Don’t Eat My Horns

Are you surprised? Double chapter, yeeey!!! Well, because I felt these two chapters were too short, so I just released a double chapter...

In the previous chapter, there was one last paragraph that I forgot to add. Please check the end of the previous chapter to see what was added.

Please vote this fanfic if you like the story. Each vote gives me more motivation to continue writing this story. There will be a bonus chapters for each 50 stones reached ^_^

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"Can you... teach me magic, Aura?"

"...You're really shameless, Frieren." Aura replied, her tone laced with irritation.

"Huh?" Frieren blinked, taken aback by Aura's sharp response.

"I absolutely will not teach you magic!" 

"Please teach me magic, Aura!"

"Okay—"

"Huh?"

Now it was Frieren's turn to be stunned. She was just saying it casually and didn't have much hope, especially since Aura had just flatly refused.

Besides, they had only met by chance. Even though she had just saved Aura, that wasn't a reason for Aura to compromise. After all, even without Frieren, Aura could have woken up and used magic to prevent herself from dying of hypothermia.

Could it be that... Aura is really a good demon, with a very good heart, but is just usually very sharp-tongued??

"Really, Aura?"

"Really, I'm willing to teach you magic." Aura replied, her voice strained as if forcing the words out.

She was on the verge of grinding her teeth to pieces. This was precisely why she had to avoid meeting Frieren.

Because of the obedience spell, she couldn't refuse any of Frieren's requests. Even if it went against the principles of the demons to teach an enemy elf magic, she had to comply.

However, there was still a way around it.

Although the command required her to teach Frieren magic, Frieren hadn't specified what type of magic. This meant she could teach Frieren demon magic.

—For elves and humans, learning demon magic was nearly impossible.

The difference in systems has led to huge differences in concepts, causing many demon magics to be defined by other races as "incomprehensible curses." These spells were not just foreign in concept; they were fundamentally incompatible with the magical principles that elves and humans followed.

Throughout history, only a handful of demon magics had been deciphered by humans.

Did Frieren think she could achieve what millions couldn't on her own?

This is just like how Frieren could analyze the Seven Sages of Destruction' highest curse "Universal Golden Transmutation Magic" by herself. It is a fantasy and wishful thinking!

The rain had cleared, leaving a fresh, earthy scent in the air. Aura carried Frieren on her back, the elf's arms draped loosely around her neck. This foolish elf had twisted her ankle while dragging her under the tree to shelter from the storm, so Aura had to carry her back to the elven village.

And the journey back was the time Aura and Frieren had agreed upon for teaching magic. 

——

"Frieren, do you find magic interesting?" Aura's voice was calm, almost curious.

"Magic is the most interesting thing in the world!"

"Most demons think so too."

"Really? Then demons are interesting too!" Frieren's innocent curiosity was genuine, her fascination with magic extending to those who wielded it, even if they were demons.

"Frieren... don't become a deceitful mage." Aura's tone grew serious, her gaze steady.

"What is a deceitful mage?" Frieren tilted her head, puzzled by the term.

"It means hiding your magic power. It's something you should be most proud of, but you're lying about it." Aura explained, her eyes narrowing slightly as she thought of her own past.

"Like you, Aura?"

"..."

"Are you a deceitful mage, Aura?" Frieren pressed on, her curiosity unrelenting.

"I... might be a bit... deceitful." Aura confessed, her voice a bit awkward.

Aura reflected inwardly. Throughout her life, she had used many underhanded tactics to survive. Although she was one of the Seven Sages, she wasn't entirely honorable.

Just like when she fought the hero's party for the first time, after being cut down by Himmel and losing the scales of obedience, she hid for eighty years until Himmel died of old age. Also, when she fought Frieren for the second time, she used controlled human soldiers to consume Frieren's magic power, which tarnished the honor of a mage.

But Aura doesn't think these actions are despicable.

She generally calls these behaviors, wisdom—

"I'm not a deceitful mage." she finally said, her voice steady.

"Huh?" Frieren looked confused, unsure of what Aura meant.

"I'm a mage with unparalleled wisdom." Aura declared, her tone firm, as if convincing herself as much as Frieren.

"Oh."

Frieren buried her head in Aura's back, seeking comfort. Since Aura was wearing a backless dress, the skin-to-skin contact wasn't comfortable, so Frieren had placed a wool blanket between them. The gentle sway of Aura's steps and the rhythmic sound of her breathing began to soothe Frieren, despite the awkwardness of their situation.

The muscle strength of demons far exceeds that of normal humans, so even if Frieren curled up in the wool blanket dishonestly and refused to cooperate with Aura, it was not difficult for Aura to carry her on her back.

In Frieren's view, much of the scenery ahead was blocked by Aura's fluffy, braided purple hair. The only thing she could see clearly was the rhythmic up-and-down motion with Aura's steps and the prominent, unmistakable large horns at the top of her view.

Round horns, thick horns, smooth like bread, looking very soft.

Frieren has always been the type to act on her thoughts.

By the time she realized what she was doing, her hands were already gripping the base of those large horns.

"Let go!" Aura was somewhat annoyed. Having her horns touched felt as annoying as having a private part touched.

"Your horns are so beautiful, Aura," Frieren still had no expression on her face, but her eyes flashed with starlight, captivated by the sight of Aura's horns.

"Aren't they? My horns are beautiful!" Aura's anger dissipated instantly upon being praised.

"Aura, I want to touch them..."

"No." 

"Aura, I want to take a bite..." 

"No, you don't." Aura said, trying to keep her composure.

"Aura, I want to cut one off..." 

"No, you don't!" Aura's patience was wearing thin.

"Even though you have two horns, you won't give me one. You're so stingy, Aura."

"..."

Aura bit her lip and told herself to stay calm. Even if she threw Frieren off her back and cast a killing spell at her at lightning speed, her consciousness would most likely be distorted by the obedience spell and she would attack in a direction other than Frieren.

Besides, Frieren was probably just joking and wouldn't actually cut her horns off... Damn it, Frieren was already biting them!!