Bluffing Magic

The bonfire crackled in the center of the town square, driving away the chill of the Northern Frontier night. The long wooden tables were laden with food. Though nothing fancy, it was full of the gratitude and warmth of those who had survived a disaster. The surviving townspeople and soldiers looked weary, but their faces also shone with joy at having been saved.

The town lord was a minor noble with graying hair and a faded formal suit. He raised a wooden cup toward Himmel and his companions. "My deepest thanks to the heroes, and to all the mages of the Magic Association... If you hadn't arrived in time, our little town would surely have..." His voice choked, and he could not continue.

Himmel rose gracefully, his blue hair glimmering in the firelight. His expression held just the right amount of warmth and humility. "You're too kind, my lord. Helping those in need is our duty. Besides, we received fair payment and a valuable place to rest, so we've both benefited." He changed the subject smoothly, his smile bright. "Speaking of which, about the magic book you mentioned earlier..."

A trace of embarrassment immediately appeared on the town lord's face. He rubbed his hands and accepted a wooden box from an attendant behind him. It looked quite old, with worn corners. "I'm terribly sorry, Hero Himmel... Our town's storehouse is very modest. This is the only thing we have that could be called related to magic..." He opened the box. Inside lay a thin booklet, its cover bearing the hastily scrawled words "Bluffing Magic."

"This... this magic book is said to... to make the light and shadow effects when casting magic especially magnificent and impressive... But, but it doesn't seem to do much to improve the strength of the magic or its actual effects." The town lord's voice grew quieter and quieter, and his aged face reddened. "It's hardly a suitable gift... If you don't mind, I'll send someone to the town's general store at daybreak tomorrow. Perhaps we can find a proper book or two..."

Before he had finished speaking—

Whoosh!

A small figure had already appeared beside the table.

Frieren's eyes lit up. She practically snatched the booklet from the town lord's hands and quickly flipped through it. The pages' flashy runic diagrams were reflected in her emerald eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled upward of their own accord. She let out a satisfied sigh. "Hehe~ This is it!"

She had moved so fast that even Himmel, who had been about to offer a few polite words, was taken aback.

"Ah... oh, all, all right." Himmel smiled helplessly and nodded to the town lord. "As you can see, we're very pleased with your gift. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness."

Ruby came over too, standing on tiptoe to see the book in Frieren's hands. "Huh? 'Bluffing Magic'? That sounds... perfect for Lady Ruby! Lady Frieren, lend it to me when you're done!"

"Hmm-hmm~" Frieren hummed and hugged the book a little tighter, though her face plainly said, "We can discuss it."

The mages from the Continental Magic Association came over as well. Their leader, a composed middle-aged man, shook Himmel's hand. "Thank you all for your help, Hero Himmel, and Mr. Lowell. If not for you, I'm afraid we would have met our end here today."

His gaze then fell on Frieren, who was nibbling on some roast meat, and a hint of puzzlement entered his expression. "But, Lady Elf, forgive my impertinence. How did you block Qual's 'Killing Magic'? As far as we know, conventional magical defenses are almost completely ineffective against it."

Frieren paused mid-chew, her cheeks still puffed out. She raised her emerald eyes to look at the mage, then habitually turned her head toward Lowell, who was leisurely savoring the local fruit wine beside her.

Lowell set down his cup and took over. "Oh, that. Let's just say... we happened to encounter similar magic before and spent some time figuring out how to counter it." He paused, then added, "I told Serie the principles and methods a while ago. Given her abilities, I imagine she'll soon refine the corresponding offensive and defensive formulas into magic humans can learn and add them to the Magic Association's curriculum. You should be able to learn them soon."

Hearing this, the association mages nodded lightly. "I see. Thank you for telling us."

Just then, a gentle, approachable "big sister" type of female mage from the association's party smiled and crouched down. She stroked the red hair of Ruby, who still couldn't stop thinking about "Bluffing Magic." "Little Ruby, you were very brave this time."

Ruby raised her little face, looking a little proud. "Of course! Lady Ruby is amazing!"

The mage covered her mouth and chuckled. "Speaking of which, I saw Lady Serie at headquarters before I came here. She was... staring blankly at that pot of Cecilia Flowers in your room. When headquarters moved to Oysast, she brought your flowers there too~"

She winked mischievously. "She doesn't say it, but she must miss you very much. Remember to go back and see her when your mission is over."

Ruby's face turned red in a flash, like a ripe apple. She stamped her foot, her voice rising involuntarily with obvious embarrassment and annoyance. "M-my master would not! All she ever does is call me stupid and complain that I'm noisy! How could she miss me? Besides, she must have brought the flowers over because it was convenient to move the whole room with spatial magic... and then she forgot to water them and only looked at them because they were about to wither!"

Despite her words, her eyes began to wander, and her fingers curled around the hem of her clothes without her noticing.

"Hehe, I think that's just how Lady Serie is. She says one thing and means another." The mage smiled even more gently. "She must be very proud of you deep down. Go back and see her when you have time. Oysast isn't far from here. She'll be delighted to see how much you've improved, even if she might not show it."

"I-I know!" Ruby turned her crimson face away and muttered, "We were planning to go back to headquarters afterward anyway... It's not like I'm going back especially to see her!"

In another corner of the feast, Lupa had barely touched the food before her. She sat quietly beside Lowell, her gaze drifting now and then toward a corner of the square, where the statue Qual had become cast a long shadow in the firelight.

At last, unable to hold back, she asked in a low voice, "Master... Qual, is he... dead?"

Lowell swirled his cup and glanced at the statue. "No. He's only sealed. In the Petrification State, his consciousness is suspended."

Lupa clenched the fists resting on her knees. "You... could have killed him, couldn't you?"

Lowell turned and looked into the girl's mismatched eyes, where a suppressed flame burned, and smiled faintly.

"Of course."

"Then... why didn't you..."

"Don't you want to kill him yourself?"

Lupa's body shook violently, and her pupils contracted. She looked up at Lowell in disbelief. Then her eyes blazed with an unprecedented light, a mixture of intense desire and firm conviction, and her voice trembled slightly with excitement:

"I do... I do! I want to defeat him... defeat him with my own hands! Kill him!"

Lowell patted her head. His tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable force. "Then study hard and get stronger quickly. I'll teach you how, but you have to walk the path yourself. When you think you're ready, I'll undo the seal. Then you can settle this grudge yourself."

"Yes, Master!" Lupa nodded firmly, as though swearing an oath on her life. When she looked at the statue, her gaze no longer held only hatred. It now held an even greater sense of purpose: she had to overcome it and ultimately shatter it.

The clamor of the feast gradually faded, and the townspeople began cleaning up. Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen discussed their plans for the next day. Frieren silently studied "Bluffing Magic" by the firelight, the corners of her mouth twitching from time to time. Ruby helped the association's mage clean up the tableware while listening absentmindedly to her chatter about Oysast and new desserts, though the tips of her ears were still red.

Lowell finished the last of the fruit wine in his cup and watched the people in the square, each busy with their own tasks yet connected to one another. At last, his gaze settled on the dark horizon in the distance.