Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

"Chief Magic Advisor?" Volame didn't expect to encounter something like this here.

"That's right." Alden nodded. "Although I am a warrior, I believe that mages play an equally important role on the battlefield as warriors."

"Aren't you afraid that the Empire will punish you if it finds out about this?" Vlame was surprised by his blunt attitude.

What's the difference between this and committing a crime against the wind?

"As the lord of a city, my primary goal is to protect the city from monsters and to ensure that more soldiers survive on the battlefield."

Alden looked out the window again. The people on the ground were living peaceful and tranquil lives. "What does the Empire's attitude towards magic have to do with me? As long as I can better protect this city, I'm willing to do anything."

"I see..." Vlame paused, "By the way, do I have the right to refuse?"

"I've let you hear so much already, what do you think?"

"...I think so too." Vlame sighed, but not with much reluctance. "To be honest, although my thoughts are similar to yours, I really don't think someone like you who openly opposes the Empire will have a good end."

She made her point even clearer.

"I have no intention of openly opposing the Empire," Alden said. "Although I was just called the Chief Magic Advisor, this position does not hold any real power; everything is done in secret."

"What benefits can I gain from this?" Although he had no choice but to agree to the city lord's request, Vlame didn't care much.

If I can successfully get their help later, then realizing my dream will probably become much easier.

"What do you want in return?"

"The status of magic itself within the empire has been recognized."

"..."

"This is really..." Alden chuckled, shifting his gaze from the window to Vlame again. "It seems I underestimated you."

"So, do you dare to agree?" Vlame looked at him intently as well.

"That depends on how many surprises you can bring me later." Alden neither agreed directly nor refused immediately, but said, "Let me see what a mage specializing in combat can do first."

"As you wish," Vlame said with a smile.

At that moment, the door opened, and Carlos and his group, who had just been in the dessert shop, arrived.

"We accidentally bought too many desserts. The ones we couldn't finish and the extras have been sent to Master's room. You can eat them as a main meal later."

Carlos spoke to Vlame first, then looked at Alden, "And this is...?"

Several guards were still standing in the room. They looked at the man who had been so disrespectful to the city lord and drew their swords from their waists.

"No need," Alden waved his hand, and the guards put their swords back into their sheaths.

"The lord of this city," Vlame introduced them briefly, then said to Alden, "Although my master won't intervene, I believe Carlos, as my senior brother, should be able to meet your expectations."

"Um?"

Carlos was puzzled, but after seeing the look Vlame gave him, he nodded.

"I don't know what happened, but leave it to me."

"Wait, what if they want you to sell your body?" Sylvia said worriedly. "Let's ask first."

"..."

"Do you think that's possible?" Carlos hesitated for a moment after speaking, then looked at Vlame. "It shouldn't be, right?"

"Sylvia! Have a little faith in me, okay?"

"Master, I was wrong!" Sylvia immediately hid behind Carlos and secretly laughed.

"Stop fooling around, we're still with someone else." Carlos apologized slightly to Alden and the guards. "She's still young and doesn't understand much, please don't take offense."

Although he felt nothing for the high-ranking person in front of him, the fact that the guards had just drawn their swords meant that some basic manners were still necessary here.

Carlos restrained himself slightly.

"It's normal for the strong to have some privileges."

Although Alden said that, he couldn't help but wonder if these people were really reliable.

However, he always trusted the judgment of the mage beside him, so Alden quickly dismissed the doubt from his mind.

After all, if it weren't for that mage's incredibly accurate magical detection, which allowed them to know in advance about the activities of the monsters outside the city, the number of casualties in this city would have been much higher than it is now.

"What I want you to do is a test about the power of magic," Alden asked. "Can we do it now?"

"certainly."

"That's good." Alden waved his hand. "In the past few days, another group of monsters has gathered near the main road outside the city. I need you to come with me to eliminate them."

"So we can leave now?" Carlos felt that he had only come here as a formality. He didn't have to come at all; he could have just had Vlame deliver a message.

"That's right, I'll have someone come over again later."

"understood."

Afterwards, the maid led them away from there.

"So what exactly happened just now?" Sylvie asked Vlame.

"I made a deal with the city lord; he wants to assess our worth before deciding on our next move," Vlame explained. "I apologize for dragging you into this; we may no longer need to proceed towards [Val]."

"It's alright, didn't Master say we're a team?" Sylvia looked at Carlos. "I think you think so too, right?"

Carlos nodded; as long as they're happy.

"Am I the only clueless person in the group?" Seeing their nonchalant attitude, Frillie pointed to herself, as if she had just realized this.

"It's alright. Even though it's like this now, Ms. Frilian will definitely become a remarkable mage in the future." Sylvia didn't miss the chance to comfort Frilian and took on the role of the older sister in the group.

Vlame smiled slightly as he watched the two playfully bickering, then, as if remembering something, asked Carlos:

"Speaking of which, what was that dessert you mentioned earlier?"

"Because I thought I wouldn't have many chances to eat the local specialties again on the way, I ordered one of everything."

Vlamé paused for a moment, then hesitated before asking, "Is this how you treat her?"

"Hmm, is there a problem?" Carlos asked, puzzled.

"...Luckily, Sylvia likes you a lot, otherwise if you keep being so nice to her, it would be easy for her to lose interest in you."

"Really?"

Upon hearing Vlame's words, Carlos recalled something. It seemed that someone had indeed said that if you only treat girls nicely... you won't be able to get them.

But does that have anything to do with him now?

"No?" Vlame thought for a moment. "Well, after all, Sylvie is a very good child."

"So do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing that she's lost interest in me?" Carlos asked curiously.

"Hey! I'm still listening!" Sylvia said, a hint of displeasure on her delicate and beautiful face.

"Never mind," Vlame said, giving up on getting involved. "I think the way you two are getting along is fine as it is. Keep it up."

"Really..."

Sylvia looked at Carlos with a reproachful expression; he had just said those things, which had hurt her a little.

But that's precisely where the fun lies!

Sylvie quickly recovered.

In the hotel room at night.

An astonishing number of desserts, enough to be eaten as a main meal, were successfully devoured by the girls, or rather, by those who looked like girls.

"I'm tired of desserts!"

They decided together that they would not eat anything sweet for the next month!