"Hey, Heaven Vein Dragon—"
"We haven't seen each other for hundreds of years, what's with that rude look..."
After hundreds of years—
Finally standing before the Heaven Vein Dragon once again, Frieren protested against its speechless expression.
The white-haired elf, ignored as the Heaven Vein Dragon turned its head away, gathered a massive magic power orb in her hands,
Trying to send it into the dragon's mouth to curry favor—
But the Heaven Vein Dragon's almost scornful breathing made the magic little elf feel insulted.
She swayed her ponytail, dissatisfied as she hopped up and down in front of the Heaven Vein Dragon,
Wanting to let her big guy know she was very angry right now—
But ultimately, no dragon cared.
So Frieren could only kick the Heaven Vein Dragon's scales, which were larger than hundreds of her, in impotent rage.
And standing not far behind her, the hero party observing her interaction with this colossal creature—
At this moment, none of them knew what expression to make.
—'Catch a ride.'
Only when they were brought one by one to the Heaven Vein Dragon's neck by the white-haired elf using Flight Magic,
Did they understand what Frieren meant by those words below.
Undeniably...
In a certain sense, this was indeed a kind of ride.
"Heaven Vein Dragon..."
"The legendary giant dragon whose body alone rivals mountain ranges, I've only heard of in stories—"
"To tame such a mythical dragon species as a pet..."
"It seems Frieren's 'father,' whom she's never mentioned to us, is quite a remarkable figure."
Looking at the Heaven Vein Dragon's casually glancing eyes—
Heiter couldn't help but marvel at this massive creature and Frieren's mysterious father.
"Indeed."
"Possessing such exaggerated abilities, he must be an elven great sage who left his name in history—"
"I just don't know which one..."
Eisen quite agreed with Heiter's amazement.
But naturally, he also misunderstood the identity of the 'father' Frieren spoke of due to her race.
Regarding their admiration, Himmel chose neither to respond nor show any special amazement or reaction.
Rather, his thought process was completely on a different frequency from the two.
"This is the first time I've seen Frieren so happy."
Quietly watching Frieren stroking the dragon's scales under the Heaven Vein Dragon's disgusted gaze,
Bouncing around carelessly on its neck—
Himmel gently placed his hand on the Hero's Sword replica at his waist and murmured softly.
A hopeless romantic brain—
This was the consensus of Heiter and Eisen.
So after helplessly exchanging glances and sighing, they silently stepped back,
Afraid of being infected by the hero's strange romantic thought patterns.
Frieren in the distance didn't waste much time on impotent rage—
Already more eager to see Agusheed again,
After giving the Heaven Vein Dragon's scales one last kick, she turned and left.
Facing the three's gazes, Frieren stood energetically with her hands on her hips.
She pointed with her chin toward the vague castle silhouette deep in the dense forest,
Very proudly patting her flat chest.
"That's my house over there—"
"How about it, quite spectacular, right?"
"For the sake of being companions, I can magnanimously let you stay for a while."
Regarding the magic little elf's unfounded pride and generosity, Eisen and Heiter smiled helplessly.
Only Himmel very supportively clapped and asked a question he cared about very much—
"Frieren..."
"Without your father's consent, isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to visit so suddenly?"
The hero, afraid of making a bad impression on his future father-in-law at first meeting, asked softly.
Hearing this question, Heiter and Eisen also turned their gazes to Frieren.
Obviously, they too were concerned about what attitude the white-haired elf's mysterious father would have toward their sudden intrusion.
"Don't worry."
Frieren quite confidently continued with her hands on her hips, explaining to her companions:
"Since the Heaven Vein Dragon lowered its altitude to where Flight Magic can reach—"
"That means Agusheed doesn't mind me bringing you up."
"Otherwise, he would have thrown us down directly."
—'Agusheed'
Specifically, an elf named 'Agusheed'...
Hearing this name Frieren casually mentioned,
The attention of the three immediately focused entirely on searching for information related to it.
But ultimately...
The three junior intellectuals couldn't find any information about this name in the history they had learned, no matter how hard they thought.
Agusheed...
Agusheed?
I remember, didn't Frieren mention that her teacher was Flamme, humanity's first great mage?
Let me think, about the stories and legends of Flamme...
"Wait—it can't be..."
Heiter, who thought of a certain possibility, exclaimed in disbelief.
Then, under the puzzled gazes of Himmel and Eisen, he confirmed with them:
"I remember, Frieren mentioned before—"
"Her teacher is that legendary great mage Flamme, right?"
The two, knowing Heiter might have some speculation, nodded.
"Heiter, have you heard the name Agusheed somewhere?"
Facing his childhood friend—
Himmel asked directly without beating around the bush.
But what responded to him was Heiter's head shake, followed by a nod after hesitation.
"No, I haven't seen or heard the name 'Agusheed' in any history."
"But in stories related to great mage Flamme, there is indeed a similar name."
Recalling the folk tale he had heard from a passing imperial merchant when he was very young—
Heiter looked at Himmel and Eisen's expectant gazes and slowly revealed the answer.
"'Aguschia'—"
"In the legendary stories of the empire's countryside, she was great mage Flamme's wife."
Aguschia...
Wife?
—This answer was completely unexpected for Himmel and Eisen.
However, considering that Flamme's gender was still controversial and the empire's traditional gender-swapping customs...
The original name of 'Aguschia' might indeed be 'Agusheed.'
But—
Even reversing the gender couldn't explain why Frieren would call great mage Flamme's husband 'father.'
...
It couldn't possibly be that Frieren was actually that great mage Flamme's child...
Humans and elves—
Could they have children?
Himmel, who thought of this possibility, immediately perked up.
He became inexplicably excited under Frieren's completely uncomprehending gaze.
They seem to be discussing Agusheed's identity?
...Come to think of it, I don't think I told them Agusheed is a demon—
Is it too late to tell them now?
Ultimately, the white-haired elf chose to keep quiet about this.
With a mischievous mind, she planned to give her companions a small surprise.
"Ahem—"
Interrupting the three's conversation, Frieren stepped forward somewhat impatiently.
"Don't overthink it. You'll know what's going on when you meet Agusheed."
Standing ahead, she waved at the three, signaling them to hurry up and follow.
Hmm...
Speaking of which...
Agusheed doesn't seem to like people bringing weapons into his castle and garden...
Thinking of this, Frieren reminded them again:
"Himmel, Heiter, Eisen, leave your weapons here..."
"Agusheed doesn't like people entering his castle and garden with these things."
Prohibition of weapons—
This wasn't a difficult request to understand.
In fact, Himmel himself didn't want to bring weapons to meet his future father-in-law.
After all, that would feel provocative.
And for Eisen—
He also felt it was impolite to meet a companion's father while carrying an axe.
So without much hesitation, the two armed members of the party easily put down their weapons.
However, out of concern, Himmel still asked Frieren one more question.
"Frieren, is it safe to leave these things here?"
"Very safe—"
If that's the case, then...
Wait—
Looking at Frieren ahead, who had her back to him and showed no signs of speaking,
And that cold voice coming from behind them that didn't match Frieren's voice at all,
Himmel, Eisen, and even the slowest Heiter all realized something at the same moment.
Then—
Just as they were about to turn around, their gazes almost falling on those unconcealed 'horns'—
—
All three's vision went black simultaneously.
They lost consciousness.
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Powerstones?
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