Elf Town Training Ground.
Compared to the packed-earth ring that Frieren and Milliarde first managed, the area had now expanded more than tenfold, with the central stage resembling an open-air theater.
Indeed, during festivals and holidays, it served as the town's stage, an important venue for celebrations.
The silver-haired girl glanced around; just one winter had passed, and it was already different from her memory.
"You're building a wonder of the world here. How much did it cost?"
"The main costs were design and materials. It was a real pain to move all this beautiful white marble, but the construction was much easier. Everyone worked together and got it done in a few days."
Milliarde said with satisfaction.
She believed in putting money where it mattered most, which meant renovating all of Elf Town's facilities.
Frieren nodded. She was surprised but saw nothing wrong with it. Money should be spent when needed. In the foreseeable future, Elf Town would become a large city, so planning ahead was essential.
Before they could even step into the training ground, a group of elf sorcerers surrounded them.
"Senior, you've finally woken up."
"We haven't seen you in a while, and your barrier magic has gotten even stronger."
There were many familiar faces among them. A considerable number were practically her and Milliarde's students, whom they had taught since childhood.
Flamme reminded her, "Everyone has participated in the Association's commissions and has served on the northern front. Many of the elf sorcerers are now battle-hardened and have plenty of combat experience."
She knew very well that her master valued practical performance above all else.
Although Frieren had many academic achievements, they were all geared toward practical application, so her apprentice immediately guessed what her master might ask.
"That's good."
Suddenly, the crowd parted to reveal an elf with long hair. Her eyes were deep, her gaze sharp, carrying the air of a seasoned warrior. However, her demeanor was polite as she nodded in greeting:
"My name is Minus. I've long heard of your reputation, Vice President Frieren. Thank you for your help with that previous matter."
"It was a small matter."
"If you hadn't taken the initiative to clear my name, I fear I would not have escaped death. After all, I was besieged by the Empire's shadow warriors. I had a premonition."
"You are strong. You would only die from carelessness. Of course, that doesn't matter now."
Frieren could tell at a glance that Minus's magical power was stronger than she let on. Among demons, she would be considered a powerful sage, only lacking an ultimate weapon like an unsolvable magic to be on par with the Seven Sages of Destruction... No, she might have already learned one.
However, their value was also diminishing.
Because Goldenization Magic and Paradise Ferry had both been officially deciphered. Although very few could learn them, they were no longer unanalyzable.
"You've mastered Curse Magic?"
"I am honored to have learned the Goldenization Magic you analyzed, Vice President."
Minus immediately demonstrated by turning one of her hands to gold, controlling and dispelling it with ease. Seeing this, Frieren nodded with an envious expression, her estimation of Minus rising.
She was unabashedly showing off to curry favor, and Frieren gave her approval. The strong deserved respect.
The more pillars of support the elven race had, the better.
Not the kind who wandered aimlessly, but companions who chose to integrate into the new elven society and build alongside Frieren. People who could contribute to the collective were useful to her; otherwise, they were irrelevant.
It was for the best.
Even she didn't notice that this was the mindset of a leader, an attitude that everyone else recognized as they awaited her final decision.
With Frieren's approval, the atmosphere became a little more harmonious. Having traveled extensively, Minus could keenly sense that she hadn't quite fit in before and had been met with some wariness, as if a final judgment was still pending.
After that powerful presence awakened, she knew it all came down to Frieren's decision.
Frieren's status was more than just that of the Vice President to the outside world.
In the small society of her hometown, the only and largest settlement of elves, she was also the most important decision-maker.
Despite her long slumbers and her usual detachment from daily affairs, her importance had not diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, it grew with each passing day, and the young elves all looked up to this model senior.
Seeing her in person, Minus knew at a glance that this was a monarch accustomed to great power and authority.
That was why she was obtuse.
Obtuse to the fact that everyone was gradually placing the responsibility for major decisions on her, because deciding the fate of thousands upon thousands was simply her routine.
An ordinary person would be crushed by the weight of so many expectant gazes.
But the Vice President had already become part of the background. Similarly, rhetoric, schemes, or deliberate obfuscation had no effect on her rational judgment. This composure attracted others to rely on and gather around her, creating a cycle that led to the formation of Elf Town's de facto leader.
The one who had been promoted from village chief to town mayor was merely a steward. Milliarde only handled accounting. The decisions they could make were all minor matters.
Or rather:
Anything that did not go through Frieren for approval was not considered a major matter.
"Minus, I don't care if you were a murderer, an arsonist, or a tyrant in the past. These are special times. The elven race needs prestige, we need to counter the Empire's schemes head-on, and we need to establish a precedent of protecting our own people."
"But protection means responsibility."
"Without responsibility, it becomes a privilege, and privilege destroys one's foundation."
"If you commit any misdeeds under the jurisdiction of Elf Town, then I will not be any gentler than the Empire's shadow warriors."
The silver-haired girl offered a carrot, then the stick. Her gaze turned icy, and the magical power she had kept perfectly contained erupted, enveloping the entire arena. And that wasn't its limit; the pillar of smoke representing her mana reserves continued to expand.
At this sight, Minus broke into a cold sweat, and all the elf sorcerers present nearly suffocated.
Whoosh!
Yet, it all vanished in an instant. No one knew how immense that magical power truly was; they only felt as if dark clouds had just gathered, and now the clear sky was making them sweat profusely.
"Of course, if any of your enemies come looking for you, no matter who they are, I will hunt them down to the very end."
"Whatever grievances there are, they will end with me or be placed upon me."
Frieren patted Minus's shoulder.
"Thank you."
"My words apply to everyone. I advise you all to behave and not take Minus as an example." The silver-haired girl looked around the circle. "Unless someone is stronger than her and is also willing to build up the great elven collective. Then we can talk separately."
Everywhere her gaze swept, heads nodded like chickens pecking at rice, completely accepting Frieren's warning.
Only then did she break into a smile, announcing loudly, "Adele and I are usually busy, so Minus will be in charge of the teaching activities in the village. She is very strong, talented, and experienced. Learn from your senior—but only her magic."
With Frieren's words, the atmosphere on the field finally relaxed.
Standing in the back, Flamme and Milliarde exchanged glances, wondering if some profound realization had occurred during this recent slumber.
She wasn't lethargic in the slightest and even took the initiative to shoulder responsibility. She was becoming more and more like an adult of the elven race.
The little episode of greeting Minus quickly ended.
Frieren was no mute; she had simply acted on her principle of caution to admonish the notoriously fierce elf sorcerer, her warning brief and to the point.
She could feel the other's awe and submission. As long as her words were heeded, restraining her would not be difficult.
On the training ground.
Under the command of the newly appointed instructor Minus, the new sorcerers began to practice basic attack magic. It originated from Frieren's invention but had now developed a new form—faster and more focused.
"Master, this is an improvement made by me and everyone at the Association," Flamme explained.
"Excellent, very precise. You've refined some of the crude formulas I overlooked, making it more suitable for ordinary apprentices."
"It's thanks to attack magic that more people can quickly become combat-ready."
"I feel like there's still room to add other attributes. What are your thoughts?"
"Nothing escapes your eyes, Master. I actually considered adding a soul-killing property, but it's too difficult. I'm still researching it, but progress is slow."
"Let's make that the topic of my lecture when I visit the branch office."
Frieren's interest was piqued.
A single sentence sparked an idea. Inspired by the various new magics from her adventure in the Land of Shadow, many new lines of thought had emerged. She could now simplify soul magic further as an attribute, and perhaps she could even popularize its basic components.
Seeing this, Flamme's face lit up. It seemed her master was about to drop another bombshell on the magical world.
She glanced at Milliarde on the other side, who was watching and drinking wine.
Despite usually being swamped with work, as soon as her master returned, Sister Adele seemed to revert to her relaxed, alcoholic daily life, radiating a deep sense of security.
A comfortable feeling of 'it's okay not to work.'
Master has a way of making people lazy.
Moreover, Flamme noticed that Frieren's mind was racing after her return, marveling at the town's changes in such a short time. Perhaps the attitude of this Mage of the Mythical Era would also change somewhat.
Meanwhile, on the central stage, under Minus's guidance, they had begun to experiment with fire element magic.
Boom!
A loud bang was accompanied by rising smoke and a series of cheers: "I did it!"
For ordinary sorcerer apprentices, this was an unforgettable moment. After all, they had personally conjured a large firework, a complete visual treat. Everyone has a pyromaniac streak in them, so starting with fire element magic was naturally the best choice.
Even though some of the surrounding areas caught fire, Minus promptly extinguished them. Having a sorcerer at the level of the Seven Sages of Destruction present was much more convenient.
"Go ahead and try. I'll control the destruction."
With Minus's assurance, everyone let loose, wildly casting spells. The training ground was a scene of lively chaos.
"I want to become a great sorcerer too."
"That's not enough. We have to at least be as good as a sage to protect the town."
Although most of the newcomers had only practiced magic a few times, a quality education could completely shorten the process of cultivating talent.
In Frieren's view, the reason elves were slow to train was partly due to a lack of social structure—a lack of exchange, communication, and instruction. How could one learn quickly by relying solely on self-exploration?
The atmosphere was important.
She became even more convinced of this after returning from the Magic City.
There was valuable experience to be learned from Serie's construction of the Magic City, enough to guide Elf Town.
The group watched the new generation of elf sorcerers like this until half the day had passed...
The employee cafeteria at the Adele Bank headquarters.
Lunchtime.
The four of them sat around a circular table, watching as one delicious dish after another was served. The aroma was enticing, and it was clear at a glance that the chef's skill was extraordinary.
Frieren was knowledgeable in this area as well; it seemed Adele hadn't skimped at all. Since most of the employees were elves, she had simply maxed out the culinary offerings, essentially making it the town's cafeteria. Moreover, the price list was very cheap.
The space was vast, with a considerable capacity. It had been expanded by another floor since she last saw it.
Flamme, who had an interest in cooking, crossed her arms and observed carefully, nodding with understanding from time to time.
On the other side, Minus sat a bit stiffly, perfectly upright.
She hadn't expected to be qualified to sit at this table. The three people before her represented the colossal, tangible power of the elven race. Frieren and Milliarde were self-evident, and even Flamme, who seemed like an outsider, was the link connecting the elves and the Association in a thousand ways.
Her reputation was thunderous.
The sole direct disciple of the Mage of the Mythical Era, the number one genius of the current human generation, the youngest great sorcerer—sooner or later, she would carry the name of an era.
Flamme's existence meant that Elf Town couldn't just belong to the elves, or it would be no different from before.
Like the many guild branches and noble agents in the town, she was crucial.
"This tastes good."
Frieren savored a slice of cured meat. She hadn't waited for the others; the three only began their lunch after she started.
"You've been quite talkative today. Has your brain finally clicked into place?"
Milliarde asked affectionately, with an attitude no one else would dare to have. The silver-haired girl nodded, her expression shifting from enjoying the food to one of seriousness.
"The town is quite large now. Including the network of interests involved, it could even be called a large city."
"When I woke up this time and sensed it, I suddenly felt that my hometown was much bigger. I'm afraid we won't get far by relying on the old, extensive management style."
"Specifically?"
Snapping back to reality, Milliarde immediately adopted a serious expression.
There was work to be done, and it was about building their hometown. Naturally, she had to give it five hundred percent of her effort.
"We need to be more like a city, with laws, standards, and public services. Detailed and clear. We've long had the large-scale facilities; what we lack is management. Your experience with the merchant guilds can be put to use; it's more or less the same."
"Now that you mention it, I realize you're right."
"In terms of magical education, we should learn from the Magic City, but the main focus should be on the basics, to quickly train elf sorcerers, the more the better. We need the best experimental materials and equipment; that's what our teachers deserve, right?"
Frieren looked at Minus, who immediately nodded.
"Money is not an issue," Adele said. "But the key to procuring large quantities of magical items is the channels. The products are limited; intercepting the flow requires influence."
Flamme replied, "The central Association and the southern branch can handle that."
Having been deeply involved in management for so long, she could already make such decisions, not to mention Vice President Frieren herself had the relevant authority.
"But Sister Adele is right, production is insufficient. With the increased offensive against the demons, many resources are tight. We either have to reclaim more territory from the north or source them from elsewhere."
Suddenly, Minus spoke up: "The magical nation of Berletania has many resources."
Everyone turned to her with questioning gazes.
"The nation shrouded in mist is now a land without a master. Rather than letting its magical resources go to waste on demons, why not let the elves put them to good use?"
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