# Chapter 5: "Submission"
It was merely a coincidence.
Confirming the seal on Elder Qvaar. That was my purpose for coming to this village. Though the world had become peaceful after I defeated the Demon Lord with my companions as the Hero, it didn't mean all demons had disappeared. We couldn't eliminate all of the Seven Sages of Destruction, the great demon tribe. Qvaar, who possessed power equivalent to the Seven Sages, was one of them. Unable to defeat him at the time, we somehow managed to seal him away. Thanks to Frieren's magic, the seal wouldn't break for about eighty years, but we couldn't be careless. The seal might break due to unexpected circumstances. That's why I thought I would visit this village once a year, until the day Frieren would come here. But I never dreamed that on my very first visit, I would encounter an unexpected visitor.
"Aura the Guillotine."
One of the Seven Sages of Destruction that we had failed to capture, whose whereabouts we couldn't track. I never imagined she would be in a place like this. But the problem was her purpose. The revival of Qvaar—the worst possible scenario I could imagine. It was nothing short of fortunate that I was able to stop it just in time. If I had to face both of them simultaneously, it would be difficult for me alone. No, perhaps that thinking itself was my naivety.
The magic of submission, Azeliuse. The magic that Aura wielded. I had misjudged its troublesome nature. The image of the past battle with the undead army was the cause. Being able to control others. The strategy that demons capable of this would likely employ. The weakness of humans, no, of us. Having that exploited, I was defeated... or at least, I should have been. But why—
(*Can I... move my body...?*)
Am I still alive? I should have been beheaded and turned into a puppet. I can only be surprised that my hands move while confirming my head is still attached. Just moments ago, I couldn't move a finger no matter how much strength I used, but now that's gone. At the same time, my face contorts in pain. Blood flows from my palm, which had grabbed the sword that was swung down. Apparently, I had unconsciously caught the sword that was swung down.
In that instant, I leap away as if propelled and ready my reclaimed sword. Yes, the battle isn't over yet. I still don't know what happened in that brief moment, but now I must face the enemy before me. But what should I do about the villagers taken hostage? However, my opponent—
Had stopped moving like a doll. Yes, just like the sealed Qvaar behind her.
(*...? What is this...?*)
While positioning myself to protect the villagers and considering the possibility of Azeliuse, the magic of submission, being used again, I maintain my distance and stance with my sword, but Aura doesn't move a muscle. She neither holds her scales nor tries to distance herself. What's most bizarre is her expression. A completely blank face showing no emotion. Demons certainly have sparse emotions, but Aura wasn't like that. Having no reaction in this situation is too unnatural. It's then that I finally notice. It's not just her expression. She's not even blinking. It's as if her spring has completely wound down.
"...What are you planning, Aura? Another scheme to deceive us?"
Feeling an undeniable sense of wrongness, I ask a question that I don't expect to be answered. Is she trying to make me lower my guard and trap me again? To that—
"*No, that's not it. Since the magic of submission, Azeliuse, was broken, I cannot move or speak without your command.*"
Like a machine, in a voice unlike her earlier self, Aura dispassionately revealed her own situation.
"I broke the magic of submission, Azeliuse...? How? And what does that have to do with your current state...?"
"*The weight of your soul surpassed the weight of my magic power. That's the result. My scales of submission, Azeliuse, are proof of fairness. The side that tilts becomes the master. There are no exceptions.*"
True to her words, Aura answers my questions like an impartial judge. Responses that feel devoid of will. That, conversely, increases their credibility. Faced with this scene, I recall what Frieren once said. The magic of the Seven Sages transcends human understanding and reason. Even so, magic has rules. The same applies to Aura's magic of submission, Azeliuse. By bearing the risk of being controlled herself, she enhances the power of her magic further. If so, the situation before me makes sense. The problem is—
"Then... Aura, '*I permit you to speak*'."
How effective my commands are on Aura. I need to know that.
"—!? Ah, gah!? *cough*! This can't be happening...!? W-why am I—"
With my permission, Aura begins to speak as if she's come back to life. Completely different from moments ago. No, this is her true self. The previous state was likely her as a puppet, stripped of free will by the magic of submission, Azeliuse. Her expression is filled with confusion and astonishment. But that alone isn't enough to be certain. I can't dismiss the possibility that it might be an act. I think of a way to confirm it. I should order her to do something she would absolutely never do if it were an act. That is—
"—Aura, '*Release the two villagers*'."
Lifting the magic of submission, Azeliuse, from the two villagers.
"Huh? As if I would do something like—"
Before she could finish saying "that," the scales in her hand emit a glow. Simultaneously—
"Oh! It's true! I can move now!"
"Indeed! A-are you hurt?"
The two villagers who couldn't move an inch until now regained their freedom. As proof, the daggers they had been made to hold are already on the ground.
(*Thank goodness...! Truly...*)
I feel relief from the bottom of my heart at that sight. I'm truly glad. I was about to commit an irreparable mistake due to my own naivety. Even if I had defeated Aura, what would have happened if they hadn't been released? That concern is now gone. At the same time, it's proof that she is under the magic of submission, Azeliuse. Her words must have been true. She had to follow my command against her will. Now, there's no need to hesitate.
To slay the demon before me, Aura the Guillotine.
"...Huh? W-wait a moment. What are you planning to do...?"
Whether she sensed my intent or anticipated what would happen to her, Aura gasped once and widened her eyes. Without ever looking away from her, I readjust my grip on my sword and advance.
"W-wait...! T-that's right! I did as you said, didn't I? So why...!?"
Step by step. There's no need to rush like before. She can no longer resist or flee.
"I-I'll apologize...! I was wrong! Th-that's right! You can just give me orders! Tell me not to harm humans! That should be enough, right!?"
"...Answer me honestly. '*Is that true?*'"
"—*Yes, it is true.*"
Aura calmly states the truth, just as before. It seems her words are indeed true. Perhaps for the first time in my life, I heard the truth from a demon. That it was only possible thanks to a demon's magic of submission is nothing but ironic. That's why I had asked one last question.
"—Still, '*You, a demon, cannot stop deceiving humans*', can you?"
"—*Yes, that's right.*"
Humans and demons. The absolute barrier between them that can never be crossed. To confirm that.
"—! N-no!? I won't do it anymore, I promise...! So please, don't kill me!?"
Trying to cover up the truth she just blurted out, the demon before me begs for mercy with tears in her eyes.
"*I'm sorry*" "*I'll reform*" "*I don't want to die*"
I've lost count of how many times I've heard demons beg for their lives. Words without a shred of truth, all lies. In the ten years of my journey, I've heard this countless times.
Cutting through those words, I raise my sword. I won't let her escape this time. Perhaps I could have simply ordered her to kill herself. Still, I deliver retribution with my own sword, my own hands. That is my duty as the Hero, as someone who once let her escape.
"—It's over, Aura."
Just as she was about to utter "help me," said to be the first word spoken by demons, and as I was about to bring down my sword—
"—Wait, Hero!"
It was stopped by the pure words of a young boy.
"W-wait!? What are you doing...?"
"C-cutting off her head is too cruel... The demon lady is apologizing, so please forgive her... Hero..."
Restrained by the village headman, the boy with the straw hat desperately pleads with me. I can see his hands and body trembling. No wonder. Until just now, his freedom was taken by magic, and he nearly lost his life. But surely that's not all. The demon about to be beheaded before his eyes. He pities her. Despite nearly being killed by that demon. Such pure-hearted nature.
"...Indeed. Hero, what do you think? Perhaps we could give her a chance for atonement..."
Perhaps having been moved by the boy's demeanor, the village headman also suggests this. At those words, a memory from long ago resurfaces.
—When I first set out on my journey and encountered a demon child.
"*Hero! Finish it quickly!*"
"*That would make us no different from demons. It's not like they have to eat humans to survive, right? We can give them a chance to atone.*"
"*Don't be ridiculous! Give me back... give me back my daughter...*"
—That time, the first irreparable mistake I made. A lost life.
"*...Mother...*"
—Even while lying, the demon child disappeared, with raging flames to the side.
(*—I see, so that's how you felt back then, Frieren*)
I finally understand how Frieren felt at that time. And at the same time, how much she cared for me. The sight of a demon begging for help. A dream I harbored and gave up on during my ten-year journey. The only regret, the only lingering attachment I had on that journey. Coincidentally, it was also the pipedream that the Demon Lord we defeated once had: coexistence between humans and demons. Incompatible existences. A fairy tale far more difficult to achieve than defeating the Demon Lord.
"*Himmel, you'll regret it if you don't kill her now.*"
I can hear Frieren's advice from the past, as always. A gentle tone that, though indifferent, cares for me. I'm sure I'll be exasperated again, but just one more time. Besides, greater challenges are better. Yes, because I am the Hero—
(*What can I do...!? I can't anymore...!?*)
I can only tremble before the imminent death. Desperate. The situation is so hopeless that all I can do is give up. The magic of submission, Azeliuse, has sealed my movements. Fortunately, I've been given the freedom to speak, but that's meaningless. My opponent is the Hero who defeated the Demon Lord and has slain numerous demons. A demon's plea for life would never be heard. Yet, this is all I can do right now. Deceive humans with words. But even that is exposed as a lie because of my own magic. How ironic.
As a last ray of hope, the Hero's sword stops at the villagers' pleas. But even that was meaningless. After a brief hesitation, Himmel readies his sword again. All is lost. Just as memories start to flash before my eyes—
The Hero sheathed his named sword—
"...Huh?"
I unconsciously let out such a voice. And why not? How could I have been saved from that situation? A series of incomprehensible events. In my dazed state, I see the Hero smiling while being clung to by the two villagers. They seem to be having some exchange, but the content doesn't register. There's only the relief that I've survived.
(*I don't know why, but... I'm saved! Humans truly are foolish...!*)
At the same time, I can only smirk at the hopeless foolishness of humans. They must have a mental structure that demons could never understand. To spare someone who tried to take their life. But that's precisely why I'm here now. All I need to do is bide my time and think about escaping. Even if I receive orders not to attack or eat humans, it's not a problem. It's humiliating, but better than being killed. Besides, the Hero doesn't know that the magic of submission, Azeliuse, wears off if the one under it dies. In this case, if Himmel dies, I would be released. That's only about a hundred years at most. But that's fine. I had planned to lay low until Himmel died anyway. However—
"...Shall we go, Aura?"
"...What?"
As if seeing through my plans, he speaks such incomprehensible words with perfect timing. I don't understand what he's saying. It's a first-time experience since I was born. Is he talking to me? What exactly? Go? Go where? As I continue to be confused—
"—You're going to become my friend."
The Hero declares somewhat cheerfully. At those words, my mind goes blank once again. A completely unfitting, impossible phrase for this situation. A master-servant relationship under the name of friendship.
That was the outcome of this reunion. The beginning of a distorted master-servant relationship that would continue for the next fifty years—