Chapter 322: That Humble Love
After the Demon King was sealed, the war didn't end immediately.
After all, the Seven Sages of Destruction and the demon generals were the main force on the battlefield. Annelise had never acted from the start of the war until she was sealed; she was simply waiting for Rhodes to appear.
Because only then could this war reach its true conclusion.
However, with the disappearance of the Demon King and the complete ruin of her castle, the demon army, having lost its supreme commander, would likely disintegrate before long. At that time, the war would end.
Thus, Rhodes and Serie weren't in a hurry to travel. They walked leisurely across the land, enjoying the quiet time before dawn.
It would likely be a very, very long dawn.
However, this tranquility was soon broken by a familiar aura.
In a ruined village ahead that had just experienced the baptism of war, a figure stood alone, seemingly having waited for a long time.
It was Flamme.
She looked at Rhodes and Serie approaching side by side, complex emotions intertwining on her face. News of her two teachers wasn't hard to find. In fact, the day Serie appeared in the rear of the allied forces, the news had reached the front lines, and the Dwarven King had told Flamme.
That was why Flamme was waiting here in advance.
Putting away her hesitation for the moment, she took a deep breath and finally mustered the courage to greet them.
"Master Rhodes... Master Serie." Flamme's voice was slightly dry.
Rhodes stopped and looked at her peacefully. He wasn't surprised by her appearance. Although the main evil had been vanquished, he had never relaxed his vigilance. His detection magic ran constantly, and he had sensed Flamme's aura from several kilometers away.
Serie frowned slightly, a flash of obvious displeasure in her golden eyes.
Her apprentice had been hiding things from her, and so had the man beside her.
Rhodes clearly guessed what Flamme might be doing, but he refused to tell her, treating her like a fool!
How could she not notice?!
More importantly, Serie hadn't forgotten that Flamme had once held feelings for Rhodes that surpassed the master-disciple relationship, even trying to compete with her.
Although Flamme had restrained herself a lot after being taught a lesson, seeing her hesitant appearance now—clearly aiming for Rhodes—made the old vinegar in Serie's heart churn again.
"Come back with me for punishment!" Serie said coldly, trying to seize the initiative in the conversation. Simultaneously, she took a subtle half-step forward, vaguely shielding Rhodes behind her.
Flamme naturally sensed Master Serie's hostility, especially the phrase "come back for punishment," which implied her deeds had been exposed.
So she looked past Serie directly at Rhodes and pleaded, "Master Rhodes... I... I have something I want to say to you alone. May I?" Her tone carried humble entreaty.
Serie's frown deepened. She was about to refuse, but seeing the pain almost overflowing from Flamme's eyes, her heart softened.
After all, she had watched Flamme grow up and taught her personally. Even if Flamme had once been arrogant enough to challenge her for her man, it wasn't unforgivable.
Especially since Flamme hadn't won.
Swallowing the words on her lips, Serie snorted coldly and glared fiercely at Rhodes, her eyes full of warning.
You handle this yourself!
In the end, radiating low pressure, Serie turned and walked to a rock in the distance. She crossed her arms and stood with her back to them, practically granting Flamme's request, though her twitching ears clearly showed she was still paying attention.
Thus, the space was temporarily left to Rhodes and Flamme.
Flamme stood before Rhodes, head bowed, hands twisting nervously together. A brief silence was her final mental preparation.
Finally, she raised her head, deciding to hide nothing, and revealed everything she had done recently.
"Master Rhodes... I made a mistake. A huge mistake." She began to recount, trembling.
From her desire to research immortality magic, leading to her private collaboration with Carlo, to later giving him the original scripture runes of Holy Magic to speed up his research.
She also described in detail how Solitär's appearance disrupted her plans, and how Carlo disappeared in that underground labyrinth, his fate unknown.
"I vaguely felt that Carlo's obsession with immortality was far stronger than I imagined... I am afraid. Afraid that I have personally created a terrible monster..." Flamme's eyes reddened. "Master, I am sorry! I have caused you trouble."
Rhodes listened quietly, showing no surprise. Only when Flamme finished and looked at him with anxious eyes did he speak slowly. "I had basically guessed what you said. You didn't clean up your experiments thoroughly. From the moment I returned to the Magic Association, I guessed you were researching immortality magic."
He paused, looking at Flamme's instantly pale face, and continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, the path Carlo ultimately takes has a high probability... of making him a candidate for the next Demon King."
"De... Demon King?!" Flamme exclaimed in shock, swaying unsteadily.
This possibility was more terrifying than her worst assumptions!
"No! Absolutely not! Master, he fell into that labyrinth. The situation is urgent! Let's go find him now and kill him!"
Thinking that her selfishness might facilitate the emergence of a new Demon King threw Flamme into a panic.
Seeing Flamme's flustered state, Rhodes smiled gently and shook his head. "No need to worry, and no need to rush."
He decided to reveal part of his thoughts to Flamme. "Flamme, this world needs balance. Without the pressure of a powerful external enemy, humanity often falls into endless internal strife. The existence of demons, from a certain perspective, can appropriately reduce the possibility of human infighting. Although it cannot be completely avoided, at least it won't develop into a continent-wide chaotic war."
Looking into Flamme's confused eyes, he explained further, "Therefore, I never planned to completely eradicate the demons. I even have other ideas, but not for now."
"And even if Carlo truly walks that path and becomes the new Demon King, that will be a matter for a thousand years later. By then, a Hero belonging to that era will naturally emerge to face him. For example—Frieren. So, you don't need to worry at all. Believe in your disciple. Believe in Frieren."
Flamme opened her mouth to argue, but seeing Rhodes's certain gaze, she swallowed her words.
So Master Rhodes had planned everything long ago.
As expected of Master Rhodes.
She swore secretly in her heart to do her utmost to cultivate Frieren into the most outstanding mage, capable of dealing with any challenge in the future.
However, the guilt and unease in her heart didn't completely dissipate.
She kept her head lowered, fingers rubbing unconsciously, like a child who had done wrong, worried that Rhodes was only comforting her with forgiving words. After all, the potential harm she caused was too great.
Rhodes naturally sensed her hidden hesitation.
He reached out, just as he had when teaching her years ago, and gently patted her head. This familiar action made Flamme tremble. Master Rhodes hadn't done this in a long time.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.
"Do not think too much, Flamme. Since I am your teacher, cleaning up your mess and bearing the consequences is my responsibility. I am here. Do not worry."
"Master Rhodes—" Flamme choked up, tears finally sliding down her face.
Under Rhodes's comfort, the heavy guilt in her heart seemed to lighten slightly. But another emotion, suppressed for a long time, surged out as if unsealed.
Looking at Rhodes's face so close to hers—the face that occupied the most important position in her life, the one she looked up to, relied on, and couldn't help but admire—she finally couldn't suppress that feeling.
She lowered her head and murmured softly, "I... I still... like you."
The air went instantly silent.
The tenderness on Rhodes's face faded rapidly. His brow furrowed, flashing with obvious displeasure.
He had explicitly rejected Flamme's feelings that crossed the master-disciple boundary long ago, hoping she would let go and focus on her own path.
It seemed she hadn't truly moved on.
Sensing the change in Rhodes's aura, Flamme's heart ached, but she immediately raised her head and added urgently, "I know! I know it is wrong! I also know about you and Master Serie—I have no extravagant hopes, truly! I no longer need your response, nor will I disturb your life with Master Serie in any way, nor will I let this feeling trouble you—"
She took a deep breath, as if using all her strength, and begged humbly, "Just please—please allow me to like you silently, from afar, like this. May I? Until... until the day my life ends... I beg you..."
Flamme lowered her head, daring not look at Rhodes, terrified that even this humble plea would be denied.
Facing his disciple's humble request, Rhodes fell silent. Words of refusal hovered on his lips, but he couldn't say them.
He remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said nothing. He simply turned around and walked toward Serie, who had been glancing over from time to time.
No answer was sometimes an answer in itself.
Watching Rhodes's retreating back, Flamme cried even harder. She knew she had obtained an unacknowledged little corner where she could place her hopeless love.
This, perhaps, was the best outcome for her.
In the future, she only needed to stay in the Heavenly Kingdom, accompanying him forever and ever.
As soon as Rhodes returned to Serie, the impatient elf stepped forward quickly, obvious anger burning in her eyes.
She had never let down her guard against this audacious disciple.
"What did she say to you? Did she try to steal you again? It seems I need to teach her another lesson..."
"Nothing. Just some small matters." Rhodes interrupted her.
He didn't want to repeat Flamme's humble confession. That would hurt Flamme and only increase Serie's anger.
But Rhodes knew Serie well. If he didn't divert her attention effectively, this matter would never end.
So, under Serie's suspicious gaze, he suddenly changed the subject. "Serie, let's... have a child! Preferably a cute daughter just like you!"
"—Huh?!" Serie's jealousy and questioning jammed instantly. She froze completely, eyes wide, looking at Rhodes in disbelief. "You... what nonsense are you sprouting so suddenly?!"
Last time, in the inn at the small town, Rhodes had indeed mentioned this half-jokingly.
At the time, Serie thought it was a whim. Although she agreed eventually, she treated it as something for the distant future.
She hadn't expected him to bring it up again so soon, and so formally, at this juncture!
For a moment, Flamme's matter wasn't worth caring about at all.
Subconsciously, as an ancient elf, Serie didn't have much instinctual need or desire to reproduce. She even felt a slight rejection, as it meant huge responsibility and breaking the two-person world with Rhodes.
But on the other hand, a child flowing with her and Rhodes's blood? A descendant condensing both their talents?
She suddenly got a little excited.
Given her and Rhodes's talent and strength, their child might be an incredibly cute kid with legendary talent.
Once this thought arose, it couldn't disappear.
But... reality stood in the way.
"Didn't we discuss this last time? Different species cannot conceive offspring unless..." She thought of Rhodes's Creation talent. "You created a magic to break that boundary?"
"Not yet."
"Then what is there to say? Magic involving life levels cannot be created overnight." The elf pouted.
"But I am very serious this time!" Rhodes answered earnestly. "Unlike last time, I am prepared. I will immediately start researching and creating a feasible magic that allows successful conception between different species."
Seeing Rhodes so solemn, Serie had nothing more to say.
After all, she had already promised this man last time. Although it was moved up, she had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, she had developed a little curiosity about the unknown parent-child relationship.
"...Fine! If you need anything, I can help anytime."
The elf made her promise.
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