The Ultimate Treasure of Frieren

Shane had never seen such a shameless person in his life.

Just what kind of "very powerful mage" introduces themselves like that?

And trying to poach my teammate right in front of me? This kid is clearly begging for a lesson.

"No."

Before Shane could launch into a passionate tirade, Frieren, standing to the side, gave a concise and direct refusal.

The blonde youth froze for a moment. Thinking Frieren hadn't understood him, he raised his hand, summoned a staff, and repeated, "I really am a very powerful mage; you won't lose out by teaming up with me. Besides, I don't want any gold or silver treasures—everything in the dungeon belongs to you. How about that? It's a great deal, right?"

He was very confident.

But Frieren was even more confident. "No."

The blonde youth bristled, and for a split second, Shane even thought he was about to swing his staff.

But miraculously, he held back.

"Think about it, Frieren. As long as we team up, we can easily clear a dungeon on the level of the Inverted Land. This is a famous opportunity! By then, everyone in Gostan City will be singing praises of our deeds! Hey, hey, are you even listening to this young master..."

Frieren walked straight past the chattering blonde youth, ignoring him completely.

Shane felt like laughing.

A famous opportunity?

That was probably the last thing Frieren needed.

Sometimes, you have to admit that not everyone is gifted with eloquence.

Shane walked past the bristling youth, giving him a look filled with pity.

After successfully shaking off the troublesome pest, Shane couldn't help but chuckle.

Frieren looked at his inexplicable laughter with confusion.

"I suddenly remembered the scene when I invited you to form a party. So, do you regret teaming up with a teammate who is 'useless except for being handsome'?"

Frieren's expression remained calm as she replied, "You are not useless. You are brave when facing monsters, and you always find a way quickly when encountering difficulties. You are a reliable teammate."

Shane, who had only intended to make a joke to lighten the mood, was stunned for two seconds after hearing Frieren's earnest praise. His heart instantly warmed.

Even though she was an elf slow to understand emotions, her judgment was truly excellent.

"Most importantly, you said you would provide the travel funds," Frieren added.

She held out a small hand toward Shane. "Now, Mr. Sponsor of travel funds, please give me some silver coins."

"..."

She really didn't need to add that last part.

Going from a "reliable teammate" to a "money bag"—how did his status get lower and lower?

"You will keep your word, right?" Frieren asked.

"..."

What is this feeling of being caught in a trap?

A man cannot be doubted!

Helpless, Shane pulled something from his pocket and slapped it into Frieren's hand.

"Take it."

!!!

Upon seeing what was in her hand, Frieren's eyes widened instantly.

Shane let out a smug "Hmph."

I knew you'd like it.

Little elf, handled.

[Gostan City Grand Library Half-Price Coupon (Unlimited Use Storewide)]

It was one of the rewards given by the City Hall just a moment ago.

Frieren stared at the coupon, her eyes shining.

"Can I use it now?"

Now?

Shane glanced at the sun dipping toward the west. It was nearly evening; if they went now, the library would be closing before long.

As it turned out, without waiting for Shane to object, Frieren was already at the next intersection, coupon in hand.

"Hey, don't hesitate, let's go."

"..."

Shane shook his head, following along helplessly.

The Great Library of Gostan City.

Located just north of the city center, the building was a marble structure with a circular dome, possessing a distinct charm reminiscent of the ancient Roman era.

The receptionist at the library was a white-haired old man.

After briefly introducing the various book sections to the two of them, he sat back down in his chair and returned to his reading.

Frieren headed straight for the grimoire section, happily picking out books; in no time at all, she had two or three piled in her arms.

The petite elf hugged magic books larger than her own face, wobbling as she walked.

Seen from behind, she looked quite like a clumsy penguin.

Watching her enthusiasm, Shane figured she wouldn't stop until she had picked out a dozen or twenty books.

He turned toward the History of Magic section instead.

His gaze wandered across rows of bookshelves, searching for clues regarding that "Mad Sage" Charles.

"Unified Empire era..."

"Sage..."

Every so often, he would pull out a book, scan the table of contents, and after confirming it didn't contain what he was looking for, move on to the next.

Thanks to the bonus from the

Thought Acceleration

trait, his reading comprehension for these dense documents had significantly improved.

Yet, facing a vast sea of books, it was still like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The setting sun cast its final rays through the windows into the room. Tiny dust motes could be seen floating in the shafts of light.

Shane pulled out a thick book with a black, gold-embossed cover titled History of Continental Magic. The section on Court Sage in the table of contents caught his eye. He quickly flipped to the specific page, and the very first line made cold sweat break out on his forehead:

"During the Unified Empire era, in order to strengthen its power and rapidly advance the southern expansion plan, the Empire established the position of [Court Sage] in addition to the [Court Mage]."

The Court Mage had been founded by Frieren's teacher, Flamme, the progenitor of human magic.

The first batch of Court Mages were almost all disciples of Flamme.

It was precisely because of these initial magical talents that magic in the human world was able to spread rapidly, and by constantly innovating, it completely crushed other races to become a unique existence.

Unlike the [Court Mage], [Court Sage] were not trained; rather, they were recruited by the Empire from all over.

These brilliant scholars gathered together for the purpose of providing more powerful equipment and armor for the Empire's mages and ordinary soldiers, allowing the Empire to crush opposition faster during the process of southern expansion.

"Alchemy, blacksmithing, these are all normal things... wait!"

Shane's fingertip traced across the page, his brow gradually furrowing.

"...As the Empire expanded and continued to win wars, the lives of the royal nobility became increasingly extravagant, fueling a pursuit of [Immortality]. The research focus of the Court Sages shifted from war support to the exploration of [Immortality] magic. During this period, the Sage Charles discovered a set of magic theories that defied common sense within the notes left behind by the Great Sage Ewich from the Mythological Era, sparking discussions among many of the sages."

The written account stopped abruptly there.

Shane anxiously flipped to the next page; no connection. He flipped again; still no connection.

In the entire History of Continental Magic, there was only this short passage about Charles, with no further content to be found.

Unwilling to give up, he searched through several more historical accounts of the Unified Empire era, but aside from mentioning the title [Court Sage], there was no further information regarding "Sage Charles."

Shane leaned against the bookshelf, feeling somewhat dejected.

The final victory of humanity?

Immortality?

The Mythological Era?

The notes of the Great Sage Ewich?

These chaotic terms made his brain feel like a bowl of mush.

What exactly had that mad sage been planning?

Just as his head felt like it was about to explode, a sound of Frieren humming with a hint of smugness came from behind him.

"Shane, look what I found."