[Possible Time and Space] Patrol

Frieren picked up a fluffy headband and examined it closely.

The headband was brown and had two round ears sewn on.

"This belongs to the bear."

After she finished speaking, she naturally put the headband on Fern's head. The movement was practiced, as if she had done it many times before.

Fern didn't move, letting her put it on, then raised her eyes. Her pale purple eyes calmly looked at Frieren, her face expressionless.

Frieren examined the headband and seemed somewhat dissatisfied. She reached out and took off the bear ear headband, then picked up another one from the stall.

This headband is white, and the ears are very long.

"This is for the rabbit."

She then put it on Fern.

Fern lowered his gaze slightly, looking at Frieren with a hint of knowing helplessness in his eyes.

"... Lord Frieren."

"Hmm?" Frieren responded, taking a half step back and scrutinizing Fern wearing the rabbit headband, a glint of interest in her emerald eyes. "Lots of stalls are selling them; are these things popular now...?"

Fern raised his hand, took off the headband, and handed it back to Frieren.

"Lady Frieren, I clearly stated that we were on patrol."

Frieren took the headband and put it back on the stall.

"I was genuinely pretending to be completely unguarded," she said, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd around her. "But ever since I entered the Imperial Capital, I've felt like someone's watching me."

Fern raised his eyes.

"Is your magic perception not working?"

"No," Frieren shook her head. "It's really uncomfortable. It's like being in the middle of enemy lines."

She looked out into the distance. Crowds thronged, colorful flags fluttered, and everything seemed ordinary.

"However, they don't seem to intend to attack us immediately. We can only investigate further."

The two continued walking forward.

After crossing two streets, a stone statue stands in the center of the square. The statue is of a middle-aged man dressed in a mage's robe, with a solemn face. Around the neck of the statue is a wreath woven from fresh flowers, the fresh petals trembling gently in the evening breeze.

Fern stopped in his tracks.

"Another statue of Lady Flamme in her 'middle-aged man' mode."

She looked at the stone statue.

"I see that all the time in the Imperial Capital."

"After all, she is the founding mother of human magic," Frieren said. "A hero who taught magic to the empire a thousand years ago. Without Flamme, the empire would not be as prosperous as it is today."

She looked up at the statue's face, which bore no resemblance to her master.

"National Day can also be considered a holiday to praise the master's great achievements."

Fern's gaze shifted from the statue to both sides of the street. Strings of tiny orbs of light adorned the eaves, window frames, and even the branches of the roadside trees. These orbs, in various colors, glowed softly, casting a warm glow on the darkening street.

"Are these decorations also made of magic?" she asked softly. "They're so beautiful."

Frieren turned to look at her, a hint of a smile playing in her emerald eyes.

"You must be very happy to see so many new and interesting magic spells, Fern?"

Fern didn't deny it. She tilted her head back, looking at the floating orbs of light, her pale purple eyes reflecting warm light, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards.

"Yes, that's the beauty of magic."

Frieren also looked at the orbs of light. After watching for a while, she spoke.

"For the people of this country, magic has become deeply integrated into their lives."

She pointed across the street. A merchant was standing beside his stall, and with a flick of his finger, several barrels of wine floated steadily up, lining up to be loaded onto a waiting cart. The barrels didn't even wobble.

On the windowsill of the house next door, a woman opened the window and stretched out her hand. A thin layer of light shone from her fingertips, and the soil in the flowerpot on the windowsill was evenly moistened. After she finished doing this, she closed the window naturally, as if she had just done a small thing that she did every day.

By the roadside, several children squatted on the ground. In front of them were a few pebbles. The children gestured with their fingers in the air, and the pebbles rolled, collided, and bounced gently as they played a simple game, their laughter ringing out.

"Even those who aren't magicians use magic," Frieren said. "So, magical technology here develops rapidly, making it easy for new and unusual spells to emerge."

She looked away.

"Although most of them are relatively simple folk magic, magic has still become a part of everyone's life."

A breeze blew in from the other end of the street, carrying the scent of food and faint floral fragrance.

"An era where anyone can use magic," Frieren said softly. "This country is the closest to Master's dream."

The two walked for a while longer.

The evening chill was gradually creeping in. Fern pulled his coat tighter around himself.

"Sit here for a while," Frieren said.

She sat down on a bench by the street and patted the spot next to her. Fern walked over and sat down.

The sky had darkened to a deep blue, and suddenly, a cluster of lights burst forth from the direction of the distant palace. The lights rose to their highest point, then burst apart with a bang, transforming into countless golden streaks of light like shooting stars, which slowly fell to the ground.

Then, more points of light rose and exploded. Red, blue, green, purple. The light illuminated half the sky and fell on the upturned faces of the pedestrians.

Fern watched quietly.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered. "There's all sorts of magic in it."

Frieren didn't watch the fireworks. She slid down a bit, turned to her side, and naturally rested her head on Fern's lap, pulling the thin blanket she had brought over to cover herself.

Fern lowered his head and looked at her.

Frieren lay there, gazing at the sky, but her eyes were somewhat vacant. The light of the fireworks flickered in her emerald eyes, but it didn't truly reflect into them.

What exactly is the plan to assassinate Serie?

She suddenly spoke.

Fern didn't speak, and waited.

"A plan that isn't feasible can't be called a plan... In other words, there really is someone who could have imagined Serie's death."

Another cluster of fireworks exploded, and purple light cascaded down like a waterfall.

How powerful are these people? How much influence do they wield?

"Perhaps Serie's enemy is the Empire itself, this magical civilization."

Fern's breathing was very light.

"... Lord Frieren."

Frieren didn't respond. She continued to gaze at the sky, her eyes seeming to pierce through the dazzling light, landing on a more distant and darker place.

"I have witnessed countless changes and transformations. Even though the appearance of my master's bronze statue has changed, even though many fake copies of my master's Spellbook have appeared. Even though my master has been treated as a character in a fairy tale."

The light from the fireworks streamed across her face, creating a play of light and shadow.

"I can convince myself that 'it's something we can't help,' and just laugh it off..."

"However, I probably won't be able to laugh this time."

Fern's hand, resting on her knee, curled her fingers slightly. A very subtle movement.

Frieren sat up from her lap. The blanket slipped off and piled up on the chair.

She walked to the low stone railing in front of the bench and placed her hand on the cool stone surface. With her back to Fern, she gazed at the distant silhouette of the palace shrouded in the night.

"Don't drag me into this kind of mission..."

She spoke softly, as if talking to herself.

"Besides, summoning her disciples to protect her? That's completely unlike Serie's style..."

"Even she is wavering?"

At the same time.

On a major road leading to the Imperial Capital, a carriage was traveling smoothly through the night.

The carriage was covered with thick plush carpets, and wall lamps were embedded on both sides, emitting a soft light. Serie sat cross-legged on the soft chair, wearing only a simple white petticoat and barefoot.

Her right hand was held out in front of her, palm facing upwards. A very faint, milky-white halo emanated from her fingertips.

The halo gathers, stretches, and gradually takes shape.

A sunflower appeared in her hand. Its stem was upright, its leaves were spread out, its flower head was full, and its petals were a bright golden yellow. Every detail was clear and lifelike, and you could even see the fine texture on the petals.

She stared at the flowers in her hand for a long time, her face expressionless, lost in thought.

Streetside.

Frieren still standing in front of the stone railing. The night wind had picked up, causing her silver hair to flutter backward.

She gazed at the sky. Another wave of fireworks rose and exploded, casting flickering light and shadow on her profile.

"No."

She suddenly spoke.

"I'm probably overthinking it."

Fern stood up from the bench and walked over to her. The blanket was still draped over her arm.

Frieren turned her face back to look at her. Her emerald green eyes were exceptionally clear in the light of the fireworks.

"Regardless of the form it takes, her only thought is to ensure the continued development of magic."

Her tone returned to its usual calm.

"This operation is probably just to give the disciples experience in fighting against humans."

Fern looked at her without saying anything, but simply handed her the blanket draped over her arm.

Frieren took it and wrapped it around herself. The fabric was thick and still carried a trace of Fern's body heat.

"Oh, sorry. Fern must be cold."

She looked towards the end of the street. There was a market there, lit up, with people moving about.

Let's take one more look around and then head back.

Fern's shoulders slumped slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"... We still need to walk around a bit more."

"Ahem... This is work, work. Fern is First-Class Mage, let's be professional, we're luring the snake out of its hole."