Chapter 79 – Conversation, Different Worlds, and the Closed Portal
After sipping the warm tea served by the mysterious woman before me, I opened the conversation with a question that had been lingering in my curiosity.
"So, on this continent or island... what kinds of races live here?" I asked as I gazed out the open window of her house, which revealed a thick forest shrouded in a thin mist.
She smiled gently. "There are a few main races. Lycanthrope, Vampire, and Demon. Oh, and Demons are different from Devils."
Her words made my left eyebrow arch. "What’s the difference?" I asked again, still trying to align this world’s concepts with those from my own.
She leaned back in her chair and slowly spun the teacup in her hand, as if trying to find the best way to explain. "Hmm... how should I put it... Demons can be either good or evil. Some Demons live peacefully, even helping to maintain the world’s balance. But Devils... they’re purely evil. No exceptions. Their very existence is like a curse upon this world."
She chuckled softly. "Even I still get confused about the line between the two sometimes. But that’s what we were taught growing up."
I simply nodded, trying to understand. "I see..."
I let the silence settle for a few seconds before asking again, this time with a more technical curiosity. "Then, what’s the difference between Lycanthropes and Beastmen especially the wolf-type?"
Her eyes lit up immediately. It seemed to be a topic she was passionate about. "Oh, there’s a big difference!" she said enthusiastically, almost spilling her tea.
"Lycanthropes like me are a race rooted in ancient magic. We have two forms, and we can fully transform into wolves when needed, with drastically enhanced strength. Wolf-type Beastmen... they’re more like humans with animal traits. They only have ears and tails, no full beast form. They can’t transform. And their physical strength doesn’t compare to ours."
I nodded once more. Her explanation was clear and made sense. "I see... Hmm. How about you do you have anything you want to ask me?" I asked, looking into her pale bluish-gray eyes, full of curiosity.