Speaking of the technique to control demons, the two childhood friends immediately thought of a living example: The Water Mirror Demon.
Although this type is also considered a monster, their abilities are generally more bizarre and powerful, and they possess a certain degree of intelligence. They often have mechanics that are difficult to counter, and taming them is considered a fantasy.
Strictly speaking, Frieren didn't control the Water Mirror Demon, but rather used a unique, irreplicable method to reshape it by exploiting its own mechanics.
To hear now that a nation can control them is truly impressive.
"Why haven't we heard of it before?"
Miliardel spread her hands: "That's the strange part. Legend says Sareytania is shrouded in a dense fog that never dissipates. Coupled with its isolationist nature, it's little-known. It seems to be a side effect of controlling demons. In any case, it's quite odd."
"What's its national strength like? It can actually rival the Continental Magic Association? Do they have a Mage of the Mythical Era in their ranks?"
"They actually do."
"—Deep within the Wedge Temple in the icebergs at Sareytania's border, they control an ancient demon beast. It's incredibly powerful, enough to easily destroy a major nation."
"In the eyes of the world, it is an existence that rivals a Mage of the Mythical Era, and it's safer and more controllable."
Frieren let out a cold snort upon hearing this, and the storyteller smiled as well.
Honestly, one of the two publicly recognized Mages of the Mythical Era was standing right before them, and she didn't even know her own strength. How could outsiders judge if something could rival her? And stepping back, a demon beast sounds difficult to tame.
So, while Sareytania has its merits, it's not that exaggerated. It's more of a bargaining chip for the Empire to counterbalance the Magic Association.
They're being used as a pawn.
When the Empire believes you are strong, you suddenly seem to become strong at the negotiating table.
"I see. Go to the Association headquarters to clear Minus's name, test the Empire's attitude, and investigate Sareytania, right?"
Hearing this, Miliardel nodded vigorously. Her childhood friend had woken up at the perfect time; otherwise, she would have had to manage this series of troubles all by herself, facing one danger after another. An extra helper meant a greater chance of success.
And frankly, she was very wary of the Empire's military power.
"Many of the mages absorbed by the Empire have been organized into a group called the Shadow Warriors. Although it's still in its nascent stages, its members are powerful. Be careful."
The silver-haired girl nodded, then continued to observe the intricate design of the vault with great interest. As for these potential enemies that had suddenly emerged, she would have to see them with her own eyes to make a judgment. Besides, if they were truly that powerful, they wouldn't have let the Seven Sages of Destruction run rampant.
Or, if they had the ability to stop the Seven Sages but hid their strength to preserve it, she would be very angry.
"Leave it to me."
"Yes, let's also test the power of the elven race while we're at it."
Miliardel laughed heartily at this, then noticed Frieren's astonished gaze as she asked:
"You now have a sharp, enterprising spirit, and even your mana has grown stronger. What happened while I was asleep?"
"Nothing special. I should be blaming you for falling asleep right after finishing off the Seven Sages. You have no idea how many people came to visit, drawn by your fame. They were here every day, it was so annoying. I had to receive them all. But I also took the opportunity to expand our operations for mutual benefit. By the way, they were also particularly concerned about the elves from the northern shifting sands, and even offered compensation..."
"No one cared when we first took them in," Frieren said coldly.
Correct.
"—People naively believe that the persecution of the weak should be a matter of concern. On the contrary, the weak cannot even convey their joys and sorrows, let alone their suffering."
"We must have power."
In a burst of inspiration, Miliardel pointed to the vast underground labyrinth. In her eyes, this was the starting line.
She had found a path forward—incredibly clear, incredibly firm, incredibly broad. And, of course, it had ignited her ambition.
Most importantly, she had a partner who supported her unconditionally, with the full backing of a Mage of the Mythical Era. The foundational conditions were sufficient. The key was in the execution, so she needed to think carefully and proceed step by step.
The turbulent headquarters of the Magic Association was the perfect stage for a test.
Frieren was also deeply moved; her friend's words had inspired her. Merely protecting their kin with strength was far from enough, and neither was training elven mages. They needed to establish sufficient influence, an area where Miliardel was exceptionally sharp.
When it came to grasping the pulse of the era and striking with precision, this drunkard's intuition was as sharp as a wine taster's palate.
"We can take our time with the thinking. I believe the most important thing is still magic. I'll go maintain the barrier tomorrow."
"Alright. For today, let's drink our fill."
Having voiced her troubles, Miliardel felt much more relaxed, returning to her carefree self. She threw an arm around Frieren's shoulder and began to drink heartily. She usually didn't drink so heavily, mainly because she was confident someone would carry her back.
As expected, the silver-haired girl could only accompany her for a few drinks before having to drag her friend's dead-drunk body back to the surface.
They were both very happy today, a rare moment of relaxation.
Even with the Empire stirring up trouble, it wasn't enough to switch Frieren from her vacation mode to a combat footing. The internal problems of humanity were nothing compared to the large-scale slaughter of the demon race.
Unless the common threat of the demon race was gone, intelligent people understood the principle of quitting while they were ahead.
And even if they didn't understand, she had plenty of ways to give them a harsh reminder...
The next day.
Waking from a hangover, Miliardel sat up in bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She recognized the familiar ceiling, though it wasn't her own home. That's right, it was Frieren's place. The two of them often visited each other, so of course it was familiar."
She had just sat up when the aroma of food wafted in.
Looking closely, she was surprised to see the silver-haired girl in an apron, serving breakfast, which steamed in the morning sunlight.
"Didn't you say you were out of ingredients?"
"So I got up early to go shopping. I made a little extra today, since you made me treat you yesterday but then got drunk all on your own."
Her tone carried a hint of teasing. Hearing this, Miliardel chuckled and scratched her head, then went to wash her face. The rare sense of daily life was nice; it had been a long time since she'd woken up and had breakfast somewhere other than her office.
To hell with all the mountains of paperwork and endless meetings. She would consider this a day off.
A moment later, Miliardel sat at the table, humming a little tune as she held her utensils, waiting quietly.
Only after Frieren had filled the table did the two begin to enjoy their meal. Surprisingly, despite having slept for so long, Frieren's cooking skills had not diminished but actually improved, increasingly resembling those of a master chef.
Little did she know, Frieren had also encountered plenty of delicacies in The Lands Between. Although they could theoretically survive without eating or drinking, their culinary culture had not been neglected.
"By the way, how have the barrier tests been lately?"
Before leaving last time, she had instructed that it was best to keep the barrier under pressure to test for the next direction of improvement.
"We've been using it as a training target."
Miliardel pointed towards the training grounds, where the sound of explosions erupted against the barrier's surface.
"Good idea!"
Extending her psionic perception, Frieren found the elven mages bombarding the barrier, treating this siege-breaking capability as part of their training. The firepower was so intense that it was actually causing ripples on the surface.
Despite being a specially enlarged barrier, it was showing a reaction to the long-term bombardment.
She was very satisfied with this result.
Even the strongest defense is rigid and inflexible. It was perfect for cultivating the offensive abilities of the elven mages. Using it as a target was indeed a great idea.
"Why didn't I hear anything yesterday? Or was it already over by the time I woke up?"
"It's not like there are huge explosions every day. Besides, the ones training in town aren't really the top tier. Since the demon attack, many elven mages have voluntarily joined the Magic Association. They are now mainly active in the north-central regions."
"That's for the best."
Frieren had always believed in cultivating talent through real combat. Without the tempering of war, they could never compare to demon powerhouses of the same level.
While fierce internal conflicts kept their numbers down, it also forged elite and formidable warriors.
Born for slaughter, they surpassed humans in intuition, willpower, experience, and skill. If she hadn't also been battle-hardened, she too would have been intimidated by the demons' ferocious style.
One couldn't expect an easy fight when using them as the hypothetical enemy.
Realizing the need to actively engage with the world and train was the first step for the elves to become stronger. Moreover, with many more safeguards in place now, accidents wouldn't happen easily.
To put it coldly, the elves, now with a normal population cycle, were no longer afraid of losses.
The town was once completely shrouded in the low desire of the "long-lived species' disease." Decades or even centuries would pass without a newborn elf. Every death meant one less, bringing them a step closer to extinction.
Now, the sight of children on the streets was not uncommon.
That was hope.
Perhaps it was due to the gathering of many elves, the frequent internal and external exchanges enriching their emotions, the safe environment providing peace of mind, or the anticipation for the future... In any case, things had become normal. A race with population renewal can survive.
Otherwise, what would it matter if Frieren defeated the demon race? They would still face the inevitable end of extinction.
Or she might have succumbed to mental illness from the depressing atmosphere before that.
Once a long-lived species falls ill, it's equivalent to spiritual death... In short, they had successfully avoided that bad ending. Now, the actively training elven mages represented a new vitality.
After finishing breakfast, the two headed to the far outskirts of town.
Compared to the past when a cleared patch of land served as a training ground, there was now a huge, crater-like arena.
It was about 20 meters deep with a conical structure, which not only reduced the spread of shockwaves but also demanded flight capabilities from the mages, otherwise they couldn't maneuver effectively.
RUMBLE!
They had just arrived when they saw a beam of Zoltraak flash by.
The anti-demon attack, adapted by Frieren from Zoltraak, was also evolving. Its speed and penetration were superior. In terms of this one spell, she would have to study to keep up. Indeed, the product of collective wisdom is what allows for constant innovation.
"Long time no see, Senior Frieren. Your mana seems to have grown stronger again?"
"The Vice-President has finally woken up. The branch has come several times during this period to invite you to give a lecture."
"The sense of security is back."
Seeing the familiar old face, the elves stopped what they were doing and gathered around to greet her, full of enthusiasm. Many of those training here were newly promoted mages, so calling her 'senior' in the field of magic was not an overstatement.
Everyone had always recognized Frieren as the strongest in town, but for the first few centuries, there was no concept of it, as there was no comparison.
Only after interacting with the outside world did they realize her value had actually increased. The town's foremost mage, famous for healing, was also a world-class powerhouse who could easily dispatch the Seven Sages of Destruction.
Therefore, it was better for junior mages to complete their training in town now.
It wouldn't be too late to venture out after they had accumulated some experience.
This also ensured the completion, survival rate, and legacy of elven mage training, preventing a gap between generations.
"Please, continue with your work. I'm just here to check on the barrier's maintenance."
With that, the silver-haired girl extended a hand and flicked a finger. A vast stream of mana flew into the air, instantly creating a halo and revealing blue ripples. The barrier was usually invisible, only materializing when its defensive state was triggered.
BZZZ!
The humming mana transmitted through the entire barrier. The ultra-large-scale defense, capable of enveloping the town, began to resonate, and everyone couldn't help but look up.
They relaxed after sensing the familiar mana signature.
It was probably just routine maintenance; no need to worry. With Frieren around, it wouldn't matter even if the barrier was gone. A Mage of the Mythical Era was herself the strongest Wall of Sighs.
At this moment, her gaze turned to the three massive glintstone chunks floating higher up.
They were intended for active interception.
Unfortunately, they weren't of much use during the demon attack. Their firepower should be improved... But, adhering to the principle of collecting user feedback, she first asked the elven mages about the situation:
"I think the barrier's hardness is sufficient, but it's a bit slow in isolating elemental conduction."
"Right, the main defensive focus should be on curses. If we have to make a choice, there's no need to change it. Defending against curses is the most important thing."
"Lady Adel's drunken aura can bypass the barrier, right?"
"I think the active interception magic could be strengthened, preferably with a large area of effect..."
Although opinions were varied and each had its own logic, Frieren listened patiently and considered countermeasures for each one in a flash of thought. She wasn't afraid of many problems, only of having none.
"I understand."
After a moment of contemplation, the silver-haired girl nodded.
On second thought, the focus should be more on isolating internal and external mana, which would consequently resist curses. In other words, isn't the principle a bit like the Barrier of the Shadow Tree, which also caused isolation to the point of preserving ancient magic?
The elven town's barrier had excessive strength; the priority was to ensure resistance to abnormal attributes.
With this in mind, Frieren immediately began to reinforce the barrier.
"Speaking of which, since the aroma from your brewing magic can pass through the barrier, does that mean your mana is stronger now? That level of absoluteness and priority is comparable to a curse. A pity its lethality is too poor."
"Who are you calling low damage? I haven't neglected my magic training, and I have a trump card, you know," Miliardel retorted.
To this day, her phase-shifting hunter form remains an absolute secret.
Besides Flamme and Frieren, all who had seen it were dead. In that beastly hunter state, her power was unfathomable.
During the last trip to Altus, she had mainly given the output opportunities to her teammates; otherwise, her power was not to be underestimated. More importantly, using unfamiliar mechanics against the mages of this era provided too great of an intelligence advantage, easily leading to one result:
A first-encounter kill.
Those few powerful demons who were defeated by Miliardel without understanding why are prime examples.
"Wait, you just reminded me. Why not add mental pollution to the barrier's defensive counterattack?"
"What dangerous thing are you thinking of now?"
The mention of mental magic sobered up the short-haired girl, who had been drinking since breakfast. Having suffered greatly from it, Miliardel had a psychological scar.
Being dragged into the 'hospitable' city of Altus by her best friend centuries ago was torment enough. Now, Frieren was thinking of adding a layer of mental attack reflection to the barrier. This was truly—absolutely wonderful.
Those scoundrels who attack the elf town should experience some mental anguish.
"Hurry up and do it."
Her eyes shining, she urged Frieren on. The latter's mouth twitched, and she turned back to continue studying the barrier.
The reason for this sudden idea to add a mental attribute was the same principle as the Barrier of the Shadow Tree. At first, people didn't even realize a piece of The Lands Between was missing, as if their memories had been tampered with. Later, Miquella even added a 'rough surface' to the barrier—another grand feat.
The latter was achieved with the power of a Great Rune.
The former must have relied on the true god Marika and the might of the complete Elden Ring. After all, it involved completely isolating and erasing a landmass the size of a continent. She couldn't do that before collecting all the Great Rune fragments herself.
However, there was no harm in conducting a similar experiment. The timing was perfect.
Frieren held up a ball of illusory mana in her hands, slowly applying it to the barrier, setting it so that any attack would likely trigger an illusion...
"Wait!"
"This can't be the Paradise-Guiding magic, can it?"
Miliardel wasn't the only one shocked; other elven mages had also witnessed the signature move of the Miracle of the Seven Sages, the strongest illusionist, and one of the curse magics—Paradise-Guiding. He died at Frieren's hands, and now she's even learned his magic?
What happened to curses being irreplicable and unique? First, it was the Goldenization spell, and now Paradise-Guiding has appeared.
"My illusion magic was already stronger than Grausam's. Integrating his magic isn't difficult."
A casual, ordinary sentence, yet filled with confidence, and it was no lie. Everyone had indeed witnessed how a mere Seven Sage's illusions were ineffective against her. The title of the number one illusionist had long since changed hands.
No one would dare underestimate the value of a city-scale illusion.
You are merely a curse.
But this is an existence on the level of a goddess's miracle, so powerful it easily overrode the characteristics of an unbreakable curse, thereby saving the entire elven race. Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire.
It's just that the title of number one illusionist is not worth mentioning for a Mage of the Mythical Era.
This often leads people to forget that Frieren is skilled in it.
Miliardel motioned for everyone to step back and warned, "Just continue your training. Don't try to perceive what's happening over here. You might hear some strange, vague whispers. Just ignore them. It won't take too long."
She knew very well that Frieren's collection of illusions was related to the Old God system and couldn't be used lightly.
That's why she was using the Seven Sage's Paradise-Guiding magic as a shell.
That's good.
Otherwise, using her own magic would ultimately still be a form of Old God contamination and unsafe. Adding an intermediate layer to empower the barrier was more stable, and could even throw attackers into an illusion.
In reality, after thoroughly dealing with the Old Gods last time, Frieren no longer easily leaked contamination. The key was practical application.
"Is the mind the breakthrough point for the Barrier of the Shadow Tree?"
Remembering how Miquella reached the Land of Shadow, she had a flash of inspiration. So Ranni's judgment that a spirit form could pass through easily was correct; it was a similar principle.
As for how to deal with the barrier? Most likely by burning it. The First Flame is a good choice.
It should work.
Frieren had used a sliver of the First Flame's power during her battle with Bayle the Dread. It was safe and controllable. Using it to burn the barrier in the future probably wouldn't be difficult.
Of course, she wasn't so audacious as to use an unconventional method just because she thought of one. She would definitely find the normal way to dispel it first before making a judgment. In any case, she had already made progress. The experiment on the elf town's barrier was enough to reverse-engineer...
Immersed in her experiment, Frieren completely lost track of time.
She began to work tirelessly, debugging, patching, and augmenting the barrier based on the feedback from the mages.
She couldn't have done this before. It's thanks to the massive amount of Runes she acquired during her journey in The Lands Between, plus the strengthening of the Omniverse and Swiftflame systems, which made her main body superior and able to output more power.
What she lacked was never potential.
But rather the threshold of "safely outputting mana" for her body as a vessel.
Otherwise, mixing a heap of energies and using them recklessly would not end well. But now, making small repairs to a barrier was simple.
Two days later.
The elf town was enveloped by an even larger barrier, easily encompassing the buildings that had expanded during this period, and even including a portion of the farmland. In extreme circumstances, they could be self-sufficient behind the barrier for some time.
On this day, Miliardel came to check on the situation as usual. After all, as the town's second strongest mage and the person who understood Frieren best, she had to keep an eye on things.
Fortunately, everything was normal.
And she could clearly feel that the silver-haired girl's aura had become more profound and restrained.
She guessed that while reinforcing the barrier, Frieren had also adapted to her new powers. She probably comprehended other systems during her slumber and was eager to experiment with anything—very much her style.
As she was thinking, Frieren ceased her mana output.
Coming to her senses, she realized she had expanded the area in the process. The commotion was not small; even the Water Mirror Demon had been drawn by the sound to stand guard. If any danger arose, it would also take defensive measures.
"Looks like everything ended smoothly," Miliardel said, handing her a bottle of wine. "Let's have a small drink to celebrate."
"Cheers."
The silver-haired girl's proactive gesture confirmed that she had made substantial gains.
"Since the Water Mirror Demon is also here, can you tell me if this situation counts as 'control'? If magic that uses the power of demons really exists, what would it look like?"
"You're that concerned about Sareytania?"
"Of course. In my view, once the elven population grows, our town will sooner or later become a city-state, a true magical nation. Just based on everyone's talent and organization. What are other competitors? We must investigate them thoroughly."
"I can tell you clearly right now: what I'm doing isn't true control over a demon."
Hearing this, Miliardel took a disappointed swig of her wine.
Although she had been chatting casually with her friend earlier, in reality, who could ignore the Empire's encroaching pressure? It had to be taken seriously.
"Don't worry, I'll go to the Northwind Fortress branch to ask around first."
How could Frieren let her childhood friend toil alone? The future development of the elven race was at stake and could not be compromised. In the past, they only needed to consider survival; now, with an established home, they also had to consider development.
To restrict them was to restrict their future. With no future, why would she speak nicely to you now? There was only one path left:
Go die.
In truth, from the very beginning, she didn't care about a pawn pushed forward by the Empire. Her sights were always set on who within the Empire was fanning the flames.
"You never told me who's been pulling the strings?"
_____
🔥 New stories are out! 🔥
📚 New story: Something is Wrong with Ash's Pokémon Journey
For some reason, our supervisor is missing. Take advantage of the 25% 'temporary freedom'! 🏃💨
✅ Read 40 chapters ahead on all series.
✅ Get exclusive content and updates.
Help us hit our targets:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 free chapter for all
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 bonus chapters (all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan