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

Page 58

“This is the grimoire of the sage Evisi.” Ash handed over the grimoire placed on the table, while Haita continued with a smile, “It contains lost magic about the resurrection of the dead and immortality.”

"I've heard a lot of rumors about that kind of magic, but... does it really exist?" Just like Ash, Frillie was skeptical about magic that grants immortality.

She flipped through the book briefly, but all she saw were densely packed, complex diagrams and some drawings that looked like paint or stains, which made her nod slightly in approval.

"Did they use graphic ciphertext? People back then really liked this kind of encryption, but this..."

"My request is that you help us interpret this book," Haita said with a smile.

"By the way, I'd like to ask you to help teach Philon magic during this time."

Ash's magic has been optimized by himself to suit the casting methods of demons, so it is not suitable for teaching humans.

Although he tried teaching again, he felt awkward teaching and gave up.

After all, Shurahat had told him not to teach the future magic he had taught him to others, because he was worried that he might accidentally mix it up and teach it to others, which would interfere with the future and deviate from Shurahat's best outcome, which would be quite troublesome.

Facing these two calculating old men, Frillie didn't think too much about it. She casually flipped through the book she was reading and simply nodded, saying:

"This isn't a big problem; it should be resolved in five or six years. But were you two ever afraid of dying?"

"Who wouldn't be afraid of death?" Haita calmly turned his back, avoiding revealing anything through his expression, and slowly said:

"I didn't show it before because I just wanted to show off in front of you. But now that I'm getting closer to death, I'm more afraid of dying than before... Of course, I just want to buy myself a little more time so that I don't end up pursuing immortality."

"For the sake of that child?"

"Of course, and the holy scriptures also say that one should live healthily, and longevity is the ultimate form of health."

"...A monk who indulges in wine and meat, how dare he say such a thing."

"Haha~ Ash said something similar before. You two are really not polite to an old man like me." Haita didn't mind and left with a big laugh.

Frillie, holding the book, turned to Ash, puzzled, and asked, "What's your reason? Are you afraid of dying too?"

"Of course, what human being isn't afraid of death?"

"...Is that so? Then you'd better try to live long enough for me to decipher it." Frilian nodded slightly, but then gently stroked the grimoire, revealing a hint of sadness, and added, "But you'd better not get your hopes up too high, I don't really think that kind of magic exists."

"It's alright. No matter what the outcome, we won't blame you. In the meantime, we'll trouble you to take care of Philon."

"That's nothing... I mean, could you please stop touching my hair all the time? You're really annoying."

She had barely nodded in agreement when he touched her head, causing Frillie to slap his hand away in annoyance. It seemed she really was as annoyed by his habitual gesture as she had said.

But as she watched him leave and saw the door close, she couldn't help but feel a little lonely.

Millie is nowhere to be found. Maybe she's dead? Or maybe we'll never see her again.

Therefore, after his master passed away, this was the only friend who survived from a thousand years ago.

If suddenly no one makes her angry like that anymore, no one touches her hair... at first she was a little happy, but when she thought about it seriously, Frillie felt a little lonely.

While this "old elf girl" was alone in her room, lost in thought and sorrow, on the other side...

The two old men outside silently raised their hands and gave each other a high five.

"Want a drink?" Ash raised the bottle, while Haita hesitated for a moment before raising his glass as well: "Hmm... just a little bit, please."

They didn't just high-five in celebration; they even decided to have a drink to celebrate how smoothly things were going.

Of course... we can't say they were immoral for deceiving their old friend.

If it were just a normal situation where Frilian were to teach her disciples, she would definitely not agree, as past cases have proven.

Although the two of them had schemed against Frilian to achieve their goals, leaving her here to teach Philon might seem a bit excessive, but it wasn't actually that bad.

Five or six years is a long time for humans, but for Frilian...

Just like she said in the past, teaching a student can be a disaster if you're not careful, and she can get through this period of time by being a little lazy.

As an apology, Haita made dinner more lavish than ever before, though... it could also be because he was happy to have an old friend visiting.

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

Frilian unexpectedly kept her promise and devoted herself to teaching Philon, who, in turn, studied diligently thanks to this teacher who far surpassed any academy teacher.

Ash, on the other hand, was completely liberated. He would occasionally disappear to the north for a month or two, and then return as if nothing had happened.

He would occasionally disappear without telling anyone in detail, but they all tacitly refrained from asking him anything.

Another winter is fast approaching, and Frilian, who is afraid of the cold, has no intention of going out in this weather and just stays huddled by the fire.

Ash had just returned from outside and instinctively wanted to hold Philon on his lap as a warmer, but Philon, who had just been handed hot tea, resisted and shrank away.

The Burial of Frilian: A Thousand Years From Now On: Chapter Seventy-Eight - Childhood Recordings - The Pufferfish Transformation of Philon Haita Will Reach Its End (3K)

After Frilian joined the family of the cabin in the woods, significantly increasing its average age, peaceful years passed slowly.

As spring turned to autumn, Philon's hair gradually grew from shoulder-length to waist-length.

But in this yet another winter, as snowflakes blanketed the ground outside the window, accumulating into a thick layer, and the wind howled incessantly, rapid and low... Ash's heart felt as cold as the wind outside.

"...How could such a sensible and well-behaved child suddenly go through a rebellious phase?" Ashton, sitting in the rocking chair, felt lonely and sad that his child, whom he had watched grow up, was avoiding him.

With both hands pressed close to the fire, trying to absorb as much warmth as possible, Frillie glanced at it and immediately confirmed:

"You've been gone for half a year this time... Philon must have become estranged from you. You're not even an elf, how come you understand children better than me?"

"Is that right?"

Despite the fireplace burning brightly and making muffled crackling sounds of burning wood breaking, Ash's heart suddenly sank even further as the child he had watched grow up became even more aloof and distant than when he entered adolescence.

The old man sipping tea nearby couldn't help but roll his eyes at the two of them when he heard their conversation, but he was too lazy to correct them.

Meanwhile, Philon, who was standing to the side, stared at Ash, who puffed out his cheeks in silence. But when Ash looked over, Philon turned his head away without saying a word, as if refusing to communicate.

Children's feelings are truly beyond the comprehension of adults; this is probably what the generation gap is all about. — Despite feeling quite regretful, Ash still habitually reached out and gently stroked Philon's head.

Even though she had many grievances against him, this was the one action that Philon did not resist, and the expression on her face softened considerably without her noticing.

Although she had long ago decided not to pry into Ash's affairs to avoid causing him unnecessary burden, his sudden disappearance for so long still made Philon unable to suppress her worries. Under this gentle caress, she couldn't help but ask:

"—Lord Ash, why do you always have to leave?"

"Well... I have all sorts of things to do too."

"What? Are you going on a date or something?"

"Dating?" Hearing this from Philon's mouth, he was slightly taken aback, and a look of pride, like that of a child growing up, appeared on his face: "You actually know how to date now."

"Lady Frilian said that Lord Ash has very vulgar desires and always wants to watch shooting stars with women... Is that true?"

"No, no, no, this isn't vulgar at all, is it?" He shook his head repeatedly, dumbfounded, and couldn't help but glare at Frillie, scolding her in dissatisfaction:

"What are you doing, teaching this kid all this nonsense?"

“No, I didn’t say it was vulgar,” Frillie said, waving her hands repeatedly.

"Haita!"

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Haita shook his head speechlessly. "I don't think it's vulgar at all. On the contrary, isn't this a man's romance?"

“That’s right! It’s not vulgar at all!” With the support of his ally, he instantly became righteous and said, “Philan, you can’t do that. How can you use such filthy thoughts to judge my noble soul, and even teach yourself strange things?”

“…” Philen ignored him and instead turned to glare at Haita with displeasure: “…Lord Haita…!”

That was all it took for Haita to instantly change his tune, turning his attention to Ash: "I was just joking. Actually, it's really vulgar. As a man, you shouldn't do that."

"Lord Ash! Did you hear that? Even Bishop Highta has said this! Please reflect on your actions and correct them!"

In an instant, Philonise, who had turned from enemy to friend, puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish and righteously demanded that he change, leaving him dumbfounded: "Is this really my fault?"

"Of course!"

"Ha... As expected, kids grow up and become less affectionate and rebellious."

Ash didn't argue with her, but silently took out his treasured magical artifact from his pocket.

With a nostalgic expression, he infused the magic into it, and instantly, Philon's innocent childhood voice rang out:

"—If it weren't for Lord Ash, I might have died on the roadside long ago! It was Lord Ash who gave me hot food and a clean bed! He gave me a home! When I was feeling insecure, it was you...!"

"—Wait, wait a minute! What, what is this?!"

Philon, who had been puffing out her cheeks, soon recognized her own voice and rushed forward, her face turning bright red, to stop her.

But he immediately stood up and moved away, listening while feigning regret and sighing, "The old Philon was so cute, and would say she liked me the most, but the current Philon... sigh! I still prefer the Philon from when she was little."

"—When did you record this?! Please hand over that weird thing quickly!"

"No~"

"I...I'm really angry!!"

"I won't give it to you even if you're angry! It's my pillar of support! Losing it is like losing my soul!"

........

Even when Philon pounced on him and kept standing on tiptoe to try and grab it, Ash didn't give in at all and persisted until the recording was finished.