"Miss, I am the Peace Envoy from Weise, Macht."
Clad in a military uniform with a cyan shawl draped over his shoulders, Macht's tall, upright figure would be considered quite handsome even from a human perspective. He bowed to Jane with impeccable grace.
"Human etiquette? Um... how do I return the greeting again... I haven't seen this in the books..."
Having stayed with Nanoda in a human city for these past years, Jane had acquired some common sense. She recognized this as a greeting used by human nobles; her "Mother" had learned it before as well.
"There is no need to return the greeting; it does not matter. I am merely imitating it. When facing an existence of your strength or those in power, this is necessary. In human terms, this should count as a form of humility," Macht explained.
In Macht's eyes, the continuous stream of mana radiating from Jane was in no way inferior to his own.
In terms of age, Jane was likely not much younger than himself, yet the appearance she presented was as innocent as a human child.
This made Macht extremely interested in Jane. Usually, members of the Demon Race at this stage would have already demonstrated a distinct personality.
"You've learned quite a few flashy human tricks," Aura spoke up from the side.
"Aren't you the same? If this were the old you, you wouldn't have humans with their heads still attached around you."
Not expecting Macht to actually tease her, Aura replied somewhat grumpily.
"I am forced by circumstances. Aren't you also playing house with humans? With your strength, turning a city directly into gold shouldn't be difficult, right?"
From way back, Aura had considered Macht to be the most ineffectual of the Seven Sages of Destruction. He clearly possessed such exaggerated magic as Universal Golden Transmutation Magic; if Macht had just been a bit more active and turned all hindering humans into gold, the Demon Race could have unified the world long ago.
"This is my freedom, and I have grown tired of it. What about you? How is it that you have laid aside your favorite war?" Macht asked calmly.
Having her sore spot poked, Aura secretly ground her teeth.
"Alright, the tour here is considered finished. There is one last place remaining."
No great army, no confidence.
If not for the fact that she couldn't beat him, Aura would have already made a move on Macht. Even among the Seven Sages of Destruction, there was no total unity.
Compared to ordinary Demons, the Seven Sages of Destruction were existences that went their own way even more.
As Macht and Aura exchanged words, Jane suddenly spoke.
"Are you two on good terms?"
"How is that possible?" Aura was the first to object.
"No," Macht also shook his head.
"Is that so... where are you going next? Can I follow you?" Jane also wanted to wander around.
"Suit yourself."
Aura had no objections.
"Where are we going?" Macht asked.
"The back mountain. Someone wants to see you," Aura answered.
***
Gaderia Back Mountain.
The ravine cleaved by the Hero several years ago still emitted wisps of cold air. The surroundings were covered with the stumps of felled trees; the timber damaged back then had already been cleared away.
Because the ravine was simply too massive—almost splitting the hill-sized back mountain in half—Aaron had not filled it in. Normally, no one would come to the back mountain, so there was no risk of anyone accidentally falling in.
At this moment, a figure inside the ravine was treading on the stone walls, running upward. Approaching the exit, Nanoda tapped her foot against the surface, leaping high into the air. She flipped half a turn in the sky before landing steadily.
After this period of calm meditation, she had finally suppressed the instinct within her body.
Calculating the time, it was about time for Aura to bring Macht over.
Looking at that ravine, Nanoda thought once again of the moment she made her promise with Hero Himmel.
"Time sure moves fast."
Just as Nanoda was feeling sentimental, a familiar voice rang out from the distance.
"Mother!"
Jane, who had originally been following behind Aura and Macht looking around, trotted all the way over.
"I've told you countless times, don't use that address."
Nanoda felt somewhat helpless, reaching out to stroke Jane's head a couple of times.
Arching her head like a cat, Jane then stood obediently behind her.
The same white hair—although their eye colors were different, there were indeed some similarities between Jane and Nanoda's faces.
"This is the first time I've seen a Demon who keeps their offspring by their side."
Macht looked at the broken-horned Demon before him with interest.
A Demon like Jane, possessing powerful mana and likely several hundred years of age, actually called her "Mother."
To the side, Aura couldn't hold it in and turned her head away.
Nanoda, on the other hand, was full of gloom and utterly speechless.
"Don't misunderstand, she is an adopted daughter."
"Is that so? I think you two look quite alike." Macht actually said this with a completely serious face, and then he asked, "So, who are you? Did you call me over because you wanted to say something?"
Macht couldn't quite see through this broken-horned Demon. Having lived for over five hundred years, it was his first time seeing a Demon with almost no mana. One must know that the majority of what constitutes a Demon is mana; mana is equivalent to a Demon's life and status.
"I am a Great Demon from the Mythical Era—Nanoda. Now, I want to recruit you, Macht of the Golden Land!"
Nanoda pitched a straight ball directly at Macht. It left Macht stunned in place.
"I can attest to that," the victim, Lady Aura, spoke up from the side.
"..." Macht pondered briefly, seeming to savor Nanoda's words.
"I am very sorry. I only wish to pursue the things I want. Be it a Great Demon of the Mythical Era or the title of the Seven Sages of Destruction, neither concerns me."
This was Macht's answer.
"In Weise, you will ultimately not get what you want."
"What do you mean by that?"
Nanoda sensed that, in this instant, Macht revealed hostility toward her. She had touched upon Macht's most sensitive spot.
Beside them, Aura noticed the atmosphere was off and quietly scooted a small distance away.
Aura looked at Macht's expressionless face, then looked at Nanoda, suddenly having a bad premonition.
"You are thinking of being accepted by Weise, and even the Northern nations, and after everyone treats you as a friend of humanity, you will betray them and turn Weise into gold to realize your so-called sense of guilt, right?"
Nanoda directly revealed what Macht intended to do in the future.
Hearing his plan laid out in its entirety, Macht frowned involuntarily for the first time.
"Do you know prophecy magic?"
"How is that possible? Prophecy is considered a miracle. I just understand you a little better than you imagine, Macht," Nanoda said, her tone meaningful.
"Can you tell me the reason? Why will my plan fail?"
"The problem will lie within you yourself." Nanoda pointed a finger at Macht.
____
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