Demons
Creatures resembling humans but driven by alien values and biology. Long ago, the great mage Flamme defined demons as monsters capable of speech. Legends say their ancestors lured humans from the shadows, crying "help."
Dangerous predators, they feed on humans, making them humanity's greatest foe.
Humanity fought back with swords and magic, wielding wisdom and weapons. Yet, demons gradually pushed humans to the brink.
The Demon King
The supreme ruler of demons, wielding unmatched power. Backed by the all-knowing Shurahto and the elite Seven Sages, their strength was unparalleled, leaving humanity helpless.
But in this despair, a glimmer of hope emerged.
Hero Himmel
A young man bearing the title of Hero. His arrival ended the long war between humans and demons. He wasn't alone.
Heiter, his human childhood friend and priest.
Eisen, a dwarf warrior.
Frieren, an elf mage.
These four, later known as the legendary Hero's Party, defeated the Demon King, restoring peace. People rejoiced, savoring a life free from senseless death.
Time, however, spares no one—human or demon. It is the world's most equal, cruel, and gentle force. Nothing remains unchanged, no matter how long a life endures. Only those who farewell and those farewelled exist—a mere distinction.
Twenty-eight years after Hero Himmel's death, in the Northern Lands.
A serene yet solemn town, dotted with churches. As a service ends, people stream out—men and women, young and old—each clutching a scale-shaped ornament. This world reveres the Goddess, with crosses as believers' anchors. But here, no crosses are found. This town worships something else.
"Thank you, Lord Ryugner. Please give my regards to Lady Aura," says a female believer, bowing deeply.
"Understood. Continue your unwavering faith—all under Lady Aura's scales," replies the male priest, his tone warm yet commanding.
He ushers out the faithful with practiced grace—an ordinary scene in this world. But to outsiders, it's unthinkable. Horns sprout from the priest, Ryugner's, head. Over half the town's residents bear inhuman traits—proof they are demons. This is the miracle of the demon nation, Freesia.
The Demon Nation of Freesia
A unique paradise ruled by Aura of the Scales, where humans and demons coexist.
"Please give my regards, huh? Bold words for a human," Ryugner mutters in the empty church, his true feelings slipping out.
How absurd—humans, who once loathed and feared demons, now worship them. His gaze falls on his priestly robes and the scripture in hand. At first, he despised this farce, but now it feels routine. Deceiving humans is, after all, a demon's nature.
Twenty years… Such change in so little time. Humans' sense of time is so different from ours.
Two decades ago, Freesia was a mere cult, not even a town. Now, it's a burgeoning nation. For demons, with centuries-long lives, this is a blink. Yet, it was enough to erase human fear and hatred of demons. Time helped, but Aura's indoctrination—or taming—was key.
Lady Aura… To foresee this far.
He recalls his master, the absolute ruler of Freesia: Aura of the Guillotine, once one of the Seven Sages. After Himmel's death, with the Hero's Party faded from the stage, Aura regained her power to exact revenge. Ryugner rushed to her side, expecting slaughter. Instead, she chose domination over annihilation.
It made sense—demons, predatory beasts, need humans to survive. But her method was alien to demonkind.
Equality… I still don't understand, but humans crave this irrationality.
His eyes linger on the scripture.
Equality was Aura's tool of control, the opposite of the Demon King's reign of fear. For demons, strength and magic are everything; the weak obey the strong. Aura's approach—imposing the same rules on humans and demons—was incomprehensible.
No violence. No conflict. Obey, and equality is granted.
This is the core of Aura's doctrine in Freesia. No exceptions. Demons cannot harm humans, meaning they cannot feed on them. Though not essential for survival, the instinct to do so is strong. Suppressing it was no small feat. Early violations were common, but swiftly ended—by Aura's guillotine.
Her title, Aura of the Scales, overshadows her true nature: Guillotine. No other word fits.
But now… humans and demons alike are changing.
Ryugner feels a thrill. He was skeptical at first, but the growing number of believers proves him wrong. Humans, despite peace, still fight among themselves, unable to escape survival of the fittest. Freesia offers an exception: equality, not wealth, for those who follow Aura. For demons, abstaining from human flesh ensures safety from hunters.
Faith for humans, loyalty for demons—Aura's rule mirrors a god's. Only she, once subjugated by humans, could wield such control, distinct from the Demon King's.
Glancing at the clock—past nine—it's time for his audience with Aura. Regional tensions also demand discussion. As he hurries out, a breathless woman from the service clings to him.
"Lord Ryugner! Thank goodness you're still here!"
He suppresses the urge to recoil. "What's wrong?"
"There's a fight at the market! People tried to stop it, but it's escalating. Please mediate!"
Understanding dawns—she wants him to settle the dispute. "Alright, lead the way."
Following her, Ryugner knows disputes aren't rare. Even with Aura's laws, fools break them. As a priest—or enforcer—it's his duty to intervene, permitted to use force if persuasion fails. His demon instincts stir, but he maintains his priestly facade.
The scene comes into view—a man's grating shouts. An injured human woman and child face a demon male, harassing them. In Aura's nation, violence is forbidden, and Ryugner prepares to step in, force ready if needed.
"What's going on here?" a young girl interjects, her twin-tails and corset dress out of place, her tone curious, like a bystander.
Linie?
Linie, a fellow priest and Aura's right hand, is a demon idolized in Freesia for her appearance and demeanor. Ryugner wishes she'd act with more dignity.
The commotion grows, driven by demon men. A human child bumped into them, sparking the conflict—petty, yet typical of demons' predatory nature. In another world, the human family would be prey. But this is Freesia.
"Eh, whatever. Violence is banned, you know? This is Lady Aura's country. Says so right here," Linie says, flashing her scripture, the unyielding law of Aura's doctrine.
"What's with this stupid book? Demons equal to humans?" one demon sneers.
"This nation's a joke! Just a haven for weak demons like you!" another adds.
To demons, might is order. Strength and fear rule, as under the Demon King. Magic determines power, and Linie's meager aura—barely above a low-tier monster's—earns their scorn. Ryugner knows he'd make the same mistake.
"Then you don't need this," Linie says.
A blink, and one demon's head falls, severed by Linie's sword—a replica named Hero's Sword, wielded by a demon. Her weak aura was camouflage, a predator's trap.
"What the hell?!" the remaining demon gasps, terrified.
Linie is unfazed. Suppressing her magic is second nature, an anomaly even Ryugner finds cowardly, though it's trivial.
"They're useless to Lady Aura, so they're gone," she says coldly.
The surviving demon, realizing his error, takes the child hostage. A futile move—except in Freesia, where equality reigns. It could work, exploiting demon deception.
"Annoying," Linie mutters.
In an instant, the demon's arms and head are severed, the child now in Linie's arms—a scene mimicking a hero's rescue, yet oddly unbalanced with Linie's youthful frame.
This is Freesia's essence—a microcosm of its order.
"Hey, Ryugner, what're you doing here? Isn't it time for the audience?" Linie asks, munching a red apple—a gift from the rescued child.
"I could ask you the same," Ryugner retorts.
"Was buying apples, but got this for free. Score!" She grins, lacking any priestly gravitas.
"You're Aura's priest. Mind your public behavior."
"I know, I know. I did my job, right?"
Her carefree attitude irks him, but he drops it. Linie outranks him in magic and Aura's favor. He's inferior, though he vows to surpass her through relentless pursuit of magical mastery for Aura.
"Let's go, Ryugner. Don't wanna get scolded by Aura," Linie says.
"Don't blame me for being late," he replies.
Together, the contrasting pair hurries to their master, ready to serve.