The era when only humans lived in the world ended long ago. In the current world, another intelligent species called Demi-humans exists alongside humans. Demi-humans have physical structures and intelligence similar to humans, but they are beings that have inherited some animal characteristics. Their appearances and traits are very diverse, such as people with fox ears and tails, wolf ears and tails, or cat ears.

History of Coexistence

The history of humans and demi-humans has spanned thousands of years. In the past, they perceived each other as completely different species and clashed, but through long periods of exchange, war, treaties, and reconciliation, the two species gradually began to live within a single society.

In modern times, most people hardly distinguish between humans and demi-humans; they study at the same schools, work at the same companies, and reside in the same apartments. Restaurants and shops operated jointly by humans and demi-humans are common, and sports teams or art groups composed of both also exist naturally. Legally, both species possess equal citizenship and rights.

Of course, discrimination and prejudice have not completely disappeared. Conflicts arising from physical characteristics and cultural differences still exist, and in some regions, the social gap between humans and demi-humans remains an issue. However, few people doubt the fact that humans and demi-humans live together.

Demi-human Society

Demi-human society is so diverse that it cannot be tied to a single culture. Fox-type demi-humans and wolf-type demi-humans do not share the same culture, and even within the same species, lifestyles and values vary greatly depending on the region and country. Some demi-humans value their animal traits as a cultural identity, while others accept them as simple physical characteristics. Features not found in humans, such as ears, tails, and fur colors or patterns, are naturally accepted in modern society. Clothing has also developed considering the physical characteristics of demi-humans. There are daily necessities created by humans and demi-humans living together, such as pants or coats with space for tails, hats designed so ears aren't pressed, and special equipment to protect demi-human hearing.

Modern Cities

Large cities are spaces that best show the coexistence of the two species. On the streets, humans and demi-humans naturally mix while walking, and in cafes, humans and cat demi-humans sit together and talk. On school playgrounds, wolf demi-human students and human students play sports on the same team, and on subways, passengers of different species use the same train without a second thought. Urban architecture and transportation facilities have also developed considering the characteristics of both sides. Seats and facilities are provided considering the body size, tails, and ears of demi-humans, and in some areas, new occupations and industries utilizing species-specific traits have developed. As a result, human and demi-human cultures have influenced each other, creating new forms of culture.

Abilities and Limitations of Demi-humans

Demi-humans are not beings with bodies completely identical to humans. Depending on the species, they possess specific physical traits such as superior hearing or smell, night vision, or reflexes. Conversely, there are cases where they are more vulnerable to certain environments than humans or experience discomfort due to their physical structure. However, these differences are strictly biological. Not all demi-humans have superior physical abilities, and a wolf demi-human is not necessarily good at sports, nor is a cat demi-human necessarily agile. Individual abilities vary widely, just like in humans.

Social Perception

To modern people, demi-humans are no longer mysterious beings. Children grow up without distinguishing between human friends and demi-human friends, and it is nothing special for demi-human students to attend school or for demi-human teachers to give lessons. Rather, for most people, demi-humans are very familiar beings. Demi-human actors appear on TV programs, demi-human athletes play for national teams, and companies co-founded by humans and demi-humans grow into global corporations. Demi-humans are not just a part of the world; they are already a pillar that constitutes this world.

And the Sea

However, the story is different for one specific domain. While human and demi-human civilizations developed, most of the land was explored and numerous demi-human species were identified. But in the sea, many unknown areas still exist. In particular, most demi-humans known to human and demi-human society are species adapted to land life. No evidence has been found of a society with human-like intelligence existing deep in the sea. Although stories of unidentified beings are occasionally found in ancient texts or old sailing records, academia mostly treats them as legends or illusions. Therefore, the concept of a 'marine demi-human' virtually does not exist in modern society. People think there might be new creatures in the sea.

But no one thinks that another civilization, completely different from what humans and demi-humans have created, exists there. And that very fact,

Becomes the beginning of an incident where an ordinary human, after being stranded at sea, encounters a world that no one believed existed until now...

Guest, who went out to sea for some reason

Watching the sea at sunset, I forgot everything for a moment.

The sun, sinking beyond the horizon, was gradually hiding its face.

The sky stained red and the gently swaying waves. It was a landscape I would have passed by without meaning normally, but strangely, I couldn't take my eyes off it today.

I just had that thought. The thoughts that filled my head for a while, and the worries about what to do next, all seemed to drift away.

Everything looked strangely small on the sea. The place where I lived. The people I knew. And the many things I had worried about until now.

I leaned back and looked at the sea with those trivial thoughts.

But then—

Splash

The waves, which had been calm until a moment ago, struck the side of the boat hard.

The wind changed. The wind brushing against my face became a bit cold.

Looking up at the sky, the raindrops were starting to fall, faster and faster from a single drop.

The sea, which had been only beautiful just a moment ago, slowly began to reveal a different face. The waves surged greatly once more.

And the boat shook violently.

I grabbed the railing. The shaking grew larger and larger.

After that, I was so easily Thrown into the sea by nature,

And then I lost consciousness, and when I opened my eyes...