Peaceful Slumber in the [Hearth Home]

"Hoo—"

"Teacher, move a little more, up a bit higher."

"Like this?"

"Mm, this position is much more comfortable for me."

[New Era of Xin - Year 21]

[Northern Countries · Huyvia Mountain Range]

Guter carried Serie, who had grown too weary to walk, on his back as he climbed the rugged mountain path upward.

Sometimes, due to the large movements of climbing, Serie would slip down a bit on Guter's back.

For this reason, after every stretch of climbing, Guter would pause briefly to let his teacher adjust her position before continuing onward.

In moments like these, which demanded intense mountain traversal, the advantage of a warrior's robust physique was fully displayed.

Originally, Serie had estimated that the two would need to camp out in the wilds of the Huyvia Mountain Range for a night or two before reaching the mountain lodge.

But with Guter's help, the situation was vastly different—they might very well reach it in the latter half of tonight.

Since camping outdoors wouldn't guarantee good sleep anyway, Serie hesitated briefly before agreeing to the plan of having her disciple carry her and pressing on day and night once she grew too tired to walk.

Along the way, aside from a brief stop at a forest clearing to rest during the noon sun, Guter's steps never once halted.

As a result, the two arrived at the mountain lodge even sooner than expected.

Bending down to set his teacher down from his back, Guter stepped forward and pushed open the lodge's door.

Fortunately, no one was currently living in the mountain lodge. The previous occupant had also cleaned it thoroughly before leaving, even leaving a bottle of water on the table with a slightly wilted bouquet of flowers tucked inside.

"A female adventurer, so thoughtful and romantic?"

Standing in the center of the lodge, Guter opened the magical suitcase and took out the bedding and blankets for both master and disciple, spreading them over the lodge's rug to make sleeping warmer at night.

Just as Guter was nearly done laying out the bedding, Serie walked in from outside, a faint trace of magical energy still lingering in her hand.

Seeing this, Guter closed his eyes and sensed it.

"I see—Teacher set up a barrier around the mountain lodge that only works against Demons and monsters. No wonder she stood out there so long before coming back."

As Guter mused, Serie had already used magic to light the fireplace in the lodge.

With the occasional crackling and popping of dry wood burning, the lodge quickly grew warm.

"I'm going to sleep. You rest early too."

After instructing her disciple, Serie draped her coat over the lodge's rack, slipped into her own bedding, and settled down to rest.

Guter, not yet sleepy, pulled over a chair and sat by the fireplace, staring blankly into the warmth.

Wasn't this mountain lodge the one that appeared in the story?

Of course, Guter meant the lodge where Frieren's party met the monk Kraft in the main plot—not the one where Stark caught a fever and was "healed" by Feren.

As for why Guter was so sure—

Aside from the location, the biggest reason was that this lodge didn't have that big bed for the young couple's "healing."

"Why did I suddenly think of that?" Guter shook his head with a wry smile, pushing that lewd fan-made short out of his mind.

After sitting by the fireplace a while longer, the heat and restlessness in Guter's blood from carrying the load up the mountain gradually settled back to a calm state.

"Crackle—pop—pop—"

The firewood in the hearth still let out soft sounds now and then, but they weren't harsh—instead, they were a kind of white noise that soothed the mind.

After all, the sense of security a campfire gives comes from instinct.

In this warm Hearth Home, tonight would surely bring a good sleep.

With that thought, a wave of drowsiness rose in Guter's mind.

Taking off his coat, Guter slipped into his own bedding, silently said "Goodnight" to Serie sleeping beside him, and then fell into a deep sleep.