Investigating Shana

Outside, the wind in Lilibel was cool, cutting through the stone streets with a faint scent of thermal water.

We followed a safe distance.

Shana and Koharu walked ahead, laughing about something I couldn't hear. The path to the Bathhouse wasn't long, but it was quite exposed.

We stopped behind a moss-covered stone wall, from where we could see the entrance.

An elegant sign swayed in the wind:

LILIBEL'S THERMAL BATHS HOUSE

"Let's stay back here . If I get too close, she might sense my presence," I whispered .

Shana 's aura is... absurd. Even from here I feel something different," Shouta agreed.

I observed carefully.

First, I saw Cassandra come out the side door, already with a towel wrapped around her body, her blonde hair damp.

Right behind her, down the entrance hallway, I heard voices:

"Who is it?" Cassandra asked.

— It's us! — he replied Shana .

" Koharu and Shana !" the other added .

Cassandra opened the door.

We caught a glimpse of them as they entered, smiling.

"She's in a towel... were she already enjoying the hot springs?" Koharu 's voice echoed .

Cassandra sighed, replying with something we couldn't clearly hear, but her silhouette seemed... tense.

"The atmosphere is strange..."

"Are you going to try to get closer?" Shouta said softly.

I shook my head.

"No. For now, we'll just observe. I can't spoil the moment when Shana is comfortable with humans who aren't a threat. I want to see how she interacts with them," I replied.

He took a deep breath.

— Understood. — he said Shouta .

We stayed there a while longer, just feeling the auras inside the building. The warm mana of the waters mixed with Shana 's calm, yet dangerous presence .

When denser vapors started coming out of the side, I figured the "relaxation" phase was underway.

"Let's retreat and wait for the next stop," I said .

"Do you think it will be...?" Shouta began.

"Dinner at the Adventurers' House. If they're really going to get close, it'll happen there," I added .

And I was right.

Night, Adventurers' House, main hall

The same dark wood room, the same orange light from the lamps.

But now, the energy was different.

Shouta and I sat at a side table, near the wall, exactly where I could see and hear everything without being noticed.

Ros crossed her arms behind the counter as Kairo and Cassandra entered together through the door.

"Look who's back," he said . Ros .

Kairo laughed.

— You're going to fight with me, aren't you, Ros ?

"And you should. You two are always causing trouble," the old man complained , but with a wry smile.

"Relax. This time, no trouble," Kairo replied.

"A miracle..." Ros muttered.

"And why do you want a table with six chairs?" he asked. Ros .

"Let's have dinner with the new group," he replied . Kairo .

Soon after, Shana , Koharu , Max, and Fujimoto arrived. Ros arranged the chairs, and within minutes, the six of them were gathered around the same table.

"Don't tell me you and Cassandra are going to join them?" Ros asked, astonished.

— Exactly. — he said Kairo , with a calm smile.

Shana seemed normal, but I could feel her mind racing behind that calm smile.

They sat down.

From where I was, I could hear almost everything.

Koharu seemed distracted, glancing sideways at Shana , or rather, at the way Shana was looking at Kairo .

(Why is she staring at Kairo?) So?... ) — that was probably what Koharu was thinking. Her expression was clear.

"So you're Kairo . Cassandra talks about you quite a bit," Fujimoto broke the silence.

He extended his hand.

Kairo stared at him, confused.

"What is that?" he asked .

Fujimoto smiled.

"If he's a friend of Cassandra, he's a friend of all of us," he said . Fujimoto .

Kairo shook his hand firmly.

Max rested his elbow on the table.

"How about training with us tomorrow? I'm helping Fujimoto improve," he suggested .

"Good idea. That way Kairo can already socialize with the boys," Cassandra added .

"Agreed," Kairo replied.

Ros arrived with the steaming trays.

"The food has arrived, enjoy!" he said .

"You're even excited, Ros . I bet Kairo gave you a tip," Koharu teased.

"Be quiet, girl," Ros grumbled, laughing.

"Let's eat before it gets cold," he said . Shana smiling.

While everyone was helping themselves, I clearly noticed:

The glances between Shana and Kairo were quick, but intense.

Koharu noticed as well. She bit her lip, thoughtfully.

(What… is happening?) — her expression screamed it.

Kairo looked away, nervous.

Cassandra cleared her throat, breaking the mood.

"Before I forget... how are the room assignments?" Cassandra asked .

"Simple. One for me, one for Koharu , one for Shana and Max, and another for you and Kairo ." The answer came from Fujimoto 's mouth .

Cassandra raised an eyebrow, satisfied.

"You thought of everything, huh?" he teased .

They laughed.

From afar, observing that illuminated table, I felt something tighten in my chest.

"Intimacy... new bonds forming... despite all the rot around us."

— Yumi . — Shouta called softly.

"What do you think of Shana ?" he asked .

I remained silent for a few seconds, watching the Demon Queen eat peacefully among humans, with a Guardian on one side and a wounded, bullied heroine on the other.

I took a deep breath.

"She... is still someone who carried a kingdom on her shoulders when she was the age I am now. And, despite everything, she's trying to trust again," I murmured .

He glanced at me sideways.

"Is this good or bad?" he asked. Shouta .

I closed my eyes for a moment.

"It depends on who's observing from afar. For Galadriel ... that's information. For me..." I replied.

I opened my eyes again.

"...it's the beginning of a new kind of problem," I concluded.

At the table, everyone was laughing.

The night, for them, seemed light. Almost normal.

For me… it was just another painting to be recorded in my report.

Another page in the Demonic story. Shana , living as a human priestess in Lilibel .

And I, hidden in the shadows, could only whisper inside my own head:

Shouta 's hand under the table.

The mission continued.

And I couldn't look away for even a second.

The next day.

I walked down the silent hallway of the Adventurers' House. The floor creaked slightly under my footsteps, and the distant echo of voices came from one of the rooms.

When I turned the corner, I saw Koharu forcefully pulling Shana into the room, locking the door behind them.

My body froze for a moment.

“… Shana and Koharu ?”

I approached slowly, leaning my back against the wall, taking a deep breath so as not to make a sound.

The door wasn't properly fitted; I could hear it clearly.

— Shana … answer me honestly. Have you ever slept with another man besides Max? — Koharu asked, her voice trembling.

Shana laughed, as if she found humor in her pain.

"What kind of question is that?" he said indifferently.

"Is it true that, a year ago, you forced Kairo to sleep with you?" Koharu continued.

My heart ached.

"What …?"

For a few seconds, absolute silence.

Then Shana laughed, a dry, cruel laugh.

"So... the 'good in bed' guy told you , huh?" she replied. Shana, in an ironic way.

Koharu gasped for air.

"So it was true... Kairo wasn't lying!" she shouted , in shock.

"Don't tell me you want to sleep with him again?!" she yelled. Koharu again.

"And what if I want to?" Shana snapped coldly.

"During the worst phase of my life, he was the only one who made me feel alive," she said . Shana .

I held my breath, feeling my stomach sink.

" Kairo ...?"

Koharu stomped her foot on the ground.

"Max doesn't want to be betrayed... and Kairo doesn't want to sleep with you!" she shouted. Koharu irritated.

Shana snorted.

"Oh, you don't want to? Kairo and Cassandra have already slept with more than fifty people, you know?" he said . Shana .

"No, that doesn't seem right. That seems like... poison."

"You have no idea what they went through for this to happen!" Koharu retorted.

There was a pause.

"There's something strange about this conversation. How do you know so much about Kairo ?" Shana said coldly.

Koharu swallowed hard and remained silent.

"Yesterday I watched him almost all day. Except at night... when he went to sleep," she revealed . Shana .

Koharu's eyes widened.

"You're crazy to spy on someone like that!" he shouted .

Shana smiled.

"Not as crazy as you, who hid under the bed with him to escape Fujimoto ," she said . Shana .

Koharu stopped breathing.

" H-How do you know that?!" she shouted. Koharu .

"Well, why are you so nervous?" he teased. Shana .

"Was it Kairo who told you?" he asked. Koharu .

"I 'm asking you how you found out!!" Koharu cried.

Shana bit her lip, pleased with her desperation.

"You called me a pervert, but you were begging for Kairo 's trust as if he were your perfect match. Why?" Shana said mockingly.

"Because he asked me for help!" Koharu shouted.

"He realized I'd noticed the strange way you were looking at him!" she shouted. Koharu again.

Shana laughed slowly.

"What a touching story... but you still haven't explained why you wanted his trust so badly," she said . Shana , ironically.

"Are you deaf?!" Koharu exclaimed.

" Kairo told me that a girl ruined his life, but Cassandra saved him. That's why the only woman he trusts is her!" she shouted. Koharu .

Shana pretended to wipe away tears.

" Oh , what a sad story... I almost cried," she said . Shana .

My fist closed on its own.

"She's playing with human feelings..."

"If Cassandra were truly evil, she would have already killed Fujimoto . And if Kairo were evil... he would have taken advantage of me. But he didn't!" Koharu continued.

Heavy silence.

Then Shana narrowed her eyes.

"I just don't understand one thing... what did you guys do in bed for you to wake up half-naked?" she asked. Shana .

Koharu froze.

"It was just a kiss! I will keep my promise to Kairo . I will maintain peace in this group!" she shouted . Koharu , crying.

Shana approached slowly.

"You're bold." The voice was now as cold as ice.

"And she's right about one thing: if you open your mouth... I'll kill you on the spot," she continued . Shana .

I froze completely.

"So this is the real Shana ?"

Finger snap.

"Let's make a bet. Tonight, we'll both go to Yosushí . Whoever collects the most coins wins. If I win... we'll both sleep with Kairo tomorrow," she said . Shana .

" Okay . But nobody can find out," Koharu replied.

— Leave it to me. You're not leaving the room today. — he said Shana .

And the future began to move.

I heard the sound of Koharu stifling a sob.

I felt my stomach churn.

"So this is... the real Demonic. " Shana . Immature. Selfish. Cruel. And utterly incapable of carrying out a kingdom.

When the door opened, I retreated into the shadows.

Shana walked past without noticing me.

I waited for the hallway to be empty before returning to my room.