đź“Ś Disclaimer: This version offers an enhanced English translation of an already-translated fanfiction but now reworked for clarity and style.
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Over a thousand years before the Sin Era.
The Unified Empire Period, Imperial Territory—
When the carriage carrying two people slowly crossed rivers and mountains.
Emerging from dense forests, it leisurely traveled along a small path through vast plains.
Having traversed this world for five hundred years as a "Great Demon," Agusheed.
For the first time, laid eyes upon the city known as the "Imperial Capital"—
[Eisberg]
A magnificent city, nearly matching the grandeur and beauty of ancient ruins.
Yet all of this failed to stir even a ripple in Agusheed's heart.
"Finally seeing the Imperial Capital again..."
In complete contrast to Agusheed.
The red-haired woman sitting beside him propped her chin on one hand, seeming somewhat expectant.
"The news of Grand Mage Furame's return must have spread by now. My students have likely been waiting for quite some time."
She spoke to herself, glancing sideways at the silent Agusheed.
His expression remained as impassive as ever, thoroughly disappointing.
"Aren't you going to show some anticipation? Perhaps one of my students might see through your disguise."
Furame's smile was rather mischievous, clearly finding amusement in such a scenario.
"That's impossible."
Agusheed paid no heed to Furame's words, even finding them laughable.
"Aside from His Majesty the Demon King, Seri Ai, and you as Seri Ai's disciple,
No other mage in this world can see through my disguise magic."
Furame didn't argue with Agusheed.
She simply maintained her smile:
"Agusheed, underestimating my disciples will lead to regret..."
Agusheed's expression remained calm as he observed the magical fluctuations emanating from the distant capital.
"If you believe they can accomplish what even the 'Decayed Sage' and 'Omniscient One' failed to do, then I'll wait and see."
Furame didn't continue the argument.
She stretched lazily, shifting to a more comfortable position against Agusheed.
Agusheed frowned, checking the time by the sun.
"Didn't you just wake up?"
"Can't I go back to sleep after waking?"
Unable to counter Furame's near-bratty logic,
Agusheed could only let her continue lounging lazily.
From leaning against him to lying down with her head on his lap, Furame looked up at Agusheed's unchanging expression and sighed with a wry smile.
"What a dull man."
Furame closed her eyes, listening to the wind across the distant plains, murmuring:
"An entire decade... what a long journey."
"Long? It's only been ten years."
"If you hadn't insisted on detouring to the empire's southern borders both coming and going, it would've been even shorter."
Hearing Agusheed's offhand remark, Furame chuckled softly.
"True... merely ten years..."
"What seems an eternity to me is probably just an insignificant fraction of your endless lifespan..."
Agusheed didn't grasp the deeper meaning behind Furame's words, simply answering truthfully:
"That's exaggerated. It's at least one fiftieth."
"Only one fiftieth?"
Rather than taking offense at Agusheed's literal interpretation, Furame feigned surprise.
"Agusheed, your future will likely stretch beyond anything I can imagine..."
"Perhaps."
"What a perfunctory answer..."
"Even if you say that, I can't give a better response. I truly don't understand human emotions."
Though long aware of this fact, Furame showed no disappointment.
After a quiet moment, just as Agusheed's attention began drifting to the scenery, she suddenly spoke:
"Agusheed, I want to tell you I've fallen for someone."
Agusheed merely paused briefly before nodding slightly:
"Who?"
Hearing this predictable response, Furame chuckled quietly:
"Such an oblivious man..."
"What do you mean?"
Then came silence.
Both fell quiet, as if unsure how to continue the conversation.
After a long pause, Agusheed finally broke the silence:
"You've been acting strange lately, Furame."
His words made Furame turn over where she lay on his lap.
"How so?"
Counting on his fingers, Agusheed began listing examples from memory:
"After our narrow escape from 'End' and leaving the [Heavenly Realm], you were depressed for a while..."
"But ever since I mysteriously passed out for days at the Goddess Monument in the Kino Mountains due to [Goddess Magic]—"
"You've become unusually cheerful, happier than when we found the [Heavenly Realm]."
Agusheed's words made Furame open her eyes.
Lying prone on his lap, she swung her legs up and down rhythmically.
"So what are you asking?"
Agusheed didn't beat around the bush, asking directly:
"Did something happen during those days in the Kino Mountains that changed your attitude?
Or is human emotion simply this fickle?"
His question drew a soft laugh from Furame, as if surprised by the nature of the inquiry.
After brief consideration, Furame didn't answer immediately, instead countering:
"Which possibility do you think is more likely?"
"The former."
Furame closed her eyes again, ultimately choosing to lie:
"Wrong guess. It's the latter."
"Agusheed, you really don't understand humans."
"For humans, surviving near-death calls for optimism..."
Furame stopped swinging her legs, rocking gently side to side.
"Besides, surviving an encounter with the Demon King is cause for celebration, no?"
Hearing Furame mention the Demon King, Agusheed gave a rare sigh.
"You have some nerve saying that, Furame..."
"You nearly got me killed by His Majesty too."
"He even decreed I'm forbidden from setting foot in 'End' for a thousand years."
"I never expected to encounter the Demon King at the northern edge of the continent..."
Furame's tone held no trace of remorse.
"Who could've guessed he'd choose to build his Demon King Castle there?"
Agusheed had no rebuttal—he could never win arguments with Furame.
Or more accurately, he had no desire to argue with her.
Perhaps five hundred years ago, when he first arrived in this world as a demon, he still possessed such emotions.
But now...
Agusheed turned to gaze at the surrounding plains.
Now...
He couldn't even remember his own name or face from his previous life.
Let alone those so-called emotions.
During five hundred solitary years as a demon, he'd forgotten nearly everything except magic.
Sensing Agusheed's shift in mood, Furame rolled onto her back again.
Looking up at Agusheed's completely human-like face:
"Do demons ever feel troubled?"
She asked.
"All living things experience joy, worry, and anger, no?"
Agusheed neither confirmed nor denied.
"What about 'love'?"
At Furame's abrupt question, Agusheed placed a hand on her forehead.
After confirming she wasn't feverish, he responded flatly:
"More fanciful notions. Demons don't possess emotions like 'love'."
"Concepts like 'loving' and 'being loved' would take a thousand years to comprehend."
Agusheed wasn't exaggerating.
When he first realized he was losing his human emotions, he'd tried recovering them.
But centuries later, not only had he regained nothing, he'd lost even more.
Furame said nothing, merely adjusting her head's position on Agusheed's lap.
"How much further to the capital?"
"At this pace, perhaps two more hours."
Surveying the distant city, Agusheed roughly estimated.
"So long still..."
Furame murmured softly, then reached up to poke Agusheed's cheek.
"What?"
"I want to see flower fields."
"But you can't see any from here, and there aren't any nearby."
"I want to see flower fields."
"Give me a break, Furame..."
"I want to see flower fields."
"My magic isn't for indulging your whims whenever you want flower fields—"
Preparing to refuse Furame's unreasonable request, Agusheed looked down.
But meeting her expectant gaze, he ultimately sighed.
"Last time."
Agusheed extended his right hand.
[Magic to grant earth properties to the body]
[Magic to allow objects to pass through clothing]
And—
[Magic to conjure flower fields]
Watching as flowers instantly bloomed across his body, Furame laughed softly when he placed his now-flower-covered hand before her eyes.
Last time, he'd also said "last time."
So gentle—
"You really... don't seem like a demon..."
Reaching up, she slowly plucked the mirror lotus blossom that happened to bloom over Agusheed's heart.
For a fleeting moment, Furame wished time could freeze—
Just like... the meaning behind this mirror lotus blossom...