Birthday 2

"What a beautiful red agate gemstone."

Upon receiving Li Yan's gift, Fern looked at it with delight. It was said that this gem was also a magical artifact, although its use was currently unknown. However, it was certain that its beauty was priceless.

Seeing how much Fern liked his gift, Li Yan couldn't help but feel happy. To him, a mere red agate was nothing compared to Fern's happiness; he even planned to let Fern become the Lionheart King.

Gazing at the beautiful red agate, Frieren swallowed hard. Her gift seemed rather absurd. Her usually unreliable senior brother could give such a precise gift, while she, who was usually the most serious, had given a bottle of unconventional magic potion with indescribable effects.

Under Fern's expectant gaze, Frieren somewhat shyly took out the magic potion. At that one glance, Li Yan's eyes widened. He had been searching for so long for the last bottle of magic potion, but he never expected that his Junior Sister would take it. Moreover, his Junior Sister actually wanted to give this magic potion to Fern as a birthday present.

"No, Fern, this is for you. It's a magic potion that allows you to see whatever you want."

Frieren handed Fern a magical potion that could dissolve clothes. Fern didn't quite understand what Frieren meant and blinked, looking at Li Yan.

"This potion can dissolve clothes; Frieren probably means you should use it on someone you like."

Li Yan also explained somewhat embarrassedly, mainly because he hadn't expected Frieren to give such a thing as a birthday present.

"Dissolve the clothes of the person you like?"

Fern blushed slightly, her eyes filled with disbelief as she looked at Frieren. Frieren, who had always been known for her pure and innocent image, was actually such a refined scoundrel, actually... actually giving her such a gift.

Fern opened the bottle of magic potion, biting her lower lip, wanting to return it intact to Lady Frieren. But thinking of the potion's effects, her mind wandered. The person she loved was right beside her. Pouring the potion on that person, their clothes slowly corroding...

Overwhelmed with excitement, Fern's ears turned slightly red. He put the item into his pocket, then suddenly felt a little reluctant to lean on Lady Frieren.

When he saw Fern open the bottle, Li Yan thought a memorable scene was about to unfold, and he was prepared to close his eyes. Unexpectedly, Fern put the medicine away, and his ears turned red.

Wait, that doesn't fit the plot!

Not seeing Fern pour all the corrosive potion on Frieren, Li Yan pondered for a moment and assumed that Fern had probably put it away because of his presence. After all, seeing his Junior Sister's... well, that wouldn't be good. Fern was thinking of him.

In the 28th year of the Era of Himmel's Passing, Li Yan brought Frieren others to the village where Stark was temporarily residing. The reason was not for any other reason than that there was a very important Magic Tome here, and visiting Stark was just a side trip.

That Magic Tome was of paramount importance; it was one of the spells Li Yan most desired to acquire throughout her magical research career. Its uses were versatile, and although it wasn't combat magic, it was even more powerful than combat magic.

Upon entering the village, the first thing that catches the eye is the bronze statue of the Hero of the South and Himmel, indicating that Himmel and the Hero of the South have been working very hard to protect the villagers.

"Stark, come over for dinner later!"

"Stark, let's play house together."

"Stark, the apples at my house are ripe. Come over and have some apples later!"

The villagers seemed to be warmly inviting a boy wearing a red shirt, with various bandages on his hands, and reddish hair with black hair in the middle.

"Yes, Grandma Wang."

"Little Bick, play again later."

"Uncle Moss, I'll pick some fruit for you after I finish eating."

The boy greeted the villagers with practiced ease, his face bearing an innocent smile, giving off a simple and unpretentious youthful vibe.

Li Yan greatly admired Stark, but Li Yan didn't plan to take him on his travels. He had suitable people to accompany Stark, after all, he didn't want to have a pig around who was always trying to steal his cabbage.

"Is he Stark? The apprentice Eize mentioned?"

Frieren looked at the innocent-looking Stark and couldn't help but let out a soft snort.

On her way here, she noticed a Red Mirror Dragon around the village, and the villagers lived a very peaceful life. So there was only one reason: it was because of Stark that the Red Mirror Dragon dared not invade the village's territory.

After all, intelligent Monsters won't throw their lives away for nothing. Even if they're just injured, Monsters won't attack easily, because being injured in the wild means instability, and they could be attacked by other Monsters at any time.

For this reason, Red Mirror Dragon and the village lived in harmony.

Of course, the peaceful coexistence of humans and Monsters cannot last forever. Once the threat of Stark leaves, the Red Mirror Dragon will attack the village immediately.

"Yes, he's practically Eize's adopted son, since he was raised from a baby to adulthood."

Looking at Stark, who was getting along naturally with the villagers, Li Yan seemed to see the shadow of Himmel in him.

Instead of contacting Stark immediately, Li Yan led the group to inquire about the time and events surrounding Stark's arrival in the village.

The villagers' view of Shutark: Three years ago, when a dragon attacked the village, Stark appeared and stood his ground against the Red Mirror Dragon for a long time. The Red Mirror Dragon was then forced to leave, thus protecting the village.

But Li Yan knew perfectly well that the real Stark was so frightened that he dared not move, and then he started the Emperor Engine.

Upon learning that it was indeed Stark had arrived, causing the Red Mirror Dragon that had attacked the village to flee in panic, Li Yan became even more certain that his most beloved Magic Tome should still be in the Red Mirror Dragon's lair. Since the plot was proceeding smoothly, Li Yan planned to approach Stark as the story had initially unfolded, and have Stark take the initiative to fight the Red Mirror Dragon one-on-one.

After enjoying a delicious lunch and helping Uncle Moss pick fruit, Stark encountered a few traveling adventurers he had glimpsed that morning. Seeing them walking towards him, Stark was about to ask if they needed any help.

"Stark, right? Eize's apprentice."

Li Yan's words stunned Stark for a moment. He already understood the purpose of these adventurers' visit. Just when Stark thought Li Yan had come to persuade him to go back, Li Yan's next words left him dumbfounded once again.

"We'd like to invite you to kill the Red Mirror Dragon the village, since the three of us are all mages and cannot get close to it."

Li Yan waved his staff, and at the same time, the delicate bodies of Frieren and Fern convinced Stark that the three people in front of him were mages. Seeing that they wanted him to act as their vanguard, Stark lowered his head with some difficulty.

"I'd like to help you, but... I might not have the ability... You should find someone else."

Sweat beaded on Stark's face. His opponent was the most ferocious dragon Monsters. Its hard red scales alone were not something an ordinary person could break. A third-rate Warrior like him was no match for the Red Mirror Dragon!

"Stark, you can do it! The Red Mirror Dragon only left because it saw you!"

Li Yan pointed out the point that had been puzzling Stark: Stark had always believed that the Red Mirror Dragon had left by chance, so his arrival at that exact moment made him a hero in the eyes of the villagers. He had always enjoyed the treatment of a hero, always thinking that he was just lucky, and refused to believe in his own strength.

"I..."

Stark looked at Li Yan, who was staring at him with unwavering eyes, with a bewildered expression. He was at a loss for words. Did Li Yan really possess the strength to scare away the Red Mirror Dragon?

"Think it over carefully, Stark. The Red Mirror Dragon will attack the village one day. Are you going to run away like you left Eize then?"

"To be a deserter forever?"

"Running away will never solve the problem!"