I always felt anxious when facing a Demon God.
Just imagining how, when, and where they might be killing people was enough to make my stomach churn.
Since they had no reason to venture into places where humans lived, whenever I thought about why they might appear, it always related to human deaths.
Even Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, and other races with superior physical abilities feared them—how could humans be any different?
Demon Gods were killers. They lived their lives in twisted ways, either sustaining themselves by killing people or treating murder as entertainment, which made me sick to my stomach and gave me chills.
Demon Gods were transcendent beings. Despite reaching a level where I could kill such beings, Yuria couldn't put her mind at ease.
Once trauma is etched into you, it doesn't easily fade. No matter how strong you become, knowing there might be something stronger out there is always frightening.
Yuria sighed.
Her breathing always became rough after confronting a Demon God. It made her think deeply—were they all so vicious? Was there no one else like Urr anywhere in the world?
Yuria recalled when she first met Urr.
"..."
Feeling a twinge of guilt, she decided to stop. At the same time, she felt her trauma might resurface.
She clenched her trembling hands. Placing one hand over the other to stop the shaking, Yuria exhaled deeply. She would see Urr when she returned and didn't want to look at her with fearful eyes.
Yuria shook her head.
Whether it was a side effect of having a young body or something else, Urr had childlike innocence, sometimes wore a blank expression, and had awkward mannerisms that all made her seem cute.
Sometimes she was selfish, but since that was something all children went through, Yuria thought she could overlook it and educate her.
Good thinking. She tried to focus on Urr's cute aspects to somehow forget the situation.
But since that wasn't entirely working, she just clicked her tongue. Yuria, who had been planning to return to the Academy via a Warp Point, slightly changed her destination.
Thinking she only needed to return before lunch.
The place Yuria headed was a café commonly found on the university street outside the Academy.
"Over here!"
As Yuria looked around, someone was waving to get her attention.
A woman with shoulder-length pink hair and bright red eyes. Yuria let out a small sigh. "Rose."
"What brings you here, Yuri? Asking to meet outside the Academy."
As Yuria approached the table, Rosemilla grinned and met her gaze.
Sitting down across from her, Yuria looked for a way to cool her head before speaking.
"Did you order already?"
"Ah, not yet. I was waiting for you."
"An Americano is fine for me."
"Really? I'll have a cappuccino."
After deciding on their coffee, Yuria took a sip from the cup in front of her.
Feeling the cold caffeine hit her brain, giving her a sense of clarity, Yuria began to speak.
"I just came from killing a Demon God, and it was really tough."
"Why? Hasn't that been your specialty since you got your Original? Everyone keeps asking you to teach them how to fight without being affected by Aura."
"The killing itself isn't the problem."
Yuria scratched her head, twisting her long hair between her fingers.
"I mean, what could be difficult for you? You're one of the few people who can take down a Demon God alone."
"Why are you suddenly praising me? Short on research funds?"
"No? You just looked really down."
Rosemilla chuckled. Yuria didn't dislike Rosemilla's sly demeanor, but she wasn't quite used to it either, so she made an ambiguous expression.
Yuria stopped twisting her hair and took another sip of coffee. The burning thirst in her throat seemed somewhat quenched.
"It's just the trauma that's the problem. Every time I come back from hunting a Demon God, it hits me hard. What should I do?"
"Well... if I were a psychology professor, I might be able to help, but I'm a professor in the Dept. of Spellcraft, you know? So it's a bit difficult for me to do much. But if you tell me what's going on, I'll listen."
Seeing Rosemilla's unusually apologetic manner, Yuria smiled bitterly.
She had called her knowing this would happen, wanting someone to listen, so there was no reason to change her attitude now.
"You know I have a Demon God with me, right?"
"Of course. The rumor that the Demon God Slayer is keeping a Demon God is huge. Even now, people wonder why you're doing it."
Yuria was trying to start her story, but Rosemilla brought up a topic that piqued her curiosity instead.
With wide eyes, Yuria closed her mouth and listened carefully to what Rosemilla had to say.
"So?"
"...Weren't you going to tell me something? Are you curious about this?"
Rosemilla looked at Yuria's expression and cleared her throat with a "Ahem."
"Then I'll go first. People are increasingly asking why the Demon God Slayer is keeping a Demon God. They're making all sorts of theories. Some say you're researching ways to kill Demon Gods more easily, others think you're forced to keep it with you because it can't be killed."
Yuria fell silent at Rosemilla's words.
Keeping a Demon God to research how to kill them more easily—that matched her past thinking, but she had never considered doing that with Urr.
"As an Academy professor, you could figure it out. I've already made public information about Urr."
"Still, people wonder if there might be other reasons."
Rosemilla glanced around briefly and began counting on her fingers.
"A Demon God that can't be killed no matter how many times you try? Who accepts that from the start? It's unprecedented. Some people think you might be lying just to keep her around."
Urr doesn't die. She might age over time, but when she dies, she gets younger, and if she breaks through the minimum threshold, she returns to a certain age.
Yuria still hadn't figured out this lifespan mechanism that differed from other Demon Gods.
"...They doubt me even when I tell the truth."
"Well, I don't think you're lying."
"Fine. I don't care what others think anyway."
Yuria nodded at Rosemilla's words and took another sip of coffee.
"Anyway, that's why."
"Huh?"
"You know about my trauma."
"Yes, I do."
Yuria's mood dropped slightly. Given the subject matter, Rosemilla's previously light voice also lowered.
Holding the cup with both hands, Yuria lowered her eyes. The ice inside clinked as it moved.
"...I'm still scared. The very fact that there are Demon Gods I can't do anything about."
"Really?"
"Now, the Demon God who killed my parents would be nothing to me. But even though I've become so strong, the fact that there are Demon Gods stronger than me, that there could be Demon Gods I can't handle—that one reason prevents me from overcoming this trauma."
Yuria's hands trembled.
No matter how strong she was, no matter how much people praised her, admired her, respected her, or envied her, she was still just a sensitive woman inside.
A vulnerable woman like any other.
The trauma she still couldn't escape lingered more persistently in Yuria's heart.
"...Is the reason you feel this way after killing a Demon God because of the one you're keeping?"
At Rosemilla's quiet question, Yuria painfully nodded once, dropping her head. Rosemilla sighed.
"Then why not just leave her be? Why stay close and scare yourself?"
"Just... because she's kind. I thought if she could find a way to get along with people, it would be good for everyone."
"Don't tell me you're trying to rehabilitate her so that strong power isn't wasted. Is that your approach?"
"Well, something like that."
Rosemilla smiled bitterly at Yuria's words.
She could have been shocked at the absurdity, but she also thought it was typical of Yuria, so she let it pass.
"So? How strong is that little Demon God? She's already made quite an impression at the Academy."
"She's not strong. Just cute."
"This isn't some joke about her being creepily cute, is it?"
"No, do you think I'd set up this mood just to make a joke?"
Yuria let out a scoffing laugh, and Rosemilla waved her hand.
"I was just wondering why you're afraid."
"I worry that when Urr grows up, she might emit Aura like other Demon Gods, and I'm concerned about whether she'll develop Demon God instincts as she grows."
"Hmm, so that's it. A mother's worry?"
"Rose, Urr is probably much older than me, so what mother's worry are you talking about? Though I suppose I am more mature right now."
Yuria flared up momentarily but calmed herself down and took a deep breath.
"What are you really afraid of?"
Rosemilla set aside her teasing and asked seriously again. She was determined to help Yuria fully express her concerns.
What's friendship for if not helping when asked?
Rosemilla quietly waited for Yuria's answer, and Yuria prepared her response for Rosemilla who had readily come at her call.
After taking a deep breath, Yuria broke the long silence with an answer that surprised Rosemilla.
"...That Urr has a split personality?"