"Kes, hand me the long knife for butchering."

"This ghoul’s hide is seriously thick."

"Brrr, Alice, could you light a fire?"

"Eh? It’s not even dusk yet. We might be pulling an all-nighter tonight."

"If I start now, my mana should last till morning, Mr. Lem."

"Amazing! Your mana pool’s grown again, little Alice!"

"At this rate, we could stay cozy in the forest 24/7."

"Lem, step up your game or Alice’ll steal your spot as the team mage."

Ever since Lem bought me that crimson pendant magic tool, my Dark Magic Fire skills skyrocketed. Plus, whenever Elaine Maid brought Yulia to Master Dwayne’s shop to teach me literacy, they’d also drill me on magic. Now I could shape flames with precision and sustain them at minimal mana cost. I could even conjure seven fireballs at once—floating guardians shielding our hunting party from ambushes in the woods.

My Self Appraisal now showed fresh updates:

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Race: Ghoul Hybrid

Status: Rampage Cursed Goatling, Logic—Infected by White Spider Larva

Skills: Great Ghoul Tongue, Self Appraisal, Rampage Ghostification, Hunting, Dark Magic Fire, Low-Tier Word Spirit

Mana: 13/15

Titles: Corpse Eater, Rabbit Slayer, Flame Manipulator

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"Flame Manipulator" must be Self Appraisal’s seal of approval. After three months of grilling Miss Elaina on Word Spirit basics, I’d finally unlocked a new skill.

"Stop slacking, Kes! Chop off that horn."

"This thing’s rock-hard. Let’s just eat dinner first."

"Alice is hungry too!"

"Well, if even little Alice says so... cooking time."

"So my opinion doesn’t matter?"

"Shut it, Kes. Hand me the pot before I shut it for you."

Over a year had passed since I first met Marn’s quartet. I’d mastered basic speech and settled into their hunter rhythm. Three were locals from nearby villages; only Kes hailed from the North. Yet their personalities clashed wildly.

Marn, the oldest ex-mercenary, was the team’s strongest fighter—and strictest disciplinarian. Kes, meanwhile, never dropped his clown act: cracking dumb jokes to rile Marn, dodging chores. Lem, despite his rugged face, had delicate hands. He claimed to be the weakest fighter, yet he was the team’s backbone: mage, tracker, medic, negotiator, tailor, and chef.

Then there was Kes—the self-proclaimed "charming bachelor saving for his sweetheart back home." He flirted shamelessly with every woman in camp and town, even targeting me despite my five-year-old appearance.

"Alice-chan, wanna hug?"

"No! I’m busy with the fire."

"Kes, get out of my kitchen!"

"Fine, fine. Kes, let’s finish this horn before dinner."

"Hah! Since when did you grow a sense of humor?"

They treated me as both living heater and apprentice. My unnatural agility made me useful for ghoul hunts and material recovery. Gray bears still stalked me—specialized ghoul-eaters drawn by my scent—but they kept their distance from the hunters. So I’d slip out at night during Kes’ sleepy watch shifts to eliminate threats. Revealing my Ghoul Transformation would mean exile... and no more of Lem’s feasts.

We circled the fire devouring venison—the forest’s finest.

"Lem’s cooking’s improved again."

"Marry him already."

"Kes, haven’t you learned your lesson?"

"Hey—day after tomorrow’s Alice’s birthday."

"Ugh, that fake date Old Man Dwayne cooked up."

"Big party back at camp tonight!"

"Eh? No need to fuss over a made-up date..."

"Nonsense. Alice’s a girl."

"Our precious daughter."

"Sounds suspiciously gay."

"I’ve got a sweetheart waiting back home. Don’t get ideas, Alice."

"What gift do you want?"

"I said it’s fine!" My cheeks burned.

"Blushing? She’s totally—" Kes teased relentlessly.

Flames surged from the campfire toward him as I glared.

"I surrender! Mercy, Alice—NO!"

Life stayed blissful for over a year.

Two days later, I napped lazily in the cabin while the hunters hauled ghoul materials to Master Dwayne’s shop. That horned ghoul was rare—we’d earn well. Drowsy thoughts faded... until Kes blindfolded me and dragged me into the main room.

"One, two, three—Happy Birthday, little Alice!"

The tiny hall was decked with decorations. A perfectly roasted turkey dominated the center. The blindfold fell away. I gaped at the bird—bigger than any deer.

"Where’d you get this?!"

"Had the Pleasure Street madam special-order it."

"And these are your new clothes from town yesterday."

"You’ve been wearing Lem’s sister’s hand-me-downs."

"Plus your cloak’s falling apart."

"Try them on!"

I took the bundle eagerly—then froze. *What is this?!* A frilly dress? Bare shoulders? Strappy top? Tights? They wanted me in this... *humiliation*? Their taste must’ve been corrupted by Elaina.

Desperate, I spun to flee—but four burly hunters pinned me instantly. Marn tackled me to the floor. Lem snatched the dress with a wicked grin. Kes gathered stockings and ribbons. Kes stripped my old clothes off with practiced ease. Trapped, teeth gritted, tears welling, I endured their "makeover."

Forced into the outfit, I presented myself with tear-streaked cheeks. They beamed like I was a rescued kitten.

--Illustration 4--

"You were cute before... but this? Next level."

"Absolutely made for you, Alice."

"If you love compliments so much—I’ve got gifts for *you*."

To mask my shame, I raised my voice and dashed outside. I pulled a gray bear’s firestone from my stash—my nightly security patrols’ trophy. Though rare, this stone dwarfed all others I’d collected.

"What’s this?"

"The fire-starting stone from those giant bears."

I placed it in Lem’s palm. They took turns channeling mana into it. Only Lem and Kes sparked flames.

"Whoa! Now I can make fire anywhere!" Kes waved his flickering palm mockingly. "Don’t worry—you two’ll get it with practice."

"Damn you, Kes..."

"Not fair..."

"Where’d you find these stones, Alice?" Marn and Lem exchanged suspicious glances.

*Predictable.* I deployed my ultimate shield:

"A girl’s secret~" I blushed, twirling away in my ridiculous dress. The tactic worked flawlessly.

"Tch. Elaina definitely dragged her into the woods again," Lem muttered. I pretended not to hear.

*Whatever. Food first.* Ignoring Lem’s grumbling, I grabbed a fork.

Kes was already tearing into the turkey. "Stop yapping! Meat’s getting cold!"

"Kes! Thief!" I lunged to claim my share.

"Oh—yesterday at Master Dwayne’s, Yulia said she wants to join our next deep-forest hunt." I gnawed a drumstick, frowning at Lem.

"Don’t worry. When I asked Elaina to pick your clothes today, she said she’d already refused Yulia."

"But taking her once wouldn’t hurt!"

"Then *I’ll* escort Miss Yulia and Elaine Maid on a deer hunt soon," Marn declared.

"Me too! Me too!" Kes leered. "Elaine Maid’s a goddess. Seriously, Lem—she was your classmate?"

"That woman’s terrifying. Don’t even *think* about her." Lem shuddered, haunted.

"Ahhh! Lem’s first love?!" Kes pounced on the scent.

"Is it true?!" I pressed forward.

"Ridiculous!" Lem snapped, scrambling to change the subject.

So the five of us spent another joyful day amidst laughter and cheerful chatter. Then, five days later, I had my first encounter with Dante.

After Alice killed a giant bear in the forest, here’s how she handled the corpse: in her Ghoul Transformation state, she set most of it on fire, roasted it directly, and ate it. Alice, she’s truly a terrifying girl, isn’t she?