"Big bro, why are we taking Fern and the others to the mage certification exam?"
On the road to the Northern Lands, Stark drove the wagon and asked curiously.
"It's simple—we need a pass," Shichen said, sitting in the wagon while his hands stroked a head of silver hair and a head of violet hair on either side.
Frieren and Fern were both sprawled across his lap, enjoying the exact treatnt he used to enjoy.
Lately, neither of them would give Shichen a lap pillow anymore—because once they discovered how amazing lap pillows were, they didn't want to get up.
"A pass?"
"Yeah. If we go any farther north, the monsters get stronger—plus demons. Without first-class mage credentials, they won't let you through."
"There's a rule like that?"
"We don't really care—we could get past any town's guards however we want. But traveling's more fun when you follow the rules."
"But big bro, aren't you a first-class mage?"
"I'm not…"
"Huh? For real—"
"I'm a Grand Mage," Shichen cut him off.
"...Big bro, you did that on purpose, didn't you?" Stark had the strong feeling Shichen was showing off, but he had no proof.
He didn't know what level a Grand Mage was, but with what he knew about Shichen, it had to be higher than first-class.
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Then what about Frieren?"
"She's a Grand Mage too."
"Are Grand Mages really that strong?" Stark asked blankly.
"All you need to know is this: in the last thousand years, the only Grand Mages have been and Frieren."
"Then that's insanely strong!!" Stark yelped.
"As expected of big bro!"
"Shichen-sama is amazing!" Fern couldn't help opening her eyes, full of worship.
"Is that so~" Shichen enjoyed it a lot—his hand stroking Fern's head drifted a little to the side.
"Mm…" Fern quickly covered her mouth to stop herself from making a sound.
Frieren, right next to them, heard it anyway. She turned her head to look, then irritably looked away again.
So what if she's amazing!
…Okay, fine. She is amazing. Frieren was jealous—she wanted to be one of them too.
"Fern, am I not amazing?" Frieren asked.
"Yes, Frieren-sama is also amazing," Fern praised her perfunctorily.
"..." Frieren wasn't happy at all.
"Big bro, if Grand Mages are stronger than first-class mages, why do we still need the exam?"
"What, I can't take Fern to the exam?" Shichen said sternly.
"Shichen-sama~" Fern's heart burst into bloom, her eyes burning with heat.
She was… getting ideas again.
Well, Shichen's technique was just that good.
But in broad daylight, out in the open, she could only endure it.
Shichen pulled his hand back and went back to patting her head.
"Big bro…" Stark sighed. He really didn't envy this. There was no need to flirt in front of him.
Won were troubleso and terrifying. Better to keep a respectful distance.
"Fine. There's another reason. The proof that Frieren and I are Grand Mages is so old that basically no one recognizes it anymore—so it's like it doesn't count."
"What? That's a thing too?"
"Grand Mages are ancient history. These days, publicly speaking, the strongest are first-class mages."
"So you and Frieren need to take the exam too?"
"I'm not taking it. I'll let Frieren and the others have so fun."
"Huh? That sounds like a pain. No thanks~" Frieren complained.
"Nope. You're doing it," Shichen said, pinching her cheeks affectionately.
"So annoying." Frieren gave in—if Shichen decided she was doing sothing, he would make it happen.
She couldn't fight him.
And doing an exam with a bunch of brats… wasn't that beneath her?
Whatever. Fine. She'd just show them what she could do!
"Shichen-sama… you're not coming with ?" Fern tugged on his clothes and asked softly.
"Nervous?" Shichen looked at her, amused.
"A little…"
"Didn't you already take an exam back when you were fifth-class?"
"That one's different."
"Relax. I believe in you. Honestly, I trust you more than I trust Frieren," Shichen said, rubbing her head to calm her down.
"Really…?" Fern's expression brightened happily.
"Why do you have more faith in Fern than ?" Frieren protested.
"Who knows if you'll slack off or sothing. What if you get careless and fail?" Shichen poked her cheek.
"Hmph! Then I'll just show my true skill when the ti cos!"
"Yeah? Then I'll be looking forward to it."
"Big bro!"
Suddenly, Stark shouted and slamd the wagon to a stop.
Shichen and the girls, lying in the wagon, were still perfectly steady.
"What is it? Stop making a fuss."
"Look over there!" Stark pointed forward with a trembling finger, toward the trees.
Red sared everywhere—blood.
"Hm?" Shichen frowned.
"I'll check it out."
He helped Frieren and Fern sit up, climbed down, set a barrier around the wagon, and walked toward the bloodstains.
"Big bro, I'm coming too!"
These days, Stark understood his own strength clearly, and he'd long since overco his cowardice.
Shichen didn't stop him. Together they reached the source.
"Holy—"
Seeing the real scene, Stark went blank.
What they'd spotted earlier was only the surface—blood sprayed on branches and leaves.
The real scene was a river of blood on the ground, thick and nearly black, with several corpses cut cleanly in half at the waist.
Their intestines and organs spilled out—red, white… it was nauseating.
"Big bro…" Stark couldn't take it and turned away, covering his mouth.
"These guys were probably bandits," Shichen said.
"Bandits?"
"The cut's too clean. They probably ran into a mage. Basically suicide."
Shichen already had a pretty good idea who did it—that "concept-god" of a girl who wasn't quite right in the head.
"If they're bandits, let's just go," Stark said, not wanting to stay another second.
"Yeah. Still, we should clean this up."
Shichen lifted a hand. The earth rippled, soil churning, and the bodies—along with the blood—were swallowed and buried.
Gone, completely.
Then he called down rain to wash the blood off the branches and leaves, and only then did he leave with Stark.
"Shichen-sama, what happened?" Fern asked.
"Nothing. Just so suicidal bandits who picked a fight with the wrong person."
"I see."
"Stark, let's go."
"Yes!"
They traveled peacefully for another half day. As the magic city drew nearer, they encountered soone—an unfamiliar girl.
She had dium-length green hair tied in a side ponytail and wore a black dress that made her look mature and alluring.
"Big bro…" Stark stopped the wagon, unsure what to do, and looked to Shichen.
Because around the girl lay several bodies, each sliced neatly in half, blood already pooled on the ground.
After the earlier scene, they didn't need to guess what had happened.
"Oh dear~ You saw , huh?" The girl looked up at them and smiled as if nothing was wrong.
If you didn't know better, you'd think she had nothing to do with it.
"Stark, don't move," Shichen warned, then stepped down from the wagon and walked toward her.
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