One year after the establishment of the Free City of Gaderia.
The Gaderia Territory had expanded rapidly. A special zone dedicated to the Demon Race was established, and the 'Love and Peace' New Demon Association relocated there. The original stronghold had now become a research facility solely for Qual.
"Lord Aura, have you seen Lady Nanoda?"
Linie was holding a large black pot. Inside, something that looked like squid tentacles floated in a green soup. It was unclear if it had just come off the stove, but the surface of the soup was still bubbling with strange, popping bubbles—it looked remarkably like a dish straight out of the Cthulhu mythos.
"No."
Aura was lying on a chaotic lounge chair, basking in the sun outside while holding a book on human military strategy.
"Would you like to try my new dish?"
"Uh, no need. I think you should save it for Nanoda. I'm already full from lunch, and I need to study military strategy now."
Aura didn't even spare it a glance, slamming the book over her face to cover it.
Aura had the misfortune of tasting Linie's 'Dark Cuisine' once. She had assumed it only looked terrible, but after just one bite, she nearly ascended to the afterlife. The sensation was no less painful than the Hero using the Holy Sword to scratch her neck.
Qual had eaten it too. After finishing it, he had locked himself away in the research facility, claiming he needed to improve the new Killing Magic and research the Magic Sealing Ore in seclusion.
As for Nanoda, the moment she saw Linie lighting the fire and setting up the pot, she had long since run away to wander outside.
During this past year, the Empire had been unexpectedly quiet. After Earl Mannier died, his territory was reclaimed by the Empire, but they made no further moves. Regarding Gaderia's independence, the Empire expressed no stance either. It was as if it were the calm before the storm—a peace so deep it was terrifying.
Aside from listening to Aaron's reports on the territory's development, checking on Yuna's magic, and accompanying her on shopping trips, Nanoda had spent the entire year living a life of utter slacking.
Today, seeing Linie cooking again, Nanoda fled without a second word.
In Nanoda's heart, aside from 'Weapon Master' and 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' Linie had now been stamped with a new label: Culinary Saint.
Linie had researched recipes for a whole year, yet the dishes she produced did not become any more delicious. Instead, they evolved in the direction of biological weapons. The bodies of the Demon Race were sturdy, so eating it would at most cause discomfort for a while. Humans, however, were different. Take Zari, for instance: because he mocked Linie's food, he was force-fed a bowl and ended up lying in bed for nearly a month.
"Am I slacking off too much lately...?"
Nanoda lay on the branch of a fruit tree, squinting her eyes. Her 'Love and Peace' New Demon Association hadn't seen any new members for a long time since its establishment. The Demon soldiers she had sent out earlier for propaganda had also vanished without a trace.
Feeling the afternoon sunlight, Nanoda felt so peaceful she became drowsy.
Poke.
Feeling something prod her buttocks, Nanoda opened her eyes.
Beneath the tree, a blonde girl wearing a white dress was struggling to lift a wooden stick four or five times her length, poking randomly up at the tree.
Sweat the size of beans slid down her fair, exquisite cheeks. Her rosy, cherry-like small mouth was slightly open, gasping for breath. She tiptoed with all her might, the wooden stick swaying as it reached upward.
"Heave-ho..." Her sweet, tender voice was extremely cute.
Only then did Nanoda realize she had been sleeping in a fruit tree. The tree was full of oval, orange-yellow fruits. She didn't know what variety they were, but judging by the girl's actions, she wanted to knock the fruit down with the stick.
Poke.
Her buttocks were poked by the wooden stick again.
Nanoda shook her head. She casually plucked a fruit and tossed it down. The fruit felt very solid in hand; it wouldn't easily rot even if thrown on the ground.
Seeing the fruit fall, the blonde girl struggled to put down the wooden stick. She picked up the fruit and admired it in her hands, her pale golden eyes shining as she giggled.
Nanoda smiled faintly, preparing to continue her nap.
Suddenly, the sound of coughing came from under the tree. The blonde girl collapsed onto the grass, her whole body trembling. It seemed she was trying to deliberately suppress the cough, but it only made it more violent. The fruit in her hand rolled onto the ground as she covered her mouth with both hands in pain, her face gradually turning pale.
Sighing, Nanoda floated down from the tree.
Feeling a hand gently stroking her back, the young girl looked up.
It was a white-haired girl with long, flowing hair. A lock of hair covered her left eye, leaving only the grey-white right eye visible. Her face lacked expression, and the broken horn on her head indicated that she was a Demon.
"Are you alright? Just relax..."
The Demon girl spoke, her voice cool and pleasant.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The blonde girl curled up, the violent coughing making her tremble all over. The hand gently stroking her back made her feel slightly more comfortable.
Gradually, the coughing subsided. A sense of exhaustion washed over her, and the girl collapsed into the arms of the strange Demon.
The faint sound of breathing told Nanoda that the child seemed to have fallen asleep.
"What a fragile child."
Helpless, Nanoda leaned against the tree, letting the girl's head rest on her lap.
A gentle breeze blew past, stirring Nanoda's hair. Accompanied by the afternoon sun, Nanoda's eyes gradually narrowed.
"I'll just sleep for a little while..."
She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt something soft poking her cheek.
When she opened her eyes in a daze, she saw that the blonde girl had woken up before her and was poking her cheek with a small hand that still had some baby fat.
Seeing Nanoda wake up, two blushes appeared on the girl's face; she seemed a little shy.
"Ah, sorry. It was so comfortable that I fell asleep. Is your body feeling better?"
The girl, whose face had regained its color, nodded.
"Th... Thank you. Here, you can eat this fruit."
The girl handed the fruit Nanoda had previously thrown down back to her.
"Aren't you afraid of me? I'm a Demon, you know, and you're even giving me fruit."
Pointing to the broken horn on her head, Nanoda spoke gently.
"You haven't hurt me..."
"Heh, quite an interesting little girl."
Nanoda pinched the girl's soft, bouncy cheek, feeling in a good mood.
"I am the Great Demon Nanoda. What is your name?"
Hesitating for a moment, the girl said,
"Lektire..."
Hearing this name, Nanoda froze for a moment. It felt extremely familiar.
Looking carefully, this little girl had long blonde hair, a frail body, and looked kind-hearted.
Nanoda remembered. Wasn't this Denken's wife who died young? According to the timeline, that old geezer Denken should still be a baby or a little brat right now.
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Nanoda asked,
"Is your father named Glück?"
"Eh? Does Sister Nanoda know my father?"
Alright, it was confirmed. It really was that Lektire, not someone with the same name.
"So, how did you run all the way out here by yourself?"
Hearing Nanoda's question, little Lektire tilted her head in confusion.
"But this is the fruit orchard my family planted outside the territory..."
Nanoda was stunned. She hadn't run that far, had she? That future Fortress City, Weise, was actually right next door to Gaderia?!
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