Aura Learn One Human Emotion

However, unlike the previous automatic borrowing by magic, today it is actually done manually. The two boys looked up and saw none other than Aura, the so-called book fairy with purple hair from the rumors.

"Good afternoon, Teacher Aura!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Don't call me that. I'm not your teacher," Aura responded with annoyance and glanced at the book they borrowed, which was the poisonous book she had written.

There was a flash of joy in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it and helped the two human apprentice mages to complete the book borrowing procedures as if nothing had happened.

Seeing the two of them chattering and leaving with excitement on their faces, Aura supported her head with both hands, watching this heartwarming scene with comfort and joy.

"Sigh, I've ruined the lives of two more human youths," she chuckled to herself, stretching contentedly.

'Aura, Aura, the great demon cause is still incomplete; you still need to keep working hard!'

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That evening, under the faint starlight, the magical lamps in the library quietly went out one by one, casting long shadows as the day came to a close. Aura locked the grand, intricately carved wooden doors, signaling the end of her day's work. The library, once bustling with the quiet rustling of pages and whispered conversations, now stood silent, a sanctuary of knowledge resting until the next sunrise. As she stepped outside, Aura glanced up at the sky, the stars twinkling faintly above, and felt a familiar emptiness in her stomach—a reminder that even she, with all her demonic powers, needed sustenance. Deciding it was time to reward herself after the hard work, she made a plan.

She changed out of her luxurious attire, carefully removing her ornate hat and the elegant, fitted dress she typically wore while presiding over the library. These garments, though beautiful, were hardly suitable for a casual evening stroll through the bustling night market. Instead, she opted for a more relaxed outfit—a loose, flowing Grecian-style gown similar to the ones Serie favored. The soft fabric draped gracefully over her form, offering comfort and ease of movement, a stark contrast to her usual regal ensemble.

Before heading out, she took out a piece of cloth and wrapped it around the horns of her head several times, making sure that no cuticle was exposed. Once satisfied with her disguise, Aura finally felt ready to venture into the night, her appearance now that of an ordinary, if somewhat ethereal, woman.

Demons can feel hunger, though their sense of taste isn't as sensitive as humans', and they don't have as strong a desire for flavorful food.

Their favorite food is human flesh, but this is not because human flesh tastes good, but because they enjoy the humans' struggle and pain during consumption.

For demons, eating humans is more about satisfying a psychological craving than a physical one.

Aura, naturally, also desired to eat humans.

However, after being ordered by Frieren not to harm humans, she hadn't enjoyed the pleasure of eating humans again.

The most recent incident where she tasted human flesh was when she bit into Flamme's stomach. But that time, she had done it not out of hunger or malice but to save someone. The experience had been unpleasant, to say the least—an act of necessity rather than enjoyment, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth and a lingering dissatisfaction in her heart. It was, for a demon, an extremely bad dining experience.

As for now, eating humans in Serie's territory? Sorry, but Aura still wanted to live. Even if Serie doesn't care about the death of one or two humans, Zanze does. If this human woman finds out that Aura eats humans, she will eat Aura alive.

—And that's no exaggeration.

There had been several times when Zanze, in a fit of rage, started biting Aura's horns. Zanze commented on the soft and fragrant taste and said that she wanted to cut off Aura's horn and fry it like a steak.

To avoid being eaten by humans, Aura adhered to her nature, never causing trouble for the Continental Magic Association and never bringing inconvenience to Zanze.

With that resolve, Aura headed towards the night market, her steps light and her mind focused on the simple pleasures the human world could offer, even to a demon.

"Put all the barbecue on the tab of the Continental Magic Association!" Aura announced.

The vendor, a young man with a stained apron, looked up from the sizzling grill with a skeptical frown. "Customer, that's not possible. You need an appointment to enter the Continental Magic Association; we're not mages, and we can't bill them." He shook his head, wiping his hands on a greasy towel as he stared at Aura, clearly doubting her claim.

Aura, unfazed by his response, waved a hand dismissively, her other hand still holding a skewer dripping with oil. "Then put it on Zanze's tab!" she declared, confident that invoking Zanze's name would resolve any issues.

With her mouth full of juicy, tender meat, Aura stood up from the crowded stall in the human night market, stacks of grilled meat plates towering in front of her. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, ignoring the curious glances from the other patrons who had gathered to watch the exchange. It was a sight to see—a refined woman, clearly not of common birth, feasting with the enthusiasm of someone who hadn't eaten in days.

Originally, Kribi was just a big city, but its economy was not prosperous. The streets, while busy, lacked the vibrancy and wealth of a true metropolis. However, all of that began to change when the Continental Magic Association chose this place as its headquarters. The decision was a game-changer for Kribi, transforming it almost overnight. The city, once sleepy and somewhat neglected, suddenly became a hub of activity, attracting a large influx of mages from all corners of the continent, along with businessmen who smelled the opportunity for profit.

The influx of people and capital had spurred rapid growth in Kribi. The cityscape began to evolve, with new buildings, shops, and inns springing up to accommodate the growing population. Streets that were once quiet and dimly lit now buzzed with energy, especially at night. Even the night market, which was deserted before, has become brightly lit and lively, with vendors hawking their goods and customers eagerly exploring the various stalls.

This street is full of various snacks and meals. Aura often comes here and loves this barbecue restaurant the most. Of course, Aura has never paid for the food after eating.

"President Zanze isn't someone I can just approach! If I block her on the street, the guards will think I'm an assassin and arrest me!" the young vendor protested.

'Huh? In the past, just mentioning the Continental Magic Association or Zanze's name would work. Why not this time?'

Aura wondered. but if she really had to pay...she...she didn't have any money on her!

Aura shouted, "Serie! Go find Serie! She'll pay for me!"

But the vendor crossed his arms and shook his head. "No, you can't leave!" he insisted.

The one who stopped Aura was a young man she didn't know. He was tall, with a strong build, and his eyes burned with the fire of youth. He was young and full of vigor, at the age when he was not afraid of power and would insist on seeking justice. The kind of idealistic person who believed in doing the right thing, no matter the consequences.

When he heard Aura calling out famous names one by one, but her pocket was empty without a single coin, he knew that this woman must be here to get free food and drinks.

If she really knew such big shots, she wouldn't be so broke that she can't even take out a copper coin.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—" The surrounding people's gazes converged on Aura, causing her face to turn red. This time, however, it wasn't out of anger but rather embarrassment.

'Wait a minute? Since when did I start feeling ashamed?'

Aura covered her face, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks, puzzled by the emotion.

"Hey, kid, what are you doing! Why are you stopping a customer?—Lady Aura, you can go." A burly middle-aged man approached, stepping in to resolve the situation for Aura.

Aura, bewildered by her own emotional response, didn't argue further and disappeared into the crowd.

"But boss, are we really going to the Magic Association to collect the bill?" the young man asked, his confusion evident in his furrowed brow and hesitant tone.

He couldn't wrap his head around the situation. That purple-haired girl looked small and delicate, but she had devoured more food than several grown men combined, and her stomach never seemed to bloat. Even if the boss let her off this time, what if she came back every day and never paid? The thought made him uneasy. How could any business survive like that?

"Are you new here?" the boss asked, turning to the young man.

"Yes," he confirmed, still unsure where this conversation was heading.

The middle-aged man sighed, patted the young man's shoulder, and explained, "You just arrived in Kribi, so you might not know that besides the prominent figures in the open, the Continental Magic Association also has a great mage who operates from behind the scenes. She's a bit of a legend around here, and she's the one you just saw—the one named Aura."

The young man's eyes widened in surprise. He had heard whispers about the powerful mages of the Magic Association, but he had never imagined that the unassuming girl he had just encountered was one of them.

"Lady Aura is honest and dedicated to her work," the boss continued, his voice taking on a tone of admiration. "She's not like the others who flaunt their wealth or status. Every coin she earns goes into adding new books to the library. She's traveled far and wide, buying rare and one-of-a-kind grimoires from distant lands. And you know what she does with them? She places them in the library for apprentice mages to borrow and learn from—without taking a single penny for herself. She's too selfless, so much so that she can't even afford to rent a house and usually stays at President Zanze's place."

The young man listened in stunned silence, trying to reconcile the image of the hungry girl who had just feasted at their stall with the picture the boss was painting—a picture of a selfless, scholarly mage who gave everything she had for the advancement of magic.

"Lady Aura doesn't have any bad habits," the boss added, his voice softening as he thought of the peculiar mage. "Except for her love of our barbecue. It's her one indulgence, the one thing she allows herself to enjoy. Tell me, can I still charge her money?"

"But you can't just eat for free!!" The young man was still stubborn, his sense of fairness and propriety refusing to let go of the idea. In his world, everyone paid for what they consumed—no exceptions.

"Hey—this is my shop," the boss said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience and authority. "I have the final say on whether to charge or not! My daughter is a third-class mage now. If Lady Aura hadn't helped explain magic theory to her while stopping by our shop, she'd still be an apprentice, struggling to advance! If I charge for food, then hiring a private tutor wouldn't be free either!"

"Kid," the man said, pressing the young man's head down in a playful but firm gesture until the young man pleaded for mercy, "Don't you know how to reciprocate favors? If Lady Aura was as stingy as you, would human magic be accessible to everyone?"

The young man looked up at his boss, eyes wide with newfound understanding. He was starting to see the bigger picture, the intricate web of relationships and exchanges that made up life in Kribi—a web in which Lady Aura played a crucial role.

"We would have been slaughtered by the demons in the Imperial Capital long ago," the boss added, his tone grave as he released the young man from his grip. "People like Lady Aura are the reason we're still standing, the reason human magic has flourished and protected us from countless threats. So, the next time she comes around, you remember that, and you treat her with the respect she's earned—whether she pays or not."

The young man nodded slowly, the weight of the boss's words sinking in. He realized now that Aura wasn't just some freeloader taking advantage of their generosity. She was a pillar of the community, a protector of knowledge and a guardian of their future. And if letting her eat for free was the price they paid for that, then it was a small price indeed.

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I'm sorry I can't release the bonus chapter today. Creating the fight scene in the rough draft chapter I made for stock really drained my brain cells. The bonus chapter will be slightly delayed and will be released tomorrow. Well, at least I managed to finish this chapter without a cliffhanger~

Don't forget to give me more stones, alright...