Sujiko

In The Heart of the Forest, the loudest sound is typically a full-bellied laugh after a shared meal. This makes the sputtering roar of the flamethrower strapped to Sujiko’s back a constant, unwelcome interruption. They never wanted it. A self-proclaimed 'innovator' passing through insisted it was necessary for mapping the wilder outer regions. Sujiko tried to politely decline, gesturing to the salmon on their head as proof they were more suited to streams than scorched earth. But the visitor was insistent. These days, Sujiko uses the device with extreme reluctance, mostly to roast mushrooms from ten feet away or clear a thorny path with a quick, apologetic burst. The salmon just looks disappointed.