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Chapter 103. Demon Names Are Long

“Slaughters Knight Bifrans, huh... Well, yeah, if he was a hero in the Great War to humans, that would make him a butcher from the demons' perspective.”

The Great War between Humans and Demons, the War of Races, the Inter-species War… the conflict that broke out over a thousand years ago between humans and demons is known by many names. Unlike wars between humans, which are often driven by profit, it was a primitive struggle for survival.

The war was so fierce that its scars remain visible even now. And unlike human wars, there were no rules. It was a blood-soaked fight to the death, where the one who survived was the victor—no exceptions.

Alfred Bifrans, the first captain of the Magic Knights, was a hero to humanity, killing demons relentlessly during the war. From the demons' point of view, though, he was a symbol of death—a figure whose deeds are still passed down through generations.

“...Why exactly am I being dragged to this place?”

As I was reading a history book about the Magic Knights, focusing on Alfred Bifrans, Vanessa, who had been forced into a chair and was looking small and uncomfortable, raised her hand timidly to ask.

“Why, you ask... Do you really think we could talk about this in the middle of the royal capital? Especially with a demon involved?”

“Still, why did it have to be the next day?”

“Because there’s a curfew. I’m a student too, you know? I have to follow the rules.”

“I’m surprised, Theodore. I didn’t think you cared about rules.”

“Elixira, what exactly do you mean by that?”

I do follow rules, though.

“[Raziel].”

“Ahh...! Grimoires...”

Ignoring my protest, Elixira summoned her mystical tome. Her Grimoire allows her to record and retrieve any spell, not just battle magic. That mysterious book contains a vast range of magic.

She flipped through the pages, then used her magic to pull out a piece of paper. It was an impressive sight, but I’d seen that spell before.

“Don’t be so nervous. This spell records conversations and transcribes them as text. From now on, every word you say will be recorded without fail.”

“W-What?! Am I going to be tortured?”

“Of course not. I’m not a heartless, cruel person with no conscience like some people.”

“Oi.”

That’s some serious slander right there.

“First, tell us your real name.”

“Vanessa.”

“I thought demon names were supposed to be much longer… Are you lying? If you are, I can make you confess, you know?”

“Eek! It is torture!”

See? Elixira’s no different from me!

Why does she act like she’s the good guy and make me out to be the villain?

“Demon names usually include the individual’s name, species, birthplace, wish, and parents' surname, in that order.”

“If you already know that, why bother asking!?”

“Because a demon’s full name is essential for binding someone with a contract. You’ll have to tell us.”

“You're planning to use it for evil!? Don’t just stand there—help me!”

Huh? Uh… well...

“Why go through the trouble of a contract? Wouldn’t it be easier to just beat the truth out of her?”

“She could lie if you do that.”

“Oh, good point. Sorry, Vanessa—better just give us your name.”

“Y-You’re horrible! Is this what humans are really like!?”

If this is enough to shock you, you probably wouldn’t even recognize real monsters when you meet them.

Vanessa kept trying to squirm her way out of the situation while complaining the whole time. Then Elixira suddenly snapped and began flipping through her Grimoire.

“W-What are you planning?!”

“I’ll use a spell to unsettle your mind, put you in a trance-like state, and get you to talk without realizing it.”

“Ahh! Fine! I’ll tell you! I suddenly feel like sharing my name!”

This girl’s pretty amusing.

“Ugh… Vanessa Gels Paulones Van Victor.”

“...I’ll never remember all that.”

“So, you’re Vanessa of the Gels tribe, born in Paulones, and raised in the Victor family.”

“And the ‘Van’ part?”

“In demon culture, it likely has some meaning. It’s usually a wish or hope the parents have for their child, placed before the family name.”

Huh… So, is that why demon names are so hard to pronounce? Maybe it's a cultural difference.

“Where is Paulones, anyway?”

“Why don’t we ask her?”

“P-Paulones is just… Paulones! Maybe humans call it something else, though.”

Ah, no wonder I didn’t recognize it.

Right, Vanessa did say demons lived on this continent first before humans invaded. If demons named places first, humans might have given those places entirely different names later.

“There’s a peninsula to the south, right? It’s the mountains there.”

“On the Akraren Peninsula… You mean the Ursus Mountains?”

“I have no idea.”

I don’t know much about geography in this country anyway.

“The Ursus Mountains are the only ones there. Well, at least we know the general area now.”

“S-So? What’s so important that you’d twist my personality just to find out?”

“Twist your personality? No one said anything about that.”

Isn’t she exaggerating a bit?

“We want to know about demons, both past and present, the first Magic Knights, grimoires, and the End Dragon… Tell us everything you know.”

“I-I don’t know much! I’ve barely been alive!”

So, from a demon's perspective, Vanessa’s probably the equivalent of a kindergartener or elementary school student.

No wonder this feels like high schoolers bullying a little kid. This is basically a crime...

“Let’s start with what you know about demons, past and present.”

“Eek! She’s scarier than you are!”

“Oh, Elixira gets like this when she finds knowledge she doesn’t know. Just ignore it!”

“How am I supposed to ignore this!?”

Relax.

Elixira’s not the type to harm something valuable right in front of her. She might mess with your mind a bit, but you’ll survive—just hang in there.