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Glenn nudged Galan in the side with his elbow. At that instant, the Griffon Hound before him seemed to think it had spotted an opening and lunged at him without hesitation.

Seeing its companion pounce, the other one opened its jaws wide and charged at Galan.

In an instant, the monsters closed to less than three meters from the two men. At that distance, within the Griffon Hounds' killing range, the two seemed to have no choice but to defend themselves.

The alchemical longsword traced a gleaming silver arc through the air. As the Griffon Hound lunging at Glenn came down, it landed right on the arc. The sharp blade cut through its mouth, slicing off its entire lower jaw and severing its gaping maw along with its skull. Blood splashed through the air and fell in scarlet drops.

The pitch-black greatsword swept across with a fierce gust just as the other Griffon Hound raised its claws and bared its fangs. Its attack, intended to keep Galan from making a move, was violently broken by Glenn, who suddenly appeared before it and struck with crushing force.

The massive blade cut off both of the Griffon Hound's forelegs and left a wound in its throat deep enough to expose bone. Blood poured out like water from a reservoir with its floodgates thrown open, staining Glenn's vision red.

As the monsters were about to reach them, the two men spun close together, switching positions and using the movement to strike, killing the monsters before they could react.

Seeing the Griffon Hound still struggling in a pool of blood on the ground, Glenn reversed his grip and drove the greatsword into its skull, ending its life for good.

"Excellent warriors."

In the distance, Frieren could not help remarking on the two men's practiced teamwork.

All at once, she seemed to recall how Himmel and Eisen's teamwork would be interrupted every time by her ill-timed magic, and how Heiter would give her a thorough scolding afterward. A smile crept onto her lips.

What an interesting journey... Though those ten years were far too short for me.

Come to think of it, when she had said that at the victory banquet, Himmel had seemed unable to understand. Even when he said they would all watch the Half-Century Meteor Shower together fifty years later, his smile had not looked happy at all.

Why... was that...?

"Lady Frieren..."

Watching Frieren smile and then grow thoughtful, Theresia could not help wondering what she was thinking.

She had often heard her grandmother tell stories of the heroes since she was little, and after learning about their wonderful adventures, she had come to admire them deeply.

Though some parts of the stories made no sense, such as Lord Heiter getting a hangover every week despite being a priest, or Lord Eisen being thrown from the sky by a dragon and coming away unscathed... No matter how she heard them, they sounded made up. How could such things possibly happen...?

It was also because of their influence that Theresia had originally decided to become an adventurer.

Lady Frieren is amazing...

I really can't figure out what great people are thinking...

Having expended too much mana, she now felt exhaustion wash over her entire body. She could only put away her staff and slowly slump against a corner of the house, drifting into a drowsy sleep.

"What an idiot... Using up all her mana at a time like this, when the enemy is only just about to appear..."

Seeing that Theresia could no longer fight, Frieren summoned a blanket and covered her with it, then put up a mana barrier around her.

She gently set down her suitcase and held her staff, her eyes calm as still water as she gazed toward the far end of the road.

"Something else is approaching... A monster?"

"It's a person."

Sensing the newly arrived presence, Galan and Glenn both looked toward the road.

Amid a series of rapid gasps, a man appeared in their sight, covered in blood, his robes torn apart and half his face corroded by a black curse.

"Is that Latte?"

Reno, standing behind them, was the first to recognize him, a hint of shock in his voice.

Glenn and Galan thought he looked a little familiar, as though they had seen him in another party, but they did not know his name.

"Tch! Too late."

Frieren's face darkened, and she slowly lowered the staff she had just raised.

"...Run... run...! It's coming..."

Before any of them could react, a beam of violet light pierced Latte's heart from behind, passed through him, and blasted a deep, smoking crater into the ground.

He froze for a moment, then opened his mouth and reached with a vacant expression for the heart that was no longer there. A great spray of blood burst from the flesh around the hole through his chest, and he fell to the ground with a thud, completely lifeless.

"Tch!"

At the sight of the gruesome scene, even Glenn, who was used to seeing life and death part people, felt his heart tighten. He offered a silent prayer for the poor man who had tried to warn them.

"So it is a demon after all... They're here... Two of them?"

Galan stared in surprise at the two figures gradually emerging at the end of the road.

He has a helper?

The dim sky grew even gloomier after the two demons appeared. The sun sank behind the mountains, and darkness completely enveloped the ground. Only the burning houses illuminated the open space, which was filled with the oppressive pressure of mana.

"How arrogant, releasing their mana without restraint from so far away."

Frieren watched the two demons walking toward them. Though one still looked like a human man, the faint, unpleasant scent he gave off was unmistakably that of a demon.

The demon girl beside him was displaying her vast mana without restraint.

Brilliant mana bloomed from her body, rising even higher than the tall trees around her.

"An interesting disguise spell. You really can't see anything unusual on the surface... But do demons nowadays look down on people this much?"

Thinking of the mana she was giving off, which was weaker than her opponent's, Frieren gave a sly smile.

"What should I call you now? Still Sith? Or should I call you that damned demon?"

Glenn let out a long breath, steadied himself, and placed the Black Sword in front of him once more.

At his age, the repeated battles had taken quite a toll on him, and this might be his only chance to catch his breath for a while.

Seeing Glenn's current state, Galan felt his heart tighten as well. Looks like it'll be up to me from here on.

No matter how strong Frieren is, she can't split her attention to deal with two demons at once.

"I don't want to go to hell with you. There's still someone at home waiting for me to return..."

Galan's gaze sharpened. He now displayed his presence without restraint, making even Glenn glance at him.

"Just as I thought... He's more than an ordinary warrior... This brat..."

Seeing Galan hold his aura entirely within himself, ready to unleash it at any moment, Glenn finally confirmed what he had thought from the start.

"...Call me Flag... How strange. I could have gotten along with you as a human, yet every one of you is so eager to die."

Watching Flag shed his "Sith" disguise, draw his weapon, and reveal his demonic appearance, both men tensed.