Chapter 320: That Humble Love
The war did not end immediately after the Demon King was sealed away.
After all, the Seven Demon Sages and generals were the main force on the battlefield. Annalise never made a move from the start of the war to her sealing away; she simply waited for Kurtz to appear.
Only in this way can this war truly come to an end.
However, with the Demon King's disappearance and the entire Demon King's castle reduced to ruins, it is predictable that before long, the demon army, having lost its supreme commander, will disintegrate, and the war will end.
Therefore, Kurtz and Serie did not rush their journey but strolled leisurely across the land, enjoying the tranquil hours before dawn.
That will surely be a very, very long dawn.
However, this tranquility was soon broken by a familiar presence.
In the ruins of a village that had just been ravaged by war, a figure stood alone, seemingly having been waiting for a long time.
It was Flamme.
She looked at Kurtz and Serie, who were walking side by side, her face a complex mix of emotions. News of the two teachers wasn't hard to find; in fact, it had reached the front lines the very day Serie appeared behind the allied lines and was then relayed to Flamme by the Dwarf King.
That's why Flamme was waiting here, ahead of the two teachers' arrival. Putting aside her hesitation, she took a deep breath and finally mustered her courage to go forward.
"Teacher Kurtz...Teacher Serie." Flamme's voice was slightly hoarse.
Kurtz stopped and looked at her calmly. He was not surprised by her appearance. After all, although the main culprit had been brought to justice, he had never let his guard down. His detection magic was running non-stop, and he had sensed Flamme's presence several kilometers away.
Serie frowned slightly, a clear hint of displeasure flashing in her golden eyes.
Her apprentice had been hiding something from her, as had the man beside her. Kurtz clearly guessed what Flamme might be doing, but he deliberately didn't tell her, which made him think she was an idiot!
How could she not have noticed?!
More importantly, Serie hadn't forgotten that Flamme had once harbored feelings for Kurtz that went beyond mentor and student, and even tried to compete with her.
Although she had toned it down considerably after being reprimanded, seeing her hesitant expression, clearly directed at Kurtz, Serie's long-standing jealousy resurfaced.
"You will come back home and wait for your punishment!" Serie said coldly, trying to take control of the conversation, while subtly taking a half step forward to place herself between Kurtz and Flamme.
Flamme naturally sensed Miss Serie's ill intent, especially the phrase "wait for your punishment," which implied that her actions had been exposed.
So she looked past Serie and directly at Kurtz, pleading, "Teacher Kurtz...I..I have something I want to say to you alone. Is that alright?" Her tone was filled with humble supplication.
Serie frowned even more, about to refuse, but seeing the almost overflowing pain in Flamme's eyes, she finally softened.
After all, Flamme was someone she had personally watched grow up. Even if she was once so arrogant as to challenge her and try to steal her man, it wasn't something unforgivable.
'After all, she didn't manage to take him from me.'
She swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, snorted coldly, and glared at Kurtz with a fierce look that was full of warning: Solve it yourself!
In the end, Serie, still radiating a low mood, turned and walked to a rock some distance away, crossed her arms, and turned her back to them, thus granting Flamme's request with her actions. However, her constantly trembling little ears clearly indicated she was still listening to this side.
Therefore, this space was temporarily reserved for Kurtz and Flamme.
"Teacher Kurtz, I made a mistake, a huge mistake." She began to recount, her voice trembling.
From her desire to research immortality magic, which led to her secret collaboration with Carlo, to her later giving Carlo the original runes of holy magic in order to speed up his research.
She also described in detail how Solitaire's appearance disrupted her original plans, and how Carlo disappeared in that underground labyrinth, his fate still unknown.
"I have a vague feeling that Carlo's obsession with immortality is far stronger than I imagined...I'm afraid, afraid that I've created a terrible monster with my own hands..." Flamme's eyes reddened slightly. "Teacher, I'm sorry! I've caused you trouble."
Kurtz listened quietly, his face showing no surprise. Only when Flamme finished speaking and looked at him with uneasy eyes did he slowly speak: "What you said, I have already guessed it. Your experimental process was neither properly managed nor cleaned up after. I had already guessed that you were researching immortality magic when I returned to the Magic Association."
He paused, looking at Flamme's instantly pale face, and continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, there is a high probability that Carlo might eventually become a candidate for the next Demon King."
"Demon...Demon King?!" Flamme exclaimed in shock, her body swaying as she almost lost her balance.
This possibility is even more terrifying than her worst-case scenario!
"No! Absolutely not! Teacher, Carlo has fallen into that maze! It's an emergency! We have to find him now and stop him!"
The thought that her selfishness might lead to the rise of a new Demon King made Flamme feel flustered.
Seeing Flamme's panicked expression, Kurtz smiled gently and shook his head: "No need to worry, and there's no need to rush."
He decided to reveal some of his thoughts to Flamme: "Flamme, this world needs balance. When mortal and immortal races lose the pressure of powerful external enemies, they are more likely to fall into endless internal strife. From a certain perspective, the existence of the demon race can reduce the likelihood of internal strife among the species of this world. Although it cannot be completely avoided, at least it will not develop into a continental war."
He looked into Flamme's confused eyes and explained further: "Therefore, I have never intended to eradicate the demon race, and I even have other ideas, but...not now."
"And even if Carlo does indeed embark on that path and become the new Demon King, that will be a thousand years from now. At that time, a hero of that era will naturally confront him. Like...say Frieren. Therefore, you have absolutely no need to worry, and trust your disciple, trust Frieren."
Flamme opened her mouth, wanting to argue further, but seeing Kurtz's resolute gaze, she swallowed her words.
It turns out that Teacher Kurtz had planned everything all along. As expected of him.
She secretly vowed to do everything in her power to train Frieren into the most outstanding mage, capable of facing any challenge in the future.
However, the guilt and unease in her heart did not entirely fade.
She kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously rubbing together like a child who had done something wrong, worried that Kurtz was just comforting her with words of forgiveness, after all, the potential harm she had caused was too great.
Kurtz naturally noticed her hidden hesitation. He reached out and gently patted her head, just as he had done years ago when he taught her. This familiar gesture made Flamme tremble; it had been a long time since Teacher Kurtz had done that.
Tears welled up involuntarily, silently accumulating in her eyes.
"Don't overthink it, Flamme. As your teacher, it's my responsibility to clean up your mess and take responsibility for the consequences. I'm here for you, don't worry."
"Teacher Kurtz..." Flamme choked up, tears finally streaming down her face.
Under Kurtz's comforting words, the heavy sense of guilt in her heart seemed to lessen somewhat, but another long-suppressed emotion surged forth as if it had been unsealed.
Looking at Kurtz's face so close to hers, the face that occupied the most important place in her life, the face she looked up to, relied on, and couldn't help but admire, she finally couldn't suppress the feelings in her heart. She lowered her head and murmured softly, "I...I still...love you."
The air fell silent instantly.
The gentleness on Kurtz's face vanished quickly, his brows furrowed, and a clear hint of displeasure flashed across his face.
He had long ago clearly rejected Flamme's feelings that went beyond the boundaries of teacher and student, and hoped that she could let go and focus on her own path. Now it seems that she has not truly let go of the past.
Sensing the change in Kurtz's aura, Flamme felt a pang of pain in her heart, but she immediately raised her head and added urgently, "I know! I know this is wrong! I also know about you and Teacher Serie...I have no expectations, really! I no longer need your response, and I will no longer disturb your and Teacher Serie's lives in any way, nor will I let this relationship become a burden for you."
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and pleaded humbly, "Please...please allow me to love you silently and from afar, is that alright? Until...until the day my life ends...I beg you—"
Flamme lowered her head, not daring to look at Kurtz, fearing that even this humble request would not be granted.
Faced with his disciple's humble request, Kurtz remained silent. Words of refusal lingered on his lips, but he ultimately failed to utter them.
He remained silent for a long time. In the end, he said nothing. He simply turned around and walked towards Serie, who had been glancing at him from a distance.
Sometimes, not answering is an answer in itself.
As Flamme watched Kurtz's retreating back, her tears flowed even more fiercely. She knew that she had found a small, unacknowledged corner where she could place her hopeless love.
This, perhaps, is the best outcome for her.
In the future, all she needs to do is stay in the heavenly kingdom and accompany them forever.
As soon as Kurtz walked back to Serie's side, the impatient elf lady immediately stepped forward, her eyes burning with obvious anger.
She could never let her guard down around her audacious disciple.
"What did she say to you? Is she trying to steal you from me again? Looks like I need to teach her a lesson again..."
"It's nothing, just a...haah~...a small matter," Kurtz interrupted her.
He didn't want to repeat Flamme's humble confession, as it would only hurt Flamme and fuel Serie's anger.
But Kurtz knew Serie's personality well; if he couldn't distract her effectively, this matter would probably never end.
Then, under Serie's suspicious gaze, he suddenly changed the subject and said with unexpected seriousness, "Serie, let's have a child! Preferably a lovely daughter like you!"
"...Huh?!" Serie's jealousy and accusations caught in her throat. She was completely stunned, her eyes widening as she stared at Kurtz in disbelief. "You...what nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?!"
Last time, at the inn in the town, Kurtz did mention this matter half-jokingly and half-seriously.
At the time, Serie thought it was just a joke he made on a whim. Although she eventually agreed, she thought it was something that would happen in the distant future.
Unexpectedly, not long after, at this critical juncture, he brought it up again, and in such a formal way!
For a moment, Flamme's little affair was no longer worth caring about.
Subconsciously, as an ancient elf, Serie didn't have much of an instinctive need or desire to reproduce; in fact, she even felt a slight aversion to it, as it meant a huge responsibility and the disruption of her world with Kurtz.
But on the other hand, a child carrying her and Kurtz's blood? A descendant embodying the talents of both of them?
She suddenly became a little excited.
With her and Kurtz's talent and strength, their child might be a child with legendary talent and an incredibly cute appearance.
Once this thought arises, it can never be eliminated.
However, real problems are right in front of them.
"Didn't we say last time that it's impossible for different races to have offspring, unless," She thought of Kurtz's innate talent, "You created magic that can break this barrier?"
"Not yet," Kurtz admitted frankly. "What's there to say? This kind of magic involves the level of life, and it can't be created overnight."
The elf girl pouted, crossing her arms.
"But this time I'm very serious!" Kurtz replied earnestly. "Unlike last time, this time I'm prepared and will immediately begin researching and creating feasible magic that would allow different races to conceive offspring successfully."
Seeing how serious Kurtz was about it, Serie had nothing more to say.
After all, she had already promised this man last time, and although this time it was earlier, she had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, she also developed a slight curiosity about the unknown parent-child relationship.
"Okay! I'm happy to help if you need anything." Miss Elf made her promise, her expression softening as she stepped closer to his side.
[End of Chapter]
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