Negotiation

The image on the screen finally froze on Macht's back as he walked alone into the depths of the Golden Land, then slowly faded and dissipated into the air.

The cabin was quiet for a moment.

"I see."

Frieren spoke first. She sat on the low cabinet, one leg bent, her emerald eyes fixed on the spot where the light screen had disappeared.

"Edel read Macht's memories... Her mastery of Mental Magic is truly astounding."

She turned her head and looked at Lowell beside her.

"Lowell?"

Lowell leaned back in his chair, and upon hearing this, raised his hand and scratched his cheek.

"Hmm... I should be able to do it?" He sounded uncertain, tilting his head. "Maybe I can't? I haven't tried, it doesn't matter, I don't rely on Mental Magic for a living."

Fern sat on the low stool by the fireplace, still holding the now-cold glass of water in both hands. She looked up.

"Is she that amazing, Lady Frieren?"

"Of course," Frieren said calmly, beginning to explain, "The mental structures of humans and Demons are completely different, as Edel has already mentioned. I was quite surprised that Ruby was able to influence Lowell with Mental Magic, even if only for a very short time."

"And Edel infiltrated the Demons, specifically the mental world of a powerful figure like Macht, to search for and read their memories. And she did it all in an instant. And all she did was faint from a nosebleed?"

She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair sliding to one side.

"Based on common magical knowledge, it wouldn't be surprising if she died on the spot. She probably endured unimaginable pain."

Duncan stood across the table, listening silently. His face was expressionless, but the lines of his jaw were taut.

After a few seconds, he spoke in a low voice.

"Is that so..." He raised his hand and pressed his fingers against his brow.

"I really feel bad for her. She had nothing to do with this... I should repay her properly afterwards."

He lowered his hand, his voice lowered, as if talking to himself.

"If I were still alive."

He looked up and glanced out the window. The midday sun shone through the glass, casting bright spots of light on the floor.

"Ah, it's already noon without me realizing it," he said, his tone returning to its usual calm. "I have to go take care of some errands. I'll continue telling you about Macht later."

Methode sat on the other side of the table, her head slightly tilted, her blue-violet eyes holding just the right amount of curiosity.

What business is Mr. Duncan going to take care of?

"Yes, I go to negotiate with that guy in Golden Land around noon every day."

"Negotiate with Macht?" Frieren chimed in, her emerald eyes fixed on him.

"Yes."

Duncan nodded. He looked at Frieren and gave her a knowing smile.

"'Negotiating with Demons is a complete waste of time'—that's what you're going to say, isn't it?"

Frieren didn't speak, she just blinked.

Duncan continued, his voice calm.

"Even though the Continental United Academy currently has many Demons who coexist with Human race, in the end, they are all just beasts Dominating Stone Rings. Apart from Lowell, none of the other Demons can guarantee that they wouldn't attack humans without the stone rings' restraint."

He paused briefly, then turned his gaze to the window, looking towards the direction of Golden Land.

"But I still want to try negotiating with Macht. After all, he's my teacher. And, if the spellcaster himself is involved, the possibility of removing the Goldification is greater."

Methode gave a soft "ah," her fingertips touching her chin.

"Speaking of which, in the previous scene, although the 'malice' command given by Lord Gluck was no longer effective, 'Obedience' might still be."

Fern put down her water glass, the bottom of which hit the wooden table with a soft "click." She looked up at Duncan.

"So Mr. Duncan was able to travel to and from Golden Land unscathed... In other words, if it were Mr. Duncan's order, Macht might have obeyed?"

Duncan remained silent.

He didn't answer immediately, but just stared out the window. The midday sun shone on his face, illuminating the lines etched by time and weather. His eyes were somewhat vacant, as if looking into the distance, or as if he wasn't looking at anything at all.

The cabin fell silent for a moment.

Then, a calm, monotone voice rang out.

"Won't."

It's Liletta.

She had been standing near the door, almost invisible. Now, her golden eyes were fixed on Duncan's retreating figure, and she repeated herself.

"Macht won't."

All eyes turned to her.

Liletta's face remained expressionless; she simply stated her position.

"The concept of 'Obedience' is also vague to me, and I think it's the same for him. I believe that if I'm asked to commit suicide or do anything else that's highly coercive, it can't be considered part of 'Obedience'."

After she finished speaking, she shut her mouth and fell silent again.

Lowell looked at Liletta, his eyes lighting up. He suddenly raised his hand and clapped his hands. The applause sounded somewhat abrupt in the quiet room.

"Great!" he shouted, a broad smile spreading across his face. "Everyone, give us a round of applause! This is another step forward in the coexistence of Human race and Demons! Let's give them a round of applause!"

The room was completely silent.

His applause rang out crisply a few times, then stopped.

Lowell blinked, glancing at the expressionless Frieren, then at the calm Fern, then at the smiling but silent Methode, and finally at the still silent Liletta and Duncan.

"... Ahem." He coughed twice, lowered his hand, and touched his nose. "What's wrong? Liletta has taken the initiative to share her views on this matter, which is clearly an improvement. At least in her actions, she's treating us like one of our own."

Fern thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

"That seems to make sense. But clapping and all that..."

Frieren jumped down from the low cabinet, walked up to Liletta, reached out, and gently ruffled the top of her silver-white hair.

"Liletta did a good job." Her voice was flat, but her tone carried a clear affirmation. "I praise you."

Liletta stood still, without saying a word. Her golden eyes drooped slightly, then lifted again.

Duncan watched this scene without saying a word.

"Indeed," he said, speaking again in a more composed voice, "Miss Liletta is right. Although the teacher won't hurt me, he won't Obedience orders that are too forceful."

He turned around and faced the crowd.

"Demons themselves are not very social beings. After all, Demons are essentially a species that separated from demons that can speak human language. It's not wrong to call them demons. It's probably unrealistic to expect them to fully understand the concept of 'Obedience'."

He sighed softly.

"Ultimately, my father-in-law's orders were far too vague. If it had been like yours, Lowell," he looked at Lowell, "The outcome would probably have been much better."

Lowell crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at his words.

"Is that so..." he drawled, as if recalling something, "I'm a pretty methodical person when it comes to things. I usually have dozens of 'don'ts' and a whole bunch of 'must be done this way' rules. After all, I have experience."

He changed the subject.

"But... it's not entirely true that Gluck's orders were wrong."

He looked at Duncan, his dark eyes calm.

"Perhaps, this is what he wants?"

Duncan's body trembled slightly.

He looked at Lowell with a calm gaze, but something stirred within him for a moment before quickly subsiding.

"... Do you know anything?" His voice was lower than before.

"I know everything," Lowell said casually, but every word was clear. "Although I cannot read minds... I believe that Gluck deliberately allowed Macht's Stone Ring to remain as it is."

He paused for a moment, giving Duncan time to process the information.

"You might think he didn't know that Macht didn't understand 'Obedience' and 'malice.' But actually—"

Lowell looked into Duncan's eyes and said, word by word.

He knew his old friend better than anyone else.

Duncan remained silent for a long time.

Outside the window, the midday sun was blazing, casting his long shadow on the ground through the glass.

"... Really?" He finally spoke, his voice very soft, as if talking to himself, "My father-in-law knows."

Frieren walked over to Lowell, resting her shoulder against his and her silvery head on his arm. She looked up, her emerald eyes meeting Duncan's.

"If you continue like this," she said, her voice flat, but the meaning clear, "it wouldn't be surprising if you were killed sooner or later by what Macht interprets as 'Obedience.'"

Duncan raised his hand and vigorously wiped his face. When he lowered his hand, his face had regained its usual composure. Only the heavy, dark look in his eyes lingered.

"Even the smallest possibility, I'm willing to try," he said, his voice steadying. "My goal is to restore Golden Land to its former state. Defeating Macht is certainly important, but if doing so cannot restore Golden Land, then it's meaningless."

He looked out the window, his gaze passing over the wooden house and the woods, landing on that unseen, solidified gold.

I want to try my best to persuade him to break free of the Goldification.

Lowell looked at him quietly for a few seconds. Then, he let out a soft breath.

"... Duncan." He called his name.

Duncan turned around.

Lowell's voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"You and Lairen are really similar in some ways... Tsk, didn't he tell you? Serie threatened Macht with her life to force him to relinquish his Goldification —he didn't. For Demons, life is the most important thing. Macht is incapable of relinquishing his Goldification."

Duncan's lips tightened. He stood there, silent, his back ramrod straight.

After a moment, he nodded very lightly and slowly.

"... I see."

Frieren nudged Lowell's side gently with her elbow.

"Hey," she whispered, her emerald eyes glancing at him sideways, "Didn't you say yesterday that I'd come to see him? Why are you saying this to him now?"

Lowell caught her mischievous hand, held it in his palm, and gently stroked her fingertips with his fingers.

"If I couldn't undo the Goldification, I certainly wouldn't be saying this," he replied, his voice lower but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. "But I have seen the possibility of undoing the Goldification, Frieren."

Frieren blinked.

"Eh... really?" She tilted her head, her silver hair swaying with the movement. "Okay."

Fern's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, her pale purple eyes blinking.

"Eh, what is it?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Also, the reason defeating Macht can't undo the Goldification is because it's a continuous spell, right? Just like the spell of the Great Mage Flamme, which has lasted for thousands of years."

"Yes, Fern." Frieren nodded, withdrawing her hand from Lowell's grasp and crossing it to her chest. "'Diagoldze' magic is magic that continues even after death. As for the method..."

She paused deliberately, keeping everyone in suspense, her emerald eyes curving into a smile.

"You'll find out later."

Lowell looked at Duncan again. He stared at him for a moment, then suddenly spoke, his tone casual.

"Also, Duncan."

"Um?"

"You call Macht 'he' instead of 'it'. And you even call him 'teacher'."

Duncan paused for a moment.

He stood there, silent for a few seconds, then looked down at his hands.

"... Really?" he said softly, as if just realizing it. "So that's what I call you."