In an age so distant it could only be called ancient, a single monster was born into the world. Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that it simply appeared.
The monster possessed overwhelming power from the moment of its birth, yet it had nothing else to its name. It lacked a fixed form, appearing only as a haze of black smoke—hollow and empty. It was as if the void itself had manifested as a physical shape, endowed with power but devoid of substance. And so, the monster began its search.
First, it sought a form. Then, it sought a heart. One by one, as if fumbling through a total darkness, it traveled the world in search of meaning.
One might have called it a walking disaster. The monster touched many things, saw many places, and eventually, a thought began to take root:
The world was full of impurities.
It was not simple, but complex; it was hopelessly unstable and exasperatingly vast. As the monster traveled, those impurities gradually settled within its empty shell, accumulating over time.
How many years passed? After spending an eternity wandering the world and gathering these impurities, the monster returned to its birthplace and looked upon the world once more.
This world is full of impurities. It is neither pure nor rational; it is uncertain and fragile. It is a flickering, changing thing, much like a single living being.
And yet, that is exactly why this world is so beautiful—and so precious.
Silver-white hair swayed in the breeze, and golden eyes reflected the horizon. The heart that had finally taken shape through those many impurities manifested as a gentle smile.
The monster—who could have easily destroyed the world—began to walk once more. It had gained a form and forged a heart. Defining its name as Kuromueina—a collection of impurities—it began to carve out a new path.
The story bearing that name—the tale of "The One Who Was a Monster"—began when she reached out to a young child who closely resembled her former self.
"Let's go together!"
"..."
Taking the child into her arms and bestowing the name 'Ein' as the first name she ever gave, the demon known as Kuromueina was born into the world in the truest sense.
There was a certain High-ranking Demon named Kuromueina. Despite possessing vast power, she was indifferent to wealth or authority; she was an elusive creature, as if the concept of freedom itself had put on clothes and started walking.
"Oh, that looks delicious! Give me one, please."
"Coming right up!"
In a bustling city of Humankind as the New Year approached, Kuromueina purchased a skewer from a stall and gazed at the lively streetscape, eating with gusto.
Kuromueina often appeared in various towns like this to sightsee or go on food tours. It was a rare hobby for a High-ranking Demon of a Unique Species. Most established territories, commanded subordinates, and rarely ventured out themselves, but Kuromueina loved interacting with the world in this way.
Since she lacked a fixed "original" form, Kuromueina changed her appearance to that of a boy or a young man depending on her mood. Furthermore, she usually wore Information Concealment Magic so as not to cause an uproar with her reasonably well-known name. Because of this, the people walking the streets never realized that the girl strolling with a skewer in one hand was a legendary demon.
However, for those who knew her well, seeing her in her favorite form—that of a young girl—was an immediate sign that she was in an excellent mood.
Kuromueina was an eccentric in many ways.
Although she was a High-ranking Demon, she kept no formal subordinates. She did not discriminate against or look down upon other races like Humankind or Gods, and she spoke lightheartedly with street stall owners as if they were old friends.
This was solely because, despite any differences in power, she loved this world and those who lived in it from the bottom of her heart. That was why she loved wandering the streets and watching the world as it gradually changed.
Of course, she had her own preferences. Her favorite form was her current one, and though it was rare, she sometimes took on the appearance of a Magic Beast when she was in a foul mood. She loved sweets, particularly those small enough to eat while walking.
Regarding others, she generally loved everyone regardless of their personality, though she had no patience for those who went out of their way to hurt others.
Yes, there were many things she liked, and conversely, the things she hated were extremely few. Yet, among that wide range of affection, there was one thing she favored above all else.
"Oh?"
Kuromueina stopped in her tracks. Ahead of her, near a large fountain, stood a young man.
His hair was black with a faint tint of brown. His features were neither particularly handsome nor ugly. He was somewhat thin, though not unhealthy, and possessed an average height of around 170cm. He was a person to whom the word "ordinary" applied perfectly, for better or for worse. Yet, as Kuromueina stared at him, she whispered:
"...A fledgling."
Her expression was like that of a child who had found a favorite toy, yet also like a mother looking upon a beloved child.
A fledgling. This was how Kuromueina sometimes described others. It was never intended as a mockery; rather, for her, it was a term of the highest endearment.
The young man’s eyes scanned his surroundings with a hint of anxiety, and the subtleties of the emotions deep within them... they were the same as her former self, back when she possessed nothing. To her, this was the most beautiful thing in the world.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Kuromueina stepped toward him. She bypassed the recognition inhibition magic placed upon him while ensuring her own Information Concealment Magic did not affect his perception.
"Is something wrong? You look like you're in trouble."
With a beaming smile, she called out to the young man, heartfully enjoying this encounter with someone who so closely resembled her old self.
As she tenderly stroked the head of that same young man—Kaito—who now slept soundly on her lap, Kuromueina wore a smile of pure affection.
He was a dear, innocent fledgling who still knew nothing—her current favorite existence in all the world.
"Little by little, you're changing," she whispered softly.
She loved nothing more than those who were empty but still sought something for their hearts... the fledglings who wished to soar through the sky and searched for wings, even if they didn't yet know how to find them.
"Kaito-kun... when your feathers finally grow in and you soar into the sky one day, I wonder what kind of beautiful wings you'll show me? I'm so looking forward to it, I can hardly contain myself."
To her, a fledgling was an existence of infinite potential. They sought something with an empty heart, eventually found it, and turned it into wings to flap toward the great horizon.
She loved watching that transformation from up close more than anything else.
She shifted her gaze slightly, looking back on the many "former fledglings" she had known.
The High-ranking Demon who had taken the first name she ever gave, and who desired to stay by her side longer than anyone else.
The Lich who had gained vast knowledge and now flourished in countless fields.
The Fairy who had left her familiar home to fly innocently through the natural world.
The Ogre who had come to terms with the days he was called an anomaly and now laughed with bold confidence.
The human who had obtained the answer they sought and chosen to become a demon.
Though their forms differed, they were all precious family members who had gained beautiful wings and now flew through the endless sky of the world.
There was a certain High-ranking Demon named Kuromueina—an eccentric who possessed immense power and a deep, warm kindness; a being who loved a world that was full of impurities and flickered with uncertainty.
She gazed upon her beloved world today as she always did, offering a silent blessing to the people living there. As if giving thanks for the impurities that continued to fill the void she was born from, her face was bright with a smile of pure, maternal love.