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

"Forget it, I have no interest in learning so much nonsense." Aura saw Solitaire's gloomy expression, stood up from the rocking chair, and strode away.

Linne also followed Aura away from the scene without saying a word... The situation in the carriage was an exception, but since there was an opportunity and space to leave, she naturally didn't want to stay there.

After all, in the cruel society of the demon race, apart from Ash and Aura being quite unique, it's best for this young demon to avoid encountering someone far stronger than herself if possible.

Those with similar strength can chat, but those with vastly different strengths... well, be prepared to be enslaved.

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

Solitaire never looked at Linne or spoke to her. Only when Linne passed by did she quietly move away slightly, unwilling to get too close to her.

Because... she could sense that if they got too close, Linne might pose a certain danger.

"What an interesting child~" Solitaire's smile deepened as she got closer, watching Ash's enthusiastic expression.

"That child, despite being so young, somehow managed to give me a sense of threat when we were close enough. How did you train him?"

"She is a warrior."

"A child that small is a warrior...? And he seems really powerful."

"Anyway, don't bully Linne." Ash didn't intend to say too much and casually ended the topic.

Solitaire simply smiled and nodded gently: "I understand. Don't worry, after all, she's the woman you're keeping, right?"

"What do you mean by 'raised in captivity'... I admit Linne is cute, but I wouldn't look at a child I raised from a baby like that, okay?"

"What's wrong with that? Isn't cuteness the best thing? As far as I know, many human nobles are like that, aren't they? They cultivate these interests and hobbies from a young age so that they tend to go in their own direction?"

Faced with this obvious question, Ash retorted with a dark expression, "You think I enjoy being her hand towel?"

"Ara? So you don't like it?"

"...What kind of person am I in your impression?"

"People who like children, and as far as I know, the only demons who would adopt a child are you and Aura."

“I call that compassion, Aura’s is… just a hobby.”

"Hehe~ What a huge difference! The bond between you siblings is truly heartwarming~"

His casual answer made Solitaire press her hand to her chest with a look of rapture, nodding gently in admiration.

This guy is really strange, even stranger than myself... no, even stranger than Aura and Linne. Is this a characteristic of wild demons? Ash didn't speak, just looked at the strange guy in front of him, unsure of what to do.

But he didn't say much. Instead, he rested his chin on his hand on his desk, watching the uninvited guest.

"To be honest, I don't quite understand how what I said made you feel that 'heartwarming sibling relationship'?"

"In every sense."

"As expected, you should be the most unique one."

"Me? I should be pretty ordinary, right? Ah, the only special thing about me is that I'm a bit timid, right?"

Solitaire clasped her hands together in front of her chest and sat down next to him, leaning against him and pressing her soft body against him. She looked up at him with a pitiful expression and said, "So, I'll be relying on you to protect me from now on."

"...You're at least a thousand years old, do you really need someone to protect you?"

"No matter how time changes, I am essentially just a weak woman."

"Who taught you all this?"

"All of it... comes from the bottom of my heart, doesn't it?" Solitaire smiled sweetly and chuckled softly.

But Ash knew all too well that this guy had somehow learned all this random stuff and somehow ended up using it on himself.

Now he really couldn't understand what this girl was thinking... At least he was certain that he didn't think she would really fall in love with him at first sight, after all, even Aura didn't believe her words.

"Let's put all that aside for now and exchange what we have. You teach me your special skills, and I'll teach you the most comprehensive knowledge of the human magic system that you've ever had."

"Of course! Wasn't that agreed upon from the beginning?"

“Then… please take a look.” Ash silently stood up and patted the bookshelf next to him: “These are all yours. You can look at them anytime you want, however you like.”

"....Book?"

For the first time, Solitaire's smile seemed to falter.

This prompted him to immediately add, "Don't underestimate these books. These are the kinds of things that most human mages dream of. In addition, I have almost all the magic of modern humans in the library of this royal city, and I can teach you any magic that any mage in this royal city takes a fancy to."

"...Are they as good as you?"

"Human beings have limits, and those who can reach those limits wouldn't be in this royal city."

"So, as part of the deal, shouldn't you be the one teaching me? Or... are you bullying me because you see me as a weak woman?"

Solitaire's smile remained unchanged, but there seemed to be a hint of danger in it.

"I have my own difficulties, but let's do this." He spread his hands with a hint of distress:

“I will open the castle’s library completely and arrange for the best mages to teach you, and I will continue to help when necessary.... How about that?”

"...The necessary range is too large. If you need to provide an answer, how about this?"

I will answer to the best of my ability.

"Then, let's make a deal."

After all, all she asked for was the latest and most comprehensive knowledge, so Solitaire didn't press the issue too much and extended her hand to him with a gentle smile.

The moment these two hands, one large and one small, clasped together, it foreshadowed the arrival of yet another great demon into Ash's plans.

Although he's an oddball... it's best not to dwell on these issues too much at this time.

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

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

In the royal city, Solitaire, a great demon, gradually appeared. Ash wasn't in the royal city every day; he would occasionally lead everyone north to the Demon King's city.

Move Aura’s undead legion there, and let Line learn from the bloodstained war god Livale. Aura and Solitaire study from the corrupt sage Guval, while he himself studies from both sides, developing in both areas to the fullest.

Time flies by as they travel back and forth between the royal city and the demon king's city, studying, working, and occasionally teasing Linne. Before they know it, it seems that Philon's birthday is just around the corner.

What would happen if he accidentally missed Philon's birthday... Ash guessed she would be very angry, and Frilian would also kick him while he was down, but most importantly, he himself didn't intend to miss it.

So, one morning after the time had been calculated.

He casually mentioned that he was going out for a while and would be back in a few months or a year. He then packed his things and left the study.

When he heard his voice, Aura was still lying in the rocking chair, lazily rocking without any intention of getting up, and casually waved his hand.

Solitaire, who was engrossed in reading on the table, simply nodded slightly, completely ignoring the matter.

But Linne, who was squatting on the ground picking and choosing among a box of fresh apples, looked over at the last moment, biting into an apple and looking at him vaguely:

"Take care on your journey, Lord Ash... If it's convenient for you to come back, please bring me some apples from the central region."

"Stop eating apples all day long, eat some meat... How are you going to grow taller like this?"

"But isn't this what Lord Ash likes?"

Linne tilted her head blankly, causing Ash to instinctively stop in his tracks upon hearing her voice. He turned back helplessly and denied it righteously: "—No!"

“But that’s what Lord Aura said.”

"She's lying to you! And I hope you can grow taller."

“However, my body has already reached its final stage and can no longer grow, and…” Linne turned her face slightly away before finally revealing the real reason: “I like to eat apples.”

"—Why don't you just say it directly? Don't use my sexual fetish as a shield! What if someone who doesn't know the truth hears it and misunderstands?"

"Sorry, but... next time I meet someone, I'll just say that Lord Ash likes big ones, okay?"

"Do not say!"

"why?"

"I'll be seen as a pervert!"

"So what should I say?"

"As long as it's normal!"

"Do you prefer the normal one?"

"That's not normal! I meant... never mind, you'd better not say anything."

"...Is that so? Wouldn't it have been better to say it like that from the beginning? Ash-sama is such a troublemaker."

Linne took a small bite of her apple with a blank expression, and her words were as outrageous and unrestrained as ever.

Has this child really been spoiled by Aura and me? Should we teach him a lesson from now on? — Ash looked bewildered, rubbing his forehead with one hand as he pondered the root cause of his repeated failures in disciplining him.

The Burial of Frilian: The Official Beginning of the Journey: Chapter One - Reunion with Philon - You Smell Like Apples! (4K)

If they weren't in such a rush, Ash would definitely have given this outspoken kid a good talking-out.

Unfortunately, he suddenly remembered that it was Philon's birthday... After all, time always flies by in the blink of an eye, and it was lucky that he remembered at the last minute. So, in his hurry, he grabbed an apple from Linne and stuffed it into his pocket before leaving, and flicked Linne's forehead with his finger.