Lanchi and Zestira, walking along the streets of Helrom's South District, looked like passersby traversing a complicated urban canvas.
The scenery around them swept past like flowing water: colorful road signs, bustling popular shops, enormous billboards advertising all sorts of strange products, and Helrom's residents busy enjoying their weekend.
Despite the noise and bustle around them, their footsteps and conversation seemed exceptionally leisurely and unhurried.
"Your teacher's teacher... Is she the unmarried woman you mentioned?"
Zestira raised her head and glanced at Lanchi beside her, asking as though she had figured something out.
Although it was inappropriate to speak of her teacher's teacher that way, those had been Lanchi's exact words. She was merely repeating them.
Staying shut up at home every day really did seem dangerous.
Zestira absolutely did not want to become a moldy old woman. That would put her another step farther from her idol, Talia.
"That's her. She keeps a cold expression every day, as though everyone else owes her money."
Thinking of how Talia acted around him, Lanchi helplessly spread his hands and complained.
"I see."
Zestira slowly raised both hands and rubbed her cheeks, then tried her best to force out a stiff smile.
She had to learn how to smile. She could not become the negative example of a demon race that Lanchi had described.
A true great demon could bewitch others with a composed smile.
"...Zestira, are you practicing your smile?"
Lanchi glanced at Zestira and asked, slightly uncertainly.
"Yes."
Zestira did not shy away from admitting her purpose.
She had always been practical and honest, and she had already realized how difficult it was to produce a suitable smile.
"Take it slowly. This isn't difficult to learn."
Lanchi comforted her.
Zestira was very young. Even if she was not good at