"Stop messing around, Fíliya, and you too, Frieren. You two must have a plan, right? Like… using Flight Magic to slow the carriage's impact at the last second before it hits the ground."
After figuring it out, Fern relaxed considerably.
"Hmm… that's a great idea, but unfortunately…" Fíliya said, spreading her hands.
"?" Fern's eyes grew curious.
"Fern, Flight Magic can indeed be used on objects, but… the heavier the object, the more mana it takes to make it float, and the cost increases exponentially. Besides… we're several hundred meters up right now. To counteract the force of gravity from this height, even Frieren would have a hard time, right?" Fíliya explained to Fern, glancing in Frieren's direction.
"Mm… The mana cost isn't the problem, but I don't have any experience…"
Frieren rested her chin on her hand, seriously considering the feasibility of Fern's plan and whether she could precisely counteract the carriage's falling force.
"Hmm, that's true. Who in the world would have experience catching a carriage falling from several hundred meters up?"
Fíliya nodded, helping Frieren smooth things over. After saying this, her eyes darted around as if she had caught a fleeting spark of inspiration.
Then, she began to size up the red-haired Tomato Boy with a mischievous look.
"Uh… Fíliya… why are you looking at me?"
Stark subconsciously rubbed his shoulders with his hands, feeling a chill rise from the bottom of his heart.
"Stark, you're a warrior, right? Can you jump down first? If Frieren messes up, you can catch the carriage." Fíliya said with a serious face.
"Huh? If you want to kill me, just do it directly…" Stark said with a look of despair.
"Eh? Aren't you warriors all tough-skinned and physically strong? It's just four or five hundred meters up. Believe in yourself, you'll be fine."
As Fíliya spoke, a wicked smile spread across her face. She even reached out and patted the red-haired boy's shoulder very forcefully.
"I'll die! I'll 100% die! If it was just thirty or forty meters, I'd dare to jump… but at this height, forget it. Please, have mercy and spare me." Stark surrendered instantly, pressing his palms together and begging Fíliya for mercy.
"Hmph, you're so spineless… How can I entrust Fern to you like this."
"Is this really a question of being 'spineless'? At this height, forget me, even my master wouldn't dare to jump, right!?" Stark retorted loudly.
"Mmm... so we're back to square one, are we?"
Fíliya completely ignored Stark's complaints and silently returned to her original spot.
"Well then… how about we abandon the carriage? I'll fly with Stark, and Fíliya you and Frieren can look after our client."
Seeing the atmosphere fall silent, Miss Fern offered her suggestion again.
"Hmm, that's the last and worst option, Fern… I don't want the carriage to be destroyed. After all, there are no rest stops for a long way ahead, and it'll be troublesome without a carriage."
"...Then what do you suggest? You're quite mischievous, you know? You say you want me to come up with a plan, but then you immediately shoot down the two ideas I suggest, don't you? In that case, you and Lady Frieren must have a solution, right?"
Fern's cheeks visibly puffed out.
"Oh? I think we went a little too far—"
Fíliya knew, of course, that once Miss Eggplant started speaking in honorifics, it meant she was angry.
So, she could only quickly move over to Frieren's side and exchange a look with her.
"Looks like we have to use that method."
"Mm… right. It's the safest way. I'll leave it to you." Frieren nodded.
Fern watched their interaction, feeling utterly speechless.
How many things have these two been hiding from me? Why am I starting to not understand what they're saying…
Thinking of this, Fern couldn't help but grit her teeth.
This feeling of being the only one left out was certainly unpleasant, but Fern could only sigh silently while secretly making a resolve in her heart.
I have to get stronger. At the very least, I can't let those two continue to ignore me when they're discussing magic.
Even Fern herself never expected that someone like her, who didn't hold a particular passion for magic, would actually start to change under Fíliya's influence.
Then Fern saw that after discussing something with Frieren, Fíliya reached out a finger and tapped Frieren on the forehead.
A faint light emanated from Fíliya's fingertip.
Fern could tell this was a sign of Fíliya using some unknown magic, while Frieren closed her eyes, silently accepting Fíliya's assistance.
What on earth are these two doing… Such curiosity filled Miss Fern's heart.
But she also knew very well that this was surely a crucial moment, and she couldn't disturb them at a time like this.
The carriage fell silent once more.
This continued for two minutes before Fíliya finally withdrew her finger, because Frieren had given her the [that's enough] signal.
"Oh? Faster than I thought." Fíliya chuckled lightly.
"Mm, a few times' experience is enough. I'm confident now."
A calm and confident smile appeared on Frieren's lips.
"Then I'll kill this monster bird, and you ensure the carriage lands smoothly?"
"Mm."
The two very efficiently confirmed their roles, but just then.
Miss Fern, as expected, couldn't hold back and raised her hand.
"Please explain to us what you two were just doing."
Miss Fern said with a blank expression, but it was clear her eyes were overflowing with an unconcealable curiosity.
"Hmph... Fern, you know that most mages in this world specialize in a certain field, right? So, why don't you guess what my specialty is." Fíliya answered Miss Fern's question with a question of her own, in her very characteristic style.
"I don't know."
Fern answered immediately without a second's hesitation, and it wasn't because she was too lazy to think.
"Mmm... although I'm quite greedy and have learned a little bit of basically everything, if I had to pick a specialty... my best would have to be [Phantom]."
"Oh?"
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