Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

While Frilian and her group were enjoying their meal at the dessert shop, Vlamé encountered an unexpected situation.

"Are you a magician?"

At the hotel entrance, a polite maid stopped Vlame, who had just checked into her room. Several fully armed guards stood beside her, their sharp eyes piercing and creating an invisible pressure on the surroundings.

Vlame remained remarkably calm. "What do you need the magician for?"

On their way here, they encountered no mishaps because of their status as mages; on the contrary, they received an even warmer welcome.

However, Vlame would not let her guard down because of this; if anything unexpected happened, she would leave without hesitation.

"I'm sorry, I was rude."

Despite being dressed as a maid, she still possessed good manners. She gave Vladimir a slight bow and then slowly explained her purpose.

"I am here on my master's orders to invite you. He heard that several powerful mages have just arrived in this city, and he wants to see for himself what a real mage can do."

Master? A true magician? I've heard?

Vlame glanced at the guards on both sides and felt she could roughly guess their true identities, since she had often dealt with such people before.

but……

"I heard? Where did you hear that from?" This was the only thing Vlame needed to confirm.

If it was Herdo who leaked it, then she'll have to seriously consider how to get along with him in the future.

"That's right, Master has a mage who is quite skilled in... detection. It was he who told Master that a mage had entered the city," the maid politely answered Vlame's question.

"If that's the case, then I'm fine with it." Vlame nodded, temporarily ruling out Herdo as a suspect.

"Shall we depart now? The carriage is ready for you."

Behind the maid, a luxuriously decorated carriage had been parked, with guards standing by. Passersby avoided it, not daring to approach under the guards' intimidating presence.

"I need to wait for my companions."

"Someone else will go to invite your companion."

It seems that our group has been watched ever since we entered the city.

The reason for continuing to wait was perfectly disproven, and Vlamé pondered this as he followed the maid into the carriage.

Assuming that Herdo really leaked their information, not much time has passed since they entered the city. Unless he went straight to the city lord right after parting ways with them, the speed couldn't be that fast.

Moreover, this was all on the premise that they had a prior relationship, which allowed them to meet the city lord smoothly.

In contrast, the maid's explanation was more convincing, since her logic made it easier to explain the other party's unusual speed of action.

But... a mage? I didn't feel like I was being watched at all when I entered the city.

Thinking of what his master had said not long ago, Vlame couldn't help but laugh.

If you knew, you should have said so sooner, really...

The carriage, driven by guards, headed to the center of Frisch. When Vlamé stepped down from the carriage, a magnificent castle came into view.

Many people might fantasize about living there, but Vlamé is clearly not one of them.

"Let's go." She had no interest in the castle.

The maid bowed slightly and quietly led the way.

After passing through a spacious hall, climbing winding stairs, and walking down a long corridor, the maid who had led the way stopped in front of a room.

"It's just ahead." The maid opened the door, and Vladimir went inside.

The door behind me was gently closed.

"Isn't this city beautiful?"

A man stands by the window, his hands behind his back, gazing at the beautiful scenery outside.

Vlame knew he was talking to him.

"Um."

She nodded, walked to the other window, and looked down as well. People were coming and going on the ground, and the sounds of carriages, horses, and vendors could be faintly heard.

"I don't have much experience, but anyone standing in my current position and seeing this view would think this city is quite beautiful."

"Is that so?" The man remained noncommittal, and continued, "To protect the safety of this city, the soldiers here fight day and night against the monsters outside the city."

"It's the same everywhere." Vlame had fought alongside soldiers, so his tone, though calm, carried a hint of respect.

"However, the number of monsters is endless, and we have to pay a considerable price each time in order to protect and maintain peace in the city."

The man spoke slowly, "I once had a question that I couldn't understand: why do humans, who are clearly more united than monsters, always have to pay a price of more casualties than I could imagine in order to defeat them? So, I began to study the specific reasons for this problem."

Vlame listened silently.

"Then I realized it—it was magic! Magic!" The man's voice rose with emotion. "The empire considered the use of magic the exclusive domain of demons and monsters. On the battlefield, soldiers became accustomed to fighting only when the enemy used magic. But! This was unfair from the very beginning!"

"There are magical traditions in the common people, and humans can use magic! Why does the Empire forbid us from using them freely?!"

"This is completely unreasonable!" he said.

"I think I understand what you mean," Vlamé said, somewhat empathizing with the sentiment. "But how does this relate to your invitation to come here?"

The man turned to look at her. "Do you know why the Empire doesn't allow us to freely research magic?"

"Didn't you just say that?" Vlamé asked, puzzled.

Because magic is considered the exclusive property of demons and monsters, the other party just said that.

"That's just the surface reason." The man shook his head. "It's quite simple; it's just because of ridiculous power."

"Power?" Vlame chimed in at the opportune moment, offering a piece of information she had previously considered but had not been able to verify.

Magic was considered the prerogative of demons and monsters, and Vladimir never believed that this reason was true.

Anyone who has ever been exposed to magic will understand that magic can never be the exclusive domain of demons and monsters.

Because humans also possess magic and can use magic.

This can be verified by her master. Most of Celie's magic was learned from humans in the mythical era. If magic were truly the exclusive domain of demons and monsters, then such a thing would never happen.

"They're afraid that if someone masters magic, they'll take away the power they currently hold," the man sneered. "In short, they're all short-sighted. If things continue like this, the empire will eventually fall apart in their hands."

Despite its vast territory, the unified empire is clearly on the verge of collapse due to internal and external troubles.

Vlame wasn't concerned with power or anything like that; she simply couldn't help asking, "But how exactly did this order prohibiting the study of magic get passed in the first place?"

"Who knows? Perhaps it's because the previous emperor conquered this land using only weapons." The man shrugged, relaxing for the first time. "But you probably share the same thought as me, right?"

Hearing what Vlamé had involuntarily uttered, he finally heard what he wanted to hear.

Those were the deep, hidden emotions belonging to the mage, concealed beneath the words.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Alden, the lord of this fortified city of Frisch." Alden looked at Vlame. "I would like to invite you to become the chief magical advisor of this city."