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Chapter 144: A Little Unhinged
🕑 Added 2025-12-07 16:00:12 +0000 UTCDuring the break the next day, Fíliya was meditating alone in an open clearing when the sound of footsteps slowly approached her. The footsteps were solid and steady, sinking deep into the soil with every step. Only when the sound got closer did Fíliya gather her thoughts and open her eyes.
What is this situation? Am I some kind of psychotherapist? This little couple is really something; first I finish 'talk therapy' with the girl, and now the guy comes looking for me... Do they really treat this place as a 'Jack-of-all-trades' shop?
Fíliya complained inwardly, but after meeting Stark's gaze, she immediately perked up. Good, it seems he's not here to discuss 'romance topics'. Fíliya understood the situation immediately after seeing those incredibly determined eyes.
"Fíliya, please answer one question for me."
Stark's expression was exceptionally serious; this was the first time Fíliya had seen him reveal such a solemn demeanor.
"Mm? Go ahead."
"Yesterday... that demon you said you knew... can you tell me what it looks like? This is very important to me."
Stark said, staring dead at Fíliya's eyes.
"Hmm... probably not?"
Fíliya also kept staring at Stark's reaction; she wanted to see through what this guy was up to.
Seeing that Fíliya didn't intend to give the information he wanted, Stark frowned noticeably, then spoke again.
"Then... can you tell me what kind of demon it is? And... is it male or female?"
"Huh?"
Fíliya just found it very strange, but she answered him anyway. After all, just stating the gender shouldn't be a problem, she thought.
"The one I know is a female demon. Why do you ask?"
Fíliya found it even stranger because she realized that the moment she said the demon she knew was female, the solemn expression on the red-haired Tomato Boy's face instantly vanished.
"Oh... is that so? Then it's nothing."
Stark scratched his head awkwardly, then bowed apologetically to Fíliya before turning to leave.
"Stop!"
Fíliya immediately called out to stop him.
"Hey, you're a funny guy. You stir up someone's curiosity and then try to slip away? Hurry up and explain clearly what you wanted to do just now."
As Fíliya spoke, she used 'Telekinesis' magic directly to grab Stark and pull him in front of her.
"Well..."
Stark looked troubled, but Fíliya's expression clearly said 'don't even think about leaving if you don't explain clearly'. So Stark could only confess honestly.
"I'm looking for a male demon... Although I don't know much information about him at all, but... this is one of the few reasons I have to keep living."
"That was a powerful demon, and a warrior... The only thing I remember is his face. That face alone, I will never forget... That guy... destroyed my hometown."
"No matter what, I must find that guy... because..."
"Alright, alright!"
Seeing that Stark's desire to pour his heart out seemed to have been triggered by her, Fíliya decisively stopped him. After all, she didn't want to listen to some story of great bitterness and deep hatred right now.
"I get it. You're out for revenge, right... But unfortunately, among the demons I know, there is only one male, and he is a very pure mage. He's definitely not the culprit who destroyed your hometown."
"However... a powerful male demon, and a warrior, is it... I'll keep an eye out for you."
Although she interrupted Stark's passionate statement, Miss Fíliya still very considerately indicated that she could help with this favor.
"If that's the case, that would be wonderful... Please let me thank you in advance."
Stark bowed to Fíliya with a look of excitement.
"Tsk tsk... But to fight a Great Demon of that level... and a death match for revenge at that, your current strength isn't enough to look at, Tomato Boy? You have to train hard, otherwise if you die in battle, someone will be very sad."
"Mm... regarding that point, I am also self-aware."
Stark nodded to show he understood, expressed his gratitude to Fíliya again, and then turned to leave.
Watching that receding back, Fíliya couldn't help but sigh. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, huh... Even if I want to protect the Demon Race, I can't stop this kind of thing from happening..."
After resting for a little while longer, Fíliya returned to the carriage.
From a long distance away, Fíliya saw the strange master and apprentice pair chatting about something.
"Oh? Looks like I came at the right time? Chatting about something interesting?"
Fíliya fired off a rapid string of greetings the moment she approached.
Frieren ignored her. After all, she had just said yesterday that she would clear her affection points. If she initiated a conversation with this guy just a day later, wouldn't it make her seem too easy to handle?
So, in the end, it was the gentle and considerate Miss Eggplant who took up the conversation.
"I and Frieren are talking about 'Flight Magic'... After that incident yesterday, I tried many times in private... but I still can't do it... I can't convince myself that 'flying is my innate instinct'."
"Even though I already know the method to improve flight, I really can't understand... how can one treat 'flying' as something 'natural'? We humans are not born to fly... so I have no way to convince myself."
Fern's expression was very distressed.
Frieren's expression, on the other hand, appeared quite relaxed.
"It's normal not to be able to do it. After all, while humans gain strength by mastering knowledge, they are naturally bound by 'knowledge' and 'reason'. 'Believing it makes it real' is easy to say, but there are very few people who can actually do such a thing. In a thousand years of history, I've only seen a few unreasonable madmen who could touch the edge of this conceptual magic."
"So Fern, you don't need to force yourself to learn the Demon Race's way of flying... The flight magic humans have mastered now is enough to deal with the vast majority of situations... Those humans who can cast spells purely by feeling all have one thing in common... that is, they all possess abnormal minds."
"Oh... I think I understand. So does that mean Fíliya can do such incredible things because she has mental issues... and is a bit sick in the head?"
Miss Fern looked at her master with an innocent face, but the wording in her speech was a bit subtle.
"That's right, exactly."
Frieren nodded very decisively, and at the same time subconsciously shot a provocative look at Fíliya.
To this, Fíliya immediately issued a protest.
"Hey... can you two restrain yourselves? I'm right here! Cursing me as a mental case right to my face?"
But obviously, both Frieren and Fern selectively ignored Miss Fíliya's protest.
