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In the early morning, everyone stepped onto the mountain path leading to the nearby Village.
The mountain path was not difficult to walk, as the frequent passage of people made it flatter than some of the more remote areas within the Village.
The air was fresh, and mountain birds occasionally chirped and flew over their heads.
Everything seemed peaceful and harmonious.
"Are there really demons?"
Fern asked strangely.
After all, everything looked too normal.
"The villagers wouldn't prank about something like this."
Passing a fallen tree blocking the middle of the path, Yulian stepped onto it and extended his hand towards Fern.
"But, apart from being a bit quiet..."
"It doesn't seem any different from the mountain paths we usually walk."
"It's even easier to walk."
Fern reached out her hand and easily stepped over the tree with Yulian's help.
She followed Frieren, who was ahead.
"The fallen tree should be blocking and warning the villagers not to approach."
Frieren heard Fern's quiet murmur and turned back to explain.
"So that's how it is."
Fern gently lowered her head.
She accepted the idea that demons indeed existed and simultaneously raised her guard.
"Rustle~"
A sound came from the bushes.
"Ah!"
Fern, who had just raised her guard, was startled.
Yulian and Frieren also quickly surrounded Fern to protect her.
They looked seriously at the bushes beside them.
"Squeak?"
A grey wild rabbit poked its head out from the bushes and looked at the three people with curiosity.
"Fern..."
"Relax."
Yulian sighed in relief, stepped forward to chase the rabbit away, and felt a bit helpless.
"Sorry..."
"Mr. Yulian..."
Fern followed behind the two with her head down, feeling very disappointed.
"I feel Fern has too little practical combat experience."
Frieren turned her head and spoke to Yulian.
"After all, as you saw..."
Yulian spread his hands.
"As soon as there's any rustling, the two of us surround Fern to protect her."
"Mm."
Frieren responded softly and also lowered her head to think.
While this was certainly caring for Fern and worrying about her getting hurt, It also undeniably affected Fern's growth...
"Perhaps if there's an opportunity, we can appropriately let Fern train..."
Frieren raised her head, her gaze firm, looking like she had made a decision.
"With a Phantom Ghoul?"
Yulian frowned.
That was a highly dangerous existence.
Anyone with even slight mental issues might not be able to escape unscathed.
Not to mention Fern, who was a third-rank Mage, there were countless cases of even second-rank magic users dying after encountering a Phantom Ghoul.
Fern fighting a Phantom Ghoul?
Yulian would certainly not agree.
"No..."
Frieren shook her head.
"I'm talking about if there's an opportunity in the future."
"Alright then..."
"In that case, I completely agree."
Yulian sighed in relief, but suddenly found that the two people beside him were gone!
"Brother Yulian..."
"I miss you."
A pleasant, familiar, yet strange female voice sounded behind Yulian.
Yulian's heart suddenly trembled!
Nico!
Yulian looked back and saw a small figure emerge from the mist.
Nico was wearing a thin dress, her figure swaying in the gentle breeze, as if a gust of wind could knock her over.
Her eyes revealed a sense of helplessness and confusion, as if she had lost her way.
"Brother Yulian, I'm so scared."
Nico's face was pale, her lips slightly trembling, as if she was enduring some kind of pain.
Yulian even saw Nico's hands clenched tightly together, her knuckles turning white from the effort!
"It appeared, the Phantom Ghoul."
Frieren expressionlessly raised her staff.
The figures of Yulian and Fern behind her had disappeared, replaced by the handsome blue-haired young man in front of her, looking at her with a smile.
"Frieren, long time no see."
Himmel looked at Frieren, his eyes filled with deep, yet strongly restrained love.
This was profound love.
There were a thousand words he wanted to say, but in the end, they only turned into a greeting like old friends meeting.
"I thought it would be Master."
Frieren's lips curved into a faint, indifferent smile, and she aimed her raised staff at Himmel in front of her.
But she delayed in striking.
"Strike, Fern."
Heiter smiled kindly.
He had many things he wanted to say, but in the end, none of them came out.
"Heiter... Grandpa..."
Tears welled up in Fern's eyes.
The staff in her hand was clearly aimed at the phantom of Heiter created by the Phantom Ghoul using memories, but Fern couldn't bring herself to strike.
"Brother Yulian, it's so dark and cold in the ice coffin..."
"I'm so scared, Brother Yulian."
Tears welled up in Nico's eyes, but they didn't fall.
"Nico!"
"I'm coming right now!"
Yulian gritted his teeth, fiercely wiped away tears, and was about to step forward.
"No, Brother Yulian!"
Nico smiled, and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.
"I believe Brother Yulian will come for me, but definitely not now."
Nico lowered her eyebrows.
"I'm leaving, Brother Yulian..."
"You still have things to do, you shouldn't stop here..."
Nico's figure turned into a bubble and disappeared in front of Yulian.
The thick fog dissipated, as if waking from a dream.
Yulian stared blankly in the direction where Nico disappeared, falling into silence.
Nico was gone.
Instead, a Phantom Ghoul wearing black tattered pants and skirt, with a pale face and long white hair, stood quietly there.
"Bang"
A terrifying sound exploded like thunder!
"How annoying..."
Frieren looked at the Phantom Ghoul that had turned to ash and gently lowered the staff she was holding.
"Heiter... Grandpa..."
Fern bit her lip, staring blankly at the empty space in front of her.
Otherwise, it would still have to be Frieren.
Yulian sighed helplessly.
Among the three, only Frieren hardened her heart and struck.
"Did you see Heiter?"
Frieren walked to Fern's side and gently smoothed Fern's wind-blown hair.
"Mm."
This time, Fern didn't dodge, but just lowered her head and responded softly.
"I'm sorry, Mistress Frieren."
Fern said, biting her lip in shame.
"I didn't do what I promised you."
"It's alright..."
Frieren gently patted Fern's shoulder.
She recalled the scene when she first saw Flamme created by the Phantom Ghoul.
It seemed she was also like this; even when Flamme had already called out to strike, she gritted her teeth and didn't.
"Didn't that guy over there also not strike?"
Frieren's lips curved slightly, and she looked at Yulian.
"Mr. Yulian didn't strike either...?"
Doubt filled Fern's large purple eyes.
If even Mr. Yulian didn't strike... perhaps her own actions could be understood...
"I..."
Yulian hesitated to speak.
"Mm."
Yulian's expression was a bit downcast.
"Saw Nico?"
Frieren naturally noticed, and immediately walked to Yulian's side, stood on her tiptoes, and started patting/rubbing Yulian's head.
She also mumbled things like "It's okay..." "Not striking proves you're a good Demon..."
"This time, I approve of you."
"Don't, touch my head..."
"Frieren..."
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