"These commissions are all so insignificant…" Fern muttered softly.
Shane smiled. "Frieren actually likes doing these kinds of local requests."
"Why?"
"Because when she asks for rewards, she often ends up with so quite unexpected spells."
Hearing that, Fern nodded.
"No wonder Ms. Frieren's magical knowledge is so profound. She's been accumulating all these impressive spells. Such dedication is truly admirable."
Dedication, huh…
Shane just smiled.
Fern quickened her pace and caught up to Frieren ahead. "Lady Frieren, what kind of magic did you get?"
"It's a very powerful kind of local magic."
Fern's eyes widened. "Very powerful…"
"Hehe. With this magic, you can [generate warm tea]."
"…"
Fern's eyes froze.
Shane laughed.
Young lady, you are still far too naive.
————
At noon.
The three of them set up camp along the way, preparing to eat.
Fern was in charge of starting the fire, while Frieren and Shane went off nearby to look for edible wild fruits.
After more than ten minutes, the two of them found so berries. Just as they were picking them, Frieren sensed sothing unusual.
"There's a demon nearby."
Hearing that, Shane imdiately scanned the surroundings, alert.
At the sa ti, he heard a dragging, heavy set of footsteps approaching in their direction.
He instantly activated [Goddess's Barrier], and he and Frieren vanished from the spot.
Not long after, the source of the footsteps arrived in front of them.
A rotting stench—like dead rats—filled Shane's nose and mouth. He gagged slightly, frowning as he covered his face.
It was a tall but sluggish monster, its body covered in rotting flesh. It had two heads, one above the other, four arms, and its lower half looked like a mass of elastic flesh, slowly writhing along the ground.
It stopped in front of them, looking left and right, seemingly confused.
Finally, its upper body slowly sank down until its entire form spread flat against the ground.
Disguising itself as a puddle of sludge.
"It's a ghoul," Frieren concluded.
"This kind of monster can mimic its surroundings, often disguising itself as a grave mound or mud. When soone gets close, it suddenly attacks."
"Even though its attack power isn't high, the surprise makes it hard to guard against."
Shane nodded and drew the sword at his waist.
"Then I'll take it out. Wouldn't want it scaring Fern."
"Wait."
Frieren stopped him. She rubbed her chin, thinking for a mont before continuing, "A simple-minded monster like this is perfect for letting Fern get so practice."
"Practice?" Shane hesitated. "Isn't it a bit too early? She's only fifteen, and this is her first ti traveling… maybe we should wait until she's a bit older."
Frieren shook her head.
"The earlier a mage gains real combat experience, the better."
"An experienced mage can seamlessly connect offense and defense in battle. That's the key to survival."
"And those things can't truly be learned through theory or simulated training alone."
Shane understood.
There was a fundantal difference between theory and real combat.
He agreed with Frieren, but the girl was still inexperienced…
"Alright. Then we'll need to make preparations in advance, just in case," Shane said after so thought. "I can think of three possible situations."
"First: Fern performs well and defeats the demon. In that case, we must praise her properly."
"Second: Fern performs poorly and runs away. That's fine—running when you're scared is the right choice. In that case, we must praise her properly."
"Third: Fern musters the courage to fight but loses. That's fine too. She'll improve with practice. In that case, we must praise her properly."
For every scenario Shane listed, Frieren nodded along.
After covering all possibilities, the two prepared to head back to camp to call Fern.
At that mont, Frieren suddenly said, "Could there be a fourth possibility?"
"?" Shane was puzzled.
"What if Fern just gets scared and starts crying?"
Shane thought about it.
That probably wouldn't happen… right?
————
After returning to camp, the two began a rather clumsy act to lure Fern toward the ghoul.
Ahem.
Shane cleared his throat.
"Fern, I saw a lot of beautiful mushrooms over there. Let's go pick them together."
Fern was taking bread out of her luggage without even turning around. "Beautiful mushrooms are usually poisonous, Mr. Shane. For safety, it's better not to touch them."
"Actually… Frieren wants to drink mushroom soup."
"Is that so, Lady Frieren?"
Frieren, suddenly put on the spot, nodded exaggeratedly.
"Then alright, I'll go pick so."
Plan successful.
The two followed behind Fern at a slow pace, pretending to guide her while subtly steering her toward the ghoul.
Soon, Fern stepped into the ghoul's detection range.
Lacking experience, the girl didn't notice anything at all.
The encounter happened in an instant.
Right in front of her—
The ghoul burst out from beneath the soil, spreading its four arms and letting out a roar toward the sky. At the sa ti, chunks of its rotting flesh and clinging dirt scattered everywhere.
The scene was grotesque and terrifying.
Frieren and Shane stood invisible behind Fern under [Goddess's Barrier].
Fern froze the mont she saw the ghoul, standing completely still.
Shane couldn't see her expression, but seeing her unresponsive made his heart leap into his throat. His hand imdiately moved to the hilt of his sword.
Frieren remained calm on the surface, but she was just as tense inside. Her staff was already aid at the ghoul, ready to cast at any mont.
Then—
Fern moved.
She turned and ran.
Seeing that, Shane and Frieren exchanged a glance and sighed at the sa ti.
Looks like the second scenario.
Shane dropped the barrier, preparing to step in.
But just as Fern ran out of the ghoul's attack range, she suddenly turned back, raised her staff, aid, and fired a full-powered [basic attacks] spell.
Whoosh—
The ghoul's entire upper body—including both heads—was instantly erased.
Shane quietly lowered the foot he had just lifted.
That beam of magic… felt thicker than even Frieren's.
That was brutal.
At the sa mont the monster dissipated, Fern turned her head and locked eyes with Shane and Frieren.
Both of them instinctively shrank back.
Uh-oh.
Fern seed angry.
————
At alti, Shane trembled slightly as he looked at the bubbling dark blue liquid in his bowl.
With toxicity like that, even a priest might struggle to cure it.
Frieren spoke weakly, "It was my idea. I wanted you to gain real combat experience quickly. Sorry."
Shane also admitted, "I was the one who used the hidden barrier. I wanted you to face it alone. Sorry."
Fern pursed her lips, quietly drinking her tea, completely ignoring the two of them. She still hadn't cald down.
(≡ᆺ≡)
Just as the two were feeling uneasy and unsure what to say—
Fern spoke.
"It was too ugly."
"??"
The two of them were completely baffled.
"The opponent you arranged for … was too ugly. And it slled terrible…"
So that's why you're angry?
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