The next morning.
The bright sunlight poured through the glass, illuminating the face of the elf.
Standing at the window, Serie's gaze remained fixed on the city gates bathed in sunlight.
There, under the cheers of the citizens, the team led by Hero Himl was setting out — heading into the mountains to retrieve the fallen heroes who had once protected them.
She watched for a while, and once she confird sothing, Serie finally turned away from the window.
Looking at her disciple Gut, who had stubbornly stayed in her room under the pretense of asking questions, she asked:
"Why didn't you go along with the Hero's team?"
"They invited you at the farewell banquet last night. I could tell you were tempted."
"I was," Gut admitted, nodding. "After all, who wouldn't be excited to travel alongside the Hero who defeated the Demon King?"
"But I kept feeling like... if I left your side and acted alone, sothing terrible would happen."
"Sure, that Hero uncle could probably protect ."
"But they're handling an important task as a large group — I'd just be a burden as a random variable."
"And most importantly... I'd rather stay by your side, reading magic tos at ease, rather than scrambling over mountains behind so middle-aged man."
"Heh."
Serie snorted lightly, not responding to the flattery. She pulled up a chair and sat next to Gut, casually crossing her bare feet in front of him.
"Hss—"
Gut sucked in a breath at the sight, his gaze unconsciously drifting from the boring magic to toward a more... interesting sight.
However, Serie's next words made Gut's heart tighten and cleared his mind instantly.
"I was planning to warn you about this later."
"But since you already have so instinct about it, I'll just say it now."
"Gut, you've been targeted by the Demon Tribe."
"One of the Seven Sages of Destruction, Grausam the Miraculous, has been tailing us since we set out, looking for a chance to strike."
No way... it's real?!
Gut's pupils contracted sharply, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.
Although he had suspected from the start — given his cheat-like system ability — that demons might try to nip him in the bud, it had remained just a guess until now.
Hearing it confird from Master Serie's mouth was an entirely different weight.
At this mont, Gut was deeply grateful for having chosen to lie low and focus on growth instead of charging ahead recklessly like a typical isekai protagonist.
Still harboring a shred of hope, Gut asked carefully:
"Master... is it possible that the demons aren't targeting , but you? Maybe they wanted to test your strength after you've been dormant for so long?"
Serie lowered her legs and gazed seriously out the window.
"I did consider that possibility — that the demons had forgotten their fear of ."
"But I already gave Grausam a warning blow earlier. If it was just a test, it should've ended there. No demon would risk death by coming back."
"Coming back?!"
Gut caught the critical detail in her words and moved to the window to look outside.
"Don't bother," Serie said, pointing toward a spot outside the city walls.
"After confirming you weren't among Himl's team, it already fled."
"Their target isn't . It's you, Gut."
"To eliminate you, a Sage of Destruction was willing to risk a sacrificial operation right at the city gate."
Recalling the faint magical presence she had detected, Serie gave her disciple a few more appraising glances, murmuring:
"What kind of future do you hold that scares them this much..."
"Probably... a very strong one," Gut grinned.
"Strong enough to surpass Hero Himl, surpass all your previous disciples — and eventually surpass you, Master."
"Is that so..." Serie's eyes glead faintly.
"I look forward to the day you challenge ."
"Don't worry, Master — I will definitely surpass you."
"But... with a Sage of Destruction nearby, won't it affect Hero Himl's mission?"
"It won't," Serie answered firmly.
"Demons aren't like humans — they don't help each other."
"This region belongs to Aura. Any losses here are her problem alone. Grausam won't interfere."
"Besides, even if it wanted to, it couldn't anymore."
Serie smirked slightly and glanced sideways at Gut.
"You didn't think I just noticed it without doing anything, did you?"
Outskirts of the Countdom of Granat
Grausam, dragging its injured body, fled desperately.
Only after confirming that there were no more traces of magical pursuit did it dare to stop, leaning against a tree and coughing blood.
"Even though I suppressed my mana to the limit... still got caught..."
"And that magic — an attack with zero detectable mana fluctuation — what was that..."
Looking at the deep wound left by a re graze, Grausam's face twisted in frustration.
"No choice. I have to find a way to separate the target from Serie."
"Since their destination is the Holy Capital—Strahl..."
"I'll need to gather so allies and set ambushes along the way."
anwhile
Central Lands – Trading City Warm
"Thank you so much for your protection, Mage lady."
"If not for you, not just the cargo, but we ourselves would've fallen prey to monsters."
A small rchant bowed deeply before a female elven mage, offering her a magic to.
"This is the paynt we promised: a spell to enhance the fragrance of flowers."
The elven mage accepted the to happily, humming with satisfaction.
"Hmm-hmm~"
"Wait, please!"
Seeing the mage about to leave, the rchant hurriedly stopped her, pulling out a scroll.
"And this is?"
The elven mage looked curiously at the scroll.
"This is a treasure map I stumbled upon. It leads to a dungeon in the Foul Basin."
"You can explore it if you wish."
"The Foul Basin..."
Hearing that na, the elven mage — Frieren — paused thoughtfully.
After all, that had once been the place she and her ntor had lived together.
"According to the map's notes, the dungeon supposedly leads to a hidden sanctuary containing a spring that dramatically boosts strength."
"But... no one has ever found it."
"A hidden sanctuary, huh..."
Holding the scroll, Frieren considered.
"I have to pass through the Foul Basin anyway... might as well take a look."
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