Chapter 45 — Things Like Putting a Child to Bed
Thinking back on his travels through Koriti, on Ailemira's life, and on the golden-haired elf's stubborn softness—
Elias finally understood.
When Ailemira decided to gamble her entire life on fire magic…
Serie—who had always scorned mediocrity—
had unknowingly wagered her entire worldview against her.
In the end, Serie lost.
Utterly.
But she also gained something new—
the realization that even someone as "ordinary" as Ailemira had the right to pursue magic,
even if they had only a short life to burn.
Perhaps she had sensed it even then…
that two thousand years later, she would officially take on her first human disciple.
And now, looking at it—
that disciple named Flamme had indeed lived up to the title.
As for Flamme's own disciple…
Elias sat up from his bed.
Every night around this time, the room next door would erupt into muffled sobbing.
Counting the days—
this was Freiren's tenth day of crying.
"That girl…"
Elias sighed inwardly.
A being who could live for a thousand years—
crying for ten days straight over her current weakness.
Even short-lived humans don't wallow this long… how can she not endure it?
He had originally planned to ignore her.
But after days of drifting through old memories…
a strange impulse stirred in him.
The corridor was dark as pitch.
Elias stepped quietly to the door next to his.
He reached for the handle—
And froze.
"Tch… damn it…"
"How does Aivis manage things like… putting children to bed?"
"Am I supposed to make up some random adventure story and whisper it to her?"
His face twisted.
"No.
Absolutely not."
The mere image of that scenario made his entire being recoil.
His stomach churned in protest.
"Forget it. I'll be direct."
Elias breathed in deeply.
The moment the door clicked open, the white-haired elf curled up on the bed felt his familiar mana signature.
"Huu… huuu…"
"That awful demon…"
"You held it in for ten days… and finally couldn't resist coming to laugh at me, right…"
Elias: (≖_≖'')
"…So in your eyes, I'm someone who enjoys kicking others when they're down?"
Freiren sniffled.
"If you have nothing important to say, get out.
I still have twenty days of crying left.
Don't interrupt me…"
"Huuuu…"
Watching her small trembling back, Elias spoke helplessly:
"Freiren… Success doesn't happen overnight."
"There are humans—ordinary, talentless humans—who spend their entire lives learning only a single spell.
Through effort alone, they still become great mages."
"But you're different.
Much greater, actually."
"You saw through my disguise the very first moment we met.
Even sensed my mana suppression technique."
"Don't say it."
Freiren burrowed deeper into the blankets, her lips pouting.
"Elias… did Teacher Flamme force you to come say these dishonest things?"
"You clearly look down on me."
"No one forced me."
"I'm just speaking my honest thoughts."
Elias paused, then continued thoughtfully:
"Freiren… actually…"
"Other than your weird collecting habits…
your greediness…
your love of playing around…
your lack of manners…
your atrocious sleeping posture…
your inability to wake up…
your dislike of fighting…
your obsession with 'last-hits'…
and all your other flaws…"
(ง•_•)ง
"You're really quite good."
The moment Elias finished speaking—
—swish!
A white-haired head shot out from under the blankets.
«(≖_≖'')»
"…Did I go deaf?"
"What a novel way to compliment someone."
"That was… an awfully long buildup. Must've been hard for you."
Elias scratched his head under Freiren's deadpan stare.
"Finally willing to show your face."
"Anyway, I meant every word."
"Trust me—before long, you'll break through your mana suppression."
"——I already have."
Freiren wrapped herself in her blanket and sat upright, beginning her mana restriction.
"Look."
"That day, the Meteorite Bird already stepped inside the circle.
That means I've reduced my external mana leakage to one-fourth."
Elias watched the faint tremor in her mana field and narrowed his eyes.
"Heh… if you succeeded, shouldn't you be happy?"
"I was happy—for about three seconds."
The elf sighed numbly.
"I spent all that time, all that effort, finally achieved my goal…"
"And in the very next moment—
I found out even some random old man on the roadside could crush me without trying."
"And he looked like a completely ordinary human, too.
Makes me feel like a joke."
---
"Old man? What old man?"
Elias blinked, genuinely confused.
"My mana perception covers a dozen mountains.
If someone that strong were nearby, I'd have at least sensed something."
"Is that so…"
Freiren let out a hollow laugh.
"In that case… that grandpa must truly be a top-tier existence."
"Impossible."
Elias rejected the idea instantly—his expression stern for once.
"At present, aside from Serie and that brat from Ende,
it's nearly impossible for anyone to escape my mana detection."
"Believe what you want…"
Freiren flopped backward, face empty.
"I'm already done resisting."
---
"Tomorrow."
Elias rose abruptly.
"Tomorrow you'll take me to him."
"I want to see this so-called top-tier existence for myself."
Leaving behind that sharp declaration, Elias stormed out of the room.
The moment he turned the doorknob—
the door to the guest room across the hall closed with a soft click.
—Whew…
Flamme leaned against her door, clutching her chest, not daring to breathe.
She had nearly been discovered.
But more importantly—
That cold, aloof Elias… actually went to comfort someone?
Had she not heard it herself, she would never have believed he even possessed such a gentle side.
Which personality was the mask?
Or… were both sides real?
He truly was a difficult man to read.
Flamme smiled faintly as she lay back down, eyes drifting toward the ceiling.
Whatever the case, the fact he even cared was already remarkable.
They would see what tomorrow brought.
And she wouldn't interfere.
---
Months later—
Elias once again entered the forest where the Meteorite Birds lived.
This time, their roles were reversed:
Freiren walked ahead, guiding him.
"That grandpa always appears out of nowhere, laughing 'hehehe' like a creep."
"Then he spends a while trashing me, saying I'm not worthy to talk to him."
"After laughing and leaving, he'll show up days later and say the same things again."
Elias remained silent.
Freiren's description… was indeed strange.
"We're here."
Freiren pointed at the ground.
"This is the circle you drew."
"And the grandpa usually shows up around—"
"—Hehehehehe…"
Right on cue.
That familiar laugh echoed through the trees.
Freiren spun around—
and the next moment—
She spotted the hunched back, the Mediterranean bald patch, and the unmistakable silhouette.
"Elias! That's him!"
"That's the old man!"
"And look at his shoulders!"
"They're covered in Meteorite Birds!"
Elias followed her ecstatic gaze and turned calmly toward the old man in the distance.
His brow furrowed.
"…Hmm."
"That feeling…"
-