Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

Aura moved swiftly through the forest, stepping over muddy ground and slipping through thick undergrowth like a nimble cat navigating the dense, chaotic wilderness.

She was already well-acquainted with the terrain surrounding the village. Aura knew every possible escape route the bandits might attempt to take.

As she darted through the woods, it wasn't long before the sounds of fighting and shouting reached her ears.

Emerging from the foliage, Aura took in the scene before her.

The bandits were being slaughtered one-sidedly.

"Master Aura?"

Sasha, drenched in blood, turned at the sound of Aura's approach. She held a sword in one hand and a staff in the other. Despite the carnage, Sasha bore no injuries—none of the blood on her blade or clothes belonged to her.

Planting her bloodied sword into the ground, Sasha ran over and hugged Aura, inspecting her for any wounds. Even though Sasha knew that ordinary humans couldn't possibly harm Aura, the thought of Aura—small as she was—being attacked by dangerous bandits still filled her with worry.

"Why are you out here again?" Sasha scolded gently.

"Didn't I tell you to hide if any outsiders showed up?"

"What if someone sees your horns?"

"…But they're carrying weapons." Aura tiptoed to peek out from Sasha's embrace. Standing on her toes, Aura's purple eyes rose just high enough to peer over Sasha's shoulder and observe the movements of the villagers.

Some villagers wielded crossbows, shooting the bandits from a distance and specifically aiming for exposed necks and thighs with remarkable accuracy. Others formed spear phalanxes, their three-meter-long iron-tipped wooden poles rising in unison, capable of toppling even heavily armored cavalry. They would follow up by stabbing their fallen targets relentlessly.

Some went in for brutal close-quarters combat, wielding dual blades and cutting down bandits in a blood-soaked frenzy. Among them was Roman, who used his large frame and what appeared to be magically enhanced strength to cleave bandits, armor and all, in two with his combined might. His display left the remaining bandits trembling in terror.

The villagers of Aura's village were physically robust, a stark contrast to the surrounding famine-stricken lands. They ate three hearty meals a day—an almost unheard-of luxury in these times—and Aura frequently supplemented their diet with the meat she hunted, ensuring they stayed well-fed and muscular. Even Sasha, as a woman, towered over most outsiders.

Additionally, this world allowed for warriors to push their bodies beyond normal limits through sheer will and devotion.

While most faithful could only achieve near-purity of spirit, their mental fortitude was still far superior to the greed-driven bandits. Among the most devout, like Roman—who had willingly offered up his very life, soul, and humanity in service—had already crossed the threshold of becoming a true warrior.

As long as the bandits didn't outnumber the villagers by more than three-to-one, the villagers could dispatch their foes as effortlessly as cutting vegetables.

Sasha gently but firmly pressed Aura back down, covering her eyes to shield her from the gruesome sight behind them.

"Don't worry, we'll handle this.... Master Aura, please go back and rest."

"…"

Aura attempted to tiptoe again for another glimpse, but Sasha was too tall. Simply standing straight was enough for Sasha to block Aura's view completely.

"This is boring…" Aura eventually gave up, pouting in disdain as she turned to leave.

Phew—

Sasha let out a sigh of relief.

It was fortunate that Aura hadn't been insistent. If she had, Sasha alone wouldn't have been able to stop her.

Glancing back at the one-sided battle, Sasha scanned the area with narrowed eyes to see if any bandits had managed to flee.

After the last village meeting, everyone had unanimously decided to minimize their reliance on Aura and handle all external conflicts independently. The villagers resolved to keep Lady Aura's presence hidden from outsiders as much as possible.

This included the current bandit raid. While they didn't outright refuse Aura's involvement in the fighting, they were acutely aware of the difference between slaughtering beasts and slaughtering humans. The former posed no lasting threat—even if not completely eradicated, beasts wouldn't specifically target demons. But humans were different. If even one escaped, word of a demon in the mountains would spread, eventually drawing the kingdom's armies.

Sasha covered Aura's eyes not only to shield her from the carnage but also to suppress her curiosity. If Aura started killing humans, there would be no stopping her…

"Oh, Sasha."

Just as Sasha was heading back, she felt a tug on her sleeve. Turning, she saw Aura, who had quietly returned.

"Sasha, I just killed two intruders. They seemed like leaders of this group."

"Hmm, you did great, Master Aura. Killing those two is more than enough. Leave the rest to us."

But Aura didn't move. Instead, she tilted her head, her purple eyes glinting with curiosity. "I overheard them talking about reinforcements," she said lightly. "There's another group behind this one."

Sasha's heart dropped. 'Reinforcements?! No. No, no, no. This can't be happening.' She waved her hands frantically, the words tumbling out of her mouth faster than she could think.

"That's nonsense! Don't believe the lies of bandits, Master Aura! They always exaggerate their numbers to sound more intimidating. This is it! This is all of them. There's no hideout, no reinforcements, no nothing. I swear!"

Aura's expression didn't change, but the faintest quirk of her brow told Sasha she wasn't buying it. "Really?" Aura said, her tone deceptively mild. "Because they seemed quite confident."

Sasha's hands shot to her head in exasperation. "Master Aura, please! You've done enough. You've already helped so much. We can handle the rest."

Aura's gaze sharpened, and her voice took on a teasing edge. "You're acting suspicious, Sasha. Are you hiding something from me?"

Sasha mind flashed back to the time a lone wolf had attacked a villager near the farm. Aura had hunted the wolf for miles, slaughtering the entire pack in retaliation. She had drowned the cubs to prevent any resurgence and even exterminated every nearby predator in a twenty-mile radius. She called it "thorough."

Even the villager who had been attacked thought Aura's protection was excessive.

Sasha didn't pity the beasts Aura had killed, nor would she pity the bandits Aura might annihilate in the future. Her fear stemmed from the attention Aura's actions might draw.

Moreover, from what Sasha knew about the bandits, this first group of people must be spies. As long as they were killed and no news was sent back, the bandit den would not dare to send people again. Bandits also have their own cunning. They would rob the weak and would not hit the stone wall without turning back. Otherwise, the bandit stronghold would not last long and would have offended the nobles and been wiped out by the army.

So, as long as Sasha keeps the truth hidden... as long as she conceals it... Master Aura's village and the bandits' stronghold can coexist peacefully...

Peacefully coexist...

"You dare kill me!" The enraged shout cut through the cacophony of battle, drawing all eyes to the young bandit struggling on the ground. His horse lay dead nearby, and his face was twisted with fury as he glared at the surrounding villagers. "Behind me stands the mighty Bas Stronghold! Go ask around—there's no one in these parts who doesn't give face to Bas! Even the nobles bow their heads to us!"

Sasha's heart sank. 'Why do they always have to talk? Why can't they just shut up and die quietly?'

"Stop talking!" she snapped, her voice sharp and commanding as her eyes flicked to the nearby villagers. "Finish him off! Quickly!"

The villagers hesitated, their spears trembling as they advanced on the bandit. But the young man was well-equipped, his chainmail deflecting every thrust. Despite being pinned to the ground, he thrashed like a cornered animal, swinging his machete wildly and barking threats.

"You fools dare touch me? Bas's stronghold is just to the east—cross a few mountains, and you're there! Harm me, and my brothers will rain hell on this village! We'll slaughter every last one of you!"

Sasha clenched her teeth, a vein throbbing in her temple. "Damn it! Shut him up! Cover his mouth, now!" Her voice cracked with desperation, but the villagers fumbled, unable to subdue him completely.

The bandit only grew bolder, his laughter echoing across the field. "Don't think the garrison will save you! Unless you wipe out our stronghold in one go, you'll never finish us off! Even if you call for reinforcements, my brothers will hunt you down! As long as one of us survives, this village is doomed!"

"Please… just stop talking…" Sasha murmured, her voice barely audible as she pressed a trembling hand to her forehead. Her shoulders sagged, and a wave of despair washed over her. 'I worked so hard to avoid this. Why does it always end like this? Why does someone always have to seek their own death?'

Smack!

Roman, one of the sturdier villagers, stepped forward with a grim expression. He kicked the bandit's machete out of his hand, sending it skittering across the ground. Without hesitation, he landed a brutal uppercut that dislocated the bandit's jaw, silencing him mid-threat. The bandit crumpled to the ground, clutching his face in pain.

Roman wasted no time. Drawing the longsword from his back, he raised it high, preparing to end the man with a single blow.

"Stop."

Everyone froze. The voice was calm but carried an undeniable weight. Roman's arm faltered mid-swing, and his gaze snapped toward the source. Master Aura was approaching, her eyes glinting in the sunlight, her expression unreadable.

'Oh no,' Sasha thought, her heart dropping.

"Scared now, huh? If you're scared, then let your grandpa go!"

The young bandit, seeing Roman hesitate, assumed he had intimidated the villagers. Arrogant and defiant, he laughed and cursed at them. Hearing footsteps, he looked up to see a purple-haired girl approaching. Just as he opened his mouth to spew more threats—

Smack!

Roman's hand connected with the young bandit's face, the force of the blow snapping his head to the side. The sound echoed sharply, leaving a red welt and swelling that nearly closed one eye.

The bandit stilled immediately, his defiance faltering under the weight of the strike.

"You said just now that there are many more of you, right?" Aura's voice broke the tense silence.

The bandit's one unbruised eye darted to her, noticing how the purple-haired girl's hands trembled as she clasped her elbow. Her voice quivered slightly, as though she were trying to mask fear.

'Is she afraid of me?' he thought, straightening his neck as much as Roman's boot on his chest allowed. He forced himself to look bold, even arrogant, despite his vulnerable position. "Yes!"

"Where are they?"

The bandit grinned, sensing an opportunity to regain control. "At Hamina Mountain!" he barked, his tone laced with bravado. "If none of us return, the leader will send more men here soon! They'll avenge us by slaughtering everyone!"

He saw her falter. Her breathing quickened, her gaze lowering for a moment. He thought his words had struck fear into these simple villagers. For the first time since his capture, the terror of almost losing his head faded, replaced by a wave of confidence.

Raising his head as high as Roman's hold would allow, he sneered. "You're all dead, you hear me? I am the son of Reginold, the vice leader of Bas Stronghold!"

He laughed wildly, his arrogance swelling with every passing second. His malicious gaze swept over the villagers, who shifted uneasily under his stare.

"Who dares touch me? Who can touch me?"

His laughter rang out, harsh and grating, like the cackling of a hyena. "Hahaha! Hahahahaha! Hahahahahaha!"

The laughter cut off abruptly as Aura stepped forward without a word. Her hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of his hair and yanking his head back. The sudden movement forced his throat into full view, his voice catching in his chest.

"Wh-what are you—"

Aura didn't answer. With an eerie calmness, she reached for Roman's sword, pulling it from his grip. she slit his throat as though slaughtering livestock.

Squelch—

Blood poured freely, staining the ground as the bandit's eyes widened in shock. He gurgled, his mouth opening and closing as though trying to form words. "You… cough cough... my father is… cough cough…" Blood bubbled from his lips, choking him as his body spasmed.

Aura tilted her head, her expression devoid of pity. "No need to repeat yourself," she said coldly. "I've memorized it. Reginold, was it? He'll be joining you soon."

Her voice was calm, almost conversational, as though she were commenting on the weather. Holding the bandit's hair firmly, she raised his severed head to eye level. Her purple eyes bore into his fading ones, her lips curling into a cruel, exhilarated grin.

The dying bandit stared in horror, realization dawning in his final moments. The trembling hands, the glittering eyes he'd mistaken for fear—it hadn't been fear at all.

'She wasn't afraid,' he thought, despair flooding him like the blood spilling from his neck. 'She was… excited.'

His blurred vision caught sight of her horns—one broken, the other intact—and his final thought solidified in his mind like a death sentence.

'A demon... a monster...'

The light left his eyes as his severed head hung limp in Aura's grasp.