Everyday Life

After traveling for days, the party reached a stone bridge spanning a swift river around noon. The bridge was old, but it looked sturdy enough. A crooked wooden sign stood at its entrance, the words "Stonebridge Town" faintly visible on it, pointing toward a cluster of rooftops just visible across the river.

"Stonebridge Town should be just across the bridge." Himmel stopped and shaded his eyes as he looked across. "Let's rest in town for a bit and replenish our supplies."

"Yay! We can have a hot meal!" Ruby was the first to cheer. After several days of rations, her little face had nearly wrinkled up like a bun. Like an eager puppy, she was the first onto the stone bridge, bounding toward the other side.

Heiter and Eisen followed close behind. Lowell and Frieren brought up the rear at their usual unhurried pace.

The bridge was narrow, with only enough room for two or three people to walk abreast. Frieren walked along the riverward side, watching the white waves churn beneath the bridge, apparently captivated by the ceaseless flow. She became so absorbed that her steps unconsciously slowed, and a small gap gradually opened between her and Lowell ahead.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

"Roaaar—!"

A deep roar came from the riverbank beneath the bridge! Amid the clatter of falling stones, a huge dark shape burst out from under the arch, sending water spraying everywhere!

It was a gigantic Water Lizard, its dark green skin covered in bumps. Its yellow, slit-pupiled eyes were fixed on the nearest target on the bridge—Frieren, who happened to be alone. Its thick tail swept around and slammed into a bridge pier, making the entire stone bridge tremble. Then it opened its massive, sharp-toothed jaws and lunged at Frieren, a foul gust rushing ahead of it!

"Lady Frieren, look out!" Ruby, who had already reached the middle of the bridge, heard the commotion and turned, ready to rush back.

Himmel's expression hardened, and his hand went to his sword hilt. Eisen and Heiter also turned at once.

Yet Frieren, at the center of the storm, reacted in a way no one expected.

She didn't turn to look at the monster lunging at her. She merely frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure on her face, as if annoyed at having her observation of the water interrupted. Just as the Water Lizard's gaping maw was about to reach her back—

Frieren gave the wrist holding her staff the slightest flick.

The bottom of the staff tapped lightly against a loose stone on the bridge, seemingly by accident.

"Splash!"

A tremendous splash rang out.

The ferocious Water Lizard, as if it had stepped into empty air or been nudged by a deft, invisible force, lost its balance completely. With a short, bewildered howl, its massive body fell straight past Frieren and crashed into the swift river. A great spray of water shot up, and after a few struggles, it was swept out of sight.

From the monster's appearance to its disappearance, the whole affair lasted no more than two or three seconds.

Frieren never even turned her head all the way around. She merely glanced at the river out of the corner of her eye and, after confirming that whatever had disturbed her was gone, turned back to watch the water, as if she had just brushed away a speck of dust. She even raised a hand and gently flicked the few drops of water off her cuff, the gesture as graceful as arranging a plate of afternoon tea pastries.

The bridge fell silent in an instant.

Ruby froze mid-run, her little mouth hanging open. Himmel slowly loosened his grip on his sword, a flicker of surprise and understanding in his eyes. Heiter rubbed his head, while Eisen nodded silently, as if he had noticed something.

Only Lowell's lips curved into the faintest, knowing smile. He walked over to Frieren and asked casually, "Are you all right?"

"Mm." Frieren answered without breaking stride, as if nothing had happened. "The water's a little fast."

The two continued forward, passing Ruby, who was still standing there in a daze.

Ruby finally came to her senses and trotted after Frieren, circling around her, her green eyes full of lingering fear and admiration. "Lady Frieren! Are you all right? That was so dangerous! How did you do it? How did that monster just fall off by itself? Did you use some kind of advanced disaster-avoidance magic?"

Frieren stopped and looked at Ruby, her expression as impassive as ever, though a nearly imperceptible glint of mischief passed deep within her green eyes.

She extended a finger and gently tapped Ruby's smooth forehead, her tone casually teasing. "It's a secret. Want to know?"

Ruby nodded vigorously, like a little bird waiting to be fed.

Frieren bent down slightly and leaned close to Ruby's ear. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she whispered, "Trade me your entire share of dessert next time."

Ruby instantly turned to stone. The admiration froze on her face, replaced by immense indecision and struggle. Her share of dessert! That was her lifeblood! She looked at Frieren's face, so close to hers and wearing a faintly teasing smile, then thought of that incredible move, torn in a fierce inner battle.

Frieren straightened up and walked on without looking at her again, leaving her with a breezy remark. "Just kidding."

Only then did Ruby let out a long sigh of relief and pat her chest. But her curiosity soon got the better of her again, and she hurried after Frieren, pestering her. "Lady Frieren, just tell me! A little hint is all I need! I... I'll give you half... no, a third of my dessert!"

Walking ahead, Lowell listened to Ruby's chatter of pleas and Frieren's occasional cool replies of "no" and "it's nothing," and shook his head helplessly. He glanced at Frieren beside him. In the sunlight, even the ends of her silver hair seemed to carry a touch of the pleasure of a successful scheme.

Stonebridge Town was smaller than expected, with only one main street and a few shops. The party settled in at the only inn, which also served as a tavern, and had a simple lunch. Although Ruby was still shaken by the thought of losing her dessert share, she pushed her honey-baked apple in front of Frieren and looked at her expectantly.

Frieren quietly finished it, then gave a little yawn. The days of travel and the midday sun had left her somewhat tired.

"I'm going upstairs for a nap," she said to Lowell as she stood.

"Mm." Lowell nodded and continued drinking the weak tea in his cup.

Ruby watched Frieren's retreating figure as she climbed the stairs and blinked, seemingly pondering something.

About an hour later, the corridor on the inn's second floor was perfectly quiet. The door to Frieren's room was slightly ajar. A small red figure slipped silently up to the door like a cat.

Ruby held a small paper packet containing an extremely pungent dried herb she had just bought at the town's general store. It was said to be used as an insect repellent. An excited, mischievous smile on her face, she planned to sneak a little beside Frieren's pillow as payback for scaring her with the dessert earlier.

She carefully pushed the door open and peeked inside.

The room's window was open, and a breeze stirred the light-colored curtains. Frieren lay on her side in bed, facing the wall. She seemed to be fast asleep, her breathing slow and even. Her long silver hair spread across the pillow like soft satin. Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, falling on her slightly curled hand, its pale, slender fingers resting loosely on the edge of the blanket.

Holding her breath, Ruby tiptoed toward the bed, the paper packet already open in her hand. Just as she was about to shake out the powdered herb—

Frieren suddenly moved.

She didn't wake up. Rather, she unconsciously rolled over in her sleep and ended up lying on her back. The hand that had been resting on the blanket slipped down with her movement, hanging limply over the side of the bed, right in Ruby's direction.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her lips pursed unconsciously, as if she were having an unpleasant dream. Her long eyelashes, like two little fans, cast soft shadows beneath her eyes. She looked utterly defenseless, even showing a hint of childlike vulnerability that would never have been seen in her usual manner.

Ruby froze instantly.

She looked at Frieren's peaceful sleeping face and slightly furrowed brows, then down at the packet of pungent herbs in her hand. Her urge to play a prank vanished all at once, like the air from a pricked balloon.

She suddenly felt that disturbing such sleep would be an awful thing to do.

Ruby quietly put the paper packet away, tucking it back into her pocket. She crouched by the bed and watched Frieren for a while. Then, on some strange impulse, she reached out her little finger and touched Frieren's index finger, which hung over the edge of the bed, ever so lightly.

The touch against her fingertip was warm and soft.

Frieren seemed to sense it in her sleep, and her finger curled slightly, but she didn't wake.

Ruby quickly pulled her hand back as if she had been burned, her heart beating a little faster. Looking at Frieren's still-peaceful sleeping face, she slowly broke into a slightly silly smile, a mixture of guilt and relief.

She no longer thought about her prank. Instead, she began to worry that the sounds outside might disturb Frieren. She tiptoed to the window and closed it a little farther, leaving only a narrow gap for air. Then she gently drew the curtains, softening the light in the room.

Once she had done all that, she took another look at Frieren, sleeping soundly in bed. Only then did she tiptoe out of the room, satisfied, as if she had completed an important mission, and gently pull the door shut behind her.

In the corridor, Ruby leaned against the door and patted her chest. "Forget it. I'll let you off this time... Lady Frieren," she whispered to herself.

Meanwhile, inside the room, at the very moment the door closed—

The corners of Frieren's mouth, though she was supposed to be fast asleep, curved upward almost imperceptibly, the tiniest hint of a successful scheme in her smile.

Her finger moved gently, and the faint tickle of that touch seemed to linger on its tip.

"Dummy."

The barely audible murmur faded into the afternoon sunlight.