Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 86: What Should I Do If a Young Demon Lolita (Great Demon) Proposes to Me?

____

The flying monster controlled by Aura carried everyone across the golden fortress city under the protective escort of the Magic Knights.

As they soared above, Ash's gaze met Macht's. Macht sat by a pool within the city, seemingly lost in thought.

Neither spoke. Their exchange lasted only a fleeting moment before their paths diverged once again.

Macht gave the impression of having sat there, unmoving, for the entirety of the past forty years. Ash couldn't fathom what the man was thinking. More importantly, he couldn't understand Macht's behavior.

Why hadn't he destroyed the barrier? Why was he just sitting there, doing nothing? If he truly wanted to escape, surely the barrier wouldn't have been enough to hold him.

Could it be that he couldn't break it? Or perhaps he didn't want to? Did Macht enjoy the feeling of confinement?

The questions swirled in Ash's mind, unanswered. Frustrated, he held Linie tightly in his arms, finding comfort in her softness and warmth. Compared to the cold, lifeless gold of the city below, the lively presence of the girl was far more appealing.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Aura cast him a disdainful look, her tone sharp with accusation.

"Ash, your face just now… It looked awfully obscene," she remarked maliciously.

"Obscene? Absolutely not!" Ash retorted indignantly. "That was a gentle expression! Maybe there's something wrong with your eyes. Go visit a church and have them checked."

"How dare you, of all people, claim to be gentle? Shameless," Aura shot back with a sneer.

"You're the last person qualified to lecture me on that," Ash countered.

Truthfully, if Linie weren't there, he might have been tempted to put Aura in her place. As he mulled over the possibility of setting Linie down and handling Aura, a movement in the forest below caught his attention.

He saw a figure—a girl in a white dress, her long green hair cascading to her waist. Two Demonic horns adorned her forehead, and her small frame gave her a delicate, almost ethereal appearance. Her youthful, slightly childlike face carried a gentle and harmless smile. She seemed to straddle the boundary between a child and a young girl.

When she noticed his gaze, she raised her hand and waved happily.

Ash immediately recognized her. This seemingly pure and elegant figure wasn't human but a demon—one unknown to humans and absent from their history. Her name was Solitär.

Aura, however, clearly knew her well. Upon seeing Solitär, her face twisted in disgust.

"That old fool is pretending to be young again," Aura muttered with disdain.

"Lord Aura, your standards are incredibly high," Linie said casually, tossing her apple core out the window before wiping her hands on Ash's clothes.

Ash froze, his expression shifting to one of suppressed irritation. He slapped her hand lightly.

"Linie! Who taught you that? It's so rude!"

"I'm sorry, Master Ash…" Linie lowered her head, looking genuinely pitiful. "But there's nothing to wipe my hands on here."

Her voice softened further as she added, "And didn't you say a girl's image is very important? So…"

Ash sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "A girl's image isn't just about her appearance," he said with exasperation. "Her behavior is part of her image too."

How could he teach this child and transform her into an outstanding lady? To be honest, Ash had nearly given up on the idea at this point. With a sigh, he turned his attention back to the Demonic loli on the ground. He couldn't help but ask aloud, "Speaking of which, how old is Solitär?"

"Why don't you just ask her and find out?" Aura replied disinterestedly.

"That's a good idea. I just happened to meet her, so I'll go say hello."

Before Aura could react, Ash jumped off the sky carriage. She stared at him in astonishment as he plummeted toward Solitär's location.

---

In the jungle near the barrier, Ash descended from the sky like a falling meteor. Just before hitting the ground, an invisible force seemed to gently catch him, allowing him to hover briefly before landing lightly.

The entire process was a blend of chaos and grace—strong winds stirred fallen leaves into a whirlwind, but not a single dent marred the ground where he landed.

This seamless transition from turbulence to tranquility delighted Solitär, who clapped her hands joyfully.

"It's been less than 80 years since we last met... I think it was back when the Demon King was still alive? You've grown again, Ash. Isn't that wonderful?" she exclaimed, her tone bright and cheerful.

"Solitär, I've always had a question," Ash said, cutting to the point.

"Oh? What is it?"

"How old are you?"

"...That's what you want to ask?" Solitär responded with an ambiguous smile. Tilting her head cutely, she answered in a casual tone, "Hmm~ eight hundred, maybe?"

Ash frowned. "That can't be right. I remember you once said you don't like wars because your friend died in one of the Demon King's wars—wars started to understand humans. But the last Demon King, the one who died before, ruled for over a thousand years and never started a war until then. In other words—"

"Oh, how annoying! Guessing a girl's age like this... Is Ash in his rebellious phase?" Solitär interrupted, feigning displeasure with a playful, troubled smile.

"...No, I'm plenty grown," Ash muttered, exasperated.

"You're just grown among humans," Solitär teased. Standing on her tiptoes, she gently patted his head with a warm smile. "You're still a little brother to your big sister~."

Ash sighed, already feeling a headache forming. "...What are you doing?"

"Ara? Isn't this a gesture of affection?" Solitär asked innocently.

"Affection?" Ash repeated, skeptical.

"I've always liked you," Solitär said matter-of-factly. "When Schlacht asked me to go with you to unseal Qual and persuade him to cooperate with you, it was because your big sister here likes you very much~."

She clasped her hands lightly behind her back, tilted her body slightly, and gazed into his eyes with a smile as radiant as a blooming flower. Her words, however, unsettled Ash. Being liked by such a dangerous person was far from comforting. He instinctively took a step back.

"...Let me confirm something first," he said cautiously. "What kind of 'like' are we talking about here? It's not the kind of 'like' that involves killing me, is it?"

"How could it be that?" Solitär laughed softly. "I'm a pacifist, after all. And most importantly, it's your eyes—a blend of human and demon emotions. I really want to study you closely~."

"...Instead of fighting or dissecting me, could you just leave me alone?" Ash replied, his tone dripping with unease.

"What are you saying? I'm not violent," Solitär reassured him. "My 'like' is more akin to the kindness humans show one another. And besides—when I look at your goals, I see my own reflected in them. That means we're truly like-minded~!"

Solitär, who yearned for the coexistence of humans and demons, clasped her hands before her chest as though in prayer. Her gaze, filled with unrestrained affection, locked onto his.

This only left Ash feeling troubled. Taking two measured steps back, he waved his hand awkwardly while forcing a polite smile.

"Uh… I'm sorry, but I'm not quite following what you're trying to say. Anyway, how about you calm down for now? Maybe we can sit down and talk slowly some other time? I've got other things to handle at the moment, so for now…"

"——Hey~ That's perfect! I mean, at first, I also thought barging into someone else's domain might not be the best idea, but since you've invited me like this, how could I possibly refuse~?"

"Wait, invited? Me? When did that happen?"

"Just now!" Solitär replied sweetly. "Didn't you suggest I come to your country and sit down with you to witness the new path forward~?"

"…I was just being polite! How did you manage to twist that into an invitation?"

Ash felt his head spinning. He had never imagined that a simple courteous remark could be interpreted so creatively.

But Solitär merely clasped her hands together and swayed lightly, her soft and sweet smile unwavering.

"What are you saying~? A kind big brother like you wouldn't have the heart to leave a poor, helpless little demon like me wandering alone in the wilderness, right~?"

"Big brother? No, wait, a 'little demon' over a thousand years old?"

The thousand-year-old demon, who looked every bit like a youthful loli, spoke in such a sugary tone that Ash didn't know whether to complain about her penchant for acting younger than she was or the fact that she had just been calling herself his big sister a moment ago. Was it true what they said about women's words being unreliable?

Still, considering his current goal, Ash decided he didn't mind having a powerful helper—even if that helper was as eccentric as Solitär. Then again, when it came to demons, being eccentric seemed to be the norm.

---

After some initial frustration, Ash ultimately chose to compromise.

Initially reluctant to approach the barrier, he now found himself at its edge with Solitär, deciding to study it for a while.

---

"Ah~ This barrier," Solitär mused, her hand lightly brushing against it. "It's a testament to the combined wisdom of the world's top human magicians. A complex fusion of magical theories from various nations and ethnicities... Truly remarkable~."

With just a touch, she seemed to discern its intricacies, though her naive smile remained intact. "When you think about it, without possessing this level of knowledge, there's no way to break it. That's why he's been trapped here all this time."

"No, Solitär," Ash interjected. "Your conclusion is too absolute."

"Oh?" Solitär tilted her head, still smiling.

"There are gaps in your understanding of magic theory, or perhaps the knowledge you've acquired has become too conventional… Maybe it's the consequence of keeping yourself hidden for so long, causing your thinking to stagnate."

"Too conventional? Stagnant?" Solitär echoed, tilting her head further in curiosity.

Ash, unfazed, casually patted the Demonic loli's head, drawing a faint pout from her. Then, with a confident flick of his finger against the barrier, he spoke nonchalantly:

"Normally, the idea of fully understanding and then dismantling magic makes sense—it's a necessary approach up to a certain level. But once you surpass that threshold, understanding becomes irrelevant."

"You mean… using brute force to overwhelm the barrier?" Solitär asked, her smile now tinged with skepticism. "But isn't this barrier far too sophisticated to be broken through by sheer force?"

"More than forty years ago, Macht's magic effortlessly broke through my defenses. He didn't need to understand human defenses to do so. The same was true for the corrupte sage in the past—they could easily destroy such barriers without needing to comprehend them. Do you think they needed to understand?"

"This…" Solitär hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words.

"And according to the information I've obtained from the Magic Association," Ash continued, "this barrier has been under constant erosion, forcing it to expand outward. What was once limited to a single city has now engulfed the surrounding forests. Clearly, this barrier can't restrain the ever-spreading gold. And, mind you, this isn't even a deliberate effort by Macht."

Ash casually ruffled Solitär's hair, then kicked the barrier beneath them as if testing its resilience. He spoke with a mix of confidence and amusement, "Magic is often called a world of imagination, but even imagination needs a foundation to stand on. Sure, you might believe you can do anything, but does that mean this magic can truly accomplish it?"

"It's impossible to form a basic spell without a foundation," Solitär replied, spreading her hands with a smile. "It's unrealistic. If this kind of thinking worked, magic wouldn't require study or practice. A mentally unstable magician could simply hypnotize themselves into believing their imagination is reality, and they'd be invincible."

"Exactly," Ash said, nodding. He kicked the barrier again, as though it might yield under his demonstration. "Take it a step further. Say I asked Aura to bring a magician here, someone skilled in illusions. What if we shattered their mind and hypnotized them into believing, with absolute certainty, that their magic could break this barrier? Do you think they'd succeed?"

"Of course not."

"And the reverse holds true," Ash continued. "If you—or they—truly believe Macht could be confined here, does that make it so?"

"...What you're saying makes sense." Solitär was silent for a moment, her smile fading as she pondered his words. Then, with a flicker of confusion, she asked, "But if that's the case, why hasn't Macht left?"

Ash crossed his arms, reflecting on his previous encounters. "From what I've seen, he seems perfectly content living in there. After all, he's the Demon King—a steady presence in the demon army. For someone like him, a peaceful life without interruptions might be ideal. Didn't you notice he hasn't been attacking the barrier, not even to drain its energy?"

"So, you're saying…he never wanted to leave?"

Ash's reasoning brought a wide smile to Solitär's face. She nodded repeatedly, as though affirming her own thoughts.

"Following you is definitely the right decision," she said, her tone brimming with excitement. "Your magical knowledge and theories are completely different from those of an old fossil like me. No wonder the omniscient Schlacht values you so highly. Now I finally understand."

"…And?" Ash raised a wary brow, sensing a shift in her demeanor.

"You want to be a Demon King?" Solitär asked, her smile turning both sweet and unsettling. "I'll support you. I'll do whatever it takes to eliminate all obstacles from demons and humans alike. In return, become my partner~! Give me everything you have, and I'll give you everything I possess."

"…That sounds a bit heavy." Ash sighed and shook his head, though an idea suddenly came to him. A mischievous smile crossed his face. "—How about this? Let's compromise. I'll agree to the first and last parts, but let's skip the middle."

"Ara? That's a peculiar compromise." Solitär tilted her head, her expression playfully curious. "But I think I look quite good, after all."

"I prefer bigger ones," Ash said without hesitation.

"Bigger?" Solitär blinked. "Body size? Breasts?"

"The latter, mainly. Though I'm also partial to mature women."

"That's a bit troubling, but it's okay. Love grows with time, doesn't it? I've heard that saying~"

"…Anyway, let's head back for now."

---

As a serious adult, Ash was all too aware that when something seemed too good to be true, it probably was.

Thus, he rejected the idea without hesitation. Without even glancing back at the Demonic loli who had fallen from the sky, he turned and flew towards the carriage.

"What an interesting person," Solitier mused, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. After a brief moment of contemplation, she smiled and followed.

---

The carriage, once occupied by only three people, now had a new addition—a powerful demon who happened to resemble a Demonic loli.

To be honest, Ash couldn't help but feel that the growing number of petite female figures in the carriage might give others the wrong impression about his preferences.

Why are they all so small and look like lolis? he wondered with a sigh. 'I distinctly remember that, aside from the monstrous-looking demons, there are plenty of demon women with regal, queen-like appearances. How did I end up surrounded by this group? It's baffling.'

Arms crossed and eyes shut, Ash sank into deep thought.

Aura, sitting across from him, had been silent for some time. Unable to hold back any longer, she kicked him lightly on the calf.

"—What's with you? Are you just going to pretend to be asleep and avoid explaining yourself?!"

"Don't be too hard on him," Solitär interjected with a playful smile. "I came along of my own accord." Then, as if recalling something fond, she added, "It's been quite a while since we last met, hasn't it, Aura? About three hundred years, right? You've become so cute again."

Aura's eyes narrowed in mild annoyance. "Cut the pleasantries. I haven't changed at all in the past three hundred years."

"Hmm~ So full of hostility, Ash," Solitär teased, leaning slightly towards him. "What should I do if your sister-in-law is so difficult to deal with?"

Aura's gaze snapped to Ash. "—Sister-in-law?"

"Could you not look at me like that right now?" Ash groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Solitär and I barely know each other. She's just saying things without any basis—don't take her seriously."

"Oh no, rejected again. I'm so heartbroken."

"I see," Aura muttered, her expression unreadable. "So there's actually a woman shamelessly clinging to you now? You've really matured. I can't believe this is happening."

Unsurprisingly, Solitär and Aura reacted in entirely different ways.

Solitär, sitting beside Ash, tugged lightly on the corner of his cloak. When he glanced over, she gave him a pitiful, downcast expression. "Is this…what a broken heart feels like?"

"…Please stop pretending to be sad and just think of it as a broken heart," Ash said with a heavy sigh.

Dealing with these peculiar demons left Ash utterly drained. At this point, he was beginning to feel that spending time with little Fern might actually be less exhausting.