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"Oh?"
"You came to the Imperial Capital because of Yulian?"
Serie put away that trace of unmanageable emotion.
Instead, she curved her beautiful lips into a smile.
Her gaze shifted between Yulian and Frieren.
It was impossible to tell whether she was teasing or what she was doing.
Yulian shrank his head.
Didn't dare to speak.
Serie was actually quite kind to him.
But if she got angry…
Yulian didn't dare say more.
If she knew Frieren had been dragged into the vortex between the Empire and the Continental Magic Association because of him…
Yulian felt he might be done for.
But even if it was over for him,
Yulian didn't dare speak at this moment.
Because Serie clearly wasn't asking him.
She was asking Frieren.
"Otherwise, why do you think I came here?"
Frieren's eyes were calm.
Not in the slightest subdued by Serie's presence.
It seemed the two of them had a kind of sharp confrontation in the air.
"Gulp~"
Yulian swallowed.
He was still preparing to "mediate."
But after meeting Serie's gaze, Yulian obediently shut his mouth again.
"Frieren, why did you look for Yulian?"
Serie took a deep breath.
She appeared calmer than Yulian had expected.
Completely not in an angry mood.
"We agreed to set out together, but he quietly ran off alone."
"Of course, I have to bring him back."
Seeing that Serie had lost that intimidating aura,
Frieren's gaze softened slightly.
Yulian, however, was dumbfounded.
He thought they were about to fight.
But instead, things unexpectedly went well?
"Alright, you take him away."
"Take Yulian with you and leave here, continue your journey."
Serie turned her head.
Her voice was plain and uninterested.
As if saying something trivial.
Serie, deliberately putting on a breezy expression, could fool Frieren.
But not Yulian.
Yulian was the worm in Serie's belly.
What this blonde tsundere was thinking, he could still know.
"I can't! I'm still injured!"
Yulian waved his hands repeatedly.
The Magic-Nullifying Crystal he had forced out was now pressed back into his body.
However, after successfully refilling the Magic-Nullifying Crystal with mana,
It was clear that this thing no longer posed the slightest threat to Yulian.
"He's still injured..."
"He won't be able to leave anytime soon."
Frieren said calmly.
As if she really hadn't noticed Yulian's fake-to-the-extreme acting.
"You just take him and go..."
"Come on, hurry up..."
"Don't block my view."
Serie waved her hand impatiently.
"Then, how about…"
"I stay here for now, and Frieren leaves first?"
"I'll come find you once I've healed?"
Yulian tentatively suggested.
Unsurprisingly, both ignored him.
"Serie, what exactly are you hiding from me?"
"The Empire, the Continental Magic Association, and you."
"What exactly happened?"
"Why did the Empire try to assassinate you?"
Frieren ignored Yulian.
Her gaze fixed directly on Serie.
"Matters of adults, you shouldn't interfere."
Serie no longer evaded. Instead, she proudly crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Whether it was sarcasm, or simply telling Frieren not to ask further, no one could tell.
Impressive!
Yulian, pushed aside and watching, couldn't help but glance at Serie and Frieren's chests before exploding internally with national essence.
"Heh..."
"You, an adult?"
Under the moonlight,
Frieren lightly took a step.
She moved to stand beside Serie.
Tilted her head casually.
It seemed Frieren was about one or two centimeters taller than Serie.
It was unclear if it was because of her hair or Serie not standing fully straight.
"Frieren, it's for your own good!"
Serie was slightly angry.
She glared at Frieren and stood on tiptoe.
Looking down at Frieren from above.
"You think I wanted to get involved?"
Frieren looked disdainfully at Serie's bluff.
She explained.
"I promised my master that when you needed me, I would take care of you..."
"And I also promised Heiter..."
"To take care of Fern."
"So no matter how much trouble it brings!"
"This time! No matter what! I cannot sit idly by!"
The usually quiet elf suddenly roared loudly.
It left Yulian and Serie stunned, silent for a moment.
The scene was quiet for several minutes.
Until Serie's tiptoes grew sore.
She finally spoke.
"Perhaps it's because the Empire sees me as a stumbling block."
"A stumbling block?"
Frieren hadn't expected that answer.
"My existence restricts the Empire..."
"No matter what the Empire wants to do, in this world that reveres magic..."
"The Empire can never jump over me."
"So maybe the Empire simply wants to remove me as a stumbling block."
"This emperor is ambitious, seems determined to achieve greatness."
"Unfortunately, he seems incapable."
Serie said casually.
But only she knew.
Against the vast Empire, even her individual power feels somewhat powerless against the machinery of the state.
At least Serie couldn't play the game of intrigue.
Nor could she guess the Empire's next move.
All Serie could do was use her strength to break through all plots.
Even so, her power was always limited by her feelings for Flamme.
This was Flamme's life's work.
From weak to great, unifying the Empire and gradually developing into the huge magical civilization it is now.
Flamme's lifelong contributions are self-evident.
Serie could not bear to destroy Flamme's life's work.
"This is what you're facing?"
The entire Empire!
Frieren was silent.
She had thought the plan to assassinate Serie was made by certain people.
If it involved the apparent emperor,
Perhaps there would be a turning point.
No need to worry about Serie being assassinated.
No need to worry about Master Flamme's life's work being ruined.
But hearing the truth from Serie,
Frieren felt her previous thoughts were… somewhat childish?
"Since we're here anyway."
Yulian said the classic line.
He looked at Serie.
"Then let Frieren stay..."
"By your side, so you can protect her, right?"
"I don't need protection."
Frieren rolled her eyes at Yulian.
But she didn't oppose Yulian's suggestion.
After all, this was probably the only outcome Serie could accept.
"In that case..."
"Fine then."
Serie no longer argued.
She lightly nodded in agreement.
"Then next, I should tell you about Falsch's supposed betrayal."
After listening to their verbal sparring for so long,
Yulian was tired.
But soon, he became excited again.
Because finally, it was his turn to speak.
"Falsch didn't betray you..."
Serie gently shook her head.
Cutting off Yulian's words.
"Let's rest for today, it's late."
Yawning,
Serie led Frieren toward the cabin.
The two elves acted as if the previous argument hadn't happened.
Even seemingly ready to share the same bed.
"No, listen to me…"
Yulian was heartbroken.
Why was it always "too late" when it was his turn to speak?
And why did Falsch not betray her?
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