Himmel Would Have Done the Same

After Aura died, the soldiers of the Undead Army all fell to the ground, stretching away to the horizon.

Frieren stood beneath the sun with her hands clasped in prayer, hoping the fallen heroes would rest in peace.

Beneath Frieren's prayer, the smoke of war became an eternal stillness and drifted away on the wind.

"With a wave of your hand, a powerful enemy was reduced to ashes. Frieren, I knew I could count on you!"

Dugu Qing approached from afar and, gazing at the magnificent sight, couldn't help giving Frieren a thumbs-up.

"The crisis is over. Now I want to go straight back to the inn and get some proper rest."

After defeating such a powerful enemy, Frieren felt as though all her strength had been drained. She gazed listlessly at the distant city.

"Then go get some rest! Stark, we're running low on food money. There's so much equipment here, so let's pick up a few things and sell them to a merchant for spending money!"

Dugu Qing's eyes gleamed as he looked at the countless pieces of equipment lying on the road.

Stark felt the copper coins left in his pocket, and his eyes lit up. He nodded emphatically.

"Sure! Sure! The equipment on these puppets is a little old, but it's all high quality. It'll definitely sell for a lot."

Hearing this, Frieren turned around, somewhat speechless.

"The people who owned that equipment were all heroes who fought the demons when they were alive. Perhaps we should leave it alone."

Dugu Qing blinked and asked curiously,

"Why?"

Frieren smiled calmly, as though Himmel's sunny smile had appeared behind her, crossing time and space.

"Because if it were Himmel, he would have done the same."

Whenever Frieren faced an important choice, Himmel's words and example would play back in her mind like a movie.

Even now, Frieren was still influenced by the hero who had already died.

Although the influence was a good one and made Frieren more demure, Dugu Qing couldn't help objecting.

"Frieren, Himmel is already dead. You can keep him alive in your heart and mourn him, but what about the real you? She must be curled up miserably in a corner right now, watching that reflection called Himmel invade her soul! Why don't you try changing a little?"

Looking at Frieren ten meters away, Dugu Qing made a rare use of his analytical abilities.

He could no longer stand Frieren bringing up Himmel whenever a crucial moment arrived.

His friend was the one and only Frieren, an elf of noble blood, not some movie player dwelling on the late Himmel!

"Try? Changing a little?"

Frieren stared at Dugu Qing in a daze. The reflection of Himmel in her eyes, sunny and handsome, merged at that moment with the wise and graceful Dugu Qing.

"What are they talking about? I don't get it."

Stark poked Fern's arm with a finger, his face full of confusion.

"Children should be quiet."

Fern slapped Stark's dirty hand away and continued watching Dugu Qing.

"That's right. If Himmel were still alive, he'd surely be happy to see you act from your own standpoint!"

It suddenly dawned on Frieren. Yes! That was right!

After Himmel died, she had become depressed, grieving over the changing seasons and feeling pity for the world...

She often recalled the stories of her adventures with Himmel...

This state had lasted for decades, ruling her actions and thoughts and leaving her haggard and despondent... It shouldn't go on forever.

At the very least, it couldn't go on for her whole life.

It was time to try a new life, new adventures, and new hobbies.

Let a new life and new adventures cover the past that had already gone!

If Himmel were still alive, he would surely say this gently too:

"Just be yourself, Frieren."

The Himmel of the past was watching her, and the Dugu Qing of the present warmed her like a little sun. A feeling of happiness flowed through Frieren's heart.

She nodded, no longer stopping them, and flew off toward the inn, full of energy.

Dugu Qing, Stark, and Fern each picked up some expensive-looking equipment—gold swords, silver swords, rubies... Carrying it in their hands and on their shoulders, they entered the city.

At the trading market, they sold it for more than fifty gold coins, reaping a great haul.

They wouldn't be short of food money for several years to come and could travel happily. Hooray.

Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, and Stark rested at the inn for five or six days.

They enjoyed delicious food, warm beds, and a refreshing hot spring, spending a wonderful holiday.

Afterward, the new Earl came to them and commissioned Frieren to repair the barrier over Graf Granat's Domain.

Frieren asked for a Grimoire as her reward and set up a new barrier over the domain.

The task was quickly completed.

Safety returned to Graf Granat's Domain, and its residents held a grand celebration.

After the celebration, Dugu Qing and his companions set out again, heading for the even colder north.

As they traveled, the air grew colder and colder.

The four climbed a hillside as a bitter, piercing wind swept in from every direction, chilling them to the bone.

Huge snowflakes drifted down, blanketing heaven and earth.

Frieren wrapped a scarf around her neck and closed her eyes, stepping forward through the soft snow, one step at a time, into the raging blizzard.

Fern thought Frieren had fallen asleep and picked her up on her back.

Twenty-eight years after the hero Himmel's death, the Dake Region of the Northern Countries.

A vast expanse of white snow stretched endlessly between heaven and earth, making it easy to lose one's bearings and impossible to tell day from night.

Dugu Qing looked at Fern and kindly suggested,

"Fern, why don't you let me carry Frieren?"

Fern looked at Dugu Qing's upright figure, her face reddening slightly.

"No."

Although her entire body was frozen stiff, the moment Fern imagined Dugu Qing carrying Frieren, a fierce jealousy welled up in her.

She would rather collapse from exhaustion than see that sight.

"But aren't you tired?"

Dugu Qing was afraid Fern would be struck down by the freezing wind and snow before she reached shelter.

"I'm fine."

Strength returned to her frozen limbs, and Fern carried Frieren onward with firm steps.

"This girl has what it takes to become a strong woman!"

Watching Fern hold fast to a certain conviction, Dugu Qing felt a flicker of admiration.

A short while later, a small wooden cabin appeared amid the wind and snow.

Frieren slowly woke up and knocked on the door.

The air inside the cabin was warm and dry; the world outside was cold and violent.

Dugu Qing, Fern, Frieren, and Stark crowded around the door, all eager to get into the cabin and escape the cold.

Inside, a tall, upright male elf with a bare upper body was vigorously doing squats with his hands raised. His movements were steady and precise, displaying his solid, powerful physique.

Frieren looked at him and raised a leg, about to greet him.

But Fern thought his behavior was strange and that he was a hentai they needed to stay away from, so she pulled Frieren back.