Chapter 87: Solitär's "Love": Linie the Unrepentant
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Although Solitär's expression appeared genuinely sorrowful, Ash—despite not dealing with demons extensively—was not so naive as to believe she had suddenly fallen in love with him. The situation was far too suspicious for that.
Solitär, for her part, wasn't the least bit embarrassed about being called out. She pressed a fingertip to her lips and donned a feigned look of distress.
"It's quite profound, isn't it? But isn't this how things go?" she mused. "After all, you can't experience being rejected unless you genuinely like someone, right?"
"Do you have experience with that?" Ash asked skeptically.
"...Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you," she replied coyly.
"Why not?"
"Are you a hundred thousand whys?"
---
Despite her childlike curiosity, Ash was well aware Solitär was a thousand-year-old demon. Still, her incessant questions, like those of an innocent child, weighed heavily on him.
Throughout their exchange, both Aura and Linie watched intently. Their expressions suggested they were just as curious about the topic as Solitär.
Ash, however, only felt a mounting headache. The conversation bored and annoyed him to the point he considered pretending to fall asleep just to escape.
Later, as predicted, Solitär suggested using magic to transform their appearances into human forms. Under the guise of an "Ester Kingdom Observation Group," they infiltrated regions wary of the Ester Kingdom, openly observing battlefields and quietly assembling necessary personnel.
Solitär remained as curious as ever, constantly bombarding Ash with questions. The relentless interrogation made him seriously contemplate finding a place to abandon her.
Meanwhile, Aura seemed to relish the situation, gleefully observing the battlefield and working on her plan to recruit soldiers. By the battle's end, their forces had grown by over a hundred elite soldiers, and they returned triumphantly to the capital of the Ester Kingdom.
---
In the Autumn of Falling Leaves
Bright red leaves fluttered gently through the royal city as Solitär twirled happily on the stone-paved streets.
"This is wonderful, Ash! I think I might really fall in love with you!" she declared with exaggerated cheer.
"This is the first time I've heard of such casual love," Ash muttered, unimpressed.
"The coexistence of humans and demons feels so perfect here in the royal city!" Solitär exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms. She looked up at him, eyes squinting with unfiltered happiness. "Coming to you was the right decision. I'm sure of it."
"...Then, as a reward for your enthusiasm, how about you teach me that magic to create a bunch of swords?"
"Of course! If you can learn it, it's yours," Solitär replied, her tone jubilant. "But in return..."
"I'll teach you some magic too," Ash interjected.
"Ah, it's settled, then!" she declared, nodding to herself with a radiant smile. "This kind of partnership is amazing! Why didn't I think of working with you before? It seems that the longer you live, the higher the chances of encountering good things."
"Your happiness is what matters most," Ash replied dryly, brushing off the conversation.
With the terms of their cooperation confirmed, Ash casually dismissed the matter. He had no intention of delving further into the details.
Aura, standing nearby, paid no mind to their conversation. She was engrossed in her notebook, diligently recording the gains from the recent campaign.
"This time, we've reaped a great harvest. Autumn truly is the season of abundance," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
"Don't treat people like crops, Aura," Ash chided. Then, shaking his head in resignation, he sighed. "You know what? Forget it. I don't even have the energy to lecture you anymore."
Ash glanced at Aura and then at Solitär, his mood naturally becoming heavy. With a sigh, he muttered, "You guys are really not good people."
"Master Ash, what about me?" Linie, who had been obediently following him, tugged lightly at the corner of his clothes, her expression as blank as ever.
"...You just ate an apple again, didn't you?"
"Um," she replied, nodding slightly.
"And you ate with that hand. You haven't washed it yet, have you?"
"…Sorry," Linie said softly, lowering her head pitifully.
She had initially hoped for praise, but her hopes were dashed in an instant.
---
This was how it always went with her. Linie would admit her mistakes immediately and look utterly pitiful, which only triggered a protective instinct in those around her. But no matter how heartfelt her apologies sounded, she never actually changed her behavior.
She was the very embodiment of "actively admitting mistakes but never repenting."
"...Why are these two, no—three of them so troublesome? Small stature, small minds... Maybe that's why they're all so difficult to deal with," Ash grumbled aloud.
"Who are you calling small?" Aura snapped, turning her head sharply to glare at him. She looked ready to bite someone.
"...I'm talking about you," Ash replied nonchalantly. He grabbed her horns without hesitation, dragging her forward. "It's almost time to rest, so don't make too much noise."
"—I told you not to grab my horns for no reason!" Aura shouted, her voice filled with fury.
"Sorry, it was just a fluke. I'll try to be more careful next time," Ash replied, his tone perfunctory.
Aura's eyes narrowed dangerously, her patience snapping. "How many years do you think I've heard this excuse? Five hundred years! You said the same thing five hundred years ago!" she fumed, raising her leg and stomping on the back of his foot.
She stomped repeatedly, emphasizing her anger with each step. Ash barely felt the pain but eventually let go of her horns, sighing in resignation. "Is that so? I'm really sorry..."
Before he could finish, his gaze shifted toward Linie, who was watching him intently.
At that moment, realization struck. He finally understood why Linie always admitted her mistakes but never repented—she had learned this behavior from him.
"What's wrong, Master Ash? Why are you staring at me like that?" Linie asked, tilting her head innocently. She subtly retracted her hand, which had been wiping itself on his clothes. "Are you hurting somewhere?"
"It's nothing. Just a bit of a stomachache," Ash replied, shaking his head. Then, with a sudden change in tone, he added, "But now that I think about it, you're actually a good kid!"
"Really?" Linie tilted her head even further, confused by the sudden shift in attitude.
His unexpected praise left her bewildered. A new thought began to form in her little head:
Could it be that Master Ash says he doesn't want me to wipe my hands on him, but deep down, he's actually happy about it?
But before she could dwell on the idea for too long, Ash lightly slapped her on the head.
"Even if you're a good kid, don't rub apple juice on me! How many times have I told you?" he said sternly.
"…Yes, I'm sorry. I'll pay more attention next time," Linie murmured, bowing her head once again.