Gremory regretted having listened to Isolene's drunken rant. After that day, Isolene would pester her all day long. She would teach her the etiquette of the nobles, teach her how to do her job properly, and so on.
Even though Gremory didn't really respond, Isolene continued to talk to her. Gremory was already in the bamboo forest of this mansion.
"Mori, you need to learn some manners. Look at the way you're sitting right now! You look like a total punk."
"..."
"You should come along to the upcoming royal banquet! Surely you won't be sitting like that at the banquet hall and eating raw meat?"
The maids' lounge, Isolen placed a plate of sliced cake in front of Gremory and raised her eyes. Gremory ignored her, gazing at the distant mountains.
"There may be a situation where you absolutely must eat ordinary food. So, try it."
"..."
"Yes, let's just try it once. Ah~"
Isolene personally scooped up a piece of cake with a fork and thrust it in front of Gremory's mouth. Gremory took it with a sour look on her face. It would be better to eat it once and end this business quickly.
Gremory swallowed what was in her mouth without even chewing, then retched until tears welled up in her eyes.
Isolene felt sorry and stiffened for no reason.
"Even if you're from the northern snowfields, that's how it is. Of course, a person would enjoy cake, but your taste is really unique."
"..."
"But if you keep trying, won't there come a day when you can eat well? I understand that you like raw meat, but you can't eat so disgustingly forever."
Gremory's expression rotted away. Then she scribbled in her notebook.
"Shut up. Do you think I tear at raw meat because I want to?"
"...Huh?"
"You should eat as much cake as you want. I won't eat anything like this again, so don't force me."
Suddenly, Gremory got up from her seat and left the break room, becoming enraged.
Isolene, who was left alone, was flustered. Did she misspeak?
'You're not eating raw meat... because you want to eat it?"
***
Gremory tucked herself into his dark den, curled up in her soft blanket, and wrapped it around her body.
Iris looked at Gremory.
- Hey are you okay?
There was no answer.
Gremory is angry now.
A lot.
So much so that the cold air blew all around.
'I didn't want to become a disgusting witch who only chews raw meat.'
Normal witches can eat normal food, because they have to pretend to be human and blend in naturally with the human world.
But Gremory was different.
As a child, Gremory's 'house' was always dark and gloomy, and so small that she could barely lie down on the floor.
In a solitary cell without even a window, Gremory grew up without learning anything. In a barren space without warmth or kindness.
For ten long years, no one came looking for her. Except for the cruel cold that came every winter. Gremory barely managed to keep herself warm by wrapping her hair around her body, which grew endlessly.
Fortunately or unfortunately, he didn't have to worry about starving to death. When the monster rats appeared, she ate them raw. Gremory, who had no words, feelings, or thoughts, was only interested in rat meat.
Just like humans, the habits of demons are established at a very young age. However, while humans can improve their habits as they grow older, it is nearly impossible for demons. Gremory, who ate rat monsters for ten years, had no choice but to become engrossed in eating raw meat and blood.
One winter, as she was living without any feelings or thoughts, the door to the narrow space finally opened.
'My baby, you're here!'
A woman with wavy black hair hugged Gremory and cried.
'I'm sorry. Mom, I'm sorry I found you only now....!'
The woman, who was laughing eerily while shedding tears, carried Gremory out of the cell. After receiving training in the Demon World for three years, Gremory also joined the leadership.
Even after that, she continued to be treated like livestock, but Gremory didn't really care. She didn't learn emotions as a child, so she didn't know what was wrong.
It was only after hearing the words of her old human friend who had summoned her that she realized how wrong she was.
So Gremory escaped from the Demon World.
Gremory's appetite had decreased. Even when she brought her the raw meat of the black goat he loved so much, she wouldn't eat it, and the same thing happened when she brought her fresh cow blood.
In the end, only Isolene received the most abuse. The servants surrounded Isolene and started arguing with her. They asked how bad things she had to do to make Mori lose her spirit, even though she was supposed to be training her maids.
While Isolene was being beaten up here and there, Chession knocked on the door of Gremory's room.
"Excuse me, Mori. Can I come in?"
"..."
"Does that mean I can come in? I can come in... Oh my god."
When Chession opened the door and came in, he was startled. Mori's room seemed darker and more gloomy than usual.
Chession approached Gremory, who was buried deep in the blanket.
"Mori."
"..."
"Let's go outside. I'll show you around my territory."
"..."
"It doesn't really have any particular meaning; it's just a tradition. I personally show the women who come to live in my mansion around the estate."
It doesn't really make sense. Gremory snorted. It was obvious that he was 'worried' about her drooping figure.
"Huh? Mori."
Chession placed his hand on Gremory's shoulder and stroked it. It was a very gentle touch.
Gremory thought that emotions were like a double-edged sword. The more she learned about them, the more they reminded her of the wounds and anger she received in the Demon World, and also of the tenderness and warmth she received in the human world.
'Why do people treat others so well?'
Gremory got up from the bed in a hurry. Only then did color return to Chession's face, which had been filled with deep thought.
"Are you going together?"
Nod nod.
"Yes. Let's go!"
Chession took Gremory's hand. That hand led Gremory out of the dark and gloomy corner of the room.
There was only a door between them, but the hallway outside the room was filled with bright sunlight.
***
All the way into town in the carriage, Chession pointed out the places outside the window and described it.
"That big volcano you see over there is where the monsters live. Around April, the monsters come down to the houses to find food. So I usually lead the punitive force to the volcano in mid-March."
"..."
"It's early March now, so you don't have to worry about monsters. Oh, and over there..."
Gremory's gaze was not directed outside the window, but towards Chession. Did the old friend she had met some time ago also talk so well like Chession?
Seventeen-year-old mountain girl, Lenia. All the knowledge of the human world that Gremory knew was learned from her. She was so lonely and desperate for a friend that she summoned a witch...
"Sometimes mutant monsters wake up early from hibernation, but it's extremely rare. Um... Mori, I didn't know you'd listen so intently."
"..."
"What is on my face?"
"..."
"Mori, if you stare at me like that...!"
At that moment, Gremory reached out to Chession's face. Chession flinched but did not dodge, and blushed.
And then Gremory swept the fly off his face.
"...Yeah, there really was something there."
Only then did Gremory look at the scenery outside the window. The sight of the snow melting and new shoots sprouting in the fields was quite a sight. It was a sight that could not be seen in the Demon World, which was full of dull, crimson rocks.
'I like the dark and gloomy atmosphere, but I also like the colorfulness and warmth of the human world.'
A small smile appeared. It was because she was reminded of Lenia. When Gremory, who didn't know what was beautiful about the human world, Lenia gathered colorful flowers and gave them to Gremory.
She also said that she wanted to go to the city center. She couldn't forget the splendid scenery of the city center that she had visited briefly when her parents were alive.
'What a great place this is.'
But what is this gaze that makes her face feel hot?
Suddenly, when she turned her head, Chession's gaze, which was clearly directed at Gremory, shifted slightly towards the distant mountains outside the window. His face was slightly red.
What the heck is that guy?
Gremory, who didn't think it was strange, decided to just wear a hat. Chession was angry, saying that it was not necessary to cover her black hair, but Gremory stubbornly wore her hat.
The carriage stopped near the city center.
"You have to walk from here. It's so crowded that it's hard for carriages to pass."
First, Chession got off the carriage and extended his hand to escort Gremory.
On an early spring afternoon, with warm sunlight pouring down, Gremory got out of the carriage. The feeling of stepping on the weeds that had grown haphazardly was soft.
Then, the sun-dried gravel road creaked as they walked, and the commotion of the city center grew closer. The closer it got, the more Gremory grew. She didn't like such loud noises and crowds.
So they finally arrived at the city center.
A huge crowd of people came and went like a tidal wave. People standing in line in front of famous restaurants, talking, and merchants soliciting customers, making Gremory's mind dizzy.
Gremory, who was mixed in with the noise, felt an unfamiliar feeling as if she had been thrown into another world. It was clearly an annoying noise when heard from afar, but when heard up close, it was not noise but liveliness.
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