"I was just worried you'd go straight for the one in charge. Though you could certainly reach him, you haven't thought about killing him, have you?"
"You wouldn't kill him, right?"
Frieren coughed and said sternly, "Don't make me out to be some violent brute. As long as I can smoothly resolve this offensive from the Empire, I'm willing to end things peacefully. It's better for everyone."
Miliardel gave her a highly skeptical look but didn't press the matter further.
As a fellow elf, she had no standing to object. Besides, the stories they grew up with always included the option of force. The most fundamental rule of the world is violence, after all; it's just well-hidden.
"The Empire's court mage, Barke, is advocating for the association's absorption. He's a stubborn and powerful man, cunning and calculating."
"He should be acting as the negotiator with the association's headquarters now."
"Mm."
The silver-haired girl nodded silently without any extra comment. She just committed it to memory. Assessments heard from others are always insufficient. It would all become clear once they met, and she would make her judgment then.
Moreover, she also leaned towards using the elves' influence to resolve the problem flexibly.
"Speaking of which, for many countries, 'court mage' is more of a title, lacking real authority. But Barke seems to have mobilized a considerable amount of resources."
"The lower limit of a powerful person's authority is determined by their position; the upper limit is determined by themselves. And this fellow has performed very well. Exceptionally talented in his youth with outstanding military achievements, he gained His Majesty's deep trust after joining the court and single-handedly established an army of mages. He's quite capable."
"Does he have any special magic?"
"Does magic that can compress mana count? Its explosive power is said to be immense, especially since the user has solid fundamentals. It sounds a bit plain, but his combat record is glorious."
"I'll remember that."
Human talent is not to be underestimated. Even the long-lived races must regard it with a humble and reverent heart.
What's more, heroes often emerge from their ranks—exceptionally gifted individuals, the kind seen once in a century. Many great demons, despite years of training, are no match for them. Otherwise, the human frontlines would have collapsed long ago.
Just as the two were chatting, a group of elf mages hurried over.
"As expected of you, Senior Frieren. To have strengthened the barrier again, and so quickly."
"If there's a mental attack, it really does feel like a kind of corruption… Never mind, I won't test it. Let whoever dares to attack get the headache."
"Could you teach us barrier magic?"
"—It's not just about barriers. You can ask me about any magic you don't understand. That's why I'm here."
Frieren answered immediately.
The inherent magical strength of the elven race itself is the strongest bulwark. Fortunately, this was a concept she didn't need to popularize. A lesson taught by reality is learned in an instant, and the demons had attacked more than once. Everyone felt a great sense of urgency.
So she was more than happy to answer their questions and resolve their doubts. Upon hearing this, the younger generation's eyes lit up.
Unlike the elf mages who were already at a certain level and active outside, most of those who resided permanently in the village were young and inexperienced, their studies focusing on the basics.
Therefore, Frieren found teaching them to be quite smooth.
It wasn't like her public lectures on cutting-edge magic research, where the audience would often look completely bewildered. If not for Flamme's 'translation' and simplification, their initial study of attack and healing magic would likely have been even more arduous.
Without the information filter provided by a direct disciple, even teaching magic becomes more troublesome.
Frieren cast aside her stray thoughts and began to focus on her kin's questions. Although they were varied and peculiar in their own ways, they posed no challenge to her; it was all just basic magical knowledge.
She also pulled Miliardel along to hold a temporary class with her.
Don't be fooled by the drunken elf's usual boisterous and unreliable demeanor; her magical talent is also first-rate. She just doesn't apply her mind to it.
In contrast, her business acumen is on another level entirely.
Of course, teaching the apprentice-level juniors was a piece of cake; many of their questions were ones she herself had once encountered.
The two of them answered questions together, unexpectedly turning the scene into an open-air classroom, with occasional magic demonstrations. Streams of mana from different elements flowed with dazzling colors, like a dream. This demonstration lasted for an entire day…
Evening.
The apprentice mages finally waved a reluctant farewell and returned to their respective homes.
Judging by their expressions of reverence, it was clear that the two strongest mages in town were the goal everyone strived for. Frieren's level, in particular, was something one could spend a lifetime chasing. There was no need to look far afield to the Magic Association; their hometown's teaching faculty was already more than sufficient.
Miliardel flopped onto the grass and let out a long sigh.
"That was exhausting. How is it that I've gotten busier since you came back? I thought you'd share the load a bit."
"Are you not happy about it?"
"It was amazing! Exchanging ideas on magic with you always leads to endless new discoveries. It's obvious you've found a ton of new spells, haven't you?"
The silver-haired girl offered a rare, proud smile and nodded.
This journey had yielded three new types of abilities—the hundred Aspects of the Crucible, the Frenzied Flame, and the power of Dragon Communion. Naturally, she had integrated them all into her complex and all-encompassing system. Anyone familiar with her would be able to spot some differences.
This aura of growing stronger gave Miliardel an even greater sense of security. It was the ultimate support.
Even though her power was already terrifyingly high, she continued to advance relentlessly. Plateaus did not exist for her. Her future potential was immeasurable, perhaps even rivaling the gods.
"I've been so busy these past few days I didn't even notice. The town is so brightly lit at night now," Frieren said, a little surprised.
An orange-yellow glow rose from the horizon.
Warm light illuminated the silhouettes of the town's buildings, which remained brilliant even after the sun had set. The streets were bustling with traffic, and the cries of merchants and peddlers were endless... the night had its own beauty.
In her childhood, she remembered the night always being accompanied by the danger of magical beasts.
Now, the new generation of elves probably no longer had the habit of resting at sunset. They had a nightlife now.
That was good.
Back then, Frieren had felt that ending a day's activities as soon as the sun went down was too monotonous, but she never imagined it could become this prosperous. Looking up, the stars were brilliant, stretching out with the shadows of the forest, unfurling a magnificent scroll painting.
As the clouds and moon spun together, it felt as if she were in a giant hemisphere, where heaven and earth were vast, and all things operated within.
"What? Feeling sentimental?" Miliardel raised her wine bottle. "Have a drink. Maybe you'll get inspired and compose a poem for posterity."
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Huh? Not staying a little longer? No one's rushing you."
"I need to go to the branch to understand the situation first, and then rush to headquarters. The sooner, the better."
It was precisely because the elven town had developed to its current state of prosperity that it should be cherished all the more. She had built this lively place one step at a time, through life-and-death perils, and it had to be protected.
Beside her, Miliardel put down the wine bottle and nodded. "Then I wish you a safe journey."
Since Frieren's mind was made up, there was no stopping her. It was better to just say farewell. This time, she would likely accomplish something great again.
Northwind Fortress.
The light of dawn shone upon the city walls, casting a brilliant glow on the town at its feet.
The site of a former battlefield against the demons had become land for urban expansion. The population was thriving, presenting a picture of prosperity. Many people rose early to do laundry or hawk their wares, and recently, smoke from cooking fires rising from the horizon served as the best navigational beacon.
Thanks to the booming business of the neighboring elven town, the nearby Northwind Fortress had become an ideal transit hub. Many merchant caravans had to pass through here to rest.
This led to the lively scene of people from all over coming and going.
Wien loved watching the scenes of the marketplace.
Ever since he resigned as commander and handed over his main duties to his eldest son, he had entered a state of semi-retirement.
Setting up a deck chair in front of the city gate and sitting there all day was quite nice. The old man's simple appearance made it hard to associate him with the legendary warrior of great renown; at most, one would only notice he was quite strong.
At this moment, Wien let out a yawn, feeling that he had woken up too early and wasn't quite alert.
But he couldn't fall back asleep.
In the past, he could fall asleep anywhere, even catching a nap during a lull in the defense on the battlefield. Now, even the crow of a rooster at dawn felt jarring, making sleep impossible.
"You've lost a bit of your vigor, but you haven't neglected your training."
He couldn't help but follow the sound of the voice, only to see an elven girl with twin tails in a white traveling cloak, her beauty unchanged, perhaps even a little taller.
"What an honored guest. Vice-Chairwoman Frieren, have you finally remembered your official duties?"
Upon hearing the title, the guards on either side hurriedly bowed in respect, but Wien waved them away. He knew she disliked pomp and circumstance; it was better to get straight to the point.
The elven concept of time often made them seem indifferent, but when they did take something seriously, it was bound to be important.
Trivial matters were not worthy of a Mage of the Divine Age's attention.
"I came to have a look."
Her thoughtful expression suggested it was more than just a casual look; it was simply not something to be discussed in public. Thinking this, Wien stood up, straightened his collar, and said with a warm smile:
"Northwind Fortress has changed quite a bit. Would you like me to show you around?"
"That would be wonderful."
The two walked side-by-side through the city gate, and gasps and greetings immediately came from the street. After all, Frieren's statue was within the city, so she was instantly recognizable. Though she might not appear for months at a time, no one would forget her image.
She had long since left an indelible mark on the world. As long as she remained active, her legend would be passed down.
The crimson soil and pale red flowers before Northwind Fortress, as well as the meteorite craters in the Labyrinth Kingdom and the Elf Forest, all spoke of a living miracle. The caster would become as renowned as Serie for a thousand years.
However, the passersby did not approach to disturb them.
A respectful nod from afar was enough. They assumed the Vice-Chairwoman had important matters to attend to and should be given space.
Frieren, meanwhile, focused her gaze on the increasingly crowded streets.
The sides were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, bustling with activity. Even the smallest carriage had to squeeze through the throng of people, and it was all filled with various kinds of food and drink…
A bit annoying.
The silver-haired girl couldn't help but show a weary expression. It seemed the level of development in the elven town was about right. Any further, and it would inevitably lead to big-city problems. Even among the human kingdoms, such a bustling scene was rare; their experience in governance was still insufficient.
"Please excuse the sight. I like crowds, but it's true that we should properly expand."
"With the city walls, expansion must be difficult, right?"
"We'll tear them down in the future."
"Oh?"
"I believe an era of peace will eventually arrive, and it's not far off. The demons will never again be able to penetrate deep into our heartland and reach the central regions." Wien looked directly into Frieren's eyes and said, "Most importantly, you will protect us, right?"
"As long as you invest more in the elven town, protecting a neighbor in the process is no problem."
"When did you develop a mind for business? Is that Lady Adel's influence?"
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Meeting again after so long, the former comrades-in-arms were in no rush to discuss official business. Savoring the ever-changing Northwind Fortress was also nice; this place had witnessed the rise to fame of the Mage of the Divine Age.
Unfortunately, after walking for only half a day, Wien sat down to rest at a fruit stall, panting with sweat on his brow.
He supported his back and smiled brightly, "I sprained it once before, and my stamina isn't what it used to be. Don't be fooled by the fact that I still have some muscle; it's all for show."
"...Is this what it means to grow old?"
Although Frieren had teased Miliardel about being old, as elves, they both knew they were immune to aging. Only humans were fragile.
Just a few years ago, he was a powerful warrior who could cross swords with the Water Mirror Demon.
Back then, it had copied a portion of her own power. Even holding it off alongside Flamme was enough to be called a top-tier warrior. For that to have such a short shelf life was truly a pity.
"If you hadn't gone on that expedition to the Labyrinth Kingdom, would you have aged more slowly?"
"Not at all. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable."
Wien still had a shadow of his old, carefree, joking self, but the hero was in his twilight years. The weariness in his brow could not be concealed, the wrinkles grew more numerous, and a few age spots now hid in the folds of his dry skin.
Only in this moment of exhaustion did he finally exhibit the frailty appropriate for his age, unable to escape the loss of his life force.
Frieren sat down beside him and bought a few apples, leaving a large tip as compensation for the temporary disturbance. However, the stall owner refused it and even brought them chairs.
"You two just rest well. I can do business here thanks to you. It's I who should be helping."
Then the stall owner turned and went back to his work.
"I originally thought we'd be able to team up again one day."
Human fragility exceeded her expectations. She hadn't thought that after just a short while, Wien would have grown so old.
Hearing this, he gave a wry smile. "Don't trouble these old bones of mine anymore. The reason I train is to die smoothly, not end up paralyzed by a serious illness. If I just pass away in my sleep one night, that would be a blessing from the Goddess."
Frieren didn't know how to respond and fell silent. She had never experienced the aging of someone she knew well; it was completely foreign.
It was rare.
In the few worlds she had experienced, there was always a plethora of half-dead beings. In reality, she almost exclusively interacted with elves and had no concept of aging.
To be honest, at first, she hadn't even realized Wien's condition was old age.
She only felt that despite his strong physique, he couldn't retain his life force. It was strange, and she almost thought it was some kind of curse. It was only when he started panting at the slightest exertion that she understood: these were the marks of time.
"Let's not talk about this. Let's get to business. A letter from Flamme arrived just yesterday."
"It was supposed to be transferred from the fortress to the town, but since you're here, I'll give it to you now."
She quickly took it and opened it.
Because there was no way to confirm if her master was awake, she could only write about recent events like a diary. Of course, she also mentioned the Empire's recruitment offer…
_____
🔥 Check out the new story releases! 🔥
📚 New story: Something is Wrong with Ash's Pokémon Journey
Psst... We took a 'bite' of 25% off the price. Get it before it recovers! 🤫🍎
✅ Unlock a 40-chapter backlog for ALL my series.
✅ Receive exclusive content and regular updates!
Help us reach these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 universal bonus chapter
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters for ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan