"Fern really is sothing else — standing before Rivale's pressure and never showing a single trace of fear."
Deep within the Demon King's Castle, Fíliya gazed toward the distant horizon and let out a genuinely impressed murmur.
She had shared the feed of events unfolding in the distance with the people beside her. As for how she could see any of it — naturally, it was because she had already placed her eye inside Frieren's arms.
"I'm not sure what you're so happy about... Didn't you just fail? The Hero you worked so hard to revive has ended up as a prisoner..."
Solitär stood at Fíliya's side, staring at her expression with open bewildernt.
"Fail? Not at all — things are going quite smoothly. I've already conveyed my intentions to the human side."
Fíliya gave a light laugh.
"Hm?"
Solitär didn't follow.
"They'll understand soon enough. Building a defensive line to stop the pilgrims is impossible — whenever I feel like it, I can tear through their defenses at will. So if they want to resolve the crisis I've brought them... there's only one path left."
"You an... you want the humans to launch an assault on the Demon King's Castle?!"
Solitär was sharp enough to arrive at the answer imdiately.
"Exactly."
"What on earth are you trying to do?!"
In that instant, Solitär felt a vague, inexplicable sense of dread. This woman was actually looking forward to the humans storming her gates — which could only an...
"Hm? Do I look like the type with a death wish to you?"
Fíliya read the worry off Solitär's expression and imdiately moved to put her at ease.
Solitär wasn't buying it.
"...A little."
Solitär fixed her with an unwavering stare. Had there not been others present, she would have already pinned this infuriating woman to the floor and demanded a straight answer.
"Ugh... honestly. Haven't you already witnessed my invincible immortality firsthand? Stop worrying yourself over nothing."
Fíliya regarded Solitär with a mildly exasperated look.
"Co on — our pack mule... ah, I an, our distinguished guest should be arriving right about now. We ought to go greet him."
"...You're changing the subject."
"Think what you like."
Fíliya shrugged, then rose from the throne without ceremony.
"One last question then — why didn't you have Rivale take back the Hero? In the situation just now, he could have plucked the Hero's body right out of Frieren's arms without even trying."
Solitär fell in step with Fíliya imdiately.
"Isn't it obvious...? How could a story about slaying the Demon King have the Hero missing from the finale?"
Fíliya turned her face to the side, gave Solitär a smile that was impossible to read, and said nothing more.
So she really did send the Hero over on purpose... and Flam too — that great mage had voluntarily strengthened the enemy's forces. No matter how Solitär thought about it, she couldn't figure out what this woman was truly after.
Just as they were about to step out onto the terrace of the Demon King's Castle, Fíliya suddenly stopped.
"Hm... Solitär?"
Fíliya called her na in a low voice.
"What is it?"
Solitär looked at her with a soft gaze.
"Mm... you knew the previous Demon King, didn't you?"
"That's right."
Solitär answered quickly, though a new question was already taking shape in her mind. Why was Fíliya asking about this?
"I just suddenly realized... I don't really have any sense of 'dignity' about . When the previous Demon King stood in a mont like this — what did it feel like for him?"
"...Is that what's on your mind. You don't need to concern yourself with how the previous one did things. You are the Demon King — not so 'Emperor,' not a 'Sovereign,' not a 'Wise King.' If you're the Demon King, then do as you please."
"I see. That's just like you — always the reliable thing to say. I feel much better now."
Fíliya gave a small nod, acknowledging Solitär's words.
"Mm... since I am the Demon King, then — would you be willing to beco my... um—"
Fíliya started, then abruptly fumbled.
Solitär tilted her head slightly.
"I was going to say 'Sage,' but that title doesn't quite fit our Demon Race. So — 'Oracle' instead. Would you be willing to be my Oracle?"
Solitär blinked, caught off guard. And what had surprised her wasn't the position itself — it was the words Fíliya had used.
Our Demon Race. My Oracle.
For so reason, just hearing those words made sothing warm seep into Solitär's chest — like a sliver of sunlight finding its way through.
Deep down she was delighted, but Solitär kept her expression firmly composed, giving nothing away.
"Oracle... sounds like an exhausting position. I'll need to think it over carefully."
That was what Solitär said.
"Is that so... then I won't force you. Tot — could you be my Oracle?"
Fíliya gave a seemingly understanding nod, then turned with a blank expression toward Lady Tot on the other side.
"..."
Tot didn't dare make a sound. The dangerous look that Solitär had shot her — after only a mont's stunned pause — was more than enough to make sure she stayed out of it entirely.
...I can't afford to get on the bad side of the Solitär who cooks my als.
Lady Tot was, after all, a creature exquisitely attuned to danger.
"I... am not suited for the role. The ideal candidate for 'Oracle,' I believe, would still be Solitär."
That was what Tot said.
"Is that so... I think the sa. Solitär is the most intelligent of the Demon Race — well-versed in countless fields, even capable of mastering the crafts of humans. By any asure, she is perfectly suited to serve as 'Oracle'... and yet, it seems she's not particularly eager."
Fíliya said this, then lowered her head, her expression carrying a faint trace of disappointnt.
"I'll do it."
Solitär imdiately spoke up.
"?"
Fíliya spun around as though genuinely astonished.
"I said — I'll do it."
Solitär bit her lip lightly and repeated herself.
In that mont, she felt thoroughly mortified. She should have just said yes from the start — going through all this rigmarole had only left her standing in her own embarrassnt.
"Is that so — then it's settled. My Oracle."
The mont Solitär agreed, Fíliya turned back and answered her with a smile. This ti, she kept herself from saying anything teasing that might send the young lady spiraling further into flustered indignation.
"What about ?! What about ?!"
Just then, a lively figure suddenly pressed up to Fíliya's side.
"Aura — are you dissatisfied with your current position? Isn't being one of the Seven Sages of Destruction perfectly fine?"
Fíliya looked into the other's eyes.
"Tch — there aren't even Seven Sages anymore. It's a title that's lost all aning. I want a new one too."
Aura the Guillotine looked at Fíliya with complete sincerity.
"Is that so..."
Fíliya gave a small nod, thought for a mont, and then spoke.
"Then — how does 'Strategist' sound?"
Before Aura could even react to that, Solitär was already jolted visibly.
[What are you doing? Making Aura the Strategist? Are you serious?!]
Solitär's expression laid her thoughts completely bare.
[It's not like I'd actually ask her anything — I'll be making every decision myself regardless. What's wrong with giving her the title of Strategist just to make her happy?]
Fíliya ended the brief private exchange with Solitär through an encrypted channel, and that was that.
____
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