Chapter 35: Apprenticeship to the Omniscient One: The "Surprise" in the Promised Forest
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Ash might not have known many other demons personally, but he had definitely heard of the one standing before him. This was no ordinary demon. He was the Demon King's confidant and the second-in-command of the demon clan, the great demon known as the "Omniscient"—Schlacht.
Like Frank, Schlacht also had the ability to predict the future.
Schlacht was an impatient individual. Upon seeing Ash begin to understand the current situation, he spoke directly, as he was accustomed to dealing with people who could foresee the future. Nodding slightly, he said:
"Next, I will teach you the future magic from a thousand years ahead. Do you have any questions?"
"Uh... no, wait a minute. Frank actually has demon friends?"
"No, he and I haven't met yet. We've just come to a tacit understanding on certain matters. Teaching you will benefit both humans and demons, so he and I have both decided to help you."
"Nominate me to be the Demon King? A coup?" Though Ash said this, he didn't hold much hope in his heart.
Schlacht shook his head, his expression unchanged. "I will not betray the Demon King."
"...It seems like they're training the next generation?"
"That's a different matter. This is preparation for the death of the current Demon King."
"Preparation for the Demon King's death? Is that true? You people who can see the future... are all a little abnormal, aren't you?"
Ash couldn't help but feel a mix of envy and helplessness toward those who could see the future. He simply couldn't comprehend what was going on in their minds.
Preparing a new Demon King in advance was unprecedented for demons. Normally, demons only cared about their own interests and didn't consider things like succession plans. The next Demon King was always someone who clawed their way to the top, through their own strength.
"...You'll understand in time," Schlacht replied, closing his eyes as if to avoid further discussion. "But for now, you should accept me as your master."
"Wait, shouldn't we at least negotiate some conditions first?"
"Humans have a limited lifespan. Even if they avoid death, they can only see a hundred years into the future, at most. But I can see what will happen a thousand years from now. I've already seen your future actions. There's no need for you to worry."
"...What will I be like in the future?"
"If I tell you, it may cause new changes. Are you sure you want to know?"
"...Let's just forget it."
...
Even though Schlacht came off as a cold guy, Ash couldn't shake the strange feeling of talking to someone who could see the future.
Especially when the other party made no attempt to hide the fact that they had seen the future and had probably had similar conversations with him before.
Dealing with people who could predict his every move made Ash feel like his life was being planned out for him, as if by powerful parents. It was unsettling.
But he understood why these two had chosen him. If his life could proceed without any major hurdles, he wouldn't have any complaints.
Well... maybe a few complaints.
For instance, if someone else were to be reborn, they'd likely be surrounded by a harem of beautiful companions in their teens. After decades of hard work, they'd either be fighting or training with them.
But since Ash's rebirth, the people around him were all strange—either loli-like (Aura), older women, super-old elves, or uncles.
The closest girls to him had been the concubines in the emperor's harem nearly a thousand years ago... and they were wives, not exactly "decent" girls he could relate to!
Thinking about this made him want to beat his chest and stomp his feet in frustration. Schlacht, noticing his mood, merely glanced at him before walking ahead.
"Stop thinking about weird things and move along."
"Huh? Wait, can you read my thoughts?"
"I can't, but I know you better than you know yourself. Whatever it is, it's probably something trivial."
"...Where are we going?"
"To the training ground you used to visit. There, I'll teach you killing magic, and later, a more advanced defensive magic that will evolve six hundred years from now. Of course, these come from the demons, and only we can wield them perfectly."
Schlacht made no effort to hide anything and directly explained that the killing magic he would teach came from the corrupt sage Qual of the great demon clan.
It was simple, efficient, and practical, which was why humans eventually cracked it, imitated it, and finally adapted it into their own form of magic, turning it into "ordinary attack magic."
However, the difference in the bodies of demons and humans meant that demons' magic was inherently stronger. The "ordinary attack magic" humans used couldn't compare to the demons' "killing magic." The gap was purely due to their physical differences.
Still, none of this was a problem for Ash. Schlacht only had one condition—he was not to teach this magic to anyone else.
The reason behind this condition wasn't entirely clear. Perhaps Schlacht feared that his vision of the future would be disrupted, or maybe he had other concerns. Either way, Ash didn't care too much and agreed.
Thus, the following days became a repeat of their usual routine, not much different from the past.
...
Ash wasn't sure exactly when he had turned into such an ascetic.
Compared to Frank, Schlacht seemed colder, yet he was incredibly serious when it came to teaching.
Aside from their magic lessons, there was little to no conversation between them. They didn't even eat together, as Schlacht, always wearing his mask, would find a secluded spot to eat alone.
"...Are all demons like this? I don't know... this guy feels so strange." Apart from Aura, whom he had raised, this was his first time communicating with a demon in such a personal way, and he found it hard to understand Schlacht's behavior.
And just like that, three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Ash had planned his route in advance and arrived at the agreed-upon place, Grobe Forest, at the scheduled time.
However, shortly after reaching his destination, Schlacht, who had accompanied him the whole way, disappeared without a trace. He left without any words of farewell.
"...This guy, no matter how you look at it, is just too cold."
Even though Schlacht had always been distant, they had spent three years together, and Ash couldn't help but feel a bit of regret at such an abrupt parting.
But his sadness only lasted a moment. He stepped into the forest, not expecting much, prepared to encounter another grumpy elder. However, an unexpectedly familiar figure appeared before his eyes.
An elf, clad in a gray cloak over a simple white dress, with long silver hair, was crouched down lazily in the bushes, picking something.
When the elf noticed his gaze, she turned her head instinctively. Upon seeing him, she froze in place as if she had seen a ghost.