What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?.

Frank appears to be a self-made millionaire who started his business at the age of fifteen, while his parents died in battle when he came of age.

But thanks to his magic that allows him to foresee the future, he lives a life that Ash envies—a life of incredible privilege. However, the reality is quite different...

Frank had a lover, but for some reason he chose to break up early on, and from a very young age he just focused on training himself every day.

Ash, in the blink of an eye, became Frank's apprentice and learned swordsmanship, and settled down in the suburbs of the capital.

Repeating the same trials day after day, from the first light of dawn to the last rays of sunset, from the warmth of spring to the depths of winter, through the changing seasons and the passing of heat and cold, this perseverance has never wavered in the slightest.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, thirteen years have quietly passed.

For demons, thirteen years is but a blink of an eye, but Ash's progress is unprecedented.

However, there is a problem... Because the internal structure of demons is different from that of humans, they also turn into magical particles and disappear after death.

Therefore, although he was originally a human being, his strength seemed to have reached the limit of his body, so his body would change when he wanted to fight with all his might.

Two devil-like horns will grow on his forehead, and his body size will increase proportionally, making him a burly man over two meters tall even without the horns. At the same time, his strength, agility, magic recovery speed, and control will all be significantly improved.

Of course, that was also a complete demonic state.

Another noteworthy point is that the human form will not change in any way, and the appearance will remain unchanged from the past.

But that's how it is for him. Thirteen years is different for humans... Frank, who was once a young man, is now a middle-aged man. Although he still has that spirited look, but...

"It's so unfair. I've become an old man in the blink of an eye, but you're still exactly the same as before." Looking at Ash, who still looked like the same young man he always was, Frank stroked his beard and sighed.

"...But humans progress very quickly, while demons progress very slowly."

“But your progress is nowhere near that of the demons. If all demons were like you, humanity would have been wiped out long ago.” Frank sighed with a hint of envy and regret as he handed him a document.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a document for the transfer of property, but more accurately, it should be considered a will for the distribution of property.

"Uh... what is this? By the way, what's my name?"

"If I die, this house will be yours, and the rest of my property can be donated to those in need."

"...If?" It felt very strange to hear "if" from someone who could see the future.

Frank didn't explain, but instead packed his bags and said without turning around, "I should probably leave soon... Let's meet in the central part of the continent around this time in three years. Have you heard of Lanier Fortress?"

"...What are you suddenly saying? But I have been to Lanier Village before."

"This is it. There's a Lanier Forest over there, right?"

"It seems so?"

"It seems that with the passage of time, it has transformed from a village into a fortress..." Frank sighed slightly before continuing, "When you go to the forest there, you will see a surprise."

"Seeing the older man wasn't exactly a surprise."

"Haha~ Of course it wasn't me, but... well, you'll know back then. Now, focus on controlling your demonic state. Ever since you were able to change forms, your control has been declining. Even if I can't see the future, I can tell you're a demon."

"There's nothing I can do." He spread his hands in frustration. "I've tried to suppress it properly, but ever since I was demonized once, the demonic aura has become much stronger than before."

"Take your time." Frank didn't say much, but with a mysterious smile, he said, "Someone will come tomorrow, and you can accept his opinion because... we've already 'discussed' it."

"what??"

"You'll know tomorrow, but for now, let's say goodbye. Farewell, my friend."

Frank said this without intending to explain, then picked up his bag and left, leaving him to live there with two maids... Although they were aunties from a nearby village, he couldn't be happy at all.

But that wasn't all. The next morning, both maids left, and he then realized that Frank had fired them the day before.

He was speechless for a moment, and was about to hire someone to take care of him, but as soon as he opened the door of the mansion, he saw a male demon wearing a hood and mask, with long hair covering his right eye and large horns, standing in front of the door with his arms crossed.

The other person looked him up and down for a moment, then slowly said, "Is this our first time meeting, Ash?"

"That's right... or rather, that's how it is for me."

Upon recognizing the person, or rather, the demon, Ash's feelings became slightly complicated.

Chapter Thirty-Five: Becoming an Apprentice of the Omniscient One - A "Surprise" in the Promised Forest

Ash might not recognize other demons, but he had at least heard of the demon Ash in front of him, because he was the Demon King's confidant and the second-in-command of the demon race, a great demon known as "The Omniscient One"—Shurahat.

In addition, like Frank, he also has the magic to foresee the future.

Shurahart, being an impatient man, noticed that he seemed to understand the current situation and was used to talking to people like them who could foresee the future, so he silently nodded and said:

"Next, I will teach you magic from a thousand years in the future. Do you have any questions?"

"Uh... wait a minute, Frank actually has demon friends?"

"No, I haven't met him yet. We just reached an understanding on some things. Teaching you is beneficial to both humans and demons, so we both chose to help you."

"To elect me as the Demon King? A coup?" Although he said this, he didn't hold much hope in his heart.

Shurahart shook his head expressionlessly: "I will not betray the Demon King."

"...They're clearly raising the next generation?"

"That's two different things. This is preparation for what will happen after the current Demon King dies."

"Is this preparation for the Demon King's funeral? Really? You people who can see the future, are you all a bit abnormal?"

He felt nothing but envy and incomprehension towards those who could see the future.

Because he simply couldn't understand what these people were thinking. Besides... the fact that the demon race was preparing for the Demon King in advance was unprecedented. This was not something a normal demon race would do; because they wouldn't consider their race, only their own affairs, and the next Demon King had always risen to power entirely on their own merits.

“...You’ll understand later.” Shurahart didn’t answer, silently closing his eyes: “But for now, become my disciple.”

"Shouldn't we normally discuss some terms or something first?"

"Human lifespan is limited. Even if we avoid being killed, we can only see a hundred years into the future at most. But I can see things a thousand years from now, so I have heard about your future actions. There is no need to worry."

"...What will I be like in the future?"

“Say this out loud and things might change. Are you sure you want to hear it?”

"...Let's just forget about it."

........

Even though the person is a cold and aloof individual, in reality... regardless of personality, chatting with someone who can see the future always feels strange.

This is especially true when the other party doesn't intend to hide the fact that they have seen the future and experienced similar conversations in the future.

Facing these two people who knew the future, he always felt as if his life had been arranged by his powerful and influential parents... which was very strange.

But he was very clear about the reasons why these two people chose him. If life were to go smoothly, he wouldn't have any complaints.

No... there are actually a few things I want to complain about.

For example, if someone else is reborn, they're probably already having a harem by their teens, while you, after decades of hard work cultivating, are either fighting or cultivating.

Since her rebirth, the people around her are either strange little girls (Aura), aunties, super-old elves, or uncles.

The closest possible female characters are the concubines in the emperor's harem nearly a thousand years ago... but those were already married women. There really wasn't a single decent young girl among them!

Thinking about this made him want to beat his chest in frustration, but Shurahat merely glanced at him and walked ahead on his own.

"Stop thinking about strange things and let's go."

"Oh, no? You know what I'm thinking?"

"I don't know, but I know you better than you do. It must be something trivial."

"...Where are we going?"

"The training grounds you used to frequent, I taught you murder magic, and defensive magic that was further improved from defensive magic several decades later, six hundred years later... Of course, these all belong to the demon race, and only we can use them perfectly."

Shurahat made no attempt to hide anything and directly revealed the murderous magic he wanted to teach: the murderous magic of the corrupt sage Guval of the Great Demon Clan.

It was very simple, efficient and practical, so it was later cracked and imitated by humans, and finally improved by humans, becoming a common attack magic.

Of course, the structure of humans and demons dictates that this magic is stronger when used by demons. There is a fundamental difference between human "normal attack magic" and the "killing magic" used by demons... There is no particular reason, it is just due to the difference in their bodies.

However, these problems did not exist for Ash, and Shurahat had only one requirement for him—not to teach it to anyone.

As for the reason, perhaps he was worried about the future being disrupted, or perhaps he had some other concerns. Ash wasn't quite sure, but he didn't care too much and agreed.

And so, the days that followed began a new routine, no different from the past.

.......................

Ash himself wasn't quite sure when he started living the life of an ascetic.

Compared to Frank, Shurahart seemed more aloof, but his teaching was quite serious.

But aside from teaching him magic, they barely exchanged any words, and the two never even ate together, because Shurahart, who always wore a mask, would find a secluded place to eat by himself.

"...Are all demons like this? It feels...so strange." Aside from Aura, whom he had raised himself, this was his first real interaction with a demon, and he couldn't understand what was going on with this guy.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Ash planned his route in advance and arrived at the agreed place—Laniel Forest—at the appointed time.

But shortly after arriving at his destination, Shurahat, who had followed him all the way, disappeared without a trace... until the very end, without leaving any words of farewell.

"...This guy, isn't he being a bit too cold?"

Although the other person was very cold, they had been together for three years, and Lu still felt some regret about breaking up like this.

However... he was only disappointed for a moment before stepping into the forest without much hope, even preparing to see the old man... when an unexpectedly familiar figure came into his view.

A little elf girl, wearing a gray cloak, a simple white dress, and with long silver hair, was half-squatting on the ground with a lazy expression, picking something from the bushes.

But when it noticed his gaze, the elf instinctively turned its head to look, and after seeing who it was, it froze on the spot as if it had seen a ghost.

Chapter Thirty-Six: A Touching Reunion That Doesn't Evoke Emotion

No matter how Ash looked at it, the guy picking wild vegetables in the bushes opposite him was clearly his old friend and niece whom he thought he would never see again—Frilian.

The reunion after a thousand years, and the incredibly interesting expression on the other person's face when they looked over—all of this made him unconsciously smile knowingly.

As his senior apprentice, he felt he had to be tolerant of the possibly tearful Frillie, and opened his arms in preparation for welcoming this silver-haired elf loli to rush over and stage a touching reunion with him. However... the reality was "somewhat" different from his imagination.

"It's been so long, Frilian. You're still so small and cute. I really..." He had just opened his arms when Frilian, who was squatting on the ground opposite him, also stood up, but then slowly raised her hand: "—Hellfire."

A crimson lotus bloomed instantly in the silver-haired loli's palm and swept towards him like a tsunami.

The surrounding grass and trees were engulfed by the heat wave and burned fiercely before they could even be touched. Ash's stunned figure, still with his arms outstretched, was also swallowed up by the raging flames in the next instant.