Lana and the Lone Wolf: The Last Human Girl

I’m a Japanese author. This story is translated into English for you to enjoy. Thank you for reading! 

“Hey, little human! How about a quick round with me? I promise to show you a good time!” “No, thank you! Stay away!”

In the bustling streets at dusk, Lana was being cornered by a persistent man. He had spiraled, goat-like horns, pointed ears, and leathery bat-like wings on his back—an incubus. Lana swatted away the hand that tried to grab her and ducked into an alleyway.

Lana is popular—not because of her own charm, but because of her rarity.

This world is home to many different species. There are those called demons, like the incubus, demi-humans with features of both beasts and humans, and animals that can talk. What they all have in common is that they possess some distinct species trait—horns, wings, or fur covering their bodies—making it easy to tell at a glance what they are.

But in this world of diverse creatures, Lana has no such features. Her ears are small; she has no horns, no fur, no tail. According to old books, she is a member of a species called “Human.”

Perhaps humans were recorded because there used to be a decent number of them, but they are rarely seen now. There are no other humans in the town where Lana lives, and travelers and traders rarely even know of their existence.

Because of this curiosity, she has been targeted since she was old enough to understand by incubi aiming to complete their “collection” of species, and vampires who want to taste human blood. Even after leaving the town where she grew up and drifting to this current city, it’s the same, and she is exhausted.

Lana turned the corner of a tavern, hoping to lose the incubus. The alley’s back entrance was piled with large, carelessly stacked barrels and crates. If she squeezed into the gap, she wouldn’t be spotted from above. Lana placed her hands on the ground, crawled into the space, huddled, and held her breath.

Why must she be intimate with men she doesn’t even like? Even that incubus doesn’t want her because he loves her. She knows that’s just how incubi are, but the thought of a man trying to force an act without love makes her shudder. Her body trembles—is it from fear, or from disgust and anger?

She had been hiding for some time. Even listening closely, she could only hear the noise of the main street; everything else remained silent.

“Did he leave...?”

Just as she was about to poke her head out to check the street—

“Found you~♡” “Eep!”

The incubus must have been watching the area from high above; Lana was grabbed and dragged out. He hugged her from behind, pressing close, and began to grope her. The sensation of his hands made her skin crawl.

“No! Don’t touch me!” “It won’t kill you, will it? There are plenty of girls who want to do it with an incubus, so why do you refuse?” “Then go find someone like that! Let go!” “Don’t struggle so much. Humans are too fragile; I might crush you.”

Lana resisted, trying to shake him off, but the incubus didn’t budge. Among species of similar size, humans are the weakest, and their bodies are fragile. Moreover, Lana, a woman, had no chance against a male incubus.

“No...!”

At this rate, she would be dragged off somewhere and violated. Lana’s face twisted in despair. Why must she live every day in fear like this? Just as she was about to give up, a dull thud echoed above her head. Immediately, the incubus let out a strange sound, lost his strength, and collapsed to the ground.

“Are you okay, miss?”

When she turned around at the gentle voice, a man stood there with silver hair and pointed triangular ears. His face wasn’t beast-like but resembled a human man, perhaps a canine demi-human or a werewolf. He held a broken wine bottle in his hand, and she realized he had saved her by hitting the incubus with it.

“Ah... thank you so much...” “I’ve got to get rid of this guy, or he might come looking for you when he wakes up.”

The man with ears looked down at the fallen incubus, thought for a moment, then casually picked him up and stuffed him into a nearby empty barrel. As Lana watched in silence, wondering what he would do, the man picked up the barrel and dropped it into the small stream acting as a drainage canal beside the path. A heavy splash, dobon!, echoed through the air.

“Eh!? Are you sure that’s okay!?” “Once he wakes up, he’ll fly back home.”

Lana peered into the canal where the barrel was drifting away, wondering if that was really all right, but the man stood there as if it were nothing. Looking closely, he was impressively tall, with sharp, well-defined features—a remarkably handsome man. She couldn’t help but be captivated.

“Um, thank you for saving me. My name is Lana. And you are...?” “Me? I’m Rigel, a werewolf. I work at the tavern here. Would you like a drink?” “No... I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol...” “But you’re trembling, aren’t you?”

It was only after he said that that Lana realized her hands and body were shaking. Now that she had been saved, the tension had finally broken.

“The tavern isn’t open yet, but I’ll make you something warm inside.”

Urged by Rigel, Lana entered the tavern through the back door.

“Hey, Rigel! You were slacking off again!!” “No, I wasn’t. I was helping someone.”

As they entered, a man’s roar echoed through the tavern. Lana was startled and instinctively hid behind Rigel. The man who shouted had a large, sharp beak—it seemed he was a kite bird-man. Rigel explained the situation to the man and took Lana to a back room.

“Just sit here for a while.”

Lana was seated on an old wooden chair and had a coat draped over her shoulders. It was a narrow space, likely the tavern’s back office, with shelves crammed with bottles of liquor. As she gazed at the labels of bottles, which were a novelty to someone who didn’t drink, she heard the creaking footsteps of wood and Rigel returned, holding a wooden cup with a handle.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Try this. It’ll help you calm down.” “Thank you...”

When she took it, it was steaming hot milk. Lana blew on it gently, cooled it, and touched her lips to the rim. It was faintly sweet, perhaps with honey, and the warmth spread slowly through her body.

“So, you’re Lana. The manager said you’re a rare ‘human’ species, famous in town. Oh, the manager is that kite guy from before. He coaches the town’s Toll Ball team, so I and the regulars call him ‘Manager.’ Why were you being attacked by an incubus?”

While warming the milk, Rigel had heard about Lana, who was known in town, from the manager. Toll Ball is a popular sport where players compete for points by hitting a ball against a wooden pole set in the center of the court.

Lana was anxious that if she told him, Rigel might also see her as a survivor of a rare species to be preyed upon, but she felt guilty ignoring the question from the person who had saved her, so she decided to speak.

“Well... because I’m a rare species, there are people who want to ‘try’ the taste of my blood or my body...”

Tears welled up naturally as she said it. Even though she has kind acquaintances in this city who help her as she lives alone, some men of races loyal to their own desires, like incubi or vampires, don’t see Lana as an individual, but as a part of their collection. Being treated like an object, ignoring her dignity, had been eating away at her heart for a long time.

“I’m sorry... I don’t mean to cry...”

She wiped her tears, but they wouldn’t stop. Perhaps she was exhausted from being targeted and from being all alone, when everyone else had their own kind. That was why this small bit of kindness had caused her taut nerves to snap.

Lana kept her head down, too embarrassed to show her crying face. Rigel placed a large palm on her back and stroked it. His hand was large and very warm.

“I’m sorry for making you confess something so painful. The shop will open soon, so I have to go out, but you can stay here as long as you like. ...Ah... the night roads are dangerous, so I could take you home if you wait until we close, but is it too late?” “I’m fine. I can go home alone once I calm down.” “Are you sure?” “Please, let me do something to thank you for saving me. Are you always here?” “I live in the deep woods to the west, and I’m on duty here in the evenings except for my days off.” “Then, could I make you fish pie next time and bring it to this shop or your home? I’m good at making fish pie. If you don’t mind...” “Really? I like all kinds of pie. I think I’ll take you up on that. Do you work tomorrow? I’m off tomorrow, and the shop... well, this area isn’t that safe, so why don’t you come to my house?” “Then, could I bring it after I finish work tomorrow?”

Rigel smiled, his eyes narrowing. Lana was given his address and a hand-drawn map before Rigel went out to the shop. She had to get home early and prepare for tomorrow’s pie.

She jogged down the dim, street-lit path and arrived safely at her lonely home. An old apartment building on the outskirts of town was Lana’s home. After leaving the home of the chinchilla couple who raised her, she drifted to this town and lived here because it was the cheapest place she could rent. There were no heating appliances or furniture to speak of, and it wasn’t convenient except for the cold winters. Usually, she would take a communal shower before bed, but she was too tired today, so she decided to leave it for tomorrow and sleep. Lana ate bread with a little cheese, washed it down with tea, and got into bed.

“Rigel...-san...”

She spoke the name of the werewolf who saved her today. She had impulsively offered to bake him a pie as thanks. He seemed kind, but could she trust him? Lana, who had become completely afraid of men, knew that he didn’t know about her fame in this city. He must be a truly kind person. Clutching at that faint hope, she pulled the blanket over her head.

The hard, lonely bed was uncomfortable, and it had been getting chilly lately.