Chapter 306 - Connecting Clues
At the Magic Association Tower, Kurtz and Serie had just appeared in the teleportation chamber when Ayla and Frieren, having received the news, immediately rushed over.
"Mr. Kurtz! Teacher Serie! You're back!" Ayla stepped forward and said.
"Well, how's the association doing lately? Has anything major happened?" Kurtz asked casually, glancing at the two of them, somewhat puzzled as he didn't see Flamme.
He remembered telling her that he was going to use teleportation magic to return, so why hadn't she appeared? Could it be that they were engrossed in research?
Ayla and Frieren exchanged a glance, and Ayla spoke first. "It's nothing serious, it's just that we recently discovered a demon disguised as a human who infiltrated the association."
"Demons?" A hint of displeasure flashed in Serie's eyes. "What are you good for, you let demons infiltrate this place?"
Ayla lowered her head in shame.
She was completely unaware of Solitaire's strange behavior. Had Flamme not discovered it in time, she might have been kept in the dark forever.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Serie," Ayla apologized sincerely.
"Never mind, something that could evade your senses must be no ordinary demon." Serie stared at Ayla for a while before finally looking away. "Did that demon cause any damage?"
"No, she disguised herself as a female mage named Ariel and even passed the level two test."
Ayla gave a brief account of Solitaire's story, including how Flamme discovered her true identity, how she and Frieren fought her and captured her, and how the Holy Spear killed Solitaire in the interrogation room after resisting.
"Ariel..Solitaire..." Kurtz repeated the name softly, his long-buried memories stirred. "So it's her. No wonder I always felt something was off. That girl is usually not very brave, so why did she end up here?" He was somewhat surprised.
"Do you know that demon named Solitaire?" Serie turned her head and asked curiously.
"Hmm…" Kurtz certainly wouldn't tell Serie that he was the one who knew her. "It's not really knowing her; we just met before, and she managed to escape. I didn't expect that she would end up getting herself killed here."
Kurtz was also somewhat agitated. The number of the great demons he knows is also decreasing.
Especially since a certain violinist probably hasn't even been born yet. If given the chance, he would really like to ambush the opponent's spawn point.
Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea where the other person was born.
"She claims she just wants to learn human magic? Who would believe that nonsense!" Ayla said with certainty. "There must be some ulterior motive behind this!"
Kurtz smiled but said, "Perhaps, she's telling the truth."
"Huh?" Ayla was taken aback.
"Demon magic is mostly derived from innate talent, and the system is relatively fixed. Demons don't deliberately exchange magic with each other," Kurtz explained.
"Human magic, on the other hand, although it has a lower starting point, is full of infinite possibilities. For a demon who has lived long enough and is curious about the nature of power, this reason is not impossible. Of course, her purpose would not be as simple as just learning."
He changed the subject, returning to a question that concerned him more. "Where's Flamme? Where's she?"
"Professor Flamme has gone to the northern battlefield," Frieren said.
"The northern battlefield? What would she be doing there?" Kurtz asked, puzzled.
Ayla shook her head. "I don't know either. After killing that demon, Flamme suddenly said she was going to the northern battlefield and wouldn't let me go with her. I don't know what she was really thinking."
At this moment, Frieren spoke up. "Professor Flamme has been communicating with Mr. Carlo quite frequently lately."
"Carlo?" Kurtz frowned slightly. The name was somewhat unfamiliar, yet also somewhat familiar.
Serie chimed in, "That's the persistent kid who studied your discarded drafts for over a decade and then came to the association."
She had a vivid memory of this persistent guy, and since she had helped him pass the Level 2 Mage exam, she naturally remembered him.
"Okayyy" Kurtz nodded slowly, suddenly realizing he hadn't expected the mage who was so obsessed with his discarded drafts to also come to the association.
Frieren's following words made a glint of light flash in Kurtz's eyes. "After Mr. Carlo came to the association, Professor Flamme went to see him many times, seemingly to discuss some research."
"What research?"
"I don't know, Professor Flamme didn't tell me."
Kurtz looked at Ayla, who also shook her head, clearly unaware of the matter. In fact, she wouldn't have known about it at all if Frieren hadn't brought it up.
Carlo...discarded drafts...magical research....
A connection naturally arises. Kurtz recalled that before he left, Flamme had asked him for several runes related to life magic from the sacred magical canon.
At the time, he didn't think much of it, assuming that she wanted to improve their skills in the field of holy magic.
But now, connecting these clues, could it be that the discarded draft that Carlo was studying was the life-absorbing magic that he had abandoned when he was exploring the path to immortality?
Flamme provided the runes from the sacred texts, which likely greatly helped the other party to reproduce and complete this magic.
But why would Carlo go north?
Could it be that they were looking for an experimental environment or materials? Then Flamme immediately gave chase.
Kurtz frowned slightly. He looked at Serie and asked, "When did that Carlo come to the association?"
"Hmm… about a year ago," Serie said, trying to recall.
"And when did he leave the association?" Kurtz then looked at Frieren.
"About a week before Professor Flamme departed," Frieren answered precisely.
The timing also matches up.
Kurtz was silent for a moment.
He knew Flamme. She was intelligent and persistent, and sometimes that persistence could even turn into an obsession.
She possesses extraordinary talent for magic, but if her research delves into that area, and she even hopes to gain immortality through this magic...
A hint of doubt and worry rose in Kurtz's heart.
He felt his seemingly obedient, hardworking disciple was deliberately hiding something important from him.
This matter is likely closely related to Carlo's research and her eagerness to travel north.
Ayla and Frieren also sensed the subtle change in Kurtz's emotions and waited quietly.
Serie crossed her arms and watched Kurtz with great interest. She naturally noticed the oddity in the situation.
"It seems," Kurtz said slowly, looking at Serie, "that our plans need to be brought forward."
[End of Chapter]
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