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After traversing a forest stretching over ten miles, Frieren arrived at the source of the magic, only to find it deserted.
The clearing in this forest was empty.
But Frieren was certain that not long ago, there had been a large number of Demons and magical beasts here.
The air still carried the lingering, repulsive scent of the Demons' magic.
However, what Frieren didn't know was why the Demons stationed here had retreated like this... "Is that you?"
"Yulian..."
Frieren quietly looked at Yulian, who was sitting there, and voiced her question with parting lips.
Demons are skilled at deception... Frieren stared at Yulian, simultaneously pondering Yulian's identity.
Meeting a Demon again brought back bad memories, leading her to suspect Yulian.
This powerful Demon, comparable to the Seven Sages, who had been with them, did he harbor intentions they were unaware of?
Frieren's gaze towards Yulian gradually grew wary.
Yulian naturally noticed Frieren's unusual gaze upon him.
It was exactly the same as when Eisen had looked at him before.
Yulian sighed softly with emotion.
Am I being guarded against?
The guard captain slammed his personal profound iron greatsword onto the table.
"Are you deluding yourselves into taking credit for the Demon retreat, hoping to gain clemency?!"
The guard captain clenched his fist, making a cracking sound.
The guard captain's gaze conveyed authority and no room for doubt.
"The Demons' retreat is naturally due to the agreement reached between Count Granat and the Demon peace envoy!"
"Agree... ment?"
Frieren's pure, emerald-like eyes showed confusion.
She looked at the guard captain, then at Yulian, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Otherwise, do you think this ordinary young man could achieve such a thing?!"
The guard captain patted Yulian's shoulder in dissatisfaction.
"Cough, cough!"
The immense force of the sudden pat made Yulian cough uncontrollably.
As Yulian feigned coughing and lowered his head, a smile appeared in the corner of his eye.
This guard captain is truly a good person.
"Was it really because of Count Granat's peace talks with the Demons that they retreated?"
Frieren looked at Yulian suspiciously.
"I did go looking for Aura yesterday, but I didn't see her at all."
Yulian sat up straight and explained with a faint smile.
"Really?"
Frieren's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, and she fell silent.
Her intuition told her that things were not as they seemed.
"Hey!"
The guard captain approached Frieren, his face showing displeasure.
"Count Granat negotiated peace with the Demons, protecting the people of the territory..."
"Is this something for you escaped prisoners to meddle with?"
The guard captain said with a dark face.
"I..."
Glistening beads of sweat rolled down Frieren's cheeks.
Frieren waved her hands in front of her, smiling awkwardly.
"Go to the cell and reflect properly!"
"Squeak! Bang!"
The sound of a huge iron door closing rang out.
Frieren, Yulian, Fern, and Stark were locked in a cell.
However, this was a cell specifically for magic users, with a powerful magic barrier completely enveloping the entire cell.
Yulian forcefully tapped on the cell barrier, getting a metallic clang in response.
"You all..."
Yulian rubbed his forehead helplessly, looking at them.
"I had already prepared money to bail you out, why did you escape?!"
"Mr. Yulian, I'm sorry..."
Fern bit her lip, her face full of shame.
"I didn't intend to escape..."
Frieren sighed helplessly.
Why was she locked up again for no reason? "Mr. Yulian, what should we do!"
"We won't be locked here until we grow old and die, will we, Yulian!"
Stark cried out, hugging Yulian's leg.
He had just heard what the guard said.
Even considering their self-surrender, their crime of escaping would mean being locked up for a hundred or eighty years was not an issue!
"What should we do, Mr. Yulian!"
"This..."
Yulian puffed out his cheeks, thinking.
"How about... we escape again?"
"Escape again!"
Fern's eyes widened.
"Otherwise, I can accept being locked up here for a hundred or eighty years."
Frieren gently touched the magic barrier beside her and spoke softly.
"How about it, Frieren."
"Can you break it?"
Yulian nodded helplessly to Fern, then asked Frieren.
"The barrier strength is good, but the precision and identification ability are average."
Frieren sensed it and slowly spoke.
"It can be done in about half a day."
"Are we really escaping again?!"
Stark's mouth gaped in astonishment, almost devouring his hands which were covering his mouth in surprise!
Yulian and Frieren looked at Stark as if he were an idiot, then quietly began to discuss.
"I didn't expect them to be sent back so soon."
The chief guard captain was both emotional and hesitant to speak.
He looked complexly at the headless corpses in armor before him, a look of sorrow on his face.
"Indeed."
Count Granat reached out to caress a corpse wearing a red gemstone necklace, but his hand trembled uncontrollably.
Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.
"Your Excellency, Count."
He reached out to support Count Granat and said in a low voice.
"It's time for the Heroes' Rest Ceremony."
"Alright."
Count Granat nodded gently, withdrawing his hand from the corpse.
His gaze, however, remained as if irresistibly drawn to the bodies.
He spoke slowly, enunciating each word.
"The... Soul... Soothing... Ceremony... begins... now!"
"Rustle!"
As the bodies were buried, the church personnel responsible for the burial inserted countless weapons into the ground before the Count.
"Clang!"
With a sound!
Hundreds of guards lined up neatly before the Heroes' gravestones, taking a unified, forceful step forward!
"Clang!"
The sound of swords being drawn rang out uniformly and loudly!
The guards fiercely plunged their swords into the ground beneath them!
"Salute!"
The guard captain shouted loudly!
"Clang!"
Hundreds of guards uniformly placed their hands on their chests, bowing their heads in silent mourning.
At the Heroes' gravestones, it was now a cenotaph.
Countless knives, spears, axes, and swords were individually plunged into the ground.
Their weapons represented their unyielding spirit, never to be extinguished!
During the mourning, a heavy heart spread.
But the dead rest in peace, and the living will surely inherit the heroes' brave, fearless, and unyielding will!
Several minutes later, Hede shouted that the ceremony was complete!
The guards began to uniformly offer flowers, then lined up and left the scene.
Only Count Granat and Hede remained standing quietly in place.
Not far beside them, Lugner and Draht stood silently.
As envoys, they were responsible for escorting these remains back and also attended the ceremony.
"A great spirit."
Lugner walked over from a distance, praising.
"If there had been no war, they would not have died."
Count Granat said quietly, his gaze fixed on the sword with the ruby necklace hanging in the cenotaph.
Seeing that Count Granat had no desire for conversation, Lugner did not say more.
He just looked at the cenotaph before him and spoke to himself.
"Yes... war..."
"The war ended, but they also left..."
Count Granat murmured.
The next second, Count Granat took a deep breath, realizing his lapse, and said apologetically.
"My apologies, I was rude."
"Now, we should properly maintain this hard-won peace."
"?!"
Lugner looked at Granat somewhat strangely.
He didn't understand why this man, who clearly harbored hatred for him, still treated him with such courtesy.
But Lugner still nodded gently in response.
"We will be peaceful, Count Granat."
After all, this is the Demon King's command...
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