"Oh my, trouble brewing?" a voice says. "Am I interrupting?"
He appears, cloaked in an air of incongruous calm, yet commanding the room. A bespectacled man in priestly robes, exuding a gentle warmth.
Heiter, the priest.
A member of the Hero's Party that defeated the Demon King. Yet there's something shady about him—maybe because I'm a demon? I swallow hard, trembling. The fear of execution moments ago pales compared to this chill. I can't suppress it. It's a demon's instinct, a reflex. Why?
(That ridiculous mana…! A priest? What kind of joke is this?!)
Heiter radiates mana rivaling mine. I knew this—I faced the Hero's Party before. But seeing it up close, I can't stay calm. A mere human, barely thirty, matching a great demon's five centuries of mastery? And he's a priest, not a mage. What kind of absurdity is this?
(He's like Himmel… no, like the Southern Hero. A monster.)
I recall the Southern Hero, humanity's strongest, whom I fought long ago. Himmel's close, but Heiter's another anomaly—a freak among humans. Yet I didn't sense him coming. He must've concealed his mana. Why?
(More mana than that elf… how could she travel with him?)
The elf bothers me more. For mages, mana is strength, pride. Traveling with a priest whose mana dwarfs hers must've been humiliating. Was she too foolish to care, or had she given up? Her mana wasn't exceptional, but her skill was. So, in the Hero's Party—
(No, that's wrong.)
I catch myself. This is arrogance, a demon's fatal flaw as predators. It's cost me before. We don't learn to be hunted or deceived. The mage who defeated the Demon King can't be ordinary. Himmel's stories about her always felt off. What was it?
"No need to worry," Himmel whispers, misreading my silence. "He's here. It'll be fine."
"Why?" I mutter.
"Just watch," he says, a grin I've never seen before lighting his face.
His gaze fixes on Heiter, as if his arrival solves everything. Not escape—Himmel's not that reckless. But how can anyone fix this? Even a hero's words fell flat. What can a priest do?
I'm about to find out why Heiter's called a "boorish priest" and why he's more troublesome than Himmel.
"Priest Heiter," the king says. "Why are you here? You weren't scheduled for an audience."
"My apologies," Heiter says, bowing. "I heard Hero Himmel was in the capital. I had business here myself and thought I'd visit my old friend. He wasn't home, but I learned he was meeting Your Majesty, so here I am."
His tone is casual, almost impudent, unlike Himmel's deference. Yet no one calls it out. Because he's a priest? Or something else?
"It's hardly peaceful," Heiter continues. "What's the issue? Did Himmel mouth off again?"
"As expected of his best friend," the king says. "We're about to detain him for treason, including that impudence."
"Treason?" Heiter says. "That's serious. May I hear the details?"
Best friend—someone especially close, right? Heiter knows Himmel well, quirks and all. Himmel fidgets, perhaps embarrassed by his earlier panic. Meanwhile—
"Heiter, you dare barge in with such disrespect!" a retainer snaps. "To His Majesty—"
"It's fine," the king interrupts. "I'll explain."
The king recounts the situation, his sternness softening. Heiter planned this, keeping his demeanor gentle. After listening, he strokes his chin, seemingly troubled, then glances at us—mostly Himmel.
"Well, that's quite a mess," he says, his eyes saying, Nice job, troublemaker.
Even I, a demon, can read that look. Himmel looks away, silent. Heiter sighs, as if this was routine on their journeys.
"Very well," Heiter says after a pause. "I'll prove Himmel isn't under her control."
The air shifts. My spine stiffens, breath catching. It's not just me—the room feels his intent, a priest ready for battle. Even the guards tense. Heiter opens his holy book, approaching us. I instinctively step back.
"Heiter…?" Himmel murmurs, frozen.
Of course. His old comrade advances, holy book—his weapon—in hand, targeting not me, but Himmel. Heiter unleashes a spell, a merciless surprise attack allowing no counter or dodge. A blinding light engulfs everything.
"Argh, my eyes!" Himmel yelps, rolling on the floor. "What was that, Heiter?! If this handsome hero gets hurt, what then?!"
"That narcissism confirms it's Himmel," Heiter says, unfazed.
The hero and priest who felled the Demon King reduce the room to stunned silence with their absurd spectacle.
"What was that spell, Priest Heiter?" the king asks.
"That was the Goddess's Awakening Dispel," Heiter says, closing his book. "It removes enchantments or curses. I used it on Himmel, but there was no resistance—he was never controlled."
Clever. I ignore Himmel's writhing. It's a brilliant move.
(Awakening Dispel… a threat if real, but probably a bluff.)
The spell likely removes minor curses, like sleep spells. But my Azeliese, crafted by a Sage of Destruction, has never been broken. Demon magic surpasses human magic. The Goddess's magic, a different system, might pose a threat, but I've faced priests before—none dispelled Azeliese. Heiter didn't try during our last battle, so he likely can't. A new Goddess spell discovered recently? Too convenient.
It doesn't matter here. The court knows little of magic, human or divine. Heiter, the world's greatest priest, is beyond doubt.
"Same old Heiter," Himmel grumbles, recovered. "Drinking at noon again, you boorish priest?"
"Rude," Heiter replies. "Maybe you are controlled."
I read somewhere priests shouldn't drink—what's with him? He's as abnormal as Himmel. Meanwhile—
"Your Majesty!" a retainer protests. "Even if true, Heiter could be controlled. It's dangerous to take his word!"
A desperate counter, circling back to the unprovable. But—
"Indeed," Heiter says. "But proving that is like a demon's paradox—no one can prove they're free. Including you, Your Majesty, and the retainers."
"Tch… but—"
Heiter anticipated this, gently rebuking them like children. His sermon-like tone is fitting for a priest, though there's an edge to it.
"As Aura the Guillotine said," he continues, "if she controlled Himmel, this audience would've ended already. The fact we're talking proves Himmel's truth."
He must've eavesdropped from the start, quoting me to seal his argument. The scales tip in my favor, and the retainers have no counter. The verdict is clear.
(No wonder Himmel trusts him. What a boorish priest.)
I'm genuinely impressed, but he's a worse enemy than Himmel. His nickname makes sense now.
"Please forgive Himmel's disrespect, Your Majesty," Heiter says, kneeling. "He's a true hero, unable to abandon a life he spared, even a demon's. That's why he defeated the Demon King."
He uses Himmel's legend to sway the king, the trial's true judge. No one can deny the hero's glory.
"As for Aura, I'll help oversee her," Heiter adds. "Let Himmel keep her. They'll serve the kingdom and humanity even more."
He proposes a compromise, echoing the king and Himmel's initial intent.
"And her disrespect?" he says. "Overlook it. She's a demon—her words weren't sincere."
I'd forgotten my outburst. Demons lie, but to use it like this? Who's the real demon here?
"My apologies, Your Majesty," Himmel says, forcing my head down. "My fault entirely. Please forgive us."
"…Please," I echo, barely managing under his grip.
He's desperate to survive, and I'm dragged along. All I can do is mimic him.
"And the retainers?" Heiter says, eyeing them. "Surely you didn't mean those harsh words against Himmel?"
"Tch…" they falter.
His tone is gentle, but his eyes are cold. The retainers fall silent, their positions reversed. I'm awed—this is manipulation. But—
"That was my honest opinion," I mutter.
"Read the room," Himmel hisses.
Being tied to him is bad for my heart. Can't he free me already?
"Very well," the king says, relieved. "All disrespect is pardoned. But I expect greater service henceforth, including Aura's case. Report regularly. Understood?"
The trial ends, my life spared—for now—marking the close of my year-delayed audience in the capital—
"It's been a while, Heiter," Himmel says. "Thanks for the save. Didn't expect you here."
"Didn't I write I'd come?" Heiter replies. "Did you not read my letter?"
"That was an 'if I can'!" Himmel retorts. "No one trusts your word, boorish priest. You were probably lurking outside the whole time."
On the way to Himmel's house from the castle, they walk side by side, me trailing behind. Joining them feels awkward. Their chatter is half incomprehensible, so I gaze at the capital—its towering buildings, bustling crowds. It's overwhelming compared to the village.
"You caught me," Heiter laughs. "I didn't want to interrupt your grand performance, Hero. I'd have watched longer, but I didn't want to get dragged into your escape. I'm not ready to be a fugitive. Eisen might've joined, though."
What now? I'm headed to Himmel's house, and Heiter will likely stick around. Why do I keep getting tangled with the Hero's Party? At this rate, I'll meet them all.
"Sorry," Himmel says. "By the way, what if Frieren had shown up?"
"No contest," Heiter says. "She's Frieren the Slayer. It'd be a different mess. I'd bolt—mark my words."
"Yeah…" Himmel sighs.
I must avoid that elf. Today proved it—meeting her would be my end. Himmel's useless against her.
"What?" I snap, noticing them staring.
"Himmel, send her back where you found her," Heiter says.
"Like a stray mom?" Himmel teases.
"What's with this guy?" I snap. "Rude jerk."
The Hero's Party sure knows how to get on my nerves.
This is the end of the reunion, the start of a long, fraught bond between Aura the Guillotine and Heiter the Priest—