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Winter in the Northern Lands was exceptionally long.
It took almost half a year for the great snow, enough to freeze the world, to finally recede.
All that was left to do in the coming days was to wait for the deep snow to melt, and then summer would arrive.
Gray-blue shrews crawled on the felled tree stumps, gnawing on unknown seeds, curiously watching the few people walking in the snow.
"I didn't expect we'd be parting ways so soon..." Kraft said, carrying his travel bag and looking at Yulian, Frieren, Fern, and Stark, who were seeing him off, a faint smile on his face.
"Half a year, that's not a short time at all..." Yulian said with some emotion, handing the wooden box he was holding to Kraft.
"Thank you for the food you provided during this time."
A large part of Kraft's goods were delicacies from various regions of the Northern Lands, including but not limited to various meats that could be preserved for a long time.
Yulian even ate rare cured meats.
"If it weren't for Mr. Kraft, I'm afraid we would have had to rely on eating only bread every day..." Fern smiled lightly, her beautiful dimples looking particularly lovely.
"Haha, it is I who should thank you all."
Kraft scratched his head and laughed a few times, then gently put down the box in his hand.
"This is for you."
Kraft put his hand into his bosom and pulled out several wooden necklaces.
"What is this?"
Stark curiously took it, looking at the flute-shaped necklace with two small wooden wings in his hand, somewhat puzzled.
"A Goddess's amulet..." Frieren said, taking it calmly.
"I didn't expect you could carve this."
"After all, I am a devout follower of the Goddess."
Kraft curled the corner of his mouth, picked up the box again, and said, "This is as far as I'll go. Goodbye."
"Mr. Kraft, goodbye!" Fern stared blankly at the Goddess's amulet in her hand until Kraft said his farewells.
Fern then reacted and waved goodbye.
"Indeed, powerful monks are all strange people…"
"Mr. Yulian!" Fern puffed out her cheeks, stopping Yulian's complaint.
"Sorry, sorry!" Yulian's heart tightened at Fern's gaze, and he quickly waved his hands.
But it was indeed true.
Heiter, who loved wine and meat, and Kraft, who loved to travel everywhere, were both like that.
"Alright, we should set off too."
Frieren put away the wooden necklace in her hand and looked in the opposite direction from where Kraft had left.
Footsteps sounded, and Frieren led the way.
"I hope we don't get lost again…" Fern silently prayed, then followed.
Elves are an extremely cold-intolerant race.
Unlike humans, elves can easily fall into a deep sleep in cold weather.
Almost at any time, in any place.
Perhaps this is related to the elves' longevity?
Yulian wasn't sure, but what Yulian was sure of was that Frieren, whom he was carrying on his back, had a runny nose… "Fern..." Yulian called softly.
"Mr. Yulian, what's wrong?" Fern stopped, her purple eyes looking back.
"Hmm..." Yulian leaned his head back.
"Behind?" Fern's gaze followed Yulian's hint and looked back.
Frieren was now dripping clear snot, which had already landed on Yulian's clothes… "!" Fern's eyes widened suddenly, and she pulled out a tissue, about to step forward.
"Uh, I'll do it." Stark saw this scene, sniffed, and blocked Fern, taking the tissue.
"Is it drool? I didn't expect Mistress Frieren to drool in her sleep..." Stark muttered in surprise as he wiped.
But Yulian shook his head.
Yulian noticed that Frieren's body was a bit weak, and her face had a faint, abnormal pink flush.
"She must have caught a cold. We need to find a place to rest."
"Mistress Frieren… caught a cold?" Fern gently placed her slender hand on Frieren's forehead and indeed felt an astonishing heat.
"Mr. Yulian, Mistress Frieren seems to be in a very bad state..." Fern withdrew her hand, her face filled with worry as she spoke to Yulian.
"Is that so…" Yulian looked around.
The surroundings were actually a wide-open space.
"Fern, let's wait until Frieren recovers before we continue our journey."
"Let's rest here for now today."
Yulian said to Fern, gently lowering Frieren from his back at the same time.
"So uncomfortable…" Frieren's face was flushed, and clear snot kept flowing out uncontrollably.
"Bear with it for a bit..." Yulian sighed.
"Mr. Yulian, the wooden houses are ready."
A "rumbling" sound echoed, and two wooden houses instantly appeared in the open space.
Undoubtedly, Fern had used her wooden house magic.
As for why she didn't shout "Wood Release—Wood House Jutsu" again, it was likely that Fern had already realized that releasing magic didn't necessarily require a verbal incantation.
Especially such a chuunibyou phrase.
Yulian opened the door of the wooden house, gently laid Frieren on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and then instructed:
"Fern, take good care of Frieren."
"Stark, protect Frieren and Fern."
"In this mountain forest, I sense the presence of magical beasts."
"You two must be careful."
"I'll go look for some medicinal herbs and try to get back as soon as possible."
Yulian glanced at the sky. Fortunately, it was still early.
He should be able to make it back before dark.
"Mr. Yulian, please go. Don't worry..." Fern sat by the bed, gently holding Frieren's hand, and replied, looking at Yulian.
"Don't worry, with me here, no magical beasts will harm Fern and Frieren..." Stark gritted his teeth and nodded, his body trembling slightly.
"Alright, I'm leaving." Yulian nodded, got up, and departed.
"I hope everything will be alright…" Yulian sighed, taking one last look at the wooden house.
He was a bit uneasy, but he still turned and walked into the forest.
Frieren seemed to have a very high fever; if he didn't find some medicine soon, her brain might be damaged by the heat.
"This is the first time I've seen Mistress Frieren sick."
Fern held Frieren's hand, clearly feeling that Frieren was gripping her tightly at this moment.
So Fern clasped both of her hands tightly around Frieren's.
"I also rarely saw master get sick..." Stark rubbed his nose, saying somewhat self-consciously.
"But I often had nightmares and got sick when I was little."
"Mr. Stark often had nightmares?" Fern was a bit surprised, seemingly completely unprepared for that.
"Yes, I often dreamed of demons attacking the village and me not escaping…" Stark said, lowering his head in shame.
Fern looked out the window in silence for a moment, a faint disappointment in her eyes.
"However!" Stark gritted his teeth, about to say something.
But he was quickly interrupted by Frieren's coughing.
"Cough, cough!" Frieren coughed violently, her whole body showing a pained expression, but her eyes were tightly shut, as if she was still asleep.
"Mistress Frieren!" Fern helped Frieren sit up, gently patting her back.
She looked down worriedly and said, "I hope Mr. Yulian comes back soon…"
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