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

In this situation, it would be fine if they were all mages and monks, but if they were warriors... they would probably faint after just one trip around the village.

But Ash wasn't just fine in the village; even after walking in the forest for so long and it was already dark, he was still full of energy.

Zain, who had just realized he should be a soldier, was speechless with astonishment:

"--Wait a minute! You're supposed to be a warrior, right? Why is it that even the legendary hero's mage has fallen unconscious, yet you, someone without any divine protection, are still conscious??"

"Didn't I tell you? I actually know some magic too." Ash casually gave an answer, as if nothing had happened.

But in reality... he wasn't entirely supported by magic. It was purely because the demon race's bodies had a strong resistance to this curse. After all, they couldn't obtain the goddess's blessing or use the goddess's magic. If they didn't want to be bullied to death by this kind of demon beast, they naturally had to have similar resistance.

He couldn't explain this, and Zain...

He simply didn't believe that this so-called "little bit" could reach this level, and even suspected that the excuse this guy was making was an insult to his own intelligence.

The Burial of Frilian: The Officially Beginning Journey: Chapter Sixteen - The Promised Morning - Old Battlefield Grudges - The Vengeful Nobles (9K)

Ash's casual answer made Zain feel like he was being fooled, and he couldn't help but want to rush up and shake his shoulders.

"Just a little? Really just a little? And that's enough to cause this much damage?"

He had just shouted something in a complaining tone, but before he could ask any questions, he felt the ground shaking, as if something was constantly approaching.

This prompted Zain to abandon further investigation. Instead, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings, saying without turning his head, "Is it really alright to leave it to you? Let me make this clear beforehand: I only know a little bit of the Goddess's combat magic. Don't expect me to be able to defeat a monster capable of casting a curse of this level."

"It's okay, I'll figure out a way to solve it when it really comes down to it."

"No... I'd better bring Frillie with me after all." Although he seemed genuinely confident, Zain had placed his life in his hands:

"With a mage as strong as her, I feel a little more at ease... even though I can only restore her for five seconds."

"So you really don't believe me."

Do you have any particularly impressive achievements?

"No, but we're all comrades, so you should have a little more faith in me."

"—No! What if you can't do it? Then the village and I will both be doomed!"

.......

Although he could indeed resist the curse, Zain still couldn't bring himself to place all his weight on something so important that Ash might be very strong... He excitedly and strongly requested to bring Frilian along.

Ash was somewhat helpless. To put his mind at ease, he could only release the barrier and pick up Frilian in his arms.

I didn't explain to him... that sometimes being unknown is more dangerous, just like how nameless demons are generally very dangerous.

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

Zain, who was walking in front, took out the Holy Scripture and carefully walked ahead again. He kept trying to calm himself down by taking deep breaths and nervously looked around, searching for the monsters that seemed to have appeared nearby.

However... the other party certainly did not disappoint him.

Before long, his gaze locked onto the true form of the cursed beast in an open space—undoubtedly, just as Ash had speculated, it was a subspecies of the Chaos Flower.

Its shape is bizarre and spectacular, with a huge, colorful flower blooming at the top, green vines below, and branches and leaves at the very end. The overall structure is like a "standing" octopus, which is both eerie and shocking.

Although this creature clearly belongs to the category of plant-type monsters and is only two or three stories tall, it uses seemingly delicate branches and leaves as its feet to glide slowly across the ground, and its whole body gleams like a mirror.

"—The Goddess's Three Shots!!"

Even though he was so nervous that he broke out in a cold sweat the moment he saw the other person, Zain still opened the holy book in his hand without hesitation and released his most proud attack magic when the other person seemed to notice him.

Three dazzling golden beams pierced the air, aiming straight for the core of the petal, attempting to strike it with a single blow.

Surprisingly, this seemingly clumsy and heavy Chaos Flower instantly closed the small opening between its petals.

The three leaves quickly and accurately blocked the incoming golden light from the petals.

Immediately afterwards, the golden light was miraculously refracted, scattering like a meteor shower throughout the surrounding forest, leaving behind dazzling but fleeting trails.

"—How is this possible?! It can actually reflect magic?!" Zain was slightly stunned, and suddenly turned around to look at Ash, only to see him calmly placing Frilian, whom he was holding, on the ground.

Seeing this, Zain couldn't help but get anxious and frustrated by her lack of urgency, and couldn't help but shout: "—Stop dawdling with Frillie! It can reflect magic! Hurry up....!"

"Alright, alright, don't be so nervous. Didn't I say I'd handle it?"

Ash shook his head helplessly, and just as the Chaos Flower noticed him and suddenly slapped him with a leaf the size of a car, he casually swung his palm.

In an instant, purple lightning surged forth like a raging tide, tearing apart the tranquility of the night.

Boom——! ! !

The leaves, which were originally as smooth and flawless as a mirror, collapsed and disintegrated instantly under abnormal pressure.

The scene of destruction spread all the way, and the terrifying destructive force pressed down on the earth while "devouring" the "delicate body" of the Chaos Flower from the front without any hindrance.

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

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

In the blink of an eye, the Chaos Flower seemed to have been crushed by an unreasonable and immense force, and was completely dismembered from the front.

Yes, the scene was exactly as the words suggest—utterly astonishing.

Zain had almost prepared to mourn Ash, after all, directly confronting a monster that could reflect magic with magic was practically tantamount to suicide.

But the situation developed far beyond his expectations.

He witnessed the earth collapse beneath the Chaos Flower, its enormous body crushed into fragments without any resistance, deeply embedded in the soil, utterly devoid of life.

Outside the area of ​​abnormal gravity, sand and dust erupted, and as the Chaos Flower was squeezed by the powerful force, just like a hydraulic press crushing an octopus, the scene of internal organs fragments flying everywhere outside the gravity-bound area naturally unfolded.

The scene created by that simple strike exemplified destruction and devastation. Even as an ally, Zain was bound by fear, and an indescribable shock welled up within him.

Just recalling this exaggerated scene that seemed to send shivers down his spine, he was momentarily speechless.

After a long while, Zain finally recovered from his stunned state. With an incredulous expression, he turned around to look at Ash, who seemed to have done nothing of great importance. His voice trembled slightly.

"This is what you meant by... only knowing a little magic?"

"I meant I know some magic."

"—This is hardly just magic!" His nonchalant remark prompted Zain to rush forward, place his hands on his shoulders, and shake him vigorously. "I've never seen magic more outrageous than this!!"

"Don't exaggerate like that. Actually, this is your first time leaving the village, right? What kind of magic could you have seen if you've always stayed in the village?"

Even so, I still have common sense!

"Really? But I did say at the beginning that I'm pretty capable, you just don't believe me, right?"

"—No no no no no! This isn't even in the 'tough' range!" Zain shook his head vigorously.

Ash couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle at his excited expression.

"Don't worry about the details. No matter how you look at it, it's your fault for not believing me in the first place."

"...I'm not going to worry about who's right or wrong right now. Even if it was my fault, how did you do that? It can clearly reflect magic, right?" Even after calming down a bit, Kazan still couldn't understand what had happened.

Ash simply explained, "As long as we exceed the upper limit of its reflectivity, that will suffice."

"...That's so easy to say."

"It's actually quite simple."

"...Damn it! Such the composure of a powerful figure!!"

"Actually, I would consider myself a strong person."

"How enviable!!"

........

It wasn't just a simple sigh; Zain was genuinely envious, to the point that he almost wanted to bite his handkerchief.

Seeing him like this, Ash didn't think there was anything to brag about to this drunken monk, but he couldn't help but show a smug expression, wanting to provoke the guy again.

But of course he didn't explain... Besides forcibly breaking through, the gravitational lightning could also bring physical pressure, so it wouldn't have much effect on magic abilities alone.

After the initial envy and amazement, Zain gradually regained his composure after some time.

Of course, a full recovery was unlikely, so he couldn't help but stare at Ash with a puzzled expression, feeling that his opinion of him had completely changed.

"...You're already incredibly strong, aren't you? You've reached this level, why are you still working so hard?"

"So that one day we can conquer this world?"

"What? A villainous statement?" Hearing this, Zain couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. "The world is so peaceful now, what are you saying...?"

Is there really peace?

"Uh... at least generally speaking, it won't be too exaggerated... probably...?"

Having not left the village, Zain was now lost in thought, trying hard to say something but unsure of what to say, appearing extremely conflicted.

Ash, on the other hand, seemed quite casual. He picked up the still-unconscious Frillie from the ground, didn't bother to wake her up, and simply carried her on his shoulder. Without looking back, he turned and headed back into the forest: "I was just kidding. Let's hurry back."

"...Of course I know it's a joke, but coming from you, it doesn't sound so funny." Zain gave a wry smile, complained, and quickly followed after him.