Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

"It's been so long since I've seen any elves outside the village."

"Welcome, welcome."

As they entered the village with Frilian, all sorts of elves showed curiosity about their arrival, but only glanced at them briefly, without any of them crowding around.

Carlos realized that what Celia had said was indeed true; Frilian was indeed the strongest person in the village, and no one else had noticed her demonic nature.

"Be careful of the only male in that group; he's a demon." Frilian led them to the door of a house, then went inside and whispered to the two elves inside.

Since you're already lowering your voice, why can't you lower it even further? He heard everything!

Carlos could see that the way they looked at him changed instantly.

Hopefully, the elves aren't big mouths, otherwise he'll have to change his appearance and live a different life.

but……

Carlos glanced at Celia, who had been in a daze ever since Frilian entered the house, which was quite unusual.

"Alright, although I'm not very welcoming, please come in." Frillie returned to the doorway, her tone indifferent, and she didn't make any welcoming gesture.

"Master?" Vlame was about to go in and greet them when she noticed that Celia was standing motionless to the side.

"It's nothing." Celia snapped out of her daze and resumed her expressionless demeanor. "I'm not going in. Frilian, take me to where the grimoires are kept."

"Hmm?" Frilian tilted her head and pointed at Carlos. "If that's the case, then he has to come with us, otherwise I'm not comfortable with him."

"Lead the way," Celia said without hesitation, without even asking Carlos's opinion.

Carlos sighed and said to Frilian, "Let's go, I'll go with you."

"Then I'll go with them too," Sylvia said immediately.

Vlamedon stopped.

Is there any need for me to go in and exchange pleasantries when I'm all alone?

"I'm so sorry, but our main purpose in coming here is to borrow some local magic books." Vlame bowed slightly to the two elves in the room.

"It's alright." One of the female elves smiled at Volamere. "Frilian is a rather straightforward girl; hopefully, she won't upset you."

"Don't worry, we won't get angry over such a small thing," Vlame replied politely.

The female elf paused, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

The key is the demon race that Frilian mentioned.

But since she brought the person over, there shouldn't be any major problems, right?

"Just look and leave, that should be fine, right?"

Following Celie's advice, Frillie was happy to leave her residence, but she still didn't give the group a friendly look.

"I think I should probably separate from you guys again?" Carlos said to the others on the way. "Normally there are no problems, but when we encounter someone with high magical skill, all sorts of troubles arise, and it drags you all into it."

"That's because they don't understand. As long as we know what kind of person you are, that's enough," Sylvia immediately stopped him from having that idea.

Carlos glanced at her, surprised that she had broken her promise to ignore him so quickly.

Sylvia, however, returned his gaze with an emotional look when he looked over.

So dazzling...

Carlos immediately looked away.

"A magic book isn't something you can finish reading so easily. I reckon we'll be staying here for a few months." Vlame looked at Frilian, who was leading the way. "We'll have to ask you to help us find a place to stay then, Frilian."

"What a hassle." Frillie turned her head away, her expression full of reluctance.

"By the way, there's something I want to tell you," Carlos said to her.

"I don't want to talk to demons," Frilian replied immediately.

"Okay, then just pretend I'm talking to myself."

Carlos didn't mind the other party's attitude. After all, he knew very well what kind of creatures the demons were. "The Demon King has issued an order to exterminate the elves within the demon race. Your current location is too close to the north where the demons are active. I'm worried about whether you will be able to survive the demon invasion."

"I will protect them." Although she had just said that she didn't want to talk to the demons, Frilian still answered.

"You?" Carlos stared at the magic emanating from her. "You can't do it."

"I've always done it," Frilian said calmly. "I've defeated all the monsters near the village, as well as all the demons that came here before."

Even within a unified empire, demons can appear...

Carlos was not surprised by this fact at all. After all, the border was so long that, apart from the main nodes and roads, it would be very easy for the demons to sneak in from other places.

"But you can't beat me." Carlos's tone was as if he were stating the weather.

"I know you're strong." Frilian looked at him, or rather, at the magic power within him, "but the world of magic isn't just about magical power determining victory or defeat. I often defeat those with more magical power than I do."

"Talk is cheap, how about a match?" Carlos laughed. "If I lose, it's up to you, and I'll do you a favor. But if I win, you'll have to admit you're not capable of protecting them and persuade them to leave and move to a safer place."

Hearing their conversation, Celia stopped in her tracks.

"Interesting." She glanced at the two of them, a faint smile appearing on her face, but the smile only suggested she was a rather belligerent person. "Then I'll be the referee."

"I haven't agreed yet." Frillian stopped and frowned slightly. "Besides, I don't like this bet."

"So what do you want?" Carlos asked.

As long as Frilian agrees, nothing else matters.

Because he doesn't think he will lose, not even by the slightest possibility.

It wasn't because of the difference in their magical power or their magical skill, but because he could see Frillie's genuine, elven simplicity.

This is a rather fatal weakness in real combat.

It's likely that she has never encountered even a single evenly matched battle in her life so far.

Although this weakness cannot be fully exploited because it was just a friendly spar, it was enough.

"Since we are both mages, the loser must teach the other their strongest spell." Frillian's tone was quite calm, yet subtly revealed confidence. "So, you can agree to this condition, right?"

"Sure, but what I said before still stands." Carlos's lips curled up. "And it has to become mandatory."

In other words, Frilian wants to force everyone to move away from here.

"You think you'll win?" Frilian decided to teach this demon who underestimated her a lesson.

"Why not?" Carlos looked at Celia. "If the magical power I use later exceeds the total amount of Freya's magic, please declare me the loser."

He voluntarily gave up his advantage in magical power.