"Can't hold on anymore?"
"Yeah. After being beaten up like this by you—Of course, I'm not blaming you. After all, you're my master, right? So..."
"Don't try to play the sentimental card with me!", Serie cut him off coldly, mercilessly exposing him at the same time.
"Isn't most of what's on you chicken blood? Or did you smear it on yourself when I wasn't looking. What, are you scared of blood or something?"
It wasn't at the moment he was attacked, but the moment he ran into Serie, that Ash already had a bad feeling he was going to run into big trouble.
Under the cover of the explosion's shockwave and smoke, he had immediately rushed into the kitchen without a word, casually gotten some blood and smeared it on himself, trying to make himself look as miserable as possible so he could muddle through whatever came next. However...
"Tsk! So she saw through it just like that?", Even though he was unexpectedly exposed so easily, since it was that old, sly fox, he felt no embarrassment at all. He just clicked his tongue and turned his face away, "Guess there really is a reason people say the older the ginger, the spicier it is."
"You don't need to resist so much. I won't force you," Serie tried to reason with him emotionally, to persuade him sincerely, but...
"Then I refuse," He rejected her instantly, without the slightest courtesy or hesitation.
This made Serie's expression, which had just barely relaxed, turn cold again in an instant.
"What do you mean by that? Rejecting me so quickly, are you not even planning to give me any face at all?"
"Uh, what I mean is...", He fell silent for a moment, looked around, then rummaged through the rubble and found some paper and a pen. He scribbled down a long string of words in a flourish, then respectfully handed it over.
"What is this?", Serie took the letter, and after just one glance, she could not help but frown.
[As I put pen to paper, my heart is filled with gratitude and reverence.]
[Since entering your tutelage, I have been blessed by my master's devoted guidance. Not only have you imparted your magical skills without reservation, you have also provided me with endless enlightenment and direction in how to conduct myself as a person.]
[Your wisdom, patience, and noble character have been like a lighthouse illuminating my path forward, allowing me to benefit deeply. My gratitude is beyond words.]
[However, after deep consideration and self-reflection, when facing the precious inheritance that my master is about to bestow upon me, my heart is instead filled with complicated emotions and inner struggle...]
A whole series of lines, basically nothing but over-the-top flattery and the most hypocritical cliches imaginable. Just reading it made Serie's head hurt.
Looking at the letter, then looking at his smiling face, Serie was so angry her mouth almost twisted out of shape. In the next moment, she tore the letter into pieces and casually threw them on the ground, shouting angrily, "What the hell have you been doing for the past thousand years? Did you go learn aristocratic-style hypocrisy or something? What is this bullshit? Say it to my face if you have something to say!"
"Then I refuse."
"You! You bastard!"
Serie's face instantly darkened to the extreme.
Sensing danger, he hurriedly got up from the ground, then squatted down in front of Serie, placing both hands on her shoulders and speaking solemnly, "Actually, we can talk this out properly. How about... we calm down first and then discuss it?"
"Fine. I'd like to hear what else you have to say."
"Isn't it usually you who has something to say?"
"What do you mean?"
"Of course I'm refusing. Why would I take over this mess? And that will wasn't even written for me, right?", Facing Serie's warning gaze, he looked completely matter-of-fact, and even lectured her in return.
"I'm not saying this to criticize you, but what you're doing really isn't right, you know? Just pushing Flamme's wish onto someone else like that isn't good! And what if it gets messed up? That'd be even worse! Her spirit in heaven would—"
"I just tested your ability. If you were an ordinary first-class mage, you'd have died just now. This definitely isn't 'pushing it off casually.' You have the ability. Believe in yourself."
"Aren't you afraid I might die too?", He asked that, but then seemed like he didn't even want to hear the answer. He let out a long sigh and continued, "Let's put that aside for now. To be honest, I have my own things to do. I really can't manage this."
"Then say it. What exactly are you planning to do?", Serie, who found personally going out to teach people and build an organization troublesome, and had therefore casually 'slightly' postponed dealing with Flamme's will, naturally had no intention of letting this free labor go easily now that she had Ash in front of her.
But seeing how unwilling he was, she relaxed her attitude a little and had no intention of forcing him, only urging him with her eyes to state his reasons.
Obviously, if he did not have a suitable reason, she would not let him leave so easily.
And even when he frankly admitted that he was controlling a kingdom and planned to manage the country properly to accumulate strength, Serie's attitude remained ambiguous. She seemed both approving and disapproving, but she probably did not plan to continue forcing him. She simply said...
"You've really grown capable, haven't you? To actually control an entire kingdom. In that case, you can take full responsibility for rebuilding and expanding this place as well," Sitting on a wooden chair amid the ruins, Serie crossed her legs without any regard for appearances, wearing a mischievous grin, "Let me see how sincere you are in honoring your master."
"That's all the people's hard-earned money! Squeezing the blood out of commoners is something I just can't do!"
"Commoners? What money do commoners even have? Go find the nobles. Make them donate, isn't that fine? You control quite a few nobles anyway, right? In the end, this place will be yours too. What's wrong with making it a bit nicer?"
"But I don't want to take this thing over at all. This is basically just..."
"I won't force you, but you should think it through," Even as she said that, Serie's tone grew heavier, making him let out a deep sigh.
"I'm telling you... you're really a demon."
"Hah! A demon clan who manipulates others has the nerve to say that to me?", Serie retorted disdainfully, leaving him completely speechless.
There was nothing he could do. Whether in body or in behavior, it really did seem like he was the more demonic one.
Left with no other choice, having come only to expose a fake but instead kicking an iron plate, Ash was forced to temporarily settle in the City of Magic and organize the construction of the Continental Magic Association's branch.
Those he had saved within the association saw all of this and really seemed to regard him as Serie's future successor and the branch head, even viewing him as a very generous noble who loved to "donate."
And aside from those empty titles, he also gained the opportunity to continue reading Serie's collection of books. Faced with a ticket that let him freely browse all the magical knowledge in the world, money suddenly did not seem that important in comparison.
———
Amid studying and dealing with Serie, several more years passed in the blink of an eye.
Ash also took over the Demon King's Castle that had lost its master. But in the very first year after occupying it he encountered a challenge from the strongest warrior of the demon clan, one of the oldest demons still alive. The Bloody God of War, Rivale.
"So there really are talented youngsters these days! No wonder you dared to take over this place!"
The demon clan uncle with slicked-back hair, thick eyebrows, and a pair of horns, Rivale, laughed joyfully the moment he saw him. As magic gathered between his hands to form a greatsword, he did not say another word and directly swung it straight at him.
Clang!
The greatsword collided with the longsword, sparks flying everywhere. At the same time, Ash, unable to keep his footing, was sent sliding backward at a terrifying speed.
At the instant he forcefully stepped forward to stabilize himself during that uncontrollable slide, the shockwave still tore the ground behind him straight up, forming a spectacular, inverted waterfall-like scene.
This made Rivale grin even wider, laughing in delight.
"Not bad! You're really not bad! That dwarf Eisen couldn't stop himself after taking one punch from me, yet you took a sword from me and still managed to control your stance?"
"I've heard of you. You're even stronger than the rumors," Ash was full of gloom at the moment, while Rivale, who clearly loved fighting, looked at him with blazing enthusiasm.
"Come on! Young man, as long as you defeat me in martial strength, this old man will acknowledge you as the new Demon King!"
"Wait a second! Are you serious? I'm a mage, you know? You, a warrior, want me to brawl with you head-on?", Ash stared at Rivale in disbelief. He genuinely could not understand how he had the nerve to say something like that.
"A mage? You feel more like a warrior to me. And a mage couldn't possibly block that sword of mine."
"My main job is being a mage, I just happen to know a bit of martial skills. Ah! How about this! You teach me how to fight, okay? That way I can improve and deal with you better."
"This... Sure, let's do that," After only a brief moment of thought, Rivale unexpectedly agreed to this wild proposal, even muttering happily to himself.
"Personally training an outstanding junior and opponent, then defeating them in all aspects. That's a great idea!"
"Uh! It was my suggestion, but you actually agreed just like that?"
"Compared to searching everywhere for opponents, it's better to just train one directly. And... I really can't think of anyone better than you. Even though you say you're a mage, this level of strength. It's absolutely not something humans can even speak of," Rivale sized him up, raised his greatsword once more, and a bloodthirsty smile slowly crept onto his face.
"Come. Let me properly instruct you."
"No, wait, hold on, the way you look right now doesn't seem like instruction, but more like..."
"In real combat, you improve the fastest!"
Rivale swung the greatsword with ferocious momentum. Ash could only force a bitter smile, unsure what expression to make. But... he had no choice except to grit his teeth and go along with it.
And so, in the days that followed, he was basically learning magic from Serie while undergoing warrior training with Rivale at the same time.
Busy days always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the fifty-year promise was already close at hand.
Yet as he sat on the ramparts of the Demon King's Castle, gazing at the distant night sky during a break, recalling the promise made half a century ago, he found himself troubled, unsure whether he should go fulfill it.
After all, this time he might lose a few more friends. And... this time, he was probably close to the limit of a human lifespan, wasn't he?
If people died again when he went to keep the appointment, Ash would definitely be depressed. But not going also felt wrong. After all, it was a promise made with friends.
This left him sighing deeply on the city wall, torn and troubled, unable to make up his mind no matter how he thought about it.
It was at this moment that Rivale suddenly appeared beside him without a sound. Before he could react—
"What's with that expression? Your martial attainment has already reached the peak of humanity. One more step and you'll be catching up to me, and now you're making a face that's completely unworthy of a warrior," Rivale slapped his back forcefully, making loud banging sounds, almost pushing him straight off the wall.
This made Ash turn back at him in irritation. The old man, however, was smiling brightly, leaving him at a loss for words.
For a moment, he could not help but feel that these great demons all seemed rather unlike demons. Aura was understandable, at least. After all, she had been raised by him personally, so being a bit special was normal.
But Rivale, too, had no fear of death at all, only an obsession with battle. It completely violated demon instinct.
That's right, Rivale had no fear of battle. This was according to the dwarf warrior Eisen, who had once fought him.
It could even be said that Rivale's strength had already surpassed the pinnacle of martial arts that humans could reach. Even when Rivale had deliberately used an axe out of consideration for Eisen, it was still a realm Eisen, who had reached his own peak, could not touch.
Although Ash was not present when they fought, the rest of the party had said that Rivale far surpassed Eisen as a warrior. In terms of martial skill, he had reached a terrifying level completely unattainable by humans.
Eisen had taken Rivale's finishing move head-on and only had his face cut. Ordinary attacks landing on Rivale did not even leave a scratch.
His body was unimaginably tough. Even a dragon could not be that absurd.
But lacking fear and only wanting to fight, Rivale had instead been caught by Eisen, knocked off a mountain with a special move... and had his face cut.
That was all. Other than that, nothing happened. His strength could only be described as terrifying.
Of course, for the current situation, this was more or less irrelevant. As a teacher, though, he was quite suitable.
As for his appearance, he was just a weird uncle with slicked-back hair, over two meters tall, always wearing a cheerful smile.
Thus, after just glancing at him, Ash became certain of one thing. Even if he went to watch the meteor shower with Frieren and the others again, he absolutely did not want to watch it in this ancient castle with this weird uncle.
As for Serie, maybe she could be crossed off as well. Aura... that was his original trauma, wasn't it?
"Watching meteors with Serie or Aura doesn't seem much different from watching them with Rivale."
"Meteors? Ahh~ Is that half-century meteor about to appear again? You want to watch the meteors with me?", Hearing his own name, Rivale asked curiously.
For him, none of this seemed to matter much. But... Ash's face was full of resistance.
"No. Just thinking about it is kind of disgusting. Let's not."
"Why?"
"Two grown men, late at night, sitting shoulder to shoulder watching meteors. What does that image make you think of?"
"A warrior's friendship!", Rivale answered instantly, leaving Ash completely speechless.
After a long while, Ash finally pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed deeply.
"Fine, I'm the narrow-minded one. Please forgive me."
"Ahh! Forgiven, then let's go another round! This time I'll only use one hand! No weapon, full power!"
"Huh? What are you deciding on your own? I still want—wha?"
Ash did not even finish his sentence before Rivale's fist, as big as a bowl, smashed straight into his face without mercy.
Caught completely off guard, he took a heavy punch to the face, his body disappearing from the wall and slamming into the ground like a cannonball.
Unsurprisingly, his worries vanished along with that punch.
Though he really had no way to deal with a berserker like Rivale, in that punch-for-punch brawl, Ash also clarified his resolve and decided to go witness his old friends' final moments.
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