The Tavern
The journey south was not always fraught with hardship. Several days later, at dusk, the three arrived at a fairly large human town located beside the trade route.
The houses, built of brick and stone, stand side by side, and the streets are bustling with people, full of lively atmosphere, as if they were in a different world from the tranquility of the fairy village.
Flamme seemed quite familiar with the place, and skillfully led the two into a clean and spacious tavern with a sign decorated with wooden wine cups.
"You've been traveling for days, let's treat ourselves to a nice meal today."
She pushed open the heavy wooden door of the tavern, her orange hair flashing a bright light in the afterglow of the setting sun, her tone relaxed, carrying a hint of "hostly hospitality."
The tavern was dimly lit, filled with the rich aroma of ale, roasted meat, and stew. The wooden tables and chairs were polished to a shine, and groups of travelers and locals gathered together, their laughter, clinking glasses, and clattering dishes creating a lively background sound.
After taking her seat, Flamme skillfully ordered her food. As soon as the steaming hot food was served, all eyes were immediately on Frieren.
Several large plates of perfectly fried, sizzling Hamburg Steak were laid out in front of Frieren, along with a large portion of mashed potatoes drizzled with gravy and roasted vegetables. She picked up a knife and fork, her movements slightly clumsy, clearly not very skilled at using human utensils, but her efficiency was astonishing.
Her emerald eyes were fixed on the food, and she devoured the pieces of meat on her plate in small, steady bites. One piece, two pieces, three pieces... Her seemingly slender body seemed to connect to another dimension. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight thick Hamburg Steak were gone, and she still seemed unsatisfied, her gaze sweeping over the golden-brown, crispy soybean flour bread in the basket on the table.
Flamme's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air, and her lips twitched almost imperceptibly beneath her orange hair. She glanced at the rapidly empty plate in front of Frieren, then touched the not-so-bulging purse at her waist. The "generous host" smile on her face gradually became strained, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Um, Frieren... as a girl, shouldn't you... moderate your appetite a little? Eating too much is bad for your health... um... and my wallet seems to be screaming in pain too..."
Just as Frieren swallowed the last bite of meat, picked up a piece of bread, and looked up at Flamme with calm, emerald eyes, replying in a statement of fact, "You said you'd treat us to dinner." The implication was clear: since you said you'd treat us, it was only natural that I should eat my fill.
Flamme was taken aback by this blunt logic, sighed softly, and said with genuine heartache, "I did say I'd treat... but I didn't expect... Frieren, your small body is so unfathomable..." She watched as Frieren picked up a second piece of bread, her eyes glistening with what seemed to be tears of "budget overrun."
Nearby, Lowell leisurely and elegantly cut the only Hamburg Steak on her plate, a stark contrast to Frieren's whirlwind devouring.
He had already used magic to change his appearance; the conspicuous demonic horns on his forehead had disappeared, and his aura had been concealed to be indistinguishable from that of an ordinary human traveler.
He watched as Flamme looked on, her heart aching as she tried to remain calm, and a smile crept onto his lips. His dark eyes were filled with amusement, but he tactfully refrained from pointing it out. Instead, he gently pushed his untouched bread basket toward Frieren.
This "sumptuous" dinner ended in a moment of near-tragic despair from Flamme.
When the tavern owner announced the bill, Flamme's body swayed almost imperceptibly.
She silently counted out the coins, her movements so slow it seemed as if each coin was bidding her a reluctant farewell. Finally, a single, glistening tear, seemingly about to fall, clung to the corner of her eye, and her voice choked with emotion.
"Ugh... my gold coins... just one meal, and it costs gold coins... I really need to find some odd jobs beforehand... Former Demon King, and little elf sister, if we keep eating like this for a few more meals, our grand plan to travel the continent will probably turn into a survival challenge of 'working along the way to make ends meet'... How about you two find some jobs..."
The three of them walked out of the tavern, and the evening breeze brought a slight chill to their faces.
Lowell looked at Flamme's pitiful "bankrupt" appearance and chuckled as he touched his nose. "Uh, Flamme, when I have nothing to do, I can go hunting in the nearby mountains and forests. I should be able to sell the furs and monster meat for some money to help with my travel expenses." With his strength, hunting was indeed as easy as taking a walk.
Frieren nodded, echoing in a flat tone, "Me too."
Upon hearing this, Lowell immediately turned to look at Frieren, and without thinking, patted his chest, his tone carrying an undeniable air of confidence. "No need! Frieren, I'll cover your share! I'll handle the hunting! You just focus on your magic research! I'll support you!"
Frieren raised her emerald eyes to look at him, her face expressionless, and simply replied, "Oh, really? Okay." Her tone was flat and indifferent, showing neither surprise nor refusal, but rather an attitude of "since you've offered, I'll accept," as if it were a matter of course.
Seeing Flamme 'Lowell eagerness to "take care" of the elf, and then looking at Frieren's completely clueless reaction, Flame couldn't help but chuckle, her orange hair trembling slightly with her movements.
She winked her azure eyes slyly, reached out and pulled Frieren aside, leaning close to her ear to whisper in a low but clear voice, "giving Lowell instructions":
"Frieren, the way he's acting is him trying to be nice to you, it's a way of... expressing closeness and possessiveness."
Frieren tilted her head, seemingly processing the information, then nodded and replied in her usual flat voice, "It seems so." She indicated understanding but showed no additional emotion.
A mischievous glint flashed in Flamme's eyes as she continued her "instruction": "Then you should respond a little, it's good for maintaining harmony in the relationship. I'll teach you a trick, sometimes, a little 'seduction' can be used in these situations. Watch closely~"
As she spoke, Flamme took a half step back, her slender left fingers gently pinching her delicate waist. She raised her right hand, her index and middle fingers together, and elegantly pressed them against her rosy lips. Then, she gently blew on them towards Lowell, making a playful and slightly provocative kiss. At the same time, she deliberately blinked her azure eyes, casting a captivating glance, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
Frieren watched intently, her emerald pupils like the most precise recording instruments, capturing every detail of Flamme.
Then, she turned to Lowell, mimicking Flamme's gesture. Her left hand stiffly rested on her hip, while her right hand rose to her pale lips. Then, expressionless, as if following a pre-programmed command, she pursed her lips and emitted a very soft "kiss" towards Lowell, delivering a completely emotionless "kiss" that sounded almost like blowing dust off her hands.
Throughout the entire process, her face remained as still as a frozen lake, without any ripples. Her clear, bright green eyes conveyed only the pure meaning of "Imitation to complete the task."
Flamme watched Frieren's textbook-perfect failed Imitation and sighed, "Your approach... the emotional investment is basically negative. You need to be more charming..."
Frieren blinked, looked at Flamme, and stated the result in a flat tone. "But he fell."
Flamme turned around and saw Lowell kneeling on one knee, one hand clutching his heart, head bowed, his shoulders trembling slightly, as if struck by some invisible force. Although his expression was obscured, his posture clearly indicated that he had been "sunken."
What innocent little boy? It's like he hasn't seen a woman in years.
Flamme remained silent for a moment, looking at Lowell's pathetic appearance and then at Frieren's indifferent "see, it worked" expression.
Finally, with a sigh, he patted Frieren on the shoulder and said in a tone that suggested a major achievement, "... Judging from the results, the effect was indeed quite good. So, congratulations, Frieren, from today onwards, you can proudly declare yourself a Great Mage who easily defeated the Demon King!"