[Demon]: Banshee Demon
[Level]: 13
[Ability]: "Illusory Soundwave"
The term "banshee" seemed fitting to Rei Ao, evoking imagery straight out of Western fantasy stories.
He walked straight past the motionless creature, not even sparing it a glance. With a casual wave of his hand, the chains binding Saki Kawasaki snapped.
"Can you stand on your own?"
"..."
Saki Kawasaki couldn't grasp what was happening. Suppressing her fear, she stammered, "Y-Yes, I think so."
She tried to stand, but her trembling legs betrayed her bravado. She stumbled, nearly falling, before Rei Ao caught her just in time.
"Thank you…"
Her gratitude was sincere. Normally proud and independent, Saki disliked relying on others. But faced with the incomprehensible, she had no choice but to accept the help.
Rei Ao guided her to Yukino and Yui.
"Take her outside. I'll handle this."
"Understood."
Knowing they couldn't offer much assistance, the two girls supported Saki Kawasaki and helped her leave the basement.
Rei Ao then summoned Raphiel and Vignette.
"Another otherworldly intruder?" Raphiel said casually, as if used to such situations.
"Yes, a demon. It's likely from the same world as the last one." Rei Ao turned to Vignette. "Has your Demon Realm identified the world they're coming from?"
Vignette sighed, shaking her head. "Sorry, not yet. All we know is there might be a passage connecting this world to theirs, but we haven't pinpointed its location."
"In that case, let's ask her. She's already learned to speak human languages."
With that, Rei Ao released the temporal interference magic suppressing the banshee demon.
"Aaaahhh!!!"
The demon let out an ear-piercing scream, its distorted voice grating on the ears.
Rei Ao frowned in irritation. Without hesitation, he kicked her.
Boom!
The sheer force sent the banshee demon flying, slamming her hard into the wall.
"Rei Ao, maybe tone it down a bit," Raphiel interjected, though not out of pity.
"If you kill her, we'll lose a potential source of information."
"Relax," Rei Ao said coolly. "I know what I'm doing. She's not going to die."
The demon coughed violently, her body wracked with pain but still very much alive.
Rei Ao made a gripping motion with one hand.
The banshee demon, still lying in the rubble, was swept into his grasp by a gust of wind, his hand clamping tightly around her neck.
"Don't struggle. Stay obedient, or I'll make you wish you were dead."
The cold words sent shivers down the demon's spine. Her instincts screamed that this man's strength alone could crush her. She froze, completely still.
"M-My lord, ask whatever you want! I'll tell you everything! Just please, don't kill me!"
"Are you from the Holy Cross Continent, Ente Isla?"
"Yes, my lord."
The banshee demon, trying to appear compliant, introduced herself. "I am a soldier in the Demon King's Banshee Demon Corps. I thought I'd died on the battlefield, but when I woke up, I found myself in this world without any magic power."
"She actually learned the human language of this world?" Vignette was surprised.
After all, the werewolf demon they previously encountered couldn't communicate at all.
"I've been here for a while and deliberately studied the human language," the banshee demon explained.
"How long have you been here?" Raphiel asked curiously.
"By human reckoning, almost two months."
"Two months, and you've already mastered the human language, secured an identity, and a place to stay? Not bad," Rei Ao remarked, raising an eyebrow.
He recalled how poorly the Demon King had fared in the original story.
"W-Well, my lord, I'm a fast learner. As for money and identity… I obtained them through, uh, what humans call 'compensated dating'..."
"???"
"C-Compensated dating?!"
Raphiel and Vignette thought they had misheard.
There were so many things to question here—why a demon would resort to such methods to earn money, and, most importantly, who on earth would be willing to sleep with this creature in its demon form?!
Vignette felt she might need to wash her eyes just thinking about it.
Thankfully, Rei Ao released his grip, and the banshee demon reverted to her seductive human guise.
Seeing her now, Raphiel and Vignette finally understood. Though her looks were average, her flamboyant demeanor made the idea of compensated dating plausible.
But Vignette was more concerned about another matter.
"How many people have you eaten in these two months?"
Her tone was cold, suspecting the worst. After all, the demon had almost devoured Saki Kawasaki earlier.
The banshee demon's expression changed drastically.
"N-No, my lady! You misunderstand! I haven't eaten anyone! I was just trying to collect fear to convert it into magic energy!"
She explained hurriedly, her voice tinged with desperation.
"I accidentally discovered that fear could be converted into magic power. Once I collected enough energy, I would erase their memories and let them go. Please, you must believe me!"
The demon's trembling voice and panicked demeanor made it clear how afraid she was for her life.
Rei Ao released her and nodded. "She's not lying. Her emotional response is genuine."
"M-My lord, thank you!" The banshee demon looked at him with gratitude, relieved that her explanation had been accepted.
"Don't give me that look." Rei Ao frowned. "It's annoying."
"Y-Yes, of course!" The demon quickly corrected herself, not daring to offend further.
Turning to Vignette, Rei Ao asked, "You've got all the information you need. Should we send her back to the Demon Realm?"
Vignette pondered for a moment before nodding.
"If she hasn't lied, and she hasn't harmed anyone, there's no need to eliminate her. Plus, since she knows both languages, she might be able to extract more information from the werewolf demon."
The banshee demon's eyes lit up when she realized her life would be spared.
"Yes, yes! I'll be very useful!" she volunteered eagerly.
"Fine. Take her away," Rei Ao said indifferently. While her methods were questionable, she hadn't caused any real harm. It wasn't worth dealing with her further. Better to let the Demon Realm investigate her world.
"Thank you," Vignette said, stepping forward.
She waved her hand, activating a teleportation spell.
In a flash, she and the banshee demon vanished from the basement.
~~~
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