding.”

Murofsa—a nation where beastmen were still enslaved.

“Murofsa is garbage, but I’d rather die than take orders from someone this weak.”

The wolf beastman grabbed Asher’s chin, forcing him to look up.

“But you are beautiful… You look delicious.”

“Barf, you sure love humans. I wouldn’t touch one.”

“If I had a mate, I wouldn’t either. But this is just for fun. Pin them down, break them with force… It feels amazing.”

The wolf beastman—Barf—ran his tongue over Asher’s lips. A shudder of disgust ran through Asher’s body.

“No…!”

The sickly-sweet scent made him nauseous. He tried to turn his head away, but he couldn’t move.

At that moment, Theodore, who had been motionless, suddenly tackled Barf, shielding Asher with his body.

“Damn it! You still have this much strength!?”

Barf kicked Theodore hard in the back, but Theodore didn’t budge, refusing to move from atop Asher.

“Theodore… Stop…”

“…”

“I’m fine… If you keep this up, you’ll—”

There was no way he was fine. Trembling, Asher felt like he was about to throw up from fear and disgust.

“You bastards, knock it off! We’ve arrived at the hideout. Think of how you’re going to explain this—oh…”

The lion beastman who had been yelling suddenly fell silent.

The wagon stopped. The lion beastman mumbled something beyond the canvas.

Suddenly, light poured in as the covering was thrown open.

A massive figure, as large as a mountain, loomed over them.

“What is the meaning of this, Leor… Gallan… Barf?”

A deep, animalistic growl followed the voice. The towering bear beastman’s golden eyes gleamed as he looked at Asher.

Asher had seen bear beastmen before, but never one this gigantic.

“Boss… Barf and Gallan were the ones responsible… I—”

“Leor! Don’t try to blame me!”

“Shut up, Gallan… That’s not the point. Why is the Third Prince here? Who ordered this?”

“The boss was getting soft.”

Asher silently watched their exchange. His mind was preoccupied with Theodore, who remained limp and unmoving.

“…I told you not to act recklessly. This place is too exposed. We’ll take them inside… But first, who is this?”

The bear beastman grabbed Theodore, lifting him effortlessly. Theodore tried to resist, but his body was too battered.

“Where have I seen him before…?”

“…Let… go…”

“Boss, that’s Theodore. Dias’ Black Knight.”

“…The Black Knight…? Why is he here?”

“We ran into him while capturing the prince. He’s just a human. There’s no way he could take on three large beastmen.”

Barf grinned, but the bear beastman glared at him sharply.

“You idiots…”

“We had no choice! Besides, he’s a beastman killer. Right, Gallan?”

“He killed my brother.”

“That was your own reckless plan. I told you to stop. You went ahead with it, and your brother died. That’s on you.”

Barf clicked his tongue, looking away. Gallan scowled, clearly dissatisfied.

“…The Black Knight is tied up and beaten to a pulp. He won’t be able to fight back. But just to be sure… Restrain him further.”

Theodore was roughly thrown out of the wagon, and the beastmen outside immediately bound him with iron shackles.

Then, the bear beastman turned to Asher.

“Since you’re already here… Welcome, Prince Asher of Dias.”

Barf yanked Asher to his feet.

The area outside was a fortress made of stone, surrounded by dense forest.

“You won’t escape, no matter what you try.”

Asher was bound tightly, and Barf deliberately ran a hand down his back.

“You should worry less about the Black Knight and more about yourself.”

Asher’s blood ran cold.

Barf grinned.

“Everyone here knows what you did to beastmen. They’ve all been waiting to meet you.”

The beastmen’s eyes glinted—not with hatred, but with something far worse.

Murderous intent.

Asher gasped, his whole body trembling.

He had seen many different expressions directed at him before—fearful, hateful, filled with disgust.
But the gazes of these beastmen were different.

They held no fear or respect for him as a prince.

They knew they could kill him without hesitation.

The realization sent a chill through Asher’s body.

What are they going to do to me?
What is going to happen now?

Fear consumed his thoughts, leaving him paralyzed.