The morning sun had just risen.
It hadn't yet had time to fully spread its warm light across the land.
Frieren and her companions had already arrived at the drawbridge at the entrance of the City of Magic, Äußerst.
"Mr. Stark..."
"The sunrise is so beautiful!"
Fern gazed at the horizon in the distance.
Reflected in her eyes was the slowly rising morning sun.
Her beautiful eyes seemed filled with hope and joy.
"Huh?"
Stark clearly hadn't adjusted to the disrupted sleep schedule yet.
Hearing Fern's voice, Stark rubbed his eyes, which were almost too sleepy to open.
He looked towards the place that made him feel a bit dazzling.
The morning sun!
And under the morning sun, Fern, who couldn't contain her inner joy and twirled around.
The girl's long hair danced freely in the air with her graceful figure.
The girl's voice, as pleasant as a silver bell, carried her joy clearly to his ears.
"Yes, yes it is."
"So beautiful..."
Stark was wide awake!
His sleepiness was completely gone.
The boy's blush surpassed everything.
"Mmm~"
Fern covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
She didn't know if she was laughing at how infinitely beautiful the morning sun was, Or if she was laughing at Mistress Frieren, who was standing there with her eyes closed, dozing off.
"Mistress Frieren..." Fern gently walked to Frieren's side.
She took Frieren's small hand.
"Don't sleep anymore, it's time to go!"
The direction of the morning sun was Yulian's direction of travel!
Fern lightly clenched her small fist.
Let the journey be faster!
Let them catch up to Yulian's footsteps!
"Fern..."
Frieren felt Fern return to her side.
She immediately leaned against her without hesitation.
She clung tightly to Fern like a sloth.
"So sleepy..."
Drowsily, Frieren didn't know if she was talking in her sleep or complaining about getting up too early.
"Ah..."
Fern looked at this scene with helplessness.
Although it was true that she had woken Frieren up early, combed her hair, changed her clothes, fed her breakfast, put on her shoes, etc.
But it was clear that Frieren hadn't fully woken up yet.
"Are you leaving?"
An old man's voice sounded behind them.
Frieren's ears twitched slightly.
She became much more awake.
After straightening up, she looked towards the person who had arrived.
"You are... that old grandfather?"
Fern looked at the old man wearing a white magic robe and with white hair, and recalled his identity!
It was during the registration for the First-Class Mage.
The old grandfather who recognized Frieren's Holy Emblem!
"Yes."
"My name is Lernen."
Lernen smiled and nodded at Fern.
His gaze then turned to Frieren, who wasn't very friendly towards him.
"Mistress Frieren, are you setting off again?"
He spoke quietly.
Frieren slightly furrowed her brows.
There was a hint of displeasure on her face.
She gently nodded.
"We are preparing to set off."
Yes...
Preparing to set off...
This legendary Mage is about to set off again to achieve great accomplishments...
Lernen paced.
He revealed a bitter smile and spoke.
"Also..."
"The Demons in the north has started to advance..." Frieren thought for a moment.
She shook her head.
"This is just a simple trip to the Demon King's Castle."
Defeat the Demons?
She had only just heard that the Demons had made a comeback.
Her original purpose for setting off again was simply to go to the place where souls sleep.
She wanted to see Himmel, that's all.
As for defeating the Demons?
Perhaps.
But she didn't know if she would do that.
To gamble the safety of her companions and herself to fight the Demons.
Frieren lowered her eyes.
If it were Himmel, the purpose of the journey would have been to defeat the Demons.
And the people beside him were like-minded companions.
However, she was bringing Fern.
Stark.
Rather than calling them companions, It was more like taking care of children.
Bringing the whole family to fight the Demons?
Frieren shook her head.
Perhaps there would be battles with the Demons.
After all, she couldn't stand by and do nothing about the Demons's atrocities.
But it would definitely be within her capabilities.
Even she was well aware that her strength was by no means invincible.
And Eisen had also said before.
So-called battles are about risking one's life.
"Mistress Frieren..." Lernen was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
He thought Frieren was very humble.
You are going to their old home, and you say you are not going to conquer the Demon King?
It really made him laugh.
"You are indeed someone I can never catch up to in my lifetime."
Lernen gave up the idea of sparring with Frieren.
He admitted defeat.
Whether it was foresight or mentality, He was far inferior to Frieren.
Even in terms of mana.
What if he saw through Frieren's mana?
His own mana was still inferior to Frieren's.
Perhaps it was really as Lady Serie said.
She shouldn't have taken humans as disciples.
Even if they spent their entire lives training their magic techniques, They could only ever touch upon the surface of such a Great Mage.
"How awkward."
Frieren couldn't help but let out a slight puff of hot air from her nose.
"You are Serie's disciple, aren't you?"
"Why do you always get stuck in a dead end because of a few words from her?"
Dead end?
Lernen's body trembled slightly.
Frieren ignored his reaction and continued to speak with dissatisfaction.
"You two, master and disciple, are really awkward."
"You are working hard to prove yourself to Serie..."
"But you yourself, or rather, Serie, haven't told you."
"Even if you consider yourselves [unknown], and haven't left your names in history."
"But she remembers each of your names, personalities, favorite magic, and the memories of spending time with you."
Frieren finished speaking with an indignant tone.
She pulled Fern and Stark and was about to leave.
Clearly, she herself had been targeted by Serie and could no longer enter the Mage association.
Yet she still had to explain the master-disciple relationship between them to her disciple.
Frieren truly felt quite wronged.
"Names, magic, memories..."
Lernen stood frozen in place.
He muttered the words Frieren had said.
Finally, He raised his head.
He looked at Frieren, whose figure was stretched long by the morning sun as she walked away.
A light that did not belong to an old man's eyes shone in his eyes!
"Thank you, Miss Frieren."
He shouted forcefully towards Frieren's receding figure in the distance.
Frieren just curved her lips into a smile.
She waved her hand behind her without looking back.
[Frieren, after I'm gone.]
[You must also take good care of Serie for me...]
In her old age, Flamme lay quietly on the bed.
Looking at Frieren standing quietly beside her.
She smiled and instructed her while gently stroking Frieren's head.
She said this.
At first, Frieren thought Flamme was being overly worried.
After all, was there anything that a Great Mage like Serie needed her to take care of?
But later, Frieren gradually realized.
It turned out that the so-called grandmaster who had lived for thousands of years, That woman at the top of the human Mage pyramid, "Mistress Frieren."
Fern looked at Frieren, who had suddenly fallen asleep in her arms, and showed a helpless bitter smile.
"She fell asleep..."