What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?

"Just a passerby." As he spoke, he couldn't help but sigh again: "I was just thinking about something sad, please don't mind me, after all, I'm a good person."

"....Yeah?"

"Ah."

"Are you really a good person? Your aura is a bit strange, and... the murderous intent is quite obvious." The girl pointed at his face and asked bluntly, "Aren't you actually a fugitive?"

Do I look like that kind of person?

"I don't know, maybe?"

"Actually, I am a general of the kingdom."

"Then why come here?"

"Actually, I defected."

"Defected...?" The elven girl's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "So he really is a fugitive? But why?"

"Because I want to learn magic."

"Want to learn magic?... You seem to be quite strong among humans, although I haven't seen many humans."

"You look very strong too. Can you teach me magic?"

Although the opponent was clearly not as strong as the two they had encountered before, it was still a long-lived elf and should possess unique magic. As Ash spoke, he took out two gold coins from his person: "Is this considered payment? Is that alright?"

"..." The girl glanced at the money in his hand and slowly shook her head: "You don't need money here."

"That would be troublesome."

"However, in exchange, you can trade prey."

“Ah, I’m good at hunting.” He smiled and then extended his hand to the girl in front of him: “My name is Ash, and yours is Ash.”

"Flillian."

"Then please take care of me from now on, Miss Frillian."

"Ah."

Frillie nodded indifferently and walked towards a stone house on her own, not intending to say anything more to him.

Although he felt a little regretful, he wasn't too bothered by it; he was just a bit worried about what he should do next.

But Frillie stopped and turned around: "What are you doing standing over there?"

"Um... I'm thinking about what I should do at this time..."

"come over."

"???"

“Edna’s house has been empty for a while, and she probably won’t be back before you die, so you can borrow it for now.” Frilian pointed to a building covered in vines.

"...You're exaggerating. But how long is 'a while'?"

"More than thirty years, I think?"

"...That's been quite a while."

The claim that they had been gone for ten days or half a month made Ash click his tongue in astonishment, but he still looked around and couldn't help but ask, "Speaking of which, you must have a lot of free time, so why don't you repair these residences?"

"It will break after a while, which is too troublesome. As long as it doesn't leak, it will be fine."

"...How long is 'a while'? Ah... never mind, I can probably guess."

He rested his hand on his forehead, trying to gather his thoughts.

Although he was already an immortal being, he was still not quite used to the elves' unique perspective on time... But in any case, he temporarily settled down in this elven village, which was neither particularly hospitable nor unwelcoming.

The Burial of Frilian: A Thousand Years From Now On: Chapter Seventeen Who is the Strange One?

Since elves are considered human in a broad sense in this world, and sometimes they refer to themselves as human, they don't have any xenophobic thoughts towards humans.

His long lifespan and research into magic made this village quite different from the human villages he first encountered; it seemed unexpectedly prosperous... or perhaps not, just simply a place where people could eat their fill.

But being stuck in these deep mountains, there's no way we can get anything good to eat.

"...But I never expected that the elves would be such good at grilling."

"After all, I'm free." Frillie, who looked completely unmotivated, gave her answer without even thinking. It made perfect sense, yet it also made him want to complain.

Her hesitant expression made Frilian instinctively raise an eyebrow: "What is it?"

"...It's nothing, I was just thinking that I hope I can get used to it here as soon as possible."

"There's no point in getting used to it, you'll leave soon anyway."

"Is that so?"

"Everyone who comes here is like this; I've heard that no one lives longer than a hundred years."

"...That's because he's dead."

"Ah...it seems so?" Frillian sighed to herself, staring at the flames before her with a slightly emotionless tone. "Human lifespans are really short. They die of old age before they even get to know each other."

"I'm not kidding... just how slow are you to warm up?"

What does "slow to warm up" mean?

"Slow to warm up is... never mind." Ash felt that humans were a little different from her in that regard, so he simply ended the pointless conversation and asked, "Anyway, may I ask when you plan to teach me magic?"

"Let's take a short rest."

"Let me confirm first, how long is your 'one'?"

"Thirty years?" Frilian didn't think much of it and casually gave a timeframe that seemed about right: "Thirty years is about the right amount of time. By then, you'll have adapted to this village and be able to start studying properly, right?"

"Are you serious?" he asked, dumbfounded, while Frillie looked on in confusion: "Why would I lie?"

"...What should I do? I suddenly feel like hitting someone."

"Huh? Do you have violent tendencies?" Frilian subconsciously moved away from him, and even regretted arranging accommodation for him.

Her clearly wary expression made him struggle to suppress his surging emotions, barely managing to refrain from hitting her on the forehead.

"That's not it! What's strange is you—! Normally, I could have mastered C programming from beginner to dead in thirty years!"

"What language is that? It sounds so strange."

"........"

He couldn't explain how C language worked. In short, he was speechless for a moment, and just covered his face, starting to worry about the next conversation and life in this village.

Although he was also an immortal being, he still couldn't get used to the concept of time that was so different from the past.

But since he was already there, he wasn't willing to leave just like that, so he made a forced agreement during the meal that he would start learning magic the next day.

...........................

...........................

The next day, the appointed time arrived.

He was preparing to have Frilian teach him magic, but when she didn't come, he went directly to Frilian's hut. Upon opening the door, however, he saw...

".....What about this?"

The silver-haired elf's lower body remained on the bed, while its upper body had fallen off, with its cheek resting on the floor... It was literally propping itself up with its face, and just looking at it made him feel a little embarrassed.

After a moment of stunned silence, he still squatted down next to Frillie and reached out to poke her cheek:

"Wake up, Frilian, the sun has already risen."

"..."

"Hey."

"..."

"do you died?"

Frillie didn't give any response at all, which gave him a headache, so he flicked her long ear with his finger.

However... there was still no response.

"...Even so, you still don't want to wake up? Then there's nothing we can do." After a moment's thought, Ash simply reached out and grabbed her ankle, lifting her up like that.

This elf, whose age is unknown and whose size is like that of a little girl, was being lifted up upside down.

Under the influence of gravity, the pure white skirt flipped upside down, revealing the girl's simple white panties, just like her clothing.

"...I've always wondered why underwear exists in this era. Wait, shouldn't I be wondering why this elf isn't reacting even though its underwear is showing? Are all elves like this?"

Staring at the plain, unadorned fabric, he felt no sense of sensuality whatsoever, only a growing headache.

The fact that the elf remained completely still no matter how much he shook it made him even more suspicious that there was something wrong with the elf population.

However, as soon as he said this, a speechless voice came from the side: "...No, it's just that Frilian simply likes to sleep in."