The room is dominated by her immense magic—or rather, by that elf. The mages shrink, their will broken. Human or demon, it doesn't matter. It's an instinct no magic-user escapes. I'm no exception. My hands, my body, tremble. Naturally.
(A monster's master is a monster…!)
Her magic dwarfs mine—over double that of a five-hundred-year-old great demon. The humiliation burns. Demon instincts and pride surge, urging me to flee. Both are me. Are all elves such monsters? If Heiter's right, Frieren, absent here, matches this. Facing her would prove his insult undeniable. Fighting isn't an option. As a demon, and with Azelieuze—a magic decided by mana—I'm facing my natural enemy.
Worse, she might be concealing her magic. Mana scales with training time, and if she's truly from mythic times, surpassing Frieren's plausible. Frieren's her grand-disciple. Her displayed mana might be restrained. What a joke. A true monster.
(The old me would've fled already…)
I exhale, close my eyes, and calm myself, suppressing instincts with control, like managing mana. Unconsciously, I clutch Freesia's accessory, startled, then release it, feigning calm. Himmel, fixated on the elf, doesn't notice. Lucky. His elf fetish is irritating, but being bound to him keeps me composed. Otherwise, I'd likely be dead.
(She's as scheming as Heiter…)
I reassess. Her intent is clear. Like Heiter's hidden mana during my first capital audience, she suppressed hers until now, revealing it to assert dominance. The impact's staggering—we're overwhelmed. This alone nearly fulfills the ceremony's purpose. It echoes the Demon King's control. Like Frieren, elves may share our demonic sensibilities.
"Well met, legendary mage. State your name."
The king, blind to mana, speaks unfazed. I know now a mana-less human isn't weak in their world. Compared to his malice-driven old entourage, he's decent. A king, after all.
"Why's a demon here? Can't you tell human from demon?"
Ignoring the king, the elf—Serie—fixes on me. No, I was her focus from the start. Our eyes meet. Her gaze holds nothing. It's been ages since I've felt this—seen as a mere beast. She's Frieren's kin, no doubt.
"That's Aura, once Guillotine of the Seven Sages."
"A Sage survivor? Why's she here?"
"Himmel commands her. She serves humanity now."
"Joking? The Demon King's dead barely a decade, and humans forgot demons' folly?"
Serie spits, genuinely appalled. I agree. In ten years, I'm accepted, blending in. Humans are fools. The Demon King's death didn't end all demons, yet they forget, deceived. A century from now? Demons are no different.
"You're insolent to the king!"
The king's vassals protest. Understandable—her attitude's outrageous, even for the guest of honor. Himmel's party would face execution for less. She's neither ignorant nor foolish, yet unperturbed, her mana steady. To her, this audience and ceremony might mean nothing.
The king merely gestures to silence his vassals, not reprimanding her. We all realize—Himmel, me, everyone—that her power transcends mana.
"Fine. Let's settle this."
Serie glances at me like a roadside pebble, then surveys the room.
"I am Serie, an elf mage, as you see. I'll found the Continental Magic Association."
Her provocative smirk confirms Heiter's intel. The Association will govern human mages. But why an elf? What's her gain?
"I serve no nation, nor care for wars or power struggles."
Her declaration baffles me—and others. The room stirs. It undermines the ceremony. I've learned nations matter to humans. Even Himmel can't defy them. Wars, power struggles—she dismisses them. What's her goal?
"Only magic's advancement matters. I'll grant you my wisdom for it."
To me, to demons, it's incomprehensible. Why teach strangers—humans—magic? Entrust its pursuit to others? A rabble won't advance it. For demons, magic's natural, a prideful privilege for the talented. Is she that foolish?
"You doubt me. But it's true. I've guided the Empire's court mages for years. I'll do the same here."
Sensing skepticism, Serie adds this. The Empire, which resisted the Demon King's forces, acknowledges her. Her guidance proves her influence.
"So, we're not equals?"
"Naturally… but I'm not that arrogant. A partnership. Not a bad deal, right?"
Serie, unbowed, addresses the king with bare arrogance. Yet it's permitted—her power rivals his. Like the influence I've gained over a decade, she wields it effortlessly. A partnership, like friendship or a deal.
"Since the Demon King's defeat, mage quality's declined, despite his remnants. I won't ignore it."
Serie scans the attendees, her words literal. The Demon King's fall weakened mages, as many demons hide, fearing Himmel. Ironic. No one refutes her.
"Negotiations with northern and southern nations remain. Full operations are later."
Tossing her hair, she faces the king, smirk intact. I catch her meaning—she's threatening to favor other nations if he refuses. Like Heiter's tactics, but backed by real power. Why did she stay hidden? Do elves just isolate?
"This is just a debut. As rumored. Any objections?"
The king, inwardly rattled, prompts the crowd. None dare object—not against someone even he can't challenge. Mages are already cowed, like under Azelieuze.
"I forgot something. If anyone meets my standards, I'll grant a privilege."
Serie, satisfied or forgetful, conjures a grimoire-like object and declares this.
She claims mastery of nearly all human magic, offering to share any spell. For mages, it's a dream fulfilled. I don't get it, but their excitement proves it. Like dangling food before animals—demonic, perhaps. Yet—
"Perfect. Grant that privilege to Aura, the Scales."
Despite avoiding it, the king's unexpected jab pulls me back to the spotlight.
"Don't jest. Why a demon?"
"She benefits our nation, humanity. I seek her reward. It'd prove your privilege. Or can't you?"
Serie's valid retort is met with the king's push. It's true but forced. He's irked by her arrogance, retaliating. Fine, but dragging me in is unbearable.
"I refuse. This privilege is for exceptional mages. She's a future threat, a potential second Demon King. Best eliminated now."
The air shifts, her mana sharp, piercing. I can't help countering with mine. Our eyes meet, her killing intent overwhelming, gripping my existence. I know this feeling. She names it.
'Demon King'
The title of our apex, not a human king, but the peak of survival's law. His terror wasn't just strength—an unknowable realm. As that talkative demon said, "By His Majesty's will."
Why me? I aim for that, but I'm far off—further now, bound by servitude. I've learned my limits, a frog in a well. I'd enslave my past self if I could.
"How do you know?"
I blurt out, a mistake. Silence was best. Begging's out; honest talk, like with the party, is futile. She's not open to dialogue. To her, I'm a beast, a stone she's muttering at.
Silence. A moment where one breath could kill. But it's no contest—her power and my restrictions make it impossible. I'm on humanity's side. No panic, just resignation. Because—
"No worries. I've got Aura."
I'm bound to the hero's party, humanity's side.
"Get off, Himmel."
I swat his hand from my head. Alone, fine, but in public, it's humiliating. It always comes to this. I knew it, but had no choice. Like when cornered in the capital, I used it then. Now, I rely on it, like Linie. Infuriating.
"Himmel, the hero… Seduced by a demon, as rumored?"
Serie, eyes widening then narrowing, mutters. Her killing intent wanes—caution, perhaps. The hero's reputation. That rumor irks me, but no time for it. Because—
"Not just Himmel. I guarantee her safety."
"Me too."
Himmel's move drags them in. I want to leave. Why am I caught in this farce?
"Pathetic… All deceived? You defeated the Demon King?"
Serie voices my thoughts. A hero shielding a demon? Only Frieren's missing. If she protected me too, I'd lose my demon title.
"I agree."
"Whose side are you on?"
"Just honesty."
I speak truthfully, no deception. No enemies or allies. Why did these fools defeat the Demon King? They're monsters, but he was greater. Even Serie is. Their flawless victory was a miracle.
"We couldn't do it again."
"Pass."
"Same."
"You guys…"
They admit it—or jest. I'm exasperated by their banter. Where's their earlier bravado? Eisen's trembling again. So cowardly.
"Not even fighting back after being mocked?"
Serie, displeased, questions their reaction. Her words were to provoke, to belittle. Pointless—they're immune. Because—
"We couldn't alone. Without Frieren, or any one of us, the Demon King wins."
They don't believe any single one achieved it. Their goal wasn't just his defeat but something beyond.
"That incompetent?"
Frieren, the party's mage, called incompetent. She hasn't surpassed her master. Serie seems to dislike her. Bad blood?
"I heard about you from Frieren. She's your grand-disciple. Meeting you confirms it—masters and students are alike."
Himmel, smiling, stirs the pot, unaware or not. Serie's irritation grows—she hates being compared. He doesn't notice.
"So I'm grateful. Because of you, I met Frieren. Thank you."
Himmel thanks her, relieved to say it. He met Frieren because of Serie. Incomprehensible, goody-two-shoes nonsense.
"In a way, you defeated the Demon King over a millennium."
Nonsense. The party, not Serie, did it. Demons can't grasp it—humans' concept of linking past, present, future, encompassing others in a lineage, history. By that, Serie enabled the Demon King's fall, even without acting. A wasteful, idle idea.
"…"
Serie falls silent, her menacing mana gone. Her gaze is distant, on Frieren or something else. How long does it last?
"Enough. I'm bored. I've said my piece. You decide the rest."
Serie turns away, unimpressed. Himmel's words didn't please her. He watches, smiling. Heiter called him a charmer—effective beyond humans, but not on Frieren, so maybe pointless.
(I survived… barely.)
A fortunate outcome. With Himmel's group, I won't be unilaterally eliminated, but a fight was possible. Resolved with words—humanity's true use of them. Relieved, but—
"You, demon. Follow me. Alone."
Serie's parting words shatter that relief.
"—What?"
Aura stands frozen, stunned.
This was the start of the first and last first-class mage interview for a demon in the Continental Magic Association.
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