Aino was surprised by Parker’s sharp insight.

She had only been venting, casually throwing out the concept of a “Demon King,” a classic trope in otherworldly tales. Yet, Parker seemed to grasp it as though it were an epiphany, reacting with uncharacteristic intensity.

Dressed in his grand mage attire, Parker abandoned all decorum, sitting on the ground with his legs sprawled and arms stretched back to support himself. Tilting his head upward, he met Aino’s gaze.

“Master, what should I do? To be honest, I don’t think I have the strength left to handle this.”

Spreading magic among the people had been a revolutionary act, one achieved after monumental effort. But it also bestowed upon him a new title—“Saint.”

And what is a Saint? A human who uplifts humanity, rescuing it from despair, empowering the downtrodden to become warriors and magicians, and granting them status and opportunity.

Yet, do these same people oppose the enslavement of demi-humans?

If Parker were to once again defy historical norms and advocate for the abolition of slavery, the challenge would be far greater than spreading magic had been.

This time, he wouldn’t have the backing of the masses. Spreading magic was about rallying the lower classes against the nobility. Abolishing slavery, however, would pit him against the entirety of humanity.

And Parker knew himself too well—he wasn’t capable of such a feat.

“If the Demon King appears, I will…” Parker tilted his head slightly, using the brim of his mage hat to shield his eyes from the sun. He trailed off, unsure how to finish his thought.

“Relax,” Aino interrupted, her tone light. “By the time something like that appears, you’ll probably already be dead.”

“Oh, so it’ll take that long? Then I suppose it’s not my problem anymore.”

Aino, intrigued by the seemingly ornate mage hat, reached over and plucked it from Parker’s head. She cradled it in her hands, attempting to put it on herself. However, the hat was far too large for her small frame and slumped awkwardly, covering most of her face.

Parker couldn’t contain his laughter, breaking into a hearty chuckle at the sight of his master.

Her petite figure, her unchanging youthful appearance—she was exactly as he remembered.

Decades from now, when humanity reached unprecedented heights of power and a “Demon King” finally emerged, Aino would appear on the continent looking exactly as she did now.

Life and time were undeniably unfair. But when the gift of immortality was bestowed upon his benefactor, Parker felt no jealousy.

To him, living out his life as he had was more than enough.

“Master, when I die, could you do me a favor?”

The middle-aged grand mage, with a playful grin, spoke as if they were discussing mundane matters. The juxtaposition of his demeanor with his words was undeniably strange.

Aino removed the oversized hat and firmly placed it back on Parker’s head.
“Hmm?”

“Well, you know, I’m just an ordinary man. And while I admit humanity’s slave trade is wrong… if a Demon King does appear and innocent lives are at stake, I can’t help but think of the younger generation…”

“Humanity would deserve it. The Demon King’s appearance would be your fault.”

“But most people are innocent, and…”

Parker adjusted his hat and bent down to meet Aino’s gaze, trying to convey his sincerity.

“And isn’t that what you called ‘an inevitable trend of history’?”

Aino was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected Parker to turn her own words against her.

This old fool… he really hadn’t improved over the years. He wasn’t the obedient, bald-headed Parker of the past anymore.

With a swift kick, she sent him tumbling several meters away.
“You little rascal. All these years, and you’ve learned nothing useful.”

Still, she enjoyed adding a bit of “spice” to her long, uneventful life—whether it was intentionally preserving a magical mark or indulging Parker’s antics.

“Ha! If it’s too much trouble for you, Master, I’ll think of another solution,” Parker said as he dusted himself off with a cleansing spell and casually strolled back.

In truth, Parker felt deeply conflicted. He loathed bringing up such topics, especially when they sullied the reunion of old friends and tarnished the memories of their shared journeys.

But perhaps, as Aino had once mentioned, he had become a bit “obsessed.” He had started to see himself as a hero, carrying humanity’s fate on his shoulders.

He believed in the possibility of a Demon King. Despite humanity’s current prosperity, Parker, from his lofty position, could already see the cracks forming.

“I’ve heard the saying, ‘After me, the flood,’” Parker mused. “But I can’t live like that.”

Aino understood.

“Saint Parker, Saint Parker… you really are a saint. Even when it has nothing to do with you anymore.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Aino sighed like a seasoned mentor looking at her eager pupil. In the end, she gave a reluctant nod.

“Fine. If it comes to that, I’ll help.”

She truly couldn’t say no to him. He was an old man now, yet he still made that earnest face.

Parker’s eyes glistened. He felt he owed this small, unchanging figure far too much. From the moment she had chosen to take him on her journey, teaching him magic, she had given him everything.

“I can rest easy now. If Master takes action, the Demon King won’t stand a chance.”

There was one thing Parker left unsaid: the Demon King wouldn’t appear for hundreds of years. By then, it was probably still just a baby somewhere. And Aino? She had already been...

The conversation shifted, and the four companions returned to lighter topics.

For them, time held little weight. Alea and Parker had already achieved everything they could, leaving them without pressing obligations. As for Zola and Aino, they were content with their aimless wandering.

“Aino, want to visit Grantham?” Alea suggested with a grin.

“I just came from there. Besides, with how famous you two are, wouldn’t it be troublesome to visit crowded places?”

“A fan meetup?” Alea laughed. “No, we could use transformation magic. But since you’ve just been there, let’s forget it.”

“How about Caltha Shadowsong? We could check on those horned demons.”

A few days later, the four returned to Zola’s original tree form.

The scene mirrored their farewell decades ago—one man and one woman stood before the black-haired girl, listening as she offered parting advice.

“Alea, it’s fine to wear that veil, but don’t let aging make you feel inferior. Don’t be so fragile.”

“Parker, you’ve accomplished so much, but stay cautious. Watch out for assassination attempts…”

In truth, Aino’s words were entirely unnecessary. For Alea and Parker, they were little more than pointless warnings.

But pointless didn’t mean unwelcome.

As they parted, Parker discreetly handed Aino a small box, calling it a gift. Then, as if fleeing, he hurriedly dragged Alea away, leaving Aino and Zola behind.

“Well then, goodbye, Zola,” Aino said with a wave as she stepped out of the forest.

Standing alone on a flat plain, she finally opened the box Parker had given her, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

Inside lay a vibrant green gemstone, radiating a holy aura.

This was the Star Spirit Gem, the only material capable of healing wounds inflicted by the Seven-Star Sword—the legendary weapon of the dragon-slayer hero, Aestrelia.

The gem was rare beyond measure, stored alongside the sword in a heavily guarded human sanctuary. Parker’s decision to gift her such an item spoke volumes.

Aino stared at the gem, her expression twitching slightly.

“Holy... box!”