[Perhaps Another Time and Place] The Aftermath and Arrival

The command room was quiet, with only the faint hum of the communication magic device in operation.

Kanon stood by the window, watching the last rays of light from the gradually fading fireworks illuminate his expressionless face.

"Weige," he said to the person behind him, his voice steady.

"Exist."

"Tell Noi to wait for orders. Stop fooling around."

"Clear."

"By the way, check the damage status of the area where the magic eruption just occurred."

"Good."

Weige paused for a moment, then spoke in a slightly relaxed tone.

"Finally, I can breathe some fresh air. But whether it's serving as a guard for a nobleman, maintaining order during the National Day celebrations, or all that tedious paperwork..."

"These aren't exactly the tasks of the Magical Special Forces. What is Captain Fres thinking?"

Kanon didn't turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the night sky outside the window, which had returned to calm.

"Enjoy this leisurely time. Isn't it great to avoid fighting? As for Captain Fres... even after spending so much time with her, I still can't figure out what she's thinking."

"However, by the time I truly understood her intentions, I was often already on a hellish battlefield."

Deep in the alley, on a stone slab.

Wolf put away his longbow and walked to the side of the fallen Lore. Gazella squatted down beside her, her fingers pressed against the side of her neck.

"It's no use, Wolf." Gazella looked up. "She's completely passed out."

Wolf glanced at Lore's tightly closed eyes and pale face.

"... Since she can no longer command the battle, let's retreat."

Gazella bent down and deftly hoisted Lore onto his back. The hem of her dark nun's habit drooped down, swaying gently with his movements.

"This magic-resistant robe saved her life," Gazella said, her voice betraying neither relief nor anything else. "If she had been hit in the face instead of the chest, she would be dead."

He adjusted his posture to make sure the Lore on his back wouldn't slip off.

"Or perhaps... they deliberately spared her life."

Wolf didn't speak, but simply glanced one last time at the silent alleyway around him before turning and walking away.

"They're gone."

Inside the outpost, the lighting remained stable.

After listening to Frieren's brief statement, Sense crossed his arms, his long brown hair hanging quietly at his sides.

"I see," she said. "You were attacked by enemies who appeared to be the Shadow Warriors."

Falsh his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm.

"If there are monks in the enemy ranks..." he continued, "It will become somewhat troublesome. Given the Empire's magical technology, it's quite possible that they've developed the Goddess's magic much faster than other nations."

Sense nodded.

"Yes. However, understanding the opponent's tactics through actual combat is a great achievement. You've been a huge help."

She looked at Frieren.

"Also, please tell Fern that she should get some rest."

Frieren didn't say anything, she just turned and walked towards the door.

"Frieren," Sense called out to her.

Frieren stopped and turned half her face to the side.

"No need for further words," Frieren said calmly. "I will assist you in completing this mission. Fern is also highly motivated."

She turned her face, her emerald green eyes looking at Sense.

"The First-Class Mage is Fern, and I'm just her companion, simply keeping her company."

Sense looked at her and remained silent for two seconds.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I dragged you into this too."

Frieren gave a soft laugh.

"You never even thought that way, did you?"

Her gaze lingered on Sense's face for a moment.

"Sense, you're not as calm as you were when you were an examiner for First-Class Mages."

She opened the door.

"There's no need to be so afraid. Serie won't die."

The door closed behind her.

The room fell silent. Falsh walked to the window and checked the situation outside.

Sense stood there, staring at the closed door, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to Falsh.

"Just like Lady Serie."

Her eyelids drooped.

"She probably truly believed that... but twenty years ago, the elven Great Mage Minusi was defeated by human warriors. Since then, people have gradually realized that elves are not immortal beings."

Even Lady Serie, who could understand how dangerous this kind of consciousness was, felt to some extent that her own death was a vague and uncertain concept.

She raised her hand, and a strand of her long brown hair spontaneously curled up an empty teacup on the table, gently placing it back on the tray without making a sound.

"Whether one has lived for hundreds or thousands of years, it doesn't mean that death won't come tomorrow."

"We can only protect her by doing everything in our power."

The room next door.

Sein sat cross-legged on the soft cushion on the floor, listening to Fern's supplementary explanation, stroking his goatee.

"I see, so you got caught up in the Continental Magic Association's mission." He sighed, then smiled. "Speaking of which, I knew Frieren would definitely become First-Class Mage in the magician exam, but I didn't expect you Fern, to succeed too."

He gave Fern a thumbs up.

"That's really impressive."

Fern sat in the chair opposite him and gently shook his head.

"No," she said, "Lady Frieren did not pass the exam to become First-Class Mage."

Sein's smile froze.

He blinked, looking completely confused.

"... Huh?" he uttered a short syllable, "Why?"

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Frieren walked in.

"I'm back," she said, her gaze falling on Sein, a bright smile curving her lips. "Sein, thank goodness for you. I never expected to see you again."

Sein scratched the back of his head and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"It's nothing, we're partners, aren't we?" he said. "I haven't had a moment's rest in order to catch up with 'Gorilla.' Of course, I didn't get here solely because of my own strength."

His expression turned somewhat nostalgic.

"Many teams need monks. I've received a lot of help from adventurer teams along the way, and experienced all sorts of thrilling adventures, like dungeon exploration, monster-hunting quests, and ancient treasure hunting..."

He paused, a complex expression flashing across his face, a mixture of satisfaction and subtle regret.

"... exploded muscles..."

Fern looked at him, her pale purple eyes showing a hint of disdain.

"... What's that 'exploded muscle' thing?"

Sein suddenly raised his hand to cover his face, his shoulders slumped, and a muffled voice came from between his fingers, tinged with sadness.

"... By the way, why are all the adventurers I'm with middle-aged men...?"

He lowered his hand, his expression contorted.

"I'm quite happy, but where is that kind older sister...?"

Frieren walked to the table and poured herself a glass of water.

"The adventurers from the Northern Countries are mostly experienced," she said, taking a sip of water. "It's wonderful that Sein has so many trustworthy companions."

She had barely finished speaking when the door was pushed open again.

Sense stood in the doorway, her long brown hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Her face was expressionless, but her tone was slightly faster than usual.

"Ubel and the others are back," she said. "Let's all share the intelligence."

In the hall, Ubel and Lanto were already waiting. Ubel held a plain white envelope in his hand and waved it casually when he saw everyone come in.

"Sorry," she said casually, her eyes half-closed, "It took a while to shake off those Magical Special Forces."

Sense walked up to her, a strand of his long hair deftly twirling around the envelope.

"No, it's already very good. You are all excellent."

She tore open the envelope, pulled out the thin sheet of paper inside, and quickly glanced at it.

"This contains the intelligence that Linel gathered." Her voice was lower, carrying a sense of confirmation.

"Finally, we'll see what the enemy really is."

Outside the massive archway of the Imperial Capital.

A black carriage slowly came to a stop, the sound of its wheels rolling over the stone pavement finally fading away.

Serie leaned out of the carriage. She wasn't wearing her signature ornate robes, but only a simple white slip, her bare feet on the cold stone slabs.

A night breeze swept by, lifting her long golden hair.

She looked up at the colossal city before her, towering majestically in the night, its lights spreading like a sea of stars. The city walls were high, and the light from the magic lamps outlined a magnificent yet unfamiliar silhouette along the streets and towers.

"The Imperial Capital."

She spoke softly, her voice devoid of emotion.

"It's completely different from what I remember."

She closed her eyes.

What comes to mind is a completely different scene from many, many years ago. Back then, the city walls weren't this high, and the lights weren't so dense. A little girl in a dress stood before her, looking up at her, holding a sunflower in her hand, her eyes shining like they were filled with stars, her face radiating undisguised excitement and anticipation, and an almost overflowing, pure happiness.

She twirled and twirled in front of her, full of the enthusiasm and energy of a little girl.

At that time, the Imperial Capital was merely a hazy, nascent form in Flamme's dreams.

Serie opened her eyes, the barely perceptible ripple fading from her gaze, returning to her usual calm.

She surveyed the magnificent city, constructed from stone, magic, and human ambition, and a slight smile played on her lips.

"The greatest magical civilization on this continent, created by Flamme herself."

She took a step forward, her bare feet touching the cold, hard ground of the Imperial Capital.

"I never expected to get here this way."

Serie, you have arrived.