"No... isn't the movement of Frieren's party a bit too slow?"
Fíliya began to calculate rapidly in her mind.
It had been roughly half a year since she saw Frieren's party off in the City of Magic, Äußerst.
She had busied herself at the Continental Magic Association headquarters for over three months, and only after dealing with all the matters at hand did she come to the Northern Plateau to rendezvous with Solitär... After meeting up, they spent another two months preparing in the abandoned shipyard...
Reasonably speaking, Frieren and her group should have been half a year's journey ahead of her. Yet, they only arrived at this village last month?
"Fine..."
Given Frieren's style of delaying for ten days to half a month at every location to clear out every possible request, it would indeed waste a considerable amount of time...
However, thinking about it, this method of 'wasting' time is what truly constitutes a 'journey.' If one were to just sprint toward the destination right from the start, that would only count as 'official business.'
The initial shock vanished in a flash, and Miss Fíliya quickly calmed her mood. At this moment, the old woman's narration was also drawing to a close.
"...So, there really isn't anything in the village that needs help with right now."
"? But if we don't do something, we won't be able to sleep peacefully, you know?"
Seeing the old woman's intention to refuse, Fíliya immediately smiled and added that sentence.
Of course, this was a lie. Possessing [Hypnosis Magic (Schlafengeflügel)], how could she possibly experience a situation where she 'could not sleep'?
"Oh my, there really isn't anything. You all just stay here with peace of mind."
The old woman looked at Fíliya somewhat helplessly.
"There must be something. Could I trouble you to think carefully? Just consider it for the sake of our stable sleep."
Fíliya put on a pitiful appearance, staring with large, watery eyes as she reached out to tug at the old woman's sleeve.
"...Sigh, you child."
Seeing that she really couldn't out-stubborn her, the old woman stood up and paced back and forth in the room twice before looking at Fíliya.
"If you insist, I do actually have one matter I wanted to find someone to help with..."
The old woman spoke with a tone of embarrassment.
"Just give us your instructions."
Fíliya also patted her chest and stood up.
...Consequently, the old woman led them out the door and around to the back of the wooden house.
Fíliya focused her gaze and saw that on the roof at the back of this wooden house, there was actually a small section where some colorful little decorations had been hung.
"This is...?"
"Perhaps I was infected by the enthusiasm of the previous team of young adventurers... Ever since they left, this old woman thought that I should also decorate this old house... But as you can see, climbing up and down this roof... this old woman couldn't do it for long before I couldn't move anymore... These decorations were all made by me, too."
"So your request is for us to help you hang up all the decorations, is that it?"
"Mn... Don't you laugh at me. I'm an old thing about to enter the earth, yet I'm still fussing over these flashy things."
As the old woman spoke, she scratched her head, feeling very awkward.
"How could we? I can understand your feelings. You want to add a hint of change to your life, right? Even if the village has become dilapidated, this positive mindset of yours is enough to add radiance to it."
"You child, you really know how to talk... This old woman was also inspired by the previous team of adventurers. Seeing that young man's appearance full of vigor, I suddenly remembered my own past as well. So, I just felt that I had to make a little change."
"Mn, I understand what you mean. Change, is it...? That is truly nice. As long as one has the heart to change, it is never too late, no matter when."
Fíliya chuckled softly and nodded, then unconsciously glanced in Solitär's direction.
"..."
Solitär only felt as if her heart trembled, but in the end, she couldn't completely grasp Fíliya's intent. So, she continued to maintain her silence, as if she needed a bit more time to think.
"Then, we will accept your request."
As Fíliya spoke, she slowly shifted her steps and walked to Aura's side.
"Alright, off you go."
Fíliya spoke to Aura like so.
"Hah?"
Aura's eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Fíliya with a shocked expression.
"What? Isn't it fine to just use magic to hang those decorations up one by one? For you, it's effortless, right?"
Fíliya continued smiling.
"Uh... Th-that is true, but... but why is it me doing it?"
Aura blinked blankly.
"Mn... Miss Aura, in your past life, have you ever done a single good deed?"
Fíliya chose to answer a question with a question.
"Ugh... It seems I haven't."
After a brief thought, Aura answered honestly.
"So, let this be your first time. Go quickly."
Fíliya's smile remained as brilliant as ever. She then circled behind Aura, directly pressed her hands on her shoulders, and pushed Aura out.
"?! I... I got it! Don't... push me!"
Aura stood beside the old woman with a flushed face, while the old woman looked at this girl with long purple hair with curiosity.
Of course, the conversation between Fíliya and Aura had been deliberately kept at a low volume, so the old woman did not hear it.
"Really... what is the meaning of this kind of thing..."
Miss Aura seemed to be muttering something in a low voice, but this didn't stop her from being 'honest in body despite her complaining mouth.' Following Fíliya's instructions, she perfectly accomplished the old woman's request.
After successfully realizing the old woman's wish, amidst her grateful words, everyone returned to the room.
"Thank you all so much... Don't look at me like this, but when I was young, I was the best artisan in the village. The children loved the things I made..."
The old woman's words were full of memories.
"Mn, speaking of which, why has the village become abandoned?"
Fíliya asked in a calm tone. The reason she asked this was, of course, because she was asking despite already knowing the answer.
"Wasn't it because of those damned demons!"
The old woman's benevolent expression suddenly revealed a trace of sharpness.
"As expected."
Fíliya nodded, then lifted her teacup to take a sip of tea.
As for the three members of the Demon Race beside her, they all became even more silent the moment the old woman revealed her killing intent.
"Because the Demon Race reoccupied the Northern Plateau region... the young people all fled to safer cities. That just left us old things, who are about to enter the grave, still hanging on and refusing to leave."
After the old woman finished saying this, the air appeared relatively silent for a time. Even Fíliya did not respond to the old woman immediately; she seemed to be waiting for something.
"Then... why didn't you flee together with the young people? To be honest, I cannot quite understand."
The one who spoke up first was actually Solitär.
This event, which pleasantly surprised Fíliya somewhat, happened after all. She originally didn't hold much hope, but she hadn't expected Solitär to truly step forward and take up this topic.
Was it purely due to curiosity? Or was she truly touched?
Fíliya narrowed her eyes, observing Solitär's reaction with keen interest.
"?"
The old woman was stunned for a moment because the one speaking to her was that lass who had been keeping to herself and refusing to speak.
Mn, this lass is a head shorter than that young person called Fíliya, and looks quite similar too... Is she this child's younger sister? Even though they are sisters, their personalities are worlds apart... The old woman thought to herself.
"Because, this is my hometown... No matter what happens, I am unwilling to abandon this place... Besides, I am someone who was meant to enter the earth long ago. Whether it be monsters or the Demon Race, I don't care. This old woman doesn't have much meat on her body anyway; if the Demon Race wants to eat, the worst that can happen is letting them eat!"
____
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