Fíliya's words made Macht frown.
He was quite confident in his ability to judge people. Although he didn't understand human emotions, observation and experience alone were enough for him to make highly accurate deductions.
But today, his intuition failed him in front of Fíliya.
"This is quite unexpected. Since you and Solitär are not here to free me... could it be that you intend to kill me? But that doesn't seem right either. If you were to kill me, you would have dispelled this barrier with Solitär, then brought her and Aura to attack me together."
"Heh… I'm a little curious about something."
Fíliya didn't rush to answer Macht, instead asking about something else in a leisurely manner.
And Macht's composure was clearly unshaken; the two were as relaxed as old friends who had known each other for a long time.
"Please, ask away."
"Mm, if it were as you say, and I, Solitär, and Aura were to attack you together, what do you think your chances of winning would be."
Curiosity flickered in Fíliya's eyes. She wanted to test the strength of this leader, but she wasn't sure if he would answer truthfully.
Macht rested his chin on his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face.
After a moment, he spoke slowly.
"Basically, no chance of winning. If Solitär and Aura were to fight me to the death, I would be hard-pressed to deal with their attacks. You would only need to seize an opening and strike when the opportunity arises."
"Hmm? Isn't it obvious you have a strategy with a higher chance of success? For instance... why not just instantly kill me, the weakest one, right from the start?"
Fíliya continued to press him with a smile.
"That is a choice I would only make as a last resort."
"Oh?"
"Though I don't know the reason, it seems Solitär holds you in high regard, Lady Fíliya. Making a mortal enemy of a Greater Demon of comparable strength is not a wise choice. So if that situation were to occur, I would prioritize escaping. Even with the three of you attacking me, I have more than a 60% chance of getting away."
Macht said seriously.
"Mmm, I can see you truly want your freedom."
Fíliya steered the conversation elsewhere again.
"That is only natural. I am very eager to begin my next experiment. As someone who also holds a certain obsession, you should be able to understand my feelings."
Macht looked at Fíliya. He could see that what burned in the eyes of the human girl before him was an ambition even deeper than his own.
"If you want to leave so badly, isn't there a direct method right in front of you? Undo the Gold Transformation of Weise."
Fíliya said casually, then began to observe Macht's expression.
But Macht was like a statue, showing no reaction at all.
"Oh, you're worried that if you really undo the Gold Transformation of Weise, you'll no longer be of value and will be killed by the Magic Association, is that it?"
Fíliya offered her judgment matter-of-factly, but Macht simply shook his head.
"I do not care for my own life. If you, Lady Fíliya, could make me understand what 'malice' is right now, I would consider my life a worthy price to pay."
Hearing Macht's words, Fíliya just curled her lip in disdain.
What's this about 'taking my life'? Do I even have that kind of power? And I don't believe for a second you'd just stand there and wait to die.
But this guy's devotion to his ideals... he's really cut from the same cloth as me.
Fíliya shook her head, then had another thought.
If he isn't worried about being killed after reversing the Gold Transformation, then why on earth is he unwilling to undo it for Weise? He's been trapped for decades.
Wait a second?
Fíliya had been watching Macht's reactions closely, and she finally noticed a hint of dissonance from the poker-faced demon.
She then looked at the demon before her with a shocked expression.
"Wait a minute? You... you can't undo your own Gold Transformation, can you?"
Although the conclusion sounded incredible, it was the only one Fíliya could reach at the moment.
"...If I myself were turned to gold, I could still undo it."
Macht's tone finally wavered slightly, as if influenced by Fíliya's extremely surprised voice.
And to Fíliya's ears, his words were no different from a direct admission.
Fíliya felt the corner of her mouth twitch slightly, as the long speech she had prepared now had to be completely rethought.
No way... is this all the leader of the Seven Sages of Destruction amounts to? She felt a little disappointed.
But on second thought, it didn't seem entirely incomprehensible.
Macht can undo the Gold Transformation on himself, but not on humans...
Being able to undo it on himself means he understands himself well, and he understands the Demon Race well. But not being able to undo it on humans... that means his understanding and imagination regarding them are lacking to an absurd degree.
Fíliya had no doubt that if the master of this Gold Transformation Magic were Solitär, she would be able to control it freely. Whether for demons or humans, she could do it—apply it when she wants, reverse it when she wants.
Thinking of this, Fíliya couldn't help but sigh.
The magic in this world is truly too heavily influenced by one's mind. Those who possess powerful magic but lack imagination are, in essence, severely handicapped.
"...Lady Fíliya."
Macht's voice interrupted Fíliya's thoughts.
So Fíliya looked at Macht.
"Hm?"
"You don't seem to have answered my earlier question. I want to know if you and Solitär's group are here to free me, or to kill me."
"Neither to kill you, nor can I free you... Didn't I say so from the beginning? I was just very curious about you, the leader of the Seven Sages of Destruction, and wanted to have a chat."
"Is that so? Then what else would you like to chat about?"
"Ideals."
Fíliya added her reply almost the instant Macht's words ended.
Her firm tone couldn't help but startle Macht for a moment.
"I am listening."
And so, for a period of time, Fíliya explained her ideal of 'remodeling the Demon Race' to Macht in its entirety.
After hearing Fíliya's words, Macht immediately fell silent.
If anyone else had told him such a fantastic tale, Macht would have dismissed it as just another one of humanity's tedious jokes.
But not long ago, he had clearly seen it with his own eyes.
Those two former colleagues of his both seemed to have been tainted by a trace of humanity from this human girl.
___
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