"Why did it come to this…?"
Frieren-sama sat in her chair, fidgeting like a defendant on trial. I faced her across the table. She didn't need to look that scared, though. What did she take me for? Honestly, it was a bit rude.
"It's because Frieren-sama is so sloppy."
"That's right. Any guesses why?"
"Too many to count."
"I see."
"…Frieren-sama?"
Perhaps unable to watch any longer, Eisen-sama, seated beside Frieren-sama, tried to steer the conversation, but she remained deflated. We'd meant to talk just the two of us, but Frieren-sama had forcibly dragged Eisen-sama into this. Clinging to him, no less. She even insisted he sit next to her instead of me. She probably thought Eisen-sama's presence would make me go easier on her.
(She's really something…)
Sighing inwardly, I recalled the past month. We'd been visiting Eisen-sama, searching for the journal of Flamme-sama, Frieren-sama's master and a great mage. Finding it in the vast forest was no small feat, but thanks to our efficient teamwork, we succeeded. Its contents were like a fairy tale.
The Land of Aureole, where souls rest.
At the far northern edge of the continent, a place called paradise. It's said you can speak with the dead there. We decided to head there. That was fine—our journey had always been aimless. For Frieren-sama, reuniting with Himmel-sama was priceless. I, too, wanted to see Heiter-sama again. But aside from that, I needed to have a serious talk with Frieren-sama. Yet…
"I'll step out."
"No way, Eisen! Stay here!"
"I don't want to get scolded by Fern either."
"Both of you, please take this seriously."
"See? She's mad."
"It's you she's mad at, Eisen."
This was how she acted. Convinced I'd scold her, she clung to Eisen-sama, who seemed to enjoy it in his own way. They really were comrades, in sync in the oddest ways. But if I kept indulging them, the day would be gone.
"We need to talk about what's next. No more winging it."
I cut to the chase. With Frieren-sama, you had to be direct. This was about our journey ahead. We'd managed on whims so far, but that wouldn't do anymore. This meeting was for planning.
"We're going to Ende, right? I know the way, so it's fine."
Frieren-sama puffed up proudly, as if she'd grasped my point—or not. Ende, where Aureole and the Demon King's castle lay, was indeed our destination. Her knowing the route was helpful, but that wasn't my concern.
"It's about the place we're going before that."
"I know. Stark's village, right?"
She wasn't wrong. After leaving here, we'd visit the village where Stark-sama, Eisen-sama's disciple, was staying. Eisen-sama had asked us to. But I was certain now—Frieren-sama was deliberately avoiding the real issue.
"I want to talk about the place after that."
Her expression stiffened, as if she knew she couldn't dodge anymore. Eisen-sama glanced at her silently, likely sharing my thoughts. She must have sensed it.
"…Freesia?"
"Aura-sama."
Finally, she said the name, but I pressed further. Her face clouded, like she'd been served her least favorite onions. Rude, honestly.
"Why is Frieren-sama even going to see Aura-sama? You've never properly explained."
I asked calmly, sidestepping her reaction. It was a question I'd wanted to ask since our journey began. I'd avoided it, thinking she had her reasons, but we couldn't ignore it anymore. We'd reach Freesia soon enough.
"Because you said you wanted to meet her…"
"Frieren-sama."
"Confess, Frieren. No more excuses."
Her blaming me was absurd—such a pathetic dodge. Eisen-sama was right; she couldn't wriggle out. I couldn't detect lies like Aura-sama, but I knew when Frieren-sama was fibbing.
"…Heiter asked me to give her Himmel's diary."
She finally admitted it. Just as I thought—something Heiter-sama would ask. It wasn't even worth hiding. So why had she been so stubborn?
"Then just say so."
"I didn't want to talk about the diary…"
"I might've done the same."
It all came down to Himmel-sama's diary. My eyes drifted to it on the table. I'd read it over the past month, despite Frieren-sama's reluctance. Eisen-sama, sharp as ever, had convinced her to share it. But there was a catch.
She only had one volume.
There should've been decades' worth, dozens of volumes, but Frieren-sama had left most behind. Her excuse?
"They were too heavy…"
An obvious lie. The diaries were heavy, sure—I'd noticed her bag seemed unusually bulky at times. But that wasn't the real reason. She'd left them in the study of the house where Aura-sama and Himmel-sama had lived. So clumsy, yet maybe a sign of her growth.
I only read one volume, but that was enough. It covered the time when Himmel-sama and Aura-sama became master and servant, up to when they lived with Linie-sama. It was enough to understand them—and Himmel-sama's longing for Frieren-sama. And the "mistake" Eisen-sama had mentioned.
"I'm ashamed I thought Himmel-sama was improper. The real improper one is you, Frieren-sama."
"Don't call me improper! Sloppy, at least…"
"A sinful woman."
Her being called improper stung more than the diary being read. Himmel-sama's feelings deserved more than this, but it was all I could manage. Eisen-sama seemed to agree. Frieren-sama, abandoned by her only ally, hung her head. Left alone, she might hide in a forest.
"Anyway, how do you plan to give Aura-sama the diary?"
I shifted topics to the practical issue of visiting Freesia. That's why we were here. Yet…
"Just… hand it to her?"
I was speechless. She tilted her head, genuinely clueless. Did she not understand people's hearts? Or demons', in this case?
"Seriously, Frieren-sama?"
"She's hopeless."
"What do you two take me for?"
"Heartless."
"A monster."
"That's harsh!"
Eisen-sama and I hinted at it, but it didn't reach her. I'd thought she'd grown, but no. I understood why Eisen-sama wanted me to know her mistakes. She was still like a child taking her first steps.
"Do you really think meeting Aura-sama will be that simple?"
"I won't start anything. I promised Lily."
"With Lily-sama? When? Tell me these things!"
"Some things are better left unsaid, Fern."
"That's not what that means, Frieren. And even if you don't start a fight, you'll still run your mouth, won't you?"
"…No way."
"Sure. If you two could talk calmly, Eisen and I wouldn't be so worried."
Frieren-sama made her usual goofy face, but Eisen-sama was exasperated. Understandably—she'd made a vague promise with Lily-sama not to "start anything." Eisen-sama's jab hit the mark.
(Aura-sama probably feels the same as Frieren-sama…)
I thought of Aura-sama, absent from this room. Himmel's diary, though biased, showed how she changed through meeting him, and what she felt. The flower garden spellbook she gave me—Himmel's favorite magic—carried her emotions. The reason she entrusted it to me.
And their parting, not written in the diary. Eisen-sama told me Frieren-sama was there at Himmel's end, but Aura-sama wasn't. They were mirrors of each other, both drawn to Himmel-sama. I finally understood why Eisen and Heiter worried about their meeting.
"How do you even plan to meet Aura-sama?"
"What's the issue?"
"A huge one! Freesia is a demon nation. You can't just walk in!"
"Oh."
"Did you forget your own title?"
Freesia, a demon-centric nation, wasn't exactly welcoming to humans, let alone Frieren-sama. She'd likely be driven out or targeted.
The Slayer.
The title demons gave Frieren-sama, the mage who'd buried the most of their kind. To them, she was as fearsome as demons were to humans. Waltzing in was a joke—or was she actually serious? I almost admired her audacity.
"It's not like I chose it. I've had no trouble entering human lands, and fewer people recognize me now."
"True, you're ancient."
"Call me that again, and I'll get mad, Fern."
Eighty years since the Demon King's defeat, few recognized Frieren-sama as the hero's mage. It rarely came up on our journey. But demons might not forget. And maybe "ancient" was too much—old mage would've sufficed.
"Now what…"
"I could send the book with a familiar. Too bad I can't meet her—"
"No."
"Kidding."
I was at a loss, but Frieren-sama seemed almost gleeful suggesting that. Not a joke—she was too transparent. Probably always like this.
"There's a priest in Freesia, Shtro, an old friend of Aura's. Have him arrange it. Mention Lily's message, and he'll help."
Eisen-sama, watching quietly, offered a lifeline. Shtro-sama, Lily-sama's husband, was in Freesia. He'd understand our situation—a perfect solution.
"Brilliant, Eisen-sama."
"…Yeah."
Frieren-sama sounded disappointed, her plan thwarted. Such a handful.
"Frieren-sama, don't meet Aura-sama alone. And don't do anything reckless."
"…Okay."
"Like a mother, huh?"
That was the main issue—keeping them from meeting alone. They probably wouldn't fight outright, but you never know. If two great mages clashed, no one could stop them. I had to drive the point home. Eisen-sama's amused comment ended our three-way talk.
"Off we go, Eisen."
"Take care."
They parted casually, like it was a short walk. Maybe that's how long-lived beings saw it. We could've stayed longer, but lingering risked Frieren-sama changing her mind. Yesterday's talk was well-timed.
"Eisen-sama, you really can't come?"
"I'm too old to travel. I'd slow you down. Give my regards to Himmel and the others."
Eisen-sama saw us off. His presence would've been reassuring, but it was too much to ask. He looked fine, but age must've caught up. Though… hadn't he lifted boulders and run across lakes effortlessly? Maybe his idea of "slowing down" differed from ours. A shame, but we couldn't rely on him forever.
"Frieren-sama, make sure you make Himmel-sama happy."
Freesia aside, our goal was Aureole—to honor Himmel-sama's feelings. That had to be Frieren-sama's priority. Yet…
"I'll make sure to blow him a kiss."
"Lewd."
"What? Should–
"Improper."
"What do I do…?"
"Just show him the ring."
So lewd—unbelievably so. A kiss was bad enough, but that? Himmel-sama might like it, but traveling to the northern edge for that was mortifying. Maybe both were improper. Himmel's diary, so full of love, might've addled her mind. Maybe that's why Eisen and Heiter avoided reading it—too embarrassing.
"By the way, give my regards to Stark. He's timid like me, but he'll make a good shield."
Eisen-sama added, thinking of Stark-sama in the village en route to Freesia. A master worrying for his disciple—or a father for his son. Hearing this…
"Eisen, you have to say these things yourself."
"Didn't expect a lesson from you. I'll wait for your stories."
Frieren-sama, with her usual smug grin, said something profound, like a child showing off a new word. Eisen-sama replied with equal warmth. That's what true camaraderie looked like.
Waving, Frieren-sama walked off; I bowed and followed. Eisen-sama watched until we were out of sight.
"What a wonderful person. I'm a bit jealous of such a comrade."
I murmured, thinking of Eisen-sama, now out of view. A bond unchanged by time—that's what comrades were. I didn't have that, so I envied it. Would I ever find such friends?
"What are you saying? You're my comrade, Fern."
Frieren-sama said it so naturally, as if reading my heart. That was her charm—why Himmel-sama, Eisen-sama, and I were drawn to her. But…
"That's…"
"Not true…?"
It was different. Being her comrade was wonderful, but it wasn't everything. What Frieren-sama was to me—something I was too shy to say, and might never say on this journey.
But not now. Himmel's diary taught me something. As Frieren-sama herself said, some things must be spoken. So…
"Frieren-sama… you're like another mother to me."
I summoned the courage to say it, voicing feelings I'd held for half my life.
"…What?"
Frieren-sama froze, dropping her bag, her face unlike anything I'd seen. I was just as shocked. Our eyes met, silent, for who knows how long.
"Sorry, Fern, I didn't catch that. Say it again?"
She approached with a beaming smile. Such a liar—she'd heard me. Maybe I'd been too hasty. She really didn't understand people's hearts.
"Hey, Fern!"
"Don't know."
I hurried ahead, hiding my flushed face, toward new encounters awaiting us.