Frieren: Demon of Domination

"Really... always so contrary to your words..."

"Why can't you just be honest?"

Watching Agusheed walk toward the castle,

Seeing his figure slowly disappear from his sight, the Hero of the South sighed softly.

He raised his head, squinting at the sun that had already fully risen on the horizon.

Teacher...

Slowing down the Heaven Vein Dragon's speed—

Is it really just because you want to see Frieren?

Or is it...

"Are you just not wanting me to reach the northern plateau so quickly to meet my destiny?"

The Hero of the South chuckled softly, helpless at his teacher's tsundere nature.

"But... regardless of whether that's what you're thinking..."

"Spending the last period of my life by your side like this—"

"Isn't bad either."

In his soft murmur, humanity's strongest hero began mentally counting down to his death.

He knew his teacher would be sad because of his death.

He knew that if possible, Agusheed would never want to witness his death.

But—

This wouldn't change his decision.

Because he was humanity's strongest, because he was the Hero of the South.

How would a dying person spend their day?

The Hero of the South would give you the answer through his personal experience.

First was eating and drinking without restraint under Agusheed's gaze that looked at a 'starving ghost.'

After casually praising his teacher's consistently superb cooking skills—

He shamelessly held up his plate, requesting ten more servings.

An utterly rude request.

But he knew Agusheed wouldn't refuse.

He would only point and criticize with sarcastic language

While obediently bringing out the corresponding food according to his silly disciple's wishes.

—Sitting quietly in the main seat at the dining table,

Agusheed, supporting his head with one hand, always maintained that eternally unchanging calm expression on his face.

He tilted his head, silently watching his disciple who was clearly already a mature middle-aged man—

Yet paid no attention to his image except when trying to look cool.

His thoughts drifted uncontrollably to a snowy night many years ago.

At that time, Agusheed was passing through the trading city Warm—

Just before returning to the Heaven Vein Dragon, he saw a boy collapsed in the snow beside his necessary path.

—Overly deliberate trembling.

—Tattered clothes that didn't match his appearance.

And that utterly fake unconsciousness made Agusheed instantly understand that this child's target was him.

As for why he could see through all this...

This was largely thanks to the series of ridiculous things Flamme had him do during their travels.

'Interesting'—

This was Agusheed's first reaction at the time.

Even setting aside the Disguise Magic that constantly reduced his presence,

He who had always deliberately hidden himself and rarely interfered with external affairs—

Should by no means be recognized and targeted by a human child.

This rare episode in a thousand years piqued Agusheed's interest.

So even knowing this boy had ulterior motives,

Agusheed still brought the unconscious him onto the Heaven Vein Dragon.

After changing his clothes and watching him devour ten bowls of rice in one go,

Agusheed sat in the main seat at the dining table just like now,

Asking him in a very calm tone:

"You seem to recognize me?"

"Yes."

"Then I suppose you also know I'm a demon."

"Yes."

The unexpectedly honest responses didn't stop Agusheed from continuing his inquiry.

"How strange..."

"In this current era, there's actually a human who recognizes me, and a naive child at that—"

"You should know that even among demons, only Grand Demons over a thousand years old still know of my existence."

"But even among them, only Schlacht can find me."

"The others can't even search for me, and even if I passed before their eyes, they might not see through my disguise."

Agusheed looked down at this overly strange child.

"I won't ask why you can see through my disguise magic for now..."

"Tell me, why were you able to find me?"

The child's answer was simple and perhaps too honest.

"I can see the future."

—

"I see, the same type of magic as Schlacht?"

Agusheed, having confirmed the truthfulness of the answer, showed a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Although this possibility had been among his guesses,

He hadn't expected there to really be a human who could use the exact same magic as Schlacht.

"Then why did you seek me out?"

"Don't blame me for not warning you—I'm friends with the demon holder of future sight."

"I believe he'd be very interested in nipping you in the bud."

"Or perhaps he's already hunting you, and you're trying to gain my protection?"

—

"I came to find you hoping you would take me as your disciple."

—

An unexpected answer.

Agusheed had initially thought this child with future sight was seeking him out hoping he would defeat the Demon King and end the thousand-year war between humans and demons.

He had already prepared to refuse.

But...

The option of 'taking as a disciple' had never appeared in his speculations.

"I stopped taking students long ago."

After just a moment's pause, Agusheed gave his cruel answer.

"Even if you have extremely high talent and Magic That Can See the Future, it's useless."

"Because I'm currently not interested in teaching disciples."

"You can leave."

"Of course, if you really want to find a teacher and avoid Schlacht's pursuit—"

"I can recommend another teacher for you."

The young Hero of the South's eyes flickered, then he slowly raised his head.

He spoke to Agusheed in a mature tone that didn't match his age:

"You mean that elf Grand Mage who has survived since the mythical age?"

—

"You know?"

"Right... like me and His Majesty the Demon King, she's not very sensitive to future prediction either."

"Since you know of her existence, why don't you seek her out?"

"I can sense you'll become very strong in the future, and she's always been interested in the strong."

"If you went to find her, I think you definitely wouldn't be refused."

The young child gave an answer that made Agusheed raise his eyebrows.

"Because I want to defeat the Demon King, and if I became that person's disciple, I would absolutely be unable to accomplish this."

"You mean that if you become my disciple, you'll be able to defeat the Demon King?"

"I don't know, but the possibility would be somewhat greater than the former."

"Somewhat greater... why?"

—

"Because you are the strongest Grand Mage in this world."

—

Agusheed's lips curved upward for the rare time outside of dreams.

"You qualify."

The world's strongest Grand Mage said this to his disciple.

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