Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

Hello hello, I decided to rewrite the story of this fanfic. You can check on AO3 site and see what the difference starting from chapter 2. And, there're so many comment and reviews in there that I got suprised seeing it.

And a little bit trivia, Zanze is Sense ancestor if she's just an ordinary mage and married someone in the original timeline.

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Occasionally, Zanze would bring her work from the Magic Association home, hosting gatherings in the living room with three to five first-class mages. Even the renowned Great Mage, symbolizing the pinnacle of human magic in this era, had visited on occasion. Half of these guests were familiar faces to Aura; the other half were complete strangers to her.

As for Flamme, she had also visited once or twice.

Every time Flamme appeared, Aura would hide, avoiding her entirely. Not that Flamme sought Aura out, either. Instead, she would sit in the living room with Zanze, discussing cryptic topics like, "Reintegrating the former president into the council," "The next batch of mages replacing the previous one in five years," "Shouldn't be a problem if they don't recognize her," "If recognized, just wear a hat," and "You can't keep someone locked inside a house forever." Fragmented phrases like these reached Aura's sharp ears.

As for Aura, although she appears to be well-behaved on the surface, as a cunning and patient demon, Aura has been waiting for an opportunity.

Aura had not forgotten her mission in Kribi.

Although her arrival had not gone according to plan—being captured instead of successfully infiltrating the human city—such details didn't matter. What did matter was obtaining the classified documents that Schlacht had requested.

Living under the same roof as Zanze, the president of the Continental Magic Association, made stealing those documents seem deceptively simple.

However, Zanze's constant vigilance meant that any suspicious movement on Aura's part would be immediately reported to Serie, resulting in a terrifying trifecta of consequences: the removal of her horns, confinement in a jar, and live dissection. As such, Aura bided her time.

That is, until this particular night—

The calm of the evening was disrupted by the arrival of a staff member from the Magic Association's diplomatic department. He was a thin man with a serious demeanor, his black cloak embroidered with the association's insignia. He knocked lightly on the door before being ushered into the living room, where Zanze was reviewing a stack of documents.

"Madam President," the staff member began, his tone urgent. "The König of the Tago Kingdom has requested an audience with you to negotiate the deployment of border mages and finalize arrangements for the training exchange of court magicians."

Zanze leaned back in her chair, raising an eyebrow. "The König, personally? Interesting. I've discussed these matters privately with Tago's foreign minister and commander before. So, they're finally ready to formalize the treaty?"

"It appears so. Mistress Serie was initially invited but has declined to attend."

"Mistress Serie refused?" Zanze frowned. "What could possibly be more important than a treaty with Tago?"

The staff member hesitated. "Mistress Serie is currently engrossed in researching a certain spell. She has deemed it too urgent to delay."

"What kind of spell could command her full attention?" Zanze asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's classified as a major secret," the staff member admitted, lowering his gaze. "I am not privy to the details."

Zanze sighed, rubbing her temples. "Another major secret spell… That's the seventh one. Judging by how long she spent on the last six, it'll take her at least half a year to shift her focus elsewhere. Fine. I'll handle the diplomacy myself."

The staff member straightened. "Shall I prepare a carriage for you, Madam President? You can depart in two hours."

"There's no rush," Zanze replied, waving a hand dismissively. "We'll leave tomorrow morning."

Zanze looked back at the window of the house and saw a pair of purple eyes quietly peeking out. There was a hungry light flashing in the purple eyes.

Zanze sighed quietly, masking her unease with a smile. "Actually," she said, her tone shifting, "let's postpone the departure by a few more hours. There's something I need to prepare before we leave."

The staff member nodded. "Understood. I'll inform the carriage driver."

Zanze looked back at the window of the house and saw a pair of purple eyes quietly peeking out. There was a hungry light flashing in the purple eyes. Zanze sighed helplessly and postponed the time of departure.

That night, Zanze worked late, preparing for her trip. She bought a mountain of food to stockpile at home, contacted senior members of the Magic Association to expedite a particular case, and even reached out to Flamme, asking her to stay in Kribi until she returned.

The next morning, Zanze rapped lightly on Aura's bedroom door, her voice steady but tinged with the tiredness of someone about to shoulder a responsibility they'd rather avoid.

"Aura, wake up. I need to talk to you before I leave."

Aura groaned from under her blankets, her voice muffled. "Why? Can't you just write me a note?"

Zanze sighed. "I'll be away for a while. Meals are in the kitchen cabinet. Make sure to eat regularly. And this time, don't overdo it like last time."

Aura sat up, rubbing her eyes and frowning. "No matter how I ration it, it's never enough. You humans eat like sparrows. I'm starving by day two!"

"I know," Zanze admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But if I leave too much, you just waste half of it. You only value food when it's scarce."

"That's not waste; it's experimentation. I'm trying to find the perfect meal," Aura retorted, crossing her arms. "Your cooking skills could use some improvement."

Zanze's lips twitched, but she let the comment slide. "Fine. If it's not enough, go to the communal dining hall at the Magic Association. Wear a hat so you don't scare anyone."

Aura's eyes narrowed. "I don't have any money."

"Someone will deliver your identification shortly," Zanze explained, pulling out a sleek silver badge engraved with an intricate staff and elven ears. "Show it to the staff, and they'll serve you without charge. Like this."

Aura's gaze lingered on the badge. "Free food?" she murmured, the gears in her mind visibly turning.

Zanze raised an eyebrow, already anticipating trouble. "Don't even think about abusing it. If Mistress Serie hears about you causing a scene, I won't be able to protect you."

Aura smirked, leaning forward as if testing Zanze's patience. "Oh? So you're saying you'd side with me?"

"No, I'd side with Mistress Serie—and help her discipline you." Zanze's expression was flat, but there was a glint of humor in her eyes.

Aura huffed, leaning back. "Then you're not protecting me at all."

"I never said I would," Zanze replied dryly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Now behave while I'm gone. And try to get along with the human mages for once."

"Why should I bother?" Aura's tone was dismissive. "Humans are fleeting. No matter how good my relationship is with them, they'll all be dead in a hundred years. How is that useful?"

Zanze didn't flinch. "Humans may not live forever, but there will always be more of them. Sometimes, it's not about the individuals but the relationships you build with their kind."

Aura tilted her head, unconvinced. "Sounds like a waste of effort."

Zanze sighed, deciding not to argue. "Do as you please. Just don't draw unnecessary attention."

The sound of wheels creaking outside signaled the arrival of the carriage. Zanze glanced at the door, then back at Aura. For a moment, it seemed like she wanted to say something more, but time was running out. She hesitated, then spoke.

"Won't you say goodbye?"

"Why would I? It's not like I want to see you again."

"…" Zanze said nothing more, lightly knocking Aura on the head.

Aura blinked, confused as to why she had been hit. She was always honest, never lied, and spoke her mind.

She was a forthright, honest demon!

She never did anything underhanded!

——The moment Zanze left, Aura slipped into her room and began searching for the classified documents.

Aura snuck into Zanze's bedroom and rummaged through the bed, then under it, then moved to the wardrobe, turning everything upside down. Only after thoroughly destroying the room did she confirm that Zanze had never brought the Continental Magic Association's documents home.

That left no other choice. The classified files Schlacht wanted could only be in the association's headquarters—a place fortified with layers of enchantments and detection spells. Even with her advanced magical abilities, Aura couldn't hope to break in undetected. Forcing her way in would undoubtedly alert the human mages.

"But if Schlacht sent me here, it must mean there's a way to steal the documents. Only when Schlacht sees the result of my successful theft of the documents will he feel at ease to let a great demon go deep into the rear of humans... The question is the process. What should the process be like?"

"Only seeing the result, but being unable to decide the future course of action, what a useless foresight."

Aura fell into deep thought.

There was no human around to monitor Aura, so she didn't have to play crazy anymore. The wisdom of the great demon was activated, and Aura quickly figured out the situation and eliminated all impossible methods.

It was impossible to force her way in. No matter how strong Aura was, this was the heart of human territory. There were countless human mages, and among them, there were undoubtedly extraordinary talents who wielded magic that could counter Aura's abilities.

In the face of the collective power, an individual's strength was still too fragile.

It was like Flamme—although she was revered as the strongest human mage in a thousand years, if she were placed in the Demon King's fortress, she would meet the same tragic fate.

"If I can't force my way in, then I'll have to outwit them, follow human rules, gain their trust, and then, when they least expect it, steal the confidential documents and escape~"

Aura quickly devised a plan for how she could succeed in stealing the confidential files.

She clapped her hands together, excited beyond measure.

However, there was now a problem standing in her way.

"How can I infiltrate the upper echelons of the Continental Magic Association?"

Having a demon hold a high position in the Continental Magic Association—either that demon would be crazy, or the association itself would be.