Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

The group of five moved south.

According to Vlame's explanation, because she wanted to change the Empire's view of magic, the current plan was to first spread magic in the surrounding towns, and then use this trend to head towards the capital once magic had become a popular trend in society.

The unified empire now prohibits open magical research, but it has not prohibited the spread of magic.

Vlame found a loophole; she wasn't researching magic, but rather simply passing on existing magic and knowledge.

Moreover, they didn't start by defying the rules in the capital. Once the momentum was established and surrounding towns were enjoying the benefits of universal magic, the capital would likely make concessions on magic research.

The idea was wonderful, but Carlos was worried. He wished that the people above were as easy to talk to as he imagined.

"It's alright," Vlame said to him by the bright campfire. "Even if I don't succeed, I believe that the person who inherits my will will fulfill this dream for me."

It turns out she was already prepared to die for this.

"I won't let Master die," Sylvia said, taking a bite of bread and speaking indistinctly.

"Yes, I believe in Sylvia." Vlame smiled and patted her head.

"Although Master just said that we should spread magic in areas far from the capital first, it seems that our destination is not the southernmost part of the map," Frilian said expressionlessly.

Her mood had been low since the beginning of the day, probably because she had never been so far from home since birth.

"After all, that would take too long, and I don't want you to stay with me for that long, so we can just go as far as the central region." Vlame took a sip of water, then cast a spell to extinguish the campfire. "It's getting late, let's get some rest so we can set off earlier tomorrow."

Because the campfire at night is too conspicuous and easily attracts monsters or wild beasts, and now that winter is approaching and the daytime is greatly shortened, they have started eating dinner quite early.

"Let's talk some more," Sylvia said, leaning against Carlos. "We just ate, and I can't sleep."

"I don't have much to say." Carlos reached out and smoothed her loose hair. "You've always been by my side, you know everything that's happened to me, so what interesting things do I have to say to you now?"

"Yes," Sylvia said, raising her head slightly. "What about the time we spent in the north? I'm very curious about what happened during those five years."

"Didn't you secretly learn a lot of magic that your master didn't know about back then?" Vlame chimed in from the side.

"Aren't you going to give me a chance to keep it a secret?" Carlos shook his head at their expressions. "I'm not going to tell you."

"Then let me see your diary," Sylvia said, changing her request. "I've noticed you occasionally take it out and write a little something."

"How did you know?" Carlos was a little puzzled. There shouldn't be anyone reading his diary every time he wrote in it, right?

Sylvia explained with a smile, "Because sometimes when I see you open the box, the diary is in a different position than last time, I've been watching."

As for why she knew about the diary, it was of course Vlamé who told her.

"I don't write my diary for anyone else to see. Let me tell you about what happened during those five years instead," Carlos said decisively.

"How could you be so stingy!" Sylvia said angrily, while her curiosity about the diary grew.

"Am I stingy?" Carlos clearly thought he was quite generous.

"Hmph, stingy is stingy." Sylvia crossed her arms. "Tell me that story already."

"Okay, okay."

So Carlos told her about his initial experiences there.

At that time, he proceeded cautiously, as if walking on thin ice, concealing his presence as he ventured deep into the demon realm.

Then, the first demon he encountered attacked him without even saying hello.

With Carlos deliberately letting him win, the other party defeated him, and then the demon naturally demanded that he become his subordinate.

"You seem quite capable. Either you die, or you become my subordinate."

Carlos decided to observe for a while longer, and temporarily agreed to the other party's request on the surface.

"Wait, you just agreed like that?" Sylvia interrupted him.

"Or should I just charge straight there?" Carlos asked, somewhat puzzled. "Isn't he obviously my guide? Making contact with other demons through him first—isn't that the right thing to do?"

"...That seems to make sense." Sylvia thought he was right.

So Carlos continued.

After that, he came into contact with many other demons through that demon, fought one battle after another, and during this time he also gained a certain understanding of what kind of creatures demons really are.

Carlos thought this kind of life would continue until that day came.

"Cover their retreat!"

The demon who had taken Carlos as his subordinate roared as he sped away behind him. At the same time, his body was already mangled and broken, with only half of it remaining. The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror, but strangely, no blood flowed out.

He had just lost a contest with another demon, who, unlike him, had no interest in taking on subordinates. Fearing death, he abandoned Carlos and fled.

Carlos first glanced at his nominal superior, who had shrunk to a tiny dot in the distance and was running away with half his body dragging him, before looking at the demon in front of him who had defeated his superior.

"Aren't you going to run?" The demon slowly walked towards him, holding a golden greatsword that was not stained with a single drop of blood, his blue pupils filled with indifferent calm.

"I didn't sense any killing intent, so why did you run?" Carlos said, looking at the knife in his hand. "Besides, you clearly possess such powerful magic, yet you didn't use it immediately. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to escape, and wouldn't even have had the chance to make a move in the first place. Can I ask you why you did that?"

"Because that would be too boring." The red-haired demon walked past Carlos, showing no intention of fighting. "If we use magic directly, the battle will be over in an instant. Do you think such a battle would be fun for me?"

"The joy of battle..." Carlos laughed, "I wonder if I can let you experience this so-called joy."

"You want to fight me?" The red-haired demon turned to look at him. "It's a waste of time."

"Who can say for sure before we actually do it?" Carlos produced a large sword made of magic. "Let's give it a try. There's no harm in trying."

"I already said it's a waste of time."

The red-haired demon turned his head away, too lazy to pay any more attention to Carlos, and tried to silence him permanently with magic. However, the next second, his body began to emit a golden glow.

"This is...?" The red-haired demon turned around again, and this time, he finally began to look Carlos in the eye.

"How was it? Wasn't it interesting?"

Carlos smiled broadly, his body engulfed in flames of [Curse Return Magic].

"Now, I'm going to begin the attack."