Since Aino mentioned she would be leaving in two months, Devon had changed somewhat.

Previously, he had been more serious and reserved, rarely expressing his emotions. Now, he spoke more frequently.

“I’m thinking about buying a non-human slave soon, someone I can chat with during my free time.”

The topic was novel to Aino, and it caught her off guard for a moment.

Slavery was entirely normal for humans in a society ruled by nobles and kings—this was still a harsh era. However, with the spread of magic, the number of enslaved commoners had dwindled significantly.

I can learn magic and make a living anywhere. If I can’t find stable work, I can become an adventurer—anything is better than being a slave.

But for humans of this era, life without slaves was unimaginable. As a result, the once-minor population of demi-human slaves had now become the majority.

Massive captures took place, herding groups of demi-humans into cramped enclosures where they were treated like livestock before being sold to buyers.

With memories of her previous life, Aino naturally found such behavior repugnant. Her brow furrowed the moment Devon brought up slavery.

Still, she understood Devon’s character. If he was mentioning this, it wasn’t in a malicious context.

“I really dislike the human institution of slavery,” Aino said bluntly.

Devon wasn’t surprised. He nodded and followed her lead.

“I hate it too. I was a slave myself for a while as a kid. But it’s something that’s always existed and seems to be a growing trend. What can one person like me do about it?”

When Aino didn’t respond, Devon softened his tone and explained further:

“I mean, you’re leaving soon, right? I’ll need someone to fill that void. I figure I might get along better with a demi-human. Besides, if I do buy one, I’ll treat them with respect. You can be sure of that.”

His tone was almost as if he were asking for her approval.

Aino didn’t think Devon would mistreat a slave, but the mere mention of the subject stirred unpleasant memories.

Having spent time in the city recently, she was all too familiar with the current state of human society.

She recalled years ago, wandering the streets with Alea, when they had stumbled upon a grotesque “performance.” Such displays were still common, albeit on a larger and more professional scale now. To maintain appearances, they were no longer as crude or vulgar as they once were.

Though she disapproved, Aino wasn’t like Parker, who dedicated his life to tackling such issues.

Unless something directly provoked her and compelled her to act, she wouldn’t interfere.

Perhaps someone will take up that mantle, Aino mused whimsically.

But such a person would undoubtedly be seen as a “saint” by other races and a “demon king” by humans.

These musings didn’t concern Aino. She had no intention of altering the course of the world.

Her stance remained one of detachment: she didn’t understand it, didn’t respect it, but wouldn’t actively oppose it either.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Dressed in a black shirt and small, soft leather boots, Aino walked out of the city gates, accompanied by Devon, who towered over her by more than a head.

After a short distance beyond the gates, Aino turned to face him. From this angle, she couldn’t see the top of his head and had to step back two paces.

“All right, this is far enough,” she said.

Devon didn’t speak; he merely smiled and waved goodbye.

Aino returned the gesture and then turned to leave. She planned to arrive at Zola’s location early.

Following her senses, she quickly left the areas of human activity behind. Soon, there were no visible traces of humanity—only open wilderness.

The dense vegetation and towering trees created a beautiful but perilous environment. The girl’s relaxed attire and seemingly defenseless manner belied the danger she carried.

Ordinary monsters were perplexed. When they tried to approach her, their instincts screamed a dire warning:

“Stay away from danger!”

Living by the law of “big fish eat little fish,” these creatures trusted their instincts implicitly, stopping in their tracks.

High-level monsters with awakened magic saw an even more terrifying sight.

Centered on Aino’s human-like figure, an enormous vortex of magical energy swirled and rose, blatantly showcasing her overwhelming power.

Not wanting to be harassed, Aino didn’t bother suppressing her magic while traveling.

To those nearby, she was a walking natural disaster. Advanced monsters would wait long after she passed, only daring to emerge once they sensed the “beast” had moved on.

She was reminiscent of the Black Dragon King Tananorn of years past. Wherever his wings of death cast their shadow, destruction followed.

Aino suddenly halted. She seemed to sense something.

Not far away, a group of human adventurers was pursuing a fairy.

Suppressing her magical presence and cloaking her form, Aino approached. She loved watching such spectacles, especially when her overwhelming power allowed her to intervene without restraint.

Four male adventurers in dark jackets, covered in dirt and grass, were relentlessly attacking the fairy.

The fairy darted through the air, narrowly evading their strikes. It was clearly in a dire situation.

No one spoke during the fierce battle, but the scene suggested the adventurers intended to capture the fairy and sell it in town.

Fairy slaves were among the most coveted.

They were small, requiring only a birdcage-sized container for transport, and highly useful. With abilities in treasure appraisal and magical element detection, fairies were prized as ideal tools for adventurers.

Most importantly, despite their exceptional utility, fairies were weak. For adventurers specializing in hunting demi-human slaves, capturing a fairy was like hitting the jackpot.

The excitement on the adventurers’ faces was unmistakable. They could barely contain themselves, believing their luck had finally turned. A single fairy could fetch the price of 20 or 30 ordinary slaves. One capture promised a fortune.

Unfortunately for them, Aino had no intention of letting their dreams come true.

She disliked the entire concept to begin with. In the city, she might have refrained from acting to avoid complications. But here, in the wilderness, where saving a slave wouldn’t inconvenience her, she had no reason to hold back.

Appearing out of nowhere, she waved a hand, sending the four adventurers flying. With her other hand, she grabbed the fairy, ignoring its frantic struggles.

The fairy, still focused on dodging the coordinated attacks, suddenly found its vision obscured and its body captured.

A trap! The humans were hiding an accomplice all along!

The thought flashed through the fairy’s mind, followed by overwhelming despair.

Captured at last, it braced itself for the horrific fate that had been passed down in tales within its kin—enslavement.

Its struggles ceased, and it went still in Aino’s grasp.

Unbeknownst to the fairy, the four human adventurers were staggering to their feet, staring at the “girl” before them with expressions of utter dread.