Long Time No See

On the Bright Mountain, dark clouds gathered, casting a gloomy and desolate atmosphere.

When Frieren, Dugu Qing, Fern, Stark, Sein appeared on the mountaintop, the sky suddenly became stormy.

The dense, dark clouds gradually dispersed.

In the azure sky, a Stairway to Heaven leading to heaven emerges from the ground and stretches all the way into the depths of the clouds.

Wow! I never knew Aureole really existed!

Stark's face lit up with a slight smile. He jumped onto the Stairway to Heaven and strode up.

The Demons below the mountain suddenly turned around and discovered that the Stairway to Heaven had been activated. Enraged, they rushed towards the summit.

Demon King's Palace, in the main hall teeming with demonic energy, demons gathered.

Soren sat on his throne, toying with a doll in his hand, then suddenly looked up, gazing towards the direction of Bright Mountain.

"Someone triggered the Stairway to Heaven. Interesting. I wonder if Frieren is inside."

Soren left the palace, leading his four demon generals and thousands of soldiers, heading straight for Bright Mountain.

Within the Stairway to Heaven, holy light permeated the air, auspicious colors shone, and the scene was magnificent.

Frieren, humming an unknown tune, walked lightly and relaxedly up the white marble steps.

Dugu Qing and Fern followed closely behind her at a leisurely pace.

Stark and Sein looked around, admiring the spectacular scenery, their eyes filled with awe.

The group spent several hours climbing up the steps to reach the tall, majestic, and magnificent South Heavenly Gate.

Frieren, Dugu Qing, Fern passed through the South Heavenly Gate and entered the Aureole Kingdom.

The air here is fresh, birds are chirping, flowers are fragrant, and the scenery is beautiful, like a poem or a painting. It truly deserves to be called the legendary Aureole.

Just as Stark and Sein were about to enter Aureole, two blinding silver lights suddenly appeared.

A divine general, leading seven or eight heavenly soldiers, clad in silver-white armor and wielding long spears, blocked the passage, preventing the two from passing.

"Those who enter the Aureole must have pure hearts. You two, please wait!"

The leading general, with an imposing presence, looked at Stark Sein with eyes full of vigilance, as if he could see right through people's hearts.

"Alright!"

Sein admitted that he liked beautiful women, so it was only natural that he wasn't pure, but he never expected that Stark wouldn't be able to enter Aureole either—what a pleasant surprise!

Now I have company.

"I feel like I've been looked down upon!"

Stark leaned against Sein and lowered his head helplessly.

The god waved his hand, dismissing the heavenly soldiers, and walked to Frieren's side, a broad smile on his face.

"The Goddess of Creation decreed that only those who have rendered great service to the world and possess pure hearts can enter Aureole. However, some time ago, a thief entered Aureole and stole a Grimoire. The God-King was furious and ordered the severing of the Heavenly Gate. May I ask why you gentlemen have come here?"

Frieren spoke softly and gently.

"I want to see Himmel and Flamme."

Fern, with a serious expression, followed up with,

"I would like to see Lord Heiter."

Dugu Qing shrugged lightly, nonchalantly.

"I wonder if my parents are home. If they are, I want to see them too."

The silver-armored general smiled knowingly, turned and entered the Aureole to investigate the details.

A moment later, the god will return again.

"Himmel, Flamme, and Heiter are indeed in Aureole, but Dugu Qing, your family did not enter Aureole, so I'm very sorry!"

Dugu Qing gave an ambiguous smile.

The god will tell everyone that Himmel, Flamme, and Heiter are currently living in the Martial Realm.

If the group wishes to visit the three, they can travel to the Martial Realm world.

Frieren, carrying her suitcase, asked for directions and hurried towards the Martial Realm.

In the Aureole, in a remote region of the Martial Realm, in an unnamed mountain.

Himmel had reverted to her youthful appearance, dressed in a pale blue robe, a white halo of death above her head, lying on the grass, gazing at the sun in the sky, her face filled with boredom.

"Sigh! Another boring day! I wonder where Heiter went drinking again, leaving me all alone here. Honestly..."

A soft, slow footstep came from the other side of the hillside.

Himmel's heart tightened, her breath caught in her throat, and her gaze involuntarily drifted toward the side of the mountain.

Amidst the romantic wildflowers, Frieren, dressed in a snow-white mage's robe, her white hair flowing, moved with gentle steps, riding the wind.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before Himmel.

Himmel blushed slightly, stood up, her expression complex.

"Frieren, you... you're dead too!"

Frieren put down her suitcase, solemnly extended her hand, her eyes burning with fervor; all the courage she had ever possessed ignited in that moment.

"Haven't seen you for a long time."

Himmel looked up in surprise, vaguely understanding something, and raised her hand to shake his.

"Yes! It's been a long time, Frieren. I've been waiting for you for ages."

Frieren pressed forward, closing in on Himmel, her courage and fearlessness making her seem like a completely different person.

"So, you must have a lot to say! I have truly arrived in Aureole now. Please tell me the words you have thought of and repeated a thousand times in your heart! This is your last chance."

Himmel, slightly flustered, raised her hand and rubbed her earlobe, cherishing the last moments of ambiguity.

"Is this really how it should be? There's a huge difference between imagining it in your mind and reality!"

Frieren, suppressing her discomfort, let out a long sigh.

"No matter how painful it is, you have to speak out and put an end to this. That's how I see it, Himmel. And you shouldn't carry endless regrets."

Himmel's expression turned serious, and her gaze no longer darted away.

"Frieren, I love you, I love you so much. I've dreamt of you wearing a wedding dress and becoming my wife more than once. For you, I'm willing to do anything, to pay any price."

"But now that I'm dead, some of the things I did in the past might move you, might make you like me as I am. But for you, that's actually a kind of constraint. I'm dead, and I'm so happy to see you again, really happy. But the living shouldn't be trapped by the dead."

"Frieren, forget me! Humans must learn to forget and start anew to be happy. You... should too. I won't blame you, and you don't need to feel guilty. There are too many tragedies in this world, countless ones. Compared to them, my ending is already quite good. Now, please go and find more fun things and more interesting people! I will be behind you, silently blessing you."

Frieren stood silently in place, the light in her eyes flickering uncertainly, her voice low and deep.

"Yes! Those who are deeply obsessed with their past often don't live long. Those who are alive, to avoid being overwhelmed by their worries, should be a little foolish, a little slow-witted, and a little forgetful. So, from now on, I'm going to be a wicked woman, forget the past, and start anew."

"But, Himmel, if you do something wrong, you must be punished. Please give me a good scolding! That might make me feel better!"