Yeah I’m a Monster, Got a Problem with That?

Deep within the misty forest, a single figure was running with all its might. Her pale

blue hair blended in with the mist, but the speed at which she moved sent ripples

through the fog. Despite how lightly her hair was fluttering through the wind, her

expression was anything but light. In fact, she was crying as she ran.

It was quite easy for a young girl of five to six to get lost and eaten within the Haltina

Woods, a place considered to be a den of monsters by most men. Still, there was no

worry of this particular girl getting eaten. It was hard to tell because she was

crouching, but the girl running through the fog had a splendid pair of rabbit ears

growing out of her head. She was a member of the beastman race that inhabited these

woods— a rabbit girl.

The rabbitmen were considered the weakest of the beastmen races, but in return they

had the best sense of hearing, and were skilled at hiding themselves. Even a girl like

her had very sharp ears. Few creatures could escape the notice of a rabbitman's sense

of hearing.

And this bunny girl in particular had a special ability other rabbitmen didn't possess.

Hence why there was little chance this particular girl was in any danger of dying,

especially as she was so close to her village.

As expected, the young bunny girl safely reached her village, despite her loud wailing.

The fog began to thin out as she approached. The boundaries of her hometown were

defined by a well-kept wooden fence. It was far better maintained than most other

beastmen settlements, even those that belonged to other rabbitmen tribes. The fence

posts were close enough together that one wouldn't easily be able to peek inside, and

each of them were three meters high.

Normally most rabbitmen's only options when it came to a confrontation were to run

or to hide. Both in regards to themselves, and in regards to their villages, they rarely

focused on heavy defense. As long as it could buy them enough time to run away, and

was spaced out enough to give them a good view of the situation outside, it was a good

enough fence for them.

And yet, the fence surrounding this village was surprisingly sturdy. At first glance it

appeared quite sturdy, but a closer inspection showed that the planks used to hold the

fence posts together were surprisingly fragile. It seemed almost as if this village was

focused more on making sure their fence couldn't be seen through than creating an

adequate defensive barrier.

The young bunny girl circled around the unusual fence and went inside. The

rabbitman guarding the gate said something to her as she passed by, but she ignored

him.

Many other rabbitmen called out to her as she ran past, but she ignored them all and

headed straight for her house.

"Oh my… What's wrong, Shea? Your bunny ears are drooping." The five year old bunny

girl, Shea, looked up to see an older rabbit woman come out from inside a room. She

had the dark blue hair that was characteristic of her race, and gentle eyes that belied

a powerful will. The latter was a rarity among rabbitmen.

"Mom!" Still crying, Shea leaped into her mom, Mona Haulia's, arms with a speed that

seemed unthinkable for a five year old girl.

Mona let out a very unseemly grunt as Shea barreled into her. But Shea didn't notice,

as she was too busy wiping her eyes and nose on her mother's chest.

The rabbitmen's traditional clothing was surprisingly revealing. Women wore what

was basically nothing more than a bikini and mini-skirt. For rabbitmen, wearing heavy

clothing would only get in their way when they were trying to run. The sound of

rustling clothes would alert them to their more perceptive enemies. Because of the

perpetual fog, the temperature didn't vary much year round, and there was little point

in keeping clothes that would have to be discarded if they ever had to run.

And so, Mona's cleavage was soon smeared in tears, snot, and drool. But she didn't

seem bothered by that at all. In fact, she was currently busy coping with the pain in

her stomach and making sure she didn't throw up all over her daughter.

With tears still in her eyes, Mona gently patted Shea's back and once she'd calmed

down a little asked her what was wrong.

Shea sniffled and looked up at her mother. Instead of an answer, she replied with a

question of her own.

"Mom… Am I… a monster? Am I evil?"

"…Shea."

It was rare for a girl so young to think about such terrible things, but Mona knew about

her daughter's peculiar abilities so she could guess what must have happened.

Shea's light blue hair wasn't the only thing special about her. She also had the ability

to store and manipulate mana, something no beastman should have been able to do.

Furthermore, she was even able to use special magic of her own.

Not even humans or demons could do the last two things, which were abilities unique

to monsters. And monsters were hated by all, regardless of race or nationality.

This was why the Haulia village's fence had been made to prevent anyone from seeing

inside. Her family had done their best to try and raise her inside the village, so that no

one could find out about her existence. If anyone discovered who she was, even just

among the beastmen of Verbergen, she would surely be executed.

Had Shea not been born to a tribe of rabbitmen, who were known for valuing familial

love over all else, she would surely have been executed the moment she was born. Only

the Haulia would be willing to take such risks to protect her like they had.

But no matter how much the adults tried to protect her, there was no way a curious

young child would be satisfied living in the confines of her small village. It was only

natural for her to want to explore the outside world.

"Shea… you went out again, didn't you?"

"Uuu… I'm sorry mom. But… But…"

Shea hung her head apologetically, and Mona smiled gently. Someone must have

spotted Shea on one of her excursions.

While beastmen didn't lose their sense of direction in the fog, their vision was

hampered just like with every other race. And while Shea was curious about the

outside world, she knew how much trouble it would cause her family if anyone spotted

her. Which was why she had used her innate stealth abilities, which far surpassed

many adult rabbitmen's, to stay out of sight when she left the village.

So even if anyone had spotted her, Mona doubted they'd gotten a good look at her.

Meaning there could be only one reason Shea was crying.

"A white silhouette running through the trees. No matter how quickly you chase after

it, it vanishes like an illusion before you can catch up. It must be some kind of new

monster, or perhaps an evil spirit that has haunted the forest for centuries… Is that

what you've been hearing people say about you, with those sharp little ears of yours?"

"Mom… You knew?"

Mona nodded as she softly ruffled Shea's bunny ears. She had heard the rumors her

fellow rabbitmen had been whispering about. For now it was still nothing more than

an urban legend of sorts, the kind of thing people talked about just to have something

to talk about. There were more legends about this forest than there were trees though,

so it wasn't anything to be concerned about yet.

Though of course, Shea must have been quite shocked upon hearing them for the first

time. She'd already known that she was different from the rest of her family. And she

knew she could do the same thing monsters could. She'd avoided thinking about it as

much as possible, but it was hard not to when she heard people talking about it.

Maybe I really am something different. Maybe I really am some kind of freak that isn't

monster or beastman.

Fresh tears welled up in the corners of Shea's eyes, and she sniffled. Mona gave her

daughter a look that was equal parts kind and equal parts stern, but all of it filled with

love.

"Shea, do you hate monsters?"

"Huh? O-Of course I do!"

"Why?"

"B-Because…"

Shea couldn't understand why her mom was asking this. Does mom think I'm a monster

too? She thought sadly, her bunny ears twitching. Mona gently cupped her daughter's

cheek, and looked gently into her eyes. There was a surprising amount of weight to

her gaze.

"You're afraid because you're different from everyone else. It's scary, and lonely, and

sad. I know. But you know, Shea. Mom's jealous of you. She's jealous, and she's happy

to have such a wonderful daughter."

"Why?"

"Because if you're different from everyone else, that means you can do things no one

else can. Don't you think that's amazing?"

Mona's words made no sense to Shea, and she looked around restlessly while sky blue

tears dripped from her eyes.

"Amazing? What would you do, if you were like me, mom?"

"Fufu. Weeell, your mom's always wanted to be a hero ever since she was little."

"A-A hero?"

Mona had a surprisingly weak constitution, and was sick in bed for half of each month

usually. Shea blinked in surprise as she looked up at her mother. It was an odd thing

to say, for someone as weak as her, but then Shea nodded, thinking it was very like her

to have such a wish.

"That's right, a hero. You know, I've always wanted to be someone who could protect

their family. And not just spend all my time running away or hiding. I wanted to be the

kind of person that could stand up to anything that tried to hurt the people I love." The

rabbitmen were gentle, peace-loving people. It was rare for one to be as assertive as

Mona. However, she had too weak a constitution to become the kind of person she

wanted to. Though she had a stronger will than any of her brethren, a stronger heart

than any of her family, fate had dealt her a body that was frail even by the low

standards of her already weak race. Could anything be more ironic?

But that was precisely why she had prayed.

"I had always prayed my child would be stronger than I… And Shea, you were

everything I could have hoped for. You can't imagine how happy I am to have you as a

daughter."

"Mom…"

Mona hugged her daughter fiercely, trying to convey the depth of her happiness and

pride.

"Shea. It doesn't matter if you're a beastman, or a monster, or even a freak. They're all

just words. Only you can decide what kind of person you want to become. And all that

matters is you become that person. It's precisely because you're different from a

normal rabbitman that you can become anything your heart desires."

"...…"

Shea could see from up close just how much her mother loved her. Captivated by her

gaze, Shea stared back.

Then, like a prophet, Mona started predicting the future.

"Shea. I'm sure you'll face many hardships in the future. Far more than any normal

person would. Growing up will be hard. That's what happens when you're different

from others."

"Mom…"

Shea's rabbit ears drooped and she looked around uneasily. But that wasn't the end of

Mona's prophecy.

"But I know you have the power to overcome all of them. That's why, Shea, never hate

yourself. Stay bright, stay cheerful. Blow away all those nasty things with a smile. Puff

out your chest with pride, 'I'm Shea Haulia, got a problem with that!?' As long as you

still love yourself, everything will turn out okay."

"Everything?"

"Yep, everything."

"Okay, I'll try."

"Fufu, what a good girl you are."

Her unnaturally bright hair bobbed up and down as she nodded. She decided first

she'd start by trying to love the color of her hair.

Mona's serious gaze vanished, and she smiled playfully.

"Oh yes, mom has one more prediction for you."

"?"

"One day, I'm sure you'll meet some wonderful people. It's possible they won't be

rabbitmen, or even beastmen. They might not even be from this forest… but they'll be

different, just like you, Shea."

"Just like me?"

"Yep. I'm sure you'll meet them eventually." She can't see the future like me, so why is

she so sure? Shea tilted her rabbit ears to the side quizzically.

"After all, it'd be too sad… if you were the only one of your kind in the world. The world

can be a cruel place, but it can also be a kind one. That's why, I'm sure you'll meet them

one day, Shea. People you can trust to have your back, and who will trust you to have

theirs."

"Are there really people like that outside the forest?"

"There are, I'm sure of it. Fufu. Who knows, maybe one of them will end up being your

husband."

"Fweh!? M-M-M-M-My husband!?"

"Yep, and there'll be a girl you'll fight with over who gets him that'll come to be your

best friend!"

"Fight with!?"

Mona looked like she was really enjoying herself now. The young and impressionable

Shea drunk in every word of her mother's prophecy.

She had long since forgotten her sadness at being called a monster, and talked happily

with her mom. Then Cam, who'd just returned from gathering food, and all the other

Haulia who'd seen her run past came into the house and started teasing her about her

future husband.

Cam looked a little disappointed upon hearing that Shea was already going to be

married, but both Mona and Shea ignored him. No one could have foreseen that her

supposed future husband would go on to turn the Haulia into a race of bloodthirsty

raiders. Not even Mona could see the future that accurately.

"Mmmmm…" A single girl's yawn vanished into the general tumult of the busy inn. She

stretched and opened her eyes.

"Mmm, it's morning already?"

"More like it's past noon already. Just how much longer were you planning on sleeping,

you airheaded rabbit?"

Those words instantly brought Shea to alertness, and her bunny ears perked up

sharply.

She looked around and saw Hajime sitting by the window, polishing his revolver and

staring at Shea with a look of disdain.

"Huh? What are you doing here, Hajime-san? Wait, don't tell me you snuck in here to—

Abweh!?"

"I just said it's past noon. Yue left to go shopping ages ago. We promised to go together

but you wouldn't wake up even after I tried shocking you so she left by herself."

"I-I see. Sorry. I'll get ready and then we can go catch up to her… Wait, so then why did

you stay behind in my room?"

Her bunny ears tilted quizzically. Shea had thought Hajime would have gone with Yue.

Hajime grimaced and muttered "I'm… not good at dealing with that monster of a

clothing store owner."

The clothing store owner that Hajime and the others had traveled back to Brooke with

seemed to put him on edge. He was so unwilling to meet with him that he'd even

turned down a date with Yue.

Shea smiled awkwardly and replied, "He's a nice guy once you get to know him,

though." The way Hajime had said "monster" bothered her a little. Probably because

of the dream she'd just had.

"What's wrong, Shea?"

"Huh?"

Before she knew it, Hajime was staring intently at her. He must have somehow sensed

her discomfort. Though she was happy he'd noticed, she wasn't sure how to respond.

Before she could think of what to say, Hajime answered for her.

"Is it something to do with your mom?"

"Huh!?"

"Do you have a mind reading skill too or something!?" Shea asked, amazed. Her bunny

ears flattened in shock, and she brought her hands up to the voluptuous chest she'd

inherited from her mother.

"Nope. You were just muttering 'mom' a lot in your sleep."

"Oh… I see. Ahaha, how embarrassing. I can't believe I'm still doing stuff like that even

at this age."

Shea scratched her head in embarrassment, but Hajime didn't buy it and kept staring

at her with the same intensity. Finally, it seemed he'd realized something and shrugged

his shoulders dismissively.

"Well, it didn't look like you were having a nightmare at least." Shea's heart skipped a

beat as she realized he must have been worried about her in his own classic way. She

hadn't told either Hajime or Yue about Mona. It wasn't like she was trying to hide it,

there just had never been a chance to bring it up. Hajime himself had guessed what

must have happened to her considering that she hadn't been anywhere among the

Haulia, and that Shea never talked about her. He thought it was a topic she preferred

to avoid.

He was far more considerate of her now that they'd cleared a labyrinth together. Shea's

ears and tail flapped about happily.

"Yes, it was a very nostalgic dream. My mother died ten years ago from an illness. Her

constitution had always been weak, and after she gave birth to me the doctors said it

would be a miracle if she lasted another ten years even."

"Really?"

"Yes. Don't worry, she didn't die when we were being chased by the empire, and I was

at least able to say my farewells to her, so it's not like you need to take any extra care

not to mention her or anything."

"Who said I was?"

Hajime turned around sulkily. Shea followed up with a "Someone's not being honest

with themselves~ Hehe," to which Hajime responded with a flick to the forehead. Shea

rubbed at the red mark that had appeared on her forehead before continuing

cheerfully.

"I was actually thinking of telling you and Yue about my mom sometime soon. Would

you like to hear about her?"

She wore the same expression she had when she'd told Hajime there were some

futures you couldn't change no matter how hard you tried. Perhaps she had been

thinking about what had happened to her mom when she said that. Though this time,

there was a hint of pride mixed into her voice as well. Hajime could tell just how much

pride Shea must have had in her mother.

"Go ahead. I'm tired enough to sleep through a whole barrage of electric shocks. So

since we'll be staying in here a while longer, I might as well hear some stories about

your mom to pass the time."

"Ehehe, okay."

Her ears flopped about happily. Hajime found them rather charming, and stretched

out his hand to scratch them. Obviously there was no deeper meaning behind that

action, he just wanted to know what they felt like. But at that moment,

"No flirting."

"Oh, Yue. What're you doing there?"

"Wawawah. You scared me for a second, Yue-san."

Yue's emotionless face was glaring at them through the open window. The bags in her

hand indicated that she'd finished shopping, and had returned to invite Hajime and

Shea to go out with her.

Hajime leaped out the window. Shea quickly got dressed herself and followed after the

two.

The warm rays of the sun, something she'd seen little of in the sea of trees, shone down

on her as she watched crowds of adventurers and merchants and craftsmen go about

their business. Shea closed her eyes happily and skipped lightly through the street.

Many sad things had happened in her life. Most of them had been things she couldn't

change. She'd lost many things important to her. But just like her mom had said, Shea

had met them. And that meeting had saved her family. That meeting had led her out

into the sunlight. And now, all of Mona's family had become the kind of determined

fighters she'd wanted to be herself.

"You can become anything your heart desires." Mona's words echoed through Shea's

mind. "Do you hate monsters?" Nope, definitely not. Shea could say that with certainty

now.

"Hajime-san, Yue-san."

Because next to her were her two favorite people in the world.

"Yeah?" "…Hm?" Hajime and Yue turned around and exclaimed simultaneously. Shea

smiled, then said the following.

"I'm glad I was born a monster."

She smiled, content with who she was.

Hajime and Yue looked at her blankly for a moment. They exchanged a brief glance

before smiling back at her. She couldn't tell if it was an exasperated smile or a happy

one. Regardless, this is what they said to her:

"Stop talking nonsense and get over here, you troublesome rabbit. If you lag too far

behind, you'll get a crowd of people begging you to be their slave again."

"…Yeah. Come closer. I don't want to have to go looking for you if you get lost."

Not exactly words of encouragement. But their expressions were gentle. Shea knew

that even if they didn't say it out loud, they treated her like a member of their family

now.

Her rabbit ears twitched merrily.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

"Oi you, who said you could get between me and Yue?"

"You've got guts, Shea. If you want a duel, I'll gladly take you on."

Shea purposely butted in between Hajime and Yue while taking both of their hands.

Their empty threats were always just that, empty. As the sun neared its zenith, the

town grew even livelier. The trio's banter became just another part of the hustle and

bustle of the busy main street. Mom, I've found the husband and best friend you said I

would. Well, he's not exactly my husband just yet, but… I'll do my best to change that!

Shea resolved to herself, praying that her words would reach the soul of her departed

mother.