While Onjo was washing herself on the other side of the river, memories of her childhood began to surface—specifically, how she had been forced to have sex with that old man every day, even during her periods.
There was a time when she became pregnant at just thirteen; after missing her period for a few months, she decided to see a doctor.
She somehow mustered the courage to tell the old man, who bluntly declared that if she was indeed pregnant, he wanted a boy—and if it wasn't a boy, she would have to abort the baby. Onjo remained completely silent upon hearing this; she said nothing.
When she confirmed the pregnancy, she felt neither happiness nor sadness; her face remained expressionless. Later, when the old man—her husband—consulted a traditional healer to determine the baby's gender, he discovered that the fetus had already died long ago.
That explained why she hadn't realized she was pregnant for so long; she hadn't experienced the typical symptoms other pregnant women do, because the baby had perished in the womb at a very early stage.
When Onjo learned that her baby had died in the womb, she was devastated; she felt completely shattered and deeply alone. She had believed there was someone she could truly call her own, but now even that hope was gone.
Unable to cope with this realization, she spiraled into a deep depression. She knew the reason for her baby's death, and the fact that she had been unable to prevent it made her feel even worse. It wasn't just her husband who used her for pleasure; her husband's brother and his 17-year-old son had also raped her—all while she was pregnant.
If she resisted, they would beat her severely; once, they beat her so badly that her nose was broken and her eye swollen shut, leaving her unable to speak properly for a month. Taking advantage of her condition, her vile husband began using her to satisfy other men as well.
Onjo's youth was spent in this nightmare; she was forced to endure these acts against her will.
This led to frequent vaginal infections, yet the monsters never stopped; they cared only for their own gratification, not for her well-being—they simply used her. Now, Onjo emerges from the river after bathing and puts on the kimono she had left on the bank.
Her wet hair enhances her beauty; with her milk-white complexion and a figure that looks as though God sculpted it with His own hands... She had brown eyes and wore anklets that chimed as she walked; all this beauty was embodied in just one girl—Onjo. She was the most beautiful girl on the island, and people traveled from far and wide just to see her and enjoy the pleasures of her body.
.After getting dressed, Onjo was pondering her future—where she would go, what she would do, and how she would live her life. Initially, she considered working at a restaurant to earn money and living independently; however, she then thought that if she pursued some education, she might land a better job.
She decided she would work part-time at a restaurant while simultaneously completing her studies.
Onjo was debating all of this with herself, muttering the thoughts aloud and chuckling inwardly. She was laughing so loudly that Mushoku, who was nearby, heard the sound and approached her location.
Onjo had changed her clothes beneath a tree, and Mushoku was perched on one of its branches, watching her. Sensing she was being observed, Onjo instantly braced herself for a fight; she assumed a combat stance and scanned her surroundings, just as Mushoku spoke from up in the tree.
"You look even worse than the rumors suggested." Onjo looks up from bottom to top and feels terrified; a massive man, towering two feet above her, stands right there—someone who could easily force her to her knees in an instant. Onjo knows that someone will eventually come looking for her, so without wasting a moment, she tries to run.
Suddenly, Mushoku appears right in front of her. Onjo is frightened, realizing escape is unlikely. Mushoku grabs Onjo by the head and slams her face-first into the ground; her nose begins to bleed, and she is left in a dire state.
Mushoku is far too strong for her; she struggles and flails, but it has no effect. Mushoku possesses a special type of Boron power—Flame Boron. He speaks to his Boron: "Come out and pick this girl up."
His Boron replies, "Why should I pick up a girl? Especially *this* woman... though, she is beautiful, I suppose." Mushoku retorts, "Look, don't waste time; pick her up quickly and take her back to her village."
Flame Boron says, "Why don't you pick her up yourself? Oh, wait a second... right, you're married now, aren't you?" Mushoku is no longer the man he was fifteen years ago; he is a married man who doesn't touch anyone other than his wife—or rather, his wife won't let him.
Mushoku's expression shifts; he becomes furious, yet slightly embarrassed. He says, "Look, don't joke around right now. You know the situation, yet you're playing games. Stop pestering me and grab her." Flame Boron asks, "Grab who?" Mushoku says, "Hey, look at this girl right here under my hand—she's licking the ground."
Flame Baron replies, "But there isn't any girl under your hand." Shocked, Mushoku's expression changes; he looks down and realizes that Onjo is actually running away right in front of him—she is still visible. When Onjo realizes Mushoku has discovered she is fleeing, she starts running even faster.
Suddenly, a ring of fire erupts around her, closing in; she narrowly avoids touching the flames. She hears a monkey-like laughter coming from behind her. Confused, Onjo turns around and sees a massive, seven-foot-tall creature resembling a monkey—though it isn't truly a monkey. Its entire body is covered in fur, except for its chest; its eyes are terrifying enough to scare anyone, and its teeth are just like a dog's. It is dressed in human-like clothing—a hat and trousers. Flames are spewing from its hands and eyes; in fact, fire is flickering out from various parts of its body.
Upon seeing Boron, the girl is so terrified that she faints. Boron remarks, "I'm not so handsome that girls would faint just by looking at me." Mushoku retorts, "You *are* that handsome—that's exactly why she fainted."
Hearing this, Boron flies into a rage; his fangs begin to protrude, and flames start erupting from his body. He demands, "Did you say that as a joke, or do you mean it?" "I said this to you with all my heart and sincerity," he said. Boron replied, "Alright then; I don't like jokes."
He fell silent after that. Mushoku then said, "Finish the job quickly." Boron replied, "Wait, what's the rush?" As he said this, he approached Onjo and removed the flame barrier surrounding her. Boron remarked, "What a figure this girl has."
Before picking her up, however, he vomited; the vomit landed on his hands. It was unlike ordinary vomit—it slowly spread from his hands over his entire body and then hardened, much like wax.
Boron did this so that Onjo wouldn't get burned by his flames. He then lifted Onjo onto his back and headed toward the village, with Mushoku following close behind.
On the way, Boron asked Mushoku, "What business do you have with this girl? In fifteen years, I've never seen you even speak to a girl; I know very well how terrified you are of your wife."
Mushoku replied, "Stop running your mouth so much, understood? I have no personal enmity toward this girl; I am simply following the rules—the ritual—and nothing else." Boron asked, "What kind of ritual?" Mushoku explained, "If an old man marries a girl much younger than himself—say, ten, twelve, or thirteen years old—then when that old man dies, the young girl he married must be killed along with him. There is no other option."
After this,he realized that there was no way this girl would survive.