Asking Around and a Commission

Inside a hotel room.

Heiter, clutching a wine glass, slumped on the table and mumbled, "Arrival... still no clue."

While doing sit-ups, Eisen chimed in, "Not a single clue."

They followed the main road and soon arrived at the town.

They then visited the Church and the Mage Association as planned.

But they gained nothing.

Himmel smiled helplessly, looked at Frieren, and said, "It seems it will take some time."

Standing to the side, Frieren remained silent for a moment, then said softly:

"I'm sorry to have dragged you into such a troublesome matter."

"No, it's alright." Himmel smiled slightly and said, "The greater the difficulty, the better; that's what makes it exciting."

Heiter looked up at the excited Himmel beside him and remarked, "This guy is really serious."

Eisen stood up, nodded, and said, "After all, Himmel always likes to take detours when traveling."

Frieren stared blankly at Himmel: "Come to think of it, Himmel is just that kind of person..."

Himmel laughed nonchalantly for a moment, then added, "Then let's go to the tavern tonight and gather some information."

Should we go to the tavern to inquire about magic?

Frieren tilted her head, looking at Himmel with some confusion.

Heiter, however, became interested and finished off the rest of his drink in one gulp.

"I think Himmel's idea is excellent!"

Eisen quipped, "You think going to the pub is a great idea, right?"

Heiter waved his hand and said with a smile, "They're all about the same, they're all about the same, haha."

Evening.

Inside the town's only tavern.

Although Himmel's suggestion was somewhat implausible.

However, the group still split up and each used their own methods to gather information.

Heiter has even started drinking contests with the guests.

They only regrouped after they had asked most of the people in the tavern.

Heiter, who had single-handedly taken on an entire table of guests, was unconscious and slumped on the ground to the side.

However, it seems there was nothing to be gained.

Frieren wasn't particularly surprised by this.

It would be strange if the [wine-loving monks] who entered the tavern didn't get drunk.

At this moment, Himmel, accompanied by a merchant, approached the group and said somewhat awkwardly:

"... I'm sorry, I've accepted a commission to escort a merchant..."

Eisen, who hadn't gotten any useful information either, sighed helplessly, "You really like taking the long way around..."

Early the next morning.

On the main road.

The merchant drove his carriage slowly forward, with Himmel and his three companions following alongside.

"Thank you so much for accepting my request; it's been a great help."

Himmel smiled and shook her head, indicating that the merchant didn't need to worry about it.

After all, he had received payment for taking on this commission.

Then, looking at Frieren beside him, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Frieren."

"I can't just leave the person the phantom is helping unattended."

Frieren had grown accustomed to Himmel.

Or rather, the Himmel who would do this is the Himmel she knows.

"It doesn't matter, we're not in a hurry to get going anyway."

"Countless Magical Beast inhabit this Northern Plateau, so someone has to take on the job of escorting merchants."

Himmel looked at Frieren beside her, deeply moved. "Frieren..."

He had barely begun when Frieren abruptly changed the subject, adding, "However, if it were me, I certainly wouldn't meddle."

Having overheard their entire conversation, Heiter remarked, "Frieren really hasn't changed at all."

Having traveled with Frieren for so long, he certainly knew Frieren temperament very well.

To give a very simple example, if no one wakes Frieren up, Frieren can even sleep until she's hungry.

They've reached an extreme level of laziness.

Heiter quickened his pace and caught up with the two people ahead.

"Frieren, will you continue traveling in the future?"

Frieren: "More or less."

At this moment, Eisen, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up and asked, "What is the purpose of Frieren's travels?"

Are there any other companions?

Upon hearing Eisen's question, Himmel also quietly pricked up her ears, waiting for Frieren's answer.

Frieren turned her head, her gaze sweeping over Eisen in Heiter, then shook her head and said:

I can't say that.

"I'm not sure if this information will affect the future."

"That makes sense." Heiter nodded, without pressing further.

After a moment's thought, Frieren realized something.

Even if you can't give specific details, expressing your gratitude is still fine.

"However, Heiter and Eisen were a great help to me, especially Heiter."

Heiter looked at Frieren with some confusion. "I don't quite understand what you mean..."

Eisen didn't understand either, but he wasn't particularly curious.

As a dwarf, he would only be middle-aged by human standards.

It was only eighty years; he soon found out.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds pretty fun."

What about me?

At this moment, seeing that Frieren hadn't mentioned herself, Himmel quickly asked.

Frieren's lips curled into a slight smile as she looked at Himmel and said earnestly, "Himmel has given me a lot of motivation."

"Phew~" Himmel breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "That's wonderful."

Having said that, he reached out, flicked his bangs, closed his eyes, and said with great self-admiration:

"It seems my efforts to preserve bronze statues in various poses have been worthwhile."

Heiter looked at Himmel was lost in her own world, with a hint of helplessness.

Whenever he arrived in a new place and dealt with the local Magical Beast, Himmel would always commission someone to make a bronze statue for him.

This request should theoretically be completed very quickly.

It involves posing in a certain way, drawing the image, and then creating a bronze statue based on the drawing.

But Himmel would spend an entire day deciding which position to use each time.

Heiter complained helplessly, "Can you please stop spending an entire day deciding which position to use?!"

Frieren also recalled her previous experience of waiting for Himmel to decide on the pose.

Himmel could genuinely spend an entire day pondering what posture to adopt.

"That was a really long wait..."

Eisen: "Just recalling it makes Frieren's eyes look empty and lifeless."

Heiter: "For an elf to say something like this, Himmel is truly terrifying..."

Himmel said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry."

"However," Himmel said, then added seriously, "In order to preserve my beauty for posterity, the statue must be perfect."

Eisen: "Where exactly does this enthusiasm of yours come from?"

My cold has returned.

The next chapter will be later.