Dividing the Spoils and a Sundae

When the setting sun turned the horizon orange-red, the party reached the town marked on the map. It was livelier than Stonebridge Town, with shops lining both sides of the cobblestone streets. Cooking smoke drifted upward, and the aromas of food and alcohol filled the air.

Under an old locust tree at the town entrance, Lowell stopped and pulled the small money pouch from inside his clothes.

"Come here a moment," he called to the others.

Everyone gathered around. Lowell untied the pouch and poured its jingling contents onto the lid of an unused barrel nearby. Most were copper coins, with a few shiny silver coins mixed in, glimmering faintly in the sunset.

Lowell sorted through the coins with his fingers, deftly dividing them into six small piles of roughly equal value. His movements were casual, as though he were sharing out wild fruit.

"Here." He pointed at the piles. "A share for everyone who was there."

Heiter was the first to reach out and cheerfully scoop up his pile, the silver coins clinking pleasantly together. "Haha! I can have a couple of good drinks tonight!" He weighed the coins in his hand, his face glowing.

Eisen silently picked up his share and nodded in thanks.

Himmel gracefully took one of the piles and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Lowell. I needed to buy some travel supplies anyway."

Ruby looked at the three piles of coins left on the barrel lid, her eyes sparkling. She reached out and took her share too, carefully put it in her little embroidered purse, and gave it a satisfied pat.

Frieren looked at the last two little piles of coins, then at Lowell's empty hands, and pouted slightly. Her silver eyebrows drew together, and dissatisfaction was written all over her face.

"Two shares," she said, holding up two fingers and waving them in front of Lowell's eyes, a barely perceptible note of complaint in her voice, "became six."

The once-bulging pouch of money suddenly seemed much thinner when divided among six people.

Seeing her fuss over the money, Lowell couldn't help smiling. He reached out and tousled her silver hair, which always stuck up a little.

"It's still enough for a few good meals," he said gently, trying to reassure her. "Come on, let's find somewhere to eat. Didn't you want a sundae?"

At the word "sundae," Frieren's attention shifted a little, though her gaze lingered on the two little piles of coins for another moment before she slowly murmured, "Mm."

A tavern in the town center buzzed with voices. A warm fire burned in the fireplace, and the mingled scents of roast meat, spices, and ale filled the air.

The group found a long table by the window and sat down. Himmel volunteered to order, Heiter eagerly rushed to the bar with his share of the money to buy drinks, and Eisen surveyed their surroundings.

As soon as Frieren sat down, her gaze locked onto the words "honey and nut sundae" on the menu. It was inexpensive, costing only five copper coins (in this story, one gold coin = 20 silver coins = 200 copper coins).

"This one." She pointed at it, keeping it brief.

Lowell nodded and repeated her order to the approaching server.

Before long, a tall glass was set in front of Frieren. Milky-white scoops of ice cream were piled high, drizzled with golden honey and sprinkled with crunchy roasted nut pieces, with a small wafer tucked into the top.

Frieren picked up a long spoon and put a spoonful of ice cream, honey, and nuts into her mouth. The cold, rich sweetness made her narrow her eyes in satisfaction, like a cat being stroked the right way. Even the surrounding clamor seemed to recede a little.

Ruby sat beside Frieren, still waiting for the food she had ordered. She watched Frieren enjoy her sundae, a sweet smile spreading across her little face, and leaned closer.

"Lady Frieren~" Her voice was very soft and ingratiating. "Is the sundae good?"

Frieren took another spoonful and glanced at her. She said nothing, only nodded.

Ruby seized the opportunity. She raised her little fists and gently pounded Frieren's shoulders, her movements a little clumsy but energetic. "Here, let me rub your shoulders. You must be tired after walking all day, right? Um... about that advanced Flower Field Magic technique you mentioned before, the one that changes the flowers' colors... when can you teach me?"

Frieren enjoyed the light pounding on her shoulders and took another bite of her sundae before answering unhurriedly, her eyes still fixed on the ice cream in the glass:

"Then pay for me, and also, strawberries..."

"Ehh?!" Ruby's fists stopped at once. Her green eyes widened as she stared at Frieren in disbelief, her voice rising slightly. "You have money of your own now! You just got your share!" She instinctively clutched her little purse tight, as though it held a treasure guarded by a dragon.

Frieren finally turned to look at Ruby. She said nothing, merely tapped the rim of her sundae glass with her spoon, producing a clear clink. Firelight reflected in her green eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved upward ever so slightly, with unmistakable mischief. She watched Ruby quietly, a wicked smile on her face.

Her look plainly said: My money is mine, and your money... can be mine too.

Ruby stared at the "awful adult" expression on Frieren's face, both angry and flustered. Her little face flushed red as she pointed at Frieren. "You... you... this is extortion again! Blackmail! Lady Frieren, you're too cunning!"

She looked to Lowell across the table for help. Lowell was holding a glass of water. Hearing her, he merely smiled and shrugged helplessly, as though saying, I can't do anything about her.

She looked at Himmel next. Himmel smiled gently and offered her a glass of juice. "Ruby, have something to drink first." He deftly sidestepped the dispute.

Heiter returned carrying two large mugs of ale. Seeing the scene, he burst into hearty laughter again. "Hahaha! Little Ruby, just accept your fate! You're still a little green to take on Frieren!"

Eisen silently ate the roast meat that had just arrived.

Alone and without help, Ruby looked at Frieren's expression, as if she had her completely at her mercy, then imagined the magical flower field that could change colors. Her heart struggled like a little boat in a storm. In the end, her desire for magical knowledge once again outweighed her reluctance to part with her money.

Ruby steeled herself as though preparing to face death. Her eyes reddened slightly, and with trembling little hands, she counted out silver coins equivalent to the price of a strawberry tart and a mille-feuille, along with five copper coins, from her purse, one by one, at an excruciatingly slow pace... and pushed them in front of Frieren. Every movement was full of reluctance, as though she were cutting off her own flesh.

"H-here you are..." Her voice was thick with tears, full of grievance. "Y-you promised... you'd teach me how to change the colors..."

Frieren looked at the silver coins on the table, still warm from Ruby's hands, then at the little one's expression, as though she were about to cry. The wicked smile on her face deepened. She reached out, gathered the silver coins at a leisurely pace, and put them in her own money pouch with a clear clink.

"Mm." She nodded in satisfaction and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth. "Since you're so sincere, I'll teach you on the road tomorrow."

With that, she stood up and headed toward the stairs, humming a little tune in high spirits, ready to return to her room for a short rest.

Ruby watched Frieren walk away, then looked down at her little purse, now suddenly deflated. Finally, she couldn't hold back and let out a loud fake sob, throwing herself onto Himmel's arm while secretly watching to see whether Frieren would look back.

"Himmel! Frieren's bullying me! My strawberry tart, my mille-feuille, they're gone... sob..."

Himmel suppressed a laugh and patted her head. "There, there, Ruby. Knowledge is priceless."

Heiter watched, thoroughly amused, and took a great gulp of ale. "Hahaha!"

Eisen silently drank his wine, glancing between Ruby's fake-crying face and Frieren's retreating figure as she disappeared at the stairs. His expression remained unchanged, though he seemed to shake his head slightly.

Lowell sat in the corner, taking it all in. He smiled helplessly, raised his juice, and took a sip.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the empty sundae glass and Ruby's jingling money pouch containing her "tuition." The tavern was filled with the clamor of everyday life, and the sweet sorrow of a little mage who had gone "bankrupt" for the sake of magic.