Chapter 47 — Elias's Wallet, RIP?!
"Flamme, the eggs are burning."
"Oh—oh no…! Sorry!"
Flamme hurriedly snatched the pan off the fire, wielding the spatula like she was fighting for her life—scraping, prying, hacking at the fried egg glued stubbornly to the bottom.
"Ugh… why does my hand feel off today? Elias, is there something wrong with your pan?"
"Flamme, this pan has been with me for a thousand years. There's nothing wrong with it."
"Is it…?"
Flamme bared her teeth.
"Then the eggs must be the problem."
Elias watched her struggle like she was dueling a monster, the corner of his mouth twitching upward before he quietly turned back to chopping tomatoes.
Truly a Valkyrie of the battlefield.
Even frying an egg looked like combat.
After a fierce battle of woman vs. cookware, Flamme finally plated the egg and proudly presented it to Elias.
Her green eyes sparkled with anticipation.
(¬‿¬)✧ "Elias, how is it?"
Elias glanced at the charred, tragic thing on the plate, avoided eye contact, and nodded calmly.
"It's… a bit burnt. But that's fine. Give it to Freiren."
"Really…?"
Flamme leaned in to sniff it, genuinely puzzled.
"So Freiren likes her food this… dark?"
Just then Elias poured the tomato mixture into the pan, the sizzling sound filling the kitchen.
Footsteps bounced from upstairs.
Freiren descended the stairs with renewed energy, hopping the last few steps—landing lightly and spinning like a ballerina.
"Tadaaa~~!"
"So? So?? This new dress Teacher Flamme bought me—isn't it gorgeous?"
"It's beautiful!"
Flamme clapped like an excited parent, eyes sparkling as she swooped in for a hug.
"I passed by a clothing shop and saw this adorable light-blue dress. I knew it'd be perfect for you! A reward for breaking through!"
"Thank you, Teacher Flamme~"
Freiren lifted her skirt sides and curtsied like an aristocratic lady.
Then, smiling mischievously, she aimed her gaze at the one man who hadn't turned around even once.
"Elias. What do you think?"
Elias sucked in a long breath and reluctantly turned his head.
He was prepared to say "It's fine."
But instead—
He met Flamme's terrifying, silent death-glare.
"…It's… pretty."
"Really?!"
Freiren lit up like fireworks, spinning again with smug delight.
"Hmph hmph hmph~"
"But compared to Teacher Flamme, someone here doesn't seem to be showing any sincerity…"
Elias snorted a laugh.
This little fox…
She was obviously fishing for a gift.
He dropped the noodles into the pot, answering in a perfectly bland tone:
"Don't be greedy, Freiren."
"Just eight days ago I cooked you a whole feast myself."
"And after stuffing yourself full, you praised my cooking to the heavens."
Freiren plopped into her chair, cupping her round cheeks, smiling slyly across the table.
"How can that be the same?"
"That feast was a comfort meal, as compensation for my emotional trauma~"
"But achieving my training goal… should warrant a separate reward, right~?"
Elias wordlessly ladled noodles out, topped them with the sacrificial fried egg, and floated three bowls onto the table.
Even as he sat down, a helpless, ridiculous smile stayed frozen on his face.
Across from him, Freiren's crafty elven stare glinted like a dagger.
Heh.
So this is how she wants to play it.
"…Fine, Freiren."
Elias set down his chopsticks.
"After breakfast, we'll take a trip to the Holy City"
"You may choose one item. I'll pay."
One hour later, Freiren pointed at a magic store sign and declared:
"Elias, buy me this shop."
(''≖≖)… «(=ω=)»
(≖≖'')ノ «(=ω=)»
"…We're going home."
"No—no—WAIT! Elias!!"
Freiren kicked and flailed while shouting:
"You clearly said I could choose anything I wanted!"
"Anything?"
Elias let out a cold snort.
"A magic shop is technically a thing—but you, little girl, are definitely not a thing worth buying."
«(=ω=)» "Okay okay~ I was just kidding~ Hurry and put me down~"
Seeing the two bicker and scuffle, Flamme couldn't help laughing.
"Hahaha… Elias, your relationship with Freiren is far better than I imagined."
At that, Elias instantly dropped Freiren like hot coal and turned away stiffly.
"No, it's not…"
"That ungrateful brat…"
"If the villagers weren't so reluctant to let her go, I wouldn't dream of living with her!"
Flamme only shook her head—she was long used to his tsundere routine.
She had to admit, giving Freiren to Elias back then was a gamble.
But over time, she saw it clearly:
Despite being a demon, Elias was the type whose heart was warm beneath the frost.
Under his care, Freiren was happier than Flamme had ever seen her—
Because compared to a blood-soaked battlefield, a peaceful little village was where an elf truly belonged.
Just this once…
Flamme was sure she had gambled right.
"Elias."
"Freiren already went inside."
"If you don't follow her soon, your wallet may not survive."
"…What?!"
Elias jolted like lightning struck him.
"When did she disappear?! That damn brat—!"
He dashed into the magic shop—and just in time saw Freiren stretching on tiptoe, pointing at the top shelf.
"Boss, could you take down that bottle of Nasal Extract of the Green Demon Boar for me~?"
At once, the store owner appeared behind her like a ghost.
"This adorable elf lady has excellent taste!"
"Nasal Extract of the Green Demon Boar is incredibly rare. As a potion base, it produces a stench beyond imagination!"
"If the lady likes it, I can offer a special half-price discount—only three Strahl gold coins!"
The shady grin, the exaggerated pitch, the identical discount—
It was word-for-word the same scam as some time ago.
"Are you serious right now, Freiren?"
Elias stepped forward.
"It's been half a year, and you're still hung up on this thing?"
"So what?"
Freiren spun around with puffed cheeks:
"You promised I could pick anything! This bottle of snot definitely counts as a thing!"
Elias lost track of how many times he had sighed at the stubbornness of elves.
"Freiren, you could have chosen something actually valuable."
"This bizarre little bottle has been sitting on the shelf for six months without a single buyer—that alone proves it's worthless."
"That's because the others have no taste~"
A smug smile crept onto Freiren's face.
"Only truly great mages can see the hidden value of this snot~"