Twenty-eight years after Hero Himmel's death, in a village by Lieger Canyon, Central Countries.
(This is Warrior Stark-sama…)
I eye the boy before me, Warrior Stark-sama. Around my age, sharp gaze, red hair, a large scar on his forehead. A villainous look, but the massive axe nearby—identical to Eisen-sama's—proves he's no ordinary person.
"So, we want you as our party's vanguard."
Unlike my tense self, Frieren-sama casually proposes to Stark-sama. Reliable in moments like this. Hard to believe she was chasing a dragon for a grimoire earlier.
Red Mirror Dragon.
A dangerous beast nesting in the valley, devouring adventurers and attacking the village. Only Frieren-sama would risk it for a rare grimoire. I can't stand being dragged along. Even she deemed it tough alone, hence meeting Stark-sama. Himmel-sama would've said it's to save the village, but the grimoire's the real goal—classic Frieren-sama.
"…"
Stark-sama, once imposing, turns jittery, glancing behind us, scanning around. What's wrong? Did he think we brought the dragon? Or expect Eisen-sama?
"What're you looking at? Eisen's not here."
"I know. Master wouldn't come here. I'm looking for Nee-chan. Isn't she with you…?"
"Nee-chan…? Stark-sama, you have an older sister?"
Frieren-sama shares my thought, but Stark-sama grows more unsettled. He's looking for his sister? Odd—Eisen-sama said Stark-sama was the warrior village's sole survivor. My doubt clears with—
"No! Linie-nee-chan! You know her, right? Master's acquaintance!"
Stark-sama's pathetic expression and voice.
"Again with that. Sure, I know her. Himmel's top disciple, a demon, right?"
"You didn't know until recently."
"Don't dwell on the past, Fern."
Frieren-sama boasts, unfazed by my jab. She's getting crafty, using "the past" conveniently. I'll scold her later. For now—
"Why's Linie your Nee-chan? She's Himmel's disciple, not your senior."
"Doesn't matter! First meeting, she demanded, 'Call me Nee-chan!' Makes no sense! Are all demons like that?"
Frieren-sama nods, satisfied. True—Lily-sama said Linie-sama visited Eisen-sama every six months. Living with his top disciple, Stark-sama naturally knows her. But it irks me. I know why.
"Heiter said she did the same to you, Fern, right?"
"…Yes."
As a child, Linie-sama told me the same. Unlike Stark-sama, I couldn't call her Nee-chan.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
"It's fine. She sulks when upset."
"I'm not sulking."
I protest Frieren-sama's babying, but I'm probably sulking. I wanted to call Linie-sama Nee-chan too, but Stark-sama beat me to it. My fault—too shy, too guilty. She must've been thrilled when he did. I planned to try in Freesia, but now…
"Why relieved she's not here? Aren't you close, calling her Nee-chan?"
Sensing my mood, Frieren-sama presses. Fair point. It started with Linie-sama's pushiness, but calling her Nee-chan implies closeness. Why relief? Yet—
"'Cause she's scary!"
Stark-sama's pitiful cry reveals his true feelings.
"Scary…? Linie-sama? She's lively, but not like that."
"You don't get it! You've never trained with her! She's stricter than Master! No human heart in her!"
"She's a demon."
Ignoring Frieren-sama's demon-hating quip, Linie-sama has a side I don't know. Likely warrior-to-warrior strictness, different from Frieren-sama's mage harshness. No need to say I don't get her—I spent time with her too.
"When I was little, she nearly threw me off a cliff! 'Warriors handle this,' she said. Unbelievable!"
"Warriors can't handle that? Eisen always did."
"You too!? Stop it, you hag! I'm human!"
His revelation overshadows my jealousy. What are warriors? I'd heard Eisen-sama's toughness tales from Frieren-sama, dismissed as jokes. They're true? Heiter-sama must've been horrified. Himmel-sama and Frieren-sama thought it normal. I pity Stark-sama. Linie-sama meant no harm, but for a child… His outburst makes me gasp because—
"So? Eisen's disciple, so I thought… Also, call me old again, and you're done. Two more chances."
"What's that? Scary."
"Be careful, Stark-sama. Even Himmel-sama dreaded it."
Stark-sama touched Frieren-sama's sore spot. Her only mercy is the warning. I've never seen it, but Heiter-sama and Eisen-sama warned me. If it happens, even Himmel-sama quaked. Must avoid.
"You and Fern both knew them. What'd you think of Aura?"
"Aura? What's that mean?"
"How'd you feel about her? Just curious."
"Dunno… Like a mom. Always doing chores, scolding me with Nee-chan."
"Yup. Waste of a question."
"Harsh!"
"Don't mind, Stark-sama. It's normal."
Frieren-sama steps on a landmine and crashes, déjà vu. Why ask when she knows the outcome? Not a mimic. Stark-sama's answer matches mine—not what she wanted. I feel a kinship with him, sharing similar experiences.
"But you call Aura-sama by her name?"
"Problem? Master did, and she told me to. Nee-chan seemed annoyed, though."
"Maybe that's why Linie-sama's strict?"
Calling Aura-sama casually makes sense, but it must irk her servant, Linie-sama. Likely why she's tough.
"No need to be so scared. She won't eat you."
"Normally, she would."
"Frieren-sama."
"Sorry."
I defend Linie-sama, but Frieren-sama's jab ruins it. Her demon dislike is fine, but read the room.
"You know, I had a falling-out with Master and came here. Haven't seen Nee-chan since. She'd be furious. I'd rather fight the dragon."
Stark-sama's serious, yet pathetic, hands trembling. How scary is Linie-sama? Or is he just a coward? Comparing her to a dragon's rude. But—
"Hmm… You think Linie could beat that dragon?"
"Obviously. Way stronger than me. Even Master says she's stronger."
"Stronger than Eisen now… Tricky. What to do?"
"What's that about?"
"Don't mind. It's Frieren-sama's hobby."
My master analyzes, her cold, demon-slaying mage face. She's likely planning for a fight with Linie-sama. I should scold her, but it's a skill I lack. Despite knowing Linie-sama's not dangerous, she assumes the worst. A mage's ruthlessness I must learn for future demon encounters.
"But I'm relieved. Linie-sama hasn't changed."
"Fern, right? You met Nee-chan too?"
"Yes, once as a child. She played with me."
"Same. But for me, it was mostly training. She thought I was her disciple."
"Very Linie-sama."
Talking about Linie-sama eases me. No awkwardness with a boy my age. I might keep Eisen-sama's promise. Linie-sama's unchanged, treating Stark-sama like a brother or disciple. Heiter-sama said she mimics with magic, copying Aura-sama and Himmel-sama. That's likely why.
"Everything she does is forceful. Playing, then suddenly switching. Forced me to bathe despite protests, then got scolded by Aura."
"Pure, isn't she? Someone said she's younger than she looks."
"She's over eighty, right? Demons are different."
"Like Frieren-sama and Eisen-sama. Her appearance hasn't changed?"
"Same as when we met. Still treats me like a kid, though I look older now. I can bathe alone."
He recalls, exasperated. I get it—I was swept up too. But her purity, her vibrance, charmed me as a child. She bathed me, copying what Aura-sama did for her. No malice, but demonic—her look barely changed. She seemed fourteen or fifteen then, young for a demon.
A snag hits me. Something in his casual words.
"When did you last see Linie-sama?"
"Right before my fight with Master… Three years ago. Why?"
I ask naturally, no suspicion. When did he last see her? He answers honestly, unquestioning.
"How old are you now, Stark-sama?"
"Seventeen, but—"
As expected, my age. Fine. The issue is—
"So… you bathed with Linie-sama until you were fourteen?"
Three years ago, at fourteen, he bathed with her.
"Yeah, but she forced me. Her chest's not even big, so it's no big deal—"
The worst part? He sees nothing wrong with it. No question, even mentioning her chest. Unbelievable.
"Indecent. Frieren-sama, he's no good. Let's find someone else."
Utterly indecent. Worse than Himmel-sama's skirt-flipping. Boys are like this. I was foolish to enjoy talking.
"What!? What's this about!?"
Stark-sama, clueless, is met with my icy glare as I storm off.
"You messed up, Stark. Fern's 'indecent' label sticks. I know."
"You too!? Useless!"
"Fern's scary when mad. Also, as your elder, women's charm isn't about chest size, Stark."
"Now I get why you're labeled indecent."
I console Stark, also deemed indecent. I'm the big sister. I should scold his chest comment, but I'll let it slide. Expected outcome—Linie's part, but Fern's shy, like me. Sorry, Stark, but better now than mid-journey.
"Forgot to ask—can you fight the dragon?"
"No way. Zero combat experience. Look, my hands are shaking."
"Eisen's disciple, alright. Even the trembling's identical. Though not from the dragon."
I ask the key question—predictable answer. This is adventure. Reminds me of starting with Himmel's crew, though everything's different.
"What to do…"
As the party's elder, a master, the legendary mage eagerly recruits a new ally.
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