Persuasion

In the distance, deprived of Aura's precise control, the undead army moved with growing sluggishness and disorder, like marionettes whose strings had been cut. Though they still moved according to lingering instincts and commands, they could no longer pose an effective threat.

Himmel's sword strikes remained precise, and his efficiency had clearly improved considerably. Eisen's battle-axe whistled through the air, swiftly felling the soldiers who approached. Heiter mostly used his holy light spells to dispel the lingering chill over the battlefield. Ruby's magic focused on clearing away scattered soldiers who were trying to regroup.

The battle soon drew to a close.

When the last headless soldier fell beneath Himmel's sword, silence returned to the plain. Only the wail of the wind through the treetops remained, along with the thick, inescapable stench of decay in the air.

Just then, Lowell slowly emerged from the shadows of the forest, holding Linié's hand. Linié followed at his side, her pink twin tails swaying slightly as her deep blue eyes swept calmly over the battlefield. Her face showed neither fear nor hostility, like a child out with a parent.

Lowell patted Linié on the shoulder and gave the others an easy smile as they looked over, speaking as casually as if he were introducing a newly met neighbor:

"Good news, everyone. After some earnest persuasion on my part, Miss Linié here is willing to turn over a new leaf and travel with us too. Isn't that right, Linié?"

Linié looked up at Lowell, then at Himmel and the others. She tilted her head, her voice cute but utterly flat. "Mm, that's right."

Everyone looked at one another.

Heiter scratched his hair. "Hahaha... Anyway, let's hurry and find a town to rest in. I need some good wine to replenish myself."

Eisen silently studied Linié, then glanced at Mina, who was standing nearby with the enormous horned helmet still on. His bronze face betrayed little expression as he quietly hung his battle-axe on his back.

Ruby blinked her big green eyes, looking from Lowell, who wore an expression that said it was only natural, to the calm Linié. Disbelief was written all over her little face as she muttered, "Huh... You're that good? That fast? Your persuasion skill must be pretty high..."

Himmel paused for a moment, then his characteristic gentle, slightly indulgent smile appeared. "I see. Lowell, you always do find a way. You're always so... mysterious." There was a nearly imperceptible note of inquiry in his voice, but more than that, there was warm acceptance.

Only then did Eisen speak, pointing out the most practical problem in a low, steady voice. "Come to think of it, there are two of them (demons) now. My helmet won't be enough, will it?" His gaze fell on the enormous horned helmet Mina wore.

Frieren, who had been standing quietly nearby, lifted the corners of her mouth almost imperceptibly at his words and let out an extremely faint, nearly inaudible giggle. But her usual impassive expression quickly returned, and she said nothing.

Lowell seemed to remember the matter only then. He slapped his forehead in sudden realization. "Oh, right! I was so busy 'persuading' her that I forgot about that." He walked over to Mina, gently lifted Eisen's helmet off her head, and handed it back to the dwarf warrior.

"Sorry, Eisen. I borrowed your helmet for a bit."

Eisen silently took the helmet and put it back on, then looked at Lowell with a hint of unspoken inquiry in his eyes.

Lowell smiled without explaining. He simply reached out and gently placed one hand on Mina's head and the other on Linié's. Barely visible ripples of mana flickered at his fingertips.

The next moment, the pointed horns on Mina's and Linié's heads that marked them as demons vanished without a sound, as though rubbed away with an eraser. They looked no different from ordinary human girls.

Mina and Linié glanced at each other, then felt the spots where their horns had been. Their expressions remained unchanged, as though someone had merely brushed a little dust off them.

Eisen watched in silence for a moment. In the end, he couldn't help asking in his characteristically steady, unvarying tone, "If you could conceal them with magic, why did you need my helmet?"

Lowell withdrew his hands and chuckled. "Haha... Well, I just wanted to see what your face looked like under that helmet. Pretty manly." His tone was a little nonchalant.

Eisen fell silent again, seemingly unsure how to respond.

Heiter broke the silence at just the right moment, patting his belly as he called out, "Hey, hey! Can't this wait until we get to town? I desperately need a good drink! This place smells awful!"

His complaint was exaggerated, but it effectively brought everyone's attention back to the present.

"Heiter's right." Himmel nodded, sheathed his sword, and began straightening his somewhat disheveled clothes. "We need to leave here as soon as possible and find somewhere to rest."

The party set out again, crossing the forest steeped in the air of death. Sunlight gradually dispelled the mist, illuminating the road ahead.

Ruby couldn't resist moving closer to Frieren and asking quietly, "Lady Frieren, that thing Mr. Lowell used... was it transformation magic? That's amazing! It can even make demon horns disappear?"

Frieren was carefully putting away a somewhat unusual metal button she had picked up on the battlefield, one decorated with an antique pattern. At the question, she murmured, "Mm," without looking up. Two seconds later, she added, "It's an advanced application, more or less. But maintaining the effect requires a constant expenditure of mana, or... mm, he used some other method."

Her answer was vague, and she did not seem inclined to explain further.

Every so often, Ruby secretly glanced back, curiously studying Mina and Linié, who looked no different from humans and even a little cute with their horns concealed by magic. There was no telling what was going through her little head. Heiter had already begun dreaming of steaming hot food and ice-cold ale.

Frieren and Lowell walked side by side, one pondering dinner while the other gazed at the outline of a distant town, their expressions as impassive as ever.

Mina and Linié followed quietly behind, the brightening patches of light in the forest reflected in their eyes, which showed no sign of emotion. For them, the future was merely a change of environment in which to observe and learn.