A Welcome Feast and a Request

The burly man was taken aback by Himmel and Ruby's smooth and imposing entrance. The muscles on his bronze face seemed to stiffen, and his eyes were filled with a bewildered expression that said, "Too much information to process." He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

However, this stunned silence only lasted a few seconds. He then shook his head violently, as if trying to shake off the incomprehensible words, and let out a loud, drum-like laugh that made Lin Ye rustle, "Haha! Anyway, you're the Hero Party, right? I'm Shuralk! Nice to meet you!"

His smile was hearty, carrying the rugged charm unique to the northern wilderness. Although he was shirtless, wearing only a simple pair of leather pants, and covered in monster blood and mud, his unpretentious enthusiasm was endearing.

Himmel regained her usual elegant and composed demeanor, nodding slightly, her blue hair gleaming softly in the forest light. "Shuralk? Isn't that...?"

"Isn't that the Earl of this border territory!" Ruby out, her large, bright blue eyes curiously scanning Shuralk up and down, a mixture of surprise and "I see" on her face. "Uh... this Earl... is very down-to-earth?"

The group's gazes simultaneously swept over the lord who had fought monsters bare-handed and was dressed more like an adventurer than any adventurer himself, their faces showing varying degrees of surprise. Although the people of the northern border were known for their fierce nature, it was indeed rare to see an earl engage in such a "one-on-one" duel with a wild Earl and receive guests with such "frankness."

Lowell leaned against a tree, hands in his pockets, and said with a hint of teasing, "Indeed, our first meeting was... quite impressive, Earl Excellency."

Upon hearing this, Earl Shuralk not only didn't take it to heart, but laughed even more heartily, patting his muscular chest with a loud "thump, thump!": "Haha! I'd heard long ago that the brave warrior passing through here this time was rather special, but I didn't expect it to be this special! Interesting! Come on, don't just stand here, come back to the city with me, let me show you some hospitality!"

As evening fell, the Earl's mansion was less a castle and more a fortified, larger stone fortress, its thick stone walls possessing the ruggedness characteristic of the frontier. The interior furnishings were simple and rustic, exuding a pragmatic atmosphere, quite unlike the ostentatious style of other nobles.

The long table in the center of the hall was laden with food: a whole roasted ibex, its aroma filling the air; a small mountain of potatoes; a large bowl of steaming broth; and a large plate of honey-glazed flatbread and donuts. Though not elaborate, the portions were generous, the aroma irresistible, and it exuded the unique boldness of the North.

In this era, desserts are still a luxury, let alone in this frigid border region closest to the Demons. The fact that this seemingly not wealthy Earl could offer them speaks volumes about his sincerity.

In the original story, even after learning that Frieren was the mage among the heroes' group, and that the heroes' group had been kind to Earl Granat, who was generally aristocratic, Frieren and the others still knelt on one knee before him.

Of course, it's also possible that Ruby's status as the Duke's sole heir has elevated the group's standing, transforming them from "a roadside hero" into "a friend of the Duke's daughter."

After all, countless heroes have gone to fight the Demon King. Even the Hero of the South only has statues in a few cities and is not considered a person of any status. The Royal Capital gave Himmel ten copper coins "to bolster his reputation," which shows that the title of hero is actually nothing in the eyes of the nobles and some powerful people.

By this time, Earl Shuralk had changed into a relatively decent leather hunting outfit, with a purple cloak symbolizing his noble status draped over his back. Although it still couldn't conceal his bulging muscles, he finally looked somewhat like a lord. He raised a large wooden goblet filled with ale, a specialty of the North, and spoke in a booming voice:

"Gentlemen, don't be shy! Eat as much as you like! But," he changed the subject, a straightforward smile spreading across his face, "Since you've eaten my food, you'll have to help me out with some trouble! Haha! Of course, if things go smoothly, you can also pick whatever you like from my little treasure vault in town! Consider it a send-off gift for you brave warriors!"

Himmel gracefully cut the mutton on her plate, a flawless, gentle smile on her face, "Earl Excellency is too kind. It is our duty to uphold justice. Please do not hesitate to speak up if you need anything; we are duty-bound to help."

Ruby, who was taking small bites of a biscuit, overheard this and secretly leaned close to Heiter's ear, whispering, "This Earl seems pretty honest! Among the nobles of the North, although his behavior is a bit... wild, he doesn't seem to have a bad heart! Especially compared to that annoying Earl Tahe, he's so much better!"

Frieren, completely absorbed in the food, devoured the donuts in front of her, her emerald eyes narrowing with satisfaction. Her cheeks bulged, and she mumbled a comment, "Hmm... it's been a long time since I've had something so substantial... This place is near the border, and many towns are tucked away in some remote corner; supply points are hard to find..."

Lowell slowly sipped a glass of light, locally produced liquor with a hint of pine, then glanced at Frieren, his tone tinged with a helpless teasing. "And you're one to talk. Everyone else has been camping properly all this way, but you're always complaining about the cold and the hard conditions, wanting to sneak into my alternate dimension to sleep. You're supposed to be one of the three remaining Great Mage, where's your self-respect?"

Frieren swallowed the food in her mouth, glanced at Lowell with her blue eyes, and retorted confidently, "It's too cold... and the ground is all stone, too hard. It wouldn't matter if we laid out a blanket. It's not like you don't have enough magic." The implication was clear: why not take advantage of the convenience?

Lowell was taken aback by her matter-of-fact attitude, then chuckled and shook his head, "It's not that I'm heartbroken over that little bit of magic... it's just that, tsk, something feels off... um... how should I put it, it's like... not sharing the hardships with the soldiers? Like a bourgeois detached from the masses?" He tried to find an accurate word to describe that subtle sense of unease.

Frieren blinked, her face showing utter confusion. "I don't understand. Why suffer when there's a comfortable place to be had?" Her logic was simple and direct, leaving Lowell speechless for a moment.

"Uh, okay, okay, I was just saying. I'm not the kind of person who puts up with things without effort... If it weren't for the fact that no one else besides you and Ruby could stay there for too long, I would really like to pack you all in and take you with me." Lowell could only pat Frieren's head. Of course, he didn't object to Frieren going to his alternate dimension to rest.

Frieren ate another donut. "And besides, I remember you said something over five hundred years ago that 'Frieren is the most special'..."

"Hey, hey!" Before Frieren could finish speaking, Lowell covered her mouth. "Can't we just let those old stories go? It's too embarrassing! Don't say it again!"

Ruby. "That's too explicit... I never imagined Lowell was this kind of person... No wonder he's such a filthy adult..."

"Where is it dirty! Although it's a little cheesy and greasy, it's clearly pure love! And that was a long, long time ago!"

"Eee..." Ruby disdain, but her eyes glanced at Himmel.

Watching their familiar interaction, Lupa couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly. Linié sat quietly to the side, nibbling on the crisp, sweet-looking local apples the Earl had provided. Heiter was already engrossed in the wine. Eisen, as always, was pragmatic; he swallowed a large chunk of mutton and calmly steered the conversation back to business:

"Earl lord, what exactly is it that requires our attention?"

Shuralk put down his wine glass, his rugged face becoming more serious. He pointed northeast. "It's not a huge problem. It's in that direction, about a day's journey, there's a 'Frostwhisper Canyon,' which has a labyrinth inside. The trouble is, snow monsters keep popping up in that labyrinth, harassing the trade route and nearby villages."

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. "A single Yeti isn't much of a threat, and even in hordes, I could easily wipe them out with my own guards. But the problem is their sheer number. We clear out one batch, and another pops up soon after—it's endless! This scourge has plagued us since my grandfather's generation. I once led a hundred elite men in, intending to strike at the heart of the problem, but..." A trace of sorrow crossed his face, "... only I came out alive. Deep within that labyrinth, there must be a leader, constantly summoning these monstrous things!"

He sighed, his gaze sweeping across the hall, a heavy weight of responsibility on his face as the head of the city. "I dare not risk venturing deeper now. My son is only ten years old. If I perish inside, this city... I fear it won't last much longer. Therefore, I have no choice but to swallow my pride and ask a few powerful warriors to help eliminate the source deep within the labyrinth. Once it's dealt with, the trouble here will naturally be over!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Himmel's eyes, clear and resolute beneath her blue hair, said, "Eliminating monsters and protecting peace is our mission. Earl Excellency, please rest assured, we accept this commission."

"Great! That's awesome!" Shuralk slapped his thigh and raised his glass. "Then I'll stay here and wish you all the best!"

The atmosphere at the banquet became lively again.

Lowell held his wine glass, his gaze seemingly unfocused as it fell on the flickering candlelight, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the table. Yeti... labyrinth... he quickly searched his memory. There didn't seem to be any specific record of this in the original work; perhaps it was just an insignificant ripple in the trajectory of fate, or perhaps it was dust forgotten over the long passage of time.

He glanced up at Himmel, who was chatting happily with Shuralk and whose face was beaming with a sense of mission, and then at Frieren next to him, who seemed to be in a good mood because she could finally stay in an inn with a roof and a fireplace. He clicked his tongue in his mind.

Although he had long sensed that this was the last stop on his brief journey with Himmel, fragments of the future already hinted at their separation, and even more distant, vague images of Himmel and the others successfully defeating the Demon King. But this was ultimately just one of countless possibilities. The loom of fate never ceased turning, and even the slightest breeze could cause the threads to deviate from their predetermined course.

"This is the last stop for our trip..." Lowell thought to himself, downing the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp. A slightly spicy sensation, mixed with the aroma of pine, slid down his throat. "Although it's been a long time since I've had a proper nap on this fireplace-warmed hotel bed, tomorrow... I'll still go with them."

He glanced at Frieren, who was secretly stuffing the last donut into her mouth like a little squirrel hoarding food, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips, a smile he himself didn't even notice.

After all, this long journey to the Demon King's Castle, this companionship that has lasted for years, seems to have quietly come to an end. Let's take a few more glances on this last stretch of road where we can walk side by side.