Ch.46Chapter 46

I always felt anxious when facing a Demon God.

Just imagining where, when, and how they might be killing people made my stomach twist.

Since they had no reason to venture into places where humans lived, whenever I thought about why they would appear, it was always connected to human deaths.

Even elves, dwarves, and beast folk with physical abilities far superior to humans feared them—how could humans be any different?

Demon Gods were killers of humans. They lived their lives in twisted ways, either sustaining themselves by killing people or treating murder as entertainment, which made me sick to my stomach and gave me chills.

Demon Gods were transcendent beings. Despite reaching a level where I could kill such beings, Yuria couldn’t put her mind at ease.

Trauma once etched doesn’t easily fade away. No matter how strong I’d become, the knowledge that somewhere out there existed beings stronger than me was always frightening.

Yuria sighed.

Her breathing always became rough after confronting a Demon God. It made her think deeply—were they all so ferocious? Was there no one else like Ourr somewhere in the world?

Yuria recalled when she first met Ourr.

“…”

Feeling a bit guilty, she decided to stop. At the same time, she felt trauma threatening to surface.

She clenched her trembling hands. Placing one hand over the other to stop the trembling, Yuria exhaled deeply. She didn’t want to look at Ourr with fearful eyes when she returned.

Yuria shook her head.

Whether it was a side effect of having a young body or something else, there were childlike, innocent aspects to her, and sometimes she had a blank expression. All these awkward behaviors made Ourr seem cute.

Sometimes she could be self-centered, but since that was something all children went through, Yuria thought she could overlook it and educate her.

Good thinking. She tried to focus only on Ourr’s cute aspects to somehow forget the situation.

But since that wasn’t entirely working, she just clicked her tongue. Yuria, who was about to return to the Academy via a warp point, slightly changed her destination.

Thinking she just needed to return before lunch.

The place Yuria headed was a café commonly seen on University Street outside the Academy.

“Over here!”

As Yuria looked around, someone was waving to call her over.

A woman with pink shoulder-length hair and bright red eyes. Yuria let out a small sigh, “Rose.”

“What brings you here, Yuri? Asking to meet outside the Academy.”

As Yuria approached the table, Rosemila gave her a grin.

Sitting down across from her, Yuria looked for a way to cool her head before speaking.

“Did you order yet?”

“Ah, not yet. I was waiting for you.”

“An Americano is fine for me.”

“Really? I’ll have a cappuccino.”

After deciding on their coffee orders, Yuria took a sip of the coffee placed in front of her.

Feeling the sensation of the cold caffeine hitting her head and clearing her mind, Yuria spoke.

“I just came from killing a Demon God today, and it was really tough.”

“Why? Hasn’t that been your specialty since you got your Original? Everyone keeps asking you to teach them how to fight without being affected by aura when they see you.”

“The killing itself isn’t the problem.”

Yuria scratched her head, twisting her long hair between her fingers.

“I mean, what could be difficult for you? You’re one of the few people who can take down a Demon God alone.”

“Why are you suddenly praising me? Short on research funds?”

“No? You just looked really down.”

Rosemila chuckled. Yuria didn’t dislike Rosemila’s sly demeanor, but she wasn’t quite used to it either, so she made an ambiguous expression.

Yuria stopped twisting her hair and took another sip of coffee. The burning thirst in her throat seemed somewhat quenched.

“It’s just the trauma that’s the problem. Every time I come back from hunting a Demon God, it hits me hard. What should I do?”

“Well… if I were a psychology professor, I might be able to help, but I’m a magic composition professor, right? So it’s a bit difficult for me to do anything. Still, if you tell me what’s going on, I’ll listen.”

Seeing Rosemila’s unusually apologetic demeanor, Yuria smiled bitterly.

She had called her knowing this would happen, wanting someone to listen to her, so there was no reason to change her attitude now.

“You know I keep a Demon God with me, right?”

“I know. How strong is the rumor that the Demon God Slayer is walking around with a Demon God? Even now, people are wondering why you’re doing it.”

Yuria was trying to start her story, but Rosemila brought up a topic that piqued her curiosity instead.

With wide eyes, Yuria closed her mouth and listened carefully to what Rosemila had to say.

“So?”

“…Weren’t you going to talk about it? Are you curious?”

Rosemila looked at Yuria’s expression and cleared her throat.

“Then I’ll speak first. The question of why the Demon God Slayer is keeping a Demon God around has been growing louder, and people are making their own theories. Some say you’re researching ways to kill Demon Gods more easily, while others think you might be forced to keep it with you because it can’t be killed.”

Yuria’s mouth closed at Rosemila’s words.

Researching how to kill Demon Gods more easily while keeping one around—it was a plan she had considered in the past, but never with Ourr as the subject.

“As an Academy professor, you should be able to deduce it. I’ve already made public information about Ourr.”

“Still, people wonder if there might be other reasons.”

Rosemila glanced around briefly and began counting on her fingers.

“A Demon God that can’t be killed no matter how many times you try to kill it? Who accepts that from the beginning? It’s unprecedented, right? Some people think you might be lying just to keep it around.”

Ourr doesn’t die. She might age if she continues to grow older, but when she dies, she becomes younger, and if she breaks through the minimum threshold, she returns to a certain age.

With a life mechanism different from other Demon Gods, Yuria still hadn’t figured out that aspect.

“…They doubt me even when I tell the truth.”

“Well, I don’t think you’re lying.”

“Fine. Whatever others think doesn’t matter.”

Yuria nodded at Rosemila’s words and took another sip of coffee.

“Anyway, that’s why.”

“Huh?”

“You know about my trauma.”

“Yes, I do.”

Yuria’s mood dropped slightly. Given the subject matter, Rosemila’s previously light voice also lowered.

Holding the cup with both hands, Yuria lowered her eyes. The ice inside clinked as it moved.

“…I’m still scared. The very fact that there are Demon Gods I can’t handle.”

“Really?”

“Now, the Demon God who killed my parents would be nothing to me. But even though I’ve become so strong, the fact that there are Demon Gods stronger than me, that there could be Demon Gods I can’t handle—that one reason prevents me from overcoming this trauma.”

Yuria’s hands trembled.

No matter how strong she was, no matter how much people praised her, admired her, respected her, and envied her, she was still just a sensitive woman inside.

A tender-hearted woman like any other.

The trauma she still couldn’t escape lingered more persistently in Yuria’s heart.

“…Is the reason you feel this way after killing a Demon God because of that Demon God you’re keeping?”

At Rosemila’s quiet voice, Yuria painfully nodded once, dropping her head. Rosemila sighed.

“Then why not just leave it alone? Why stay close and scare yourself?”

“Just… because she’s kind, and I thought if we could find a way for her to get along with people, it would be good for both sides.”

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to rehabilitate her so that strong power isn’t used recklessly? Is that your approach?”

“Well, something like that.”

Rosemila smiled bitterly at Yuria’s words.

She could have been shocked at the absurdity of it, but she also thought it was very like Yuria, so she let it pass.

“So? How strong is that little Demon God? She’s already made quite an impression at the Academy.”

“She’s not strong. She’s just cute.”

“It’s not like you find her cute in a creepy way, right?”

“No, do you think I’d set this mood just to make a joke?”

As Yuria let out a scoffing laugh, Rosemila waved her hand.

“I was just wondering why Yuria would be afraid.”

“I worry that when Ourr grows up, she might emit an aura like other Demon Gods, and I’m concerned that as she grows, she might develop some kind of Demon God instinct.”

“Hmm, so that’s it. A mother’s worry?”

“Rose, Ourr is probably older than me, so what mother’s worry are you talking about? Though I suppose I’m more mature right now.”

Yuria flared up momentarily but calmed down again and took a breath.

“What are you really afraid of?”

Rosemila put aside her teasing and asked seriously again. She was determined to let Yuria fully vent her concerns.

What are friends for? When someone asks for help, you help them—that’s friendship.

Rosemila quietly waited for Yuria’s answer, and Yuria prepared her response for Rosemila who had readily come at her call.

After taking a deep breath, Yuria broke the long silence with an answer that surprised Rosemila.

“…That Ourr has a dual personality?”