Chapter 54: Passing Each Other, The Demon's City

Passing Each Other, The Demon's City

The sound of knocking on the wooden door mixed with the noise of children echoed throughout the old house.

"Hey you guys, be quiet! It can't be helped... I wonder who came to a place like this."

A young demon woman noticed the knock and headed towards the front door with a slightly hoarse voice.　

This is a child welfare facility in Demon Capital.

This is an orphanage that she established with her own money.　

"Yes, who is it...!!"

When she opened the door, she found a human woman wearing a pure white robe.

However, during the war, the people of the Demon City had little contact with humans.

This demon has seen humans many times.

She was once a demon mercenary and had faced off against humans on the front lines many times.

On one battlefield, there was a healing magician among the soldiers on the kingdom's side.

The human was wearing a white robe similar to the woman in front of him.

Therefore, the demon woman immediately realized that the human before her was a healing magician.

Just now, the leader of the demons announced that humans are in the Demon City.

Also, hostility was strictly forbidden.

Therefore, she thought it would not be strange for foreigners to be in the city.

She never thought she would come to visit the orphanage she run.

The orphanage owner hid her surprise, her mind refined on the battlefield keeping her calm.　

She also sensed an extraordinary aura emanating from the woman before her.

Soldiers who have actually experienced and survived the battlefield have a unique sense of danger.

That's why she was on guard.

"...What business does a human woman have in a place like this?"

"I'm Tiana, a member of the kingdom's clergy. I heard this was an orphanage, so I came here. Are you the director?"

"The director isn't my style, but I guess I'll take it. So... are you one of the people everyone's talking about, humans who are coming to the capital? Sorry, but humans aren't welcome here."

The female demon director tried to chase the humans away with a nasty reply and tried to close the door.

"Director, please at least talk to me. I might be able to help you."　

The woman who called herself Tiana rummaged through her pocket and pulled something out, then placed it in her palm.

Sensing this movement, the female director instantly became alert.

"Huh!... Is this... a magic stone? Moreover, even to an amateur eye, it looks like a good item. I heard that a peace treaty had been reached... but I'm not slave traders."

Magic stones have a wide range of uses.

Creating magical tools, forging weapons, extracting magical power.

Also, since highly concentrated materials are expensive, they are used as collateral for transactions.

The highly concentrated magic stone that Tiana extracted was more than enough as a deposit to adopt a child from the orphanage.　

That's probably why the director thought that Tiana had come to take the orphan in exchange for the magic stone.

"No, this is just a donation as a token of my gratitude. I am a member of the clergy, and I never ask for payment in return for my donations. So please, at least let me have a chat."

"I see... I don't know what god teachings you guys believe in or whatever, but whatever. Come on in, but please keep it short. Those brats are making a lot of noise."　

"Thank you very much."　

•

•　

A reception room with a simple table and chairs.

The director let Tiana in there.

"Now, sit down. So, what grand thing do you want to do in a rundown orphanage like ours? Like I said before, I can't leave my children with humans. Well, I'm a bit short on cash, though."　

"Is there anything I can help you with? Well, as I said earlier, it's difficult to continue donating, so I'd like to ask if there's anything else I can help you with."

"Hmm... you said you were a priest. How much healing can you do?"　

"As long as the magic is maintained, I can cure anything from illness to physical defects."　

"Hmm... you have some impressive skills. Mm, the children we have are mostly war orphans. There are quite a few children who are missing limbs."　

"Then I'll get started right away!"

"Wait!"　

"Please let me go. I have the ability."　

"It's one thing if the children are blind, but there are many children in our household who have been hurt by humans. Even if you're a woman, the moment a human like you enters the room, it will causes a commotion."　

"Huh?! Is that true?! What... what to say ... I'm so sorry..."　

"There's no need for you to apologize. You've suffered similar damage over there, haven't you? If peace has been made, there's no need to say anything to each other."　

"Well... Thank you."　

"Even though I may look like this, I'm a former mercenary. I can't survive without being too lenient."

"I see. But does that mean I'll have to heal the blindfolded children? As a human, I can't show my appearance."

"That's difficult too. Some kids have a keen sense of smell, so they might still be able to detect human scents. If you get too close, they'll definitely go crazy. But it's a godsend for us, as we're already struggling with medical expenses. Maybe we should just get the kids who can do it blindfolded to try..."　

"..."

"What's wrong? You're so quiet. You can't come this far and not do it. It would be a disgrace to a human being."　

"Yes, I know! I have the means to treat them all."　

"What tricks are you going to use?"　

"Um, can I just change here?"　

"? Well, I don't mind."　

"Well, I'll take you up on your offer."

With that, the female clergyman began to take off her clothes in front of the director, and before she knew it, she was completely naked.

"First, store away all the clothes that have human scent on them. Even deodorizing magic may not be able to completely remove the smell."　

Tiana suddenly began to take off her clothes in public, which was a strange behavior, but the director was unable to stop her.

She couldn't help but be surprised at how the clothes she had discarded had disappeared in an instant.

More than anything, she was captivated by Tiana's body.

When the director saw Tiana's naked body, she was left speechless, as she was impressed by her artistic beauty, even though she was the same sex.　

"Next, I'll use the demon skin that I think is in the storage section. I wonder if it's there... um... erm... ah!! Seriously! The sorting function is really hard to use, damn it. Hmm... I'm sure it's there... Ah, there it is! Just click on it."

The director just stared blankly at Tiana while she rambled on about something incomprehensible.

Then, in an instant, the human woman's appearance changed.　

"!?!?!?"　

The director was speechless.

Her long, shining golden hair has turned a smoky silver color, with patches of black hair visible here and there.

Her clear blue eyes were stained red like fresh blood, and her pupils were distorted into ellipses.

Her rosy, peach-like skin quickly turned pale.

And the most eye-catching feature is the spiral horns on the sides of the head.　

The director is still unable to speak.

"Um, phew. Now, all that's left is to try on a cross-dressing costume that I haven't worn yet..."　

Ignoring the stunned director, Tiana pulled out some men's clothes and fabric from somewhere.

First of all, Tiana's voluptuous twin mountains were held down by a cloth, although they could not be completely hidden.

Then, after tying her hair back, she puts on her clothes.

Her jet black slacks and grey jacket make her look like an aristocrat related to the Demon King.

When the director came to her senses, she realized that the female clergyman had transformed into a noble demon.

"There's no full-length mirror... which one should I get?"　

A full-length mirror that shouldn't have been there suddenly appeared, and Tiana was able to examine herself closely.

"Hmm, it looks fine. What do you think, Director? Do I look human?"

"...Ha! Hey, who are you?! The air you were giving off somehow didn't seem human... but now I understand. You now are definitely a demon. An extremely high-ranking one at that."

When she spoke to her, she came to her senses.　

"I see... then it's okay to jump in front of the children, right?"

Tiana's soft-spoken nature has given way to a commanding leader.　

"Well, I guess it'll be fine. But please, try to keep that intimidating presence in front of the children. Seriously, what is this?"　

"Of course, I keep it to myself in front of the children. And I'm human. I'm just Tiana, a kind-hearted priest."

"I don't get it, really... Well, if you are doing it in that form, it doesn't seem like you are after fame as a human."

"Of course. I don't ask for anything in return. I just want the fact that I gave charity here."　

"Okay, I'll show you around. Be prepared because there are a lot of noisy kids."　

"Hmm... I'm used to taking care of children."

•

•　

•　

--In front of the orphans--

Tiana: "Everyone! Give me your strength! Specifically, tell Tianaman to do his best and cheer him on!"

Orphans: "Tianaman, do your best!!"

Tiana: "Here it comes! Now! With the help of the moon's power, I'll use my deadly attack! Luna! Attack!"

Babababa! (sound effect)

Tiana: "Tianaman, Crash!"

Boom! (sound effect)

Phantom monster: "Argh, I've been defeated."

Bang! (sound effect)

Orphans: "Ahhh! It's so cool!!"

Tiana: "Evil has been defeated! Love will always win in the end!"

Orphans: "Yeay! Thank you, Tianaman!"

Tiana: "All right, all right... Come on, all you good children! Come to treatment room and receive my healing magic, which I call a blessing... No, my alms! Oh, the healing magic wears off quickly, so if you couldn't do it today, you can do it again another day! I promise!"

Orphans: "Yes!"

・

・

・　

"Thank you, Tiana-Ojii-san! Please come again!!"　

"Hmph... See you then!! Saraba da!!"

"Sarada-baa!!"

(Pff, what's Sarada-baa?)

Tiana instantly bonded with the orphans.

Where has that arrogant attitude gone?

She interacted with the orphans as if she was playing with them, and even performed a skit with them.

The orphan, who was starved for entertainment, was delighted and their subsequent recovery was successful.

The human woman who appeared like a storm became a nobleman of the demon race and left like a storm.

In total, it took about an hour.

"Ugh, I'm tired."　

Although the director was grateful to Tiana, she somehow felt a few years older.

•

•　

•　

Tiana left the orphanage in her transformed form.　

"Phew, so that's how it is at the orphanage... I'll treat the remaining children over a few days. Now, what next...? Hmm? Are you guys still keeping watch? You guys never get bored, huh?"

Tiana easily saw through Alto and the others' tailing.

Of course, if she go out behaving suspiciously, she'll be followed.

It was also fortunate for Tiana that Asha's concealment spell was not perfect.

"Hmm?! Ara~? Ara ara? Ara ma?! Satya is here too... Everyone is keeping an eye on me, I must be in trouble. Hmm, their eyes won't leave me... It seems they've seen through me. I thought I'd finished it perfectly... What's going on... Oh well, there's no point in thinking about it here."

Tiana was suspicious, but gave up on trying to pinpoint the cause and headed to her next destination.

"However, this is troubling. Everyone is dependent on my body. Even Satya is addicted to Tiana's body. If this continues, Alto and the others may not be able to kill me. Seriously, those damn goddesses. Even though they were messing with my head, it's still terrible."

Tiana walked away muttering to herself.

Incidentally, as promised, Tiana visits the orphanage several times afterwards to perform skits and heal the children.

The Demon King, who was watching this from a distance with magic, laughed at several times, but had a good impression of Tiana.

Tiana's charity work also resulted in...

A game called Tianaman, which originated from an orphanage, became popular among the children in the Demon City.

Later, it sparked a huge movement in the magical city, with a theater troupe even performing it, but that's another story.