Chapter 13 – One Look at the White-Haired Girl: Identified as "Furry"
Three nights earlier, outside the quiet village beneath the pale moonlight—
Elias stood beside the carriage, watching Flamme's determined eyes.
"Why are you entrusting her to me?" he asked.
"My disciple is stubborn as a rock," Flamme replied, her tone laced with helpless fondness. "Even Serie can't get through to her. But she does have one weakness—she's a glutton."
Elias chuckled softly. "So you're making me her chef now?"
"Think of it as me owing you one, Elias."
She turned her gaze northward, where war clouds darkened the horizon.
"The frontlines are collapsing. I can't take a child who knows nothing of battle with me."
Without another word, she stepped onto the carriage. The sound of wheels faded into the night until only silence remained.
Now, days later, Elias sat at his dining table, recalling that final glimpse of her resolute back.
Flamme… how much has this war changed you, I wonder?
And yet, he was certain of one thing—her killing intent toward him had never faltered.
Even at her most calm, she'd always faced him as if preparing to strike.
"It's already been years, hasn't it…" Elias murmured. He took a large bite of his fragrant fried egg, washing it down with fresh milk gifted by the villagers.
Then—a faint rustling sound behind him.
He turned toward the corner of the room.
There she was—the white-haired elf Flamme had left in his care.
For three days straight, the girl hadn't spoken a single word. She'd curled up against the wall, watching him with wide, unreadable eyes—like a wary animal cornered in a strange den.
Even when hungry, she refused his food, nibbling instead on dry biscuits pulled from her travel pouch—
munch, munch, munch—like a white-furred mouse.
"Little one, are you really going to keep this up? My fried eggs are far better than those biscuits, you know~"
The white-haired elf looked up at him for half a second… then lowered her head again.
munch, munch, munch…
"Hey," Elias sighed, "Flamme didn't leave you with me so you could starve yourself."
At the mention of her master's name, the elf hesitated for two seconds—then resumed chewing.
munch, munch, munch…
"…Mercy," Elias groaned, rubbing his temples.
He tried recalling her name, but his mind went blank.
Damn. What was it again?
Flamme had only said it once before hurrying off to war.
Something like Fu…
"Furry?" he muttered.
"…It's Frieren."
The white-haired elf finally spoke, crumbs clinging to her lips.
Elias turned, pleasantly surprised. "Ah, so you can talk! All right then, Frieren. Since you've broken your silence, come have some fresh eggs and milk."
"You don't have to bother with me," Frieren said flatly, resting her chin in her hands. "I'm just trying to figure out why my teacher would entrust me to a demon. That might take… about a month."
Her gaze shifted upward, ever so slightly, as if she were seeing something invisible above his head.
"Oh?" Elias smiled faintly. "You've already seen through it—my nature as a demon?"
Now he was intrigued.
Even among demons, only a handful could sense the faint residue of his true power.
Among human mages, almost none.
But that raised another question.
Flamme had said this white-haired elf—Frieren—was the sole survivor of a village annihilated by demons.
Meaning—
"You, whose kin were slaughtered by my kind… can sit here without trying to kill me?"
"Because I can't imagine what fighting you would even look like," she answered calmly. "Before I could attack, I'd probably just run away… like a mouse."
Frieren lifted her golden eyes. Her cool, unblinking stare moved over Elias like the edge of a knife.
"A demon who voluntarily restrains his magic," she said softly. "And even with the restraint, your power is still… beyond anything I've ever sensed."
"Heh… so that's it." Elias gave a wry smile, lowering his gaze.
"You not only saw through my disguise, but even detected the pulse of my suppression field… Now I understand why Flamme chose to take you as her student."
"—But… you really need a whole month to ponder something so absurd?"
Like the old dwarf, elves have minds that are impossible to read…
"All right. For that month, I'll just expand the warehouse—add a few rooms."
Frieren answered coolly, unmoved: "You needn't trouble yourself. I might run away one day anyway—though I don't know where I would go."
"Then I wish you luck. My barrier is no joke."
Elias walked to the door, glanced back and smiled, "Don't forget to eat the breakfast on the table~"
—Click.
When the door shut, Frieren lifted her head and stared at the breakfast left on the table.
How different could milk-and-eggs made by a demon taste from those made by humans…?
She swallowed. Then she took out another biscuit.
munch, munch, munch…
— — —
Word of Elias's plan to expand the warehouse spread fast. The village chief called a meeting; everyone offered ideas, labor and coin. Elias had meant only to add a few rooms, but the villagers would not hear of it. To them, the great mage Elias should not live so plainly.
A month later, by the whole village's effort, the shabby warehouse had been transformed into a three-story, fully furnished villa with balconies, a garden and even a swimming pool.
On the day it was finished, Frieren finally rose from her corner. Surrounded by flowers given by the villagers, she climbed to the roof and stood beside Elias.
"The villagers really like you," she said quietly. "Now I understand why my teacher entrusted me here."
"Is that so…" Elias looked toward the trio of statues in the village square and smiled. "I'm just learning how to live the small, trivial life—doing tiny, inconsequential things, trying to feel what people call 'happiness.'"
Frieren closed her eyes and let the breeze from the woods brush her face. "A trivial life… that doesn't sound bad."
"What—no plans to run away now?" Elias's eyes twinkled with mischief. "You spent a whole month hidden in the corner, quietly analyzing my barrier spells. You must be close to cracking them, right?"
Frieren: «(=ω=)»
"So you noticed, did you…"
Elias chuckled. "Ha—Frieren, I'm three thousand years older than you; don't underestimate your elders."
"In that case, I have even less reason to flee."
Frieren dug in her travel pack and produced the last biscuit. "Honestly… if I'd known there was no chance of escape, I wouldn't have had to eat this disgusting thing for a whole month."
"Disappear completely!" she snapped.
—Bang!
The biscuit that flew through the air turned to ash under Frieren's rapid spell. She exhaled in relief. "Elias—I'm hungry."
Elias watched her walk down the stairs and smiled wryly. The gluttonous elf at last shows her true colors…
Seems the days ahead will be filled with more trivialities than anyone could imagine.
Flamme—think carefully how you'll repay me when you return.