Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

Using Aura's money, Frieren took Aura out for a meal, then escorted her back to her "cell."

Originally, Frieren had planned to stay with her, but now, seeing the situation, if she really stayed with Aura every day, there would definitely come a day when she couldn't hold herself back and would raise her staff to smash Aura's head!

No one can tolerate Aura's shameless and despicable character!

With her "unexpected windfall," Frieren rented a house nearby to stay in.

Whenever Aura opened the door to her "cell" and peered out with one eye, she would meet the gaze of the white-haired elf, who might be writing at the windowsill, hanging clothes on the balcony, or sleeping on the lawn chairs.

Frieren waved from afar, and Aura quietly closed the door, not daring to go out no matter what.

Aura sat alone in the house all day. The food stored in the kitchen, enough for a week's worth for one person, was devoured by her without restraint in one day. She didn't even bother to sweep up the crumbs that covered the floor, and she sat messily in the center of the room, curled up with hollow eyes.

With Frieren around, even if the door wasn't locked, Aura couldn't see any hope of escape. Now with no food and no one caring about her, Aura felt that she would starve to death here in a few days.

Despair.

Aura probably understood the thoughts of these humans now.

Just like the demons enjoy observing humans' expressions of despair when they're on the brink of death.

These humans, now, were using their own methods to imprison her, intending to lock her in this small house and let her suffer from hunger, cold, and loneliness, until in half a year, they would come in and collect her rotting, foul body, merged with the floor and garbage.

What a terrifying form of execution.

The person who came up with this method of torture must be extremely perverse.

Aura closed her eyes, curled up like a stray dog in the center of the room, feeling despair and loneliness as she fell asleep.

Clap—

Aura jolted awake, feeling a sharp sting on her cheek. Someone was slapping her face.

"Has it… really been half a year?" she murmured groggily, her voice weak.

"Half a year?" The familiar voice was laced with exasperation. "Aura, Flamme just brought you back yesterday!"

Aura blinked, her vision clearing. Standing above her was Zanze.

"You're here to deal with me, aren't you?" Aura asked cautiously, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to sound indifferent.

Zanze sighed deeply, crossing her arms. "Deal with you? Believe me, I've thought about it. I even prepared this place for you—made sure you had food, hot water, everything you'd need. And yet…" Her eyes swept over the room, taking in the chaos—the empty cabinets, the crumbs littering the floor, the tangles in Aura's hair. "After just one day, you're like this. Dirty, smelly, looking like a stray dog." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I really want to strangle you right now, Aura."

"I didn't do it on purpose," Aura mumbled, her voice barely audible.

"I know," Zanze replied dryly.

Aura's eyes widened slightly. "Really? You believe me?"

"I believe you'll lie to me," Zanze said, her tone deadpan.

Aura pouted, looking away.

Zanze sighed again, her frustration palpable. "You've been wandering for years, haven't you? I thought you'd at least learn to take care of yourself. But now I'm starting to think someone's been taking care of you this whole time."

Aura didn't respond. She simply sat there, looking every bit the picture of a defeated, cornered animal.

'Are there really so many kind-hearted people in the world?' Zanze wondered, her eyes searching Aura's face. The more she thought about it, the more she doubted.

Could it be that Aura had somehow survived all these years by relying on the kindness of others? That thought, almost absurd in its implication, gnawed at Zanze.

Zanze looked at the mess in the room and felt a headache. The sky outside had already darkened. She had finished the affairs at the Continental Magic Association early today and came back to move her things here. She had thought she could rest well after moving, but now… she had to tidy up again?

With a flick of her wrist, Zanze activated her cleaning spell. The scattered crumbs, shards of broken furniture, and the remnants of Aura's gluttonous binge began floating into the air, forming neat piles of trash in the corner. The furniture, which Aura had thoughtlessly overturned, floated upright as if by an unseen hand. Zanze noticed a door hinge that had been twisted beyond recognition and a lock that bore faint teeth marks.

'She chewed the door lock?' Zanze thought, holding back a groan. She would have to call a craftsman to fix those tomorrow. Repair magic could only do so much.

Aura sat on the floor like a cornered rat, wide-eyed as Zanze's magic did its work. When Zanze's free hand pointed in her direction, Aura flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, clearly expecting a punishment spell. Instead, Zanze merely flicked her fingers to shove Aura aside, as though she were a nuisance in the way of her cleaning.

Meanwhile, behind her, an array of luggage and furniture began floating into the house, gliding up the staircase and vanishing into an empty room on the second floor. Zanze's bed, wardrobe, and writing desk settled into place without so much as a sound. The faint glow of her magic made the shadows of the room dance like phantoms.

Aura blinked, suddenly piecing things together. The realization hit her like lightning, and her hollow eyes brightened.

"You're moving in?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

"Yep," Zanze replied flatly, adjusting the angle of a hovering chair.

"As a slave?" Aura's grin widened, excitement creeping into her tone.

"No," Zanze said, pausing to level a cold stare at her. "As an experiment subject manager."

"..." Aura's grin froze. It took her a moment to register the words. When the meaning sank in, she threw herself onto Zanze's waist, clutching it like a drowning sailor gripping a lifeboat. Her tears began streaming instantly.

"Zanze, I'm begging you, please die in my place! Just like back when we stood before Serie, you take my place as the experiment subject! I'm begging you! Please!" Aura wailed, shaking Zanze's waist with dramatic fervor.

"If I really die for you, what would you do for me?"

Aura froze, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, is there a price to pay? You never asked for one before."

"That was before," Zanze said coolly, prying Aura's hands from her waist. "Now is now."

"Then I'll dig up your grave with gratitude and eat you! I won't mind if you're rotten and smelly!"

"…If I die for you, you'll still dig up my grave?"

"If you find a rotting corpse unpleasant, I'll eat you while you're alive instead! That way, there's no grave to worry about!" Aura said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"......" Zanze pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly to keep her composure. She shoved Aura off her leg with a frustrated sigh. "Aura, let me make this crystal clear. The experiment requires demons as subjects. Only demons. And as you are the only demon left in Kribi, there's no one else to replace you."

Aura's eyes widened with panic. "Then please let me go, I will repay you!"

"Repay me? By eating me?"

Aura leaned closer, her tone growing frantic. "Please, Zanze, that's the only thing I can do! I will make sure you're comfortable while being eaten! Please, think it over… let me go, Zanze, you'll only be punished to death at most, but I'll be used as experimental material!!!"

Zanze stared at Aura in utter disbelief, her mouth opening and closing as if trying to find words for what she was hearing. Finally, she shook her head and muttered under her breath, "I swear, one of these days, I really will strangle you."