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

The somber and sorrowful funeral gradually came to an end amidst Haitana's incongruous banter and his aged, weak laughter.

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

After resting overnight in the capital, the group met again at the city gate the next day, but one person was missing.

The church carriage was already waiting for Haita at the door.

Before boarding the carriage, Haita turned around and carefully examined the three of them, revealing a kind smile that was completely different from his former self:

"...Let me take one last good look at you all. This should be the last time we meet."

"Is something wrong with your health?" Frillie's face showed obvious worry, but Haita laughed and said, "It's probably retribution for years of drinking."

"That was truly divine punishment."

Just as Haita always said he was disgusting, Aize was also exceptionally ruthless towards Haita.

But neither of them seemed to care about this level of joke.

Haita just laughed and turned to get into the carriage, telling them that if they ever went to the Holy City, they should bring some wine to his grave.

This nonchalant attitude towards death puzzled Frillie, but Haita's explanation was simply...

"We're a heroic team that saves the world! We'll definitely be feasting in heaven after we die, and that's why I fought alongside you!"

Ending with a joke, Haita smiled contentedly at everyone, closed his eyes in the carriage, and drove away as everyone watched him go.

"Heaven...?" Ash muttered softly to himself, which made Frilian laugh.

"Leaving aside a drunken monk like Haita, don't even think about it, you lazy fellow, who's also a wall-climbing hooligan. After all, you even vomited on the goddess's statue."

"No, I've never thought about that kind of thing."

"Really? You're actually quite self-aware?"

"of course."

After all, the goddess is the enemy of the demon race, so it would be strange if she could go to heaven—just thinking about this, he shrugged indifferently.

But this attitude made Frillie a little worried, as if she was afraid that she had really hurt him, and she corrected him, "...I was just joking. You haven't given up on yourself, have you?"

"...What's there to give up on?" He shook his head and chuckled, then patted her head. "You're the one who should be thinking about what to do next."

“How many times have I told you, don’t touch my head…” Frillian resisted, brushing her hand away, but with a hint of unspoken emotion, she slightly tightened her grip on her suitcase, her gaze sweeping over the two of them with her usual calm.

"From now on, I'll remain the same as before... What about you guys?"

"...Let's go home, there's nothing special going on."

Aize's tone remained somber, but that's how it's always been, so they didn't really care.

However, Ash remembered Aize's house, which he had visited once before, and couldn't help but show a strange expression:

"...Seriously, you should go become an adventurer and earn some money to decorate that cave a bit, wouldn't that be better? Last time I went there, I thought it was an open-air tomb."

"At least I don't have to worry about being robbed, what's wrong with that?"

"Since there's nothing of value in it, there's no need to worry about being robbed... Is that really an advantage?"

"Let's forget it. My old bones can't take any more of this." Aize stroked his still ridiculously long beard and slowly shook his head. "Besides, we're used to it. We can eat our fill by hunting anyway. What's wrong with being carefree like this?"

"You guys are really without desires..."

To be honest, as members of the Brave Squad, apart from Haita who stood out, the others were basically struggling at the average level.

This made him, as a demon, feel that the rewards humans gave them were far too stingy... It's a wonder they didn't care at all.

Even though Aize changed the subject, Frilian still stared at him, silently waiting for his answer.

This was a question he didn't want to answer in the first place, a question he couldn't possibly answer properly. Frustrated, he scratched his head and sighed:

"I'm not sure, maybe I'll just wander around? Before I leave, I'll have to go to the South, and after meeting an old friend, I'll probably have to visit him."

"....Yeah?"

"Yes."

"So... goodbye?"

"...There might be a chance."

The two said their goodbyes, and the silent Aize nodded quietly.

A faint smile and a hint of barely perceptible sadness intertwined quietly, slowly dissipating in the air.

Ash also volunteered to be the first of the remaining three to leave.

Gazing at that figure, so familiar it couldn't be more so, that she had known it for a thousand years, Frilian, standing rooted to the spot, felt something—perhaps... a feeling of parting.

A subtle, almost imperceptible ripple passed through my heart.

Was it a subtle sadness at the impending separation? She wasn't quite sure.

But then she thought again—this was certainly not a final farewell, but rather a prelude to their next reunion.

After all, this person always seems to suddenly reappear just when others think he's dead.

With this expectation, she suppressed all the emotions surging in her heart, holding onto hope that they would surely meet again in the near future.

Although reason tells her that this time... even the promise is broken, and perhaps they really won't see each other again.

But meeting and parting are the main themes of life, and she's already used to it... That's how it should be.

But the thought that they might never meet again made her unconsciously tighten her grip on her suitcase, and she stood there motionless, letting the sudden strong wind tousle her beautiful silver hair.

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

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

When Ash once again arrived in the long-lost south, where the Kingdom of Tad was located.

The once-young Anderson is now an old man with white hair, but when he meets Ash, after his initial surprise, he walks over quickly like an excited child.

Despite the passing of his parents and the fact that his great-granddaughter was old enough to run errands, Anderson still treated him with the same warmth he had shown 59 years ago, even bringing his own relatives over.

Although somewhat troubled, Ash accepted the invitation to the banquet, and when he couldn't refuse, he even lifted Anderson's great-granddaughter up in the air and played with her for a while.

But he only stayed for a short while before choosing to leave... Throughout his brief stay, Anderson surprisingly did not ask anything about his agelessness.

Is it that the old man lacks curiosity, or is there some other reason? Just as his appearance hasn't aged, his mindset hasn't either, so he doesn't know.

"...It would be better if we didn't come again."

Once he was certain that they were well-off and probably didn't need his help, he told him to decide not to visit the place again.

Because it's obvious without even thinking that Anderson will be dead when he comes back next time.

So he took one last look at the old man and his family, then sadly lowered his eyes and disappeared from everyone's sight before nightfall, without staying overnight.

And then... just like that, about eighteen years later, one day...

While he was eating on the streets of the city, he overheard some unexpected news from the traveling merchant at the next table who had just returned from outside the city.

"...The war has started again in the south."

"Isn't the South always at war? Or rather, the North only calmed down a few years ago when the Demon King attacked, but recently they've started fighting again, haven't they?"

“It’s different! This time, three kingdoms in the south have formed an alliance. The Kingdom of Ermus, which was the first to be affected, is gone, and even the Kingdom of Tad is probably about to collapse.”

........

According to the merchants' conversation, the perpetually turbulent southern kingdoms have once again been embroiled in a large-scale war.

The kingdom of Tard, where he once served as a general, was forced to retreat during this war, abandoning many cities in the process, including what appears to be the town he founded.

Although I had already decided not to go back to that town.

But hearing the familiar name, Ash was still a little worried about the family's situation.

Therefore, after roughly confirming the news, he did not hesitate and immediately flew south.

Along the way, he saw countless refugees wandering aimlessly from high above, and several cities that had been completely destroyed.

My familiar yet unfamiliar second hometown—the once bustling town—is now a scene of utter devastation.

Countless houses have either been engulfed by flames, leaving only charred shells to tell the story of the disaster, or are just skeletons that barely stand.

More often, it has turned into scattered rubble, layer upon layer, piling up into silent tombstones, marking the former prosperity and present desolation of this place.

The Burial of Frilian: A Thousand Years Later: Chapter Sixty-Six - Descendant of an Old Friend - Philon - I am an Evil Magician

Scattered among the ruins of the town were countless skeletons and remains... Perhaps in their haste to advance, they hadn't even had time to collect the bodies, and logistics seemed to be inadequate as well. There was no sign of life, only carrion vultures roaming the city.

"...They're gone. Did they flee? Or...did they die out there?"

Ash stood before the only familiar building on the street, now destroyed by fire, his expression inevitably somber.