Gostan City

Early the next morning, the old Monk cooked them some porridge and even added a few medicinal herbs to strengthen their bodies, praying that they would have a safe journey.

Shane stood beside the carriage, dark circles under his eyes.

All night, the good little man and the evil little man in his mind had fought to a stalemate.

The Monk before them held the Holy Scripture and cast [Heal] on everyone one by one, making sure none of their previous injuries had been left untreated.

When it was Shane's turn, the Monk paused.

"It seems you didn't get much rest last night, Mr. Shane."

Shane stared straight at the Holy Scripture and said gloomily, "That's right. Young people have a lot of worries."

The Monk, Beryl, laughed at Shane's words and held out the Holy Scripture.

"Then I'll give this Holy Scripture to you. I hope you'll receive help from the Goddess through it and be free of your worries from now on."

"Huh?"

Shane wondered if he'd heard wrong.

"You're giving it to me? Why?"

"Because I believe this is what the Goddess would want me to do."

Shane looked at the Holy Scripture in his hands—or rather, at the gleaming magic entry on its page. His mood went from disappointment to wild elation in an instant.

"But this... it's clearly something precious to you..."

As if sensing Shane's joy and gratitude, the Monk took out a small wooden box and said with a smile,

"If you feel bad about taking away an old friend who's been with me for decades, then do me a favor and deliver these manuscripts to City Hall in Gostan City. The people there will know what to do with them."

A letter? No, wait—a package of documents?

Shane snatched up the box. "No problem. Leave it to me!"

The Monk smiled with relief.

The box held the results of his life's research—all his analyses and writings on the Goddess Barrier in the Holy Scripture.

Once the people at City Hall received the complete collection of manuscripts and the Magic Association had examined them, his work could be studied and used by many more people.

Would his name have a chance to live on in human history?

He couldn't help indulging in a little daydream.

Even after the carriage had traveled far, they could still see the Monk standing there, watching them go.

In high spirits, Shane hugged the Holy Scripture to his chest and waved repeatedly at the figure behind them.

Frieren watched the figure gradually shrink into a tiny speck, then glanced at Shane beside her and said calmly,

"Monks have a custom near the end of their lives. They always pass the old Holy Scripture they've carried throughout their lives to the student they admire most, as a keepsake."

Smack.

Shane accidentally hit himself in the eye with his waving hand.

"What did you say?"

"I said that Grandpa Beryl gave you the Holy Scripture because he admires you."

"Not that part. The part before it."

"..."

Frieren fell silent and opened the magic book she carried with her.

Shane's head was spinning. He sat down in a daze and stared at the Holy Scripture in his arms, his earlier joy suddenly gone.

Monk Beryl was old—very old. Shane knew full well that he might not have much time left, but he'd never imagined that this kind-hearted Monk might leave this world today or tomorrow.

He looked at the wooden box the Monk had entrusted to him to deliver to Gostan City, and an inexplicable sadness welled up inside him.

A person's long decades of life, in the end, had been condensed into one small box.

He turned back and looked toward the Monastery once more.

The kind-hearted figure who had stood by the road watching them was already nowhere to be seen.

The carriage rattled along.

Nearby, the merchant and several of his workers had long since fallen asleep against the carriage walls.

Beside Shane, Frieren's head bobbed up and down, and she looked ready to fall asleep at any moment.

Sitting at the back of the carriage, Shane turned the Holy Scripture over and over in his hands, unsure how to use it.

With a Magic Tool entry, all he had to do was extract it and then bestow it to use it.

But what was he supposed to do with a magic entry?

[Goddess's Barrier]

Type: Barrier Magic

Effect: Creates a powerful protective barrier and conceals everything within it

Status: Not learned

Shane scratched his head. What exactly counted as "learning" it?

After puzzling over it for a while, he finally decided to try Entry Extraction.

At his thought, the magic entry instantly turned into a tiny point of light, just like an enchanted attribute entry, and was extracted.

Before he could do anything else, the tiny point of light turned into magic particles and instantly merged into his body.

In that instant, he felt as if the blood in his veins were about to boil.

A wondrous, indescribable rush shot straight through his head.

"Whoa, this feeling..."

Shane couldn't help gripping the hilt at his waist and tilting his head back. He felt as if even his toes had burst open.

Frieren was startled awake by his movement.

She gazed at Shane groggily, looking puzzled.

?

Shane did his best to act as if nothing was wrong, using every ounce of his willpower to stop himself from crying out in pleasure.

Magic really was incredible!

The journey passed without incident, and the carriage arrived safely at Gostan City.

It was a magnificent trade city, situated on a vast river-valley plain, with the Neck Mountains to the north and White Sand Valley to the south.

It was not only a hub for merchants but also a strategic military stronghold.

At the city gate.

The crowds bustled.

Whether entering or leaving the city, everyone had formed long lines.

The guards stood in rows on either side, questioning each person and inspecting their luggage. Even the merchants' goods had to be unpacked and checked one by one.

The merchant was surprised by the scene and hurriedly sent one of his workers to ask what was going on.

Before long, the worker came running back.

"The guards at the gate said an unknown force attacked Gostan City a few days ago. General Glucks also discovered a spy inside the city who was trying to steal the city's defense map, so the lord ordered the gates closed. Now everyone entering or leaving has to show proof of identity. Anyone without it won't be allowed through."

At this news, Shane's heart tightened.

"Proof of identity?"

It had been three years since he'd transmigrated. In that time, he'd either been scavenging in the maze or studying entries at the inn. He'd never paid any attention to proof of identity. Was this world's equivalent of an ID card?

What was he supposed to do without one?

What if they mistook him for a spy and killed him...? That would be too unlucky...

As he was thinking this, he saw Frieren pick up her suitcase, hop lightly down from the carriage, and turn around to leave without the slightest hesitation.

"Shane, let's go somewhere else."

"??"

Shane was confused at first, then a sudden flash of insight made him understand: Frieren didn't have proof of identity either!

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What could I do about something like that? The ruling organizations of humans keep changing. I couldn't possibly get all those documents and proofs."

The white-haired elf looked completely unbothered.