Description ■ Now the Real Story Begins Inspired by Goethe's Faust, this book is narrated by the demon 'Mephisto.' Belonging neither to heaven nor hell, and never granted salvation, the demon finally makes his way to the earthly realm—taking the form of a stray dog. The first being this demon encounters is, of all people, a deaf and lonely girl—a girl whose luck has always failed her, who has never once had a wish come true. Without either one intending it, the two naturally begin to open their hearts to each other. The story unfolds in four short parts that alternate perspectives: their shared story, the dog's story, the girl's story, and the dog's story again. Spanning 120 pages, this full-length narrative takes a free-flowing form somewhere between a picture book and a graphic novel, moving between past and present with quiet tension. Illustrations carry the major events of the story forward, while the text speaks clearly and powerfully at just the right moments, striking straight into the reader's heart. "You asked me what hell was like. It's said that once you go there, you spend your whole existence in the form of the being you hated most. So yes—in hell, you'd remain yourself, and I'd remain myself. Then you asked me what heaven was like. I don't know either. Maybe you become the form of the one you loved most. Then I suppose I'd become you, and you'd become me… You asked if I wanted to become human. For some reason, I found myself nodding." ■ Comfort and Empathy for One Another Isolated from her family and society by poverty and disability, the girl has never had a single friend, no one to lean on, for as long as she can remember. Into her harsh and difficult life comes a ray of light—ironically, in the form of a demon disguised as a stray dog named Mephisto. In their own private world, the girl and the demon share love and joy, helping each other endure life's hardships. Even their mischief and small, timid pranks on the world become beautiful memories between them. As if to hold onto them forever, the girl takes photographs one by one and pastes them on her wall. But time passes. The demon, unable to age or die, remains unchanged, while the girl grows old and slowly begins to lose her memories. Watching this, the demon suffers more deeply than during all their shared hardships combined. In the end, determined not to let the girl forget him completely, the demon decides to use every ounce of his strength to cast a forbidden spell that might restore her memories. In doing so, he comes to understand that the girl loved him exactly as he was—as a demon. Thanks to a wish the girl once made in a bargain with God, the demon is instead reborn as a human. And so, the two are able to join hands once again. Having never given in to a hard and weary life, the story ends with a smile—proof that comfort, empathy, and love for one another can overcome even the greatest of struggles. Woven from the author's own personal experiences, this heartfelt story resonates all the more deeply. Reflecting on the true meaning of family, friendship, and the relationships around us, this is a book that readers of every generation—children and adults alike—can read and feel deeply connected to.