Visiting Roundtable Hold (Bonus chapter)

So Stormveil Castle was this spacious inside.

From the outside, Sellen had always underestimated its area due to the oppressive feeling of the high walls, subconsciously assuming it was cramped and narrow. But stepping inside revealed she was clearly within a majestic complex of buildings. Flowers lined both sides of the main avenue; Kenneth explained that the new master loved flowers, so the nobles had gathered many.

A great many. The sea of blossoms made one suspect they might have emptied every flowering plant from their manors. They certainly knew how to cater to her preferences. It was widely known that Frieren enjoyed flower fields, labyrinths, and magic books, leading to frequent gifts in these areas. It was definitely better than the previous displays of grafting, at least less grotesque.

"...Lady Sellen, you wouldn't believe how many bizarre corpses used to be displayed here – all grafting materials. They were just cleared out recently."

"I see a pit in the central area? Looks recently repaired? What happened?"

"That was caused by a Ulcerated Tree Spirit attacking from below. The root cause was the contamination from the Prince of Death's corpse at the Erdtree's roots, but somehow its visage appeared beneath Stormveil Castle. It's sealed now."

"An interesting phenomenon."

"You sorcerers are curious about everything. Rogier was the same before, nearly ended up crippled. Fortunately, Her Majesty healed him." Seeing Sellen's keen interest, Kenneth quickly dissuaded her and hastened his steps deeper into the castle.

Along the way, they encountered numerous banquet guests. People jostled elbow to elbow, wine cups clinking, the seating extending into distant rooms. They had to squeeze through the crowd the entire way. Only by hosting such an event did one realize there were still quite a few normal people left in the Lands Between.

After much effort, they finally reached the throne.

From afar, Sellen saw Frieren, dressed in a magnificent gown and wearing a crown, resting her chin on her hand in utter boredom. She accepted the nobles' pledges of allegiance, occasionally uttering perfunctory words of respects and pleasantry – the very picture of an exhausted worker just going through the motions.

Suddenly, Frieren turned her head, looked over, and a rare smile broke through her weariness, lifting the fatigue from her expression.

"Welcome, Teacher Sellen. I've made some new discoveries these days. Would you like to see?"

"Of course."

Seeing the two about to leave, Kenneth hastily stopped them, hoping Frieren would at least remain present. Otherwise, wouldn't this ceremony become rather pointless? Although the core coronation had passed, it was best if she witnessed the entire event. Hearing this, Frieren sighed, adjusted the crown on her head, and continued discussing magic with Teacher Sellen. Master and apprentice began their research, oblivious to everyone else around them.

Rest assured. Everyone silently noted the special relationship between the Graven Witch and the Queen. The person who seemed uninterested even while wearing the crown now showed delight. Compared to power, magic held far more of her attention. However, her focus wasn't misplaced; sufficient strength naturally attracts power.

Like right now. Even though everyone knew Frieren didn't truly care about the throne, they needed someone to command the situation. Especially since the legitimacy of the Great Rune was indisputable; replacing her with someone else was unacceptable, and they certainly wouldn't trust anyone else.

She brought out the Great Rune and demonstrated soul healing on a severely afflicted subject right then and there. It immediately restored some of its consciousness, even allowing it to understand simple commands.

"Isn't this excellent? They could be responsible for basic tasks!" Sellen genuinely admired Frieren's innovation. This could revitalize a significant portion of the workforce, far better than them wandering aimlessly or devolving further into frenzied monsters. It passively curbed many dangers.

"It's not that simple. Firstly, I cannot reverse severe affliction. Secondly, the lucidity has a time limit, three days at most per application."

"Can it be used multiple times?"

"Doesn't work. The effect diminishes rapidly."

"Your spell incantation could use some refinement at the foundation. I also need to learn the further theories of your soul magic first."

"I was thinking: would another Great Rune amplify the effect?" More a statement than a question, her words silenced the crowd. Did she just openly reveal her ambition for a second fragment of the Elden Ring right in front of them? Did she already have a target? Truly Her Majesty.

Which powerful individual isn't ambitious and proud? Having already half-qualified for kingship, how could she possibly stop? She now stood at the same starting line as the other Shardbearers. But the remaining targets were unlike the weakling Godrick. Each possessed formidable strength even before obtaining their shards, renowned and mighty, belonging to the category of "possessing the power of a king first, then acquiring the shard," just like Frieren. One could imagine the quest for the next shard would be even more arduous.

Sellen advised, "The Ring holds supreme power, the best shortcut, but you could gather more magical knowledge first."

"I thought so too."

"Most people spend their entire lives researching a single type of magic, and that's considered good. You're different, Frieren. Your talent is sufficient to absorb diverse knowledge. And you have indeed mastered various distinct forms of magic. Through analogy and comprehensive understanding, you could easily become an encyclopedic sorcerer."

"Do you have any suggestions, Teacher, regarding learning more magic?"

"The first choice is naturally the Academy of Raya Lucaria, but many of their traditions are broken, and they are self-isolated. From a perspective of accessibility, perhaps Sir Gideon Ofnir would be more suitable."

"Someone else recommended him too. I'll deal with that when I go to the Roundtable Hold later..."

Frieren and Sellen then continued discussing improvements to the current soul magic and simplifying the steps to make it learnable. Assistance from Incantation knowledge would be ideal. But for now, their combined experience was sufficient, at least to reduce the magic's mana cost, allowing more mildly afflicted individuals to be healed more efficiently and quickly. During this time, Frieren once again tried to draw her teacher deeper into the study of soul magic. Sellen still refused but showed more interest than before.

Frieren hadn't forgotten the player messages reminding her of the tragic outcome of this side quest. Perhaps the research into Graven-Mass Sorcerers was wrong; she had to prevent that from happening. Starting subtly, gradually changing Teacher Sellen's perspective seemed like the way.

During the Feast.

Kenneth was responsible for entertaining the noble guests, handling the socializing – he was a professional at this. Besides, everyone knew the new Queen disliked conventions and preferred operating according to established logic, creating mutually beneficial arrangements.

"I believe Her Majesty still lacks a resounding title, like the Omen King of Leyndell," someone suggested enthusiastically.

"Doesn't she already have a title?"

"Of course, the Soulflame King! Possessing unique magic and supreme power!"

Kenneth made the final decision, which received unanimous approval. Together, they chanted the name, which quickly spread through the banquet, becoming a consensus. The commotion was loud enough to catch the attention of even Frieren, engrossed in magic. She didn't understand why nobles enjoyed such things, but she let them be. With that, only one final task remained for Stormveil Castle.

Although Stormveil Castle, hosting guests from afar, looked splendid, this grandeur was limited to the main castle itself. Frieren's sights were never confined to just this. Otherwise, would she be like Godrick, calling himself the Golden Lord yet staying cooped up in the castle all day researching grafting? If he had actively gone out more, even just hunting random mobs, he might have become stronger.

Therefore, she would continue her travels, acting as a hands-off manager regarding governance. As Edgar said, "As long as Your Majesty sets the example and leaves standardized work procedures, things will be much easier later," allowing her to extricate herself. The fundamental tone of the Lands Between wasn't meticulous governance, but rather domineering conquest.

The goal was to clear the map. As a completionist, Frieren always adhered to the principle of a thorough, grid-like search. Besides, the Limgrave region still had many dungeon instances not to be missed. Clearing them would improve transportation and revitalize the environment, allowing more people to live and work in peace.

But the immediate priority was visiting the Roundtable Hold. She couldn't keep standing them up. It was time to meet her fellow Tarnished. Especially since the Two Fingers knew a great deal about the Great Runes and many hidden secrets of the Lands Between, they should provide some intelligence, which was better than operating completely in the dark. Moreover, she heard Sir Gideon Ofnir possessed Incantations related to Scarlet Rot.

Coincidence. Caelid was on her list sooner or later. In Frieren's mental prioritization, it even slightly surpassed the Academy, primarily for strategic reasons. Once Stormveil Castle, representing the primary rebellious force, entered the Liurnia region, it would be only a stone's throw from the Altus Plateau. This could directly trigger war before the Grand Lift, eventually engulfing the land in conflict. There was no need to prematurely provoke the Omen King's sensitive nerves; better to maneuver around him slowly.

Thus, Caelid paradoxically became the priority. Before that, however, Stormveil Castle's defenses needed careful arrangement, as the possibility of the Royal Capital sending troops to harass them couldn't be ruled out.

In the Throne Room Meeting.

Kenneth excitedly reported, "Your Majesty, the reserves of the entire Limgrave and Weeping Peninsula regions are now open to us. Here is the consolidated inventory list... We can mobilize resources from various locations if necessary."

Frieren took the list, glanced at it, and committed it to her photographic memory. She'd found the trick; it was like magic – memorize first, ask questions later. At least she now knew the basic resources of her domain: manpower, minerals, equipment, etc. Know yourself, know your enemy.

"Additionally, they actually sent numerous gifts during the coronation ceremony, including but not limited to magic books, smithing stones, glovewort, weapons, armor, and various items... They should aid your explorations."

"Due to improved regional security, some villages have chosen to relocate near Stormveil Castle. We might form a large urban area." The more Kenneth spoke, the more excited he became, his eyes shining. Could this trend rival the Royal Capital? Leyndell's grandeur wasn't just its palaces, but the vast residential districts of the Golden Lineage people collectively forming a protected city zone. Thus, the area within the walls was practically a kingdom: abundant resources, large population, well-equipped. The efficiency and strength derived from concentration allowed the Altus Plateau to dominate surrounding regions—a unique advantage fostering its rule. Perhaps the land beneath their feet could achieve the same.

"As per Your Majesty's instructions, we specifically recruited sorcerers and gathered existing ones, but their intellectual capacity might not meet the standard..."

"No matter. There's already a simplified version of soul healing."

"Ah?" Seeing everyone dumbfounded, Frieren waved her hand and explained: "To be precise, it's called Soothing Balm. It's the absolute weakest version, merely suppressing the affliction and calming the target. Overuse greatly diminishes its effect. It's a stopgap measure, but more people can learn it."

"That's already enough! This is a revolutionary discovery, worthy of dissemination." At this point, they couldn't help but admire her. They hadn't expected Frieren to be diligently researching simplification methods and willingly sharing them publicly, without any reservation. Such vision was the reason she deserved to be Queen; this perspective was comparable to Radahn, who sealed the very stars, right? Moreover, she was far from satisfied.

In the days following the coronation, she frequently delved into magic with Sellen, day and night. Rumor had it she even intended to cleanse the Scarlet Rot – something even the unalloyed demigod Miquella failed to achieve. This ambitious passion must be the source of her strength. Knowing all this, everyone felt even more heartfelt admiration and respect.

"Your Majesty, your great achievement..."

"Let's talk business. The main task now is still repairing the walls and guarding against the Omen King's forces. Not just them, but also be wary of harassment from the Academy. We just antagonized them; don't get stabbed in the back. Show weakness to the enemy for now, focus on defense." Frieren's consistent caution influenced her subordinates, who all nodded in agreement.

The rest of the meeting dealt with minor details requiring the Queen's general direction, but it still lasted from morning until afternoon.

Beside the Site of Grace.

The silver-haired girl patted the crown on her head. It supposedly had special resistance enchantments, so she'd leave it on for now. Additionally, she wore a dancer-like chest piece, light vambraces, and the lower part of a sorcerer's robe. Preparations complete. Compared to the formal coronation attire, a style balancing agility and defense suited her better.

"Melina, I'm ready to go to the Roundtable Hold anytime."

According to plan, once the basic affairs of Stormveil Castle were settled, Edgar, Kenneth, and others would manage operations. She needed to fulfill her promise and pay a visit. There were many acquaintances at the Roundtable Hold, like Roderika of the crimson hood and D, Hunter of the Dead. Time to catch up.

The maiden in her traveling dress materialized, looking Frieren up and down before murmuring, "Seeing you dressed like this, I thought you were going cave exploring. Do you think the Roundtable Hold is dangerous?"

"I don't know. But it is Sir Gideon Ofnir's territory, after all. Better safe than sorry." He was one of the introductory characters, and the intelligence gathered since arriving in the Lands Between continually added to his significance. Must be cautious. Don't be careless. Carelessness could give ideas to those who initially meant no harm, turning potential allies into enemies. Besides, there was another important figure there: the Two Fingers. What were these so-called spokespersons of the Greater Will like? Only meeting them would tell.

"...Even now, it feels somewhat unreal, you know? Frieren, initially, I thought it would be good if you just gained some renown at the Roundtable Hold first."

"But before even setting foot in the Roundtable Hold's space, you're already a Shardbearer. Standing at the pinnacle from the very beginning." Even Melina's optimism couldn't have predicted this outcome.

"So, your purpose is progressing at an unexpected speed, isn't it?" Although Frieren remained unclear about the exact "purpose" the maiden spoke of, it seemed to be beneficial for her. Hearing this, a flicker of melancholy crossed the maiden's single visible eye.

"Yes."

"Then let's depart immediately."

"Take my hand. We teleport now."

The moment her fingertips touched Melina's, Frieren felt a strong pulling sensation, an suction force emanating from the Site of Grace. In an instant, her vision stretched, then smoothed out, transforming into flowing lines, just like regular Site of Grace travel, except the energy signature of the destination felt far grander.

Whoosh!

Sudden silence fell upon her ears as the scenery solidified before a massive round table. A colossal shadow of Grace rested at its center, extending to the ceiling, radiating light and bathing the surroundings in protective power. No wonder it was called an independent space; ordinary intrusions couldn't possibly reach it.

"Worth studying carefully..."

"I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon. You look well, Frieren." Just as the silver-haired girl fell into contemplation, the voice of an old friend sounded – D, Hunter of the Dead, clad in full armor and mask. When they first met at Summonwater Village, one was helpless against the infested place, the other knew nothing about Those Who Live in Death, yet together they successfully carried out an extermination. It evoked some emotion now.

"You're still the same, always seem in a hurry."

"Actually, much better. There's been less intel on Those Who Live in Death recently. I heard from Rogier, you were the one who purified the roots beneath Stormveil Castle, correct?"

"That's right." Frieren had merely tried purification methods effective against undead in her original world, treating a dead horse as if it were alive, yet unexpectedly, it had some effect. A pleasant surprise. She really should save and return to collect more varied purification magic.

"Your actions were crucial. At the very least, you suppressed the spread of the root contamination. Otherwise, simply blocking the roots beneath Stormveil might have caused the pollution to overflow elsewhere, leading to outbreaks of Those Who Live in Death all over Limgrave, which would have been truly troublesome."

"Hearing you say it, it does sound perilous."

"With you here, the region's largest source of contamination is suppressed. After all, the visage of the Prince of Death isn't something easily sealed by ordinary means." D's face showed no expression, but his approving gaze fell upon his colleague. Compared to her becoming Queen, her accomplishment in clearing Those Who Live in Death was more admirable to him; that was the contamination of the first of the dead. Previously, the only solution was running around hunting monsters. Now, a method to suppress it somewhat at the root had appeared. How could he not be surprised? He knew Frieren researched soul magic; could she also possess death magic?

"Don't exaggerate my role. We're still far from a true solution."

"One day, you could visit the starting points of the two underground rivers in the Lands Between. Perhaps the answer lies in the Deeproot Depths beneath the Erdtree. Of course, regarding Those Who Live in Death, you could also consult Lady Fia." D pointed towards a specific room.

"I wanted to ask you for information about the Prince of Death. How did he end up in that state?"

"Only the Lunar Princess likely knows the specifics. I am also investigating. You could ask others as well."

"Mm." The two exchanged no unnecessary pleasantries, both possessing pragmatic, direct styles, wasting no time. It felt more like an intelligence exchange meeting.

Next, Frieren saw another familiar face, Roderika of the crimson hood. Standing somewhat timidly in a corner earlier, her face lit up with a rare smile upon meeting Frieren's gaze, and she greeted her warmly.

"I heard you vanquished Godrick the Grafted. My companions can finally rest in peace."

"Also, I found this." Frieren handed over a special item, the [Chrysalids' Memento], a keepsake of sorts. Receiving it, Roderika fell silent, sighed deeply, and had to accept it. Consider it rest, I suppose. Regardless, the matter was concluded, and she had to move forward.

Besides this, there was actually a Crimson Hood, another unexpected find while exploring and clearing Stormveil Castle. Though the specifics were unclear, player messages provided hints:

[Ahead, Roderika side quest, don't miss it]

[Took me half a playthrough to realize I needed to talk to her for the quest to unlock the Spirit Tuner, no wonder my Spirit Ashes got increasingly fragile]

[I just think the Crimson Hood looks good, definitely a must-have set piece, makes my Tarnished look pretty]

[Elden Bling]

[Since you have the Spirit Tuner now, pay attention to collecting Glovewort. Otherwise, completionists wanting to upgrade most Spirit Ashes won't have enough, be mindful]

[Spirit Ashes are the real easy mode/wheelchair. Just equip Big Bro (Mimic Tear) well enough, and he can solo bosses. So don't upgrade too much early on with Glovewort, wait until you get the Mimic Tear, then upgrade heavily]

[I want to experience the combat performance of different Spirit Ashes, like playing with summons]

[You just need to summon the true Elden Lord, then just survive yourself]

[Completely turned into a Spirit-Caller Snail]

...Whether it was "easy mode" or not didn't concern Frieren much. The main point was that people mentioned an upgrade path, not to be missed, lest she lose out on a significant amount of content and fail to experience the full combat potential of a Tarnished. So, after getting the information, she inquired about the Spirit Tuner, happened to find the hood in Stormveil Castle, and now the final step was giving it to Roderika? Was this the step? No one mentioned specific criteria.

"Thank you. Please, keep it. Knowing my companions have rested and returned to the tree is enough for me. I am content."

"Alright." It was hard to say if the state of those deaths counted as rest. By Erdtree standards, soul return probably meant success. In any case, Frieren had ordered all bodies left in the castle to be buried.

They skipped over the topic, not delving deeper. Whatever horrors Godrick caused were past; looking forward was important.

Roderika spoke up, "The Roundtable Hold is amazing. It's both the hiding place of the Two Fingers and a gathering place for heroes who aspire to become Elden Lord. I never imagined the guidance for Tarnished held such mysteries..." She admired the Roundtable Hold's greatness, also pondering what she herself should do.

"I almost forgot, thank you for retrieving my companions' memento. Please accept this small token of gratitude."

"It's a Golden Seed!" Frieren hadn't seen many during her travels so far. It had numerous uses; for her, the key was studying the Erdtree's power through it, perhaps leading to special discoveries.

Now she understood; the Roundtable Hold basically functioned like a Firelink Shrine equivalent. There should be other key figures around. As she pondered, several other Tarnished approached, having heard the news.

"I've heard much about you. My name is Diallos. I'm searching for my servant, Lanya."

"Hello."

"I heard a new Shardbearer has emerged. Seeing your magical aura, I understand now. You live up to the name. Frieren, or should I call you Your Majesty now? I believe you possess the qualities to be Queen. Please, maintain that heart dedicated to salvation." During this time, Diallos had heard about contributions like the soul magic and, as a noble knight, held deep admiration.

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