That evening, Fern, the most junior member of the group and an all-purpose "maid," made dinner. It wasn't especially delicious, but there was plenty of it, and it served as a welcome feast for their newest arrival: Elaina, the "self-proclaimed witch with beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, and wisdom as clear as morning dew," who had forced her way into the group and then cast a spell inside the carriage to expand it into an equally luxurious room of her own.
After dinner, aside from one troublesome little girl who, as usual, had gone out wandering—where she'd gone and what she was off doing was anyone's guess—Fern, Frieren, and Elaina got along reasonably well in the carriage.
After all, aside from her excessive self-confidence and narcissism, Elaina was quite capable in other respects.
Especially when it came to magic. Her command of mana, training, spellcasting, and magical knowledge was practically on another level from Frieren, an elf mage who had lived for over a thousand years.
So, naturally, after spending half the evening humbly asking Elaina for guidance, the three of them quickly grew close.
Then, warmed by Elaina's fairly cheerful personality, they soon became friends who could talk about anything.
Early the next morning.
The mountain forest was veiled in mist, filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees. As dawn filtered through the branches, casting dappled light around the luxurious carriage and into its magically expanded hall, Fern was already up, carefully bustling about in the kitchen.
After all, of the four people living in this carriage mansion, one troublesome little girl only knew how to eat, drink, play, and sleep; the Gray Witch, Elaina, only knew how to brag about herself; and her teacher, Frieren, was even worse—despite having