Lem was a Ghoul Hunter living outside Fort Posein. He hunted Corpse Eaters for a living with three partners. In their squad, he was the de facto leader.
Today, the four hunters killed an exceptionally large Corpse Eater in Sylia Forest. On their way back to camp, they found a little girl.
Yes, even Lem found it hard to believe. But deep in the dangerous forest, they’d truly found a three- or four-year-old girl. She wore only a tattered bearskin cloak. Her silver hair was so long it nearly dragged on the ground. She seemed abandoned there for a long time.
Leaving her alone was unthinkable. Especially with abnormally powerful Corpse Eaters recently appearing in Sylia Forest. She couldn’t stay. That’s what Lem thought. So, he and his partners brought her to camp.
Now, in the living room of their wooden cabin at the forest-edge settlement, the little girl sat quietly in the center. Lem held scissors, ready to trim her excessively long hair.
“Well, it makes sense to leave haircutting to Lem,” one companion said. “He cuts all our hair anyway.”
Since all three agreed, Lem had no choice but to accept.
But it was tough. Long hair looked best on girls, yet it was impractical. Especially for hunters often entering the forest. Long hair got in the way. Short hair was better. But what style? Bangs or forehead exposed? Lem couldn’t decide. He considered asking the others, but they’d already started drinking beer, watching him with eager grins.
Sigh. Guess I’m on my own.
After much hesitation, Lem finally trimmed the excess hair. His partner Marn pulled a small copper mirror from a chest, letting the girl see her new look. Another hunter, Kedin, sneakily tried to gather all the cut strands.
“Kedin, what are you doing?”
“Oh, this beautiful silver hair might interest the girls in town…”
“You’re always thinking about women, huh?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Just as the hunters began their usual teasing, a silvery laugh rang out from the little girl.
“She seems happy with her haircut.”
“Not bad, Lem. Our handy Lem.”
“And Lem’s cooking’s great too.”
“Just like a mom.”
“Cut it out, Kedin. You name her. We can’t keep saying ‘the girl’.”
“Huh? Why me?”
“You traveled a lot before becoming a hunter in Posein. You’re the most well-traveled here.”
“And you’re always chasing women. You must know pretty names!”
Kedin walked seriously to the girl, crouched down, and studied her face. After a long moment, as if struck by inspiration, he stood up.
“Alice! Let’s call her Alice.”
“Alice? Sounds good.”
“Hmph, Alice is the middle name of a silver-haired, red-eyed Vampire from my hometown legends. It fits her perfectly.”
“Fits? Vampires? That’s bad luck!”
“How about Yonas? A Vampire Dragon Lord’s middle name. Or Yonasis? A male Vampire name?”
“Why all Vampires? Any luckier names?”
“What’s wrong with Vampires? In my hometown, everyone worships Ghostkind. I dreamed of becoming one as a kid.”
“Stop nonsense. If you were Ghostkind, we’d throw you out now!” Kes, a native, shouted.
“I recall our village was attacked by western Ghostkind long ago,” Lem remembered the ghost stories.
“Huh? Ghostkind are just rowdy, fun-loving folks to me,” said Marn, a former mercenary who’d partnered with Ghostkind.
“Story time? Tell us!” Kedin egged him on.
“That was when I was her age. A cold winter…”
“Knock it off, Kes. Decide the name first!”
“So, Lem, what do you think?”
Lem paused. “Alice sounds nice. Ignoring Kedin’s extra comments.”
“Ah, Lem, thanks for backing me!”
“Fine, Alice it is,” Kes gave in. “No one we know has that name.”
Lem walked to the girl. He bent down and patted the head of the silver-haired, red-eyed child sitting obediently on a small stool. “From now on, your name is Alice. Be a good girl.”
Hmm, Alice probably didn’t understand the common human tongue yet. Lem silently wondered how to teach her. Among the hunters, only he knew the Ghostkind dialect from Ares Mountain. The teaching job would fall to him.
