Chapter 368: Not Repulsed
Solis's cooperation was within Flamme's expectations. Or rather, ever since arriving at the Magic Association, she had been surprisingly cooperative.
Whether it was being imprisoned in the basement at the very beginning with no way out, or having her range of activities restricted like before, she had never shown any objections.
She was like an emotionless existence, waiting for Teacher Kurtz to personally input human emotions into her.
Pushing those thoughts aside for the moment, Flamme carefully fastened the bracelet onto Solis's slender wrist.
The moment the bracelet touched her skin, a faint shimmer flashed across its surface before quickly fading, making it look no different from an ordinary accessory.
However, Solis could clearly feel the mana flowing within her body instantly become heavy, as though bound by invisible chains. Only an extremely faint trace of mana remained circulating slowly.
This tiny amount of mana was insufficient to cast even a basic lighting spell.
It was a lethal tool designed specifically to restrain Magicians, and even Demons were no exception.
Of course, some Demons specialized more in physical combat, so this type of magic tool would not restrict them much at all.
Clearly, Solis did not belong to that category.
"Alright."
After confirming the bracelet was functioning properly, Flamme looked at Solis and said, "Now you can leave the Association with us. But you must stay by our side at all times. You are not allowed to act on your own or have excessive contact with others without permission. Understood?"
"I understand." Solis nodded again.
She moved her wrist slightly, adapting to the discomfort caused by having most of her power stripped away. For someone accustomed to constantly possessing mana, the sensation was unpleasant, but still within acceptable limits.
And so, this strange group of four left the Magic Association together.
Sunlight, noisy human voices, and countless unfamiliar sights rushed toward Solis all at once, instantly filling her field of vision.
Her dark eyes widened slightly.
Although her face remained expressionless, her gaze continuously swept across everything around her.
It was obvious that she felt a strong curiosity toward these things she had never seen before.
Seeing this, Frieren subconsciously raised a hand, looking ready to cast magic at any moment.
She knew that Demons loved eating humans above all else. Seeing Solis stare at the people on the street with such curiosity, Frieren's first instinct was that the Demon had become hungry.
However, Flamme caught her hand before she could cast anything. "Don't worry. She's different from other Demons."
Hearing this, Frieren silently lowered her hand.
Different?
Frieren could not understand that at all.
In her eyes, all Demons were the same—existences that should be killed.
If she encountered a Demon she could not kill immediately, then she would seal it away and wait until the day she could break through its magic and destroy it completely.
Things should not be like this.
A Demon should not be left alive simply because it was supposedly "different."
Why were Lord Kurtz and Lady Serie both so optimistic about her?
Why did they believe she could become the beginning of a brand-new future between humans and Demons?
Frieren honestly felt pessimistic about such a future. However, Teacher Flamme was looking forward to it immensely. This was also the first time Frieren had ever disagreed with her teacher so strongly.
As Flamme held her hand and continued walking, Frieren remained sullenly quiet, only occasionally distracted by unusual magical materials or interesting objects displayed in the shops along the street.
Olivia maintained her calm posture, her gentle gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
But Solis could tell that part of Olivia's attention remained fixed on her the entire time, carrying an unmistakable sense of vigilance.
Like before, Olivia had hidden her wings beneath her cloak.
Otherwise, given the unique status of the Skywing Clan, they would attract crowds wherever they went, making it impossible to stroll through the streets peacefully.
Even so, they still drew plenty of attention.
Some of the gazes came from Magicians who recognized Flamme and looked at her curiously.
Others were simply attracted by their appearances.
Flamme walked ahead while leading Frieren through the shops, occasionally glancing back toward Solis. After confirming that Solis was merely following quietly without any unusual behavior, Flamme gradually relaxed a little.
Their destination was the largest commercial district in the western part of the Imperial Capital.
As they approached, the crowds became denser.
This was the first time Solis had seen so many humans.
No, not only humans. There were also many dwarves and elves, along with various other races.
Solis silently observed everything around her.
She watched Flamme stop at a stall selling magical materials, skillfully selecting items, asking about prices, paying, and casually chatting with the stall owner.
Even the powerful and mysterious Olivia stopped in front of a stall selling accessories.
She picked up a brooch, examined it carefully for a moment, then placed it back down while smiling and shaking her head toward the stall owner.
Then, without warning, Frieren suddenly walked over and bought the brooch herself before silently handing it to Olivia.
Everyone was behaving completely differently from how Solis normally saw them.
Olivia's behavior, in particular, was far beyond her expectations.
"Solis." Flamme's voice pulled her out of her observations.
The group was currently standing at a relatively open street corner.
Flamme held out a small paper bag that emitted a sweet, rich aroma. "Want to try one? These are freshly baked Honey Cream Pies, one of the Imperial Capital's specialty snacks."
Solis looked first at the bag of clearly human food, then at Flamme herself. A trace of confusion appeared in her eyes.
"For me? Why?"
"Well..." Flamme smiled slightly. "Because I want you to taste it."
Her eyes carried a meaning Solis could not quite understand.
What did this mean?
Could the food be poisoned?
Solis immediately dismissed the thought.
There was no need for such methods. If she truly wished to kill her, they could do so directly without going through so much trouble.
Moreover, she could clearly see Frieren grabbing several pieces from the bag in Flamme's hand and stuffing them into her mouth.
Flamme only responded with a somewhat helpless smile. Clearly, there was nothing wrong with the food. Just as she had said, she simply wanted Solis to taste it.
After hesitating briefly, Solis accepted the bag. There was still a trace of warmth remaining. The heat passed through the packaging into her palm, and even some unfamiliar part of her body seemed to warm slightly along with it.
Mimicking Frieren, she carefully took a small bite. The crispy crust and overly sweet honey filling mixed with the scent of cream instantly spread through her mouth.
She instinctively tried to analyze the ingredients, but alongside the overwhelming sweetness came a strange sensation that was difficult to describe.
This was not food necessary for survival. In fact, for fragile human bodies, it might even be unhealthy.
But...
Flamme was watching her. Frieren was secretly glancing at her as well, seemingly curious about her reaction. Olivia stood slightly farther away, but she too was observing quietly.
After swallowing the food, Solis gave an objective evaluation. "I think the sugar content is too high. Theoretically, it provides no benefit to human health."
Flamme immediately burst out laughing."Who asked whether it's healthy? I'm asking how it tastes. Do you like it?"
Taste? Like?
Solis lowered her gaze toward the golden pie in her hand before taking another small bite. The cloying sweetness spread through her mouth again.
"I cannot understand the concept of 'liking,'" she answered honestly.
"But... I am not repulsed by this food." Flamme smiled and shook her head.
"Alright. 'Not repulsed' works too."
Seeing this, Frieren quietly muttered, "She's still just a Demon."
[End of Chapter]