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

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“1000 years is too long, I’ve long forgotten it.”

"In the end, you haven't even become a first-level mage yet."

“I will pass,” he said confidently, but Celia responded with a well-intentioned smile: “No, I don’t think you will.”

"...Is that so? If you insist on doing it this way, then I have a corresponding countermeasure."

"Come on then, let me see just how rebellious my most wicked disciple can be!"

Upon hearing this, Celia, whose personality was already somewhat eccentric, immediately revealed a huge, almost tearing smile.

However... he simply raised his hand silently to stop him, saying, "Wait a minute... Would a proper master call his disciple a bastard?"

"If I'm not serious, then are you a proper disciple?"

"This can only be described as a case of the upper beam being crooked, so the lower beam will be crooked too, right?"

"I'm telling you, I'm very happy right now. Don't make me unhappy, or I'll make you unhappy too."

Seria's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes turned cold. She casually snapped the flower in front of her, as if she would snap off the top of the tower if she said another word.

This made Ash stop arguing with her. He silently stood up and headed towards the library inside the tower without looking back, saying without turning his head:

"Okay... I was wrong. Since you're back, I'll go and help you organize your books."

"Shouldn't you look at the person when you apologize? Or did I fail to teach you manners, you jerk?"

"...You don't really think you're polite, do you? How can you teach others something you don't even have yourself?"

"Self-taught? If you're inferior to me in everything, what use would I have for your disciples?"

"You can really say such shameless things..."

......

Their conversation eventually settled smoothly, and Ash quietly went to the library to fulfill his biggest goal for coming here.

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

The third round of exams began the following day.

All those who passed the second exam were notified last night and gathered together at the entrance to the Magic Association's tower this evening.

Everyone else arrived early and made a positive effort to get there, except for Ash, who had performed the best in the last exam.

"...Lord Ash, has something happened?" Philon looked around but couldn't find anyone, which made him a little worried.

But Frilian simply stared calmly at the door and said without thinking, "Instead of worrying about whether he will get into trouble, it's more practical to worry about whether he will cause trouble... Besides, you know how strong he really is."

"...What if we encounter a monster of the Demon King's caliber?"

“You’re worrying too much.” Frillie sighed and shook her head, feeling like a mother who was overly concerned about her child. “This is Celia’s territory. Even if it really is the Demon King, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

"...Is that Lady Celie that powerful?"

"My master said that she is the person closest to the goddess. She existed when the Demon King before her was alive, and only she knows whether the one before that was alive."

"Since there shouldn't be any problems, where exactly did Lord Ash go?"

"Who knows? That guy's always running around, isn't he? Maybe he'll show up soon?" Frilian shrugged nonchalantly, dismissing her worries, but Connie and Labinne were already a little worried... Had Ash been having too much fun outside and forgotten about the exam?

At this very moment, Falshu, the newly promoted first-class mage who was guarding the main gate and was also in charge of assisting with all matters related to this exam, announced the start of this round of exams. He stated that the interviews would be conducted by the Archmage Seria, and everyone would enter one by one.

Frillie, who was the first to be called, walked in with a blank expression, but when she saw two familiar figures, her expression began to falter.

The Burial of Frilian: The Officially Beginning Journey: Chapter Thirty-Nine - A Face-to-Face Deal Behind the Scenes - Shocking Seria - The Greedy and Foolish Prodigy

Philon was initially a little worried, but Frilian herself was genuinely not worried at all, as she was currently in the safest place in the world.

Celia squatted by the flowerbed, staring blankly at the flower buds that shouldn't have appeared in this northern land, while Ash lay on a rocking chair nearby, reading a book as if nothing had happened.

Even Frilian could tell that the rocking chair, so out of place in the beautiful rooftop garden, had obviously been moved there casually... In fact, judging from the situation, it was Ash who had brought it there.

This overly relaxed demeanor made her look like she'd swallowed a fly: "...Philen was worried you'd be late, so why are you here? You seem quite comfortable."

"Reading a book? Isn't it obvious?"

"You know that's not what I wanted to ask... Are you also one of the examiners?"

"Don't mind me. Didn't the people outside just say that Celie is the examiner? So just treat me as a mentor. Now, focus on this guy." Despite Frilian's somewhat piercing gaze, Ash raised his foot without looking up and pointed to Celie, who was still squatting by the flowerbed.

With just that one flick of his finger, a strange black light flashed out. And several defensive spells appeared at the toes of his feet.

There was no deafening roar, nor any dazzling light; only the shattering sound of several defensive spells being broken, and the attack and defense were over.

Ash managed to keep his legs intact, but the bricks beneath his feet turned to dust as the light faded.

This scene caused Frillie's expression to gradually change from initial bewilderment to感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of deep emotion or reflection), and she even found herself unconsciously sighing with emotion:

"...A thousand years have passed, and your relationship is still so good."

"Where did you get that idea? Besides, isn't this an exam?" Celia looked at her coldly. "But... what are you doing here now? I wanted to give you 'special privileges' before, but you didn't want them, did you?"

“Because magic is more interesting when you explore it yourself.” Without a second thought, Frilian gave the same answer she had given a thousand years ago.

Seria showed no politeness towards this grand-disciple, coldly issuing an order to leave: "...Someone like you has no right to become a first-level mage. You've been utterly boring from beginning to end. You're not qualified. Go back."

"is it?"

Frillie wasn't angry; she just nodded silently and gave him a deep look. Ash, who was still reading in his seat, then decided to turn around and leave.

But Ash couldn't sit still any longer. He put down his book, looked up, and called out to her:

"—Wait a minute, Frillian."

"What? Are you going to plead for me? Or maybe you should just forget it." Frillie stopped in her tracks.

"How could that be? My pleading is useless anyway. You might as well change your attitude a little and give me the privileges. I'll give you... Oh, and I'll treat you to a big meal when we get back. Even in a very dangerous situation, I'll stand by your side if you get lectured by Philon. I might even tie Philon up and make her angry only at me!"

He directly brought up the preferential treatment given to the Frillien Special Forces.

Upon hearing this, Celia immediately scoffed, wanting to mock him for trying to compare his privileged conditions with hers.

However.....

"...You said that? I've already recorded it!" Frilian turned around abruptly, took out a recording device from somewhere, and said seriously, "--If you don't keep your promise, I'll tell everyone that you touched Connie's stomach."

"This time, absolutely not. Even if you say something strange again, I will never pretend I don't know you."

"...? What are you talking about? When did I say anything strange?"

Frillie's genuinely puzzled expression made Ash cover his face and shake his head repeatedly.

Because... he didn't want to talk about this guy who had absolutely no self-awareness anymore. After all, he hadn't changed in all these years, and it was pointless and impolite to talk about him again.

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

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

The deal the two made on their own was clearly heard by Celia, who was standing nearby.

That privilege, which every magician on the continent would dream of and even risk their lives for, still couldn't compare to this... strange condition.

This made Celia's face turn blue with anger on the spot:

"...What's going on with you guys? Are you messing with me?"

But Frillie noticed that her hand trembled slightly as she accidentally plucked a flower petal from the ground. Still confused, she asked, "Why are you angry?"

"I don't know, menopause... cough, maybe I just dislike you." Before he could finish, he was glared at, causing him to silently change his words.

While Frillie was momentarily annoyed, she quickly dismissed the matter, as their discord had been brewing for some time. She then turned to Celia, her face expressionless and her delivery uttered as if reciting a memorized text, devoid of any emotion:

"Thinking back on it carefully, I actually regretted it back then, so now I want that kind of privilege."

"...Do you guys think I'm an idiot? Or do you think I'm some kind of sucker?"

"I just want to pass the exam and get what I deserve."

"I've already told you, you're not qualified."

"Is that so?" Frillie nodded calmly, then turned to Ash again: "...What should we do?"

I'm so tired, so alone

"...Don't look at me right now, you should be angry."

"Seria, give me a good reason, or I'll get angry."

Ash said so, and she really did it without hesitation, trying her best to glare angrily at Celie.

"—I should be the one who's angry!" Celie was so angry that she laughed at the two of them, but she still took a deep breath to calm herself down: "...Fine, I'll give you a chance, Frilian, tell me about the magic you like."

“I think it is…” Ash began, but Celia suddenly waved her hand dismissively: “—Shut up.”

The bricks shattered instantly, golden light shooting out, but Ash stomped on the ground, causing the lightning to collide with and neutralize it, and looked on with annoyance at the flying bricks:

"...How rude! They've clearly used very expensive materials here..."

"I don't care about you." Celia snorted, then turned to look at Frilian again, silently urging her to hurry up.

This prompted her to bluntly state, "The magic of conjuring a flower field."

"The magic he learned from Vlame... is this kind of useless, utterly boring magic—it's unacceptable."