Chapter 5: Disqualified as Human, Passed as Demon(5)

Soliter lived in an abandoned shipyard.

Beyond the white sand, where fine grains rustled, a vast blue sea stretched endlessly. Sand and seawater wove along the shoreline, meeting in a dance of white foam.

The shipyard where Soliter lived stood alone, turning its back on the incomprehensible depths of the ocean.

With a simple gesture from Soliter, the shipyard’s heavy doors swung open. The sharp smell of wood, iron, and water hit my nose.

The inside was a mess.

Towers of miscellaneous books teetered precariously. Unidentifiable bone specimens littered the floor like landmines. Wooden crates overflowed with unorganized junk.

Soliter spun around in the doorway, arms wide, and spoke in a bright tone.

“Aura, welcome. This is my home.”

The corners of my mouth twitched upward. Why?

As I touched my lips, it hit me.

I… was… lonely.

“Soliter, it’s beautiful.”

As I spoke, Soliter’s hand laced with mine. She led me up the stairs to the second floor.

“Haha, who are you talking to? Me? Or this place?”

“It’s a secret.”

Soliter’s warmth, despite her dangerous demonic edge, felt comforting. I was so lonely that even this was welcome. I had to admit it.

I squeezed her hand a little tighter.

Before I knew it, we reached the second floor. Two massive fish skeletons hung from the ceiling, commanding attention.

I gasped instinctively.

“Wow…!”

I’d seen one in a museum. Definitely a whale. The other, with sharp teeth and a triangular head—maybe a shark? My heart raced like a kid’s.

Soliter whispered.

“Both were caught in this sea. Their skeletons are completely different, aren’t they?”

“Yeah. One’s a whale, the other’s a shark.”

Soliter looked surprised, then continued.

“Oh, I didn’t know you knew. You’re right. One’s a mammal, the other’s a fish. Do you know convergent evolution?”

“I don’t know.”

I vaguely recalled it from school, but couldn’t pin it down. School was for making friends, not studying, right?

Soliter smiled and pointed at the whale skeleton, clearly excited.

“The Demon King taught me their ancestors were land animals. They moved to the sea and, over time, evolved to look like big fish.”

Our eyes met. Soliter leaned against the second-floor railing, finishing her thought.

“So, they look similar outside but are totally different creatures. Isn’t that like humans and demons?”

She was right. The differences between humans and demons were subtle but deep.

‘Am I human or demon?’

It was a question I’d wrestle with for a long time. Maybe my whole life. Surviving Frieren was the first step, though.

I spoke.

“Even if we’re different creatures… I wish humans and demons could understand each other.”

Soliter looked at me like I was a strange specimen, then muttered matter-of-factly.

“No human tries to understand a pig. They know it’s pointless. Aura, understanding and research aren’t the same.”

“…”

I went quiet. Soliter stared at me for a long moment before leading me to my room.

As I unpacked in silence, she spoke casually, leaving the room.

“Try hard. Macht said something similar. Like with him, it’ll be fun to see if you succeed or fail.”

The door closed silently.

Paaaaat! Zoltrak’s jet-black beam shot across the open sea in a wild, dazzling arc.

White sand tickled between my toes. Two demons stood on the gently waving platinum shore.

It was me and Soliter.

Soliter smiled brightly, her body basking in the fierce sea breeze.

“Aura, you’ve grown so much. You’re worlds apart from when we met. Your magical power’s skyrocketed.”

It was nearly a hundred years since I’d been with Soliter. My first time spending so long with someone. She said it was her first, too.

I was proud.

“Even Soliter can’t treat me like a kid anymore. I’ve gotten stronger, you know.”

Aura’s talent from Chilbung-hyeon was still there, even with my soul inside. I never forgot what I saw, and my magical power grew with every practice.

Honestly, I was thrilled. After achieving nothing in my past life, I was finally building something solid.

All thanks to Soliter.

Since living with her, my days had changed. I’d wake early, cook breakfast, do chores, and talk with Soliter about humans.

She still believed humans and demons couldn’t coexist, but our paths were slowly converging.

After a quick lunch of black tea and snacks, I’d practice magic. I’d refine Zoltrak, learn new spells, and train to boost my magical power.

It was tough. Incredibly tough.

But with Soliter by my side, learning magic was enough.

I murmured, staring at the sea.

“Soliter, thank you. I’m always grateful.”

Demons didn’t have parents, but Soliter felt like one. She still scared me sometimes, but that counted.

Her gentle voice carried on the wind.

“Isn’t it too early for thanks? It’s only been a hundred years.”

A hundred years, “only”? Demons’ sense of time was beyond me.

Still, time passed.