The Promised Candy

He pushed open the door to find his godmother, Flamme, studying a magic experiment with a serious expression, while his junior sister Frieren leaned against a bookcase, reading a Magic Tome.

"Mm, good to have you back."

Flamme spoke calmly without looking up.

Frieren raised her head slightly, glanced at Li Yan, then stole a look at Flamme. She silently lowered her head to her Magic Tome again, but then sensed something was wrong. She awkwardly looked up and took a closer look at the little girl holding Li Yan's hand.

"M-Master... Master, Senior Brother brought his daughter here too!"

Startled by Frieren's exclamation, Flamme looked back with some confusion, a trace of surprise appearing on her previously calm face.

"N-no, she's my maid."

Li Yan explained, a little embarrassed. Little Fool timidly hid behind him. She felt scrutinized by the two women before her, and the aura clinging to them held endless malice toward Demons.

Frieren's nose twitched slightly. She felt as though she had smelled something unusual, but quickly put the thought out of her mind.

"Your maid?"

Flamme set aside the magic experiment she had been working on and examined Little Fool closely. Wearing a large hat and a cloak, the girl was so small that she hardly looked like a maid capable of looking after anyone. It seemed more likely that Li Yan was the one looking after her.

"Mm, her race might be a little hard for you and Junior Sister to accept, Godmother, but this could be considered a magic experiment of mine."

Li Yan removed Little Fool's hat, revealing two small horns of mana to Flamme and Frieren.

"A Demon!"

Frieren's previously expressionless face instantly turned wary, and she scrutinized Little Fool.

"What kind of magic experiment are you planning? A Demon's bodily structure, or a Demon's ability to withstand blows?"

Flamme asked with great interest, gently pinching Little Fool's little face and the two small horns on her head.

Looking at the kind and amiable Flamme, Little Fool's eyes instantly grew wet. The young woman before her radiated sheer malice, and an overwhelming pressure bore down on her.

"Be good and don't cry, or I'll throw you off the cliff. Then the Monsters will eat you, bones and all~"

Flamme spoke with a smile, scrutinizing Little Fool and carefully observing every aspect of her expression and behavior. She was a Demon child who had suddenly appeared at her disciple's side, an all-natural Demon loli unlike other Demons.

"Godmother, don't scare her. I've already scared her enough."

Seeing Little Fool trembling with fear and clutching tightly at his pant leg, Li Yan couldn't help speaking up for her.

"A Yan, you're too kind. Your kindness is a virtue when shown to humans, but when shown to Demons, it's the greatest flaw."

"Demons don't think the same way humans do. They're wild beasts, animals, creatures that can't be judged by human morals, outlooks on life, or values."

"Just look at what happens when Demons die. Once they're dead, even the world refuses to let them leave a trace, utterly crushing their bones and scattering their ashes."

Flamme spoke kindly and gently rested a delicate hand on Li Yan's head. His mind thrown into turmoil by her words, Li Yan opened his mouth slightly, just about to speak in Little Fool's defense.

"Frieren, take her and throw her off the cliff!"

Flamme gave the order mercilessly to the impassive Frieren. Frieren blinked and looked at the tiny, pitiful Demon child. Her senior brother had brought her here himself, and Frieren hesitated.

"Godmother, stop teasing Little Fool. I know what I'm doing when it comes to her. There won't be any bad consequences."

Li Yan stood in front of Little Fool, a little stubbornly.

"All right. Since you say so, we'll judge her by how she behaves from day to day. If she shows even the slightest trace of a Demon's malice, I'll kill her immediately."

Flamme spoke seriously. She knew the nature of Demons all too well. They were a race that simply could not be described in terms of ordinary people's ways of thinking. Even young Demons who barely understood the world were monsters that regarded human lives as worthless as grass.

"Should I still throw her off the cliff?"

Frieren blinked and asked softly, only for Flamme to give her a light knock on the head.

"What an idiot. Didn't you hear me say to throw her off if she showed malice?"

Flamme scolded her, then returned to the experiment table to look at her magic experiment.

Frieren puffed out her cheeks and poked the horns of Little Fool, the Demon child. She even tugged on them a little playfully. Only after making sure it wasn't a disguise meant to fool her did she slowly turn to Li Yan and hold out a pale little hand.

"What you promised me! Candy!"