Frieren 82

Title: Aura: You’re Truly a Natural Villain!

Though Ash initially wanted to be polite with Aura… this foolish little sister of his was so troublesome that he quickly gave up on being courteous.

Seeing this person, clearly dressed like an S&M queen, wearing a crop top, super-long black mesh gloves, with a beautiful face but an utterly childish personality, Ash couldn’t help but wonder: (Why does she still act so childish despite being grown? And it’s most obvious when she’s around me.)

Of course, before he could dwell on it, he’d already made Aura so angry she wanted to fight him again. Ash raised his hand, signaling her to stop, and continued: “Though I’m talking about you, I’m genuinely thinking of you. Can’t you be like a normal demon and go to a corner to research your own magic when you’re bored?”

Not many normal demons feel bored. They can research their magic in strange places for decades, even centuries. But…

For Aura, that was impossible. She immediately denied it without thinking: “No way. I’m special. Besides… Obedience Magic is already perfect. And didn’t you add a physical method to damage the frontal lobe? Now, even without decapitation, you can fully control someone! Hmm~ I should thank you, Ash~ You’re truly a natural villain!”

When talking about the physical method to aid Obedience Magic, Aura looked delighted. She even rolled over and sat on his lap, looking at him joyfully while poking his cheek with her fingertip.

(A lively, beautiful girl jumps into my arms. But she’s someone I watched grow up, raised myself, and is childish and weird. Is this pleasant or what?)

Ash tried to ponder this question. Ignoring her disturbance, he felt a bit frustrated by the praise.

Especially her odd way of praising, which genuinely made him feel like a villain… though it was hard to deny.

In truth, those undergoing this operation were carefully selected and not used widely.

The operation to damage the frontal lobe sounded like a high-risk brain surgery from the 21st century.

In fact, a Portuguese neurologist perfected it in 1935. The process was simple and crude, leaving no external scars after healing.

Using a pick and hammer, after sterilization, the pick was inserted through the eye socket into the skull’s gap, damaging the frontal lobe. No cutting was needed.

The process didn’t require great surgical skill or professional equipment. It could be done anywhere, usually in ten minutes. It was low-cost with excellent results.

This lobotomy operation could make someone highly obedient and compliant, even suitable for ferocious gorillas. It was once used on mental patients, turning restless ones into docile children. But in the new century, it was banned.

The price was… a slight mistake, damaging too much, could turn someone into a living corpse. The “Ice Pick Godfather” Freeman’s therapy had a shocking 10% mortality rate, with high risks like paralysis and reduced intelligence.

But with Ash’s 21st-century knowledge, stricter protocols, better operators, and healers—royal bishops forced to cooperate, healing with magic—the mortality rate was 0. The operation essentially only stripped most personal will, leaving thought and intelligence intact.

Ash didn’t like killing innocents, so this was only used on enemies… like those in the rival empire or nobles whose behavior he despised.

After all, many medieval nobles were scoundrels who raped, plundered, and acted recklessly… He couldn’t control what happened elsewhere, but he almost considered the entire Empire his. He couldn’t let such people act freely.

Ash had basically controlled the Empire. Legally, he was the law itself. There was no issue—at least in this era, where kings killing arbitrarily was normal. He personally preferred order and management.

Thus, in an era where the upper class’s morality was generally low, his moral standards unexpectedly stood out. So, he had many people to use.

If they showed good cooperation, even nobles needing control wouldn’t have their frontal lobes damaged. Basic Obedience Magic sufficed—under its control, breaking free was nearly impossible.

The operation, confusing and brain-damaging with one strike, didn’t harm the eyes or bodily functions, making it perfect for Obedience Magic.

This made Aura highly praise the operation he proposed. If not for Ash’s restrictions, she might’ve wanted to try it on the entire Empire.

Now… seeing Aura sitting on his lap, swinging her legs happily as if she’d found a new toy, Ash just placed his hand on her head, shaking his head with a sigh: “I always wanted to be a good person. Stop calling me a bad guy. Why don’t you go play by yourself?”

“Too boring. What’s fun about those things?”

“…Are you sure, as a demon, it’s okay to feel bored?”

“What’s the problem?”

“Alright, how about… later we go to a battlefield. There seem to be some designated targets. It’s time to ‘harvest.’”

Feeling that if he didn’t give her something to do, this childish person would keep bothering him, Ash randomly picked a time-consuming solution he often used.

Hearing this, Aura couldn’t help sneering: “You used to say ‘cut,’ now you say ‘harvest.’ What’s the difference if it’s said more gently?”

“Saying it gently at least makes me feel like a good person.”

“You… that’s called hypocrisy. Just like those nobles. Honestly, it’s disgusting.” Aura showed an unhidden disgusted expression.

“…Whatever you say.” Though being belittled by Aura was annoying, Ash was too lazy to say more to this crude person.

In truth, the Eist Empire didn’t start wars. But neighboring countries still fought each other for various reasons.

Though they had no obligation to intervene, it didn’t stop them from profiting.

They didn’t even need to kill. Hiding at the battlefield’s edge, picking suitable targets, Aura could use optimized Obedience Magic a second time, quickly subduing them.

They didn’t kill or interfere. They only chose those nearly dead, about to die.

If it was a light or ordinary severe injury, Aura was too lazy to look. Ash taught her that humans grow stronger in battle, meaning those on the battlefield were strongest near death.

And the subordinates Ash wanted to recruit, he’d naturally pick at their peak strength.

After all, human death didn’t affect her magic. As long as their soul lingered on the brink, Aura could control them. Even if they just died or were decapitated, limbs could be reattached with magic.

Thus, under Ash’s guidance, though Aura was crude and arrogant, she was less hasty, a bit more patient… The time spent wasn’t a big issue. They had plenty.

Though some might’ve passed their peak, they pursued overall strength.

This act might sound like desecrating the dead, but as a force to maintain world peace in the future, it didn’t seem too unacceptable… well, that was just a way to frame it.

But necessary evil had to be done. Without enough military power to intimidate, there’d be more bloodshed and sacrifice. When acting—whether desecrating the dying or insufficient military strength causing more casualties in endless armed conflicts, which was the better path?

Honestly, Ash didn’t know and didn’t intend to dwell on it.

At the same time, since they no longer decapitated, he promised the specially chosen dying soldiers—when he truly ruled the world, he’d let them return home with Obedience Magic sustaining their bodily functions.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

With Aura’s persistent urging, Ash grabbed his bag of documents and was dragged by her to the prepared castle carriage.

But as Ash sat in the carriage, before it even moved, and Aura had just sat opposite him, a small figure suddenly descended from the castle’s second floor. With a fragrant scent, she swiftly entered the carriage and sat on his lap.

Without looking closely, feeling the tempting softness on his lap and a very familiar scent, Ash knew who it was. Only one person would do this—Linie.

This pink-haired demon girl with twin tails, though with small horns, had a rosy face, petite body, flat expression, and beautiful features, all combining like a finely carved doll. She also had a dainty posture.

In her hand, she held a book. Though Linie sat on Ash’s lap, she stayed focused on reading. Her slender legs, wrapped in black fishnet stockings somehow present in this era, looked tempting like delicious chocolate.