Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

After finishing their business, they enjoyed their lunch in the wild.

The boys and girls were very excited, and many of them were chattering about it, because it was a very novel experience for them.

However, the two team leaders had different feelings.

"What's wrong?"

After lunch, on the way back, after taking care of the students, Sylvia curiously asked Carlos, who had been silent all along:

"You were slow when dealing with the last phantom ghost. Tell me the truth, did you see something after you lowered your mental defenses?"

She walked backwards in front of him, her gaze fixed on him.

"Say something, are you shy?"

"Don't stay silent! I won't laugh at you, really, I swear!"

"Could it be that what you saw wasn't me? Oh, it's okay. I told you before, it's fine if you don't like me, I'll just feel a little disappointed."

If Sylvia hadn't sounded like she was about to cry when she said this, Carlos might have believed her a little more.

"No..." he said hesitantly.

"Hmm? So who did you see?"

I never expected a response in the first place. I have already obtained what I consider the best thing. I should have been content with the status quo long ago. But for some reason, tears are welling up in my eyes.

Sylvia ran a few steps, escaped behind Carlos, and leaned against his back, finally unable to hold back her tears.

Even without receiving a reply, she already understood what the unspoken answer was.

"Don't look at me..."

"Hmm, I won't look at yours."

"Hate."

"Yeah, you hate me."

"I don't dislike you...don't you want to say anything to me?"

"That would probably involve lying."

"Even if it's fake, please lie to me," Sylvia whispered. "Please."

"..."

The two walked forward one after the other, while ahead of them were students clearing the way for them, making the scene look somewhat strange.

"I'm sorry, I asked too many questions." After a while, Sylvia said softly from behind, "If I hadn't been so curious, things wouldn't have turned out this way."

"Actually... I didn't expect it to turn out this way either." Carlos walked forward steadily. "Perhaps something unexpected happened."

"What do you mean?"

"I...didn't see anything," he said.

"real?"

"Yes, in my eyes, the phantom has never become anyone; it has always been just a phantom."

"Then why did you say those things before..." Sylvia gently punched his back with her fist.

I didn't see it... that means I still have a chance.

"What did I say?" Carlos asked curiously.

"Don't say it's nothing..." Sylvia's voice trailed off, realizing she had been overthinking things.

"Because I originally thought I would see you," Carlos said quite seriously, "but it turned out like this, so I didn't dare to tell you."

He was starting to lose his mind.

"Thank you..." Hearing this reply, Sylvia wiped away her tears and rallied her spirits. "But after this incident, I feel I can't continue like this!"

"Huh?" Carlos asked, puzzled, not understanding what was wrong with her.

In conclusion, their extracurricular activity can be considered a complete success.

That evening, back at the hotel, Sylvia spoke softly on her way back to her room:

"Do you remember when you asked me about my first encounter with a monster during the day?"

"Hmm." Carlos nodded. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

"I'm going to tell you!" She flung open the door and headed for the bed. "Back then, it wasn't this kind of benign monster. It was a terrifyingly large creature. I was terrified and tried to turn and run away, but it kept chasing me..."

"and then?"

"How could I possibly outrun a monster? In the end, I had no choice but to fight back, and I easily defeated the monster..." Sylvia took out the Holy Scripture. "I should have known better. Why would my master choose a monster that I couldn't beat as her opponent?"

"Hmm." Carlos nodded to indicate that he understood, but he didn't quite understand what she meant. "Aren't you going to listen to a story today?"

"Hmm, those demons that appeared later made me a little uncomfortable, and I think you probably don't want to think about that kind of thing again, so I'm not going to listen." Sylvia looked at the holy book in her hand. "Also, after what happened today, I feel that I have something more to do."

"Is that so..."

Carlos leaned against Sylvia, quietly keeping her company.

Time passed quietly, and Sylvia quietly tested several possible spells, none of which succeeded.

After a while, all was quiet. Carlos glanced at the clear starry sky outside the window and reminded him:

"It's getting late, time to go to sleep."

"Ah? Okay..." Sylvia snapped out of her trance and reluctantly put down the holy book.

Carlos turned off the lights in the room and drew the curtains. "Goodnight."

He actually understood, but there was no need to say it aloud.

"Okay, goodnight... Can I touch your hand to sleep?" Sylvia whispered.

"So you have a hand fetish?"

"...How could you think like that? Can't it be that I want to touch you more?"

After a strange conversation, Carlos still gave her his hand.

The two held hands and fell asleep like children.

……

Starting the next day, Carlos could clearly sense that Sylvia had changed.

Although she still slept in the same room with him every night, she began to prefer spending her time elsewhere, such as reading the holy book that she had already read over and over again.

During the day, although he still did his best for the students, Carlos always felt a strange feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

When the students were asked, they received the same answer.

"Professor Sylvie doesn't seem as gentle as she used to be," one student remarked.

"Maybe it's because she's only gentle with me?"

"How cheesy!" The student laughed and ran away, then came back to ask him questions about magic.

From that day on, they had a rough understanding of Carlos's strength.

That magical power alone was enough to intimidate any novice mage, making them feel as if they had encountered an insurmountable mountain.

Therefore, they are more willing to communicate with such magicians.

After answering the question, Carlos glanced at Sylvia, who was flipping through the holy book in her spare time and muttering something to herself, and shook his head.

Since the other party won't say, he won't ask.

What Sylvia said earlier actually makes a lot of sense; allowing each other some privacy is healthy for maintaining a positive relationship.

Carlos thought about these things, a faint smile on his face, as he interacted with the group of energetic students in front of him.

Do you like Ms. Sylvie?

"The same kind of liking you have for your childhood sweetheart." He crouched down, looking the boy in front of him straight in the eye.

"Hmph, I won't lose to you!"

Was I just declared war on?

Carlos chuckled and patted the boy's head. "Yeah, keep it up."

"Don't touch my head, or I won't grow tall!" Despite saying that, he didn't immediately remove his large hand from the cover.

"Didn't your childhood sweetheart ever pat your head?" Carlos asked curiously.

"Who would let her touch me!" the boy exclaimed, his face flushed. "I'm the one who's supposed to protect her!"

"There's no contradiction between protecting her and letting her pat your head, is there?" Carlos smiled. "It's better to be frank."

"Hmm..." The boy lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

"Could it be that Professor Carlos has already been patted on the head by Professor Sylvie?" he suddenly asked, looking up.

"Um."

"Is becoming this strong related to this?"

"...Perhaps there is?"

"Can I become as strong as a teacher?"

"It's up to you." Carlos thought his talent was quite good, and maybe he really could reach the level he was at now.

Of course, this was just Carlos's guess; he had no experience to draw upon.

"Okay, then I'll let her pat my head when I get back!" the boy said firmly.

"Let me make this clear first, you won't become stronger just by getting your head patted."

"Of course I know!" The boy ran away.

Time passed slowly on such days, and when a certain period was approaching, Carlos suggested that he go back temporarily.

"Wouldn't it be a bit awkward if I were the only one there on your birthday?" Carlos said to Sylvia. "Your junior sister and master would probably love to celebrate your birthday too."

He believed that enjoying the feeling of being pampered by others was something Sylvia deserved.

"Okay, then I'll let them know tomorrow." Sylvia didn't refuse. After being away for so long, she also missed her master and the others.

I wonder what kind of gifts they will prepare for themselves?

Ah, but if it's an emergency like this, will they really be prepared?

As Sylvia drifted into thought, she bid farewell to the group of students she had been mentoring for some time.

The two embarked on their journey back to Frisch.

On the way back, she didn't talk to Carlos about birthday gifts; they simply stopped in each village and city they passed through to experience the local culture.

Finally, on Sylvie's birthday, they returned to the vicinity of the gates of Frisch.