“So humans give each other flowers that serve no purpose, right?”
“Why? Are flowers expensive?”
“The humans I saw didn’t seem to have a high enough status to exchange expensive gifts.”
“Then why do they give something you can’t even eat?”
Nisha and the twins were gathered together, putting their heads together.
It made sense that the twins were always a bit out of it, but I didn’t expect Nisha to be like this.
‘Didn’t she come to me last time acting all smart?’
Well, Nisha isn’t a normal human either—she’s a homunculus, so I guess that explains it.
I already knew that demons think differently from humans. They don’t have any concept of the weight of life, sympathy, loyalty, or love. This was something that had been established in the game’s setting, so I knew about it.
But…
‘No matter how different they are, isn’t this level of ignorance a bit too much?’
How can they look exactly like humans but be so fundamentally different in their everyday lives? At this point, it seems like they don’t even have basic knowledge, like how carnivores eat meat and herbivores eat plants.
‘What do I do with these guys?’
This is why they got caught at the temple! It wasn’t because the priests were particularly great at recognizing demons.
It was simply because you were too… obvious!
“Do they get anything in return for giving flowers?”
“Are flowers a form of currency?”
This level of stupidity is why they got caught!
I could clearly understand why the priests in my past life were so desperate to kill these twins.
‘At this rate, it’s dangerous.’
They’re practically shouting, ‘Hey, I’m a demon!’ Do you think the priests will just let that slide?
‘I have to step in.’
I was planning to leave the fortress anyway, so this was a good opportunity. I’ll just tell them I’m going to learn about the human world in place of these idiots.
“Phew.”
What a hassle this is at the end of my life.
I massaged my stiff shoulders and shook my head.
“Shekina!”
At that moment, Merdes, who had been enthusiastically participating in the discussion, came rushing over.
“Tell me, why do humans give each other flowers?”
“If they can’t eat them, why give them?”
“As currency?”
Nisha and the twins stared at me with wide eyes.
Why do people give flowers, huh?
‘I’ve never received any, so how would I know?’
But I do know the theory behind it. So I confidently replied,
“They give them to express their feelings.”
“Feelings?”
It didn’t seem to satisfy their curiosity.
“Can feelings be expressed through flowers?”
“Does the number of flowers change the meaning?”
“How many grams of feelings are in one flower?”
“…”
Are you all science majors?
How am I supposed to quantify the emotions behind flowers?
I grabbed the back of my neck, which was starting to ache again, and barely managed to answer.
“It’s like this: if the person receiving the flowers is moved, then it’s good to give them.”
“Why do flowers move people?”
“What is being moved?”
“What happens when they feel it? Do they change?”
“…”
I just want to hit them all.
This shouldn’t be so frustrating, but I’m getting mad just thinking about it.
Can I just hit them once each? I was biting my lip when—
Clap clap clap—!
Suddenly, I heard clapping.
Who was that? I turned to look, and there was short Lyat, still standing there. Not only me, but the other homunculus widened their eyes as well.
Lyat approached me with leisurely steps.
Suddenly, I felt uneasy.
Did he hear me lecturing those guys? Does he suspect something about my identity? Will I be dragged off for experiments? My mind was racing with all sorts of worries.
“You.”
Lyat, seemingly unaware of my thoughts, adjusted his monocle and smiled slyly.
“Very impressive.”
What nonsense is he spouting now…?
***
Lyat sat in his laboratory, gazing at the tiny creature in front of him.
Shekina.
Shekina Daimon.
A homunculus who has only been alive for three years.
Despite that, Lyat had heard countless reports about this homunculus, enough to fill his ears, even though he had been holed up in his lab.
He already knew Shekina had the ability to bind artifact, but now it seemed this homunculus also possessed the ability to summon and control monsters.
Although Shekina hadn’t shown any remarkable results in the past two tests, Lyat and the other high-ranking demons knew it well—this cunning little brat was intentionally hiding her abilities.
‘She must be holding back to avoid attention from the older snakes.’
Revealing too much in front of the elders who supported other homunculus would only make her a target.
‘Didn’t they say if the homunculus you back becomes number one, you can raise your rank as an elder?’
But who cares about that nonsense now!
Lyat gritted his teeth as he thought of those decrepit elders.
What was the reason they were expelled from the demon world and ended up in the human world?
Wasn’t it because the Demon King’s powers had been sealed?
So, they tried their best to adapt to the human world, and as a result, they were awarded the title of count in the northern lands. To maintain this title, the Demon King himself was out there in the icy winter, fighting off monsters descending from the demon world.
Even the Demon King is working tirelessly for us!
Shouldn’t we be focused on restoring his powers as soon as possible?
What are these fat cats doing, engaging in power struggles?
‘Those damn elders.’
Just wait until I get back to the demon world. I’ll wipe them all out without a trace.
Anyway, it was fortunate that Shekina hadn’t fully revealed her abilities. It was likely a desperate attempt to survive in that small body of her.
‘So I let her be, but…’
Today, Shekina revealed far more knowledge about the human world than Nisha, who had lived there for five years.
Basic knowledge like what humans eat can be easily learned by stepping outside the fortress.
But understanding the deeper psychology of humans is not something easily grasped.
This is partly because demons and humans are fundamentally different, but especially because homunculus have their emotions completely suppressed.
That’s why, aside from Yurian, no other homunculus were allowed outside the Demon King’s castle.
– “Because it’s good if the person receiving the flowers is moved.”
This little brat who has only lived for three years is using a term like ‘moved’ that only humans would say.
A smile curled on Lyat’s lips.
“Was it because it wasn’t programmed properly when you were made?”
He muttered, lost in his own thoughts. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t even notice Shekina trembling in the corner of the lab.
“Maybe because the demon input wasn’t done properly, your human traits became more prominent.”
After coming to his own conclusion, his cold, piercing gaze settled on Shekina.
Gulp!
Shekina involuntarily shrank back. Of course, she was terrified. The researcher who created the homunculus was standing right in front of her. If Shekina acted suspiciously, her identity as a human would be exposed.
Shekina swallowed nervously and cautiously glanced at Lyat.
“You.”
Lyat called out to Shekina again in a chilling voice.
Ah, what now? Shekina nervously clasped her trembling hands behind her back and stood up straight.
“You seem to handle the people around you quite well.”
Shekina tilted her head in confusion at the unexpected question. She had prepared several excuses, assuming she would be interrogated, but… what was he saying?
“I don’t think I did that.”
“Didn’t you get Martin, Arthur, and the others from the 1st Legion to join your side?”
“…They’re not really on my side, they just find me cute.”
That was thanks to the ‘Affection’ she had earned from a past quest. The reason they were all so fond of her was simply because of the system’s rewards for gaining affection.
Lyat was also one of those affected by the system rewards.
[SYSTEM]
Main Quest <Let’s Be Friends!> gained an abnormal amount of affection!
Details: Gained affection from Lyat Noah
Shekina recalled the affection she had indeed gained and cautiously spoke.
“You also like me, don’t you?”
“……”
Lyat’s white eyebrows furrowed unpleasantly.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
Shekina, now sweating profusely, clenched her trembling hands together.
Lyat examined her from head to toe with a sharp gaze, then chuckled and shook his head.
“It’s strange. If it were anyone else, I would have smacked them on the head.”
But somehow, she’s… adorable. Lyat muttered, sounding as if he couldn’t quite understand himself, as he stood up.
“From today, you’ll be going outside the fortress with me.”
“Huh?”
“Look around and tell me if you find anything that doesn’t seem human to you.”
They couldn’t afford to give the temple’s scouts any reason for suspicion.
But it was foolish to ask those who had lived in the demon world for a long time, ‘Is this normal or not?’ So, Lyat sought advice from a homunculus…
‘Yurian went to the academy, and the only other one worth watching was Nisha.’
But today, a homunculus even smarter than Nisha had caught his attention.
So what should he do?
Of course, he should take this little one by the hand and go.
“I’m not expecting too much from someone as young as you… but still, you should be of some use. Prove that my decision wasn’t a mistake.”
While Shekina was left dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events, a cheerful notification sound rang in her ears for the first time in a while.
Ring!
Main Quest <Deceive the Eyes of the Temple!>
How have you been? Lucky for you, you’ve caught Lyat’s eye and now have the chance to venture outside the fortress! Now, you’ll need to prove your usefulness to Lyat.
As you explore the territory, try to correct anything that seems ‘inhuman and suspicious.’
Objective: Avoid the suspicion of the priests visiting the count’s estate.
Time limit: 360 hours
Rewards:
1. Complete support from Lyat
2. Speedier restoration of the Demon King’s powers
Failure: No audience with the Demon King for a year
Shekina’s jaw dropped halfway.
She had been thinking about going outside to meet the first elder anyway.
But now, Lyat? A quest?
‘Thank you so much…’
Shekina smiled brightly. It was the perfect timing, the first she had encountered since being born into this body.
And then…
The moment she stepped outside the fortress.
Shekina realized.
‘Just live your life with a sign on your forehead that says, ‘I’m a demon.’ Damn it…’
