(T/N: Hey guys, ready for another Deal!?)
Awooo—
A pack of demonic wolves closed in around them, baring their fangs viciously.
Shane gripped his longsword and activated [Sprint (Blue/Rare)], weaving through the wolf pack in a few casual laps. The ferocious wolves instantly dissolved into clusters of magical particles.
"It should be nearby."
The farther they traveled, the more demonic wolves appeared. That could only an they were getting closer and closer to the Sanctuary where the Hero's Sword rested.
"Found it."
Frieren lifted her head and looked toward the valley ahead.
Following her gaze, Shane saw a gigantic cherry blossom tree standing deep within the valley.
The blossoms cascaded down like a waterfall.
Each hanging branch carried tiny icicles, yet despite being surrounded by snow and ice, the brilliant flowers still blood freely in the bitter cold.
There was sothing indescribably alive about it. Free. Unique.
"So beautiful... I wish Fern could see it too..."
Standing beneath the cherry blossom tree, Frieren tilted her head back and quietly admired the rare scenery.
"The Icicle Cherry Blossom that blooms in winter is my favorite flower."
Shane looked at the emotions flowing through Frieren's eyes, then looked at the enormous flower tree before them.
For so reason, the two felt strangely alike.
"Hm?"
Hearing Shane mutter to himself, Frieren let out a puzzled sound.
"I'm saying this flower really resembles you. Powerful, cold... but dazzling."
After hearing that, Frieren glanced at him in surprise.
"What? Was I wrong?"
Frieren frowned.
"That doesn't suit you at all."
"..."
Shane was speechless.
In a scene like this, any arts student would've started reciting poetry already. Seriously. He finally tried being artistic for once, and this woman had zero sense of romance.
Frieren slowly climbed onto the massive roots of the Icicle Cherry Blossom and hoisted up a mushroom as large as a pot lid over her shoulder before turning to call out to Shane.
"Let's go. We're heading back."
Shane jumped in shock.
Instantly, he rembered those giant scallions from his previous life that were taller than a person...
Right then—
The ground suddenly shook violently.
"Ah."
The surrounding snow collapsed in small avalanches from the tremor, and Frieren imdiately lost her footing.
Shane reacted instantly, wrapping an arm around her waist before using [Shadow Assassination] to flash to the top of the slope.
After barely steadying herself, Frieren looked into the distance.
There was a depression in the mountains over there. Faint howls echoed from within, and the earlier tremor had clearly originated from that direction.
"Monsters are attacking the Sanctuary."
The two exchanged a glance.
Frieren imdiately grabbed Shane by the collar and activated Flight Magic as usual, carrying both of them into the air above the Sanctuary.
Sure enough, there was a cave below.
A large number of demonic wolves had already gathered outside. Leading them was one with a blue face and vicious fangs, its body already vaguely humanoid.
"That should be the Mountain Lord the village chief ntioned. It's definitely strong. Judging by its appearance, it won't be long before it evolves into a true demon race."
"Only eighty years, and they've already evolved this far... Looks like I really did co a little late."
Frieren raised her staff.
At that mont, the humanoid demonic wolf was repeatedly slamming itself against the cave's barrier.
The two exchanged another glance.
Shane slid silently along the mountainside and circled behind the wolves while Frieren flew into the air and instantly unfolded more than a dozen magic circles.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Magic attacks rained down like thunder, annihilating the smaller demonic wolves gathered below in the blink of an eye.
Using the smoke and dust kicked up by the bombardnt as cover, Shane concealed his presence and activated [Shadow Assassination] and [Sprint (Blue/Rare)], silently arriving behind the so-called Mountain Lord.
Pfft—
His sword pierced straight through it.
Instantly, all the attributes on the blade activated in succession.
Under the effects of countless debuffs, the humanoid demonic wolf staggered forward a few steps before collapsing heavily into the snow with a loud thud.
Stepping over the dissolving corpse of the Mountain Lord, Shane walked directly toward the cave.
He wanted to see what this legendary Hero's Sword actually looked like.
Throughout history, many heroes had co to the Sanctuary and attempted to draw the sword, yet none had managed to move it even slightly.
As the legend spread and beca more exaggerated over ti, it eventually transford into the absurd myth:
"Only the Hero capable of overcoming the world's destruction can draw that sword."
Shane stopped in front of the cave.
At that mont, two golden words appeared before his eyes.
[Seek the Heart]
Nothing else.
Just those simple words.
The cave was empty.
Shane was slightly stunned.
At the sa ti, he noticed faint strands of golden mist lingering throughout the cave.
He could feel a mysterious aura perating it.
In that instant, he understood.
There was no Hero's Sword in this world.
This was rely the Goddess creating a trial here for humanity.
A Trial of the Heart.
Everyone who ca here would see a reflection of what existed within their own hearts—
The Demon King.
Families who wished to protect sothing precious saw "the sacred sword that could save the world," so they settled here and guarded it for generations.
Adventurers who wished to defeat the Demon King saw "the Hero's Sword," so they beca obsessed with finding the true Hero, obsessed with proving who was qualified to defeat the Demon King.
As these stories spread day after day, people gradually ca to believe there truly existed "a sword" capable of saving the world and ending suffering.
But from the very beginning, the Goddess had already told humanity the truth:
There was never any divine sword of salvation here.
Only the courage to face reality after recognizing that truth.
That was why neither the Sacred Sword nor the Hero's Sword could ever be drawn.
Seek the Heart.
What it questioned was the truth before one's eyes.
The truth within the human heart.
The real question was:
Did you possess the courage to face the true reality of this world?
At that mont, Shane suddenly understood the aning behind the class known as Sage.
Those seemingly simple attributes were the truths seen through the eyes of sages.
Crack—
At the exact instant his chaotic thoughts settled into clarity, the barrier surrounding the entire Sanctuary shattered.
Fragnts carrying magical particles scattered softly through the air.
The golden mist inside the cave slowly dispersed as well.
Frieren descended beside Shane.
She stared suspiciously at the completely empty cave.
"Did you pull out the sacred sword?"
Hearing that, Shane smiled faintly.
"Yeah. I did."
"Where is it?"
Shane tapped his chest.
Frieren tilted her head, utterly confused.
Shane didn't explain further. Instead, he turned and leaped onto the hillside.
"Let's go. We still have to get ho and take care of the kids."
Frieren activated Flight Magic and instantly followed him.
"So where exactly is it..."
Shane still didn't answer. He rely glanced back at the now-empty cave.
From now on, Sword Village would no longer need to fear attacks from demonic wolves.
After returning to the village, Frieren imdiately went to brew dicinal soup for Fern.
anwhile, Shane ca to Fern's bedside.
The little girl was drenched in sweat, her cheeks flushed red, gritting her teeth as though enduring sothing unbearable. Even the way she looked at Shane had turned hostile.
"??"
Shane looked toward Stark.
What happened? Didn't you take care of her properly?
Stark spread his hands innocently.
"I don't know either. She started getting angry a while ago."
"I followed your instructions and gave Fern water every so often."
As he spoke, Stark raised the massive teapot in his hand.
"Look, she already finished the first two pots and started drinking the third."
Just then, Fern's weak but irritated voice drifted over from the bed.
"Shut up."
"Idiot."
Shane: "..."
Apparently, you really couldn't leave kids without snacks.
Shane had stuffed candy and nuts into Stark's pockets before leaving. But this fool had no idea how to use "tools" when spending ti with children.
Every day, Fern slowly perford rehabilitation exercises under the guidance of the elderly priest. Although her bones weren't injured, ankles were fragile joints and needed careful treatnt.
The priest also taught her various herbal dicine concepts, and Fern listened attentively.
The atmosphere between them strangely resembled Heiter.
After secretly observing for a while, Shane noticed the little girl seed much happier than before. She wasn't as angry as she had been the past few days.
Beside him, Frieren comnted, "Aren't you usually fearless?"
"You don't understand the ntality of a daughter-loving father..."
"?"
Shane coughed awkwardly.
"Speaking of which, why aren't you reading grimoires today? You've been digging through boxes this whole ti."
"I'm looking for sothing."
"What are you looking for?"
Curious, Shane walked over.
Frieren's luggage was an absolute disaster zone, piled full of magical materials and unknown magical tools. There was even a living giant snail crawling around inside.
Shane couldn't help clicking his tongue.
Girl, you've once again refreshed my understanding of what a mage is supposed to be.
"Ah, found it."
Frieren lifted a sheet of notes from the pile of junk.
"This is the recipe Eisen gave for Super Giant Hamburg Steak. Since the village chief gifted us pork, I wanted to make it for those two."
Super Giant Hamburg Steak...
Shane rembered it being an absurdly huge at patty. Bigger than Eisen's head.
It was a tradition from the warrior villages of the Central Lands, usually prepared as a reward for warriors who had given everything in battle. It symbolized honor.
Only then did Shane rember that Stark and Fern's birthdays were coming soon.
"It'll still take so ti to cross the Schwer Mountains. After leaving Sword Village, there won't be any more villages along the way, so I wanted to celebrate early."
Shane nodded.
The two kids had suffered quite a bit during the journey. They definitely deserved a proper reward.
"Then you make the hamburg steaks. I'll make mushroom soup. Fern loves mushroom soup the most."
"Okay."
"Then I'll go gather mushrooms now."
When he'd gone gathering herbs earlier, he'd discovered several caves nearby. According to the villagers, mushrooms grew inside them.
With that decided, the two imdiately split up and got to work.
"We're back! Dinner's ready too!"
Shane set down the soup and called for the two kids to hurry over.
Frieren also erged from the kitchen carrying two enormous plates. The at patties atop them were still sizzling with oil.
Stark stared in surprise.
"What are you guys doing?"
"Well, you two have been doing really well lately, so this is your reward. A delicious dinner."
Fern swept a suspicious gaze over Shane.
"So... you made all this?"
"I made the soup. Frieren made the at patties."
"Whoa! It's Super Giant Hamburg Steak!"
Stark imdiately pulled out a chair and plopped down, his eyes shining with excitent. But then confusion crossed his face.
"Wait... isn't this an unbeatable delicacy you only get to eat on birthdays? How do you know about it..."
"Your master copied the recipe for ."
As she spoke, Frieren handed everyone knives and forks.
"It'll still take so ti to cross the Schwer Mountains. Since we might miss your birthdays, we're celebrating together now instead."
"Huh? My birthday's already coming up?"
Stark looked completely indifferent, as though he didn't even rember when his own birthday was.
Looking at the dishes on the table, Fern felt warmth spread through her heart.
All these years traveling together, Mr. Shane and Lady Frieren had never once forgotten her birthday.
"Here. Try it. It's your favorite mushroom soup."
Of course...
That touching feeling only lasted one minute.
The mont Shane handed her the mushroom soup, Fern's beautiful eyebrows twisted tightly together.
"Are you sure this mushroom soup is drinkable?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course it is!"
Shane proudly raised his chin.
Fern still looked unconvinced.
anwhile, Stark—already stuffing himself full of greasy at—grabbed the bowl beside him.
"I like mushroom soup too. I'll try it."
Fern's eyes widened slightly.
"Mr. Stark, wait—"
Unfortunately, warriors acted decisively.
Gulp gulp.
He finished the entire bowl of creamy mushroom soup in two swallows.
"Delicious."
Stark praised sincerely.
Then, under everyone's horrified gaze, two streams of blood poured from his nose.
"I'm going to get Grandpa the Priest."
Fern sighed and calmly stood up.
"I'll go get the Scriptures. It probably won't help much, but at least I can cast a healing spell first."
Frieren sighed and stood up as well.
She truly never expected Shane's cooking skills to remain this consistently terrible after all these years.
Fern had been right all along:
Shane should be permanently banned from entering the kitchen.
Stark wiped the blood beneath his nose in confusion, swayed twice, then collapsed face-first onto the table, unconscious.
Shane stared at the mushroom soup before him, sinking into deep thought.
That shouldn't be possible...
This ti, he checked every single mushroom carefully and sorted them one by one according to Fern's instructions.
There weren't any poisonous mushrooms.
Not a single one!
"...It must not have cooked long enough."
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