Frieren: Dominating Aura From the Start
Chapter 86: The First Thousandth Anniversary

At the end of the bluestone path were the railings and stone pillars of the flower garden.

Agusheed stood outside the railing, silently watching those never-withering flowers.

The corners of his eyes lifted slightly as his disciple approached, the wide sleeves of his black robe swaying gently in the morning breeze.

The Hero of the South, who had come to stand beside his teacher, shook his head and cast aside his casual mention of 'curses.'

He leaned forward, supporting himself on the sturdy ancient wooden railing.

After a moment of silence,

The Hero of the South picked up the previous topic.

"If the owner of the Hero's Sword is truly as you described—"

"Then it's no wonder the Demon King chose to exterminate the elves..."

"Grand Mage Serie aside, even the Hero's Sword owner is an elf—"

"Anyone would have made the same choice, I suppose."

Humanity's strongest gazed ahead at the flower field swaying in the wind, his right hand unconsciously rubbing his fingertips.

Exterminating the elves.

The Demon King's choice—

The unpleasant memories emerging from his mind caused a flash of helplessness in Agusheed's eyes.

He glanced casually at the Hero of the South, whose hands were folded on the railing.

After long contemplation, he decided to correct his disciple's mistake.

"Although logically speaking, that idea isn't problematic—"

"The Demon King probably didn't decide to exterminate the elves for that reason."

Agusheed's murmur made the Hero of the South turn his head—

Humanity's strongest, who hadn't expected there to be hidden circumstances, had his interest piqued by his teacher.

"Then why?"

Under the Hero of the South's gaze, Agusheed gently shook his head at his question.

"I don't know either."

A quite straightforward answer—

But it was followed by Agusheed's transitional afterthought.

"Because the Demon King never directly answered this question for me."

"So I can't give you a definitive answer."

"However, I do have some rough speculation."

He raised his hand, brushing away a petal that had landed on his shoulder, patiently explaining to the Hero of the South:

"Although I don't know his motivation for exterminating elves, based on my observations during my time under his command,"

"I can confirm that toward both humans and elves—"

"The Demon King himself never harbored the slightest malice or hostility."

Agusheed tilted his head slightly, the disputes from the Demon King's Castle seeming to echo in his ears.

He focused his gaze on his contemplating disciple and continued recounting what he had witnessed.

"For the Demon King, from beginning to end, the only one he truly regarded as an enemy—"

"Was only that Goddess who created the world."

Goddess...

Enemy?

The key element in Agusheed's words made the Hero of the South quickly understand his meaning.

"So..."

"The Demon King most likely decided to exterminate the elves because of the Goddess?"

The Hero of the South asked in a deep voice, carrying the steadiness characteristic of a middle-aged man.

"At least that's my speculation."

Agusheed shrugged noncommittally, his wide black robe rising and falling accordingly.

"After all, nothing would better test the Goddess's attitude than exterminating the kindred of 'the Goddess's most beloved person.'"

The Goddess's most beloved person...

This phrase made the Hero of the South straighten up.

Even without Agusheed's explanation, he could guess who this referred to.

That elf monk, while being the owner of the Hero's Sword...

Was also being watched by that Goddess?

"But judging by the results, the Demon King's test doesn't seem to have had much meaning."

The Hero of the South touched his mustache, giving his evaluation of the Demon King's actions.

Agusheed didn't refute this, even quite agreeing with his assessment.

"Indeed, looking back now, it was completely meaningless slaughter..."

The strongest Grand Demon who had witnessed the entire process said softly:

"After all, even until the very end—"

"Whether it was the Goddess, Serie, or that guy, all chose not to intervene."

Agusheed's tone was as calm as if narrating a story unrelated to himself.

But at the end, he gave himself a self-mocking light laugh.

"Thinking about it now, it's actually quite normal."

A hint of mockery flashed through Agusheed's unperturbed gray eyes.

He used his current situation to compare the others' choices.

"They back then were probably just like me now—"

"Would act because they couldn't ignore the tragedy before them."

"Would also offer salvation due to others' pleas."

Agusheed turned to face his disciple, his expression unclear under the sunlight's reflection.

"But they alone wouldn't specifically choose to defeat the Demon King because of the slaughter happening constantly in this world—"

"Wouldn't continue dedicating their lives unto death for the sake of life."

Agusheed fell silent for a moment, his broad shoulders slightly sinking.

But the next moment, he suddenly raised his head.

A low, restrained voice rang in the Hero of the South's ear.

"Eleven hundred years ago, I could choose to challenge the Demon King again because I couldn't bear to watch the elves' suffering."

"But now... hehe... you tell me—"

Agusheed looked directly into his disciple's eyes and asked softly:

"Can you imagine the current me risking life and death for anything other than resurrecting Flamme?"

No answer.

Nor was one needed.

Because the answer to this question had already been given by the Hero of the South days ago.

"Why am I telling you all this..."

Faced with his disciple's silence, Agusheed seemed to have expected it.

He turned to look at the distant flower garden, his tone returning to calm.

"Having such an emotionally unstable teacher must trouble you sometimes."

"That's not the case."

The Hero of the South denied his teacher's self-deprecation with a bitter smile.

But Agusheed seemed not to hear.

He continued walking forward, his body passing through the railing without obstruction.

This time, the Hero of the South didn't follow his teacher's steps.

Because he knew that what Agusheed needed now was just some time alone.

Just as he watched his teacher's figure about to be swallowed by the flower sea—

Agusheed suddenly turned his head.

"Aren't you curious about that elf monk?"

The strongest Grand Demon spoke words that surprised even the Hero of the South in the most understated tone.

"He'll be coming here recently."

"If you're really interested in him, you can chat with him then."

Once again marveling at his teacher's extensive connections and confirming his choice to become his disciple was correct,

After a bout of light laughter, the Hero of the South calmly asked Agusheed, who had his back turned:

"May I ask about the specific time?"

—

"The day after tomorrow?"

"Frieren will stay in the Demon King's Palace until the day after tomorrow?"

Sinseki Era year 28, northern nations, Tick region.

In the inn of Freesia's capital—

The tomato who had become the elf monk's little fanboy after hearing his deeds

Swallowed while looking at the abs barely visible under his clothes,

Then wondered why Frieren would stay in the Demon King's Palace for so long.

Why?

Kraft didn't answer this question.

Because Fern, sitting beside Stark, had already begun explaining to him:

"Because..."

—

Because for him, that was the most important day.

The Hero of the South watched his teacher's figure gradually disappearing into the flower sea.

Without needing Agusheed's answer, he knew the reason the elf monk would come here.

The fragrance from the flower garden drifted—

The Hero of the South lowered his eyes, murmuring that answer softly in his heart.

"Because..."

"That day—"

Was his and his deceased wife's first thousandth anniversary.

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Powerstones?

For 20 advance chapters: /michaeltranslates