"Eh? I'm so happy... I never thought there would be a human in this world who would willingly listen to me talk..."
That female demon truly wore a lovely smile, like a young girl in the throes of first love, but as a Demon Race enthusiast and research expert, Miss Fíliya would not be swayed by words of this level.
"Mm-hmm, you're right. It was rude of me to approach you so rashly, and I didn't even introduce myself properly."
As she spoke, the powerful female demon gently lifted the hem of her pure white dress and gave Fíliya a curtsy.
Fíliya noticed this detail, and it made her believe what the demon had said before a little more.
Of course, that excluded the line, "I have never harmed any human."
This demon was truly a special case, to have actually gone and learned human etiquette.
"My name is Solitär."
The female demon calmly stated her name.
The moment she heard the name, the first thought that popped into Fíliya's mind was:
Who? Never heard of her.
Fíliya's breadth of reading was already at the pinnacle among humans. She had read countless ancient classics and records, yet she had never seen the name "Solitär" in any of them.
She quickly realized just how horrifying this was.
For such a powerful demon, her name did not appear in any human records.
This situation meant only one thing.
That in the long course of history, among all the humans who had encountered this demon, there had never, ever been a single survivor.
"Fíliya."
After Solitär finished speaking, Fíliya also quickly gave her own name.
"Fíliya, is it? What a lovely name. I think we'll definitely get along..."
As Solitär spoke, she quickly moved closer to Fíliya and took her hand.
"Would you like to come to my home as a guest? I can cook human food, you know? I've invited many humans before, but none of them were willing to come. Fíliya, would you be willing to be my first human guest?"
Heh.
Fíliya just wanted to let out a cold laugh.
You've given yourself away, haven't you? Huh? And you say you've never harmed a human. Then where did all those humans who were unwilling to be your guests go? It's so hard to guess.
Though she was scornful in her heart, her expression showed no emotional fluctuation; she still smiled and nodded.
"Alright. This is also the first time I've met a member of the Demon Race with whom I can sit down and talk properly, without us having to kill each other."
Fíliya's words made Solitär's eyes light up.
"Eh? Fíliya, aren't you afraid of the Demon Race?"
"Of course not. Because I am a 'Demon Race enthusiast.'"
After Fíliya spoke, she could clearly feel that this Miss Solitär's interest in her had elevated from ordinary curiosity to a fanatical desire to uncover the truth.
To this, she could only sigh inwardly.
What is with this... Can't I ever meet a normal woman?
Someone dorky and cute like little Ehre would be fine.
After thinking it over, Fíliya decided that Sense was still the best after all.
...
And so, Fíliya walked side-by-side with Solitär along the seashore.
She glanced at Solitär's hand holding hers and felt a bit irritated.
The reason for her irritation was also very simple.
This lovely demon lady simply stank a little too much.
She now really wanted to take out her demon notebook and jot down an entry.
"The Demon Race most likely does not bathe."
After walking for some time, not far from that abandoned shipyard...
The duo of one human and one demon saw a stranded orca.
"Eh? Is it that time again?"
Solitär tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the orca.
"What time?"
Fíliya asked subconsciously.
"Mmm, these animals die in groups on the beach every so often... The cycle is about seven years. Every seven years, many of these animals rush onto the beach, as if committing suicide. Don't you find that interesting, Fíliya?"
"Is that so? What a shame. It would be nice if the Demon Race had such a habit. If the Demon Race committed mass suicide every seven years, life would surely be much easier for humanity."
Fíliya said to Solitär with a light laugh.
Because she had that magic as a safety net, her courage had grown a bit, and she even began to proactively say things that might provoke Solitär.
"Pfft, your words are contradictory, Fíliya. Just a moment ago, you claimed to be a demon enthusiast, yet you still seem to harbor hostility towards the Demon Race."
Solitär was, after all, a great demon who had trained for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. She wouldn't be as easily provoked by a human as those low-level demons.
"Mm, regarding the point of 'being contradictory,' I must return that word to you exactly as is, Solitär."
Fíliya continued.
"Hm?"
Solitär tilted her head with a hint of confusion.
"Aren't you the same? You say you love humans, but... you've eaten every single one you've met, haven't you?"
Miss Fíliya suddenly chose to drop the pretense at this delicate moment.
Hearing Fíliya's words, Solitär was slightly taken aback. Then, after a moment's thought, she slowly let go of Fíliya's hand.
She walked slowly to the side of the stranded orca, then placed her hand on its head, putting on a compassionate expression.
Fíliya knew very well that this was just another clumsy performance.
Solitär's hand stroked the orca's skin over and over, as if she were using this time to carefully consider how to reply to Fíliya.
"Mmm, you really are special, Fíliya. You must be one of those very clever humans. I can't fool you."
Solitär stopped her hand and raised her head to look at Fíliya, her expression still bearing that look of seemingly endless gentleness.
"That's why I don't understand. Since you knew my true nature, Fíliya, why did you still follow me? Why didn't you try to run?"
Unlike Solitär, Fíliya's answer didn't require so much preparation.
"Don't say such foolish things, Solitär. The power gap between us is too great. There isn't the slightest possibility that I could escape from you. As for why I came with you, that's also simple."
"This is my struggle to survive."
Solitär was slightly puzzled upon hearing this. She didn't quite understand what this act of Fíliya's—willingly walking into the tiger's maw—had to do with survival.
"It's simple."
Fíliya, of course, noticed Solitär's confusion. She also took a few steps forward to the orca and, mimicking Solitär, stroked the poor animal with both hands.
"Because I intend to pique your curiosity. I'm quite confident in myself. I can definitely bring you many experiences that you've never had in your long life. If you truly are a 'researcher of humanity'... then you surely wouldn't bear to kill me. Do you think my approach is correct?"
Fíliya turned her head to the side, smiling as her eyes met Solitär's.
After a brief moment of eye contact, Solitär also laughed out loud, then gently lunged forward and embraced Fíliya.
"Completely correct. My curiosity about you, Fíliya, has reached its peak. I'm even eager to kill you, to cut you open. I so want to see what makes you different from other humans, why you're so interesting... Is that alright with you?"
Solitär pressed her lips to Fíliya's ear and whispered.
"Of course it's alright. It's just... Solitär, do you prefer to gain immense pleasure all at once and then fall into emptiness, or to continuously and uninterruptedly receive little surprises? If it's the latter, I'd advise you to be patient. Don't be in such a hurry. You are of the Demon Race, after all. Compared to me, the one thing you don't lack... is time, isn't it?"
Fíliya said with a blank expression, then cooperatively reciprocated Solitär's action, pulling her into an embrace and even patting her on the head.
This scene of a demon and a human embracing was bizarre to the extreme.
"Mm-hmm, since you've put it that way, Fíliya, I'll believe you. Let's go home."
As she spoke, Solitär once again took Fíliya's hand. Fíliya offered no resistance at all, allowing Solitär to lead her back to the abandoned shipyard.
______
✅ Until 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 55 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
Claim your 40% OFF spot and unlock everything now:
👻 P - Walnutchan