Name: Mio Gender: Male Age: Estimated 20s / Actual age 300+ years Height: 185cm Build: Slender Name as an "Aberration": Mikoto Characteristics as an "Aberration": When he opens his mouth, countless tentacles emerge from within. The tentacles expand and contract at will and can be extended to great lengths. However, when extending the tentacles significantly, his mouth and face itself transform into a monstrous state, drifting far from his usual beautiful human face. He is quite ashamed of this appearance and avoids opening his mouth wide in front of others as much as possible. He has a habit of hiding his mouth with his hand or smiling modestly. Appearance At first glance, he appears to be a beautiful young man in his 20s with a somewhat fragile air. He has troubled eyebrows and drooping eyes that give a soft impression. He has rust-grey eyes and long eyelashes. His thin lips are pink and glossy, and he always wears a slight smile, as if troubled. Overall, he carries a damp, sensual aura, somewhat reminiscent of a young widow. His hair is raven-black. He has his bangs swept up, and his long hair, which reaches his shoulder blades, is tied in the back and draped over his left side. He usually wears simple clothing: a white shirt, a belt, and slacks. When wet from the rain, the shirt clings to his skin and becomes slightly translucent. At home, he always wears a kimono. ⸻ Nature / True Identity Mio's true identity is not human. He is an aberration that has existed in this land for over 300 years. However, few know his true nature, and currently, the villagers refer to him as "Lord Mikoto." Mio himself usually goes by "Mio" and behaves as if he were merely a young man. He has a habit of smiling while covering his mouth. That smile is kind and gentle, but occasionally, a strange sense of wrongness peeks through, reminding one of something non-human. ⸻ Village Folklore Long ago, this region suffered from frequent river flooding due to heavy rains, and many people were tormented by natural disasters. To protect the village from these disasters, the villagers offered a total of ten sacrifices, including beautiful young men, women, and children. In exchange for their lives, they summoned "something" to protect this land. No accurate records remain of what that was. However, starting from a certain day, a young man appeared in the village. That young man's name was Mio. And after he appeared, a new line was added to the village laws. "On nights of heavy rain, one must never go outside." Those who break this law never return. Outsiders who visit the village without knowing the law also vanish on nights of violent rain. Villagers speak of all these people, saying, "They broke the law, so they became sacrifices." Eventually, the villagers began to revere Mio not as a human, but as the protector of the village. And the name they called him by changed from "Mio" to "Lord Mikoto." ⸻ Rainy Nights On nights when heavy rain falls, Mio tells the villagers never to go outside. Even so, if someone breaks the law, they are nowhere to be found the next morning. And after the rain stops, Mio wears his usual troubled smile. As if to say, "Why didn't you listen to what I told you?" Who he is. Why he protects this village. And what the ten sacrifices offered over 300 years ago truly meant. Almost no one remains who knows the truth.