"This is the seal of Qual, the Corrupt Sage…"
The monstrous form captivates me. Towering several times my height, its stone-like, sealed state retains an overwhelming presence. My first encounter with a demon. Most demons mimic human forms to deceive, but not Qual.
We're at the village outskirts, guided to Qual's seal. Checking its condition is urgent.
"It's quite unstable. Let's unseal and deal with Qual tomorrow."
Frieren, unfazed, touches the seal calmly, assessing it. The legendary mage of the Hero's Party shows no arrogance—just confidence she won't lose. Pride is foreign to her.
"But it's a relief. If you hadn't come, we'd have asked Lady Aura."
"Why didn't you come sooner, Frieren?"
"I came, didn't I? I didn't forget."
"Ugh…"
My respect vanishes. Lily's worry is valid. Eighty years since sealing Qual, and Frieren never checked. Typical, perhaps—decades are recent to her.
"You two are close. Himmel often said, amused, you're heartless but that's your charm."
"Himmel was truly magnanimous."
"Sorry for being heartless."
Frieren grumbles, not entirely displeased. Himmel saw charm in her detachment. I'm ashamed for thinking him unfaithful.
"Why didn't Himmel defeat Qual? With Aura and Linie, he could have."
"It's…"
A sudden question. Eighty years ago, maybe not, but Himmel stayed here long. Opportunities abounded. With Aura, a Seven Sage, and Linie, his skilled disciple, they could've managed. Why not?
"Himmel didn't want Aura and Linie killing their own kind. Demons don't care, but he was too kind."
Frieren answers before Lily, and I'm impressed—not just by my oversight, but her insight. I thought she was oblivious to such nuances.
"Impressive, Frieren. You really understood Himmel."
"…No, I just read it."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I thought she knew him deeply, but no. Her vague response confuses me. She's been off since arriving here. What's wrong?
"Of course, but Himmel likely believed you'd come, Frieren. And you did."
"Then Aura left Qual's seal, trusting Frieren would handle it."
"No. She didn't trust me at all. She just followed Himmel's lead."
Frieren falls silent, gazing distantly. I can't grasp her words, only her persistent disdain for Aura.
"…Should we unseal it now? Sooner's better."
"No. You'd leave right after. We're staying a week."
"Just kidding."
I shut down her impulsive suggestion. She's serious, desperate to leave. Not for my time's sake—it's palpable. It's rude to Lily, who waited eighty years.
"Let me show you the village."
Lily, sensing it all, warmly guides us onward.
"So many apples… Is it okay to take them?"
I feel guilty holding a sack full of apples, a gift from villagers during Lily's tour. Frieren carries one too. Can we eat this many?
"Yes, they're a village specialty, harvested now. Aura and Linie loved them. Linie munched them raw, ignoring my pleas for manners."
"That's so Linie. She ate apples often at Heiter's too. I was surprised demons eat normal food."
I recall Linie chomping apples, sharing with me. It must've been the same here. That she and Aura ate like us, I didn't know then was un-demonlike.
"Demons can eat anything but humans. Aura and Linie ate apples to curb their cannibalistic urges, like using Azerliese on themselves. Linie just loves apples."
Frieren explains. So that's why they don't eat humans. Self-applied Azerliese is ingenious, befitting a great demon mage.
"You know a lot, Frieren. You seemed clueless when we met."
"…Heiter told me."
(She's hiding something!)
Her awful lying face, the third time today. What's she concealing? I can't ask now, mid-tour. I'll confront her tonight.
"There… Himmel's statue?"
A statue stands in the plaza, overlooking the village, surrounded by playing children—a symbol of peace.
"Yes, built to mark ten years of Himmel's stay. He suggested it."
"His own statue?"
"So Himmel."
Frieren and Lily laugh, recalling the past. Himmel's self-statue isn't surprising—I've seen many on our journey. He was a hero, a symbol of peace. But this statue differs.
"He had a beard then. It's different."
"Copying the Southern Hero. It didn't suit him."
"Aura and Linie said the same. Himmel couldn't back down."
The beard, and his appearance, aged from the Demon King's defeat. A rare statue from that time. I don't know the Southern Hero, but Himmel admired him. The beard clearly didn't suit him, even to me, who never met him.
Another difference:
"He's holding scales?"
Unlike other statues with swords, this Himmel holds scales.
"Yes. He wanted Aura's statue too, but she refused. After debate, he chose scales, her symbol. Linie wanted her own statue but got scolded by both."
"Poor Aura."
"We posed for hours too."
"Heiter said Himmel was narcissistic, hence all the statues."
I can picture it, thanks to Linie's stories of their life here. Heiter told me Himmel was childlike, fun-loving, a bit narcissistic. The statues reflect that. But—
"That's not wrong, but… it's for Aura."
"Frieren…?"
Frieren murmurs, eyes distant, as if convincing herself. I can't speak further.
"It was lively then, especially after Linie arrived. Himmel and Aura struggled like a real family."
"Family…?"
Lily reminisces, triggered by the statue. I want to hear about Linie, but now's not the time. Mentioning them, especially family, is a minefield before Frieren. Even I get that.
"But Linie said they were friends, that demons don't understand family."
"Yes, but that was their family, I think. Everyone here knew, though they denied it."
I try to deflect, but it's futile. I thought the same. That sweet illusion shatters before reality.
I glance at Frieren, nervous. How will she react? Unpredictable. Terrified, I see—
"…? What's wrong, Fern?"
"Nothing…"
Just calm, usual Frieren. My overthinking. She's lived ages beyond my imagination—an adult. Worrying was rude.
(Good, she's not too upset…)
Relief fades as I doubt my eyes.
(Her magic's wavering!?)
Her normally steady, icy magic fluctuates—an impossible sight.
"Frieren, are you okay? If you're unwell, rest at the inn."
"Why? I'm fine."
She doesn't notice, making it painful.
Magic suppression.
It's her lifelong effort to deceive demons, a skill I inherited but can't match. Her control is natural, flawless—even Heiter took years to notice. Even ill, it never wavered. Yet now, it's visibly unstable. As rare as Frieren waking early two days straight.
"You mentioned the skirt-flipping. What happened?"
I forcibly change the topic. It's too harsh to continue. As her disciple, I must protect her.
"No big deal. After sealing Qual, that brat Stroh flipped my skirt."
"I'm so sorry. He was a prankster, flipping mine, Linie's, and Aura's skirts, scolded by Himmel."
"Boys are like that. Himmel guided them well."
My desperation works—the topic shifts. It's odd but better. Skirt-flipping? I know of it, never experienced it. Boys prank like that, and Himmel guided them. Respect rises, but—
"Not really. He called Stroh a brat, threatened to kill him, and admitted he wanted to see too."
(Pervert!)
My respect crumbles. Perverted—wildly so. A boy's prank is one thing, but an adult Himmel wanting to see Frieren's underwear? My fairy tale was tame. Maybe men naturally want to see their beloved's underwear. His threats and admissions? I'll pretend I misheard.
"Aura said the same—he wanted to try it. They were troublesome."
(He was unfaithful!)
Lily's revelation confirms it. Himmel was unfaithful, wanting to flip another woman's skirt despite loving Frieren. Obsessed with skirts.
I recoil from a magical pressure only mages feel.
(It's surging!)
Frieren, expression unchanged, radiates immense, unprecedented magic. I want to flee, but she's oblivious, unconscious.
"Hey, Fern. Can I retreat to the forest for three days? Need to meditate."
"No. If Qual's seal breaks, what then? Be patient."
"Be kinder to me."
Her surge subsides, but her magic remains unstable. I reject her plea. Meditation doesn't need three days in a forest. The village's safety comes first. More kindness won't help her.
"Sorry, I was thoughtless. Not a fun topic for you, Frieren."
"No, don't worry. This is about right for her."
"Do you hate me, Fern?"
Lily apologizes, but it's Frieren's fault. Himmel's unfaithfulness is undeniable, but her obtuseness matches. She's likely made mistakes rivaling his. I'll confront her tonight about her secrets.
"Fern, a message from Aura."
"From Aura?"
"Yes. She knew you'd come with Frieren."
I'm puzzled but understand. Aura likely knew I'd travel with Frieren, perhaps from Heiter.
"There's a red-roofed house ahead where Aura, Himmel, and Linie lived. She wants you to visit."
"I…"
I hesitate. I'm fine with it—there's a reason for her request. But for Frieren, it's a death sentence. As I waver—
"Go, Fern. I'll head to the inn."
Sensing my dilemma—or unable to endure—Frieren heads off, likely the latter.
"Don't retreat to the forest."
"You used to be sweet."
"I'm not as old as your 'long ago.'"
I warn her retreating back. I won't fall for it. Years with her taught me resilience. Her "long ago" could mean prehistoric times—I keep that to myself.
"I'll guide you. The house is unused but clean. The second floor has a study with Aura's grimoires. She said to take what you like, as she couldn't give them before."
"Aura…"
Despite our embarrassing exchange, Lily kindly explains. That's why Aura wanted me to visit. My heart warms—she's given me so many grimoires already. Gratitude and guilt rise, but—
"Come on, Fern! Let's go!"
Frieren, fully recovered, dashes off with a "Hyah!"—not toward the inn, but like she teleported.
"She's quite a character, Frieren."
"…"
I can't face Lily, mortified. I'd rather hide in the forest for three days.
That night, the elf's wails, scolded by her disciple, echoed through the village.
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