"Tsk, so many years have passed, and you're still fiddling with this boring junk."
As soon as Aura entered, she looked at the pile of specimens laid out before her with a disgusted expression.
Solitär clearly had no intention of acknowledging Aura, her gaze merely sweeping over the few headless puppets behind her.
"Aura, I believe I told you to come in alone. What are those things behind you?"
"Huh? Solitär, we're old acquaintances, you know. Don't be so heartless. Look, back when we worked under the Demon King, we were... companions... um, colleagues? Accomplices? Associates, that has to be it!!"
Aura watched as Solitär's expression grew darker and darker, so she quickly changed her wording.
Seeing Aura back down, Solitär didn't say anything more, instead turning her gaze to Fíliya.
What she was thinking now was that Fíliya disliked seeing human corpses, and the puppets behind Aura were made from human corpses... Would Fíliya be upset?
Fíliya understood the meaning in Solitär's gaze and said with a light chuckle.
"It's fine, I don't mind. A guest is a guest, after all."
...Solitär was a little displeased, but she didn't say much.
Her displeasure stemmed from the fact that ever since Fíliya saw Aura, she had been acting particularly enthusiastic...
As for the reason, with Solitär's intelligence, she quickly arrived at the answer.
It must be because Aura's expressions are more varied than her own? More to Fíliya's liking?
In any case, Solitär was a little unhappy that Fíliya was paying more attention to Aura.
The three of them soon went upstairs and arrived at the reception room.
Just as Fíliya was about to invite Aura to take a seat, she saw it.
Aura used her mana to lift the chair prepared for her, about to toss it aside carelessly. But then, her expression changed as if she had suddenly realized something, and she ended up setting it down gently, placing the chair slowly in the corner of the room.
This gutless display, in Fíliya's eyes, was exceptionally cute and full of research value.
This demon named Aura, her expressions and emotions are just so rich!
Fíliya was like a prisoner who had been locked in a secret room for too long, frantically craving the light emanating from Miss Aura.
After Aura placed the chair aside, Fíliya saw something else.
Aura gestured for the two puppets following her to get on the ground, stacking themselves into a human chair, while Aura herself, with an arrogant look on her face, sat on their backs.
Mm, Aura's intentions are truly so easy to guess.
Miss Fíliya rested her chin on her hand.
It was obvious that this Miss Aura was provoking her.
"Look, a mere human is only fit to be Lord Aura's chair."
Fíliya could read her thoughts directly from the expression on Aura's face.
Therefore, with Fíliya's personality, it would be unlike her not to retaliate at a time like this.
She was seen curiously examining the two puppets.
Then, she spoke.
"Lord Aura is so amazing. What is this? Some kind of Corpse Manipulation Magic?"
Fíliya asked, feigning ignorance.
How could she not know of Aura's magic? It was a terrifying magic recorded in the annals of human history.
Magic of Obedience (Auserlese).
It uses the Scales of Obedience to place one's own soul and that of an opponent on its pans. The one with the greater mana can make the other submit to them.
This was her signature skill, and the bargaining chip that gave Aura the confidence to wage war against humanity.
Indeed, Aura's magic was like a ruthless mowing machine; given enough time, she could create an endless army of soldiers.
After hearing Fíliya's 'compliment,' Aura's tone became even more arrogant.
"Not at all! There's a limit to ignorance, human. To dare lump Lord Aura's magic in with the likes of corpse manipulation... I'll have you know, this is called the Magic of Obedience. This magic is invincible against humans. If I wanted, I could make you my slave with a single thought."
Under Fíliya's masterful acting, Aura truly believed Fíliya was praising her.
Ah... no matter how many times, Miss Fíliya was struck by the thought that such pure, unadulterated stupidity could actually exist in this world.
Teasing idiots is so much fun, ehe.
Fíliya was overjoyed internally.
Just then, Solitär came in carrying a tea set. She first placed the tea and utensils on the table with a displeased look, then shot Fíliya a glare.
Hm?
Fíliya blinked dryly, not quite understanding why she was being glared at.
Solitär was heard to say.
"Fíliya, move over a bit."
Solitär said, and as she spoke, she began to move a chair to place it between Fíliya and Aura.
"Eh? But Solitär, don't you find Aura annoying? So wouldn't it be better for me to sit with her? Don't force yourself."
Fíliya asked with a puzzled look.
She completely failed to understand. Solitär was clearly disgusted by Aura, so why was she insisting on fighting her for the spot?
"No need. This is fine."
As Solitär spoke, she picked up the tea set before her and poured Fíliya a cup of black tea, perhaps as a way to shut Miss Fíliya's mouth.
And this method did indeed work. Fíliya was very fond of the black tea Solitär brewed, so she immediately closed her mouth and properly savored a sip.
"What about me?"
Aura watched Solitär pour tea for the human, feeling very displeased. After all, in her perception, mana was a symbol of status.
Why would Solitär ignore a great demon like her and instead attend to that weak human?
This was a question Miss Aura could not fathom for the life of her.
"Pour it yourself."
Solitär dismissed Aura casually, not even bothering to look at her.
"You!... Tsk, fine, I'll pour it myself."
Overcome with anger, Aura shot to her feet, only to slowly sit back down like a wilted eggplant.
It had to be said, the way these three interacted was truly bizarre.
Miss Fíliya watched Aura with an enthusiastic expression.
Aura, meanwhile, stared resentfully at Solitär's profile.
As for Solitär, her attention was entirely on Fíliya.
What a perfect loop.
"By the way, Aura, why do you cut off your puppets' heads? Since your Magic of Obedience is invincible, and you've already turned these humans into your 'slaves,' why do you still need to chop off their heads? It can't be due to Lord Aura's unique aesthetic sense, can it?"
Fíliya asked with a light chuckle.
This... Fíliya's words made Aura break into a sweat. The question was truly embarrassing, and she didn't quite know how to answer.
Fíliya already knew the reason Aura did this, so she continued in a playful, teasing tone.
"Yes, I've read about it in the Magic Association's archives. Your Magic of Obedience actually has a small flaw, doesn't it? After all, your magic appeared before humanity long ago, so of course, humans have records of it."
"'Those with a noble will and spirit' can temporarily resist this Magic of Obedience. Yes, that would explain it. To prevent such a situation from occurring, Lord Aura must cut off all her puppets' heads."
"Pfft... To cast the magic of obedience and still be afraid of your puppets rebelling against you... Lord Aura, you really are a complete and utter..."
"...coward."
Fíliya covered her mouth lightly, laughing without restraint.
______
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