"It's been completely killed, without a trace of power left."
Mira touched the demon's forehead through the ice crystal and came to this conclusion.
The environment here gave Warm a feeling of being home.
It struggled in Mira's arms, extending its tongue to lick the demon-shaped 'giant ice pop,' only to have Mira tap its head.
"We don't know if it's dangerous yet." Mira held Warm and retreated a little.
However, Rhode said, "Let it lick the ice elsewhere. After all, it's an expert in ice and snow, maybe it can discover something."
Mira took Warm to the wall and let it lick the ice there.
"Lick~ Lick~"
Warm tried to express its discovery to Rhode — the ice is cold.
"That's obvious!" Rhode replied irritably. "What about other aspects?"
Warm thought hard and said again, "Not tasty."
Rhode laughed, "You're not getting dinner!"
"Hoo—" Warm's little horns drooped down in grievance.
It was just stating a fact.
Mira consoled it with a gentle pat on its little horns.
Before coming to the church, Rhode thought Mira could unlock a new form. Now that the demon was gone, there was no hope.
He pondered and asked, "When you came here back then, how many demons were in the church?"
"Of course, there was only one." Mira pouted; even one was difficult to deal with.
She looked at Rhode, "Do you think there's something wrong with this holy altar?"
"Yes, this giant ice pop doesn't look natural. It must be the altar that's the problem." Rhode said, "Let's destroy it. Granny An has to live here, and it might prevent any accidents."
Mira had no objections.
Though powerful as the ice seemed now, it would eventually melt over time.
If a third demon emerged by then, it would be trouble.
Rhode, being cautious, drew a circle of defense magic array around the church before blowing up the altar.
Once everything was ready, Rhode pressed both hands downward, activating earth magic. The ground rumbled and cracked open, shattering the ice surface and causing the ruined church to collapse completely.
Black stone wrapped in layers of ice fell into the crevice, splashing crimson 'water droplets.'
— Beneath the fissure was boiling lava, gurgling with huge bubbles, emitting a pungent odor.
The special ice melted and evaporated, hissing, and the invisible steam blew ash into the sky.
Rhode clasped his hands, causing explosion sounds from the crevice, and the lava spurted out like a fountain but was confined by a suddenly glowing golden magic array, limiting it within the church's bounds.
Once the entire church turned to ashes, Rhode took out the magic book given by the second generation, drawing a complex purple magic array in the air with magic power as per its instructions.
The Amaterasu's Formula 28 Magic Array exploded loudly, causing the defense magic array to flicker as if on the verge of shattering.
Mira exclaimed, "Did you learn the second generation's magic so quickly?"
"Not really. I haven't memorized the construction method, and I intended to draw the Hundred Techniques, but even the Twenty-Eight Techniques were barely maintained."
Rhode quite liked this series of magic because its power ranged from weak to strong. As long as one grasped the principles, they could draw the level of the array they'd like.
Stating a 'technique' meant its power was precisely controlled, and not a bit more was produced, highlighting a rigorous attitude.
Once the lava in the array calmed down, Rhode threw in a light magic spell.
He then created a small hill at the church's location, physically sealing that spot.
Mira checked repeatedly to ensure there was no demon presence nearby before they went home to change clothes. They had arranged to visit Granny An today.
However, upon entering the courtyard, they saw Granny An packing a trolley, getting ready to move.
"Granny An?" Mira looked at her in confusion. She had invited them yesterday, so why was she leaving today?
Was she startled by the commotion just now?
"Who are you…" Granny An froze, as if she hadn't met them yesterday, "Are you Mirajane from the Strauss family?"
Rhode and Mira exchanged glances, sensing something amiss.
Had her memory been altered by memory magic? Or was yesterday's Granny An someone else using transformation magic?
"You've returned... I'm sorry about the past." Granny An said to herself, "I later heard that your transformation was because of magic. But by then, everyone had moved away, and I was about to leave too…"
Mira listened quietly and asked, "Granny An, do you remember what happened yesterday? Was there anything strange?"
"Yesterday?" Granny An thought for a moment, "I went out as usual to collect firewood. Ah, I forgot to make dinner yesterday, but oddly enough, I didn't feel hungry when I went to sleep."
Rhode looked at the woodpile in Granny An's house, which was adequately stocked and neatly organized. The courtyard was tidy, presenting a picture of stable living.
He asked, "Do you remember me?"
Granny An scrutinized him, "You're... Elf… No, not quite, the hair color's different. Whose child are you?"
It seemed she really was the one who had them over for dinner yesterday, but she had forgotten.
Seeing her bewildered expression, Mira reminded her about meeting yesterday.
"But I don't recall visiting your house…" Granny An's face turned slightly pale, "Could I have that condition that makes you slowly forget everything? I've heard some elderly do…"
"It's unclear for now, but don't worry. Even if you do, there are treatments. I happen to know medical and memory experts."
Rhode tried to soothe her, demonstrating a dazzling light magic spell.
The splendid magic made Granny trust Rhode a bit more.
Rhode asked, "Why do you want to move?"
Granny An replied, "Because there's a demon in the church."
Rhode asked again, "When did you start feeling the urge to move?"
"Of course..." Granny An got stuck, thinking for a while, and then said, "I seemed to want to leave with everyone a few years ago, but before leaving, I felt staying wasn't a problem…
"Then just now, during the thunderclap, no, it was more like a landslide, is when I suddenly felt I must move immediately."
Granny An was confused, unsure why she stayed in the village for so long.
Rhode frowned. It was likely related to blowing up the altar, with her state being… a kind of spirit suggestion effect, akin to enchantment-type magic?
"Do you mind if we conduct a simple check for you?"
Granny An nodded, but immediately her eyes turned red, her hands morphing into black claws, attacking Mira fiercely!