Chapter 122 – The Once-Great Archmage
"Ah… that single word—'No'—pierced my heart like an icicle."
Gaia Meek, son of Archer Meek, lowered his head dramatically, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"Ah… Flamme…"
"How could someone as warm and gentle as you be so merciless toward my earnest invitation…"
"Earnest invitation?"
Flamme shot back coolly.
"From where I stand, this looks far more like a trap woven from lies."
"Enough talk. We still need to reach the southern relay station. This is where we part."
"Young Master Gaia, please step aside."
Gaia gazed at her, unmoving, his guards blocking the doorway behind him.
From somewhere, he produced a violin and set it delicately upon his shoulder.
"Flamme… Though I am untalented—barely competent even in the music I love…"
"I will never forget that you were the only one who ever said you enjoyed my performance."
"From that moment on, I knew it—Flamme, you and I are destined for one another!"
Flamme inhaled slowly, fighting the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes.
Back then, she had merely offered polite encouragement when he was feeling down.
He had taken it seriously.
Now, the hopeful and fragile look in his eyes left her momentarily at a loss.
"Flamme, who knows how many years will pass before we meet again after your journey south…"
"Let me play for you once more~"
The violin began to sing.
Frieren instinctively scratched her head.
Then she glanced at Robin. His blank expression confirmed her thoughts.
…This?
It was ordinary. Slightly off-key at times.
Was there anything praiseworthy about it at all?
Or did Teacher Flamme simply have… unconventional taste?
And why…
Why did the melody feel a little—
She turned her head and saw Elias.
His expression was strained.
She could even see the tension in his jaw, teeth clenched tight.
Heh.
Frieren smirked inwardly.
So even he couldn't endure it?
But in the next second, the smile froze in her eyes.
Because atop Elias's head—
Demon horns were slowly emerging.
Magic.
There was something wrong with the melody.
—Snap!!!
Frieren secretly used an invisible cutting spell to sever the violin strings.
Flamme sensed it too, just as Gaia sighed dramatically:
"Alas… the strings broke before I could reach the climax…"
"It seems even the Goddess cannot comprehend my feelings…"
"Very well, Flamme. Go. It seems we are fated… yet not destined!"
At those words, a weight lifted from Flamme's chest.
But suddenly, Elias stepped forward, thoughtful.
"Young Master Gaia, may I ask… where did you learn that melody?"
Gaia lifted his head gloomily.
"Leave me. My heart is dead. I have nothing more to say."
Elias shot Flamme a pointed look.
She returned one that clearly meant absolutely not.
He insisted with another.
So this was serious.
Flamme relented.
After all, she had also sensed the mana woven into that tune.
"Young Master Gaia, your performance was indeed… captivating. It left a deep impression on me."
Gaia's head snapped up, eyes sparkling.
"Flamme! So you truly liked it! Praise be to the Goddess!"
Suppressing the crawling sensation across her scalp, Flamme continued:
"I am also curious. Where did that particular melody originate?"
"It was taught to me by an elven musician from Amber City in the South. I begged him to teach me a piece!"
The air in the room shifted.
Amber City.
An elven musician.
And a melody laced with mana powerful enough—
To stir even a Great Demon's true form.
The moment she heard the words "elven musician," and recalling Elias's strange reaction, Flamme's gaze turned cold.
"Thank you, Young Master Gaia. We'll take our leave now. Please take care of yourself—and of the city lord."
"—Flamme! Didn't you say you liked my performance? Why are you leaving again?!"
This time, Flamme didn't even look back. She walked straight out, leaving Gaia reaching after her.
"Wait! At least let me send cavalry to escort you to the southern relay station!"
---
Escorted by Meek family cavalry, the four of them headed south. Each seemed burdened with thoughts, yet none spoke a word.
It wasn't until deep into the night, after arriving at the relay station and bidding farewell to the cavalry, that Frieren could no longer hold it in.
She sealed every door and window with magic, careful not to let a single sound escape.
"Teacher Flamme, Elias—you both noticed it, right?"
"That Young Master Gaia wasn't playing ordinary music. It was some kind of magic!"
"—Correct."
Elias replayed the scene in his mind.
"The moment he began to play, I felt a brief but distinct restraint. And then… my human disguise failed."
"If Frieren hadn't reacted quickly and cut the strings, my demon identity would've been exposed."
When he finished, he studied Flamme's resolute expression.
"Flamme. You already have a theory, don't you?"
"—Yes."
She nodded.
"If I'm not mistaken, the 'elven musician' Gaia mentioned is none other than the former Great Mage—Brutus."
Frieren blinked.
"There was someone like that among the Great Mages? I've never heard of him."
"That's because Brutus became a Great Mage a hundred years ago. I wasn't even born yet. I only know of him from stories Teacher Serie told me when I was young."
"Then why is he called a former Great Mage?"
"Because Teacher Serie personally revoked his Holy Staff Certification."
Flamme recalled Serie's words and began recounting Brutus's life.
"Without question, Brutus was a genius. Especially in the 'melodic magic' he created."
"With nothing more than a flute, he once controlled every monster within a trial ground…"
"Even Teacher Serie hadn't anticipated something so astonishing."
"So Brutus earned the title of Great Mage entirely on the strength of his own ability."
Hearing this, Elias lowered his head thoughtfully.
"An elf… using music… to control monsters… I see. That would certainly leave an impression."
Frieren leaned forward eagerly.
"What happened after that?"
"According to Teacher Serie, Brutus was… difficult. He disliked cooperation, often defied orders, and preferred to act alone."
"Over time, the monsters he controlled grew stronger and stronger. Naturally, that began to alarm other human mages."
"Teacher Serie has always valued talent. The fact that he could control demons and use them to slay other demons only made her admire him more."
"Until one day…"
"Brutus trespassed—on his own—into the tomb of the Great Demon, Yunsol."