A Maiden's Awakening
"Ohhh… I don't understand…!"
In the sunless library on the second basement floor of the Demon King's Castle.
Filmera, researching something, slumps over a desk, buried under a mountain of books, her head drooping.
The library, managed by the castle, houses nearly all the world's books, numbering well over several million.
Works by human authors, demon authors, spanning genres from historical biographies to tawdry novels, are all stored here.
Among them, the books Filmera spent nearly an hour gathering are exclusively about "love."
"A man's heart… What even is it…?"
Having lived 321 years, Filmera's thirst for knowledge led her to read nearly half the library's collection, most of it committed to memory.
But reading books on "love" is a first for her.
For Filmera, who has focused on grimoires and magical research, understanding texts is usually effortless.
Today, however, even she can't help but clutch her head in frustration.
"Why… Why does every book say something different…?! The more I read, the more contradictions pile up… Grimoires aren't like this…!"
Filmera picks up two books haphazardly placed on the desk.
One is titled How to Win a Man's Heart, the other What It Takes to Win a Man's Heart—nearly identical titles.
Yet their contents are polar opposites.
"What is this?! Both agree that physical contact is key to making a man notice you, but this one says the more contact, the more he'll think of you, while this one warns that too much is bad. A fleeting touch makes him see you as a woman—Which is it?!"
The contradictory advice keeps Filmera sighing endlessly.
"Uh… 'A woman skilled at housework is irresistible! Men fall instantly for a woman who does everything for them.' And then? This one says, 'To stir a man's protective instincts, don't be perfect. Men prefer clumsy, innocent women over flawless ones'—Which is it?!"
For Filmera, known for her calm intellect, such agitation is a once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Her curiosity to explore the unknown clashes with its overwhelming mystery, and the more she investigates, the larger her questions grow.
"…To win a man, wear revealing clothes. But not the chest—start with casual exposure like arms or legs. Showing skin and a hint of vulnerability will make him fall easily. Hm, I see…"
Reading a page from How to Win a Man's Heart, Filmera nods, seemingly convinced.
She then turns to What It Takes to Win a Man's Heart.
"…Wearing revealing clothes might seem vulgar. Men are drawn to serious, refined women, not playful ones. Dress modestly and avoid showing skin to win him over—Another contradiction…!"
Placing both books on the desk, Filmera slumps again, sighing.
But her turmoil reflects how deeply Yukiya occupies her heart.
She's only known him for two days, yet why does she feel so strongly? Filmera agonizes over her newfound lovesickness.
"—Hm. I thought it was noisy, but to think it's you."
"!"
A familiar voice startles Filmera, and she quickly raises her head.
Before her stands a woman in a loosely worn kimono.
"…Tamaki-san, right? Why are you here?"
"Oh, just a bit of business with the Demon King. I dropped by after a while. But since I went out of my way to visit this castle, I thought I'd do some research… and found you."
The kimono-clad woman—Tamaki—smiles seductively, her head adorned with large, fluffy beast ears twitching upright.
Seven thick, brush-like tails sprout from her lower back, marking her as a member of the [Fox Demon] race.
Her sharp eyes contrast with a gentle face, a refined nose, and plump, glossy peach-colored lips.
Her round, golden eyes blend allure with charm, and her lush, deep pink hair is soft and perfectly styled, embodying flawless feminine beauty.
But her perfection isn't limited to her face.
Her ample chest nearly spills from her kimono, and the graceful curve from her exposed shoulder to her chest is strikingly sensual.
Her skin is dewy, reflecting a faint sheen like polished jade.
Even to Filmera, Tamaki's beauty is captivating. Twitching her ears, Tamaki tilts her head, hiding her mouth behind a fan as she laughs softly.
"To think you're digging through books on romance…"
"Th-This is, um…"
Caught. She's been caught. Worse, a friend discovered her feelings. Filmera's cheeks flush red.
Seeing her adorable reaction, Tamaki narrows her eyes, amused.
"So innocent… It's almost embarrassing to watch. But to think you would fall in love."
"Is… Is that strange…?"
"Not strange… just surprising. For someone like you—called [Many-Eyed Sorcerer], [Chromatic Tuner], [Embodiment of the Book of Wisdom]—to fall in love… I thought you were too serious, but you're a maiden too, aren't you?"
"Th-Those names are what others call me! I've never claimed them myself!"
Her long ears turn red to their tips as Filmera glares at Tamaki.
But Tamaki, unfazed, says, "My bad," casually folding her fan, tapping her forehead, then snapping it open to cover her mouth again.
"But… love, hm? The other person's a man, right?"
"Y-Yes, that's right…"
"So, it's unlikely to be a demon, since male demons are rarely born. Which means… a human man?"
"Y-Yes… Someone I recently met, a truly wonderful person…!"
Recalling her time with Yukiya, Filmera places a hand on her chest, lost in a blissful daze.
But Tamaki, facing her, lets out a soft scoff too quiet for Filmera to hear.
"…Are you foolish? Humans wouldn't love demons like us. He's probably using you. Maybe for your [Teleportation Gate] that can cross the world, or your near-infinite [Subspace Storage]… Or perhaps one of your many magical eyes—"
"Y-Yukiya-sama isn't like that!"
Bang! Filmera slams the desk, and a gust of wind erupts, sending countless books flying.
Her emotions triggered her wind magic, a specialty. Realizing this, Filmera reaches to catch the books—
"…To think you'd raise your voice. In all the centuries we've known each other, this is a first."
Impressed, Tamaki waves her fan sideways.
The wind-tossed books freeze midair. When Tamaki points her fan upward, they return to their shelves.
All but one—the book Filmera was reading, which floats to Tamaki's hand.
"Hm, How to Win a Man's Heart…? Heh, for you, this is a basic mistake."
"A… basic mistake?"
"Yes. The author is a human woman. It's useful for reference since you're the same gender, but it won't solve the core issue. We're demons. Humans have their ways, but demons should seduce in our own way."
Tamaki's words snap Filmera back to reality.
As Tamaki says, every "love" book Filmera read was written by human women. Not one was by a demon woman.
In fact, even in the Demon King's Castle library, likely the world's largest collection, there's probably no "guide" on demon women's love with humans.
"For some reason, male demons are rarely born. Even when one is born every few centuries, they don't live past a decade. That's why reproduction is hard, and we demons pay humans hefty sums for their seed. Right?"
"…Y-Yes, that's true."
"But humans despise us demons. They call us ugly monsters, devils… Even someone as lovely as you have their existence denied. In such a situation, how could we demons discuss romance with humans?"
"Th-That's true, but…"
"But we have a great strength. Do you know what it is?"
"Our strength…?"
The strength of demons.
Tamaki's question stumps Filmera, who thinks deeply, brows furrowing as no answer comes.
Seeing her struggle, Tamaki narrows her eyes, steps closer, and gently traces the faint outline of Filmera's ribs below her chest, following its shadow.
"Eek!? T-Tamaki-san…!?"
"Our strength is this—our bodies."
Ticklish, Filmera squirms.
But Tamaki laughs playfully, sliding her finger from Filmera's exposed midriff down her abdomen, over her cute navel, and lightly poking below it.
"This is where the womb is. Our demon vaginas are called the 'Hole of Ecstasy'among humans. Once a man experiences it, he can't be satisfied with a human vagina—a cursed hole they fear."
"Ugh… Nn… Th-There…!"
"But flip that around, and you can captivate him with it. I've ensnared dozens of human men who called me a monster. You can do it too."
Tamaki rubs Filmera's womb through her stomach, stroke, stroke.
It's not pleasurable, just ticklish for Filmera, but Tamaki's sultry whispers and sweet scent heighten her arousal, making her unconsciously wiggle her legs.
"Show him with your body. The pleasure only a demon body can offer. A masterpiece unmatched by human women. A bewitching honeypot he can't escape once he tastes it…"
Slip. The moment Tamaki's slender finger slides into Filmera's skirt—
"—~~~!"
Filmera pushes Tamaki's shoulders, shoving her away, and covers her chest and lower abdomen with her arms.
"Kukuku, what a sight! That was good entertainment, so I'll take my leave."
"T-Tamaki-san…!? What was that about…!?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm not trying to be mean. I was teaching you in my own way."
"T-Teaching me…!?"
"I get wanting a pure, innocent love with a human man. It's every demon's dream. But reality isn't so kind. So, if you truly love this human man—stop being a good girl and use your body to win him. That's one way."
Leaving those words, Tamaki opens the library door and vanishes.
Left alone, Filmera glares at the door, breathing heavily.
But her sharp gaze soon melts into a dreamy one.
"Y-Yukiya-sama…!"
Her yearning voice echoes in the silent library.
Flushed cheeks. Sensual breaths. Sweat-soaked hair clinging to her skin.
Tamaki's touch swelled Filmera's feelings for Yukiya, exploding and finally bursting free.
"Yukiya-sama…! Desire me, ravish me, fill me…!"
Her womb aches, craving seed.
Her female instincts urge ovulation, demanding she bear children.
A clear liquid trickles down her thigh from under her miniskirt's shadow.
She wants him. Wants him. Wants him. The pent-up desire of 321 years, with nowhere to go, is unleashed.
It won't stop. It can't stop. Once awakened, her boundless love floods her mind with pink, dulling her rational thought.
"I love you… Yukiya-sama…!"
Deep in Filmera's heart, Yukiya's presence is etched forever.