Early morning.
Nyx Avenue No. 66.
In the large three-story mansion, only the master bedroom on the first floor had its lights on.
Vyea picked up a letter left for her by Herkate through the crack of the door. The Catgirl wrote that she wasn’t actually unable to defeat the Brave, but refrained from using some special attacks out of consideration for her.
Additionally, Herkate had received an urgent message from the pet she had left outside the city.
The gist of it was that ever since the Demon Race lost their Great Demon King, the other six Demon Kings had each carved out their own territories, warring constantly. Meanwhile, the Successor left behind by the Great Demon King lacked the full authority to command respect…
For various reasons, the Demon Race was now fraught with internal strife and external threats, teetering on the edge of collapse. The entire Demon Race could very well fragment back into the Savage Era that existed before the Great Demon King unified them.
“Savage Era…”
Vyea recalled the Continent Chronicle she once browsed in the Academic Tower. It recorded part of the world’s history, including descriptions of the era before the Great Demon King united the Demon Race.
The first sentence of that description was:
The origins of Humans and Demons are unknown.
Since humans began recording history, Demons had already existed. Pure-blooded Demons could be born from mountains, rivers, stones, waters; from natural creatures like birds, beasts, insects, fish; and from the seven emotions and six desires, as well as human-derived objects like knives, spears, swords, and halberds…
Some top human scholars, after dissecting and analyzing the “mysteries” of this land, speculated that the most secret Demon King crowns in the Demon Race world might originate from certain primal sources of the world itself.
Just like how Human Braves receive Blessings from unknown existences… which the public generally calls gods.
From what Vyea understood, all the churches and religious institutions in this world gathered followers under the banner of gods, gaining Miracles through offerings of faith and donations.
But those Miracles were too insignificant compared to the power Braves gained.
The Continent Chronicle contained a wealth of such information.
Vyea had been able to remember those complex records mainly because at the end of the Chronicle, it mentioned the existence of Monstergirls.
Monstergirls—beings half human and half Demon—possessed the diversity of pure-blooded Demons while also exhibiting some human traits… Unfortunately, they were shunned by both Demons and Humans alike.
The intelligent Demon Race would raise Monstergirls to serve them, while in human society, Monstergirls were generally treated as owned property.
Whether among Demons or Humans, Monstergirls held very low status.
Though things were somewhat better now. Yes, this was all thanks to Vyea’s efforts during the Hero Era.
“Heh heh…”
Vyea chuckled abruptly to herself, recalling the happy times when she and her wife stayed up late in a tent, drafting the “Endangered Monstergirl Protection Act.”
Back then, she truly believed her purpose here was to fight for such beautiful things.
When supported by the one she loved, Vyea approached everything with full enthusiasm and energy.
Not like now.
Hah, naive.
Others only like you to better understand the enemy, then strike with precision. Why take it seriously?
And the strikes have been pretty effective too.
“Sigh…”
At the brown long table, Vyea rested one cheek on her hand while tearing the thin white letter, burning it in the candlelight to destroy all evidence.
Her Trainee had promised to take her to the Arbitration Office tomorrow, just a visit. But it was only possible on the condition that Vyea’s identity remained unquestioned.
Otherwise, not only would she be thrown into the Monstergirl prison awaiting some noble to claim her as a slave, but it would also implicate the entire family of Viel’s Lordship, who had helped create her identity.
“Tch.” Vyea stared at the burning letter with a sigh. “All your fault, you damn Catgirl. You really got me into trouble.”
The ashes from the burnt letter fell on the table as the first light of dawn shone upon them, wisps of pale smoke drifting up.
Outside the window.
Daybreak.