Questions and Answers

"If you'd told me before, I might have been a little surprised. But now... I'd already guessed some of it." Yuri spread his hands, looking as though he had expected it all along.

Sonia smiled and shook her head. "You really are a mysterious man, Mr. Yuri. I haven't been able to see through you at all."

"Only a man who's mysterious enough can pique a girl's interest, isn't that right?" Yuri asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's true. I'm genuinely curious now. Who are you, exactly? Why did you come here? I don't believe an ordinary freelance mage you could find anywhere would have abilities like yours." Sonia's expression grew serious. She wasn't just referring to Yuri's remarkable deductive skills, but also his terrifying strength, which far surpassed that of an ordinary person.

At twelve, Erza was as strong as an elite B-class mage, making her a genius unlike any Sonia had ever heard of.

Even so, she and Erza had still narrowly escaped death in their battle against Qliphoth.

Yet Yuri, standing before her, could not only defeat Erza with ease, but had also walked out of Caro Town's sewers with his "clothes slightly dirty," despite the danger there being scarcely less than that posed by Qliphoth.

It was easy to imagine what kind of monster he was.

And most importantly, he was only one year older than Erza!

At thirteen, he was suspected of being an A-class mage. He would be an absolute genius not just in the Kingdom of Fiore, but on the entire Ishgar Continent.

And yet, a genius like that was not only a freelance mage whom no guild would take in, but had also happened to accept Sonia's commission when she needed help most.

Even Sonia herself didn't believe in such a coincidence.

"Didn't I tell you when we first met?" Yuri replied calmly to Sonia's question. "My name is Yuri Redgrave. I'm a freelance mage, and I came here to complete a commission."

"After everything that's happened, do you think I'd still believe that story?" Sonia said darkly.

"Honestly, why does nobody believe the truth these days?" Yuri said helplessly. He pulled a letter from his pocket and tossed it to Sonia. "Remember this? Your handwritten commission letter."

Unlike mages from official guilds, freelance mages didn't bear a crest representing a guild's reputation when taking commissions.

So they needed something special to prove their identity, such as a commission letter written by the employer's own hand.

Sonia raised a hand and caught it. In fact, she had checked the letter when the two first met. It was indeed the commission she had written and submitted herself.

No matter how many times she turned it over and examined it, it was still... Hm? Is that... blood? Why is there a drop of blood on the corner of the back of the envelope?

"Ah! That." As though he had seen Sonia's confusion, Yuri recalled, "The original owner of this letter left it there when he died... Hey, what's with those looks? It's not like I killed him. I just happened to pass by and pick up the letter."

Before Yuri had even finished speaking, he was met with suspicious looks from those around him, as if they were saying, "I really didn't think you were that kind of person."

"Picked it up while passing by? You do have a sense of humor, Mr. Yuri," Sonia said with a smile. "At this point, there's no need to hide anything, is there? Why don't we get straight to the point?"

"Of course." Yuri had no objection to Sonia's suggestion. "But it doesn't seem fair for you to do all the asking. How about we take turns asking one question each?"

"That would be best."

"Good. Then it's my turn to ask." Yuri held up one finger. "First question: was what you said before about Qliphoth's magic power coming from the earth true?"

Sonia froze for a moment. She had thought Yuri would start by asking why she was so determined to become a demon, but she hadn't expected such an inconsequential question.

Since answering wouldn't make any difference, Sonia admitted it outright. "It was a lie. Although Qliphoth is a plant, its true form is a monster called a Blood Demon Tree. This kind of monster feeds on human blood, which is why it keeps humans penned up as nourishment."

"Is that so? No wonder you had people go into the sewers to clear out those thorny branches. You were afraid Qliphoth would go berserk and slaughter everyone in Caro Town," Yuri teased.

Since he had asked the question, he had naturally guessed at the answer already, but it was better to confirm it.

"I only did it to split you up," Sonia said with a cold snort. "Besides, it wouldn't do me any good if that beast regained its magic power."

"Is that so? Then, my second question..."

"Hey, it's my turn to ask now, isn't it?" Yuri was about to hold up a second finger when Sonia angrily cut him off.

"Ah, sorry, sorry." Having failed to slip that one past her, Yuri smiled awkwardly. "Go ahead."

"Who are you? What did you come to Caro Town for?" It was the same question as before. Sonia seemed particularly fixated on her identity.

"That's two questions."

"But you didn't answer before!"

"No, I did," Yuri said. "I've been telling the truth from the start. You're the one who doesn't want to believe it."

Sonia frowned, apparently still unconvinced. "Then let me put it another way. Are you with the kingdom or the Magic Council?"

"No." Yuri answered without hesitation, sounding utterly convincing.

Seeing how decisively Yuri answered, Sonia unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

"My turn." Yuri held up his second finger again. "Second question: do you know the truth about why Qliphoth's seal broke for no apparent reason seven years ago?"

As soon as Yuri finished speaking, a powerful surge of magic swept out in all directions. Sonia clenched her hands, and drops of blood ran from her palms.

Her magic was out of control... Her reaction was so intense that even Erza and Griffon, standing behind Yuri, could see that something was wrong.

Sonia kept her head lowered, making it impossible to see her expression clearly. After a long while, she finally spoke. "Everyone thought what happened seven years ago was an accident. They were caught up in the joy of surviving and their gratitude to Cain. But I alone knew none of it was an accident. Someone deliberately released Qliphoth and caused that disaster. I was the only one who saw the culprit behind it all..."

"Oh? Then what did he look like?" Yuri asked, betraying no emotion.

Recalling the most painful memory in her mind, Sonia's eyes grew slightly distant. "I don't know. I only saw that he was wearing a black robe and had silver-white hair..."

At that point, she suddenly looked up at Yuri.

Sonia hadn't given it much thought before because of his age, but now...

"Do you know that guy?!" Sonia asked urgently.

She didn't actually have any special reason for wanting to become a demon. She just wanted to avenge her mother.

Qliphoth had killed her mother and was the direct culprit, so she had plotted everything to kill it, even if she had to wager her own life.

As for the bastard who had released Qliphoth, although he hadn't done the deed himself, he was the culprit behind it all. She wouldn't let him go either.

It was that simple!