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

"Is Celia really that girly?"

"No, Master doesn't seem to like it."

"...What's the point then?"

"I quite like it."

"You two are really not a good match."

“I know that, but it was the first magic my parents taught me when I was little, and it was also the reason I fell in love with magic.” Vlamé looked at the sea of ​​flowers, revealing a sense of nostalgia for the past: “This sea of ​​flowers is big enough that perhaps in the future, when I am no longer here, they can accompany my master… That’s what I think.”

"..."

Frillie, who had never interrupted their conversation, listened with her eyes widening slightly, yet she seemed somewhat confused.

Therefore, she turned to Ash and asked, puzzled, "I think I understand Master's motives. Ash, why do you like magic so much?"

“It’s out of necessity to survive, and…” He fiddled with the flower in his hand, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: “My sister… she has deep and urgent expectations of me.”

"Then you mustn't let your sister down."

"...No, I think it's better to let them down."

"Huh??" Frillie was completely dumbfounded.

Whether it was what her master wanted to express or Ash's words, they all made her doubt... that she really didn't understand human emotions very well.

But... Vlamed saw through her mood and patted her shoulder with a sigh: "Don't worry about it. It's not just you; I don't understand what he means either."

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

The next day.

The group left the sea of ​​flowers and ventured deep into the ruins, eventually arriving at the familiar hall.

The blonde elf, Celia, sat as usual on her throne in the deepest part of the palace, looking utterly bored.

However, when she came in, Frilian followed suit and knelt on one knee, just like Vlamé.

It was at this moment that Celia revealed an enthusiastic smile, but her gaze was fixed on Ash, who was sitting cross-legged beside her, flipping through a book:

"Hey kid over there, did you see that? This is what a proper disciple should look like."

"...Don't suddenly pick a fight, okay? You clearly don't like these tedious formalities either, do you?" Ash retorted without thinking, not even looking up, his eyes still fixed on the book in his hands.

"Who said that? I value etiquette the most!"

"...Then why don't you put your feet on the chair and sit properly?" Ash glanced at Celia, who had no manners at sitting, standing, or even squatting, and was too lazy to complain about her anymore.

"Tsk, so perceptive at a time like this." Being looked down upon by her own disciple made Celia click her tongue in amazement. "Who do you think has been supporting you all this time here?"

"...Instead of this, would you rather have Vlame and Frilian keep kneeling there?"

"I have no problem with this, I'm the elder! And you're the one who caused this situation, what? Feeling guilty now?"

"Absolutely not. After all, I wasn't the one kneeling, and I wasn't the one being knelt to. It has nothing to do with me."

Where have your morals gone?

"Please don't suddenly have such high expectations of me when I'm still young, okay?"

“…Never mind, I’ll kick you out later. Now…” Celia paused halfway through her sentence, then looked at the two still kneeling on the ground, revealing a smile completely different from the one she had shown to Ash:

"Time flies! The apprentice I took on out of interest has already brought his grand-apprentice here so soon?"

“She is Frilian.” Vlamour nodded with a smile.

"An elf? That's powerful. I like it. Tell me the magic you want, and I'll teach you one."

"Is it what Ash mentioned before... the transfer of magic?"

"Yes, I possess almost all magic. As long as you speak it, I can grant you it in an instant."

"Give it to Ash."

“…What?” Celia was stunned for a moment, then turned to Ash, and said with displeasure, “You, did you threaten your own nephew?”

“The process of exploring magic is the most interesting part... so I said no from the beginning, but Ash offered to give it to him instead.”

“...You really have no shame.” Frillie’s explanation made Celie roll her eyes at Ash.

But he simply said, "Opportunity is for the brave."

"Never mind, I'll talk to you later." Celia was too lazy to pay attention to him, and glanced at Vlame: "Your disciple is no good. He lacks ambition and doesn't have that inexhaustible ambition."

I think..."

"You're even worse. Your ambitions are too big. I hate them too."

Ash had barely opened his mouth when Celia shut him down with a single, simple sentence.

The Burial of Frilian: A Thousand Years Later: Chapter Twenty-Six Frilian: I bet that treasure chest has something in it!

The obvious differential treatment made Ash too lazy to even complain anymore, but his humiliated appearance made Frilian, who was kneeling beside him, unable to help but laugh.

However, because the occasion was rather formal, she forced herself not to laugh.

But Ash wasn't one to suffer a loss alone. He simply grabbed a few more books from the side and walked out, saying, "I'm leaving now. You guys can chat on your own. I'll be back when it's time for dinner."

"Don't come back! I won't be preparing dinner for you!" Celia waved her hands like she was chasing away a kitten or puppy, clearly not welcoming him back for a free meal.

Seeing this, Vlame couldn't help but laugh: "...Master seems to really like this new disciple."

"How is that similar? You shouldn't even be forty yet, right? Have you gone blind so quickly?"

"No, it's just that...it feels like something is similar."

"Isn't this just blindness?" Celia rolled her eyes at her, almost too lazy to pay attention to this disciple who had inexplicably started to misbehave, and unconsciously looked towards the gate, muttering, "Is it really that guy's fault?"

Although that's what she said, it might be too late to catch him now, so she could only give up for the time being and decided to teach him a lesson when he came back. He's always causing trouble... just like her, he doesn't follow any rules at all.

Of course, I don't care, since I'm an elder and can understand and not care, but the younger generation certainly can't, right?

However... although that's what she thought, Ash had no intention of going back at all.

Because if his obedient disciple returned, he would surely be compared to others for his misbehavior, and he would have to listen to his elders criticize him for the good qualities of other children. Under such speculation, Ash, who had already obtained the new grimoire, had no intention of returning for the time being.

...Although it's a bit of a shame that he couldn't rely on his parents, it also inadvertently saved him from a troublesome situation.

He hadn't paid attention to what was happening inside, but when the master and apprentice returned, he noticed a strange smile on Frillie's face.

No matter how much he pressed her for an explanation, Frillie wouldn't give him one.

This made him simply ignore her. The girl, who seemed to be expecting something, was flipping through a book beside him, muttering to herself, "People these days... never mind."

"Speaking of which, Ash, has this ruin been fully explored?"

"...No, after all, Celie isn't interested, and I'm too lazy."

"So, maybe there's some treasure waiting for us?"

Ash didn't want to talk to her anymore, but after getting an answer from her, Frillie became interested in exploring the dungeon again.

"Us? Did you add me without my permission?"

"Aren't you going? Maybe there's a grimoire that even Celia hasn't discovered?"

"...Go!"

In just a moment, Ash, who had initially intended to firmly refuse, was tempted.

He closed the magic book in his hand, stood up, and led the way.

This made Frillie smile: "You really do like magic."

"I can't help it, I'm very curious about the unknown, and it's also a necessity for survival."

"And your sister's expectations, right? But speaking of which, I've never heard of your sister before?"

"That's a troublesome guy, let's not talk about him."

"Really? Then let's go."

An ordinary person might have asked again, but Frilian didn't. She quickly caught up with him and began to walk deeper into the ruins.

Their performance seemed to be even more anticipated than he was.

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

Working together, the two easily swept away the underground ruins.

Of course, there's nothing dangerous about it; the powerful ones that run around would have been eliminated by Celie long ago.

So soon, an ancient-looking treasure chest appeared before them, but...

"...What are you doing squatting there? I already checked with magic, it's just a mimic." Ash couldn't help but want to grab her by the back of her collar and drag her away, looking at Frillie who was squatting in front of the treasure chest and unwilling to leave.

But Freylan turned around and said in a serious tone, "You yourself said that there's a one percent chance that that kind of magic might be misjudged, right?"