Denken/Relationships

## Relationships

### Lektüre

Denken and Lektüre were childhood friends and distant relatives. They would play together a lot, and eventually got married as they grew up. Due to Lektüre's frail body, Denken didn't try to have children with her to avoid any further strain on her health. He loved his wife and stayed by her side every day until she finally passed away. He still misses her and recalls her fondly, and his desire to honor her memory drives many of his actions, such as taking the First Class Mage Exam so he can visit her grave, and restoring the Golden Land once he realizes the place in his memories with Lektüre hadn't changed at all.

### Glück

Glück was Denken's guardian after he lost his parents. He housed the young Denken and had him learn magic under Macht. Later when Denken married Glück's daughter Lektüre their relationship stayed healthy and they mourned Lektüre together when she passed.

### Macht

Denken hated Macht for being a Demon, but ironically Macht was also his mentor who taught him magic. Macht told Denken that he would make him strong enough to defeat any demon and and that he may be capable of killing him one day. The time they spent together became beneficial for Denken as he knows his master very well, which enabled him hold his own despite being old when he fought Macht in the Golden Land. After a long struggle, Denken finally succeeds in defeating Macht by piercing through his heart, as Macht was distracted after seeing the Fortified City of Weise return back to normal. He eventually finishes him off in front of Glück.

### Laufen

Denken and Laufen were paired up in the first stage of the First Class Mage Exam. He cared about her safety and scolded her for being reckless during the exam. Denken seems to cherish Laufen greatly as he never had any children or grandchildren. He treats her as a surrogate grandchild and spoils her. After the exam, he will often buy her treats such as donuts and treat her to meals.

### Richter

Denken and Richter were paired up in the first stage of the First Class Mage Exam. Denken dislikes Richter's willingness to kill for his goal and disagrees with Richter's reasoning for taking the exam. While Richter is taking the exam for the utilitarian purpose of attaining Serie's privilege, Denken does not care as much about the privilege, as he believes that the greatest joy is found in the pursuit of magic itself. When Richter threatens to kill Kanne and Lawine, Denken admonishes him and tells him to just babysit them, as killing is unnecessary to pass the exam. Despite Richter's impertinence and Denken's higher ranking, he does not respond to Richter's instigations, as he recognizes in Richter traits that he himself possessed when he was young. After the second stage of the First Class Mage Exam, Denken visits Richter in his shop and leaves Richter with the parting advice that in three years time, Richter will be far stronger.

### Lernen

Denken and Lernen are old friends who have known each other for over fifty years. They came from different backgrounds but they got along and are still friends to this day. When Lernen lost his position as an Imperial Mage, Denken argued strongly against this decision, but Lernen told him to let it go.

### Frieren

Like many mages, Denken admires Frieren and quickly took the opportunity of challenging her in the First Class Mage Exam. However, he would rather have her as an ally than to seek a fight with her. After being promoted to first-class mage, he thanks Frieren for her help during the exam and tells her that he will be able to visit his wife's grave. Frieren helps him return the Fortified City of Weise back to normal following the defeat of Macht, and Denken remains very grateful to her.