Denken's Choice

Dugu Qing nodded and then shook his head, his expression meaningful, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

"However, anyone who possesses so much gold would surely be troubled by the thought of not being able to spend it all!"

Fern understood Dugu Qing, "Then let's just take a look."

Frieren's life spans thousands of years of human history.

Over the course of a thousand years, she witnessed the decline of empires, the rise of monarchies, the vicissitudes of life, and the transformation of dynasties into mere skeletons.

She was very familiar with Weise's story and immediately introduced it to everyone.

Fifty years ago, Macht, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction of the Golden Land, turned this fortified city and all its inhabitants into gold.

Then Serie personally intervened and trapped Macht. Her students worked together to create a powerful barrier, surrounding Macht.

I believe that if we wait a few hundred more years, the strongest Demons among the Seven Sages of Destruction will die of old age inside!

"This is good too, no need to fight."

Dugu Qing liked this outcome; it was simple and safe.

Stark, however, hung his head, looking very sad.

So much gold! We can only look at it, not take it—what a waste!

From the depths of the forest came the sound of light footsteps, and then Denken, dressed in a black robe, slowly appeared.

"The yellow substance here looks exactly like gold, but it's incredibly hard, impossible to process, and therefore cannot be sold on the market."

"I see!"

Stark clutched his head in despair, abandoning any thought of making quick money.

Frieren looked at Denken with surprise in her eyes.

"Laiern's request was for us to assist the barrier manager, but I never expected that person to be you!"

Denken calmly stated that Golden Land was originally the territory of his father-in-law, Glück.

He and his wife once lived happily in Weise.

Until fifty years ago, when Weise was swallowed up by the Golden Land, he became a homeless wanderer, drifting in the arena of fame and fortune.

The longing for home and the yearning for home grow stronger with each passing day.

He could no longer tolerate the rampant expansion of the Golden Land, nor could he bear the thought of not being able to return home. He took the First-Class Mage Exam, became Level One Mage, and after repeatedly pleading with Serie, finally became the Barrier Manager.

The range of the barrier can be adjusted according to the size of the Golden Land.

The moment Denken became the barrier manager, he returned to his hometown to pay respects at his wife's grave.

But...

For Denken, visiting a grave was not a perfect experience.

What he wanted was for the entire fortress city to be restored to the blissful state he remembered.

Moreover, Denken has aged; his hair and beard are completely white, his teeth are worn out, and he has gone from being a dashing young man to a short, old man.

Everything he was so proud of was mercilessly taken away by time!

Handsome face, strong body, tall stature, unparalleled confidence... all disappeared one by one.

The footsteps of death, from the deepest hell, are becoming increasingly clear.

Denken faced a choice: to silently walk towards death in the cycle of days and nights, or to bravely and fearlessly shine one last light like a moth drawn to a flame.

Which of these two is more noble?

After much deliberation, Denken decided to give his hometown a chance to be reborn, to give his wife a perfect memory, to give his father-in-law a proper explanation, and to put a period to his life without regrets.

So, there's no need to think anymore, no need to hesitate any longer!

Even if it meant facing an endless hell, Denken made his choice.

Macht, the Golden Land, must "die"!

Frieren looked at Denken in surprise, never expecting that he could unleash such great mental strength under the threat of death.

Humans are indeed extraordinary, just as the teacher said!

However, elves possess near-eternal lifespans and are not threatened by death, so why risk following the short-lived Denken?

"This task is tricky, we're returning it. Fern, send the Grimoire back!"

Without hesitation, Frieren took out the Grimoire and handed it to Fern.

Stark looked at Frieren strangely, "Interrupting a mission, that's not like you!"

Dugu Qing nodded repeatedly, "Well done, let's get out of this mess quickly! I don't want to fight Seven Sages of Destruction."

Fern looked at Denken with pity, unwilling to leave.

Frieren explained, "As the leader of the squad, I have to be responsible for everyone's lives. If fighting Macht results in the deaths of Fern or Stark, that's something I absolutely cannot accept."

Fern waved his hand, refusing to believe he was going to die.

"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? We've fought quite a few Demons before, and we've won every single one!"

Frieren looked seriously at the barrier below. "Macht is the strongest of the Seven Sages of Destruction. I was once easily defeated by him and it took me a hundred years to recover. Even now, I can't imagine what it would be like to defeat Macht. The best way is to imprison it inside the barrier. Whether it takes hundreds or thousands of years, it will eventually die of old age."

A rare smile appeared on Denken's face. "Indeed, I am old and my life is nearing its end. Entering the Golden Land to fight Macht is a gamble, while your departure is the best choice. I support you. Please help me; it was Laiern who invited me without my consent."

Without further hesitation, Frieren picked up her suitcase and left.

Dugu Qing hummed a little tune and quickly followed.

Fern smiled apologetically and stayed close to Dugu Qing.

Stark hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then turned and left.

"This is good. All the beautiful memories will be borne by me, and will end with me. I will have no regrets in this life."

Looking down at the Golden Land below, Denken felt a surge of battle intent in his chest, his robes billowing, revealing his sharp edge.

Upon hearing this, Frieren couldn't help but recall the scene of sitting with Himmel, admiring the flower fields conjured by magic.

The sight of Denken before her seemed to be a battle for happy memories, deeply moving her, and she stopped in her tracks as if possessed.

"Alright! Denken, we can help you. Tell us your strategy!"

Dugu Qing slapped his head helplessly, then took out the Divine Heavenly Might Magic and started looking at it from the tab, just like a student studying hard before an exam.

"Hey, Dugu Qing, you're really cramming for battle at the last minute!"

Stark was deeply shocked by the rapid changes in Dugu Qing.

"Frieren and Fern are my friends; I can't bear to see them get hurt."

Hearing Dugu Qing say this, Frieren and Fern smiled with relief.

"What about me! What about me!"

Stark gripped Dugu Qing's shoulders tightly and shook him violently.

"Okay! And you too."

Dugu Qing was almost dizzy from the shock, so he had to add the name of Stark.

That's more like it.

Stark grinned and withdrew with satisfaction.

Denken, along with Frieren, Dugu Qing, Stark, Fern, arrived at the wooden cabin prepared for the barrier manager.