Hearing the prompt, Shichen's hands, which were tying Frieren's twin tails, paused, but then continued to move.
His hands didn't stop, but his thoughts became active. He hadn't expected that touching hair would count as skin contact.
Or rather... Shichen's gaze shifted downwards, glancing at the spot where his knee touched Frieren's outer thigh.
This might be more likely.
But then he remembered something: when he woke Frieren up earlier, their contact also exceeded one minute, so why was there no prompt?
Was it because she was sleeping that it didn't count?
Shichen remembered what that thing in his mind had said about trust issues. Was it easier for her to show her trust in him when she was awake?
There's no need to dwell on this too much. He wouldn't touch Frieren while she was sleeping... at least not for now.
"Shichen, aren't you done yet?" Frieren suddenly asked, feeling sleepy.
"Almost," Shichen replied, coming back to his senses and smiling. "Are you hungry?"
"Is there a problem?" Frieren couldn't help but rub her flat stomach.
"No, I'm happy you said that."
As a chef, what he liked most was when people looked forward to his cooking.
"Then hurry up, my stomach is rumbling."
"Almost done."
Shichen quickly tied Frieren's twin tails, then left the room with her and went outside.
The aroma outside was even stronger. Frieren went to the pot, leaned slightly, and sniffed the aroma at the pot's edge.
"This smells like mushrooms?"
"You actually smelled it," Shichen said with a smile, walking over and removing the pot lid.
Immediately, the aroma wafted over.
Frieren took a deep breath before looking into the pot, and her expectant expression immediately fell.
"What is this? Mushroom porridge? This is too plain, isn't it?"
"What kind of feast do you expect first thing in the morning?" Shichen rolled his eyes at her.
"Then why were you being so mysterious..."
"At least it's not rabbit soup."
"Alright..." As long as it wasn't related to rabbits, Frieren was willing to accept it.
"But where did you get this rice?"
"Master brought it back and saved it before."
"Didn't you say you didn't have any earlier?" Frieren frowned, looking at Shichen.
Shichen chuckled, "I just hid it."
"What? You hid it! Making me eat rabbit meat for so many days?" Frieren got angry.
"There's only this much. If you finished it early, wouldn't you still have to eat rabbit meat? And isn't rabbit meat delicious?"
"Eating too much gets tiring! And it's different, you're lying to me!"
"So many words? Do you want breakfast or not?"
"Yes..."
"That's more like it."
Shichen smiled and carried the entire pot into the house, enjoying breakfast with Frieren.
After breakfast, Shichen went out to find food again, while Frieren stayed home, cultivating magic.
With Frieren's magic, he could actually get more food, but Shichen simply didn't think of that.
After all, although he couldn't use magic, his physical fitness and stamina were good. With such good conditions, he definitely had to hunt himself.
Work with your own hands, and you'll have plenty of food and clothing.
That day, Shichen didn't return for lunch but came back near dusk, bringing back a lot of food.
He was leaving soon, so he planned to hunt more prey in the next few days to stockpile food for Frieren.
She was so lazy that if he wasn't there, she would definitely just make do, as long as it filled her stomach.
Despite being so greedy.
In that case, he also needed to make some cooked food that wouldn't spoil easily and could be eaten on the go.
Dried rabbit meat would be good.
Frieren didn't complain about Shichen returning late. She had finished her cultivation long ago and had slept until Shichen returned.
If Shichen didn't cook, she would rather lie still than eat, unless she was really starving.
The next day, Flamme still hadn't returned, and Shichen and Frieren continued their two-person life as before.
Shichen really wanted to say goodbye to Flamme. If she hadn't been willing to take him as a disciple, he wouldn't know what would have become of him in this world.
Shamelessly following the two of them was basically impossible. If they wanted to shake him off, they could just fly away and disappear without a trace.
At that time, he would truly be without help.
Perhaps that thing in his mind would guide him to find fragments, but it was uncertain if he could find them within a month.
However, it was also possible that the time limit wasn't a month; the thing in his mind seemed very eager for him to collect the fragments quickly.
Was it in such a hurry to make him a god?
...
Shichen's luck was good. On the evening of the fourth day, Flamme returned, bringing a special item.
A glowing sapling.
"Master, what is this?" Shichen asked curiously, going up to Flamme as she held the glowing sapling seed.
"This, it can guard our home," Flamme replied with a smile.
"Our home?" Shichen blinked.
"Just this fragile thing?" Frieren also walked over.
"Don't underestimate it," Flamme shook her head. "When this guy grows up, it can definitely protect this place forever, even after a thousand years."
"A thousand years? Master and Shichen won't be here anymore, right?" Frieren said calmly.
Frieren was an elf, a long-lived species. A thousand years might be insignificant to her.
Shichen smiled without speaking, but Flamme looked at her gently: "But Frieren, you're different."
"I can't live here forever either."
"Even so, you will definitely return here. When you are confused, come here to find answers."
"Really?" Frieren was indifferent.
"Master, hurry and plant it, then we can eat together. It's been a long time since we ate together."
"Okay." Flamme nodded with a smile.
The sapling was planted on the dirt slope next to the small house. When it grew, it would probably envelop the small house and protect it well.
That night, Shichen made a hearty stewed rabbit soup. Everyone enjoyed it except Frieren.
Because she didn't enjoy it much, Frieren went back to her room to sleep after eating. Although she was the oldest, she was the most childish.
Shichen and Flamme watched her retreating figure, shaking their heads with amusement.
After Frieren entered the room, Shichen's smile faded. Looking at Flamme, he said, "Master, can I tell you something later?"
"Oh? You can," Flamme nodded with a smile.
Then Shichen cleared the dishes and went outside with Flamme.
The sky had been invaded by night, the moon hung in the night sky, and stars dotted the blackness. The dazzling night seemed very mysterious.
It was very suitable for a confession.
Shichen walked a short distance away from the small house before stopping. Flamme came to his side and stopped with him.
"Shichen, what do you want to tell me?" she asked proactively.
Shichen looked at the sky and replied calmly, "Master, I plan to leave for a while."
"Leave?"
"Yes, I want to find a way to learn magic."
"Is that so? Then go ahead," Flamme said with a soft smile.
"Huh? Master is just letting me go like that?" Shichen tilted his head, looking at her in confusion.
"Why? Don't you want to go?"
"I kind of don't... but I have to."
"Then isn't that enough?"
"Hmm... Master, at least try to keep me. Why do I feel like Master doesn't care about me?"
"You're my disciple, how could I not care... even if you're a bit mediocre."
"Master, isn't that last part a bit redundant?" Shichen couldn't help but complain, "I can't help it."
"Hehe~ I believe you will definitely find a way." Flamme looked at Shichen, her smile gentle.
"Master has so much confidence in me?"
"After all, you're not ordinary."
"Master..."
"It's alright, you don't need to confess to me. I just need to know that you willingly consider me your Master."
Flamme reached out and patted Shichen's head, then said, "The first time I saw you, I felt your extraordinariness. You have a special aura about you... it's very magical. At that time, I actually felt that you were even more powerful than my Master."
"Master's Master?"
Shichen naturally knew of that person.
"She's very powerful." Speaking of her Master, Flamme was a bit proud: "I'll take you to meet her if there's a chance in the future."
"Okay."
"Aren't you going to tell Frieren?" Flamme asked again.
"I'll tell her tomorrow."
"You're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Then I, as your Master, can only wish you good luck."
"Thank you, Master."
The next day, Shichen simply told Frieren that he was going to hunt in a more distant place to get her some good food, and then he left.
Since he could come back, there was no need to be completely honest with her.
Frieren didn't suspect anything and was even happy, finally not having to eat rabbit meat.
Shichen didn't bring anything. After getting away from their home, he entered the forest and then completely disappeared.