Speak Your Heart Out

Shane was surrounded by a group of matrons.

The enthusiastic innkeeper and her sisters were incredibly reluctant to see Shane go, stuffing his arms so full of bread and fruit that he could barely hold his own.

He turned his head to look at Frieren, who seemed isolated from the warm atmosphere.

The elven girl stood before the statue of Himmel's party, head tilted back, staring blankly at the stone figures, lost in thought.

The party that had once defeated the Demon King was now scattered: the Hero had passed away, the monk was aged, the dwarf lived in seclusion, and only Frieren remained, wandering the world alone.

Shane sighed inwardly, forcibly shoved the bread from his arms into Frieren's hands, and pulled her along to bid everyone farewell.

The girl seemed unaccustomed to such scenes, her expression somewhat stiff.

Yet, when a small child joyfully offered her a piece of candy, a gentle smile finally graced her face.

Clutching a mountain of food, Shane and Frieren waved goodbye to the townspeople who had come to see them off and embarked on their journey toward the nearest trade hub, Gostan City.

"Frieren, you have to say goodbye properly when you leave," Shane said, waving continuously at the people behind them as they walked.

Frieren, however, remained indifferent.

"If I do that, won't it be awkward when we meet again?"

Shane paused at her words.

Wasn't that something Himmel used to say?

Though Frieren had changed significantly under Himmel's influence, she remained an "aloof" elf at her core.

Moreover, rather than calling it change, it was more like she was a child who had lost her family, clumsily imitating the "adults" she remembered.

This slow-witted elf had lost her kin at a very young age, and over the long passage of time, she had lost her mentor and her companions as well.

Her long lifespan had brought her little comfort, serving only to bring her enduring loneliness.

A flicker of sympathy stirred in Shane's heart.

That guy Himmel was truly cunning, taking his hidden feelings to the grave.

For Frieren, who continued to live on, how was she to resolve the unspeakable guilt that would arise when, after time had passed, she realized those past intentions and recalled her own unintentional actions at the time?

Shane did not approve of such a method.

"Who says you're guaranteed to meet again after parting? Time is cruel to humans, which is exactly why you have to say goodbye properly."

"Even if you never see each other again, the feelings from that moment have already been conveyed. The person who received those feelings will, one day in the future, be glad and think, 'It's a good thing I responded properly back then.'"

Having said this, Shane raised his hand, wanting to ruffle Frieren's hair, but he stopped halfway and lowered it.

He didn't want to lecture Frieren on grand philosophies; he only hoped that this lonely elf might have fewer regrets throughout her long life ahead.

Frieren pondered Shane's words in silence, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Yet, after they had walked a long way, she suddenly stopped and glanced back at the town.

But in the end, she said nothing, turned around, and continued the journey ahead.

Along the way, Shane hummed a little tune, feeling quite cheerful.

However, because the melody was so grating, it frequently drew "hostility" from Frieren.

He didn't mind, though.

He was truly happy to have persuaded Frieren to travel with him.

(Recalling last night)

"I do need a vanguard."

Frieren took a bite of pudding and said slowly, "Although you are strong, your physique is too slight; I fear you cannot fulfill the duties of a vanguard."

"True, I am not a pure warrior, but I can offer you these two bottles of fine wine, plus provide travel funds."

Frieren fell into thought.

"My journey is very long, and my route is quite spontaneous."

"Coincidentally, I also want to see the scenery elsewhere. How about an extra dessert with every meal?"

Frieren gave up on thinking.

Party formed.

It must be said, Shane had a way with words.

The two chatted idly as they walked.

Shane asked many questions about adventurers, and Frieren explained each one with great patience.

When Shane asked how to improve his spiritual power, Frieren frowned.

"As a warrior, shouldn't you be concerned with how to increase your physical strength? Why are you interested in spiritual power?"

"Because I have a dream."

Shane casually plucked an apple, rubbed it against his sleeve, and took a crunchy bite. "I want to become a Magic Swordsman one day."

"I see."

Frieren pondered for a moment before explaining:

"For a mage, the amount of mana determines the upper limit of one's magical potential, while mental strength represents the maximum precision achievable within that space. Only those born with strong mental strength exhibit a true talent for magic."

Swish.

Frieren summoned her staff and gave a light wave toward a pile of stones by the roadside.

In an instant, the stones spontaneously adhered to one another, forming a wobbly doll that began to dance under the control of Frieren's staff.

"This is the [Magic to Manipulate Stones Like Puppets]. It's an amusing little trick that seems to lack any offensive power, but..." As she spoke, Frieren slightly raised her staff. With a crisp pop, the stone doll visibly shrank, its composition becoming denser and more tightly bound than before.

Following this, the manipulated stone doll suddenly lunged forward and kicked Shane.

"Ouch—"

The items in Shane's arms scattered everywhere as he hopped around, clutching his leg in pain.

Frieren continued, "Just like that, a mage with high mental strength can control magic with greater finesse, enhancing the power of otherwise mundane magical formulas."

Shane nodded hurriedly, signaling that he understood.

I mean, sure, teach me, but there's no need to jump straight into a practical lesson.

"So, what are the methods for increasing mental strength?" Shane pressed.

"Much like training your mana capacity, it is improved through meditation and contemplation, requiring the accumulation of time. However, compared to increasing mana, the growth of mental strength is extremely slow. Furthermore, there is one key difference: mental strength can be enhanced in reverse if one trains improperly."

"Enhanced in reverse?"

"Yes. Whether it is positive strength or reverse strength, both can maintain superb magical control. But a mage who grows through reverse strength will eventually lose their sanity one day and descend into madness."

Descend into madness...

Shane was reminded of those scarlet eyes.

According to Frieren, this mental strength was somewhat like an alignment system in a game—it could grow positively or negatively. He would have to be careful during his training. If he messed up, he might end up becoming a lunatic.

"Warriors like you who wish to study magic are rare, but not unheard of. Ize once mentioned that he had a friend who was a magic warrior." Frieren thought for a moment and continued, "Perhaps I could introduce you to Ize. He knows more about this than I do."

Ize the dwarf?

Shane knew that the man was hailed as the "Greatest Warrior," possessing explosive stats, thick skin, and incredibly high resistance—he could dive headfirst off a mountain and be perfectly fine. Frieren had previously invited him to serve as the vanguard for their journey, but he had declined, citing that he was "too old."

If the opportunity arose in the future, it would certainly be worth learning some combat techniques from him.

Just as he was thinking this, a shout drifted from far ahead on the road:

"Hey—do you want a ride?"

Shane looked toward the direction of the voice, his eyes lighting up instantly. It was a merchant caravan!