Frieren: Demon of Domination

"The Heaven Vein Dragon will soon reach the Northern Plateau."

"Mm."

"Where do you plan to get off?"

"The Bia Region, I suppose. I still have some preparations to make before heading to the heart of the Northern Plateau."

The Bia Region, the edge of the Northern Plateau, and also its only grain-producing area—

If the Hero of the South chose to leave here,

That meant the time he could remain on the Heaven Vein Dragon wasn't much longer.

To put it pessimistically, given the Heaven Vein Dragon's current speed...

This might be the last supper between master and disciple.

In the living room of the castle on the Heaven Vein Dragon's back—

Agusheed, having received his answer, remained expressionless with a casual tone.

"As you wish."

This was his brief response, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

As if he truly had no interest in this matter whatsoever.

But the Hero of the South, seemingly ignored by his teacher, lowered his head with a wry smile.

Looking at Agusheed's profile turned away,

The Hero of the South tasted his final supper with his teacher amid helplessness and head-shaking.

—

Supper—

Especially when facing a supper that represented imminent farewell, how exactly would one approach it?

Sitting in the main seat at the dining table,

His gaze glancing at his stupid disciple who was rarely dining with proper etiquette...

The strongest Grand Demon thought silently.

He wasn't without experience of farewell suppers with others.

On the contrary, such scenes were everywhere in his memories—

But truly having to experience it again, Agusheed felt somewhat at a loss.

The Hero of the South...

This child, this stupid disciple—

Agusheed had personally witnessed his growth,

Watching him grow up all the way, watching him become humanity's strongest...

Although from the beginning, the strongest Grand Demon had expected the death of short-lived species,

But when truly, truly having to watch him walk the path of certain death himself...

Agusheed's heart still couldn't suppress the rising irritation.

"I'll ask you one last time—"

The strongest Grand Demon slowly turned around, feigning indifference as he spoke.

"Have you completely confirmed and decided to die for the path you've chosen?"

"Do you truly know what foolish choice you've made?"

Foolish choice...

Die—

Regarding his teacher's assessment, the Hero of the South didn't refute,

But he also didn't stop his actions.

As always putting the perfectly cooked stewed meat into his mouth,

The Hero of the South responded to Agusheed's question with silent acknowledgment.

The sound of the dinner knife scraping against the porcelain plate seemed particularly clear in the silent hall.

The Hero of the South skillfully cut off a piece of stewed meat.

The sensation of meat separating under the blade reminded him of his clumsiness during his first meal at this table.

Even someone who could see the future, humanity's strongest—

When still a child, would equally have various embarrassments...

If he remembered correctly, he had needed Agusheed's help to reach the salt shaker in the center of the table.

And now,

His sword calluses had thickened to the point where he could barely feel the temperature of the silver utensils.

"Foolish."

"If I had known it would come to this, I shouldn't have ignored Schlacht's advice and taken you as a disciple."

The strongest Grand Demon's cold mockery was utterly powerless.

Because a certain disciple looking down had heard such assessments countless times.

The Hero of the South once again put the meat into his mouth, the familiar spice flavors blooming on his tongue.

"You're right—"

He swallowed his food, optimistically agreeing with the harsh assessment of himself.

"Though I don't regret becoming your disciple."

Light spots from the crystal chandelier danced on Agusheed's silver-gray eyelashes.

The strongest Grand Demon's eyes lowered slightly upon hearing these words, barely concealing his emotions.

He slowly closed his eyes, lowering his crossed fingers from before him, joints making soft cracking sounds.

"Smooth talker."

The Hero of the South still wore a smile, unhurried.

"Thank you for the praise, teacher."

Praise...

Truly a stupid disciple...

Agusheed opened his eyes, but didn't stop his words there.

After long contemplation, he abruptly asked again.

"Truly no regrets?"

"No regrets."

"Can you be certain you weren't influenced by personal heroism in making this choice?"

"I can."

"Can you take responsibility for that answer?"

"Yes."

The low-toned questions and answers rang out successively from both sides of the table.

The Hero of the South never raised his head throughout, just methodically savoring his supper.

And Agusheed also didn't place his gaze on his stupid disciple anymore.

He simply leaned back in his chair, fingers crossed and placed before him,

Gaze calm, breathing steady.

"This is your last chance to regret—"

"As long as you tell me you still want to live, then you can still live."

"Even if the Demon King comes personally, I can guarantee you won't face any danger."

Could still live...

Even if the Demon King comes personally?

Truly as duplicitous and indulgent toward disciples as always...

But teacher—

Even so, my decision won't change.

The Hero of the South put down his knife and fork, and after brief consideration, looked up with a smile.

"I won't regret it, teacher."

"The strongest human who knows everything won't regret his decisions."

The half-joking tone didn't dispel the heavy atmosphere permeating the dining table.

This instead made Agusheed turn his head, his gaze finally resting on his stupid disciple.

"Very well."

The strongest Grand Demon remained unchanged in expression, voice steady.

"I hope you can truly be as you say—"

"You'd better not regret it at the last moment..."

Teacher...

Could you not always be so contrary...

Even to the end,

The Hero of the South didn't voice the assessment he'd always wanted to say.

He simply nodded in response, watching the indescribable emotion in the depths of Agusheed's eyes...

"Teacher, will you miss me?"

"No."

"Then will you mourn for me?"

"I'll only think you brought it upon yourself."

Agusheed, who had emerged from the study with questions but hadn't even brought up that matter,

Slowly rose amid his final cold snort—

"Clean up here and the kitchen, then get off tomorrow."

Turning to leave, offering only a cold back to the Hero of the South, he spoke indifferently.

—

'Agusheed, I'm leaving...'

'Flamme was right back then. Just staying by your side, I can't grow.'

Memories of when Frieren had left his side surged up.

Agusheed, about to disappear into the gloom, stopped in his tracks.

He paused briefly before stepping onto the stairs.

Though he didn't turn around, the strongest Grand Demon still spoke calmly.

"In all the futures you've seen—"

"Have you ever seen your own figure in Aureole?"

The Hero of the South lowered his head with a light smile.

Watching Agusheed's back, he slowly spoke.

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Powerstones?

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