Tuition and Apples

The party continued trekking across the somewhat desolate northern plains. The afternoon sunlight had a lazy quality to it, stretching their shadows long across the yellow-green grass. Aside from the dull rumble of the stone statue Lupa was dragging, all was quiet.

Ruby followed close beside Frieren, her green eyes stealing occasional glances at the elf. Her little face was full of hesitation and eagerness. Lady Frieren's rare "tantrum" had lasted only ten minutes, but it had tickled her curiosity like a little feather and, for some reason, made her think... was this a good time to ask for something? After all, she should have forgotten what she had just done...

She took a deep breath, as if making up her mind, and put on her sweetest, most well-behaved smile. She leaned toward Frieren and spoke in a soft, syrupy voice. "Lady Frieren~ Um... that amazing 'Killing Magic'... and your super-amazing defensive magic... could you... teach them to me?" As she spoke, she carefully watched Frieren's face.

Frieren had been looking down at a roadside weed with oddly shaped leaves. At Ruby's words, she slowly raised her head. Sunlight fell on her silver eyelashes, casting tiny shadows. Her green eyes turned toward Ruby, her face expressionless. But just as Ruby's heart began to pound and she prepared to hear "depends on my mood" or an outright refusal, the corners of Frieren's mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly, forming the tiniest, distinctly sly smile.

It was a classic "mischievous grin" that Ruby knew very well, identical to the one from a few minutes ago—apparently, she really had forgotten she had just done the same thing.

Ruby immediately seized the opportunity, pressing her hands together and blinking her starry eyes. "I understand, I understand! Um... for tuition! When we reach the next town, I'll treat you to something delicious! Honey cake! And... your favorite Mercury Pudding! How about it?"

Frieren tilted her head and looked at Ruby, a trace of genuine puzzlement in her voice. "Huh? Why are you catching on so quickly today? Ruby, you've gotten easier to bully." She seemed to have completely forgotten her own "unreasonable demands" from ten minutes ago.

An exaggerated "what are you talking about?" expression immediately appeared on Ruby's face. She moved to Frieren's side and eagerly massaged her shoulders with her little hands. "Not at all, not at all~ What are you saying? Honoring my master and looking after her appetite are a disciple's duties! Your happiness is what matters most, Lady Frieren!" Her words were as sweet as honey.

Walking beside them, Himmel heard the conversation and chuckled, shaking his head. Heiter let out a hearty low laugh, and even the corner of Eisen's mouth seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly. Lowell wore a helpless smile that said, "I knew this would happen."

Frieren enjoyed her little disciple's rare display of "filial devotion," narrowing her eyes and humming twice. She neither agreed nor refused, but she had clearly given the "deal" her tacit approval. A great weight lifted from Ruby's heart. Although her wallet already ached, she thought it was worth it when she considered the amazing magic she could learn!

At noon, the party arrived without trouble at a fairly prosperous little border town on a major thoroughfare. The town was small but bustling with people, and the signs of its taverns and inns gleamed invitingly in the setting sun.

As soon as they had settled in, Ruby eagerly pulled Frieren straight to the grandest dessert shop in town. Frieren's eyes visibly brightened as she looked at the dazzling array of treats in the window.

"This one, this one, and this one... Hmm, that one too." Frieren's slender finger tapped the glass, and Ruby's little heart spasmed with every tap, as if she could already hear her purse wailing.

"O... okay..." Ruby wore a stiff smile, her heart bleeding. She reached a trembling hand toward her little purse, already thin, preparing to pay her "tuition."

Just then, a slender hand gently rested on her wrist.

Ruby froze and looked up into Lowell's smiling eyes.

"I'll pay this time." Lowell's voice was gentle. Before Ruby could react, he had already placed several gleaming silver coins on the counter, exactly enough to cover the desserts Frieren had ordered.

"Huh? Lowell? You..." Ruby's eyes widened, and for a moment she couldn't process what had happened.

Lowell smiled at her and said quietly, "I said I'd treat her." He was referring to the "honey cake" he had promised when he had comforted Frieren earlier.

Frieren was watching the shop assistant pack the treats with eager eyes. Hearing him, she glanced sideways at Lowell without speaking, but the corners of her mouth curved into a tiny, almost imperceptible smile of satisfaction. Then her face quickly returned to normal, and she went back to staring intently at her desserts.

Ruby watched Lowell pay, then looked at Frieren, who was acting as if it were only natural. Pulled back from the brink of "bankruptcy" in an instant, she was so delighted she nearly jumped. She clutched her chest and let out a long breath, a radiant smile blooming on her face. "That's wonderful! Lowell, you're such a good person!"

Relieved that her little savings had escaped disaster, she thought Lowell looked especially handsome and dashing today.

The group took their packaged treats and sat down at a table by the street. Frieren immediately focused on the honey cake, Hamburg Steak, and Mercury Pudding before her, eating in small bites with utmost concentration and satisfaction.

Just then, Linié, who had been silently following behind everyone like a doll, suddenly walked up to Ruby. She raised her delicate but mostly expressionless face, her pink twin tails swaying slightly in the evening breeze. Her deep blue eyes rested quietly on Ruby as she spoke in her characteristically flat voice, though her tone carried the certainty of someone who had observed and analyzed the situation.

"Lady Ruby."

"Hm? Why are you calling me that? What is it, Linié?" Ruby was in a good mood. With a complimentary candied cherry between her teeth, she asked the question indistinctly.

Linié blinked and continued, "Linié wants an apple."

Ruby paused, somewhat puzzled. "Huh? You want an apple? Why ask me?" She remembered there was still fruit in the party's luggage, though no apples.

Linié explained seriously, though her face remained expressionless. "Based on my continued observations and analysis over the past few days, under the current circumstances, a request to purchase an apple is more likely to succeed if made to you than to the others. You are the best person to ask. Lady Ruby, please buy Linié an apple. I'm asking you."

Ruby's little face instantly flushed red, as though Linié had seen through a private thought of hers. She was a little embarrassed, but also strangely pleased. She squirmed and muttered, "Heh... hehe... Lady Ruby... Hearing you call me that... Then Lady Ruby will buy you one..." Being called "Lady" filled her with delight.

Before she had finished basking in it, Mina seemed to draw inspiration from Linié's "successful example." Copying Linié, she walked to Ruby's other side, raised her little face, and spoke in the same flat tone.

"Lady Ruby."

"Hm? Do you want an apple too, Mina?" Ruby asked cheerfully.

Mina shook her head, blinked her purple eyes, and very directly said something that instantly froze the air around them. "Mina wants to eat human flesh..."

"Pfft—!" The cherry nearly flew out of Ruby's mouth. Scared out of her wits, she lunged forward at lightning speed and clamped a hand firmly over Mina's mouth. Her little face was deathly pale as she glanced around in panic, terrified that passersby might have heard. "Shh! Keep your voice down! You can't have that! Absolutely not! Don't even think about it! Pick something else! Quickly!"

With Ruby's hand over her mouth, a trace of confusion seemed to pass through Mina's deep purple eyes. Still, she cooperatively—or perhaps based on a logical assessment—thought it over. "Lady Ruby, beef is fine too."

Ruby let out a long sigh of relief and released her hand, patting her chest, still shaken. "Okay, okay, okay, beef! Beef! I'll buy it for you! I'll buy it for both of you! Oh... my wallet..." She had just been happy about saving the cost of dessert, only to have to spend money again. Although beef and apples were much cheaper than a luxury like dessert... her little face was still full of despair. "Boo-hoo... I couldn't save it after all..."

Watching the chaotic yet homely scene, Himmel couldn't help laughing aloud. Heiter slapped his thigh, delighted, and even Eisen shook his head, the faintest hint of a smile seeming to appear on his face. Lowell looked at poor "bankrupt" Ruby, then at Frieren contentedly eating pudding beside him, and smiled helplessly. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, blending them into the town's warm dusk and bustle.

The last rays of the setting sun dyed the town a warm orange, and the streets were filled with the mingled scents of food and dust. Ruby looked at her little purse, which had just "survived" only to face an impending "catastrophe," and her face scrunched up as she wailed.

"All right, all right," Heiter said, taking a swig of wine and laughing as he patted Ruby on the back. "Treating people to food brings you closer together! Look how much Linié and Mina trust you!"

"That kind of trust costs so much..." Ruby wore a mournful expression, but she resigned herself to walking over to a roadside fruit stall and butcher shop. When she returned with several fresh red apples and a packet of sliced beef in sauce, Linié and Mina were still mostly expressionless, but their eyes followed the food.

Ruby handed the apples to Linié and the beef to Mina. As she watched them quietly begin to eat, the pain of spending her money was suddenly replaced by a strange sense of satisfaction. Perhaps... looking after these two "problem children" gave her quite a sense of accomplishment?

Frieren had already finished her desserts and was sipping the complimentary herbal tea. Her green eyes swept over Linié, who was munching on an apple, and Mina, who was eating beef, before finally settling on Ruby. Suddenly, she spoke in a flat tone. "The basic principle of Killing Magic is... (omitted for now to prevent readers from learning it and using it for evil)."

"Huh?" For a moment, Ruby didn't understand.

"The approach to defending against it is... (same as above)." Frieren continued eating. "Once we've settled in for the night, I'll start by teaching you the basics. If you can't learn them, there are no refunds on tuition."

Ruby stared for a few seconds, then her green eyes suddenly lit up as if filled with stars. Was Lady Frieren... going to start teaching her? She immediately cast her worries about her wallet to the winds and jumped up excitedly. "Yes, Lady Frieren! I'll study hard!"

Lowell watched the scene, a gentle smile curving his lips. Himmel gave Ruby an encouraging smile as well.

The sun sank completely below the horizon, and points of light appeared throughout the town. The party walked noisily toward the inn they had booked, the stone statue they dragged leaving a long trail on the ground.