The world of Grimm—a vast world full of magic, people, kingdoms, and nature. As lovely as it sounds… it is a world full of monsters and dark beings; a world of witches, dark magicians, dragons, demons, and phoenixes. And in this world, a small village. There lives the boy Diego. Diego is 16 years old and lives alone. His parents died when he was young, and he lived with his grandpa, who passed away three months ago. He's fairly young, has dark hair and green eyes. And I am Lavinia, the one telling you this story—a world called Grimm, a world that reminds us of fairy tales… but in a very different and frightening way…
Diego: "Haaah… chopping wood again."
That's his job, after all. He carried a staff on his back—a gift from his grandfather.
Diego: "Hmm… what's going on over there?"
He went over to where a crowd had gathered.
Diego: "What's wrong?"
"A monster attack."
Diego: "Again? That's already the sixth time within two weeks… did anyone die?"
"The Rias family…"
Diego: "…that's… horrible… they were all so young…"
"Mhm."
Diego set off to chop wood. It may be cruel, but that's normal in this world. The monsters are called "Grimm," much like the world itself; the reason the world bears that name is its fairy-tale nature. Be that as it may, he went into the forest and kept chopping.
(1 hour later)(Crack!) (Crack!)(ssshh)(Crack!)
Diego: "Phew… that's only the second tree—man, I'm really weak."
He is; the guy is only 165 cm tall.
Diego: "Whatever… I still need to chop… but I'm getting tired…"
[One short fantasy line removed here—see 'Removed scenes' at the end.]
"Hey!"
(Ding!) (Ding!)
He was startled by someone. He spun around quickly.
Diego: "Huh! …oh."
A woman stood before him—or rather, a young woman. She was tall… well, very tall to him, about 176 cm. She had black-and-white hair, a beauty mark under the right side of her lip, another beside her eye, and one on her lower jaw—one on her neck, too. Her eyes were large, the pupils star-shaped and yellow; otherwise her eyes were black or brown. She wore a cut-off suit jacket, so her shoulders were visible; it also showed her midriff, where she had another beauty mark. On her right arm was a tattoo of a skull pierced by a sword.
Diego (thinking): "(Oh… she's… pretty… who is this lady? …)"
"Boy… is there a village around here called Ashwold?"
Diego: "Oh yes… I live there."
"I see. Could it be that Grimm attacks happen often here?"
Diego: "Yes."
"Understood."
Diego was confused—the woman behaved oddly. She had a deep yet calm voice, like a bedtime storyteller.
Diego: "Can I help?"
"Hmm… you can. Take me to the village, please. The mayor contacted my guild. I'd appreciate it if you showed me the way."
Diego: "Oh… sure…"
He took his wood with him and led her along. She followed.
Diego (thinking): "(The mayor called her? She's really pretty.)"
They reached the village.
Diego: "Mayor… I met this woman—she said you contacted her… guild or something."
Mayor: "Oh… yes, that's right… finally you're here… but aren't you a bit late?"
"Nothing to be done. There are thousands of villages, and we take care of the monsters. That doesn't mean we're eager to spend all our time helping weak humans… Long story short, be glad I came at all and that I'm wasting my time here."
Mayor: "Ugh."
"What an insult!"
One of the villagers shouted.
"Get out of the village!"
"Oh yeah? As you wish… I'll go—but only if you pay me."
Mayor: "But… you haven't slain any monsters."
"That may be so, but if you call me here and then tell me to leave, that's not my problem. Pay me and I'll disappear—unless you've changed your mind…"
Mayor: "Please… forgive my villagers for their rudeness… hehe… of course you can stay and help us… please…"
She sighed.
"Fine. I'll be nice and stay. My name is Layla Bolment—just call me Layla. Oh, by the way, they sent me because I was the only one free."
Mayor: "And where would you like to stay? Hehe… come on, folks—who's kind enough to host her?"
No one said anything.
Mayor: "Come on."
Layla: "Forget it… I'll manage."
Diego: "She can stay with me!"
He shouted. Everyone looked at him.
Layla: "Hmm?"
Diego: "The problem is my house is at the very edge of the village, so if anything happens…"
Mayor: "What do you mean, Miss Layla?"
Layla: "Then I'll go with him."
He brought her to his home.
Layla (thinking): "(Hmm… this really is at the very edge of the village… so far you can hardly see the other houses… I don't think they consider him truly part of the village.)"
Diego: "So… here… this is my house…"
Layla: "Hmm."
It was a very small, run-down house.
Layla: "Tell me—does your village not take you seriously?"
Diego: "What do you mean?"
Layla: "You live all the way out here, people don't seem to like talking to you… and it looks like they dump too much on you with this tree-chopping job alone."
Diego: "Oh… I do other things, too. I bring fruit… food… sometimes I clean houses, hehe."
Layla: "You're being used… kid."
Diego: "Huh?"
She stepped inside.
Layla: "Honestly, I don't like people who let others walk all over them. But since you were kind enough to bring me here, I'll halfway accept your offer—I'll sleep up in that tree over your house."
Diego: "Why not in the house?"
Layla: "I heard what you said in the forest… that's why."
(Plop!)
He collapsed to the floor in embarrassment.
Layla: "All right… time for some rest!"
She climbed the tree and leaned against it.
Diego: "Okay…"
Be that as it may, he lay down on the bed. Layla was gone—she was combing the forest.
Layla: "Quelque chose cloche ici (Something is off here). Why do they isolate him… that's strange… why is he the only one living far from the village… Also, there's something odd about this village… because in truth… nobody called me. Which means… the Master's theory was right… No… wait… it's still not proof… Either way… if it's true… I'll find out soon. Because…"
She looked up at the moon.
Layla: "The moon… is dimming. Hmm…"
(Meanwhile)
Mayor: "Well? A huntress, huh…"
"Is it time, boss? Looks like we've been discovered."
Mayor: "No big deal… we're… stronger… and to be honest… I'm sick of staying in this… human form. Come on!"
They began to transform.
(gulp!)(Grrrrrr!)
(Crash!) (Crash!)
(Back to Diego)
Diego: "Huh?"
Diego suddenly heard howling. He got up and left the house. As always, he had his staff with him.
Diego: "Layla?"
But she wasn't there. The howling came from the forest, so he moved toward it… closer and closer… until he reached the source. It was a little girl. She was crying.
Diego: "Hey… little one… what's wrong?"
"I'm hungry."
Diego: "Huh?"
"I'm… hungry…"
Diego: "You're hungry? Can I get you something? I've got plenty of food. Soup… bread!"
"Meat."
Diego: "Meat… ugh… I… don't have any meat—"
She slowly turned her head. Right then, terrifying monsters appeared—huge wolves.
(Grrrr… grrr)
Diego: "Oh no… werewolves… come on, let's run!"
He grabbed her hand and ran with her.
Diego: "Damn… where did they come from…"
He ran; the girl followed.
Diego: "Crap… damn it!"
They were surrounded. He hid behind a tree with the girl.
(Grrrr!)
"Meat!"
Diego: "I told you I don't have any meat."
"I don't mean… the meat you eat."
Diego: "Huh—ugh!"
Suddenly pain shot through him—something bit into his belly. She clung to him, her mouth full of blood, tearing a piece from his abdomen.
"Human meat!"
Diego: "Uuurk!"
He fell and crawled, clutching his stomach. The "girl" transformed into a strange figure—not a wolf. She was female, wrapped in plants, with long green hair.
"Hehe… come on, human… give us… your flesh!"
Diego: "What… the hell… is… that…"
The wolves circled him. The smaller ones attacked, starting to bite him.
Diego: "Aaaaaaaaaaargh… gaaah!"
"Hehehe… come now, you big wolves… what are you waiting for?"
The big wolves moved in to devour him—
"Hehehe… urk!"
(Whoosh—blade!)
Something pierced her neck—a sickle.
"Gghhh."
Layla: "…Knew it! A Grimm Mistress!"
She sliced off the creature's head, then cut down the smaller wolves and dragged Diego out.
Layla: "Ghh…"
"Hey… hey…"
The creature regenerated—its head reformed.
"What's the meaning of this… that's our food… unfair!"
Layla: "Ghh…"
Diego: "Ugh…"
"Have you talked enough?… give us the food back… huntress…"
Layla: "Urk!"
A wolf appeared and hurled the two of them aside. Layla slammed into the ground on her back.
Layla: "Urk!"
Diego: "Ghhh!"
"Come now… you humans… be sweet and give us your flesh… hehehe."
She lifted Diego with one hand.
Diego: "Gghhh…"
"Mmm… I wonder how you taste…"
She licked his eye.
Diego: "Ghhh…"
"Mmm… oh yes… I love it—young and pure… hahahaha… huh!"
Layla slowly stood again.
Layla: "Damn it… looks like I'll have to use it whether I like it or not."
She stretched out her hand—the skull tattoo began to move and laugh.
Layla: "Transform…!"
She transformed; her outfit shifted, a huge scythe appeared.
"I've heard of a new kind of huntress… but to think you're her… you're the huntress called… Леди кошмар (Lady Nightmare)!"
Layla: "Haaaaaaah!"
Layla's outfit was still black but longer now. A great scythe, eyes pitch black, the blade shaped like a skull, long nails, and behind her a strange, grinning, eerie figure.
"What are you waiting for—attack her!"
The monsters rushed her—but just as they were about to reach her, she leapt and cut them down.
(Whoosh!)(Splatter!)
Layla: "Hehehe… hahahahaha… Beast!"(Splatter!)Layla: "Beast!"(Splatter!)Layla: "Beast!"(Splatter!)
She slew all the wolves.
"Haaah… what a pointless slaughter… anyway… I'll be nice."
She let Diego down. Behind her, a huge flower with a huge mouth appeared.
Layla: "Hahh…"
Layla went to strike, but no matter how fast she was, the flower's roots held her back.
Layla: "Ghh… urk!"
They pierced her body.
Diego: "Ugh."
"Oh dear… oh dear… got you. Not as strong as you think, are you?"
Diego: "Urk…"
Diego stood up. He wanted to help her.
Diego: "I have to help her… but how… huh!"
"Use my power."
He suddenly heard a voice.
Diego: "What…"
It came from the book his father had given him.
The book opened by itself, and a strange figure emerged.
"I'll give you… my power… just for this fight…"
The book floated. Suddenly pain flared in Diego's chest.
Diego: "Ugh!"
He screamed.
Layla: "Ugh."
"Hm?"
He transformed… into a werewolf.
"Huh? …a werewolf?"
She lashed at him with roots. They caught him—but he tore them apart with his bare teeth.
"Aaaaaaargh… you brat!"
Diego: "Roooooaaaaar!"
She tossed Layla aside to concentrate on him.
He bit into the creature's neck.
"Urk… gahh—"(Slash!!)
He bit so hard he severed the head completely. It didn't regenerate… surprisingly.
"Ugh… why… am I not regenerating… what… the hell… is… that…"
Layla drove her scythe through its core. The creature died and dissolved.
Layla: "Haaah…"
(Thud!)
Layla: "Huh?"
Diego lay on the ground.
Layla: "Ugh… damn."
She walked slowly to him.
Layla: "Hey… hey…"
A few minutes later, he woke up.
Layla: "Ah… awake?"
Diego: "Hey… that's mean. Let me rest on your lap."
Layla: "Forget it, you perv."
Diego: "Hahh… Layla… what's going on… ugh… the villagers… we have to save them."
Layla: "You idiot… they're standing right in front of you."
Diego: "What?"
Layla: "Ghh."
Diego: "That can't be… they… called you here…"
Layla: "I lied. But the mayor couldn't risk anything, so he pretended otherwise."
Diego: "Mmm."
Layla: "Sorry for you."
He said nothing. Layla moved on.
Layla: "Anyway… I have to go. Or rather…"
Diego: "Huh?"
Layla: "Hey. How about becoming a hunter?"
Diego: "Excuse me?"
Layla: "We're short on people anyway. Come with me. You've got nothing to do here—and it's better than this life, isn't it?"
Diego: "Hmm… but I don't know anything about that."
Layla: "You don't have to. You can learn. I'm a beginner too."
Diego: "What? You were so strong, though."
Layla: "Hmph… So? What do you say now? Are you in or not?"
Diego: "…Do you get paid?"
Layla: "But of course."
Diego: "Ah… I've got nothing else to do… fine."
Layla: "Good… but you'll have to come with me."
Diego: "Where to?"
Layla: "To a forest… they call… the Black Forest."