"You went too far yesterday, Fern."
Frieren-sama says, sitting on the inn's bed. Evening, post-dinner. No need to guess what she means—I've been grumpy all day because of it. Yesterday's clash with Stark-sama. I know I overreacted and should apologize.
"…Still, it's indecent. Even if Linie-sama's a demon."
It's wrong, no matter my inexperience. My stubborn tantrum.
"Stark's a kid. Spent his life alone with Eisen. Like you, Fern."
"I had Heiter-sama and you."
"Right. You're a bit more grown-up then."
"Don't baby me."
Frieren-sama reads me like a book, treating me like a child. I'm younger to her, but more mature than Stark-sama. Still, she's the elder here.
"Linie bathed with her 'brother' too—Stark. No need to worry. I haven't seen, but your chest's probably bigger than—"
"Indecent."
"Sorry."
My respect vanishes. Indecent. I'm not hung up on that. She knows it. Still indecent. But they're like siblings. Bathing at that age, though…
"Good thing Himmel wasn't here."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Frieren-sama mutters cryptically. Why mention Himmel-sama now?
"Joking aside… you were jealous, right? Like Linie, your 'sister,' was taken."
She nails my unspoken frustration, casually exposing my heart.
"…You really don't get people, Frieren-sama."
"I'm an elf. But I get you a bit. I'm your other mom. Village kids gave me candy. Want some?"
"…I'll take it."
Swallowing retorts, I accept the candy, head down. She doesn't get it, saying embarrassing things so easily, playing up her "mom" role—probably rivaling Aura-sama from Stark-sama's story. She's thrilled I see her as a mom. Maybe I said it too soon.
"Feeling better? Want shaved ice?"
"No thanks. What's your plan with Stark-sama?"
"Plan?"
"Are you really taking him? He's never fought, not even monsters. Too cowardly for the journey."
Her feeding act annoys me, but I'm calmer. Topic shifts to Stark-sama. She's set on him, despite his cowardice and Eisen-sama's request. Why?
"You don't know Eisen's a coward, huh? No worries—he's Eisen's disciple, a warrior. He'll beat that dragon."
"…Eisen-sama? He said that, but it was a joke, right? Hard to believe."
Frieren-sama recalls, but it's unbelievable. Eisen-sama, cowardly? He said it, but I thought he was kidding. My confusion prompts—
"No wonder. Our hero party's legendary, exaggerated. In a century, it'll be unrecognizable. My master's seen as a man in the Empire."
She muses, eyes distant, sharing her experience. True—books paint her as a legendary sage, unlike the real her. Master must mean Flamme-sama. Gender-swapped? Humans forget. What about Frieren-sama?
"Anyway, dragon slaying's next. Tag would be fun, but village damage is bad. Gotta convince Stark."
"You sound excited."
"It's fun. Gathering allies is adventure's thrill. Himmel did it, but I get it now."
Frieren-sama's visibly thrilled. Gathering allies excites her. The hero party started with Himmel and Heiter, then Eisen, then her. Her first recruitment. Mimicking Himmel—cute, maybe.
"But… I'll leave it to you, Fern. You'll do better."
"Don't dump it on me! Why me?"
She casually delegates, like it's monster-slaying. What was all that talk?
"Leave it to the young, right? I'm your master. It's yours."
"You're still mad about Stark-sama's hag comment."
"Just your imagination."
She's holding a grudge over "hag." So childish. She'll never forget, even in a century. Sneaky, using her master card—I can't refuse.
"But how do I convince him? I've barely talked to boys my age."
Nervously, I admit my worry. I'm not smooth enough for this, especially reconciling and persuading. It could end like yesterday. My real reason for avoiding him today.
"Stark's the same. Here's a special magic: look at his palm when stuck. It'll be fine."
"Palm…?"
Frieren-sama confidently offers a charm-like "magic." Why a palm? I don't get it.
"I'm off."
"Where?"
"Dragon scouting. Gotta check if that see-through-clothes grimoire's in its nest."
Before I ask, she dashes off with a "woo!"—no trace of earlier seriousness.
I can only glare at her with absolute zero—
Sunset, growing chilly. Stark-sama sits on a rock near the cliff. I watch, hidden by a tree. I can't stay like this. Gathering courage, I approach naturally, but—
"Ah!"
He flinches, as if I'm the dragon, trembling. Such a coward. Nothing like Eisen-sama. Why did Frieren-sama say that?
"Don't be so scared. It hurts."
"Sorry…"
He shrinks more. Troublesome. But I'm here to reconcile, not fight. Recalling my goal, I take a deep breath. He stares, skittish.
"…Sorry about yesterday. I went too far."
First time apologizing to a peer—or fighting. I'm a kid, as Frieren-sama said. Will he forgive me? Silence. I tense, but—
"It's fine. I was wrong too. Nee-chan's too much. I'll let Aura scold her."
"Maybe. Aura-sama's her master."
He forgives, with a wry smile—very Stark-sama. He can't defy Linie-sama, so Aura-sama handles it. Like when she scolded us at Heiter-sama's.
"Hard to get, right? They look like parent and child."
"They're demons. Different values."
"Guess so… I called Aura 'Mom' by mistake a few times."
"Me too."
I sit beside him, keeping distance. Is this okay? I'm not sure, but I'm less tense. Shared experiences help. Aura-sama probably disliked being called Mom, but she was motherly. Lily-sama and Stroh-sama likely agree.
"Training here? Impressive."
I note the cliff—his training scars, like Eisen-sama's. Warriors are amazing. Why so cowardly? He should be confident.
"No big deal. Just routine. Nowhere near Master."
"Really? I'm far from Frieren-sama too. I worry about being useful."
"You seem serious, Fern."
"You're a delinquent. Looks aside, you're a runaway."
"Harsh!? Too close, too fast!"
I didn't mean it, but maybe too much. I don't get distance. Can't judge Frieren-sama. We both struggle under great masters.
"…Why'd you run away?"
I ask cautiously. It's sensitive, but I need—want—to know.
"I told you. Fought with Master. That's it."
"No. You wouldn't leave for that. There's a reason."
"What do you know? We just met."
"Yes. But I know a lot about you. Eisen-sama told me."
"Master…"
Mentioning Eisen-sama, he bites his lip. I know much from Eisen-sama's fond, proud tales. That's why I want to know.
"No lying then. I got scared—of myself. Master trained me, but I've never fought a monster. Always a coward. Scared I'd disappoint him…"
His anguish—fear of himself. Failing Eisen-sama's expectations despite his training.
I understand painfully. As a child, saved by Heiter-sama, I wanted to repay him, to stand alone. Frieren-sama trained me, but I struggled, pouring everything into it, anxious.
"So I ran… Nothing's changed. No escape even here. Laughable, right? Legendary warrior's disciple."
His "back then"—I don't know it. But I see him now, like me at my lowest, unable to break the rock. Frieren-sama said I'd succeed. My words won't reach him. What then? I recall her advice.
"Stark-sama, show me your hand."
"Huh? Why? I've got nothing."
"Just do it."
Standing, I kneel, half-forcing his hand open.
Seeing his palm, I understand. She's a true mage.
"You're Eisen-sama's disciple. Be confident."
"How?"
No hesitation—I'm certain. He's confused, pure, oblivious to the obvious.
"I've seen this palm. It's Eisen-sama's."
Worn, calloused from relentless training. Strong, gentle.
"Linie-sama's too. I remember her hand, pulling me as a kid. Same palm. Strong, forged through effort."
Linie-sama's hand, despite her dainty look, was like theirs—warrior's proof from Eisen-sama.
"Have confidence. You're Eisen-sama's disciple, Linie-sama's junior. This palm proves it."
He'll be fine. Like Frieren-sama and Heiter-sama guided me, his effort and their faith support him.
"What? A hand tells you that?"
"Yes. I'm a mage."
"Right, legendary mage's disciple."
"Frieren-sama's disciple. She's far from legendary—just sloppy."
"Master's like that too. Clumsy, stubborn old man."
"Tell Eisen-sama that. He'll love it."
"He'll hit me…"
Scratching his head, his tension and trembling gone. As Frieren-sama said, they're our masters, not legends. Mine's a handful. Stark-sama hasn't said it, but Eisen-sama's like a parent too. Obvious.
"Fine. Don't expect much. I might bolt."
"It's okay. We're alike."
Like my first monster fight—resolve is all he needs. He'll overcome.
"Girls' hands are soft. Nothing like Nee-chan's."
Unaware of my thoughts, he touches my hand, still held. Curious, he fiddles with it. How long?
"…Pervert."
"Huh? You said to show—"
"Pervert."
"Why!?"
Perverted. Outrageously so. Toying with a girl's hand. Maybe he doesn't see me as one, comparing me to Linie-sama. Not indecent—perverted.
I shake off his hand and leave, hiding my touched hand.
"Are you sure about us? Could've gone back to Eisen-sama…"
Leaving the village, mourned by locals, with Stark-sama. He slew the Red Mirror Dragon alone, too focused to notice. Nor did he notice angering another dragon's scale.
We fulfilled our goal and Eisen-sama's promise. Yet—
"If I go back, I'll get scolded. Am I a bother?"
"No, it's not…"
"Heh, Fern's shy. She's secretly happy."
"Frieren-sama? I'll confiscate that book."
"Sorry."
I chide Frieren-sama. She clutches her bag, guarding her new toy—a see-through-clothes spell. Useless, likely indecent. No practical use.
"She's got you whipped, huh? Frieren's the kid here."
"…You called me a hag again. One chance left."
"One more…?"
"What!? Am I gonna die!?"
Stark-sama realizes his death sentence from the dragon fight. Too late. I need to butter up Frieren-sama to mitigate it.
"Where we headed?"
"Freesia. North through the Granat checkpoint."
"We're that far already…"
Stark-sama asks, calming down. He knows our main goal, Aureole, but not the next stop. I tell him, but Frieren-sama looks glum, likely scheming to delay. But—
"Freesia… where Aura and them are?"
"Yes. Problem?"
Stark-sama, stunned, asks back. I brace, but—
"Huge problem! That's like going to Nee-chan!"
I sigh at his pathetic scream, fresh off slaying a dragon.
"She'll do more than scold! She knows I fought Master. She'll throw me off a cliff! I should go back to Master…"
He circles like a frantic dog, more panicked than our first meeting.
"Frieren-sama, he's no good. Let's find someone else."
I rushed things. Comparing myself to this coward insults Eisen-sama. Everything's ruined. But—
"Right, let's rest. Stark's a mess. Shame."
"Frieren-sama?"
"Kidding."
"Hey, Fern! Please, talk to Nee-chan for me!"
Frieren-sama's pathetic too, clinging to her grudge. Stark-sama grabs my robe, pleading. I pray—
Next time a new ally joins, may they be an adult I don't have to babysit.
Posted the latest episode. Stark arc ends. Next is Aura's past arc. I'll be unable to reply to feedback for a bit—sorry. Should be back next week. I'll focus on updates meanwhile.
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