The line of thought Minus proposed was certainly impactful, even carrying a blatant hint of plunder. Since the magical nation of Berletania could no longer bear the weight of so many precious resources, why not let the elven race have them? They needed them more.
It was the logic of a bandit.
But none of the three were pedantic types. Instead of criticizing, they carefully considered the possibility. Ultimately, the demon invasion was a matter that had to be dealt with sooner or later, especially since Serie had already gotten involved with her disciples.
Milliarde said coldly, "In any case, we can't let the Empire get them."
"They already tried to make an issue of Minus. You and Serie blocked them, but if they completely swallow the magical nation's resources, they'll get arrogant again."
"I'm the one who has to directly face the pressure from those court bureaucrats. It's quite annoying."
Frieren didn't reply, instead looking toward Flamme.
There was a junior present, so she couldn't disregard the educational implications. However, her apprentice's answer was also very mature:
"Since the Association headquarters has already intervened, it means they have considered this aspect as well. The branch must naturally follow the Magic City's pace. At the very least, we should rescue some of the precious magical items."
She didn't offer a particularly sharp or pointed opinion; the association she belonged to had already made its judgment.
"Very well."
After a moment of contemplation, Frieren added, "First, I'll make a trip to the branch to see how things are, then Flamme and I will head to Berletania."
"You haven't received a formal invitation yet, have you? Nominally, the Empire is its protectorate, and its borders are surrounded," Minus reminded her.
"Even if it were the Demon King's Castle, I could go without an invitation."
With that statement, there was truly nothing left to remind her of.
Whether she was the world's strongest was hard to say, but Frieren was universally acknowledged as the strongest in the human camp.
In the last sparring match at the Magic City, she had even held a slight edge over Serie, making her a deserving member of the absolute pinnacle.
The fact that the two presidents hadn't gone to subjugate the Demon King didn't mean they couldn't. As equals at the top, no one knew the outcome of a life-or-death battle.
In her mind, the development of Elf Town was just that important.
"Master hasn't been to the Association branch in a long time. Let's set off today."
"Alright, let's leave as soon as possible."
Both Frieren and Flamme were decisive types. Once the decision was made, they quickly finished their meal, packed lightly, and headed straight for the Northern Fortress.
It wasn't far anyway; they could leave and arrive on the same day.
Compared to planning and the minutiae of administrative affairs, their capacity for action was in a league of its own.
Even the demonized plague of lustful mist in Berletania, as told in continental legends, didn't matter. If they said they were going, they went, without a hint of hesitation.
Milliarde and Minus, left to watch the home, looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Is this your first time seeing Frieren's style of action? She's diligent when it comes to magic, but other things are a different matter."
"It's that kind of personality that allowed the Vice President to become the strongest. Her magical achievements are incredible; even I have been greatly inspired. If not for the enlightenment from the magical knowledge the Vice President popularized, which made me stronger, I probably would have died under the Empire's wanted notice long ago. I never would have lasted until the negotiations."
"Why not say it to her face?"
"She dislikes pointless talk about gratitude. True gratitude is shown through results."
Hearing this, Milliarde raised an eyebrow and smiled charmingly.
"Why not say it to her face?"
"She dislikes pointless talk about gratitude. True gratitude is shown through results."
Hearing this, Milliarde raised an eyebrow and smiled charmingly.
She had a good eye for people. Now she was liking this fierce elf more and more. She was a true talent, and working with her would involve less mental friction—much better than dealing with idiots.
"As long as we work together, you will lack for neither powerful magic nor worldly comforts."
"Interested in joining my merchant guild?"
"Or, for another example, we need to establish a more systematic school for mages. You'll be the teacher. Consider it a cooling-off period, to give the Empire some face. When the people who deserve to be dead have grown old and died, you can even go spit on their graves. After that, there will be plenty of work for you in the public eye."
The long-overdue formal recruitment was finally proposed. Only after getting Frieren's approval did Elf Town truly open its arms.
The resources, connections, and power that ordinary people could never touch now came looking for Minus.
Not long ago, she was living under the shadow of a wanted notice from the strongest human nation. Even as she grew stronger, she was at constant risk of a violent death.
It seemed that no matter how much she improved her magic, she could never reach that boundary of freedom.
Yet, with a bit of maneuvering from Milliarde, everything vanished into thin air. The Imperial army acted as if nothing had happened.
This was power.
The fundamental logic of the world: so-called authority is merely a derivative of violence.
She once suspected that magic was far from enough, that power was more terrifying. But after going in circles, she realized she just hadn't been strong enough.
Only at the level of Frieren, Serie, and the Demon King could the world be considered vast. Their will was the torrent of the era, the very embodiment of the wheels of history.
Attaching oneself to such power was not a bad thing. Besides, Minus had to admit, this little town gave a traveler a sense of peace. It was beautiful.
When did we elves become so worldly? But it's fine.
"From this day forward, you are my boss."
"I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
After sharing a smile, Milliarde and Minus clinked their glasses together with a crisp sound.
...
On the way to the Northern Fortress, Frieren hadn't gone far before she could already see the silhouette of a town, bustling with traffic.
Passersby frequently nodded and greeted her, making her a little embarrassed.
She only then realized that aside from the difficult path through the elven forest, which remained a border, once you walked out, you would encounter the towns surrounding the Northern Fortress.
It was the same principle as the development of Stormveil Castle; the main city would create a siphon effect.
Not to mention the increase in the human population through reproduction, people from faraway lands also came to build this place up.
It made her understand even more why the small town was also becoming more prosperous.
"Do you remember, Master? This is where you saved me."
"It's completely changed."
"This is a new area. Should we call it Northwind Town? Although the kingdom hasn't established an administrative division yet, the city wasn't big enough, so people started living outside on their own initiative."
In the middle of the road, Flamme spread her arms with a brilliant smile, spun around, and pointed ahead: "Look over there—"
Frieren followed her finger and saw a bronze statue, wearing a wreath of flowers, that looked exactly like her.
Really, now.
Look over there—"
Frieren followed her finger and saw a bronze statue, wearing a wreath of flowers, that looked exactly like her.
Really, now.
There was already a statue of her in the fortress square; she couldn't escape it here either. Of course, the feeling of leaving a mark wasn't bad.
As long as an elf remained active, their image would at least persist, unlike other legendary figures who were no longer verifiable.
"In everyone's eyes, this is the battlefield where Master defeated the demons, securing the safety of the central continent and clearing the obstacles for this town's development."
Flamme was in high spirits, as it was also a place that held her childhood memories.
Frieren listened as if that were the case.
Because for her, it was the first testing ground for the Incantation: Scarlet Aeonia.
The Continental Magic Association, Central Region Grand Branch. In terms of the association's scale, it was now second only to the headquarters, nurtured by the resources of the surrounding area.
Arriving at the main gate, Frieren discovered that many of the small, obstructive huts had been demolished, clearing out a large space that extended inward like a corridor.
So that's how it was. The association branch could no longer fit within the fortress and had to expand outward.
It was a good thing a section of the original city wall had been torn down.
One had to admit that Garrison Commander Wein had been prescient. He had proposed back then that this place would grow larger and larger, and so it had.
The long-lived elves sometimes overlook the power of time.
Compared to the headquarters Frieren had seen, this place was like a small city district within a city.
The reason the headquarters in the Magic City seemed so magnificent was that Serie had chosen to rebuild it on the ruins of a mythical era. Moreover, it was integrated with the city's construction, forming a spectacular architectural complex.
The branch had a late start.
To reach today's scale, one could imagine the immense cost, all supported by the increasingly developed commerce around it.
"You must have put in a lot of effort too, Flamme."
"It was pretty tiring, dealing with all sorts of planning work every day, and it was noisy during the expansion." The red-haired girl scratched her head. "But it was all worth it. We've accommodated many personnel from the southern branch and needed to give them a place to settle."
"I did see some unfamiliar faces. To think they came from so far away..."
"The Vice President is back!"
"I've heard so much about you. I've always wanted to meet a Mage of the Mythical Era like yourself. You're so profound I can't even sense your mana."
"It would be too rude not to thank you in person after being taught by your lectures for so long."
"Wonderful! Are there new results?"
Frieren had barely stepped through the gate before she was surrounded, met with fiery enthusiasm.
Many people had come for the reputation, character, and scholarship of the Mage of the Mythical Era; otherwise, the central branch wouldn't have such great influence.
They began to ask for advice on the spot, one after another.
The noisy scene made the silver-haired girl look weary.
No matter how many times she'd seen it, it was still tiring.
"Ahem!"
She gave a heavy cough as a gentle breeze swept past, blowing all sounds away.
In an instant, it was dead silent; even shouts and yells produced no noise.
A simple silence spell calmed the entire scene. Everyone looked at each other with wide eyes, finally closing their mouths politely.
In the crowd's focused gaze, Frieren said, "I will first confirm the accumulated affairs of the branch. After all, I still have work to do. Once that's handled, I will begin this session's public lecture. I will teach everyone the secrets of soul-attribute magic power."
As her voice fell, the silence was lifted, and the crowd thanked her with invigorated expressions.
They were willing to wait. After all, they had waited so long for Frieren's slumber to end; they didn't mind a little more time.
Only then could the master and apprentice proceed to the office.
Flamme skillfully brought over all the necessary documents, saying, "This is what accumulated during your slumber. Although I tried my best to make decisions as your proxy, there are many things the Vice President must at least know about. It's all here."
"Don't worry, the reports also have notes on the context. Master can ask me at any time. These documents were all written specifically for you."
Frieren nodded.
The news that she would enter a slumber had spread after the last attack by the Seven Sages of Destruction's small team.
Although she had long prepared various defensive measures, she was still a little unaccustomed to the information leak. But then again, everything was normal.
A weakness? The group of demons willing to test that weakness had been annihilated.
Everyone thought it was normal for Frieren to gain magic at the cost of slumber.
In a sense, they weren't wrong. She did indeed comprehend different magics and even train her strength through long slumbers.
When her main body awakened, it was the power of multiple max-level accounts combined.
She didn't even know how strong she was.
In fact, it wasn't just the terrifying powers of the First Flame and the Moon God. Frieren was now certain that the combined stats of several accounts alone were not to be underestimated.
The ability to contain them was in itself a terrifying thought.
Her physical foundation was already quite strong; she truly wasn't afraid of what would happen if her so-called weakness spread. On the contrary, it brought conveniences like the current situation.
The title that met her eyes was Berletania Investigator Plan. It was the first batch of dispatched mages, and the notice had been sent to all departments.
No survivors.
To this day, there had been no news. After an entire winter, they could basically be considered sacrificed.
It seemed the demons were rampant within the nation of mist. Subsequent documents like Investigation Report and Imperial Intelligence Sharing also confirmed this.
It was gradually becoming a hassle, a chronic disease, a tough nut to crack.
No wonder Serie had come out of seclusion after so long.
In terms of being a shut-in, this founder of magic was in no way inferior to the Frieren of a dozen years ago. She could hole up and research until the end of time.
In fact, according to her, she remembered several elves who had started their closed-door research in the Mythical Era. They were definitely alive, but no one knew where they were hiding.
What could move her was definitely not just the Empire's request, but a genuine judgment that it was a major crisis that could threaten the human world.
Moreover, she had even brought her disciples along for the subjugation, which could be called a major move. Truly reliable.
With Serie taking action ahead, Frieren was in no hurry. At the very least, she had to first complete her duties at the branch, and the lecture couldn't be skipped.
She didn't really care whether she did it or not, but if it could establish a positive image for the elves, why not?
Especially now that she had taken in Minus, if some enemy in the Empire continued to fabricate news, she would counter it with indisputable results from the magical world. She couldn't give them any room to advance.
She didn't really care whether she did it or not, but if it could establish a positive image for the elves, why not?
Especially now that she had taken in Minus, if some enemy in the Empire continued to fabricate news, she would counter it with indisputable results from the magical world. She couldn't give them any room to advance.
So Frieren diligently handled her official duties.
Document after document was signed under her pen.
With a photographic memory, she seemed to be going through them quickly, but in reality, she was committing everything to her mind.
Flamme at her side also cooperated perfectly, keeping up with her master flawlessly.
Although the two had rarely cooperated in this manner, it was as smooth as if they had rehearsed countless times.
The secretary beside them almost couldn't keep up, truly admiring the speed of their thoughts.
As expected of geniuses.
Just like that, the two of them worked through piles of documents overnight, without sleep or rest.
The office light burned brightly for a whole night, which was shocking.
One couldn't sleep, and the other was simply overflowing with energy.
Having reached adulthood, Flamme's physique was advancing toward its peak, no less than that of a first-rate warrior.
According to Frieren's current estimation, even if she were to use only a weapon and fight a greater demon warrior, she could still win.
Because she had never neglected her apprentice's combat training, and moreover, the blessing was still amplifying her.
Frieren had only used a blessing from long ago to strengthen Flamme; it was the genius apprentice herself who had truly integrated this power and improved.
However, she was forced to rest midway through.
Children should sleep more; to an elf, they were all children anyway.
"Done."
After signing the last document, the silver-haired girl nodded.
Outside the window, the sun was already shining brightly.
____
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