(Note: General Cole Theodore is a male not female.)
Chapter 69 — Not Unwilling, but Unable
On the night of the Full Moon Ball—
As the sun dipped below the horizon and a pale silver moon emerged in the faintly blue sky, a carriage carrying the three of them departed from Wolfwood Inn.
The carriage traveled westward. Near the western gate of the Holy City, it slowed, merging into a long procession of outbound carriages.
—Gurgle, gurgle—
Frieren's stomach growled.
Flamme instinctively raised her hand, about to pat her disciple's head in comfort—
Only to freeze mid-motion.
Both of them were wearing meticulously styled updos today.
Not a single strand could be disturbed.
"…Ah, Frieren," Flamme said awkwardly, withdrawing her hand.
"You really should have eaten something this evening."
"—Actually, I didn't eat lunch either."
Frieren pressed her lips together, showing no trace of regret.
"I heard the food at the Full Moon Ball is top-tier, the best in the world!"
Elias rested with his eyes closed, listening to her absurd reasoning.
Skipping meals all day just to eat more at night—
Typical Frieren.
Leaning halfway out the carriage window, Frieren scanned the traffic ahead.
Seeing the line of carriages stalled like stagnant water—moving even slower than pedestrians on the roadside—she let out a long sigh.
"Ugh… this is such a headache."
"Everyone's rushing out of the city just to attend the banquet.
Why did General Theodore insist on hosting it outside the Holy City?"
Faced with her disciple's complaints, Flamme felt obliged to explain.
"The United Army was formed to repel the demon invasion," she said patiently.
"It's a massive force composed of southern nations, central nations, and northern nations."
"The Holy City, Strahl, may serve as the headquarters and logistical hub of the United Army, but the Goddess's Blessing cannot accommodate that many people."
"General Theodore ordered that, to avoid disturbing the clergy and ordinary citizens, military camps and training grounds must be built on the outskirts."
"Only commanders born in the Holy City are permitted to live within the city itself…"
"As for other soldiers—unless they hold high-ranking positions or are entrusted with special duties—they are not allowed to freely enter or exit the city."
At that moment, Elias crossed his arms and let out a soft chuckle.
"Heh… Flamme."
"An explanation that skirts the real issue like that—
I think you owe your disciple a bit more honesty."
As both master and disciple turned toward him, Elias opened his eyes, amusement flickering faintly within them.
"The reason Theodore ordered the military to keep its distance from the Holy City isn't because they don't want to interfere."
"It's because they can't."
"In the eyes of those old, battle-hardened generals, the clergy are nothing more than weak and incompetent idealists.
The ones they truly fear—"
A cold glint flashed through Elias's eyes.
"It's the old dwarf."
"And her magic perception—so vast it blankets the entirety of Strahl."
"If that old dwarf weren't stationed in the Holy City, would the military really need to go through all the trouble of buying off foreign merchant caravans just to do business inside the city?"
"Seen from that angle, the reason the army camps outside the city… is exactly the same as the reason I chose to live in that northern village."
At those words, Flamme froze for a second, then lowered her head with a bitter smile.
That guy, Elias, really was something else.
On the surface, he seemed completely opposite to Serie—aloof, detached from worldly affairs.
Yet once he spoke, a handful of sentences cut sharper than the insight of ninety-nine percent of people.
Was this the perspective of millennium-old monster?
Unfortunately, Frieren had zero interest in such long-winded analysis.
She leaned back out the carriage window, her mind entirely occupied with thoughts of banquet food.
But as her stomach's protest grew louder, she decided to distract herself by studying the surrounding carriages.
"Expensive blackwood… expensive redwood… gold-thread patterns on the curtains…"
"Come to think of it… everyone going to this banquet looks really rich~"
"—Naturally," Flamme replied, following Frieren's gaze as she explained.
"To maintain contact between the military and the citizens of the Holy City, General Theodore decided to host a regular banquet on every full moon."
"Nominally, it's open to the public—but in reality, every attendee is either a powerful mage or a noble with wealth and influence."
"There's also a rumor."
Flamme's expression turned conspiratorial.
"After gaining control over the northern trade routes, the military plans to expand its funding by maximizing profits."
"On one hand, they transport ordinary goods into the city for everyday trade."
"On the other, they auction off rare and precious artifacts at the Full Moon Ball."
An auction, huh…
Elias closed his eyes again, a faintly mocking curve tugging at his lips.
Cole Theodore.
The strongest strategic mind on the human frontlines.
It seemed this general's brilliance extended far beyond the battlefield.
Even logistics, politics, and human networks in the rear were firmly under his control.
And Theodore's one and only weakness—
Was his frail, sickly daughter.
Serie had seized upon that weakness, allowing Elias to slip neatly into the gap.
With his eyes closed, Elias could already sense the undercurrents—inside the city and beyond its walls.
Honestly, the old dwarf's life was far richer than he'd imagined.
For thousands of years, she slaughtered demons relentlessly on the battlefield.
At the same time, she sparred in wits with scheming old men a thousand years her junior.
And all the while, she remained vigilant against the unknown shadows hidden beneath the crowds…
Elias could almost picture it.
Not only was the old dwarf not overwhelmed—
She probably reveled in it.
By comparison…
He was already content just handling village chores and teaching Frieren.
Both had lived for millennia, yet their obsessions couldn't be more different.
As that thought crossed his mind, the carriage finally broke free of the city gates and sped along the open countryside road.
"Whew~~~!"
"We're saved!!" Frieren cheered.
"If this traffic kept up any longer, my already tiny stomach would've collapsed completely!"
Twenty minutes later, Frieren poked her head out again—only to be greeted by a vast lake.
Moonlight poured down, turning the rippling surface into layered waves of silver.
She was about to sigh in admiration when something in the distance caught her eye.
"Wait… what's that?!"
At the end of the lakeside road stood a massive castle, blazing with lights.
"We're almost there," Flamme said with a smile.
"Silverlake Manor of the Western Suburbs."
"It once belonged to a noble family from the era of the Unified Empire, before their house declined and the estate was abandoned."
"Shortly after the war began, General Theodore ordered it renovated."
"To this day, it serves as the residence and academy for the children of high-ranking officers."
"Wow~~~"
Frieren couldn't help but gasp, stars filling her eyes as the castle drew closer.
Born in the Elven Forest, raised in a village—she could barely imagine what it would be like to live in such a luxurious castle.
Elias let out a quiet snort, seeing straight through the white-haired elf's thoughts.
"Frieren, don't tell me you're starting to look down on village life."
"—No way!"
Frieren denied it instantly.
"I'd never look down on the village or everyone there!"
"But…"
"I am a little curious, that's all."