What's on His Mind

29th year of Shinshi Era

After leaving the secret hot springs of Mount Etovis Rienta and the other three arrived at Havis, a fortified city in the Northern Lands.

Inside the hotel.

Rienta briefly experienced the hot springs before returning to her room.

During this period of travel.

Heiterge words kept echoing in his mind.

While the three of them, including Frieren, were engrossed in soaking in the hot springs, it was a good opportunity to think things through.

Although what Heiterge said roughly matches the contents of the letters from [Omniscient] Schlacht and [Hero of the South].

But that's definitely not all.

Furthermore, since Heiterge is a divine capital, it means that Honoroy is also one of the eight great demons.

Where are the other six demons?

Furthermore...

Would Rienta, who is favored by dark energy, really tell this so-called Rienta, chosen by righteous energy, the whole story?

Ascension.

They had clearly achieved immortality.

Why would one need to ascend to heaven?

Is the allure of ascension really that strong?

Suddenly, Rienta, who was lying on the bed, sat up abruptly.

I recalled the crimson moonlight when I obtained [immortality].

Among the eight great demons, the one related to the moon is the Moon Demon – Tso Lan.

Its forte is gravity.

It's very similar to the mysterious magic that Honoroy used to control [Stille] during the First-Class Mage exam.

Rienta sighed and lay back down.

Although Heiterge and Honoroy have not shown any ill will so far.

But if it's really as they say...

It's to increase the weight of dark energy in this world, so it must be compatible.

Interrupting Heiterge earlier was just a test.

Unexpectedly, Heiterge admitted it immediately.

He was actually quite confused at the time.

Just as he was thinking about how to help Heiterge go back and gather more information,

Unexpectedly, Heiterge directly said that Rienta from another timeline had something to convey to him.

"Rienta, are you satisfied with your life so far?"

Upon first hearing those words, an inexplicable fire ignited within Rienta's heart.

This led to the end of that conversation.

Knowing himself as he does, there's a high probability that this statement was just meant to provoke him.

But he couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

Just then...

The sound of the door opening made Rienta think it was Stark returning.

But unexpectedly, it was Fern arrived.

Rienta looked at Fern and asked, puzzled, "Fern? Why didn't you continue soaking in the hot spring?"

Fern shook his head, pulled up a chair, and sat down in front of Rienta's bed.

Looking at Rienta with a worried expression, he said softly:

"Rienta, although I don't know what you experienced in the illusion."

"But those are all fake, just like the [Phantom Demon]."

"It's just more realistic..."

Fern's voice grew softer and softer until she couldn't even hear herself saying anything anymore.

Scenes kept appearing in the illusion.

His parents died in the war, and he was taken in by Lord Heiter...

Rienta was taken aback when she saw Fern fall silent, then she understood why Fern had come to find her.

During his journey, he kept thinking about how to deal with the eight demons.

After all, that was based on the information Heiterge had given at the time.

Between them.

Wrong.

There will definitely be a battle between the dark energy and the righteous energy.

The person on the side of the dark aura is unknown.

But righteousness is most likely something you find within yourself.

This is not due to his blind confidence.

It's not because he can live forever.

In terms of lifespan, aside from elves and demons, no one can compare to him.

Demons are born with an aura of darkness, so it's impossible.

As for the elves.

Judging from Frieren's combat strength, she should still be able to deal with the demon.

But demons cannot be killed.

It can only be sealed.

Moreover, I've never heard of anything like hell in this world.

Where should we seal it off?

Even assuming that hell truly exists...

He couldn't remember the sealing conditions for each demon either.

All I remember is that God is always a sword.

What should be used instead of Panku's Box, which is responsible for opening the gates of hell?

We can't just follow Dad's example and mutter "Demons and monsters, leave! Demons and monsters, leave!" and expect to get rid of the evil spirits, can we?

Are you kidding me?!

He's not a great mage.

He is First-Class Mage — Rienta.

Wrong.

She is the future Sword Immortal — Rienta.

It is the righteous Rienta that is going to defeat the dark Rienta.

But that's the future.

Not now.

This was what troubled him the whole way.

Unexpectedly, Fern mistakenly believed that she was being affected by the illusion.

They even skipped the hot springs to come find me.

Rienta looked at Fern, who had come to comfort her, and then fell silent herself.

He chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle Fern's hair.

He said:

"Fern, don't worry."

"I'm not someone who can be influenced by illusions."

"I am the Sword Immortal — Rienta."

Fern gave an awkward smile upon hearing this.

After getting lost in her memories, she immediately realized that she had come to comfort Rienta.

However, the atmosphere at the time was rather strange.

That's why they fell silent.

Fortunately Rienta was perceptive and gave her a way out.

Fern cleared his throat and said seriously, "Since Rienta is alright, I'll be leaving now."

After saying that, he stood up abruptly and fled the room as if escaping.

"Bang!"

Rienta stared in astonishment at the closed door.

"..."

Inside a hotel room.

Fern and Stark sat facing each other.

Frieren is obsessed with soaking in hot springs.

Every day, it's the same routine: magic shop - hot spring - inn, without fail.

Rienta, on the other hand, focuses on the research of Personal Space.

He had received the grimoires related to barriers and seals from Frieren a long time ago.

Fern absentmindedly flipped through the magic book in his hand.

"Lady Frieren has been soaking in the hot springs ever since she arrived in this city."

"I never see Rienta again."

Sitting on the bed, Stark said, "Yeah, sometimes when I see those two, they either head straight for the magic shop or they're talking about magic I don't understand."

Fern sighed helplessly.

This is a rare moment of leisure.

Unfortunately, two of the four members of the team are nowhere to be seen all day.

He then casually remarked, "We should probably stay in this city for another two days."

"For Frieren, staying for two more days should be considered a compromise," Stark said with a smile.

"Yes, if we hadn't given Frieren a good talking-to earlier, we might have stayed any longer."

After saying this, Fern paused and continued:

I'm free all day tomorrow.

Stark thought for a moment but didn't understand what Fern meant.

So he said, "I should go to the weapon shop tomorrow; the axe really needs some serious maintenance..."

"..."

Fern looked at Stark with a hint of resentment and said:

Didn't you hear me say I'm free tomorrow?

"Stay with me."

After saying that, Fern sighed helplessly, "Lord Stark is such a blockhead..."

"What... you don't have to say that..."