The One Who Came for Me

“V-V-V-Viola!!!!!!!!!!”

On the fourth day after Daisy followed Katie to Gran City, inside the s*ave market warehouse near the slums on the city’s outskirts.

The dust from the collapsed ceiling still lingered in the air.

The nobles and buyers who had been watching the tentacle spectacle had long since fled in panic, scattering like startled birds and beasts.

Across the height of the beast-fighting pit, Daisy—her arm still covered in crimson scales—and Viola, clad in her flowing black dress, gazed at each other.

After days apart, they finally met again.

“Viola!
Viola!
Viola!”

The moment Daisy saw her, warmth filled her small chest.

All the fear and pain she had experienced vanished instantly.

She looked like she might start bouncing in place from pure joy.

“It’s really Viola?!

It’s really really you?!

I knew you wouldn’t leave me behind!

Viola!

Viola!”

“Daisy…”

Standing at the edge of the pit, Viola looked down at her.

Her silver-grey eyes, though cool, carried a softness filled with quiet affection—unchanged as if across centuries.

“I’ve come to take you home…”

“ROOOOAAARRR!”

At that moment, from the bottom of the pit—

The tentacle monster, half its jaw torn off and body mutilated, let out a grotesque scream.

Despite its injuries, it lunged toward Daisy again.

“So noisy.”

Viola spoke flatly.

She raised a finger.

A complex magic circle formed instantly at her fingertip.

A flash—

A burst of invisible, extreme heat shot through the air.

BOOM.

The monster ignited into a fireball.

Then—

It turned to ash.

Gone.

“Y-you in black!
What are you?!”

Nearby, Gert still held his sword, staring at Viola in shock.

“Do you even know where this is?!

You dare cause trouble here?

If you anger the nobles from across the kingdom, you’ll be making enemies of all of Milandel!”

“You’re noisy too.”

Viola didn’t even bother to look at him properly.

Her tone was cold, indifferent.

Gert panicked.

He activated the magic ring on his hand, coating his sword with a sharp magical blade.

Then he attacked wildly.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

His sword struck again and again—

But no blood appeared.

Only sparks.

When he finally stopped—

His sword had been reduced to a dagger’s length.

The broken blade fragments were all in Viola’s hand.

Every strike—

Had been snapped apart mid-swing.

“W-what…

Your strength… those horns…Are you… a demon?!”

Gert stumbled back in terror.

Then he noticed—

Those weren’t demon horns.

They were dragon horns.

His face went pale.

“A demon?
Hmph…”

Viola moved.

Faster than sight.

She grabbed his face—

And slammed him into the ground.

CRACK.

Stone shattered.

Bone followed.

“In my eyes…”

She spoke coldly.

“You humans are the real demons.”

“……”

Nearby, Katie sat frozen on the ground.

Tears still on her face.

She had just watched Viola kill Gert instantly.

She didn’t even think to run.

Maybe—

She knew she couldn’t.

“Daisy.
Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Viola didn’t spare Katie another glance.

She leapt lightly into the pit and landed before Daisy.

“Viola!
Waa—!”

Daisy rushed forward—

But suddenly—

A fluffy object was thrown over her head.

She fumbled it off.

And froze.

It was—

Her scorpion-tailed fox fur.

“Th-this… how…?”

“I got your clothes back from that despicable human.”

Viola turned her face slightly away.

“I understand why you did it.

But next time, don’t casually give away something I gave you.
Especially for that unreliable human.”

In truth—

Viola had never really left.

From the moment Daisy departed the forest, she had been following silently.

Watching.

Protecting.

Even retrieving the fur from the guild’s vault—likely leaving their guild leader in despair.

“I’m sorry… Viola…”

Daisy lowered her head, clutching the fur tightly.

“It’s fine.”

Viola said lightly.

Then lifted Daisy into her arms.

“You’re safe. That’s enough.”

“Mmm…”

Daisy leaned into her, rubbing her head gently.

For the first time in days—

She felt like she was home.

“I’ve been following you this whole time,” Viola continued softly.

She jumped out of the pit with Daisy in her arms.

Then—

She looked at Katie.

Coldly.

“I saw everything.

That human… your so-called friend… sold you for 500 gold.”

“……”

Katie couldn’t speak.

Her face pale.

Head lowered in shame.

“So… it’s true…”

Daisy murmured softly, burying her face in Viola.

“I don’t hate Katie…

She must’ve had her reasons…She’s my friend.”

“Daisy! I’m sorry! I—”

Katie tried to speak—

But froze.

Viola raised her finger again.

A magic circle formed.

She didn’t dare continue.

“Spare me.”

Viola’s voice was icy.

“You realize your mistake now?

All you did was drag her into danger.

If I hadn’t been here…”

She stopped.

Then turned away.

Holding Daisy close.

“Don’t ever come near her again.

Someone like you—who abandons friendship—should crawl on the ground, pick up those filthy coins, and go save your family.

That’s enough for you.”

The warehouse was empty now.

Only Katie remained.

Silently.

In the shadows.

Outside—

Under bright sunlight—

Daisy was carried away in Viola’s arms.

Leaving that dark place behind.

Heading home.

“Katie…Why did she do that…?”

Daisy asked quietly, squinting in the sunlight.

She already understood.

But still…

“Why…”

“Daisy,” Viola replied calmly, walking forward.

“I’ve seen everything.

That human does care about you.

That’s why she came back to save you.”

She paused.

“But… love isn’t absolute.”

“Humans love many things.

In different amounts.

When forced to choose—They abandon what they love less.”

Katie liked Daisy.

Even risked her life.

But—

Not enough.

Not more than her family.

So she chose.

“……”

Daisy looked up at Viola.

A little uneasy.

“Do you love me like that too?

Would you choose something else over me?”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Viola stopped.

Then lifted Daisy up in front of her.

Their eyes met.

Clear.

Certain.

“I don’t ‘like’ you.”

Her voice was steady.

“I love you.”

“Everything else—I don’t want.”