Crucible of Ideas

I couldn't suppress a hoarse shriek.

To encounter a monster in the middle of town in broad daylight — and in my own home, at that — seemed like nothing so much as a bad dream.

The woman looked at me, frozen in place with fear, and grinned.

"You don't have to be so scared. You'll make me feel bad, getting as frightened as all that."

Despite her words, the monster woman showed no sign of hurt feelings.

She stepped forward with a smooth motion.

At the same time, the robe she was wearing dissolved into empty space and vanished completely, and a pair of wings unfurled from her back.

The shape of the wings, whose thin membranes gave an impression of toughness, reminded me of a bat's, and their color was the same as her tail — pure white like new fallen snow.

The white wings fluttered, strumming the air.

Equipped with a waving tail, horns on the head, and wings, she was surely the very image of a demon in a story.

"Yes, this is much better than that plain old robe." The woman nodded in satisfaction.

Her revealed silhouette, with its large breasts, narrow waist, and long, thin legs was brimming with a feminine charm that would have made it the ideal of any woman in the world.

Wrapping that body was a beautiful, black dress.

The glossy, jet black garment, embroidered with silver thread and studded here and there with precious stones, was so magnificent that it seemed somehow unreal.

It seemed impossible that any craftsman, however skillful, could have produced it.

The reason for that was probably that it had been made by a monster's hands.

Such a dress was certainly out of my reach, and I even doubted whether any human could obtain one.

Twin mounds so voluptuous that the dress could barely contain them made their presence known through its daringly open bust, and a long, slender leg peeked out from a large slit cut in it with each step she took.

Although the dress, with its large degree of exposure, possessed a bewitching attraction, there was certainly nothing vulgar about it.

On the contrary, it gave an impression of being high-class, like a noble's evening dress, that made me hesitate to touch it.

I was so captivated by the beauty of the woman and her clothing that for a moment I forgot even my own situation.

Noticing my condition, she giggled again.

"Oh, do you find me that charming? Hee hee. That makes me feel better."

"Ah." I couldn't stop my cheeks growing hot when she pointed it out.

Then the situation I'd been placed in came back to me in a flash, and I hurriedly took a step back.

"Oh my. What's the matter?" She took a step forward, as if in pursuit.

Her black heels struck the floor, making a dry, hollow sound.

I retreated further, and she matched me step for step.

"Well, I suppose it's understandable.

I doubt you've had much opportunity to see monsters in a town like this.

Especially not to meet high-ranking ones like me — a lilim — am I right?"

The woman, who had identified herself as a Lilim, muttered, a gentle smile playing about her lips.

Just as she said, although I knew that monsters existed, this was the first time I had actually seen one with my own eyes.

Confronted with a reality I had never even imagined, my legs trembled.

If I let my mind wander even a little, I might not be able to remain standing.

"Save me. Please, save me." The words leaked out instinctively, without thought.

The lilim frowned slightly. "I'm not going to snatch you up and eat you if you relax, you know? I only came here in the first place because I happened to pop into this town for a bit of fun, and I sensed a presence that seemed interesting," she said, peering at me with her sinister red eyes.

The light of a desire like that of a beast that had captured its prey flickered along with curiosity in their ruby-like centers.

I tried to look away, but, almost as if I were in a trance, I couldn't avert my eyes from her features.

"Hmm. I see. I thought it would be something like that," the Lilim finally murmured after peering into my eyes for a short while.

Her expression seemed to blend faint surprise with comprehension.

"I didn't expect to find much to interest me, but... if it's like that, then I suppose it's to be expected."

I was bewildered by her mutterings, which I didn't understand at all.

When the Lilim noticed that, her smile deepened meaningfully, and she whispered in my ear.

"Hee hee. You ought to be pleased, you know? You've got the makings of greatness in you. As a monster, I mean."

"What?" I still couldn't comprehend the meaning of her words.

Staring happily at my blank expression, the Lilim continued:

"It was a very intriguing presence, so from the start I intended to change whoever it was into a monster when I met her. But I was still a little because I never thought you'd have quite so much potential," the demon whispered in my ear.

Her face, enchantingly beautiful even from the perspective of a fellow woman, maintained a sadistic grin throughout.

"Hee hee. So, that being the case, don't you think it would be a waste not to change you into a suitable monster?"

At that point, I finally realized what was about to be done to me.

Still with a smile that I could only describe as wicked, she added to her explanation:

"After all, it will be much more fun that way."

The Lilim's words had the cheerful quality of a child about to embark on some mischief, but to me they brought only despair.

Fear, despair — the emotions I couldn't entirely suppress rose to my eyes as tears.

The moment I shut my eyes, the tears escaped and ran down my cheeks.

The small droplets fell soundlessly to the floor and shattered.