"I know, and then what?"
Fíliya asked in confusion, though a trace of a bad premonition had already ignited in her heart.
"The [Witch of War], Minuse, has already been executed."
Levi's words were simple, but the sheer volume of information revealed was nothing short of astonishing.
"I see... No wonder you have the guts to make a move on Serie. So you already have experience assassinating a Great Mage."
"Oh? You don't seem very surprised?"
Fíliya's nonchalant appearance instead sparked more curiosity in Levi.
"Heh... for an Elf who is passionate about interfering in human conflicts to end up with such a fate is nothing surprising at all. The hatred she radiated and attracted was simply too much..."
Fíliya shook her head as if lamenting; these were her true thoughts.
She had long heard of this Witch of War, but she didn't expect to hear the news of her death before they even had a chance to cross paths.
From this perspective, Miss Solitär's survival strategy truly possessed remarkable foresight. No matter how powerful one was, as long as they were targeted by human malice, they would eventually meet their demise.
"Did you specifically choose Minuse?"
Fíliya asked in a low voice.
"Specifically? That phrasing is somewhat incorrect, Lady Fíliya."
"Our goal is to eradicate all magic in the world, so all three living Great Mages are our targets. We will eliminate them one by one."
Is that so... In other words, not just Serie, but even Frieren is a target on their menu. What a bunch of lunatics.
Fíliya sneered coldly in her heart.
"Of course, whether it's a Great Mage, a First-Class Mage, or Second and Third-Class Mages, we will not let any of them off."
"Oh? Now that's interesting. Aren't I a mage as well? What, you mean if I cooperate with you, you'll let me off?"
Fíliya stared into the other party's eyes, feeling both angry and amused.
"That is only natural. We would not lay a hand on our partners... Moreover, you seem to possess transcendent talent in the way of martial arts... This is my judgment as a warrior."
"Once our plan succeeds, magic will no longer exist in this world. At that time, Lady Fíliya, you can survive through the way of a warrior... Of course, that includes your Demon Race friends; they can also survive in that world."
"Is that so... Sounds pretty good? However, what I'm most curious about is... why do you hold such deep-seated hatred towards [Magic]?"
Fíliya demanded.
"Hatred? No, Lady Fíliya, you misunderstand. Everything we do is to pave the way to a beautiful world without magic..."
"Alright, stop acting."
Fíliya interrupted his statement with extreme impatience.
"I can see through other people's emotions, so performing in front of me is meaningless. Every time you talk about eradicating magic, an inexplicable fanaticism and hatred ignite in your heart... This is not something you can explain away under the guise of 'a righteous cause'."
Upon hearing Fíliya's words, Levi fell into a brief silence for the first time.
"Is that so... I didn't expect Lady Fíliya to possess such an ability... Is this also a convenience brought about by reading extensively?"
He asked with a calm expression.
"Heh, take a guess?"
Fíliya snapped back at him in a foul mood.
Would you be willing to listen to a story, Lady Fíliya?"
Levi slowly stood up and walked behind the bar counter. Since the store owner, Wolf, had already retreated to wait outside, Levi had to personally pour a fresh drink into his own glass.
I'm not willing... Fíliya originally wanted to say that. She was far too lazy to listen to the past of a middle-aged man like him. However, the current situation was indeed unusual, so she had no choice but to suppress her temper.
She gave a slight nod, signaling for Levi to continue.
"I was born in a small country on the southern continent... Although it was far from the influence of the Demon Race on the northern continent, it was nonetheless filled with conflicts between humans."
"To those born there, the notion that 'Magic is a tool for murder' is an eternal, unchanging truth. Even completely unrelated and innocent people were often swept up in magical attacks."
"When I was just old enough to remember, my older brother was shot to death right in front of me by a magical arrow of light falling from the sky, all to protect me."
Oh... this guy has a brother complex, and he's doing this to avenge his dead older brother?
Before Levi was even halfway through his words, Miss Fíliya couldn't wait to pass judgment on the guy in front of her. This time, however, she was exceptionally polite and didn't interrupt him.
Thus, Levi's recounting continued.
"Later, I grew up a little, and then... I encountered a magical attack that remains fresh in my memory to this day... On that day, the city where I lived since childhood disappeared in an instant. By the time I regained consciousness, all I saw was a field of ruins... I couldn't even find the skeletal remains of my parents."
"What made me despair even more was that this attack wasn't even aimed at my city. It was merely a trace of the aftermath radiating from a nearby battlefield... That is likely the reason why I survived."
"A large-scale magic that far exceeds human imagination like that... Without a doubt, it could only be the handiwork of a Great Mage."
"Within those ruins, I saw a collapsed statue of Hero Himmel... Even knowing that it was entirely meaningless, I still propped that statue back up."
"I worshipped the Hero, but I also harbored resentment toward the Hero. At that time, I thought to myself... The Hero did indeed defeat the Demon King, but... he did not 'save the world'."
"Since the Hero had no way of accomplishing it, then let me complete this unfinished great undertaking with my own two hands... That is what I believed... I wonder what Lady Fíliya thinks of this story?"
As Levi spoke, he began to closely watch Fíliya's reaction.
"Trash! The trashiest of trash, rottener than a stinking egg!"
Fíliya delivered her sharp critique without a moment of hesitation.
"You blabber on about some 'great undertaking to save humanity,' but in the end, isn't it just a personal grudge? The Witch of War, Minuse, destroyed your city and killed your parents. It's completely normal and correct for you to harbor hatred and murderous intent toward her; after all, every debt has its debtor... But I still can't figure out which of your brain cells short-circuited? Why would you think about eradicating magic altogether?"
"Also, why kill those innocent mages? What's the difference between what you're doing and what Minuse did? Do you think putting on the lofty hat of 'saving the world' for your own slaughter makes it justifiable? By that logic, I'd say Minuse killing your parents was also for the sake of the greater good."
"You even brought up Himmel, spouting nonsense about how the Hero didn't save the world. I reckon if he knew about this little stunt you're pulling, he'd be so pissed he'd crawl right out of his grave."
"Analyzing this based on your story, I think there are three targets you could rightfully direct your hatred toward... You could hate Minuse, you could hate the country that started the war, or you could hate 'War' itself. The only thing it's impossible to hate is 'Magic', right? Can you tell me what the hell is going through your mind?"
"Don't tell me you actually think that as long as you eradicate magic, you can eradicate war and stop humans from fighting each other. Because if you do, I'm going to look down on you."
Fíliya threw out this long string of words with a look of utter disgust.
"It is indeed impossible for war to be suddenly eradicated... as long as human malice still exists."
"But if magic is eradicated... at the very least, it can drastically reduce the intensity of war. There will no longer be terrifying attacks capable of wiping out an entire city in an instant."
Fíliya's barrage of verbal attacks seemed to have an effect. Judging by Mr. Levi's expression, he was no longer able to maintain his initial composure.
Hah?
After listening to Levi's words, Fíliya merely felt an urge to laugh out of sheer anger.
To put it plainly, magic was just a tool. Whether it was used to kill or to save people depended entirely on the user's intentions... Why couldn't he understand such a simple concept? Instead of hating the people who started the wars, he hated the weapons. I really overestimated these idiots. Truly worthy of being brainless brutes.
"Is that so? I think you warriors aren't exactly slow when it comes to killing either. Although you can't wipe out a city in an instant, a single night is more than enough for you to slaughter everyone... Do you really think that even without magic, these kingdom-destroying, city-massacring events wouldn't happen? Would your so-called 'intensity of war' truly decrease? Ugh, whatever. I suddenly don't want to talk to you anymore."
Fíliya gave the guy in front of her one last look with extremely disappointed eyes, and then prepared to lead her people away.
"Lady Fíliya, do you plan to just leave like this?"
Seeing Fíliya tear away all pretenses, Levi slowly rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Oh? Have we finally reached this stage? Fair enough, when words sour, even half a sentence is too much. Since I already know about your plan to 'kill Serie', there's no way you could possibly let me leave no matter what, right?"
Fíliya turned around with a cold sneer, then shot a glance at Solitär and Aura. Using their party voice chat, she also notified them to stand closely beside her.
"Lady Fíliya, forgive this old man for speaking bluntly... but it would be best for you to cooperate with us. At this distance, I do not believe you have any chance of resisting."
Finally, the dwarf warrior Valros, who was by Levi's side, also unleashed a razor-sharp aura.
But Fíliya wasn't afraid in the slightest. Instead, she continued to provoke them.
"Is that so? I'm not targeting you specifically, old man. I'm just saying that all of you Shadow Warriors are garbage."
Fíliya revealed an arrogant expression, and then flipped both Levi and Valros the middle finger.
The exact moment Fíliya's voice faded, a crowd of figures appeared from behind. All the Shadow Warriors staking out the door seemed to receive a command, instantly launching a surprise attack toward Fíliya's group. At the same time, right in front of Fíliya, the strongest of the Shadow Warriors, Levi and Valros, swung their weapons and launched their assault at her.
Following a massive, explosive boom, the streaming lights of various martial arts directly obliterated the tavern into a pile of ruins.
However, amidst these ruins, not a single trace of Fíliya's party could be seen anymore.
Thousands of kilometers away from the Empire's royal capital, Fíliya gritted her teeth, her face filled with intense annoyance.
"Dammit... I just bought a whole new set of furniture yesterday... I haven't even had the chance to enjoy it!"
No one expected that the very first thing this girl would do was lament over some furniture.
"I didn't expect you to have this trick up your sleeve... When did you learn it? Spatial Teleportation Magic isn't something that can be mastered so easily... Just how many things are you still hiding from me?"
Solitär glared into Fíliya's eyes with a look of deep resentment.
Originally, she and Aura had already prepared to face the enemy, but Fíliya told them via the party voice chat that she could take them away.
Heh... As if I'd tell you I just learned it.
Fíliya curled her lips. Her emotion points were currently absurdly high. Although she had just spent another twenty million points to exchange for this Spatial Teleportation Magic, she was completely confident that she could quickly recoup the spent points, and it wouldn't affect her progress in acquiring that specific magic.
"Sigh..."
Fíliya suddenly let out a long sigh and then sat down on the grassy ground, looking slightly dispirited.
The coordinates she had locked onto for the teleportation were precisely the lakeside wooden cabin she had built with her own two hands.
"What's wrong? Didn't we get away smoothly? What are you sighing for?"
Aura leaned in with a puzzled expression. In her view, escaping completely unscathed after facing so many warriors—and the siege of two supreme experts to boot—was something utterly worth celebrating.
"You wouldn't understand, Aura... Can you imagine that the imaginary enemy you've built up in your mind for so long turned out to be a bunch of idiots? I feel so empty inside!"
As Fíliya spoke, she genuinely revealed a deeply sorrowful expression, and then proceeded to roll around consecutively on the grass a few times.
"...Then what are we going to do now? Since we already know they're planning to deal with that Serie... Are you going to go back and report to the Magic Association again?"
Solitär crouched down, using her hands to stop Fíliya's continuous rolling, before asking slowly.
"Hmm... Well, how should I put this... I'm really annoyed right now. I'm already tired of playing the role of the 'test-taker'. So I've decided, it's about time I gave these bastards a test of my own."
Fíliya performed a kip-up to jump straight to her feet, her gaze toward Solitär filled with a deeply mysterious hue.
A carriage drove slowly along the road. Curiously, however, there was no driver on the coachman's seat. The horses pulling it seemed to have gained a mind of their own, walking dutifully along the predetermined route without the slightest deviation.
Inside the carriage, an elf mage with long orange hair was staring out the window in sheer boredom. Then, she conjured a bouquet of pale blue flowers out of thin air to observe them closely.
If anyone else had been present, they would have instantly recognized her as the elf known as the [God of Magic], Lady Serie.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, Serie abruptly sat up a little straighter. She quickly turned the flowers in her hand into specks of light that rapidly dispersed.
"Hmm? Do you really hate letting me see your [Vulnerable] side that much? You say she's your [Most Disliked Disciple], yet you clearly remember her favorite things," a figure instantly appeared beside Serie, addressing her in a teasing tone.
"...Tch. Your growth rate has far exceeded my expectations. What is this now? Where did you learn Spatial Teleportation Magic? Could it be that you had some serendipitous encounter while I wasn't watching?"
Serie looked at the side of Fíliya's face with deep displeasure, seemingly complaining about why this girl had chosen such a moment to appear.
Oh?
Hearing this, Fíliya felt a surge of joy in her heart. In that casual exchange, this God of Magic had inadvertently exposed her own limits.
Hmm, Serie definitely wouldn't stoop to lying about such a thing... Which means...
This girl's detection range isn't actually as far as I thought, is it? While in Äußerst, she had no idea what I was doing in the Empire.
"Hehe~ So there are things even you don't know. I really thought you were omniscient and omnipotent."
A hint of a smile appeared on Fíliya's face, and her gaze toward Serie grew a bit more arrogant.
"Tch, you disrespectful brat who has no respect for her master."
Serie also expressed her disgust at Fíliya's unreliable demeanor.
"Hmm? You aren't my teacher. I remember rejecting you quite decisively back then, right?" Fíliya said as she stretched her body slightly, a look of reminiscence revealing itself in her eyes.
"Becoming a [First-Class Mage] means you have become my honorary disciple," Serie stated simply.
"?! Is that so... Is it too late for me to quit now?" Fíliya asked, feigning shock (ΩΩ).
"..."
For the first time, Serie was left slightly speechless by this girl... However, the feeling wasn't too bad. In this entire world, this young person was the only one who dared to speak to her like this.
"Alright, enough with the nonsense. What exactly do you have to say to me?"
Taking a deep breath, Serie finally looked back at Fíliya.
But Fíliya didn't meet her eyes. Instead, she stared intently at the shadow behind Serie.
"It's a bit strange. Brother Falsch actually isn't here. How could he allow you to move around alone?"
Only after confirming that Falsch was not present did Fíliya meet Serie's gaze.
"That child did strongly insist on acting as a guard... but I refused. Such a thing is completely meaningless."
Serie sighed somewhat helplessly, then reached out and touched the cloak draped over her body.
"Hmm, that's true. Why would a god need a [Human] as a guard? But you still accepted their sentiments, didn't you?"
Fíliya's gaze also slowly shifted to the eye-catching cloak on Serie's body.
"I just couldn't outstubborn the young ones..." Serie said, her eyes subconsciously darting elsewhere.
Hehe... Although her strength is at a god-like level beyond the rules... she still has a human heart.
In a way, couldn't this be considered a... weakness? Fíliya couldn't help but think this as she looked at Serie.
"Alright, I suppose I should explain the purpose of my visit," Fíliya said, also taking a deep breath.
"Serie, do you know that your existence is an extreme [Eyesore] to a certain faction of humanity?"
...
Fíliya's words plunged Serie into a brief silence. It was only after a minute or two that she spoke.
"...Is it that mysterious organization from the Empire? It seems there is a group of people plotting to kill me."
"? So you already knew."
Fíliya raised an eyebrow slightly, wondering to herself: didn't this girl just say she couldn't see that far?
"The Magic Association has its own intelligence network as well... Do you remember [Linie]?"
"Linie?"
Upon hearing this name, a look of sudden realization dawned on Fíliya's face.
"Of course I remember. That girl never gets along with Sense. Every time the two of them meet, they end up fighting. Tch, if I hadn't been so young back then, I definitely would have helped Sense take her down," Fíliya spoke indignantly, even clenching her right hand into a fist and taking a random swing at the air.
"Linie is our spy planted in the Empire. She has been living in the Empire since fifteen years ago and has now managed to infiltrate the upper echelons, so she can often send back useful intelligence," Serie completely ignored Fíliya's gestures and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Oh? So that's how it is. I was wondering why this registered First-Class Mage only returned to the Association once every few years... It seems she is quite formidable as well, being able to stay undercover in a place like that and quietly climb to a high position... Yeah, I definitely wouldn't be able to do that," Fíliya remarked with an admiring tone.
"Naturally. If it were you... let alone staying undercover, you'd probably start a fight with anyone you didn't like on the very first day," Serie said, rolling her eyes at Fíliya once again.
But Fíliya was highly delighted by this.
Amazing, I actually managed to make [Lady God] show such an expression. I'm so awesome, she thought smugly.
"Linie sent back word that there is an organization in the Empire aggressively assassinating all sorts of mages, and that they view the [Magic Association] as a thorn in their side... After receiving the news, I used [Prophetic Dream] to verify it. The information is indeed true. Those people who call themselves the [Shadow Warriors] have truly made killing the surviving [Great Mages] their highest priority."
"Hmm?"
Within Serie's explanation, Fíliya noticed another detail that caught her intense interest.
"Wait a minute? Prophetic Dream? Why would you use such an inefficient method? Among all the [Future Sight] magics, isn't Prophetic Dream the lowest level and the least accurate form of precognition?" Fíliya asked with a face full of confusion.
"..."
Her words caused the ancient shut-in elf before her to fall silent once again. It wasn't until a good while later that she finally spoke up, sounding somewhat embarrassed.
"Because... this is the only one I know now. Over the past century or so, I've given away all my other [Future Sight] magics... Magic that sees into the future is extremely difficult for humans to learn. Unless they have a monster-level talent like yours, it would take them at least a hundred years to learn precognition magic..."
"So when those humans thirsting for[Future Sight] sought privileges from you, you just gave all those future-seeing magics away one by one? Leaving yourself with only an inefficient Prophetic Dream?!"
Fíliya stared at the side of Serie's face with a look of utter disbelief. She knew the supposed [God] before her loved humanity, but she completely hadn't expected her to go to such an extreme.
"...There's nothing to be done about it... Those who pass the First-Class Mage test receive the privilege of making a wish. That is absolute. And [Future Sight] is a particularly alluring magic to humans. I don't know why humans are so obsessed with this ability."
As Serie spoke, she curled up, planting her bare feet on the seat and resting her chin on her knees.
Tch... This girl is playing the victim! Ugh... but she does look quite cute like this.
Fíliya quickly took a moment to appreciate the God of Magic's reaction, searing the precious scene into her mind.
"So, what kind of fate befell these people who obtained [Precognition Magic]?"
Fíliya readjusted her mood, a disdainful smile reappearing on her face.
She asked this because, in the history of the last century, she had hardly ever heard of any powerful individuals with [Future Sight].
Which meant... these people most likely faded into history like falling stars not long after obtaining the magic.
"They all died, without exception. All of them died premature deaths... The mortality rate for those who obtain Precognition Magic is always strangely high. This is something I also don't quite understand. It would take me several hundred years to re-learn Precognition Magic, yet these people who receive it don't seem to cherish their lives at all."
"Sigh, this is the limitation of humanity... Precognition Magic is the kind of thing that, once you have it, you trust it too much, you abuse it, and in doing so, you lose your sense of crisis. Those who can use Precognition Magic correctly can be counted on one hand. Most owners end up dying exceptionally cheap deaths."
"That's why I say it, [Precognition Magic] is truly the most boring thing there is."
Fíliya viciously added her final comment.
"So what are you planning to do next? Looking at your leisurely and carefree appearance, it's clear you know someone is out to kill you, yet you still choose to walk into it."
Fíliya changed the subject, continuing to question Serie.
"Can I interpret this as you being concerned for me? How rare."
Serie was a little surprised by Fíliya's words.
"Hah? Don't flatter yourself, okay... Do you think an ant would worry about an elephant? I'm just... hmm, purely curious about what you intend to do."
Fíliya immediately put on a stern face as she spoke.
"An ant?... You severely underestimate yourself, and you severely overestimate me. To you, I am hardly an [Elephant], am I?"
Serie said, mimicking Fíliya's expression with a teasing gaze.
"Hmm... Close enough. At the very least, I've never seen you as an [Invincible] opponent."
Fíliya shrugged with a light laugh.
"Now that's more like it. In the world of magic, who dares to claim invincibility, and who can call themselves undefeated? [There are no absolutes in magic]. Anyone who cannot understand this point is unworthy of standing at the pinnacle of the path of magic."
Serie was clearly very satisfied with Fíliya's answer. Her expression became extremely relaxed, and she revealed her usual uninhibited smile.
"Mhm, so you've already prepared a countermeasure? The likes of the [Shadow Warriors] are beneath your notice, aren't they? Those guys think that just because they killed the [Witch of War], they're qualified to make a move on you... but they fail to understand that your strength is actually constrained by the boring title of [Great Mage]."
"..."
Serie did not immediately answer Fíliya's new question. Instead, a hesitant expression appeared on her face, and her tone grew a touch more somber.
"Fíliya, am I truly [Superfluous] to the human world of today?"
...Huh?
Fíliya frowned instantly. She never expected that Serie, the God of Magic, would actually develop this sort of... hmm, psychological problem?
But it seemed reasonable. After all, this girl was a ten-thousand-year-old shut-in, and given her status, she couldn't find anyone to have a heart-to-heart conversation with.
"First, tell me why you think you're superfluous."
Fíliya didn't answer the question right away either.
"Because... what Flamme, and what the humans of today pursue, is the [Era of Humanity]. That's why I started to wonder... has the time truly come for me to exit the stage? If I continue to shelter humanity under my wings like this, if I continue to be the leader of the [Magic Association]... then this can't be called the [Era of Humanity] at all, can it..."
"Hmm... That's true. For the strongest and highest-ranking person in the [Era of Humanity] to be an Elf is indeed a bit strange... But don't you dare tell me you're planning to walk into a trap and die on purpose, okay? I'll look down on you for that."
As Fíliya spoke, she shot Serie a look of disdain.
"I... wouldn't do that... I don't want to die... But, I'm very hesitant... If humanity truly wishes for me to step down, what exactly should I do?"
Serie let out a soft sigh as she spoke.
Mhm, that's good.
Fíliya nodded with a smile. Her previous words were mostly in jest; she knew Serie was someone who cherished her life dearly, unlike some long-lived species who get tired of living after too long and start courting death like mad.
"Hmm... If you really want to withdraw from the stage of history... should we put on a show? A fake death performance or something, and then you can logically go into seclusion somewhere? Hmm... never mind."
Fíliya had proposed this to Serie with a smile, but then she quickly vetoed her own suggestion.
"Why? Hmm?"
Serie was curious about Fíliya's sudden change of heart.
"Hmm... It just suddenly occurred to me that whether you actually die or just fake your death... Sense would definitely cry her heart out, right? So I guess I can't do something like that after all."
"...Is that so. Then I suppose I have Sense to thank."
Serie said, shaking her head with a small smile.
"Mhm, so don't you worry, I'm definitely on your side."
"Is that so... I have my doubts."
Serie squinted, glancing at Fíliya.
"Hmm? Why the doubt? Do I have even a hint of [Killing Intent]?"
Fíliya blinked her large, innocent eyes.
"It's not because of you... Sigh..."
Serie scanned Fíliya with a wary gaze a few times, and finally, as if having made some sort of decision, she sighed again.
"I'm actually... quite afraid of dying."
"Ah... I figured that out long ago. Your so-called [Warlike] complex is built solely on the premise that you believe you [Absolutely Cannot Lose]. The moment a being appears that can threaten you, you too will hesitate and feel fear. You long-lived species all cherish your own lives. That's a really good thing... I'm genuinely complimenting you, you know? Loving life is a good thing, worthy of praise."
Fíliya propped her cheek on her hand, finding Serie's reaction quite amusing to watch.
"Then did you know... I have nearly a hundred defensive magics on my person. Theoretically, I have already defended against all possibilities of being attacked."
"Mhm, and?"
"Normally, I only activate a portion of them. When facing others, I might even activate only twenty or thirty. But now... because you are by my side... I have no choice but to activate all of my defensive magics. Even so, I still don't feel a [Sense of Security]."
...?
For real?
Fíliya's first reaction to these words wasn't shock, but doubt. So...
She scooted her body a little closer in Serie's direction.
And in return, she reaped an enormous sum of emotion points.
Wow...
Fíliya's eyes widened slightly, but the expression on her face wasn't excitement, but rather confusion.
"Then I really don't get it. Since you're so afraid of a being that can threaten your safety... why didn't you choose to eliminate me, and instead actively spurred on my growth?"
"...Because I want to fight you. I hope you can grow to the same height as me, and then... we can have a duel worthy of the title [God]. It's ridiculous, isn't it? I'm just that much of a contradiction. I'm terrified of death, yet I eagerly anticipate a battle to the death."
"Is that so... Very well. Since that is your wish, I shall accept this prayer... Don't worry, just give me a little more time. I will soon be able to stand at the same height as you."
Fíliya looked out the window with immense confidence.
"I don't doubt that for a moment. As things stand, those methods to extend your life can be dispensed with... Hmm, that's for the best."
"Alright, shall we end the idle chat here? We can talk about the rest after we've paid our respects at Flamme's grave."
...?
Once again, Fíliya dropped a piece of information that made Serie's pupils tremble.
"Hmm? Why the shocked expression? Isn't that why you're going to the Empire... To visit the grave of your most beloved disciple, which is why you willingly walked into the trap set by those idiots. Don't worry, I'll be there too. Those vermin can't hurt you."
...In that instant, the ever-proud and stubborn Serie finally didn't refute the phrase [Most Beloved Disciple].
She was just a little confused. Why... did Fíliya also seem so concerned about visiting Flamme's grave?
The driverless carriage continued on its way. Fíliya watched the placid horses, and a different thought suddenly crossed her mind.
"I don't get it. You can go anywhere you want with just a thought, so why are you sitting in a carriage, moving so slowly?"
Fíliya turned her head and posed the question to Serie. Having experienced the convenience of spatial teleportation, she truly couldn't understand Serie's choice.
…'You guyss'? Tch, this person used to kneel respectfully before me and call me 'Lady Serie'… She's becoming more and more disrespectful.
The moment her eyes met Fíliya's, Serie subconsciously pursed her lips but didn't say anything to stop Miss Fíliya's presumptuous behavior.
"There's still plenty of time, anyway… Flamme's memorial mausoleum will only open after the Empire's national holiday is over. Moving slowly like this, the timing will be just right. Besides, I can use the time on the road to think."
Serie said casually, but this answer did not satisfy Fíliya.
"Is that so… If it were just a matter of standing before Flamme's grave, that would be simple for you, right? Even if the mausoleum isn't open, you could slip in easily… Looking at it this way, you're actually thinking, 'I want to go see her openly, witnessed by many humans', aren't you?"
"…"
What is with this girl? Why does she guess my thoughts so accurately… I've kept my mental barrier to prevent mind-reading active this whole time…
Serie stared into Fíliya's eyes, somewhat annoyed. After all, having one's thoughts pointed out to their face was a very uncomfortable feeling.
"Let's just say you guessed right."
Serie said, turning her head away.
"'Let's just say'… Heh."
Fíliya, on the other hand, let out a smirk.
The two of them fell into a brief silence, and the carriage advanced for a long time with the rhythm of the horses' steps.
And the one who couldn't help but break the silence was, surprisingly, the god herself.
"In the Prophetic Dream, I met with the Emperor of the Empire. I discussed many things with him, but it wasn't very fruitful. He told me that the Empire is currently in turmoil, and it isn't a country ruled solely by him. He couldn't provide any useful information about those who plan to assassinate me. The only thing that could be confirmed is that this is not the Emperor's own intention."
Hmm?
Fíliya frowned upon hearing this and immediately voiced her own question.
"Wait a minute? 'Discussed' with someone in a Prophetic Dream? Shouldn't a Prophetic Dream show a fixed future? How did you manage to 'discuss' things with a predetermined character?"
"Because the Emperor himself possesses a magic tool that prevents intrusion via dream abilities… It was a coincidence, you could say. In the dream, thanks to the magic tool's effect, the Emperor instantly realized he was in a dream and was no longer influenced by the Prophetic Dream. So, we were able to converse normally instead."
"Is that so…"
Fíliya nodded, and then her expression slowly morphed into one of disgust.
"Well, that's just pathetic. You're pathetic, and that Emperor is pathetic too!"
Fíliya shouted loudly, and before Serie could react, she immediately added.
"It's all your fault. If you had just kept some advanced precognition ability, you wouldn't be so blind. And that Emperor, too… It's called the 'Empire', for crying out loud, but it's not even an autocracy ruled by the Emperor. He has to be kept in check by some other power… Ugh, and he wants to restore its former glory? What a disgrace."
"Do you realize that such a statement would be a capital crime in the Empire?"
Serie looked at Fíliya with a somewhat helpless expression.
"Heh, a crime requires someone to be able to catch me first."
Fíliya said with disdain.
"Look at you, getting so full of yourself… Then what's your brilliant idea on the matter? Come on, offer a solution."
Fíliya managed to get a rise out of Serie, who, after all, wasn't exactly a calm person to begin with.
"Hmph, of course I have a way. Do you know where I'm stronger than you?"
Fíliya looked at Serie with an arrogant expression.
"…"
Looking at her like this, Serie suddenly clenched her fists. She swore that in all her thousands of years, she had never met someone who could get on her nerves this much.
"I don't know."
Serie repeatedly told herself in her heart not to bicker with such a junior. In a blink of an eye, she would turn into a pile of bones and wouldn't be able to anger her anymore.
"Imagination! You, with your barren mind… Besides the fact that the Prophetic Dream itself is a rather low-level precognition magic, the biggest reason you can't see the full picture is because you're a blockhead!"
As Fíliya spoke, wearing an expression of exasperation as if disappointed in a student who wouldn't improve, she reached out her index finger and poked Serie on the head.
"!"
Serie's fists clenched even tighter. She felt herself losing her composure more and more.
"Not convinced? Look at you. You may have collected most of the magic in this world, but to what extent have you developed any of it? At best, you're just a collector who simply knows how to use them… You couldn't even figure out Gold Transformation on your own. You've just lived long enough to accumulate invincible power. If our mana reserves were the same, you probably couldn't even beat your own disciples."
"Even Frieren successfully analyzed Gold Transformation, but you, the 'God of Magic', couldn't do it. Aren't you ashamed of yourself… Ouch!"
Just as Fíliya was getting into the swing of things, she saw Serie suddenly lash out, grabbing her by the neck and pinning her to the floor. The two of them quickly began to scuffle.
"So we're using our fists, are we? Suits me just fine! If we're not using magic, let's see how I take care of you!"
Fíliya also let out a loud shout and quickly fought back.
This farce continued for several minutes. It was truly fortunate that no one else was present besides the two of them, and… that the carriage compartment was large enough.
"I can't… I surrender. Aren't you a ten-thousand-year-old shut-in… How is your stamina so good?"
After a bout of fighting, Fíliya collapsed on the floor and cried out for mercy to Serie.
Serie's victory was a matter of course. After all, the countless blessings on her body were the real deal. With the enhancement of these mysterious protections, even if she stood still, Fíliya couldn't possibly harm her. Well… unless she used that move.
"Heh… Did you think I was born this strong? I have fought countless powerful enemies to get here, ascending to godhood through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. My opponents weren't just mages; even warriors from the Age of Gods were cut down by me. If you want to fight me, go train for a few more decades first."
Serie looked down at the human girl collapsed at her feet, a victorious smile finally appearing on her lips. The sense of accomplishment she got from this farce with Fíliya was simply unparalleled, even more joyous than the battles from the Age of Gods.
"Is that so… You don't really think you've won, do you?"
Fíliya was the type to beg for mercy one second and run her mouth the next. In that instant, she had already forgotten the fact that she had just surrendered, and a hint of arrogance reappeared on her face.
"A true 'God' wouldn't lower themselves to fight with someone… In that moment just now, I have already pulled you down from your 'Godhood'… From that perspective, the one who won should be me."
Some more time passed. Seeing the sky gradually darken, and having exhausted a considerable amount of stamina from her scuffle with this idiot goddess, Fíliya's stomach chose this moment to protest.
Fortunately, Miss Fíliya had a sense of shame. She quickly pressed a hand to her stomach, preventing the sound from escaping.
"I'm hungry."
"Oh."
"What do you mean, 'oh'? Stop the carriage, I need to get something to eat. A great goddess can naturally subsist on the wind and dew, but I'm a mere mortal."
"...So annoying."
Serie shot her an impatient glare, then raised a hand, conjuring all sorts of food that flickered and changed in her palm.
"What do you want to eat? Pick one."
Watching this, Fíliya immediately sighed.
"This isn't right! You can't just conjure food with a thought! There's no soul in it! I refuse!"
If it wasn't food cooked with heart, like the kind Solitär makes, she wouldn't eat it.
"Is that so? Then starve."
Seeing her act like this, Serie couldn't be bothered to say more and simply dispelled her food-conjuring magic.
"...At this rate, how long will it take to reach the Empire?"
Fíliya asked tentatively.
"Two weeks."
"Ugh."
Fíliya felt her scalp tingle. It was still going to take that long... If she didn't do something, she would definitely starve to death. But she would rather die than bow her head to Serie.
And so... she instantly vanished from the carriage.
Seeing this, Serie subconsciously raised an eyebrow and turned her head in a specific direction.
Yes, in that single instant, she had already tracked Fíliya and knew what that girl was up to in the distance.
But while she waited, Serie was surprised to find that she felt a bit... empty.
How is that possible... That girl is so noisy when she's around, I wish she'd get lost. How could I possibly feel this way?
Serie quickly shook her head, forcing her mind to calm down.
After another period of time, Fíliya's figure returned, once again taking a seat beside Serie.
"Tsk, why are you back again... Do you have nowhere else to be?"
Serie immediately fired off a merciless taunt, but her tightly knitted brows had clearly relaxed.
"Mhm... Just assume I have nowhere else to be. Here, this is for you."
Fíliya chuckled lightly and handed one of the two meals to the goddess.
"What is this?"
Serie looked at the strangely shaped food before her, a puzzled expression on her face.
"I don't know either. I heard it's a new invention... But it's really creative. First, you take a baked bread roll, slice it in half, then stuff a meat patty, various vegetables, and sauces in the middle. Then you press the two halves of the bread together to eat it... It's very convenient to hold... It's just a bit too thick. You have to open your mouth really wide to eat it. For that reason alone, it could never appear on a noble lady's dinner table... But I quite like it."
As Fíliya spoke, she smiled, opened her mouth wide, and took a bite of the strange food.
"Junk food..."
Serie, however, curled her lip in disdain.
"Are you going to eat it or not? If not, give it back."
Hearing Serie's words, Fíliya's expression soured a little.
And here I was, kind enough to bring one back for you, you clueless elf idiot, she thought.
Hearing that Fíliya was going to take it back, Serie reluctantly took a bite.
"How is it?!"
Fíliya immediately asked with excitement, eagerly awaiting the goddess's review.
"Disgusting... Who do you think I am? What kind of delicacy have I not tasted... How could something like this possibly appeal to me?"
A look of contempt washed over Serie's face.
"...Tch, boring."
At this, Fíliya turned her head away, feeling like she had courted a rebuff. But she wasn't actually disappointed; she was just using the moment to think about something else.
What she was contemplating was the food-conjuring magic Serie had casually displayed earlier.
That's no simple thing... Fíliya mused inwardly.
Although she knew some folk magics like [Magic to turn black bread into white bread] or [Magic to turn green apples into red apples], these were, to put it bluntly, transformations of matter—a process of [from something to something else].
But what Serie had done just now... was clearly a process of [from nothing to something].
And what she herself had comprehended in a flash of insight from spells like [Magic to clear dust] and [Magic to clear copper rust] was the power of the [Magic to Disintegrate All Things]—a process of [from something to nothing].
If the complete form of her [Magic to Disintegrate All Things] was a [World-Ending Magic] representing the power of [Destruction]...
Then Serie's little trick just now was, to some extent, touching upon the power of [Creation].
I thought that kind of power was exclusive to the [Creator Goddess]...
Still, [Creation] and [Destruction]... It suddenly feels like destiny is at play, doesn't it?
Thinking this, a faint smile graced Fíliya's lips.
"Can you sit further away? I need to meditate."
Suddenly, Serie's voice pulled Fíliya's mind back to reality.
"What? You need to meditate?"
Fíliya looked surprised.
"...Do you really need me to spell it out? I just don't want to sit next to you."
Serie said impatiently.
"Tch..."
Fíliya immediately got up and moved her butt elsewhere.
"Hm?"
But in the process, she noticed something.
That girl Serie... had a single white sesame seed stuck to the corner of her mouth...
As a [Goddess], she didn't even notice... Could you be any cuter?
Besides, you said it was disgusting... but you still finished it all, hmph.
After discovering this, Fíliya's mood instantly improved.
For the next two weeks, Fíliya spent her time just like this with Serie. And Serie, too, began to grow accustomed to the feeling of having this young girl by her side.
Until one day, Serie guided the carriage to a stop at an outpost, just a half-day's journey from the imperial capital.
Fíliya followed Serie out of the carriage and immediately saw... a group of strange figures.
"Falsch, Sense... I told you there was no need for you to come."
Serie's expression was slightly cold. When speaking to people other than Fíliya, she still carried the dignified air of a superior.
"This was our own decision... If you wish to blame us, please wait until the dust has settled."
Sense was the first to step forward, bowing to Serie.
"...Do as you please."
Serie naturally understood her disciple's intentions, so she said no more, casually shifting her gaze elsewhere.
"Then... Frieren, why are you here again?"
"We were just traveling through here... Falsch found Fern, so as her guardian, I had to come along."
Frieren's face clearly showed a reluctance, as if she were being forced to work overtime. But upon seeing Fíliya behind Serie, her expression became even more intrigued. She tried to catch Fíliya's eye for a greeting, but Fíliya's attention was clearly not on her at that moment.
"..."
Even back in the carriage, Fíliya had sensed that presence.
So when her gaze met Sense's, her expression, for once, held a trace of guilt.
She shyly approached Sense's side and began to speak nervously.
"Um... I'm sorry, for not coming back to see you for so long... It's just that various things got tangled up... How should I put it..."
Just as Fíliya was struggling, at a loss for what to do, Sense slowly took half a step forward. Not with her hair, but with her arms, she embraced Fíliya.
"As long as you're alright."
The moment she heard those words, all the excuses Fíliya had prepared lost their meaning. She could only stare blankly and reply with a single syllable.
"...Yeah."
So, what are we all gathered here for? A strategy meeting?"
Inside a small room at the outpost, Fíliya sat backwards in a chair, a very comfortable expression on her face as she enjoyed a shoulder massage from Miss Sense.
The long-separated sisters should have had much to say to one another, and Fíliya would have been more than happy to engage in more intimate actions with Miss Sense. But alas, there were simply too many people present. Even she couldn't bring herself to be brazenly affectionate with Sense.
"Shouldn't you be the one to start this off? Fíliya, you caused quite a stir in the Imperial Capital, didn't you?"
Falsch habitually pushed up his glasses, his expression clearly urging her to speak.
"? Where did you hear that from?"
Fíliya tilted her head slightly, her expression showing a hint of curiosity.
"It was a message from Linie... In fact, we arrived many days before you and Lady Serie."
"I see. Can't be helped. After all, this pers— er... Lady Serie insisted on traveling slowly in a carriage. I had no choice but to temporarily act as her guard."
Fíliya's expression was slightly awkward as she corrected herself mid-sentence; she had almost habitually referred to Serie as 'this person'.
"Yes, we all know how willful Lady Serie can be," Falsch said helplessly.
"So, could you please report on the origins of that organization that's trying to harm Lady Serie? You must have obtained a great deal of information, even things that Linie couldn't confirm, right?" Falsch asked with a serious face.
"Hmm... alright."
Fíliya sighed softly. She personally disliked such a serious atmosphere, but she could understand Falsch's sentiment. After a moment of thought, she told them everything she knew.
"...So it's that kind of entity. We've been receiving reports from various branches recently about a large number of mages meeting with misfortune... I never thought there would actually be an organization dedicated to assassinating mages," Falsch was the first to let out a sigh.
"Minuse... is dead."
Following that was an emotional remark from Frieren.
"Hmm? Frieren, were you close with the [Witch of War]?"
Seeing Frieren's reaction, Fíliya immediately followed up with curiosity.
"I don't know... We met a few times, exchanged some words... Does that count as being close?" Frieren said, a trace of sorrow clouding her features.
"Hmm... If you feel sad after hearing about someone's death, I suppose that means you were close, right?" Fíliya's tone was also a bit uncertain.
"Is that so... I was just thinking that time can really wear away many things. Even for someone I couldn't stand hundreds of years ago, hearing of their sudden death, I still feel sad after all."
"Oh? That shows you've grown a lot. The old you would never have thought so much," Fíliya said, propping her cheek on her hand and looking at Frieren with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Is that so," Frieren replied softly, her expression slightly wooden.
"Heh... The little brat is getting all sentimental," Serie said, crossing her arms and looking at Frieren with a disdainful expression, her legs crossed.
But no one dared to object to her words. After all, she was a veteran who had lived for tens of thousands of years. She was the only one qualified to call Frieren a 'little brat'.
"That girl, Minuse, was an oddball even among Elves... Never did any proper business, but was passionate about meddling in human wars. It was only a matter of time before she ended up like this."
Serie followed up with a deadpan, mocking comment on the death of the [Witch of War].
"Mhm... My master once said that the ones who could kill us would likely be neither Elves nor Demons, but... humans."
Frieren's expression eased slightly, but her eyes showed that the news of Minuse's death—a fellow kinsman and an acquaintance—had still stirred considerable turmoil within her.
Seeing her teacher's rare expression, Miss Fern, standing beside her, felt a bit helpless and patted her teacher's back, a gesture of comfort that was better than nothing.
Those vermin actually did something like this... Murdering members of the Magic Association, not even sparing unaffiliated freelance mages, and even daring to strike at a Great Mage?
Fíliya's face showed surprise at these words, because the person who had spoken them was none other than Miss Sense, standing right behind her.
What shocked Fíliya was that this was the first time she had ever seen such a clear expression of [Anger] on her older sister's face.
"Sense, now is not the time to be angry. The fact that they succeeded in assassinating a [Great Mage] means their strength absolutely cannot be underestimated... Now is the time to brainstorm... Lady Serie, are you still unable to see the moment of the attack?"
Falsch, however, remained calm and continued to question Serie.
"Yes," Serie replied, nodding honestly.
"Is that so... Then we have no way of knowing what their trump card is... Fíliya... never mind. Sending you undercover would be an impossible mission."
Falsch's gaze rested on Miss Fíliya for a moment before he shook his head. He didn't mean to blame Fíliya, but he felt a slight sense of regret.
"Serie, in the future you saw in your prophetic dream, was I there?" Fíliya spoke up as the atmosphere grew somewhat quiet.
"...No. I saw futures with and without you. In the future without you, I am hit by some kind of invisible sneak attack. And in the future with you... it turns into a field of chaos, and I can see even less."
"? Doesn't that sound great? Chaos means the unknown, which means it's full of possibilities... Hmm, how dangerous is that invisible sneak attack? Should I transfer my [Self-Gold Transformation] to you just in case?" Fíliya asked with a light laugh.
No matter the nature of the opponent's attack, she believed that if she transferred [Self-Gold Transformation] to Serie, it would be foolproof. After all, in this world, the only means to destroy Gold Transformation was currently her own [Magic to Disintegrate All Things].
"Unnecessary... Who do you think I am? I am protected by all sorts of blessings you couldn't possibly imagine... Right now, I'm more worried about you all. If even I can't see the opponent's attack, it's far too dangerous for you to accompany me to the Empire's national celebration... especially you, Frieren."
"Me?" Frieren was taken aback when Serie suddenly mentioned her.
"Yes, you. Didn't Fíliya say that the three living Great Mages are on the kill list of those [Shadow Warriors]? Minuse is already dead. You should be concerned for your own safety."
...
Serie's words made Frieren's eyes widen slightly.
Once, before Fíliya had made her realize it, she had always thought her personality was absolutely incompatible with Serie's.
But now... Serie was clearly showing concern for her.
"Is that so. I am [Frieren the Slayer]... If someone wants to slay me under that name... then let them try."
Fíliya met Serie's gaze, a smile showing no hint of weakness on her face.
Hmm... I think your way of thinking is a bit too rigid."
At that moment, Fíliya's statement once again drew everyone's attention.
"Hm?"
Facing the crowd's confusion, Fíliya very smugly leaped directly onto a nearby table.
"I've already told you that the enemy is preparing an assassination, so why are you all only thinking about how to deal with their assassination? It's time to change those old ways of thinking."
Fíliya continued, her tone deliberately keeping them in suspense.
"Fíliya, you mean... we can also assassinate them?"
The first to react was, surprisingly, the lovely Miss Fern.
After all, concealing one's presence for a surprise attack was precisely the move she had used to wound the War God, Rivale.
Assassination was a skill in which Fern excelled.
"Exactly! As expected, Fern is the smart one."
Fíliya quickly gave Fern a thumbs-up.
"Assassination..."
Upon hearing this, Sense's eyes visibly brightened.
Although she had always called herself a [Pacifist], that didn't mean her hands were truly clean of blood.
If she were truly the serene young woman she appeared to be, she wouldn't have sought from Serie the Hypnosis Magic (Schlafengeflügel), which allowed one to sleep soundly even after killing someone.
In this world, if any existence dared to harm Fíliya and Serie, she would shatter her own principles without a moment's hesitation.
"Even with time being so tight, I've already prepared two methods to deal with the [Shadow Warriors]. Let's start with the first one."
Fíliya cleared her throat, and only after seeing that everyone was looking at her did she continue with satisfaction.
"I've already figured out what most of the Shadow Warriors look like. I'll share that with you all later using Mind Control Magic. We'll strike first and take these guys out one by one. Of course, they've surely changed their base of operations already, and their people are probably hidden elsewhere, but the initiative will be on our side."
"Besides... wouldn't it be even simpler if the [God of Magic] were to act? Once you know what they look like, with your skills, Serie, couldn't you easily kill them all? I refuse to believe they could survive a surprise attack from you... Or do you feel it's beneath your divine status to ambush a group of mortals?"
Fíliya shot a teasing glance at Serie, but Serie remained somewhat silent, not responding immediately.
"There is no need for Lady Serie to act... I will go and kill them one by one. If the [Magical Special Operations Unit] tries to interfere, it will be a good chance to settle some old scores."
Sense spoke with a cold expression, and looking at her like this, Fíliya's curiosity grew even stronger.
Although Fíliya had long known that beneath Sense's porcelain doll-like appearance hid the heart of a berserker, the Sense of today was still different from before.
Hmm... how to put it? Is it a matter of confidence? Yes, Sense feels much more confident than before...
Serie must have given Sense some special training, right?
Although Sense's mana reserves don't seem to have increased much, I get the feeling she's more than just a little bit stronger than before.
Fíliya narrowed her eyes, observing Sense for a good while.
"Fíliya, didn't you say that not all of the [Shadow Warriors] are villains?"
Ah, this... The moment Serie spoke, Fíliya sighed, thinking to herself, So it's come to this, as I expected.
She knew Serie wasn't the type to act like a saint when provoked; otherwise, she couldn't have survived from the Age of Gods until today... The damn woman just couldn't bring herself to treat this [nation that Flamme loved so dearly and devoted her life to] as an enemy. If it were any other country, any other organization, she might have already gone in alone and slaughtered every last enemy.
To put it bluntly, she was the type whose words were harder than anyone's, but whose heart was softer than anyone's.
"How could it be, Serie?"
Frieren also wore a puzzled expression, thinking that Serie couldn't possibly be so soft-hearted... Although she couldn't understand it, if Serie truly felt that assassinating mortals was beneath her... then she might as well do it herself. After all, against those who dared to put her on their kill list, Frieren certainly saw no need to hold back.
"Alright, I anticipated this situation as well. In that case, why not leave this matter entirely to me? I happen to have some helpers here who are very good at handling this kind of thing."
As Fíliya spoke, she clapped her hands as if signaling something.
In the next moment, the door to the room was pushed open.
"Since... when?"
Upon seeing who had arrived, everyone present revealed different, fascinating expressions.
Falsch's glasses slid down his nose again, his expression one of utter shock, because he hadn't sensed anyone outside at all.
Sense's expression, however, carried an added layer of hostility. She stared openly at the leading figure outside the door.
Frieren's expression was silent; she already knew who was outside, so she didn't even turn to look.
Only Fern and Stark showed expressions of pleasant surprise upon seeing the newcomers, even giving them a small, subtle wave.
"Where the hell have you been! Taking so long to send a signal..."
A purple-haired figure was the first to rush into the room, looking at Fíliya with an expression full of resentment.
"Sorry, sorry... I didn't expect to be delayed for so long either."
Fíliya scratched the back of her head awkwardly; after all, she and Serie had indeed spent quite a long time together.
"So your strategy is... them? What can they do?"
Serie looked at Fíliya, puzzled. She had, of course, noticed the three who had been waiting outside the door for a long time.
Although Fíliya's three demon subordinates could be considered powerful in this world, to her, they were no different from ants. Thus, she didn't think their presence would make any difference.
"Hmph hmph... Since we can't see the enemy's attack, and the great Goddess is having a massive outbreak of [love for humanity], agonizing over Flamme's legacy... then this is the only way... As long as we use this move... whatever tricks they have prepared will be meaningless. They won't even have a chance to use them. And this way, there won't be rivers of blood, and no ordinary people will be affected."
Fíliya spoke with a mysterious expression, still keeping them in suspense about her actual intentions.
"This is the Magic Association's business. There's no need to borrow [external power]. It's not that complicated at all. If Lady Serie can't bring herself to do it, then just let me."
Just as Fíliya was about to elaborate on her plan, Sense spoke up once more.
Fíliya quickly jumped off the table and moved closer to Sense's side.
"What external power? They are clearly my power... What are you talking about, Sense?"
Fíliya gently bumped Sense with her shoulder, a fawning expression on her face.
"When it concerns the people you care about most, isn't it always good to borrow any power you can? Or is it that the safety of this great Goddess isn't actually that important to you?"
At that moment, Solitär also walked slowly to Fíliya's side, her eyes calm and her tone without a ripple.
She was currently making no effort to maintain the magic that concealed her demon identity; her own tender-green horns, like bamboo shoots, were displayed openly before Sense.
"..."
Sense was rendered speechless. She couldn't refute Solitär's words and could only choose to remain silent, maintaining a glare at her.
It seemed that in this first confrontation, Miss Solitär had indeed gained the upper hand.
Several days had passed since the strategy meeting, and today was the Empire's national celebration day.
Led by Serie, the group casually entered the Empire's capital, encountering no resistance whatsoever.
Along the way, all they saw and heard were the joyful sounds of the celebration and the festive decorations adorning the streets and shops.
Soon enough, Frieren, unable to resist Fern's curiosity, was pulled by her towards a small gift stall on the side.
Watching this scene, Fíliya shook her head with a sigh.
"Tsk… That Frieren is a bit too relaxed, taking the kids shopping just like that… Does she really think this is a trip?"
Fíliya watched the figures in the distance, her gaze gradually tinged with a bit of envy.
"Is that so? Frieren is far more cunning than you think. Though she appears relaxed, her guard hasn't dropped for a second. It's some improvement over her old, dazed self, I suppose."
Serie's eyes also followed Frieren's figure, and she added this comment with a deadpan expression.
Ugh, of course I know that...
Fíliya grumbled internally, but since Serie was in the mood to lecture her, she couldn't be bothered to argue back at that moment.
"By the way... are we... really going to be okay? The fact that we're of the Demon Race has been exposed, right? I have a really bad feeling about brazenly walking into the Empire's capital now."
Diagonally behind Miss Fíliya, Aura, whose hair had been completely restyled into a shoulder-length cut, hid nervously behind her.
"Relax. No matter your identity, for those guys hiding in the shadows, there's only one main character—one target—today."
Fíliya turned her head and gave Aura a reassuring look.
"But isn't this situation strange? Since we entered the city, there hasn't been any mana locking onto us... Could it be that those people know their plan has changed and have given up on the assassination?"
Solitär narrowed her eyes, being the first to raise this question.
"Impossible. Those guys are single-minded fools. They won't pass up this chance with Serie walking right into their encirclement. But they've definitely adjusted their plan according to the situation... Besides, who said we aren't being watched?"
Fíliya met Solitär's gaze, a distinct smile forming on her lips.
"Hm?"
Solitär frowned slightly and tried to sense her surroundings again... She truly couldn't find any trace.
Meanwhile, Sense and Falsch, who were standing guard by Serie's side and had absolutely no mind to enjoy the capital's festive atmosphere, were also completely bewildered.
We're being watched? But I can't feel the slightest fluctuation of mana...
"It's the Goddess's Magic... This is somewhat surprising. I didn't expect there to be someone here who can use the Goddess's Magic for tracking and surveillance."
Serie spoke up to explain, then looked at Fíliya with a strange expression.
The mystique and priority of the Goddess's Magic were far above that of ordinary magic... This was evident from the reactions of Sense and Falsch.
Even Sense and Falsch... and even that Great Demon couldn't sense the Goddess's Magic, yet Fíliya was able to detect it as quickly as she had... It seemed this girl had already touched upon an incredible [Domain].
"Frieren, did you feel that?"
Serie looked at the white-haired, twin-tailed girl who was rejoining the group and asked with curiosity.
"Hmm, I did have a feeling of being watched, but I didn't think in that direction... So it was the Goddess's Magic."
Frieren, who had just returned, had an expression of sudden realization; she had overheard Serie's words as she approached.
Is that so? Even Frieren, who has trained for a thousand years, only had a vague feeling, yet this Fíliya girl is so certain...
For some reason, as the invincible Lady Serie looked at Fíliya's profile, a trace of emotion welled up in her heart.
It's just as Flamme said. The human race can always bring me endless surprises.
Thinking this, a faint smile appeared on Serie's lips without her realizing it.
Just then... a headband with cat ears was placed on her head. And then, a look of sheer bewilderment flashed across Serie's face.
"Fíliya?"
"Fíliya..."
"Fíliya!"
Several calls with different emotions rang out as everyone stared, dumbfounded, at what Fíliya had just done.
After all... putting a cat-ear headband on Lady Serie was, to everyone else, an unimaginably presumptuous act.
"Hm? Fern, why are you looking at me with such a shocked face?"
Fíliya, however, wore an innocent expression, as if she hadn't reflected on her actions at all.
"I... I got it for you, but... I didn't tell you to put it on Lady Serie..."
Fern's cheeks were flushed, but this blush had nothing to do with shyness; it was entirely from astonishment.
"Mmm... I don't suit this kind of thing at all. Cat ears... are so weird."
Fíliya said, awkwardly scratching her face.
"If you think it's weird, don't give it to others."
Serie finally snapped out of her stupor. Huffing, she plucked the cat-ear accessory from her head and shoved it directly onto Fíliya's.
"..."
Those in the human faction couldn't help but be shocked by Serie's action. Shocked that... Serie wasn't angry at all. Her tone had become only a tiny bit sterner, but her expression showed no sign of anger.
"From now on, you will wear this until you die. You are not allowed to take it off again."
Serie looked at Fíliya's slightly awkward appearance after having the cat ears put on, and a happy expression immediately appeared on her face as she issued the command.
"Fine... fine..."
Fíliya struggled internally for a moment before nodding in resignation.
But just as everyone was preparing to laugh at her, her eyes darted around, and a mischievous idea instantly formed.
She dashed over to the stall where Fern and Frieren had been earlier and bought several more cat-ear headbands in one go.
"It's no fun if I'm the only one wearing one. Here, one for each of you, no fighting over them."
Who would fight over this?!
Everyone mentally retorted with grave expressions, but Fíliya's movements were simply too fast. Before they could even object, an accessory had already been thrust into their hands.
"Even us...? This feels a bit strange..."
The only two men present, Falsch and Stark, voiced their objections in unison.
"What do you mean? No one escapes!"
Fíliya said sternly.
And so, for the next period of time, the group completely transformed into a cat-squad. Everyone (except Serie), with cat ears helplessly perched on their heads, finally crossed the bustling downtown area of the capital in this awkward atmosphere and arrived at the main gate of the royal palace.