Time Remaining

"My friend came to [Äußerst] with a caravan and spotted Rivale on a nearby cliff." He said that when he spotted him, Rivale had already noticed their caravan and expected an immediate attack, but Rivale simply left and was never seen again.

"As for what happened afterward, they weren't attacked at all; they were just terrified by the mere sight of Rivale."

That's a notorious demon Demons!

As the middle-aged man spoke, he tapped the table with trembling hands, his voice filled with fear as if he too had witnessed Rivale's actions.

But he wasn't exaggerating. If any ordinary person encountered a great Demons like Rivale, their instinctive reaction would probably be to die.

Encountering such a terrifying being, there is absolutely no chance of survival.

"You saw Rivale but weren't attacked? Are you kidding me? He's Demons, how could he let a human escape?"

The people around him immediately felt deceived after hearing his words.

Yes, if Rivale had really discovered them, how could those people have possibly made it here alive? The Demons wouldn't be so merciful as to let humans go.

Unless... Rivale has discovered some extremely dangerous being, one that would force even him to temporarily retreat.

"Could it be Serie...?"

Although the people at the table began to think that the middle-aged man was trying to mislead them, Galan felt that Serie was somewhat involved in the matter.

If it weren't for him, Galan really couldn't think of anyone who could make Rivale back down.

Himmel? No, he should still be in the Central Lands at this time; he couldn't possibly be here.

Moreover, even if he were to appear here, it wouldn't make Rivale back down; on the contrary, it might ignite his fighting spirit, making him want to have a thorough and satisfying fight with him.

[Hero of the South]?

It's unlikely that his process of elimination will work; the only remaining possibility is Serie.

However, her memory is truly terrifying. According to what that middle-aged man said, the place where his companion saw Rivale should be quite a distance from [Äußerst].

How could she possibly maintain her influence in places like that?

Thinking about this, he couldn't help but gain a clearer understanding of the Ancestral Master's strength.

The argument at the next table was still going on, but Galan didn't listen anymore.

He has already gotten the information he wanted, so there's no need for him to keep listening.

After finishing a small barrel of liquor, he ordered some chops and vegetables. It must be said that although the food here was not bad, it was still inferior to the food cooked by Lake.

"Let's take Lia out for a meal again next time."

He chewed the food in his mouth, thinking to himself.

After finishing his meal, he slowly got up and walked out of the tavern.

As soon as he opened the door, the night breeze brushed against his face, making it itch.

Although not as lively as during the day, Äußerst has its own unique charm at night.

Galan walked down the street, not heading straight for the Inn, but choosing to explore some unfamiliar routes. He didn't know how long he'd be staying, so exploring the streets was a good way to pass the time after dinner. Just as his gaze was drawn to a clothing store, and he was about to investigate, a familiar voice rang in his mind again. "You seem quite relaxed today." It was Serie, using [Voice Transmission Magic] to communicate with Galan telepathically.

"Oh, you're quite relaxed, giving me such a sudden scare? I went to familiarize myself with the magic you gave me today, but with my current Mana, even if I develop it to a higher level, I can't use even half of its power."

"Then you should focus on practicing magic from now on. Who knows, you might actually be able to become a Mage."

"Please spare me, I'm a soldier!"

"Who says a person can't practice two professions? Even among Mages, some specialize in melee combat and are no less capable than some excellent warriors in close-quarters duels. So why not the other way around?"

"But judging from your limited imagination, you don't seem like the type to Mage..."

Was I immediately ridiculed?

However, Galan had no intention of going back—it was no joke. After all, that was Serie! Even if he had been mocked today by a seasoned and experienced Mage, and Serie had told him he "wasn't cut out to be a mage," he probably wouldn't have thought of retaliating.

After all, he was a legendary great Mage, an almost legendary figure in the hearts of the world.

"Also, regarding the length of time you can stay within this period, my calculations using magic indicate it will be approximately three years."

Serie's voice was calm, as if she was not surprised by the result she had calculated.

"Three years? That's a long time!" Galan exclaimed in surprise. Did this mean he would have to stay in this world for three years before he could return to the future?

"It should be about the same, but if you're restless, it might take a little less time," she added.

Restless...

After hearing Serie's account, Galan was at a loss for words.

What kind of restless behavior is this, leading to further entanglements with people of this era?

However, the only thing he cares about right now is to make Lia understand the meaning of "love." As for anything else, it seems there's no need for her to stay.

Another thing is to hone the [Blood Manipulation Magic]... I wonder if Frieren would be surprised to see herself suddenly able to use [Blood Manipulation Magic] if she went back in time like this.

"However, I still don't recommend you do anything dangerous. After all, you understand what a [Time Paradox] is... It's very difficult to explain even with magic."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you so much for helping me."

Galan was still very grateful for all the help Serie had given him so far.

Whether it was the [Blood Manipulation Magic] given to him or the calculation of how long he could stay in this time period, even though he knew that the other party was largely doing this out of curiosity about him as an outsider, it did not affect his gratitude towards the other party.

"I didn't do these things to help you; it's just for my own research. [Goddess Magic] is a rather attractive area for me, nothing more."