Two Years

Time, like the ceaseless winds of the Northern Frontier, carries snowflakes and footprints, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now, it is the fourth year since the hero Himmel began his campaign against the Demon King.

At this moment, on the border of the Northern Countries, withered grass shivered in the cold wind, distant mountains were covered with snow, and a desolate atmosphere permeated the world.

"Drink it!"

A sharp shout shattered the silence of the wasteland. Lupa's figure darted out like a cheetah, her spear flashing with a sharp, cold light. Her opponent was a lion-headed, Lion Boar monster with a massive build, bristles like steel needles, and protruding tusks. This kind of monster was known for its thick hide and considerable resistance to both physical and magical attacks, making it an extremely troublesome creature.

On the other side, Linié quickly closed in, her magically formed battle axe phantom precisely deflecting the Lion Boar's powerful attack, creating an excellent opportunity for Lupa.

Two and a half years of working side by side have given them excellent teamwork.

"Pfft!"

Lupa's spear tip seized the fleeting opening, carrying concentrated Battle Aura, and pierced with unparalleled precision into the Lion Boar's relatively soft neck and shoulder blade junction, until the hilt was gone!

"Awooo--! Hahaha!" The monster let out a shrill scream and collapsed to the ground. Lupa excitedly drew her spear, raised her chin, and let out a wild, wolf- Imitation howl of victory. Her pink twin ponytails fluttered in the wind. Her heterochromatic eyes shone with confidence and fighting spirit, the shadows of the past long gone, leaving only the sharpness of a warrior.

She turned around and, with a few light leaps, arrived in front of Lowell and Frieren, her little face beaming with a bright "Praise me!" smile, her breath slightly rapid from the battle. "Master! Lady Frieren! How was it!"

Frieren was brushing a few specks of dust off her mage robes when she heard this. She looked up, her emerald eyes sweeping over the motionless monster on the ground, then landing on Lupa's sweaty but radiant face. A barely perceptible, slight smile curved her lips, and she said in a calm but certain tone, "Hmm. Very strong."

Lowell looked at Lupa with undisguised approval in his eyes, "Indeed. Working together with Linié, the two of you can handle monsters like the Lion Boar. You two are now warriors with First-Class Mages as assessed by the Continental Magic Association. You've improved very quickly."

Receiving affirmation, Lupa's smile widened, and she straightened her chest. "It's all thanks to Master's guidance!" Her words were full of trust and gratitude.

Linié dispelled the magic axe, her deep blue eyes calm and unwavering, as if the battle just now was merely routine practice. She walked to Lowell's side, said nothing, and simply quietly raised her small hand, opening her palm.

Lowell smiled helplessly, shook his head, but still took out a bright red apple from his personal storage space and placed it in her palm. "Here."

Linié took the apple, bent down and took a bite with a "crunch," chewing quietly as if it were the most delicious food in the world.

Meanwhile, the battle had already ended.

Himmel gracefully flicked away non-existent bloodstains from his longsword, his blue hair still dazzling in the slightly gray daylight. Three Lion Boar corpses lay beside him, cleanly and efficiently disposed of. Heiter and Eisen stood to the side, their breathing steady, clearly indicating that the battle had not taken much of their energy.

"Hmm, this is truly remarkable," Himmel frowned slightly, gazing into the depths of the wasteland. "These monsters have actually appeared in groups so close to human settlements on the border. If we weren't here, ordinary adventurer teams or border guards would likely be in grave danger if they encountered them, even mages from the Continental Magic Association would be in the same boat. Their magic resistance and physical defense are quite troublesome."

Ruby used a small cleaning spell to clean the tip of her staff, then pouted, "Indeed! It's too thick-skinned! My Burning Darkness - Crimson Lotus Vortex Burst Flame spell was much less effective! If it weren't for Himmel and Eisen holding Ruby back, even if you, Lady Ruby, could definitely win by bombarding them with magic, it would still take a lot of effort!" Although she said it would take a lot of effort, her little face had a proud expression Ruby said, "But it's still a piece of cake for Lady Ruby."

Himmel couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to ruffle Ruby's fiery red curls, her voice gentle. "Of course, after all, our Ruby is First-Class Mage among First-Class Mages."

Ruby's face Ruby bright red, like a ripe apple. She stamped her foot, her tone coquettish but her eyes full of joy. "Himmel is so good with words! But... it's true! Hmph~"

Heiter took a swig of wine, laughed heartily, then his expression turned serious as he pointed to the faintly visible, even more desolate, mountain range ahead. "Alright, don't let your guard down. Ahead lies Earl Shuralk's territory. Once we cross that last city, we'll truly be on the outskirts of the Demons's actual control. In places like this, it wouldn't be surprising to encounter any strange or powerful demons. Everyone must remain vigilant."

Eisen silently wiped his battle axe, adding in a low voice, with the pragmatism characteristic of a dwarf warrior. "This kind of monster has firm, chewy flesh; it's excellent material for Hamburg Steak." He seemed to already be considering how to use the spoils.

That night, the group set up camp in a sheltered spot. The campfire crackled, and on the grill roasted Lion Boar prepared by Eisen, its fat dripping into the fire, filling the air with its aroma.

Lowell slowly turned the roasted meat, his gaze sweeping over his companions sitting around the fire, a complex thought flashing deep in his eyes.

It's been four years.

Four years have passed since Himmel embarked on his journey to defeat the Demon King at the age of sixteen. In these four years, due to his intervention, many things have deviated from their original course.

For example, due to her influence, Serie's early establishment of the Continental Magic Association led to Oysast becoming a new magical center much earlier. This means that the little episode in the original story, such as Himmel's team helping a chef find his family heirloom sword, is unlikely to happen.

The association's efficient operation acts like a fine sieve, filtering out many low-level troubles. Now, it's rare to see any decent monsters around there, and the same is true in other places as well.

Himmel, Lowell's gaze fell on the blue-haired hero who was carefully cutting the roasted meat into small pieces and then naturally placing the tenderest parts into Ruby's bowl.

This young hero, though still the same enthusiastic warrior who upholds the belief of "never letting go of those in need," Lowell well aware that the ten-year expedition in the original story, besides its beliefs and dangers, may also have been mixed with a hint of unspeakable selfishness on Himmel —he longed to help more people, leave more statues, and have his name and deeds etched into the memory of the continent.

It was as if in this way, an invisible dam could be built in the long life of the elf, so that wherever Frieren went in the years to come when she was alone, she could see his figure, and the bond would not be completely washed away by the torrent of time. It was a clumsy but gentle watch.

But now... four years. In just four years, this team has already reached the edge of the Demons- controlled territory. The land ahead is more dangerous and vast than the roads they have traveled in these four years, but it will not actually take longer, because that means that the population will become increasingly sparse. The practice of camping in a village for ten days or half a month to clear out demons and help old ladies cross the road will no longer happen. The pace of the journey will inevitably be greatly accelerated.

Judging by this pace... Lowell tore off a perfectly roasted piece of meat and handed it to Frieren, who was staring expectantly beside him. He silently calculated that no matter how large the Demons territory was or how many dangerous passes there were... at most, in another year, Himmel would be facing the Demon King's Castle that stood in the center of the Demon Continent, and the man named Discal in the city.

The simplest and most verifiable point is that in the original work, it seems that in the 29th year of the Xin Shi Era, Frieren and her group went to protect the village of the Sacred Sword and clear out the monsters. At that time, it had been "80 years since they came." In other words, in fact, it was the ninth year of the Himmel Demon King's extermination, and they were still in Human race territory. From the time they entered the Demons territory to the time they defeated the Demon King... it really only took about a year.

Frieren munched on her meat with satisfaction, her cheeks puffing out, her emerald eyes gleaming in the firelight, seemingly oblivious to Lowell's wandering thoughts. For her, the delicious roast meat and her companions were everything at that moment.

Ruby was chattering away with Himmel, discussing the details of the day's battle; Lupa was eating meat heartily; Linié was nibbling on an apple; Heiter was drinking wine; and Eisen was lost in thought.

The campfire was warm, the aroma of meat filled the air, and the time to challenge the Demon King was drawing ever closer.