Frieren: Demon of Domination

Ever since the Hero of the South left two days ago,

Agusheed had long anticipated Schlacht's visit...

So he wasn't particularly surprised by the abrupt appearance of the person before him—

Just as always,

After Schlacht arrived at the castle, Agusheed placed their conversation in the study.

—

"He left from here, and you followed right after—"

"You two are really racing each other to death."

"But this is my responsibility, Agusheed."

"If I don't do this, both humans and demons will head toward a meaningless future."

Responsibility...

Meaningless future—

Such words coming from a demon's mouth was truly ironic.

But Agusheed didn't say much, just snorted coldly with his back to Schlacht.

"Anyway, the one who's going to die, the one who doesn't cherish his own life isn't me—"

"If you two want to die, then go ahead and die."

Listening to the clock's ticking, glancing at the desk caught between sunlight and shadow,

The strongest Grand Demon slowly walked back to sit in his chair, then unhurriedly drank his tea.

Obviously, after just a few sentences, he had already lost interest in conversation.

But that was natural—anyone hearing their friend and disciple wanting to perish together for some incomprehensible cause would react this way.

So Agusheed's gaze left Schlacht.

He raised his teacup and lowered his head to sip lightly.

Even when Schlacht quietly sat across from him, he didn't stop his actions.

Schlacht could see Agusheed's unwillingness to talk,

So the two old friends naturally fell into brief and awkward silence.

Unlike the situation with the Hero of the South,

Although Agusheed knew Schlacht had also come to bid farewell before facing death,

And Schlacht also knew like the Hero of the South that Agusheed understood the cause and effect—

But precisely because of this, they couldn't interact as Agusheed had with the Hero of the South.

Schlacht wasn't Agusheed's disciple or junior after all.

He was one of Agusheed's few friends, and one of the rare peers who could sit and converse with him.

So at this moment, even they didn't know what to say in such a situation.

But finally, Schlacht broke the calm in the study.

He raised his right hand to support his chin, placing his gaze on the teapot not far from him.

"Won't you invite me for tea?"

Opening the topic in a polite manner—

It had to be said, in some ways, Schlacht was more human-like than Agusheed, who had already regained his emotions.

But although the strongest Grand Demon had long regained emotions through Flamme,

He obviously still had no interest in such pleasantries.

"If you want to drink, help yourself."

Stacking the notebooks and grimoires on the table layer by layer,

Agusheed said without lifting his head.

So unsurprisingly, the conversation killer successfully ended the topic at the very start.

Schlacht's sigh and helplessness were completely unconcealed.

He pressed his forehead with considerable distress and chuckled softly.

"Agusheed, you're not planning to chat about anything with me..."

"At least at this point, couldn't you be a bit more enthusiastic toward me?"

Chat...

Enthusiastic?

These two laughable words made Agusheed pause his actions and shake his head slightly.

"Since you made the same choice as that stupid disciple without considering my feelings..."

"What is there left for us to chat about now?"

"Also..."

"Enthusiastic?"

The strongest Grand Demon looked up with a cold smile, speaking rudely without caring about Schlacht's feelings.

"Setting aside whether I even have such a thing, even if I did—"

"It wouldn't be used on you. You don't have that qualification in my heart."

Such words naturally had no lethality against Schlacht as a demon,

So he naturally didn't foolishly bring up Flamme because of Agusheed's implications.

Schlacht the Omniscient just maintained his light smile, rarely showing some honesty.

"Though you say that, Agusheed, I really am going to die."

"Give some reaction at least..."

"Then hurry up and die."

"I don't want to see you anymore."

The reaction did come, but such hurtful words made even Schlacht shake his head with a wry smile.

"Even I can't quite understand how His Majesty the Demon King managed to communicate amicably with you back then..."

"Agusheed, you're not giving me any room to open topics from beginning to end—"

Watching Agusheed, who was irritated by the word 'death' and spoke coldly,

Schlacht continued speaking softly after unhurriedly making himself a cup of tea.

"At this point, even if you don't plan to talk in detail with me, don't you want to ask me anything more?"

"Me ask you?"

Agusheed's gaze was somber, as if guessing Schlacht's ulterior motive in saying this,

So he laughed mockingly without reservation.

But after looking several more times at Schlacht's annoying face sitting across from him—

Agusheed closed his eyes heavily, unexpectedly not refusing this proposal.

"Fine, since you put it that way, I'll ask..."

Without pausing long, Agusheed asked his first question.

"This decisive battle—what's your psychological bottom line, or rather, how many casualties can you accept?"

"Four."

Without acting like a riddle person as in the past, Schlacht gave the answer almost without hesitation.

"Four... Besides you, who are the other three?"

The answer came just as instantly, and was so honest it left Agusheed somewhat at a loss.

But hearing those three unfamiliar names, the strongest Grand Demon's brow furrowed slightly.

"You came this time to take that waste hiding in the cave away with you, right?"

"Yes, because I need her to participate in this decisive battle too."

"Then why isn't her name among the Grand Demons who will die?"

"She still has value belonging to her in the future, and I'm only temporarily taking her away, so of course I must ensure she returns to you alive."

Value?

What value made both that stupid disciple and Schlacht spare that waste?

"I don't think she has any value in staying alive, and there's no need to send her back—"

"I wouldn't mind at all if she died on the battlefield."

Agusheed's meaning was obvious—he was indirectly asking about the value Schlacht mentioned.

Schlacht naturally understood his implication,

So the answer was once again spoken without hesitation.

"She will help you in the future."

This unexpected answer made Agusheed raise his eyebrows slightly.

Knowing Schlacht wasn't lying, he spoke softly:

"She'll help me in the future?"

"Schlacht, you who can't even observe my future—how did you reach such a ridiculous conclusion?"

Schlacht's answer remained concise and clear.

He looked directly at Agusheed, speaking slowly in calm:

"Because this is what His Majesty the Demon King told me personally."