Farewell, Sword Village

Over half a year of living together, Kraft also learned that Frieren's travel destination was Heaven—Aurevole.

"Never mind." Seeing that Frieren was unwilling to answer the question, Kraft did not continue to press.

Instead, he asked about a topic they had left unfinished a long time ago.

It was on the second morning after arriving at the shelter, after gathering supplies, while Rienta and Fern were busy making breakfast.

As fellow long-lived elves, Kraft was also very curious about Frieren's past deeds. But during that previous time, perhaps because they had just met, Frieren did not answer.

And now, after half a year of spending every day together, plus the fact that everyone was about to part ways.

"Tell me about yourself, and I'll chat with you about myself, too. Since you don't believe in the existence of the Goddess, I'll praise you properly in her stead."

This familiar phrasing stunned Frieren; someone had said the exact same words to her in the past.

But that seemed like a very distant memory already.

The priest Heiter of the Hero Party had once funded an orphanage, though at that time he was already known as the Drunkard Monk.

Yet he still believed he was extremely pure and upright, and that the Goddess would surely praise him after he died.

Just like Kraft now, wanting to praise her in the Goddess's stead.

Yet back then she was just living lazily, with nothing worth praising.

Unexpectedly, Heiter had said, "But you are always suppressing your mana, and it looks like the fruit of painstaking effort. It's as though you're betting your whole life on it."

Though she had said her past was very boring, Heiter still insisted that her unyielding efforts were worth praising, and even said it would help later generations learn.

Looking at Rienta and Fern clearing the snow off the roof in the direction of the shelter.

All of this seemed destined by fate.

Frieren gave a soft chuckle and still rejected Kraft's proposal.

"Forget it. Someone has already praised me."

"Is that so," Kraft said with some emotion. "You have a very good friend, Frieren. Cherish them well."

"That guy is already..." Frieren fell silent for a moment, looking at the wooden pendant in her hand. "He's in Heaven now."

"Then the two of you will meet again someday."

"Yeah."

After restocking the supplies at the shelter, Kraft officially bade farewell to the group.

"Frieren, this won't be our last time meeting. See you a few centuries from now."

With that, Kraft left.

Frieren had already handed the pendant over to Fern.

Stark had Eisen's guidance before, and while he made progress during this period, it was far from as obvious as Rienta's.

After all, this could be considered the first time Rienta had martial arts guidance from a renowned master.

Previously, without relying on magic, Rienta could only last one move against Stark before needing healing magic.

But now he could manage around ten moves.

After lingering for half a year, the group once again set foot on the trek across Mount Schvia.

Year 29 of the Shinshi Era

Mount Schvia in the Northern Lands.

You could only say that a blizzard truly lived up to its name as the strongest opponent for the Northern Lands' army.

Not long after stepping into Mount Schvia, Rienta and his group encountered a blizzard once more.

Although it was not as fierce as the one that trapped them for half a year previously, Frieren, who had not rested well for a long time, was already overwhelmingly sleepy.

Lingering at the back of the group in a wobbly state, she ultimately failed to hold on and fell asleep.

Right now, Fern was carrying her on her back as they pushed forward.

Stark, having undergone specialized training, did not pass out this time.

Before losing consciousness, Frieren had told them about a village on the mountain where they could stay.

During the search for the village, Stark offered to carry Frieren on his back for Fern, but only got the reply of "pervert."

They walked like this for half a day.

The blizzard that had lasted for several days gradually stopped.

Rienta and his group successfully found the village Frieren had mentioned.

However, the houses on the outskirts of the village were somewhat dilapidated, as if they had been attacked by something.

As the group approached the village with a hint of doubt, a petite figure was already waiting for them.

Once the group drew closer, that person hurried over a few steps to stand before Frieren, standing hard on tiptoe to look at Frieren as she said softly:

"We have been waiting for a long time, Lady Frieren."

Frieren asked with curiosity, "Are you the current village chief? So young."

"Yes, I am the forty-ninth village chief." The village chief gave an affirmative reply, then said with a great sense of ritual: "Welcome to Sword Village!"

With that, she led the group toward a prepared house in the village.

Along the way, Frieren asked with some curiosity, "What's the situation with the destroyed houses outside the village?"

"They were destroyed by the Mountain Lord. It's a good thing you've come." The village chief's tone was somewhat emotional.

Stark had been carefully observing the village's situation ever since entering it; he actually had heard quite a few stories about Sword Village.

Finding this village was proposed by Frieren, but she hadn't mentioned that this place was Sword Village.

"So this place is Sword Village."

Rienta looked at Stark with some strangeness, not expecting Stark to actually have a scholarly side.

Stark rolled his eyes at Rienta and began explaining to Fern, who was still puzzled:

"Sword Village, the village that guards the Hero's Sword. It is said that in a sacred domain not far from the village, there is stuck a Hero's Sword personally bestowed by the Goddess. Many famous heroes throughout history failed to pull out that sword, until eighty years ago."

"How does that phrase about the Hero's Sword go again..."

Hearing the discussion among the people behind her, the Sword Village chief said, "The only one who can pull out the Hero's Sword is the hero capable of defeating the Calamity That Destroys the World."

"That's the line!" Stark then looked confusedly at Rienta and Fern.

"This story is quite famous. Haven't you heard it?"

Both Rienta and Fern shook their heads.

Although their adoptive father Heiter was a member of the Hero Party, he had never spoken about the Hero's Sword.

While they were talking, the group arrived at the dwelling the village chief had arranged for them.

Upon entering the house, Frieren crouched in front of the fireplace, comfortably feeling the warmth from the flame.

Rienta and the others sat facing the village chief.

The village chief sat in a chair, struggling to put on a stern expression as she said to Frieren, "Lady Frieren, you clearly promised me that you would come again half a century later, but this time you didn't come for so long. Even one as mild-tempered as me cannot help blowing my top."

"That above is the last will left by the great-great-grandmother village chief."

Frieren explained with some embarrassment, "Didn't I also say back then that it wouldn't be a problem to come again eighty years later? As a village that guards the Hero's Sword from generation to generation, self-defense shouldn't be an issue, right?"

"That may be so, but we still need you to fulfill your duties."

Fern looked at Frieren, who was warming herself, and asked, "Lady Frieren, what does duty refer to?"

"Subjugating monsters. Around this village, monsters frequently become active at regular intervals."

Frieren explained with a somewhat lacking tone.

Rienta recalled the destroyed houses they saw before entering the village; sure enough, the village chief also mentioned this matter.

"The Mountain Lord has been wreaking havoc everywhere recently, causing us a great deal of trouble."

Frieren: "..."

"Then let's go solve them tomorrow. The sooner troublesome matters are resolved, the better."