Aura said she wanted to sleep together with the treasures, so she moved directly into the underground stronghold piled high with loot.
Nanoda and Linie, meanwhile, picked two relatively clean rooms in the manor to stay in.
Poor Hafleet was chained to the entrance with an iron chain to act as a gatekeeper. He offered no resistance; hugging his thighs with his four arms, he squatted there muttering something under his breath, as if he had broken.
That night, Linie came to Nanoda's room holding a lump of some black, unidentified object.
"Uh, what is this?"
"Roast chicken."
Looking at this thing that resembled charcoal, Nanoda was somewhat speechless.
"Are you sure this was originally a chicken?"
"Mhm. I just caught it tonight. I tried to do it following what you did this morning... but it seems a bit different. Do you want to eat it?"
Linie tilted her head, looking a bit confused.
"Uh, the heat was too high."
"Heat?"
Nanoda discovered that Linie was a fellow who severely lacked common sense—or perhaps most Demons were like this.
"Let's throw this away. Next time there's a chance, I'll teach you step-by-step. How about that?"
"Okay."
Linie nodded obediently.
"There's one more thing. Can you fight me again? I want to become stronger."
"No problem."
She sparred with Linie late into the night, and Nanoda imparted some of her martial arts skills to her. It had to be said that Linie's mimicry magic was simply ridiculous; she could replicate a move perfectly after seeing it just once.
Ultimately, the plan Nanoda gave Linie was to reduce her body's reliance on mana when executing moves, as this would help train her physical strength.
Early the next morning, Nanoda left a message for Aura to watch the house and departed the stronghold of the Mutual Love New Demon Association.
As she was leaving, Linie followed her.
"Where are you going?"
"Why did you follow me?"
"I want to go see too."
"Alright. Don't cause trouble when we get there. Put this on."
Nanoda gave Linie an identical black cloak. Linie mimicked her actions and put it on, covering the two horns that symbolized the Demon Race.
Gaderia Territory, the back mountain.
A stone as tall as a person was split in two. Yuna nodded with satisfaction; after a month of training, Yuna's Severance Magic had improved by leaps and bounds.
Especially with the staff Nanoda had made for her, which could not only amplify magic but also be used for self-defense in close quarters. Yuna had also learned some martial arts from Aaron, and compared to a month ago, she could now be considered an entry-level Mage.
"I wonder how Lady Nanoda is doing now."
Yuna looked at the staff in her hand, missing that teacher of hers greatly. The one who avenged her father and taught her magic was Nanoda, yet she couldn't help with anything.
Within her mana perception, a strange signature of mana suddenly intruded into the Gaderia Lord's Manor. Yuna recognized it instantly: it was a Demon.
Unlike Aura who followed Nanoda previously, this mana was much weaker.
Clang. Baron Aaron suddenly stood up from his desk and drew the longsword he kept close to his body; he sensed someone infiltrating the entrance.
"Who is it?"
The main door was pushed open, and two figures in black robes walked in, one after the other.
Nanoda took off her hood, her white hair cascading down like a waterfall, revealing her true face.
"Long time no see, Baron."
"Heh, and here I was wondering who it was. Have a seat."
Baron Aaron sheathed his longsword, his expression relaxing. He pointed to a few guest chairs on the side.
Nanoda didn't stand on ceremony and sat directly. Linie stood by the side, not sitting, her gaze sizing up Baron Aaron.
"This isn't Lady Aura, is it? A newly recruited subordinate?"
Aaron's intuition as a warrior told him that this attendant was also a dangerous existence.
"You could say that. Her name is Linie... Linie, this is Baron Aaron. He counts as my... hmm, former partner."
Nanoda introduced them.
"What brings you here this time? To tell you the truth, I have quite a few troubling matters recently."
Looking at the half-drunk bottle of wine on the table, Nanoda proposed her idea.
"Want to cooperate with me one more time?"
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"I need you to help me collect some intelligence."
"Mm, no problem. I can do my best to send scouts to collect it. What are the conditions?"
"I need news on the sealed Sage of Corruption, Qual. I need the specific location of the seal."
Nanoda only knew that Qual was likely sealed in the Central or Southern Lands; heaven knows where Frieren went to finish him off eighty years later.
"No problem. Then, what about the remuneration for the cooperation?"
"Your guts have gotten bigger. Now you even ask for remuneration yourself? Aren't you afraid I'll eat you?"
"Hehe, I trust that you aren't that kind of person—oh no, Demon."
"Tell me about it then, your recent troubling matters."
Just then, the main door was smashed open with force. Yuna burst in holding a bright red staff, followed by a pile of manor guards.
"Baron Aaron! We've come to save you!"
Seeing someone suddenly barge in, the mana in Linie's hand transformed into a broadaxe, ready to strike.
"Long time no see, Yuna."
Nanoda stopped Linie with one hand and flashed a faint smile at Yuna, who had arrived in a hurry.
"Teacher...?"
Yuna couldn't quite believe her eyes. She thought she would be parted from Nanoda for a long time; she hadn't expected her to return here so soon.
"I'm fine. You all withdraw. I still have serious business to discuss with Lady Nanoda."
Last time Aura smashed his door; this time it was Yuna's turn. Baron Aaron waved his hand impatiently.
"Let her stay. The guards can all withdraw first."
Nanoda patted the empty chair beside her, gesturing for Yuna to come sit.
Seeing Baron Aaron nod, Yuna sat down happily, and the fully armed guards all retreated.
"What is a teacher?"
Linie, who hadn't spoken the whole time, suddenly asked innocently.
"Uh, a teacher is an existence who teaches others magic or knowledge," Nanoda explained.
"Then does Lady Nanoda, who taught me martial arts, also count as my teacher?"
"Theoretically speaking, yes."
Nanoda nodded.
Beside them, Yuna cast an envious look at the hooded Linie. She already knew the source of that mana; it was Linie who was following Nanoda.
"Cough, cough. Let's talk about serious business first."
Having been interrupted like this, Baron Aaron realized the topic had strayed.
"Recently, the trade caravans returning to our territory from the south have been disappearing inexplicably. At first, I thought it was Demon remnants causing trouble, but later I discovered things weren't that simple. It's as if someone is deliberately targeting and intercepting our supplies."
"So you need me to go drag those guys out?"
"Exactly. I already have a plan. I'm preparing to organize a temporary merchant caravan. I need you to infiltrate it, and when we encounter those bandits, I'll need you to take action."
"Are you sure they will hijack us?"
"Actually, I already have some guesses. They will definitely come. When the time comes, remember not to kill them all."
____
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