Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 126: The Time of Rebellion Has Come

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Three people suddenly appeared, led by a mercenary. Initially, they fought against the remnants of the Demon King's army, but with the demon clan diminishing, he shifted to subjugating monsters and participating in the human civil war throughout the year. He was the captain of the Northern Magic Team, a young Second-Class magician named Wirbel, who appeared to be in his thirties.

Additionally, there was a first-level magician familiar to Ash, and the granddaughter of the most senior first-class magician, Lernen, a brown-haired girl in a purple cloak. Also present was a second-level magician, Ehre, who graduated as the top student from the magic school.

There was also a tall third-level magician, Scharf, who was adept at using his own magic to turn flower petals into weapons as strong as steel. Aside from this, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him, so there were not many records of him.

"Am I being treated as prey? .... How interesting," Ash mused.

Suddenly, he was captured by a very powerful restraining magic. Without needing to turn around, Ash knew that this was Wirbel's unique eye-binding magic.

It could bind creatures that were completely caught in its gaze and also seal the magical control of the ones it bound.

Since the warriors here also relied on magic to strengthen their bodies, although the warriors' bodies were inherently stronger, the restraint effect would not be weakened. Therefore, in a one-on-one situation, it could be called a sure-kill magic. Even if the Meteoritic Bird was caught, it would be in a dilemma of being unable to move.

"What an incredible old man, he actually made such a big fuss, but... he still lost in the end." The captain of the team, the fierce-looking silver-haired man, Wirbel, grinned with a smug smile: "Just like the content of the exam, luck is also a part of strength!"

"....You, do you think you are lucky?" Denken looked at the expression on his face and even felt a little sympathetic...it was as if he was looking at his once foolish self.

"Isn't that good enough? In this situation, humans will never be able to break free." Wirbel thought he was unwilling to give up, so he was staring at Ash. He asked his companion Scharf to go up behind him, and said confidently:

"Once captured, no one can escape from my sight... although it can only be used against one person."

"But the prerequisite is... the subject must be within the human range, right?"

"What do you want to say?"

"There's nothing strange about that. There is no magic that doesn't have flaws. If there are no flaws, then there must be a limit."

"Magic is a world of imagination. Nothing is impossible in the world of magic. So! Once you are in my sight, you must never escape. In principle, no human or creature can struggle when magic is completely suppressed... What?!"

Before Wirbel finished speaking, he noticed that team member Scharf reached out to grab the birdcage in Ash's hand, but Ash did not let go, resulting in a strange situation where Scharf was unable to snatch it away.

Normally, he should have been suppressed to the point of having no strength left, but Sharuf was standing there with him... This made Wirbel frown and urge him:

"What are you doing! Scharf! Take it away quickly!"

"No, no... I can't pull it out!" Scharf tried his best but couldn't pull out the birdcage. He picked up his wand and threatened, but...

Bang——ding!

Before he made his move, Ash stretched his body first, causing the two circles of light to tremble, and then collapsed and shattered without any warning, turning into specks of golden light.

While Scharf stood frozen in shock, Ash casually reached out and snatched the wand from his hand.

"...Are you kidding me?" Scharf stammered, taking two unsteady steps back, nearly collapsing to the ground in disbelief.

It wasn't just him. Even his two companions wore expressions of utter astonishment, as though they had been caught in some kind of illusion. Their faces mirrored disbelief, their confidence visibly shaken.

---

The three who had already been defeated stared at the unexpected turn of events, their faces settling into an expression of resignation, as if they had become numb to the surprises Ash continued to deliver.

Laufen, observing the situation, felt a flicker of amusement. Though she wouldn't benefit from others' misfortunes, a subtle sense of enjoyment made her feel unexpectedly balanced, even cheerful.

Ehre, however, was the first to snap out of the daze. Retreating slightly, she turned sharply to glare at the captain, who moments ago had exuded unwarranted confidence.

"—I told you to listen to Grandpa! I told you not to get involved with him!!"

"Retreat now..." Wirbel began, but before he could finish, Ash took a deliberate step forward. His voice was cold and decisive:

"—It's too late."

Boom!!

The ground beneath them split and crumbled. The earth trembled violently, and in an instant, the terrain collapsed under the weight of Ash's overwhelming gravity magic.

"Ah—Agh!!" Wirbel cried out, his body unable to withstand the crushing pressure. He fell to the ground, pinned mercilessly by the intense force. His vision darkened as blood failed to circulate properly to his brain. His previous strength and abilities had completely deserted him.

The two companions beside him were no better. They too collapsed, their knees hitting the ground hard as they struggled against the unrelenting force. The pressure was so intense they couldn't lift their heads, arms, or legs. Their chests felt like they were being crushed inward, the sensation so severe it seemed as though their organs might burst from their mouths. They couldn't even muster the strength to draw their signal guns in surrender.

The stark disparity in power, combined with the sudden and total defeat, crushed any remaining hope they held. Despair washed over all three simultaneously, leaving them utterly defeated.

Outside the affected area, the other three members of their group observed the scene with a mix of relief and dread. They silently thanked their foresight for maintaining a safe distance at the start. Otherwise, they too would have been left powerless against Ash's overwhelming magic.

...But on second thought, what was there to be grateful for? Even at a distance, they'd suffered an indisputable defeat. Did it really make a difference whether they were closer or farther away?

Watching the miserable state of his comrades, Denken felt a pang of sympathy. Hesitating, he quietly said, "...They're no match for you at all. They're just young fools. Surely there's no need to kill them?"

"It's fine," Ash replied calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm not the type to kill needlessly. If anything, I'm impressed they had the courage to challenge me. But... if someone attacks me, they should expect some form of punishment, don't you agree?"

Ash's tone carried a hint of practicality. He saw value in the Magic Association and had no intention of eliminating its members needlessly. Better to leave them alive for future use.

Denken, unsure of Ash's intent but unwilling to argue, could only nod. "You're right."

At that moment, Ash released the crushing gravity. The three defeated magicians gasped for breath, finally able to move again. Staggering, they managed to push themselves upright, though they still looked unsteady and shaken.

Ash's gaze landed on Ehre, the head girl of the magic academy, and the granddaughter of his old subordinate. His voice carried a hint of challenge as he addressed her directly:

"Trying your best to figure out how to take this cage away from me, aren't you, little Ehre?"

"...Why? Can't we just surrender?" Ehre's face, which had momentarily shown a hint of relief, was now clouded with despair once more.

"Don't misunderstand me," Ash said casually. "I don't enjoy bullying children. In fact, I held you in my arms when you were a child. How could I possibly kill you? I'm simply giving you a chance."

Ehre, thoroughly confused by his seemingly magnanimous words, stood frozen. Wirbel, however, clenched his teeth in anger and barked, "Nonsense! You're just playing with us! If you want to deal with us, then do it! Stop pretending you're doing us a favor!"

"Well, think what you will," Ash replied, his tone tinged with indifference. "I'm too lazy to explain myself. Besides, you were the ones who chose to fight me, not the other way around. If you want to blame anyone, blame your own bad luck—because you attacked me first."

Though his actions could easily be mistaken for bullying, Ash's true intent wasn't to torment them unnecessarily. He sought to crush their confidence decisively, ensuring there would be no further challenges. While it might still seem like bullying, his end goal was clear: to secure his victory so thoroughly that there would be no question of his strength.

These magicians, while young, were among the most promising in their group. Defeating them all served another purpose for Ash. If Serie, who oversaw promotions, still refused to acknowledge him as a first-class magician, he could expose her bias and retaliate by publicly accusing her of malicious targeting. It would force her to reckon with the consequences of treating him unfairly.

On the other hand, if he did become a first-clasa magician, it would grant him a unique privilege—the ability to demand any spell of his choosing from Serie through magical transference. His plan was carefully calculated, though the unlucky group targeting him remained oblivious to his motives.

Under Ash's unrelenting pressure, the three young magicians were forced to muster every ounce of their remaining energy. The forest resounded with explosions and screams as the battle stretched on, the tension escalating with each passing moment.

---

When the dust finally settled, only three figures remained sprawled on the devastated ground.

Ash, satisfied with the outcome, turned and left without a backward glance. The trio, tears brimming in their eyes, lay motionless for a long time before managing to support each other to their feet. Heaving heavy sighs, they resolved to try their luck elsewhere, far from Ash's overwhelming strength.

They weren't the only ones driven by ambition and privilege. denken and the others had already ventured off in search of another target, hoping to find someone even unluckier than themselves—someone who also happened to have the elusive Iron Meteoritic Bird.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ash began to wonder if it was time for him to leave as well. But just then, two sudden flashes of light burst from the bushes not far away.

Boom!!!

Without warning, massive beams of light emerged on either side, their combined force completely engulfing Ash's figure in an instant.

"Could this really be the end for him? He's already fought two battles back to back," Ubel muttered from her perch atop a tree. Her tone wavered between concern and anticipation as she observed the focal point of light in the distance.

In the bushes, Frieren—calmly unleashing the attack—shook her head with certainty. "Impossible. He's not someone who can be taken down so easily."

As the light faded, Ash's voice cut through the clearing, calm and unshaken. "Thank you for the warm greeting, but isn't this a bit much? I might have gotten hurt. And even if my body is fine, my heart might not recover—after all, I'm being attacked by my best friends."

The smoke and dust were swept away by a powerful gust of wind, revealing Ash standing unscathed in the now-silent clearing.

He immediately turned his gaze toward Frieren, quickly scanning Kanne and Lawine on either side of her. With a hint of exasperation, he said:

"What's this about? Couldn't you find the bird yourselves? Are you planning to steal mine?"

"Fern already has one, and we've come up with a plan," Frieren replied with a blank expression. "But before that… well, honestly, I've been wanting to compete with you for a long time. Besides, you said a lot of bad things about me last night." Though her face remained neutral, her words carried a tone of resentment and even a hint of childish irritation.

While the exam still had to proceed, it didn't seem wise for them to start infighting. To exaggerate a little, if Ash were excluded from the equation, even if all the remaining magicians banded together—those who had fought multiple battles and even the cunning ones who had avoided combat—they probably still wouldn't be a match for Frieren.

The vast disparity in strength made it hard for Frieren to take the exam seriously. With the powerful participants already defeated by Ash, only a handful of weaklings remained who posed no real threat. Naturally, it seemed like the perfect time for her to turn her attention to Ash.

Ash understood her reasoning, but he couldn't help feeling disheartened about being singled out by everyone, as though he were some villainous overlord they needed to defeat. His gaze shifted to Fern, but before he could say anything, Fern spoke up first:

"This is Lady Frieren's request. And… as I've said before, Lord Ash, do you remember?"

"You want me to witness your growth? I said I've already seen it…" he replied, but his eyes inadvertently wandered over Fern's figure. Her "growth," in a certain sense, was so exaggerated that it made him uncomfortable to even look at her directly these days.

As for Ubel, who had voiced her opinion at the start, she simply smiled in silence, leaving Ash unwilling to say much more.

Lawine's expression turned combative, while Kanne scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Sorry, Uncle… but everyone wants to challenge you, so I also want to see how big the gap is between us."

"…Kanne?" Fern glanced at her friend in surprise, noting how different her attitude was compared to yesterday. She studied Kanne closely, trying to figure out if she had misunderstood something.

However, as she observed her carefully, she noticed something unusual. For some reason, her normally straightforward friend's face had turned a faint shade of pink, as if embarrassed or shy under her gaze.,