Starting the Strategy from Frieren

After finishing the barbecue, the trio decided to stay at an inn in the nearby town. Flamme and Frieren shared a double room, while Ivan took a single room for himself.

Though there was no need to stand watch, and years of waking early in Serie's illusion world had ingrained a strict bedtime habit, Ivan couldn't sleep that night. His mind churned with thoughts he couldn't silence.

No matter how often he told himself that the family he had in the illusion world wasn't real, or that the experiences wouldn't carry over into reality, the feelings he had developed were undeniably genuine. Whether it was for Serie or his daughter, Isanze, those emotions were real.

Isanze's future wasn't something Ivan needed to worry about. He believed Serie would craft a perfect body for her, granting her the normal, happy life she deserved after a tragic childhood.

"The Demon King has to die," Ivan murmured to himself, staring at the ceiling. "I can't let little Isanze grow up in a world consumed by chaos and suffering."

As for Serie… Ivan knew that as a mortal, he couldn't avoid the limitations of his short lifespan. If he didn't find a way to extend his life, they would eventually be separated.

Wait—mortality?

Ivan bolted upright, extending a hand. A small, azure flame ignited in his palm: necromancy, transferred to him by Serie. It was a spell collection targeting both body and soul.

If all else failed, Ivan realized he could use necromancy to transform himself into a lich. It wasn't an ideal solution—it would preserve his soul but cost him his human form.

With a sigh, Ivan glanced at the system interface hovering in his mind. Aside from constantly reminding him of his "transmigrator" status, the system felt utterly useless.

"Maybe the system will reward me with life-extension abilities after I kill the Demon King," Ivan muttered, his tone laced with irritation. At this point, the Demon King felt like a personal enemy, despite their lack of direct interaction.

Ivan's mind shifted to a more immediate plan. "I did save that demon general's corpse earlier..."

He had toyed with the idea of consuming demon magic or organs before. Serie had even entertained his theories in the illusion world. Now, armed with the necromancy she had gifted him, Ivan was ready to try something bold.

Step 1: Modify the appendix—a mostly useless organ—making it independent of his digestive system.

Step 2: Restructure its composition, engraving it with permanent magic circles to absorb and digest demonic mana.

Step 3: Connect this enhanced organ to the skin, allowing him to "consume" demons simply by touching them.

What would have been impossible for an ordinary mage was straightforward for Ivan, thanks to Serie's centuries of expertise. Within half an hour, he finished the self-modifications and retrieved the demon general's corpse.

As Ivan placed his hand on the body, the towering demon began to disintegrate. Some of its remains turned to ash, while the rest was absorbed into the mana vortex forming in Ivan's palm.

When the process was over, Ivan sighed. "The efficiency needs work. I only absorbed about a fifth of its energy."

Still, the results were undeniable. His body coursed with mana, his capacity surging twentyfold. With his newfound power, combined with the necromancy and spatial magic he had mastered, Ivan felt unstoppable. In terms of combat strength, he had jumped from cannon fodder to an elite-tier mage.

The next morning, over breakfast at the inn, the group discussed their plans.

"I'll stay here with Frieren for a while," Flamme said. "Training her is one reason, but more importantly, the Kingdom of Milan is the hub of magical progress. Half the continent's mages are here, and I can quickly spread your flight magic. That'll help humans reclaim the skies from the demons."

Ivan nodded. Flamme's plan made sense. Mages were far more resource-efficient than warriors, and their numbers could tip the balance in humanity's favor.

After some thought, Ivan announced his own plan. "I'll head to the Village of the Sword. They say the legendary Hero's Sword, left by the goddess, is still there. Maybe I'll try my luck pulling it out."

Frieren raised an eyebrow. "You want to become a Hero? The elders in my village said only someone with courage, responsibility, and compassion can draw that sword."

Ivan waved her off. "You don't actually need to pull the sword to become a Hero. You just have to say you did. The Hero title might boost morale or attract strong allies. Isn't that the goal?"

Flamme and Frieren stared at him, speechless.

Ivan grinned. "Don't worry. Even if I don't get the sword, I can still obliterate the demon army!"