"You little brat—why are you leaving two years early too?"
Inside Heiter's room, Shichen sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him as he lay barely clinging to life. His mood was heavy.
The timeline had changed.
This was supposed to happen four years from now—both Fern finally achieving something with her magic, and Heiter no longer being able to hold on. But it had come two years early.
Fern being early made sense: she had a clearer goal, a direction.
As for Heiter… Shichen felt it was because he truly had no lingering worries anymore.
Maybe Heiter couldn't have lasted much longer in the first place, and the only thing that had kept him going was his fear for Fern.
"Sorry, Shichen-nii… I can't keep you company any longer," Heiter said weakly from the bed, his face drawn. He tilted his head toward Shichen, barely able to speak.
His eyes had lost their light—half-lidded, unable to open—like they might close completely at any moment.
"You were still thinking about staying with us, huh? Can't bear to leave?" Shichen treated him like a child, reaching out and gently patting his head.
"Yeah. Those days with you… I was really happy."
"Me too."
"Is that so… good. That's good…" Heiter's lips curled into a slow smile.
"Heiter, you…" Shichen's nose stung, his eyes turning hot.
"Heh… Shichen-nii, you're not about to cry for me, are you? Himmel didn't even get that treatment."
"I'm not crying. Don't flatter yourself," Shichen shot back.
"This life… I truly have no regrets," Heiter said, satisfied.
"You… don't want to ask me to make you immortal?" Shichen couldn't help asking.
"Heh. I know you well enough, Shichen-nii. If I asked you directly for immortality, I'd never get it."
"You little—"
Heiter was right. Shichen wasn't going to make him immortal.
If someone asked him for immortality outright, he wouldn't give it. And if they didn't ask, he still wouldn't give it.
A perfect deadlock.
Was it because Heiter wasn't a woman? Because Shichen was selfish? Because he was cold?
Maybe. But that wasn't the main reason.
Once, he'd forced immortality onto someone, and the result was that they still hadn't made up to this day—hadn't even seen each other.
That person had said: some people want immortality, some don't—but it shouldn't be decided by him.
It should be left to fate, to timing, to circumstance.
And Shichen wasn't suited to be the one handing out that kind of "chance."
Whether immortality was a blessing or a curse—only those who lived it could truly know. And regret was always a possibility.
Shichen couldn't become someone others would either thank forever… or resent forever.
That was what she'd told him, when they parted.
He understood. He could give people fulfillment, or pain. Earn reverence, or hatred.
He didn't belong to any one world—so he shouldn't act on selfish whims and reshape someone's entire life…
Unless he was willing to take responsibility to the very end.
But he couldn't. The only ones he could truly "see through to the end" were those girls.
For everyone else—no matter how close—eventually they would fade into the distance.
So Shichen followed his own judgment… and also listened to her.
"Go talk to Fern a bit more," Shichen said softly, giving Heiter one last gentle pat before standing and leaving the room.
When he opened the door, a slightly older Fern and Frieren were waiting outside, both small faces clouded with grief.
"Fern, go say goodbye." Shichen ruffled her hair to comfort her.
"Yes, Shichen-sama." Fern went in immediately.
A moment later, crying rose from inside the room.
"Let's go." Shichen closed the door and led Frieren away.
Outside the cabin, the weather was still bright—blue sky, white clouds, a soft breeze.
"Shichen." Frieren reached out and took his hand.
"Are you trying to comfort me?" Shichen looked at her and couldn't help smiling.
"Feels like you don't need comforting," Frieren said, shaking her head.
"Why?"
"This time… you're much calmer than when Himmel left." Frieren saw right through him.
And Shichen knew she was right.
"Maybe… because I've already been through Himmel's departure once. I've gotten used to it?" he answered—half explanation, half question to himself.
Choosing these specific moments in this world, watching them leave one by one… he'd been following his instincts.
Maybe he wanted to experience what it felt like, to understand how short a human life really was.
He wasn't entirely sure—but deep down, he accepted that explanation.
Because his time was endless.
"You can't get used to that," Frieren said, tightening her grip on his hand.
"Yeah." Shichen nodded.
If he could "get used" to losing friends, then he really would drift farther and farther away from humanity—and that wasn't who he wanted to become.
He wanted to keep a young heart. Keep his love for life. Stay with them—always happy, always curious, never bored of the world.
He didn't know if he could truly do it. He'd read plenty of stories where people who chased immortality ended up regretting it, growing weary.
But those were only authors guessing. No one really knew what a hundred years—or a thousand—would feel like.
He would have to live it, feel it, and prove it himself.
And he believed he wouldn't grow tired—because he had them, countless worlds, endless new joys.
There would always be something fresh ahead.
…
Heiter passed away without a funeral. Only Shichen, Frieren, and Fern saw him off.
And for Heiter, that was enough.
After staying three more days, Shichen and the others prepared to leave.
They didn't pack much. Fern didn't own much to begin with—she could leave with just a bag in hand.
In those three days, Fern had steadied herself, putting down the sharp edge of grief.
But grief didn't vanish overnight. It needed time to wear down.
"Shichen-sama, where are we going?" Fern asked once they left the forest, watching Shichen carry Frieren on his back.
After two years together, she already understood what kind of person Frieren was—from early confusion to simple acceptance.
She still didn't understand why Shichen liked Frieren.
And Heiter had told her they'd already been together seventy years ago.
That kind of bond… was truly long.
"Where are we going…" Shichen looked left and right and fell silent, honestly lost.
"Shichen-sama?"
"Yeah. I don't really have a direction," Shichen admitted.
"Then why are we in such a hurry to leave?"
"I don't know."
"…." Fern parted her lips, then fell quiet.
"Ah—well, I wanted to get you out of that sad place sooner, let you breathe a little," Shichen said. "I just didn't decide where to go."
"I see." Fern nodded, accepting it.
"Let me think…"
After a moment, Shichen said, "How about this, Fern—do you want to walk the road we once walked?"
"The road we once walked?"
"The road to defeat the Demon King."
"Why walk it again?" Fern asked, curious.
"Because life is a journey," Shichen said. "A journey without a fixed destination."
"Frieren-sama doesn't look like she wants to travel at all."
"Don't worry about her. She doesn't get a vote—she has to come with us." Shichen said it lightly, then looked at Fern. "What matters is: do you want to travel?"
"Do I…" Fern considered it. She'd never really thought about it.
"Shichen-sama… why are you taking me traveling?"
"Simple. We're not close enough yet," Shichen said. "This trip will bring us closer—like the hero party back then."
"I understand." Fern agreed immediately.
"So fast? You want to see the road Heiter walked?"
"Heiter-sama wouldn't want me to think like that," Fern shook her head. "And that's not what I mean."
"Then what is it?"
"I want to understand you better," Fern said seriously. "And I want to see this world properly… and become stronger."
"I see… but with us around, you don't need to become stronger. I'll protect you."
"I want to protect myself." Fern's face was earnest.
"Fair enough…" Shichen didn't force it.
"Then it's decided. Let's go."
"Yes. Shichen-sama, lead the way."
"Lead the way…?" Shichen frowned. "Where do we start again?"
"..." Fern stared at him, speechless. Shichen suddenly didn't seem very reliable.
Was the road ahead going to be rough?
"I've got it—let's start from the royal capital. We can check on Eisen while we're at it," Shichen said.
"Eisen-sama?"
"Heiter told you about him, right? I want to see him first."
"Whatever Shichen-sama decides."
"Then that's it. The royal capital—back to the beginning."
With Frieren on his back, Shichen set off first. Fern followed quietly behind, staff in hand.
This new journey wasn't just Shichen acting on a whim.
He was looking for someone.
Someone who was still angry with him.
~~~
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