Breda

"Breda?"

Lorenzo had never heard that Demon's name before. By Frieren's theory, they should have been even more wary of a nameless Great Demon.

"According to the information we have, he was already around during the days of the Demon King's Army."

Zanze continued. Apparently, he wasn't a nameless Great Demon after all; Lorenzo was simply ignorant.

"What Windwing Dragon and Demon?"

Übel listened to Lorenzo and Zanze's conversation with a puzzled look.

"Here's what happened..."

Fern, who was sitting beside her, began filling her in on what Frieren had told her earlier.

"Then why is he controlling Windwing Dragons?"

Lorenzo asked.

"We don't know yet."

Zanze answered.

"But based on the clues we have, I suspect he may be testing his magic."

"Testing?"

"Breda specializes in controlling monsters, but there are limits to that control. The stronger the monster and the greater the distance, the harder it is to control."

Zanze reached out and lightly traced a route across the tabletop. Lorenzo recalled those gray eyes. From the Northern Plateau to the central region—being able to span such a distance, it was hard to imagine how powerful his mana must be now.

"Why don't you come back with us and ask Frieren? She's lived for so many years and has experience dealing with Demons. Surely she's heard something about this one."

Lorenzo invited Zanze. Of course, he must never call Frieren an old relic to her face, or she would definitely put on a performance of "Sad Pacific."

Zanze thought it over for a while and apparently agreed that he had a point, so she accepted.

"All right."

Just then, the steaks arrived. As the scorching iron plates landed on the table, juices and fat sizzled, and the aromas of pepper and herbs rose in the steam.

It truly deserved to be the restaurant's signature dish. It was excellent, and the Demons' scheme that had been hanging over them moments ago was cast aside in an instant.

Whatever the Demon was plotting, what could they do on empty stomachs? So everything else could wait until they had finished their steaks.

After all, humans couldn't go fight Demons on empty stomachs, and the Demons' scheme wouldn't suddenly succeed just because they investigated it a little later. But if the steaks went cold, they would never taste as good as they had fresh from the kitchen.

It was already clear which mattered more.

"Let's eat."

Übel was the first to pick up her cutlery. Then, as if she suddenly found using a steak knife too much trouble, she reached out and lightly drew a finger over her steak.

The whole steak instantly fell into several neat pieces, without leaving the slightest mark on the iron plate beneath it.

Zanze's long hair, gathered behind her, instantly tightened a little.

"Please don't use magic while we're eating."

"Why not?"

Übel forked a piece of beef into her mouth, and a look of satisfaction soon appeared on her face. Lorenzo had to admit that her control over her power was much more precise than before. Once, when they had gone out to eat together, she had also used cutting magic on her food and ended up splitting the restaurant's table in two.

After eating their fill and buying desserts at a nearby shop to make it up to Übel, along with the jelly chocolate Frieren had asked for, Lorenzo, Fern, and Zanze headed back.

Ever since they had parted ways with Übel, Zanze's long hair, which had remained gathered behind her, finally loosened again and swayed gently with her steps.

She looked much more relaxed and cheerful overall. So it seemed that staying away from the source of one's anxiety really was good for one's physical and mental health.

After all, running away was shameful but useful.

By the time the three returned to their lodgings, the sun was already sinking in the west. Heiter was sitting in a chair by the door, a cup of tea that had gone somewhat cold beside him.

"Lord Heiter, I passed, and I came first in the exam."

Fern immediately hurried over to him, looking as though she wanted praise.

"That's wonderful."

Heiter smiled. Compared with Lorenzo, that was the expression a proper parent ought to have on hearing that their child had achieved a good result.

"Did you pass too, Mr. Lorenzo?"

"Of course I did."

Lorenzo took out his certificate.

"That's good, that's good."

Heiter spoke quite naturally. He clearly had no idea that Lorenzo had never even entered the examination hall from start to finish.

But even if he had known, he would most likely have thought it was a good thing to avoid the trouble.

After all, he wasn't someone who cared much about the process either. As long as the result was good enough, using a few flexible methods along the way was not unacceptable.

"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Her Excellency Zanze, a First-Class True Magic User."

Heiter turned his gaze to Zanze, who stood behind them.

"Hello, Archbishop Heiter."

Zanze bowed her head slightly in greeting. Even setting aside his place in the Hero's party, Heiter was the former archbishop of the Holy City. That status alone was enough to require a First-Class True Magic User to observe the proper etiquette before him.

"There's no need to be so formal. Besides, I've already retired. Now I'm just an ordinary old man living in the countryside."

Heiter waved a hand as he spoke.

"I understand, Lord Heiter."

Zanze continued to observe the proper etiquette.

Heiter didn't correct her again.

Those who became First-Class True Magic Users often had their own ways of doing things that they wouldn't easily change. Since Zanze insisted on addressing him that way, there was little point in arguing further.

"But a First-Class True Magic User wouldn't come to a place like this for no reason, would she?"

Heiter asked.

"There are some matters concerning a Demon that I'd like to ask Lady Frieren about."

"A Demon?"

Heiter's expression grew a little more serious.

"His name is Breda."

"Breda..."

Heiter repeated the name softly. It sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't find the corresponding figure in memories from so long ago.

"Do you know anything about this Demon?"

Zanze asked Heiter. After all, he had faced quite a few Demons himself, and he might be able to provide some useful information.

"I'm sorry, I don't have much recollection of that name."

Heiter shook his head gently.

"The Hero's party encountered too many Demons on our ten-year journey. The vast majority left behind no deeds worth recording for posterity. Besides, it's been so many years that I can't possibly remember every Demon's name as clearly as Frieren does."

"So even you forget things, Lord Heiter."

Fern sounded a little surprised.

"Of course I do."

Heiter answered with a smile.

"Human memory is limited by nature. The longer you live, the more things you need to remember, and it's inevitable that you'll forget some of them."