Setting Out

Did I really do it?

Stark looked at the Red Mirror Dragon, which was already dead beyond any doubt and was being skinned and dismembered, and a certain elf that was happily rolling around in its den. He still felt somewhat incredulous.

The Red Mirror Dragon's enormous body occupied almost half of the valley, and a huge wound cleaved by a battle axe remained on its neck.

Without a doubt, it was his own doing.

"Lord Stark acted very bravely."

After finally managing to drag Frieren out of that obviously filthy dragon's lair, Fern commented to Stark, and casually cast a "Cleaning True Magic" on her that he had previously obtained from Flamme.

Hmm.

Sure enough, Lady Frieren's clothes were all clean now, and even had a faint fragrance.

In the future, even if we can't find a place to take a bath while traveling, we won't have to worry about Lady Frieren coming back covered in dust after wandering into some strange ruins.

"What convenient True Magic! How infuriating! Why wasn't I the one who got this True Magic in the first place?"

Frieren looked at her clothes, which had been filthy, and suddenly became clean and tidy, and couldn't help but say with some regret.

Didn't Lady Flamme teach you this True Magic back then?

Lady Frieren is, after all, Lady Flamme's "sole successor," so she should, in principle, impart all her knowledge to him.

"No, she was always so mysterious back then, only seeing me once every few years. How could she have had time to teach me these True Magic?"

Lorenzo felt a little guilty upon hearing this, realizing that Flamme had most likely been "hanging out" with him at that time.

Thinking about it this way, it seems that he also bears some responsibility for Frieren's failure to learn this Cleaning True Magic.

It's better not to say anything.

"However, she is indeed a genius."

Frieren, clutching the grimoire she had just found in the dragon's lair, continued speaking.

"Many True Magic have been improved, and even True Magic like resurrection have been created."

"Resurrection from the dead?"

After finally calming down his "excited" emotions, Stark heard about an incredible True Magic from Frieren.

Does True Magic that allows the dead to come back to life really exist?

"Huh? Didn't I tell you? The purpose of our journey is to find the Resurrection True Magic left behind by Lady Flamme."

Fern asked, puzzled.

"You never mentioned it!"

Stark couldn't help but raise his voice. All they had said from beginning to end was that they were going to the Northern Plateau. If he had known about this kind of True Magic, he wouldn't have needed to worry about it for so long.

To die and be brought back to life.

That's True Magic from a dream world. If one truly masters it, then one's father, brother, and all the fallen members of the Warrior's Village...

Even the loved ones the master lost over the long years might be able to return, and those words that could never be spoken will have a chance to be conveyed again.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going! I'm all ready."

Stark slung his weapon over his shoulder, and his body, which had been exhausted from the fierce battle, suddenly felt a surge of new strength.

"Stark."

Just then, Fern called out to him.

"What's wrong?"

"At least we should go back to the village to say goodbye first."

Stark stopped in his tracks.

That seems to be true.

Three years is not a short time, especially since he has just truly become a hero of the village. In the blink of an eye, he is preparing to leave without a word. Although he doesn't have the mentality of "returning home in glory is like wearing fine clothes at night," he should at least enjoy the feeling of being a "true hero."

"In that case, let's go back and announce this good news to the villagers!"

And so, Stark officially joined the team that sought to resurrect the dead.

To be honest, it wasn't until he met Stark that Lorenzo truly understood just how "meddlesome" Himmel was, as Frieren had described.

According to the original plan, they were supposed to leave the village early the next morning after the hunt for the Red Mirror Dragon.

Stark had packed his luggage early. He didn't have much stuff; besides his battle axe, a change of clothes, and some dry rations, he only had a few souvenirs given to him by the villagers. All of it just filled a backpack.

But when they reached the village entrance, an old man suddenly came looking for them.

"Lord Stark, it seems my roof is leaking..."

"Coming right away."

Stark put down his backpack, picked up his tools, and climbed onto the roof.

After finally finishing repairs to the roof, a horse-drawn cart loaded with grain got stuck in the mud.

"Lord Stark, could you please help me push it?"

"No problem."

After he pushed the carriage out of the mud pit, several children ran over carrying a broken wooden sword.

"Lord Stark, this is something you gave us before."

"Is it broken? Wait a moment."

Frieren didn't urge them.

She had already dragged her suitcase to the side of the road, sat down quite naturally, and then took out a magic book from the suitcase, turning to the page she hadn't finished reading.

Judging from their posture, they were clearly prepared to spend the whole day here.

"Himmel was like that before."

Frieren read while watching Stark bustling around.

"He will stop and help anyone who asks for his help, no matter how small the matter is."

Sometimes, even when he was facing powerful Demons the next day, he would still help villagers find their lost livestock the night before. Other times, just passing through a town, he would spend several days repairing a broken fountain in the center of the square because of a child's request...

"Maybe all soldiers are like that."

Fern looked at the red-haired youth who was still busy.

"Eisen wouldn't."

Frieren said without looking up.

It seems to have nothing to do with profession; it's simply that I can't refuse others.

It wasn't until the sun was gradually setting in the west that Stark finally finished dealing with the villagers' various requests and returned to the three of them.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

He slung his luggage over his shoulder and gave a relaxed smile.

Let's go.

Lorenzo looked up at the sky, which was beginning to darken.

"Now?"

Is there a problem?

"At this departure time, we'll probably only reach the village entrance before dark."

Stark's smile froze instantly.

That makes a lot of sense.

So the four of them had no choice but to return to the inn for another night, and in the end, they didn't even manage to leave the village on their first day officially joining the team.

I just hope tomorrow won't be a repeat of today's situation, otherwise they might never be able to leave this village for the rest of their lives.

It feels like another kind of maze or a ghost wall.