"I killed his subordinates and drove him away, that is all. Rather than worrying about that, you should save him first."
Nanoda spoke calmly, pointing a finger at Timmy's father, who was gasping for breath on the ground.
At the Elder's signal, a monk and a bold villager stepped forward. They carefully carried the man back into the crowd. Little Timmy followed closely behind; seeing his severely injured father, he tried his best to control his tears.
"Hmm... So, what is your objective? You don't look like those warlike Demons."
The old man's gaze was sharp as a hawk's. Behind him, the villagers tightly gripped their farming tools as weapons, daring not to relax.
"I want to coexist peacefully with humans, and I hope you can accept us. In exchange, we can protect you."
"Village Chief! Don't believe her lies! The Demon Race are just deceiving monsters! Even if they can communicate, they cannot be trusted!"
"Get out of our village! Get out! You are not welcome here!"
The villagers became agitated and indignant.
The Elder sighed and tapped his cane forcefully several times before the crowd behind him gradually quieted down.
"So you are saying you are so-called 'good' Demons?"
"You could think of it that way."
"Heh, in the past, there were Demons who said the same as you, but in the end, they still killed people. Furthermore, everyone here has fled from the North; what everyone holds most for the Demon Race is hatred... So, I apologize, but you are not welcome here."
Nanoda frowned. Although seeing those aggressive gazes, she had already expected this. Sure enough, in this current context, wanting to coexist with humans was truly very difficult.
"Understandable. However, I suggest you move away immediately. The Demon General might return; this place is no longer safe."
"'Understandable'... To think I would hear 'understandable' from the mouth of a Demon."
The old man was somewhat surprised. He realized that although this Demon did not have a particularly expressive face, she seemed fundamentally different from those he had encountered before.
"Aura, let's go."
Beckoning to Aura behind her, the two turned and left.
"If you ask me, it would be better to just let me use the Magic of Obedience to turn them all into slaves. Why go through this trouble?" Aura whispered quietly to Nanoda.
"If we did that, I would never become human."
"You really are a difficult fellow."
Seeing the two Demons leave, the villagers all breathed a sigh of relief. The leading old Village Chief stroked his beard, deep in thought.
"Fortunately, the injuries have stabilized. Any later and it might have been dangerous."
The monk put down the holy scripture in his hand and wiped away his sweat. Beside him, Timmy suddenly ran out.
"Thank you! For saving my dad! Thank you! Nameless good Demons!"
Timmy shouted toward the woods. It was those two Demons who had saved his father; this was the only way he could thank them.
Hearing Timmy's shouting from behind, Aura was a bit annoyed.
"What is he yelling for? If it were me, just based on the attitude of those scum, I would have eaten them long ago—Ouch, why did you hit me!"
"Nothing."
Nanoda gave a faint smile. She didn't dislike simple-minded fellows.
The two Demons continued their journey of wandering. They were a long-lived species; they still had plenty of time.
One year later, Nanoda and Aura, still on their journey, heard the news that the Demon King had been subjugated. Humanity had achieved the final victory.
During this year, Nanoda and Aura passed through dozens of human villages and towns. Without exception, they were detested. Several times, humans even tried to subjugate them without a second word. The hatred between the two races ran deep.
With the noisy fellow Aura accompanying her, Nanoda wasn't too bored. From time to time, Nanoda would give Aura some ideological education on the peaceful coexistence of humans and Demons. If Aura didn't listen, a beating would make her behave.
Nanoda also ordered Aura to teach her some basic magical knowledge. Although Demon magic differed from human magic, under the patient explanation of this 500-year-old Great Demon and one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, Nanoda became quite proficient at using it with her Demon body.
Actually, Nanoda realized that with Aura's magical strength, she wouldn't lose at all against that Demon General from before. But this fellow was unexpectedly cowardly. Was she scared witless by the Hero Himmel?
Living a life of sleeping in the wild every day, not to mention Aura's daily complaints, even Nanoda herself couldn't stand it. Although Demons could go almost without eating, drinking, or sleeping as long as they had mana, Nanoda's soul was still human. When necessary, she would have Aura keep watch while she took a nap.
Aura had thoughts of running away during this year as well. However, her Magic of Obedience was sealed, and she couldn't harm humans. After experiencing the battle with Hafleet, Aura simply decided to cling to Nanoda's side.
While teaching Nanoda magic, she increasingly realized Nanoda's terrifying nature. This fellow could actually practice with defensive magic active all day long, as if her mana were a bottomless pit.
Along with that came the sense of security from clinging to a strong backer. It seemed much more leisurely than working under the Demon King. Fighting and killing every day was quite tiring. Being Nanoda's servant only required combing her hair. She had even gotten used to being bullied occasionally when she was being annoying.
"See, what did I tell you? The Demon King was bound to lose."
Not mourning the passing of her former boss, the Demon King, for even a moment, Aura stared with drool flowing at the half roast chicken in Nanoda's hand.
Today, Nanoda wanted to improve their diet. Although it didn't matter if Demons didn't eat, she was a bit craven for food. She personally cooked a roast pheasant and shared half with Aura.
"Hey... Why did you eat so fast..."
Nanoda hadn't taken more than a few bites, but the half in Aura's hand had already been reduced to a skeleton like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds.
Seeing Aura's burning gaze, Nanoda felt somewhat helpless. Did she take in a servant or adopt a demanding ancestor? Reluctantly, she tore off her own chicken leg and gave it to Aura.
"Here, I can only give you this much more."
Aura hurriedly opened her mouth and directly clamped onto the chicken leg in Nanoda's hand. When she pulled back, only a bone was left for Nanoda.
"Mmm, sho tashty..." she spoke indistinctly while chewing.
"It's a pity there are no spices, otherwise it would be even more delicious. I really hope we can find a human town to settle in..."
Nanoda ate the roast chicken, narrowing her eyes happily.
In the bushes not far away, three people were crouching in hiding.
"Big Bro, do you smell that aroma? I'm so hungry..."
A fat man rubbed his empty, shriveled belly. It had been a long time since they had eaten anything after coming out.
"Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! If not for that damned dragon, we would be living the high life in our territory by now! Who wants to be a bandit?"
Another tall, thin man was very angry and knocked hard on the fat man's head.
"Shh, stop arguing! Wait for them to let their guard down, and we'll go do a job!"
The leader was a bald man. He put down his telescope and gave his two disappointing younger brothers a knuckle rap each. Under the sunlight, his head shone with dazzling light.
"Mhm, mhm, let's do a big job."
"Huh? Who are you?"
Unknowingly, a young girl had appeared beside them, still holding half an unfinished roast chicken in her hand.
Seeing the bald man looking at her with a confused face, Nanoda calmly took a bite of the roast chicken.
___
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