Chapter 228: Flamme: An Apprentice?
"I'm a little hungry,"
Kurtz's words, "I'm a little hungry," silenced everyone, even the Duke and his entourage, who had rushed over, were stunned.
One of the soldiers, whose knuckles were white from tension, swallowed unconsciously.
He glanced at his equally dumbfounded companion, then at the excessively clean wasteland outside the city, and finally, his gaze settled on the black-haired man carrying the holy sword in front of him.
"Eat?" the soldier muttered to himself, his mind still reeling from the transition from despair to the thought of eating.
Not only him, but even the Duke and Bishop Casalius were in a state of unreal trance.
One moment, they were preparing for a desperate battle; the next, powerful reinforcements arrived and easily repelled the monster army, only for the first thing the rescuer said to be, "Eat?"
The contrast was so stark that everyone stood there, stunned, unsure how to react.
In the end, it was Bishop Casalius who was the first to come to his senses.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed to Kurtz and Serie. "Bishop Casalius of Crescent City thanks you both for saving my life!"
The Duke, realizing what was happening, quickly bowed and said, "Duke Hord of Crescent City, I am deeply grateful!"
His back was now soaked with cold sweat. He was incredibly grateful that he had heeded the bishop's advice and hadn't mistreated Flamme and Ayla, otherwise…
The thought of facing their wrath made his legs go weak.
Kurtz waved his hand with a smile. "No need to be so polite. After all, it was my apprentice who caused this trouble. As her teacher, I have to help clean up her mess."
He spoke very casually, as if what he had just done was no big deal at all.
These words made Flamme blush even more, and she lowered her head even further, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Even Ayla blushed slightly, mainly because Kurtz's words were too strange.
Even though she knew what he meant, couldn't he have used a different adjective?
Serie, however, spoke up directly, expressing Ayla's thoughts. "What a strange metaphor! Couldn't you have come up with a nicer one?"
"The words may be crude, but the principle is sound!"
Serie glared at Kurtz, but didn't say anything more. She just scrutinized Flamme and Ayla in front of her, especially lingering on their pale faces for a moment. A hint of concern flashed in her eyes, but her words remained icy.
"I'm ashamed that you can't even handle such a small matter, but at least you're not dead."
Hearing this familiar way of speaking, Flamme and Ayla felt a warmth in their hearts. "Teacher Serie, we..." They wanted to tell Serie the whole story.
"We'll talk about it later," Serie interrupted directly, saying that everything would be discussed after Kurtz finished eating, as these were all minor matters.
Who made this man hungry?
However, she turned to Bishop Casalius and Duke Hord, nodding slightly in return. "I am Serie, and he..." Serie looked at Kurtz.
This time, she didn't intend to fabricate an identity for this man; instead, she handed the choice to him.
"I am Kurtz."
Serie: "?"
She looked at the man in front of her with some disbelief.
Wasn't this guy always reluctant to reveal his identity? Why did he suddenly come clean this time?
"Kurtz." Duke Hord was taken aback when he heard the familiar name. "It's a coincidence that you share the same name as that Godslayer."
Clearly, even after witnessing Kurtz's power, even after seeing him appear beside Serie, and even after he called himself Kurtz, the Duke did not associate him with the Godslayer from a thousand years ago.
After all, no one could have imagined that a human could live for a thousand years.
This was the common view of most people, while those who calmly accepted the fact that Kurtz was the Godslayer, like Frieren, were in the minority.
"Kurtz?" The bishop's gaze was hesitant.
Although his first thought was that the person in front of him, Kurtz, was someone with the same name.
But this combination of power and coincidence was completely unbelievable.
But for now, the bishop could only keep this doubt to himself.
At least, the Serie in front of him was the real deal.
Everyone had witnessed the barrier she had just created. With such a powerful barrier and the holy sword in her hand, there was no doubt that the golden-haired elf in front of them was Serie herself.
Unfortunately, Kurtz had put Orger away before landing; otherwise, the bishop would probably have had even more suspicions.
"So it's Lady Serie and Lord Kurtz!"
The two became even more respectful, even showing a hint of fear.
Kurtz didn't react to their respectful attitude, but simply stretched and said, "Alright, no need to be so polite. Could you arrange a place for us to rest? And get us something to eat? I think this child is hungry, too."
He pointed to Frieren, who was standing beside him and was too embarrassed to be hugged by Flamme anymore because there were too many people around.
When Frieren was suddenly called out, she was stunned by the stares of so many people, especially Serie's cold gaze. "I, I didn't."
She tried to explain, but no one listened.
"Of course!" Duke Hord quickly replied. "I will make the arrangements immediately. Please wait a moment." He personally led the way, with a very amiable attitude, without any airs of a city lord.
After all, this was Serie!
The most powerful being in the Elven race, whose status was even higher than that of the Elven King, made him, as a duke, feel utterly inferior.
Bishop Casalius smiled and said, "Please rest assured, we will make careful preparations." He glanced at Flamme and Ayla and added, "You two should come along as well."
Thus, under the watchful eyes of countless people filled with awe and curiosity, Kurtz and his party followed the city lord and the bishop into the city.
The remaining soldiers began to clean up the battlefield. Although there wasn't much to clean up, since all the monsters had been wiped out, the ditch outside the city still needed to be repaired.
Otherwise, it would be very inconvenient to enter and exit each time. During the repair process, countless soldiers were enthusiastically discussing Kurtz's attack just now.
The names of Kurtz and Serie, and their incredible power, were destined to spread throughout the city tonight and soon shake the entire continent.
...
Crescent City, in the banquet hall.
The long dining table was laden with all kinds of delicious food and wine.
Duke Hord sat in his main seat, but seemed somewhat uncomfortable at the moment.
He had intended to give the position to Kurtz or Serie, but both of them had refused.
Kurtz simply didn't want to steal the spotlight. Besides, although they were the ones who saved the city, the trouble was caused by Flamme and Ayla, so he was still quite reasonable.
As for Serie, she wasn't interested in the seating arrangement.
The two were sitting on the far right. Kurtz had already begun to enjoy a perfectly roasted lamb chop, while Serie sat next to him, slowly savoring the wine in front of her, clearly showing little interest in the food.
Frieren sat between Flamme and Ayla, nibbling on the dessert in front of her, her big eyes occasionally stealing glances at Kurtz and Serie before quickly lowering her head again.
Flamme and Ayla had little appetite, their hearts still filled with guilt.
The atmosphere at the banquet was subtly quiet.
Finally, Kurtz broke the silence. He swallowed the food in his mouth, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and looked at Flamme and Ayla. "Alright, now tell me. What exactly happened? How did you cause such a commotion? And attract such a large group of monsters?"
His tone was calm, without blame, just a simple inquiry.
Flamme and Ayla exchanged a glance, and Flamme began to recount the events in detail.
From the attack on Frieren's village to Frieren being severely injured and forced to draw on the barrier's magic to teleport her to safety, then imprisoned, until the monster tide broke out and they volunteered to fight...
After listening to the account, Kurtz stroked his chin and looked at Frieren. "As expected, they've strengthened it. Looks like that guy hasn't been idle." He was naturally referring to the Demon King Schlacht.
Serie put down her glass and said coldly, "Two idiots. Their method was clumsy, but it's somewhat forgivable."
Her words, though seemingly critical, were in fact a characterization of their behavior.
The initial intention was good, but the process was reckless, and the result left them cleaning up the mess.
Duke Hord and Bishop Casalius quickly replied, "Your Excellencies were only trying to save lives. The situation was urgent. We understand, we completely understand!"
Having witnessed Kurtz and Serie's strength, they dared not pursue the matter further. It was already a stroke of luck that they didn't delve into the issue of their detention.
Kurtz smiled and looked at the bishop and the city lord. "This monster tide is earlier and larger than usual, probably not entirely because the barrier is weak. I sense an unusual guiding aura hidden deep within the monster tide, as if it has been artificially catalyzed and driven here."
Bishop Casalius's expression hardened. "Lord Kurtz means...?"
"It's most likely the work of the demons, probably at the level of a Seventh-Rank Sage." Kurtz said meaningfully, "They sensed your barrier was weak and took the opportunity to kick you while you were down. Even without my disciple's incident, you would probably be in serious trouble this time."
These words sent another chill down the spines of Duke Hord and Bishop Casalius, while also slightly easing the guilt in the hearts of Flamme and Ayla. It turned out that the abnormal monster tide was not entirely their fault.
"I see," Bishop Casalius said respectfully. "If it weren't for the timely arrival of the two lords, Crescent City would have already fallen. Please forgive any slight offense we may have caused Miss Flamme and Miss Ayla…"
"Hey, let's not talk about this anymore." Kurtz immediately waved his hand. "Speaking of which, I should thank you for not making things difficult for my two troublesome apprentices."
"Well then," he said, tapping the table lightly with his fingers as if he had just thought of something, "as compensation and to thank you both for your hospitality, I'll help you fill up that deficient barrier."
"What!?" Duke Hord and Bishop Casalius stood up abruptly, their faces filled with ecstasy.
Replenishing the magic deficit at the core of the barrier? Kurtz spoke of it so casually!
Kurtz ignored their shock, stood up, walked to the banquet hall window, and looked towards the barrier tower in the city center.
He extended his right hand, palm facing that direction, with a barely perceptible glint in his eyes.
He didn't cast any spells, but noticeable magical fluctuations emanated from him.
Serie, who was standing to the side, also stopped what she was doing. Although the man had concealed himself very well and no one present could detect it, she could see it very clearly.
Kurtz was using the magic power inside Orger to fill the gap in the barrier. Even Orger had been thrown into the sky above the barrier tower by this man at some unknown time.
Boom!!!
A vast torrent of magical power seemed to appear out of thin air, but it was actually released from within the blade of Orger. However, because the light was so intense and Orger was completely enveloped in it, no one noticed its existence.
This torrent of magic was precisely injected into the core of the barrier in the distance.
Everyone in Crescent City could feel a powerful magical force instantly filling the city's air, and the previously dim barrier above suddenly burst forth with a blue light more dazzling than ever before.
The newly formed barrier was so thick it was almost tangible, and the energy fluctuations it emitted were even greater than before it was extracted.
In just a few breaths, the deficit in the core of the barrier was completely replenished.
Duke Hord and Bishop Casalius were completely speechless, their bodies trembling slightly with excitement.
This was simply a miracle! No, it was even beyond a miracle!
Kurtz withdrew his hand, and Orger was recalled by him. "I also reinforced it for you, so it should hold out a little longer next time you encounter a monster tide of this size. Now we're even, right?"
Flamme looked at her teacher's calm and composed demeanor with eyes full of admiration.
Serie subtly pursed her lips, seemingly finding Kurtz's flamboyant behavior somewhat amusing.
Frieren stared wide-eyed, her fists clenching involuntarily.
That's incredible!
The atmosphere at the banquet finally relaxed completely.
Afterwards, Kurtz and the others were arranged to rest in the most luxurious guest rooms of the city lord's mansion.
Inside the room, Kurtz and his group were gathered together, including Frieren.
"Teacher, I'm sorry…" Flamme and Ayla apologized again.
"We'll punish you when we get back," Serie said from the side.
"Don't be so reckless next time." Kurtz waved his hand, not blaming them further, but instead looked at Frieren. "By the way, I forgot to ask, how are you feeling? Have you felt any discomfort?"
Experiencing two teleportation spells in quick succession would usually cause a mage to feel dizzy or disoriented.
"No, but I'd like to know how my village is doing?"
"Only about a third of the people survived, and almost half of the houses were destroyed," Flamme replied from the side.
She and Ayla had only brought Frieren to the city after they had settled things in her village.
"What are you planning to do next?" Although he had already said that he would have Frieren become Flamme's apprentice, Kurtz still wanted to ask for her opinion.
"I want to go back to the village, and then," Frieren's eyes flickered with confusion, then seemed to have made up her mind, "I want to go with you!"
Kurtz and Serie exchanged a glance.
Serie said calmly, "Your magical aptitude is not bad. It's just a pity you're a bit slow."
Flamme's eyes lit up, as if she understood something, and she looked at the two teachers expectantly.
Could it be that Master Kurtz was going to take Frieren as his disciple as well?
"In that case, you shall learn magic from Flamme from now on."
Flamme: "?"
"From now on, she will be your disciple," Kurtz said to Flamme.
"Well, Master Kurtz, I've never been a teacher before, and I…" Flamme seemed a little flustered.
She herself wasn't even a fully-fledged mage yet, so how could she be someone else's teacher? Besides, Frieren was already a mage so that she couldn't teach her much more about magic.
"What are you afraid of?" Serie glanced at Flamme, her tone icy, seemingly tinged with displeasure. "Give it a try. If she's too stupid, just throw her out."
"I will try my best." Frieren nodded very thoughtfully.
Although Flamme still wanted to say something, seeing that her two teachers had made up their minds, she had no choice but to accept the fact that she had gained an apprentice.
[End of Chapter]
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