"Shichen-sama, it's time to get up—and Frieren-sama too."
In the dim room, a purple-haired girl stood at the bedside, prodding the two people curled up together.
On the bed were two figures—one man and one petite girl—clinging to each other so tightly it looked like a man hugging a doll.
"Let me sleep a little longer… it's so cold…" Shichen didn't even open his eyes, holding the warm Frieren against him.
"Mmm…" Frieren burrowed deeper into his arms and only hummed in response.
Fern stood there, staring at them coldly.
At this point, she had only one thought:
Who's taking care of who, exactly?
Heiter had told her to follow Shichen and Frieren so they could take care of her—but not long into the journey, she'd somehow become their nanny.
At first, she'd been suspicious. She thought this must be some kind of test—forcing her to become independent.
But after all this time, she'd realized…
No. This was just how they were.
Thinking back to the forest, it was the same: the two of them slept in so late they didn't show their faces until nearly noon every day.
Now she understood. This was their default lifestyle.
"Shichen-sama, get up. It's almost noon, and it's not even cold in the room." Fern pushed him again.
"No. I haven't slept enough, and it's freezing outside." Shichen wriggled away from her hand and kept sulking under the covers.
"…Shichen-sama, you're not even afraid of the cold."
"How could I not be? Who isn't afraid of the cold?"
"Can't you just use magic to resist it?"
"I don't want to."
"Huh?" Fern froze.
"You don't get it. People have to experience spring, summer, autumn, and winter—heat and bitter cold. That's nature. You're supposed to adapt with your own body."
"…Really? Shichen-sama, you talk so smoothly that you must be awake already, right?" Fern asked in a flat, ghostly tone.
Her eyes drifted to Shichen's backside—she practically wanted to smack him with her staff.
And that thought was completely sincere. At this point, she had no "respect" left to maintain.
There was no need anymore.
"Sigh."
Shichen finally opened his eyes, then sat up with Frieren still in his arms.
Frieren was still asleep, slumped in his embrace, her sleeping face ridiculously peaceful.
"Haaah…" Shichen yawned and looked at Fern helplessly. "Fern, seriously—can't you sleep in once in a while and experience the joy of a lazy morning?"
"No. I'm used to sleeping early and waking early." Fern's answer was expressionless.
"Ugh. Then you're missing one of life's great pleasures."
"Shichen-sama, stop talking and get up. Time for breakfast."
"Fern's getting stricter."
"It's because of you two." Fern turned and walked toward the door.
"And make sure you wake Frieren-sama up too. Otherwise she'll start screeching later that the food's gone cold."
"Fern's so naggy," Shichen muttered.
"..."
At the doorway, Fern paused. She tightened her grip on her staff… then ultimately did nothing and left.
Shichen chuckled and shook his head, then carried Frieren off the bed with him.
The easiest way to stop someone from sleeping in was simple: get them off the bed. No mattress under you, no desire to keep sleeping.
After a quick wash-up, Shichen and Frieren went to the living room—only to find Fern already eating by herself.
"Fern, you started without us?" Frieren immediately ran over, sat across from her, and scooped up a huge spoonful of soup.
"Mmm—still not cold. The temperature's perfect."
Fern glanced at her, said nothing, and kept eating.
Shichen came over, ruffled Fern's hair, then sat down to eat too.
Fern glanced at him. The faint pout on her cheeks deflated.
"Shichen-sama, do we have any plans today?"
"Nope. How's your defensive magic coming along?"
"I've mastered it." Fern sounded faintly proud.
"You're amazing." Shichen praised her without holding back.
"Mm." Fern nodded, visibly pleased.
"Then work on casting speed next. Faster and faster—the faster the better," Shichen said.
"Why?"
"Simplicity is the ultimate path. In all magic under heaven—speed breaks everything."
"I understand."
"Shichen, aren't you going to teach Fern other spells? Why is it all basic stuff?" Frieren asked.
"Foundations matter. And later, if Fern wants to learn other magic, it'll be easy."
"True." Frieren nodded, remembering how things worked in the Konosuba world.
That world really was basically "learn magic whenever you feel like it."
"…Shichen-sama, what are you two talking about?" Fern didn't quite understand.
"Don't worry about it. You'll understand later."
"…Okay."
After breakfast, Frieren went back to her room to read, while Shichen stepped outside.
Everything was white.
They were in a small village, and after getting caught in a heavy snowstorm, Shichen had decided to stay for a while.
The snow had been falling for days.
Normally, a storm like this would bring disaster—hunger, freezing deaths.
But Shichen and the others being here changed everything.
To the villagers, they were saviors.
People kept delivering ingredients to their door day after day as thanks.
Shichen didn't refuse. He accepted every bit of gratitude.
Fern was the one cooking—so much so that she'd basically become the "head of the household" for the three of them.
That was also why she'd gotten so casual with Shichen. The halo was gone.
There wasn't any snow piled up in front of their house. In fact, none of the houses had snow piled up outside.
Shichen had set a barrier around the village homes.
Sitting at the door, Shichen watched Fern practice magic.
This had become their everyday life in the village.
This trip had no destination and no plan—go wherever they felt like, stop wherever they wanted.
Fern was already thirteen, nearly as tall as Frieren, and for someone her age… her figure was already noticeably developing.
Lately, every time Frieren looked at her, she'd pout, her eyes drifting toward Fern's chest with a distinctly unhappy look.
So Frieren cared about that too.
But there was nothing she could do—she was an elf. Long lifespan didn't guarantee "growth."
Maybe that was the price of longevity.
Even though Shichen had "helped her development" plenty of times… it still didn't work.
"Shichen-sama, how long are we staying here?" Fern asked while practicing. Her eyes were closed and she didn't even turn around.
"What, you already want to leave?"
"I just want to confirm the next location."
"There isn't a location. We go wherever."
"Aren't you supposed to be looking for Eisen-sama? If we keep dawdling like this, isn't that a problem?"
"It's fine. He's still alive and well."
"That's not what I meant." Fern opened her eyes and looked at him.
"I know." Shichen stood up, walked behind her, and ruffled her silky purple hair.
It worked every time. Her small irritation instantly smoothed out.
"I'm trusting our luck. I think we'll run into him sooner rather than later."
"Really?"
"Do you want to meet Eisen?"
"Not exactly… I just remember you said you wanted to see him."
"Then how about we stay here until winter ends, and leave after that?"
"…Don't tell me you're scared of the cold."
"How could I be? I have magic that resists the cold."
"I'll… believe you, I guess."