Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 154: Serie: I shouldn't have taken a human disciple

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The group in white tower consisted of renowned first-class magicians, yet the atmosphere was heavy with silence. Serie, seated with her chin resting on one hand, wore a playful smile as she studied the group. Finally, her gaze settled on Sense.

"There are 23 people who passed the second round of exams," she began. "That's far too many—practically all of them passed. This isn't normal. Sense, your proposal for a cooperative exam was interesting. Coordination is indeed something first-class magicians lack these days. However, this time, someone far too strong participated, completely disrupting the balance."

"…You're referring to Lady Frieren and Lord Ash, correct?" spoke Lernen, an elder clad in a white cloak, with snow-white hair and a beard. He was Ehre's grandfather and a notable figure himself. While preparing tea, he added, "Frankly, I don't think those two even needed to take the exam."

"It's all their fault—no, it's all Ash's fault!" Serie declared, exhaling in frustration. "They allowed so many underqualified candidates to pass. At this rate, if the third round follows traditional patterns, many of them will die."

Serie ignored lernen's commentary and shifted her attention to Sense, the only other woman in the room. Her tone turned teasing as she asked, "Sense, this completely contradicts your vision of a peaceful selection, doesn't it?"

Sense remained silent, her gaze steady but unreadable.

"Not talking again? Never mind. I'm not going to make you apologize. It's all Ash's fault anyway," Serie said, brushing off the tension with a wave of her hand. "Always Ash's fault."

"…Is it truly Master Ash's fault?" Sense finally spoke, her tone quiet but thoughtful.

"What's this?" Serie asked with sudden interest. "You usually defend Ash. Are you planning to speak up for him again this time?"

"…Ultimately, this issue stems from unclear rules on my part," Sense admitted. "Master Ash did nothing wrong. However…"

"However?" Sense pressed.

"I was surprised when Master Ash said something similar to you. You and Master Ash are… remarkably alike."

"Alike?" Serie scoffed, crossing her arms. "How absurd. I'm just a mature person who tolerates that reckless man."

"…Master Ash said something very similar," Sense replied, her lips twitching slightly as if suppressing a smile. By this point, her surprise at the uncanny similarity had long since faded.

The other first-Class magicians exchanged glances, their expressions caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation. It was baffling how two willful individuals like Ash and Serie had managed to establish one of the most authoritative organizations in the world.

While their strength was undeniable, their unorthodox methods and personalities left many scratching their heads. And it wasn't just Ash; Serie had earned a reputation for her own eccentricity, especially during her time in the Holy City.

Serie, however, seemed more irritated than reflective.

"Enough!" she snapped. "Special cases require special treatment. I'll handle the third test personally. This time, it'll be a true peaceful selection. Lernen, you've been in charge of the third test in the past, haven't you? Do you have any objections?"

She fixed her gaze on the elderly magician, who responded with a calm bow.

"Lady Serie's willfulness is not a new development," lernen said with a faint smile. "I have no objections. Besides, I'm not qualified to test Lady Frieren, let alone Lord Ash."

Serie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And why is that?"

"It's simple," lernen replied. "I could tell at a glance that Lady Frieren is suppressing her magic power. Her true strength is enormous—enough to rival your own, Lady Serie."

Serie uncrossed her legs, visibly taken aback.

"You noticed that?" she asked.

"It was merely a lucky glance," lernen replied humbly.

"You called it a 'glance,' Lernen. Even now, you remain humble and composed," Serie said, shaking her head. She leaned back in her chair, her posture more relaxed as she reflected. "For years, Frieren has been honing that impractical skill, devoting her entire life to it. Even among demons who are exceptionally sensitive to magic power, only the Demon King could ever truly see through her."

"…Although you said so, in reality, when two sides are evenly matched, underestimating an opponent due to a lack of insight can be fatal. That's the main reason why she chose this skill," Serie said, her voice steady.

"But," lernen interjected, "if she had honed other magics, she could have been several times stronger than she is now. She might even have the strength to fight against Ash in his full state, or perhaps even counterbalance him."

"…Lord Ash's complete state?" Lernen asked, his confusion evident, while Sense showed a slightly thoughtful expression.

"Although he's an unpleasant guy," Serie began, stepping down from the chair with a dismissive wave of her hand, "Ash is a truly talented bastard. He's grown to a peak you could never hope to reach." As Sense silently used her hair to drape a coat over Serie's shoulders, Serie continued in a tone that was both casual and biting:

"On the other hand… it's been half a century since you became the first first-class magician, yet you're still a coward. I pity you. Even if you're not as good as Ash, you've reached the level where you can see through Frieren's magic. But now, your time is running out. You'll never have the chance to face her in battle, let alone defeat her."

As Serie reached the door, she paused, glancing back at lernen with a mix of regret and disdain. Her tone sharpened, teetering on cruelty:

"I really shouldn't have taken a human as my disciple… What a waste."

Her words cut deeply, but Serie's mind wandered elsewhere. So he couldn't even perceive my magical fluctuations… Was his talent lacking? she wondered silently. Even Ash, a demon so weak when we first met, could sense them immediately.

Regret welled up in her, mingling with a bitter resignation. She lamented not only Lernen's nearing end but also that his relentless efforts had been eclipsed by an unchangeable lack of talent.

The room fell into an oppressive silence after Serie's departure. Her cutting remarks left none of the first-class magicians present willing to speak. Lernen, who had borne the brunt of her criticism, remained motionless, his head bowed in quiet despair.

Time seemed to stretch until, finally, Lernen raised his head. His voice broke the suffocating quiet, delivering a declaration that stunned everyone present:

"I want to… kill Lady Frieren."

"…Why?" Sense asked cautiously, speaking for the group. "To prove yourself?"

"No," Lernen replied, his voice soft but firm. "I don't want that adult to be alone in the future."

"…I don't understand," Sense admitted, her brow furrowing.

"Among Master Serie's disciples, the only one whose name remains in history is the legendary great magician Flamme," lernen explained. "When I die of old age, Serie will lose another connection to her legacy. I don't want her to face that loneliness, even if it means leaving behind a bad reputation."

Lernen's words hung in the air, their depth unsettling those present. The others seemed to grasp his reasoning only faintly, but Sense's eyes widened slightly. She murmured to herself, "When you put it that way… I think I can understand."

"Really?" Lernen gaze shifted to her. "You don't want Lady Serie to be alone either, do you? Or…?"

"…"

Sense didn't respond, retreating into thoughtful silence. Lernen, seeing no need to press further, turned his attention toward the door through which Serie had disappeared.

The remaining magicians exchanged confused glances, unable to fully comprehend the cryptic exchange. Yet, as colleagues, they found no reason to intervene.

Though Lernen declared his intent to kill Frieren, he never disclosed his true reasons to anyone but Sense, who, through her sharp intuition, understood the unspoken truth.