Frieren

Twenty years after the hero Himmel passed away.

In the Central Lands, deep in a forest outside the holy city.

Towering trees, sturdy and straight, dotted the earth as densely as stars, lush and green.

Verdant leaves covered the sky, casting shadows everywhere.

The river was clear and ethereal, without a speck of dirt.

A fair-skinned elf boy who looked about eleven walked along the winding riverbank, dressed in a red robe and carrying an exquisite longsword.

His hair was snow-white, fine and silky as milk. His slender, elongated ears looked as though they had been carved from white jade, their tips curving slightly upward.

A breeze stirred his white hair.

He raised his eyes to the sky, a faint smile of enjoyment appearing on his delicate, elegant face.

"Nice breeze."

The boy's name was Dugu Qing, and he was a transmigrator.

His father had been a wandering elf mage skilled in combat magic.

His mother, Dorothea, had been a former nun of the Church of the Goddess of Creation. She was a peerless beauty, stunning enough to topple a kingdom, and skilled in healing.

After transmigrating, Dugu Qing had inherited his father's bloodline and his mother's looks. He had lived in the forest ever since he was born.

He had never met an outsider.

His father, Dichter, had died in a war to exterminate monsters not long after Dugu Qing was born.

His mother's fate had been tragic as well. She had spent several years fulfilling her duty as a wife and avenging her husband, only to die in the final battle herself.

Dugu Qing had been left alone in the vast, boundless forest.

Thanks to his parents, Dugu Qing had inherited the strengths of both elves and humans.

Generally speaking, elves developed extremely slowly.

Childhood lasted a hundred years.

Adolescence lasted two hundred.

Only after reaching three hundred would their appearance and build become fixed forever.

Dugu Qing had inherited the strengths of both races. Though only eleven, his face and body already bore the features of an adolescent elf.

According to Dichter's estimate before his death, Dugu Qing would reach adulthood at around sixteen, when his build and appearance would become fixed forever.

Just like Frieren and Serie...

"Chirp, chirp~"

A melodious, tranquil birdsong rang out from above.

Dugu Qing looked up.

Two bluebirds were flapping their wings cheerfully as they flew around a clump of withered grass and roots, completely unguarded against Dugu Qing.

Dugu Qing looked up and saw a damaged nest among the leafy branches, with an injured chick lying inside.

Blood dripped from its wing, a startling red.

Dugu Qing picked up the dry grass and flew high into the air.

He placed the grass on the nest, making the broken nest whole again.

"Chirp, chirp~"

The birds flew onto a branch and chirped happily in thanks.

Dugu Qing and the birds had been neighbors for a long time. Through years of living alongside them, he had forgotten the troubles of his previous life, come to understand nature and life, and learned the language of heaven and earth.

He helped the birds whenever he could.

As it happened, he had the protection of the Goddess of Creation and had inherited his mother's Holy Scripture. With nothing to do while staying in the forest all day, he had memorized most of the healing magic she had left behind.

Casting healing magic was a piece of cake.

"Don't be afraid."

Dugu Qing floated in the air, his white hair dancing in the wind, a picture of purity.

He took the Holy Scripture, a little worn from use, out of his pocket and reached for the injured bird.

Sensing Dugu Qing's ethereal, sacred aura, the bird did not shy away at all. It closed its eyes, as comfortable as if it were lying in its mother's embrace.

A green light symbolizing tenacious life radiated from Dugu Qing's fingers.

The bird's wound healed rapidly, its wing regained its mobility, and the scar vanished, as though it had never been hurt.

"Chirp, chirp~"

The birds looked at one another, overjoyed. They soared high and flew around Dugu Qing in a scene of perfect harmony.

Dugu Qing smiled, flew back down, and picked up the longsword he had planted in the ground.

"Goodbye."

Turning back, Dugu Qing caught a two-colored fish in the river and headed home.

After a little more than a hundred paces.

A secluded, tranquil old castle came into view.

Dugu Qing walked to the entrance and pushed open the thousand-jin stone door with one hand.

"Creak~"

A strong gust swept out from within.

A giant green bird flapped its wings, opened its enormous maw, and flew toward Dugu Qing.

As a descendant of elves and humans, Dugu Qing.

Had inherited his father's elven bloodline and magical talent.

He had also inherited his mother's purity and received the blessing of the Goddess of Creation.

In the forest, he had studied healing magic and combat magic while also learning the way of the sword.

He truly cultivated both sword and magic.

At the sight of the monster, he felt delighted rather than afraid.

The bearing of Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon appeared in his blue eyes.

He gripped his sword and slashed.

A surging wave of sword qi, incomparably sharp and burning gold-red, tore through the air in an instant.

It cut through the giant bird's body as easily as sweeping away dry weeds and rotten wood, then vanished into the clouds.

The giant bird split in two, its blood falling like rain.

Dugu Qing stood tall with an immortal bearing and casually cast Cleansing Magic.

All the blood around him vanished, along with both halves of the giant green bird's body.

The world fell quiet again.

"Huh? I wonder if green bird meat tastes good... What a shame. I've already cast the magic, so I can't get it back."

"I should be slower next time I strike."

Dugu Qing shook his head in frustration, his white hair drifting softly.

Carrying the fish, he strolled into the clean, tidy kitchen.

He lit the fire and began cooking.

He cleaned the two-colored fish, put it in a pan of oil, and fried it over low heat until golden.

Outside the old castle.

White clouds drifted across the blue sky.

Frieren had crossed mountains and seas, defeated countless powerful enemies, looked down upon the destruction of empires, and watched royal power collapse.

Together with the hero Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen, she had traveled the world, experienced adventure after adventure, and destroyed the Demon King.

She had witnessed seas turn to mulberry fields and watched buildings rise and fall.

Civilization had developed, and the world had progressed.

The youthful innocence in her eyes had quietly faded, replaced by the depth and calm of someone who had seen much.

On the level ground of the forest, Frieren's white twin tails fluttered in the air. Her bearing was tranquil and elegant, serene as water.

Her petite figure strolled through the woods.

The earth and sky moved with her.

Carrying a suitcase, Frieren walked forward at an unhurried pace.

The sun was setting, and darkness would soon rule the land.

Frieren looked around,

"Isn't there a village here? Oh well, I'll walk a little farther! Maybe..."

Hoping for the best, Frieren followed the riverbank.

An enticing aroma of meat, mingled with faint notes of cumin and chili, drifted over from the other side of the river.

Frieren gave a little sniff and breathed it in. She immediately felt as though she had entered heaven, an entranced, yearning expression on her face.

Following the wonderful aroma of grilled fish, she went on until she saw a castle in the distance, and a relieved expression appeared on her face.

"Looks like I won't have to sleep outside tonight! Yay~"

Dugu Castle towered imposingly, surrounded by a three-meter-high wall. Its defenses were complete and formidable, but the main gate was open.

Frieren was quite surprised. Now she could even skip knocking.

"Rustle~"

Her boots crunched over the yellowed fallen leaves.

Frieren crossed the threshold and entered Dugu Qing's home.

"Bubble, bubble~"

Vegetable oil bubbled in the pan.

Dugu Qing stood beside the stove, turning the two-colored fish over with a spatula every thirty seconds.

Both sides of the fish gradually turned golden brown.

As Dugu Qing rinsed the iron basin he had used to marinate the fish with clean water, his uncanny sixth sense sounded an alarm.

He abruptly looked up and saw Frieren.

A petite elf girl with delicate features, snow-white skin, clothes whiter than snow, a serene air, and twin tails was gazing at him in a daze with emerald-green eyes.

"A person? And a white-haired beauty? What kind of day is this? I'm way too lucky!"

Dugu Qing was astonished and felt an extraordinary delight.