A Promise and One's True Heart

On their journey to defeat the Demon King, the Hero Party heard about a dwarf warrior who had protected a village for over three hundred years.

So they came to the village.

Himmel was curious about what had made Grandpa Voll protect the village for hundreds of years.

After spending a few days there, just as they were about to leave,

Himmel asked, "Why have you protected the village all this time, Grandpa Voll?"

Grandpa Voll glanced at the hero who was setting out to defeat the Demon King.

He said, "The reason isn't important."

"People don't risk their lives for things that aren't important."

Himmel spoke softly, but his words stirred Grandpa Voll's memories.

He said, "Because this is the village my wife loved dearly."

"I'm a dwarf, and she was human."

"Although she passed away a long time ago, I made her a promise."

"Isn't it ridiculous? Protecting this village year after year, just to keep a promise to someone who's gone."

Himmel fell silent.

The answer was a little too heavy, and he couldn't help glancing at Frieren.

Frieren tilted her head in puzzlement.

"Yes," Himmel said earnestly. "But I'm sure she'd be happy that you've kept your promise."

Grandpa Voll studied the hero before him.

A moment later, he said:

"Himmel, you're an excellent hero. I believe you can defeat the Demon King."

"My wife always looked forward to the day the Demon King would be defeated, too. Let me carry the memory of the legendary hero Himmel into the future."

Himmel chuckled. "I appreciate the thought, but Frieren and Eisen are in my party, too."

"I don't have a lifespan as long as an elf's," Eisen replied.

Hearing that, Himmel smiled and looked at Frieren. "Then it seems we'll have to leave that task to Frieren."

"Frieren will carry our memories into the future, right?"

"I don't really mind."

"In that case, I'll have to show Frieren my carefully prepared collection of handsome poses later."

"I think I'd rather not remember that..."

Under the night sky.

Only then did Frieren realize that perhaps Grandpa Voll hadn't been joking earlier.

He really couldn't remember clearly anymore.

Dwarves generally lived for around three hundred years, while Grandpa Voll had protected the village for nearly four hundred.

She chuckled and turned her gaze to the stars in the sky.

"What is it?"

Hearing her laugh, Grandpa Voll was curious.

Frieren said softly, "I'll carry my memories of you into the future too, Grandpa Voll."

"Hmm, that sounds nice too." Grandpa Voll nodded and continued, "I'm glad I got to see you in the final days of my life."

"You said that eighty years ago too."

When Frieren returned to the cottage, she found that the light in Rienta's room was still on.

So she knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock."

Rienta opened the door and saw that it was Frieren. Though he didn't know why she had come to see him so late,

he invited her into his room.

They each sat down.

He poured Frieren a cup of tea and asked, "Lady Frieren, is something the matter, this late at night?"

Frieren took the tea and had a sip, carefully considering her words.

She knew about Rienta's uncertainty.

But just as Grandpa Voll had said, Rienta really was fixating on things.

He compared his magical talent to Fern's, his talent as a warrior to Stark's, and his knowledge to her own.

In all her years of traveling, she had met many human geniuses.

But this was the first time she had met someone so well-rounded.

Especially when it came to developing new magic.

He knew that Rienta's new Defensive Magic could automatically defend against enemy attacks.

He also knew that Special Effects Magic had gained offensive power.

It was only because she didn't want Rienta to become too proud that she hadn't praised him.

In Gräser Forest, when they were dealing with Qual,

Qual had learned Fern's Defensive Magic in a short time.

Afterward, Rienta had remarked more than once on how wide the gap was between him and a genius.

But Defensive Magic had originally been developed on the basis of Man-Killing Magic.

Qual was a demon genius, someone no weaker than the Seven Sages of Destruction.

As its creator, it was no surprise that he knew the shortcomings of his own magic.

But Rienta seemed to think everyone had that kind of talent.

"Rienta, actually..."

Rienta saw that Frieren had sunk into thought as soon as she entered, and hadn't even noticed that she had finished her tea.

She kept drinking from the empty cup.

He also understood what Frieren wanted to say. Grandpa Voll must have told her about his situation.

"Lady Frieren, there's no need to worry."

"Hmm? You already know what I want to say, Rienta?"

Rienta smiled faintly, stood up, and looked at the moonlight outside the window.

He had originally been just an ordinary person who had come to this world by accident.

From being at a loss when he first arrived, to feeling relieved after learning that he didn't have to deal with the Demon King himself.

Yes, relieved.

Rienta had never thought he could become a hero who saved the world.

They had firm convictions, reasons they couldn't lose, and great talent.

But to him, those were undoubtedly luxuries.

His so-called talent also came from the panel.

Becoming a Sword Immortal or something like that was just a goal to aim for.

A reason to keep going in this world.

Having finally come to another world, he couldn't just spend decades drifting through life as he had before.

School, work, marriage, children.

Spending his whole life burdened with a mortgage and car loan, only for his descendants to repeat the same life.

A life whose ending he could see at a glance left him feeling a little breathless.

After discovering all kinds of novels, he became fascinated by the protagonists' spirited confidence.

Countless times, he imagined what he would do if he transmigrated.

But when it actually happened to him, he was completely at a loss.

Fortunately, Heiter had taken him in.

During these years of travel,

at some point, he had begun to feel that he was a burden to the party.

Without thinking, he had wanted to catch up to them.

Perhaps it was when he first met Stark.

Perhaps it was when Fern killed Lügner.

But was catching up to them really what he wanted?

Rienta smiled at Frieren and said, "Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Frieren."

"I'm not a genius, and I don't need to become one."

"I have my own path to walk, and the setbacks I meet along the way will only become fuel to keep me moving forward."

Frieren stared blankly at Rienta, putting aside what she had wanted to say about him being a genius.

"In that case, get some rest, Rienta."

Early the next morning.

Rienta and the others prepared to leave and continue on to Äußerst.

When they reached the village entrance, Frieren said to Grandpa Voll, who was still standing guard there:

"Goodbye, Grandpa Voll. Take care of yourself."

"Frieren," Grandpa Voll called out to her. "I dreamed of my wife last night."

"Did you?"

"Perhaps it was because I talked about the past with you."

Hearing that, Frieren was very happy that Grandpa Voll could remember those precious memories.

"Farewell."