Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

Here's today bonus chapter, enjoy~~

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Aura's workday begins by reporting to Serie at the top of the library.

The Continental Magic Association's library in Kribi is modeled after the ancient tree town's underground tower, but in reverse. The underground tower is built downwards, with newer books placed at the lowest level in chronological order; Kribi's library was built upwards according to the level of spell, with complex and advanced spells placed on the upper level.

The topmost level of the library is a small room, designed like an inn, for the librarian to reside in. Technically, this was Aura's domain. The room, cozy and cluttered with books and magical artifacts, provided a perfect retreat. But ever since she accidentally slept naked one time and opened the door for Zanze with blurry eyes, Zanze applied to Lady Serie to deny Aura's right to reside in the library, on the grounds that the habits of the demons would make Aura treat the entire library as her own residence, which would be immoral for human mages who came to borrow books.

Since then, Zanze's home has become Aura's regular residence. With Zanze ensuring that Aura dressed appropriately, there have been no rumors of demons appearing in Kribi. Each morning, Aura would reluctantly drag herself out of Zanze's house, her head throbbing, and make the trek to the library.

As for the library's top floor, it was only occasionally used by Serie. Serie didn't need rest but required a quiet environment when contemplating magical issues. She often stays on the top of the tower for several days and nights with several grimoires in lost languages. The silence and isolation provided the perfect atmosphere for deep magical research.

"Today I, Aura, arrived at the library on time and was not late." Aura announced, casually pushing open the door to the top of the tower.

Serie was lounging casually on a soft chair, dressed in a white dress with gold patterns, paired with shorts, with snacks placed on one side of her hand. A grimoire was floating in front of her, shining with light and turning pages automatically. The room was filled with the soft rustle of pages and the scent of freshly baked bread from Serie's plate.

Seeing Aura push the door open, Serie didn't bother to clean up her disheveled clothes and messy golden hair. After all, Aura was used to seeing her this way. Serie's relaxed posture contrasted sharply with the grandeur of the library, emphasizing the casual comfort she found in her domain.

"Remember to knock next time you enter, Aura," Serie said lightly, flipping another page, her attention still on the grimoire.

"Serie, can't you sense me? Even if my mana is suppressed, it can never be hidden from you." Aura replied, puzzled.

"I can sense it, but I don't want to focus on other things when I'm reading, just like you don't want to pay attention to insects even though you hear them buzzing around you when you're sleeping." Serie answered, glancing at Aura.

Judging by her expression, Serie could guess Aura was already scheming something mischievous upon learning about her sensory abilities. Aura's mind was always buzzing with plans, some more foolish than others, and Serie could practically see the gears turning behind those purple eyes.

This stupid demon could never keep anything hidden.

"But if a bug is too annoying, I can't help but crush it to death. You understand that, don't you, Aura~

You wouldn't want to lose your horns, right~"

Serie narrowed her eyes, her mouth curling into a dangerous smile.

Seeing that Aura immediately put away that naughty expression, covered her horns pitifully, and looked like she was about to cry, Serie nodded with satisfaction.

This timid demon always became obedient when scared.

Serie casually checked the magic log and frowned slightly at Aura's last attendance. While the job of a librarian was indeed leisurely, it wasn't supposed to be neglected.

"Aura, the librarian's schedule isn't one day on, three days off; it's three days on, one day off. Aren't you being a bit too lazy?"

"Really? The demons' daily routine has always been like this!" Aura retorted, puffing out her chest.

As for the demons' work habits—when she was one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, she was at the top, controlling her puppets below. Even if she worked one day and rested ten days, who could stop her?

"If you don't work, you won't get paid. Now that you're living in a human city, can you still plunder for your needs like before?"

"No problem, Zanze will lend me money."

Aura shrugged it off, not actually disliking her current life. Although it was more restrictive than when she was one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, and her life wasn't in her own hands, staying near Serie, though lacking freedom, offered safety.

Aura believed that if Flamme or Frieren came to kill her, Serie would save her life because she was a valuable experimental subject. Serie's interest in her was a strange form of protection.

As for other material needs, Zanze could handle them. Zanze always obeys Aura's orders.

——This is of course because Aura tamed this human mage with her majesty.

It's not because if Zanze doesn't agree to Aura's request, Aura will hug her thighs and make Zanze covered in snot and tears.

'My goodness, the fact that I, Aura, can turn a human great mage into my slave without using magic... I'm totally qualified to be the leader of the Seven Sages of Destruction!

Even the curse of turning everything into gold by the strongest of the Seven Sages, "Macht of the Golden Land", is not so magical!' Aura mused to herself, feeling a sense of pride and superiority. She reveled in the control she wielded, even without the full extent of her powers.

"If Zanze lends you money, will you pay it back?"

"No."

"Then that's not borrowing; it's robbery."

"I borrowed it with my own ability and with great effort, why should I pay it back?"

Serie pursed her lips. Even though she was an elf older than the demon race, there should be nothing in the world that could move her.

But when she encountering Aura—such a... "unique" demon—still left her feeling bewildered.

It turns out that no matter how long she live, there will always be new things happening before her that she have never encountered before.

'Is Zanze too indulgent towards Aura... Never mind, disciples should solve their own problems. I don't want to get involved'

Serie snapped back to reality and changed the topic from Aura's absent salary to "privileges."

"Aura, every first-class mage has their own magical research project as the price for acquiring the privileges of the Continental Magic Association. Have you chosen your topic?"

"But I'm not a first-class mage."

"Yet your status in the Magic Association is above first-class mage, rivaling great mages. You are allowed to vote at every association meeting regarding the overall direction of human magic, but you always abstain."

"I didn't enjoy it! What does the privilege of humans have to do with a demon like me? Why do I have to do the research too!"

"Aura, you must understand that the Continental Magic Association doesn't support freeloaders, even if you're a demon. Let me put it this way, I have a topic on physical magic, which does not require much knowledge of the human magic system, so even if you are a demon, you can still-"

"I won't!"

Aura stubbornly refused, avoiding responsibilities whenever possible. It is enough for her to enjoy the rights the Continental Magic Association offered. Why should she fulfill her obligations?

As a great demon, would Aura do something that would aid the enemy and promote the advancement of human magic?

"Useless demons get put in jars..."

"The advancement of human magic rests in my hands!"

Aura, deeply bowing to Serie, respectfully took the research project on physical magic from Serie's hands.

Obediently said:

"I'm very useful! Give me the project and I guarantee you'll have results within a month!"

"Good." Serie nodded. This was also what satisfied her about Aura - Aura was very smart and had great talent for magic. Five hundred years old was considered very young among the demons, but Aura already had the level of a great demon.

She could even create a curse-level obedience spell, a miracle magic that even Serie couldn't decipher.

Just a casual threat, and Aura would burst forth with unprecedented motivation. Other first-class mages took years to complete the tasks, but Aura could complete them within a few months or days.

'What an incredible desire to survive.' Serie marveled.

Unlike other demons who verbally said they were willing to do anything when they were dying, Aura's "willing to do anything" was real. Most other demons were just lying, and if they were really threatened to do something, they would always plot to escape and kill their master halfway, and their minds were not completely dominated by the desire to survive.

But Aura is different! Serie was surprised to find that Aura would really do things that betrayed the bloodthirsty instincts of the demons and violated her own subjective will in order to survive. Even if her dignity was trampled upon, Aura would struggle to live.

"Perhaps, when the day comes that I need to kill you, I might be reluctant. Tools as handy and durable as you are rare," stood up, grasped Aura's horn, and bent it slightly to the side. Feeling the trembling in her hand. Serie smiled.

"Aura was too useful!"