Aura gritted her teeth in anger, not because Fíliya had pointed out the flaw in her magic.
But because she realized that every time this human called her "Lady Aura," the tone was clearly one of mockery.
To think she was being mocked by a human as insignificant as an ant, and mocked repeatedly at that.
Ahh!!! If Solitär wasn't protecting you, I, the great Lady Aura, would definitely kill... No, killing this human would be letting her off too easy.
I'll use the Magic of Obedience (Auserlese) to turn her into my foot-washing maid... the kind that even drinks the dirty water! And I must keep her head, occasionally restore her consciousness, and then ask her how she feels. Yes, that would be the ultimate insult to this detestable human.
Ah... just imagining such a satisfying scene instantly lifted Aura's spirits again.
But Solitär's expression, on the other hand, grew even darker.
Because she was struck by a realization: Fíliya had never once called her "Lady Solitär," yet upon entering today, she had already called Aura "Lady Aura" three times in a row.
Although Solitär knew Fíliya was mocking Aura, her mood still worsened.
What's happening to me?
Am I the kind of... demon... whose emotions fluctuate so easily?
Or has Fíliya's presence over this past month already caused some kind of subtle change in me?
Solitär questioned herself.
"Hmph, foolish human. So what if you know my magic's weakness? In my experience, the type of human who possesses a 'noble will' is very rare. Over the past few centuries, only a few dozen have been able to slightly resist my magic. Besides, I've long since overcome that flaw. As long as I cut off their head the instant the Magic of Obedience takes effect, they will be forced to obey me, no matter how noble their spirit."
Aura took a few deep breaths, then crossed her arms, regaining her confident posture.
"In other words, you don't deny that you're a coward, right, Aura?"
Fíliya couldn't be bothered to listen to Aura's meaningless rebuttal; she focused solely on her own attack.
"A coward? How am I a coward?! I'm warning you, don't make baseless accusations!"
Aura immediately demanded loudly, even shooting glances at Solitär from time to time, as if asking.
[What are you doing, Solitär? Why aren't you saying anything? Have you really sided with the human?]
But her questioning gaze was like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no feedback from Solitär.
"Hmph, evidence, you say? You've asked the right person, Miss Aura."
Fíliya also put on an arrogant expression. If she weren't currently wrapped in bandages from head to toe, with even one of her eyes covered, one might have actually felt a bit of an intimidating aura from her.
Fíliya picked up the cup of black tea Solitär had poured for her, drained it in one gulp, and then continued.
"I happen to know that about a hundred years ago, you were very active, Aura, frequently appearing in the historical records of various human nations... but in the last fifty or sixty years, your name has completely vanished."
"From this, I have a theory."
"Aura, could it be that you were scared out of your wits by Himmel the Hero and spent fifty or sixty years hiding in some ditch... only daring to reappear in the light of day after confirming the hero was dead? Huh? After all that, you still dare say you're not a coward?"
After hearing Fíliya's words, Aura felt her fists clench tightly, and her body began to tremble.
Because everything that damned human said was the absolute truth.
She, Aura the Guillotine, had nearly been insta-killed like a common mob by Himmel the Hero during her battle with the hero's party.
In that battle with the hero, she had finally realized another weakness of her Magic of Obedience.
It has an absurdly long casting time.
Having narrowly escaped that attack, she made a resolution.
She would hide. Hide until the hero died of old age, and only then show her face to the world again.
As for her loyalty to the Demon King... Ptooey! Can you eat loyalty?
Lord Demon King, don't you blame me, Aura, for being disloyal. We're the Demon Race; disloyalty is our virtue!
Who asked you to be so weak, Lord Demon King? If you hadn't died and had helped the great Lady Aura take care of the hero's party, Aura wouldn't have minded going back to being your subordinate.
Does anyone know how she spent these last few decades? Does anyone know her suffering! Miss Aura thought indignantly.
She didn't even dare to eat people, hiding away in a cave just to get by. For the first ten years, she didn't even dare to leave the cave, only foraging for food inside, eating whatever she could find. She didn't dare to be the least bit picky, even eating earthworms and insects.
Only later did she slowly begin to venture around the cave's vicinity, but she never dared to go more than a few kilometers away from it.
During these decades of extreme humiliation, Aura had an epiphany.
No matter the process, she had survived. The hero? Heh, what's the use of being a good fighter? Could you outlive me?
Making your way in the world isn't about who's the better fighter, but who's the better survivor!
I, the great Lady Aura, am still alive in this world, while you have long since turned to a pile of dust. Now is the time for my revenge. Without the hero to stop me, my Magic of Obedience is invincible against the human world of today.
"Hmph... I can't be bothered to argue with a foolish human like you."
In short, Miss Aura couldn't find any way to save face and could only get through it by acting petulantly.
"Heh... So, Solitär, why did Aura come looking for you anyway... Don't tell me she wanted to recruit you to wage war on humanity together."
Fíliya watched Aura bite her lip in frustration and found it exceptionally enjoyable. Satisfied, she decided to let her off the hook for the time being.
After all, Aura was speechless. Her comical expression—a mixture of extreme shame and indignation, yet not daring to lash out in front of Solitär—was already imprinted on Miss Fíliya's heart.
When bullying a fool, one must know when to push and when to pull back. You can't push Aura too hard all at once.
"That is, in fact, the case. And I have already clearly refused."
Solitär spoke slowly, uttering her first words since sitting down.
"Huh? She really thought that way? Seriously..."
Miss Fíliya's eyes widened, her gaze filled with the look one gives a fool, and a hint of pity subconsciously crept in.
"What's with you..."
Being stared at with such a look, even someone as dense as Aura felt uncomfortable.
"Mm, Aura, let me give you some advice. The fact that you could endure humiliation and wait until the hero was dead to show yourself again proves you're someone who cherishes her own life. So... if you truly value your life, you should give up on the idea of attacking human cities."
"Otherwise, you will die very quickly."
Fíliya delivered her "verdict" with a deadpan expression.
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