Chapter 372: The Bond Between Two People
Serie moved slightly in Rhodes's embrace, staring at the screen, her brow furrowing involuntarily.
"...I never expected this," she finally spoke, her voice thick with disbelief. "A demon actually taking the initiative to share her food with a human child."
"Indeed, surprising." Rhodes smiled.
Then Serie's tone turned suspicious. "Could she be... faking it? To gain our trust or something?"
Serie always speculated about demons with the greatest malice, even Solitär-Flamme, the special existence, was no exception.
In her view, Rhodes should do the same.
Unfortunately, this man often looked further than her, and thus thought more.
Just as he taught magic to humanity a thousand years ago hoping to establish the first human kingdom, now he had begun considering how to find a brand new path for humans—and other races on the continent—with demons.
Rhodes rubbed his chin gently against her shoulder, his gaze resting on the group on the screen, lingering especially long on Solitär-Flamme's expressionless face.
"Perhaps," he acknowledged Serie's point. "After all, demons have always been good at disguising themselves. Your point is not impossible."
Serie turned her face, looking at his profile close at hand. "You think it is a disguise too?"
Rhodes was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Not entirely."
He adjusted his hold on her, letting her lean against him more comfortably.
"What do you mean?" Serie was puzzled.
"Disguise requires a clear motive. If it were to gain our trust, she should have chosen a more effective method, such as helping solve an obvious crisis, or saying something to make us mistakenly believe she understands emotions."
"Sharing food with a strange child... this action is too small. For a demon, it shouldn't be the optimal choice."
"So you believe she did it out of sincerity?" Serie muttered, looking completely unconvinced.
A demon having thoughts of helping humans? How is that possible?
"You have to realize, she doesn't know we are observing her. At least, apart from Olivia, not even Flamme can detect my detection magic, let alone Solitär-Flamme."
"Maybe she did it specifically for Flamme and the others to see?" Serie continued to doubt.
"Unnecessary," Rhodes continued. "Because Solitär-Flamme understood long ago that the true decision-making power lies in your hands and mine. Ingratiating herself with Flamme and the others is meaningless."
"I think it is entirely in your hands, isn't it?" Serie squinted at Rhodes. "After all, from beginning to end, you are the one interested in this demon. I haven't intervened."
Serie's words carried a subtle hint of jealousy.
After finally suppressing her bold apprentice Flamme's little thoughts, if—she said if—Solitär-Flamme understood human emotions and awakened some suicidal ideas...
Should she rip off her head and kick it like a ball? Or chop her into fine pieces?
Oh! Wait!
Demons dissipate immediately upon death, so chopping her into pieces isn't possible.
Serie glanced sideways at Rhodes with her golden eyes, waiting for his answer.
Rhodes laughed, pinching the soft flesh at her waist gently, making her tremble slightly. "How could that be? You are the President Serie whose word is law in the Association, and my wife."
"Regarding any decision about her, when have I not sought your opinion first?" He dragged out his tone deliberately.
Serie huffed, accepting this explanation, but quickly steered the topic back. "So? Even if it wasn't for Flamme to see, and not to directly please us, what else could it be? Don't tell me you really think a demon would have a sudden burst of kindness."
"Kindness... perhaps not." Rhodes raised his gaze again, watching Solitär-Flamme's retreating figure following the group on the screen. "Just an initial probe."
"Probe?" Serie didn't understand.
"Mn. Like a complex spell. After inputting countless seemingly unrelated operations, at a certain moment, an unexpected yet logical result is obtained."
Rhodes tried to explain in a way Serie could understand. "The vast majority of Solitär-Flamme's actions are indeed based on her own survival needs and her need to understand emotions."
"But what has she encountered during this time?"
He paused, answering himself, "It is the daily interactions between us. To her, these interactions are too ordinary, impossible to replicate, and insufficient for her to understand. Therefore, I let her step out of the Magic Association and into human society."
"Every behavior she sees is brand new to her. Her mind has been pondering these behaviors, but because the information received is too much, she chose the most direct method: replicating the kindness she saw."
"In other words," Serie followed his train of thought, somewhat enlightened but still incredulous, "her actions are more like an instinctive imitation?"
"You could understand it that way, but not entirely accurately," Rhodes shook his head. "After all, imitation is the beginning of understanding. At least, I have seen her change. As for whether this change is good or bad, it is still unknown."
"Mmph..." Serie frowned suddenly for some reason.
"What is it?" Rhodes seemed to sense her emotional shift, tightening his arms slightly.
"Just feels a bit strange." Serie rested her face against his chest, her voice muffled. "For some reason, I always feel she is dangerous. Especially since she is still by your side, still in the Association."
"I understand." Rhodes patted her back soothingly. "But precisely because we don't know, observation is even more necessary! Only then can I know... is it possible for demons to understand emotions? Is it possible to transform from demon to human?"
Serie looked up, seeing the familiar light in his eyes.
She knew him too well, and she understood this desire for exploration born of curiosity.
A thousand years ago, he acted for the future of humanity. Now, his gaze seemed cast toward a far longer-term domain.
"I knew it..." She sighed, her tone helpless. "You are always like this. Seeing a mountain, you want to know what is behind it, even if the mountain might collapse at any moment."
"That is why I need you," Rhodes lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers, his voice gentle. "Need you to help me watch the road under my feet so I don't step into traps. Need you to hold me back, or accompany me, when I occasionally want to take risks."
These words instantly softened Serie's heart.
She knew she could never truly refuse his desire to explore, just as he would always tolerate her willfulness.
They were already each other's deepest bond.
"I don't want to do such troublesome things..." She mumbled softly, her cheeks slightly red. "However... since you put it that way, I can barely agree."
"I will observe that Solitär-Flamme strictly. Once there is any sign of something wrong, I won't be polite."
"Mn. I have no objections."
Outside the window, the night was deep. Seeing Flamme and the others getting closer to the Association, and realizing there was no need to continue observing, Rhodes dispersed the screen.
Serie relaxed her body again, leaning completely into Rhodes's embrace, enjoying the tranquility and peace.
Although her doubts about Solitär-Flamme hadn't completely dissipated, the embrace of the man beside her gradually put her at ease.
"By the way, regarding the condition you promised me earlier... don't think about welching on it."
Rhodes chuckled low. "I won't forget."
The two smiled at each other. Topics about the future of demons and humans were temporarily set aside.
In this moment, only each other's warmth was the most real existence.
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