2

Lugunica Kingdom

The morning sun's rays streamed through the windows of the inn, bathing the bedroom in a gentle warmth. Despite the lingering unease from his nightmare, Subaru rose from his bed with the usual can-do attitude his friends had come to expect.

"Rise and shine! The mansion is a short ride away," Subaru exclaimed, excited to introduce his new friend to the Emilia Camp.

Frieren stirred in her bed, still half asleep.

"How rude of you, in fact! You'd do well to wake up when Betty's Subaru graciously offers you passage to our mansion, I suppose!" Beatrice spit out.

"Sorrryyy… I was just reaaaalllly tired after yesterday," Frieren explained drowsily.

"Beako's just kidding! Take all the time you need," Subaru mediated, nudging Beatrice with an elbow. He hoped to salvage the relationship between his spirit and the elf.

While Beatrice didn't dislike the elf, she felt it necessary to demand respect for her Subaru. Truthfully, the spirit was quite intrigued by the newcomer's magical prowess despite her initial aggression. The previous day's events solidified that interest.

Frieren sat up, extending her arms up in a stretch. She recognized that Subaru had an exceptionally extroverted personality, juxtaposed with Beatrice, who seemed easily irritable. But by some miracle, the two conflicting personalities meshed together into a strong bond.

Beatrice is quite possessive of her contractor. I wonder how they came to be partners. I doubt she was receptive to him initially… I can barely act without her criticizing me!

Frieren got up from the bed and grabbed her briefcase. She groggily moved to the washroom and changed into her usual outfit. Returning to the bedroom, she was greeted by Subaru in his signature pose.

"Are you ready to start today's adventure?!" he asked with a finger in the air.

Is he always going to be so energetic? I don't know how he does it.

"Yes, I'm ready to go," Frieren said, looking at the boy with a slight, but genuine smile. Perhaps some of his enthusiasm was rubbing off on her.

With her confirmation, the trio left the inn. Subaru retrieved Patrasche and prepared the carriage for the last leg of their journey.

Under Roswaal, the city of Costuul had become a refuge for demihumans. Generally speaking, discrimination against the humanoids within his domain had been eradicated, making the area quite nice for demihumans seeking to settle down.

While they departed from Costuul, Frieren peered out of the carriage. She took note of the people traversing the streets; they had particular features that distinguished them from humans. Many had tails, others had fur, and some even had hocks you'd expect to see on a canine. And as Frieren stared, the demihumans stared back.

The looks on each of the passing faces varied from intrigued, to suspicious, to disgusted. Though they were in the Mathers Domain, it seemed that some still held resentment towards elves.

Retreating into the carriage, Frieren inquired, "Are elves not a common sight in this world?"

Subaru responded, "Do you remember when I told you that the Witch on Envy caused The Great Calamity? She was a half-elf like Emilia, so elves typically face discrimination." Subaru reflected on his camp's past actions, "It got better after Emilia proved herself to the villagers of Arlam, but you can't change everyone's mind at once."

"I see."

I can't say I blame them. It's easy to hold hatred when such a large tragedy occurs.

"But with the help of my friends, I will fight to change the perception of elves in this world," Subaru proclaimed, "Nobody deserves to be judged for something they can't control."

That's a good cause. But how exactly did Subaru find himself in this position? Pulled into another world… Yet he chose to fight for another. Another person. Another race.

Frieren reflected on the elves of her world, deciding to share their history with Subaru. Encountering them was a rare occurrence. She recalled Serie and Kraft, the last two elves she encountered before being stolen from her world.

"In my world, elves are a dying race. There aren't many left, and we rarely get the urge to reproduce. Combined with our solitary nature and difficulty… expressing emotions, our population declined. I rarely meet other elves…"

Frieren thought back to her early years. Back to when her hatred was solidified. Back when the Demon King ordered the massacre of her village.

"Additionally, the Demon King ordered attacks on elven villages. He was afraid of us. Afraid that we would rise to defeat him."

Subaru began to truly understand Frieren's hatred for demons. Their leader had led a genocide against her entire race. He would have to navigate her meeting with Ram with extreme caution. It reminded him of Rem—of her hatred for the Witch Cult. Those memories sent a shiver down his spine.

"I'm sorry to hear that…" Subaru said with a sympathetic face, "When we get back, I'm sure Emilia will share some details about this world's elves with you. She would know better than me, anyways."

The trio remained silent for the remainder of the ride until the mansion came into view.

"We've arrived!" Subaru exclaimed. "Before we meet the others, there's something I need to tell you. Beako is the only person here that knows I'm not from this world. The others think I'm from a faraway country."

"I understand," Frieren replied, "I won't mention it, but why haven't you told them?"

Deep down, Subaru knew that the probability of returning to his own world was close to zero. It pained him to think that he would never get to see his parents again, but he had a new family here. A family that he cared deeply for.

And the boy didn't want to shatter Frieren's hope.

"It just makes me sad to remember those I left behind. Telling them won't change anything. I don't want them to have to grieve with me."

Did he try to return home?

"I see," she said, accepting his explanation and pushing the question to the back of her mind for the time being.

As they rode through the gates, Frieren stuck her head out of the carriage window to examine the estate.

The Roswaal Manor was a massive building that rivaled the mansion of Graf Granat. The face of the building stretched across the plot, standing three stories tall. Its wings curved inward like a pair of arms reaching for an embrace. Nestled in the crook of each wing was a vibrant garden divided by the gravel road that led to the manor's main entrance.

On the right half, a large fountain sat, accompanied by a lush vegetable that Subaru and Petra would occasionally tend to. The left end housed an extension of the road that led to the vehicle lot and stables. The lawn of the mansion extended for dozens of meters in each direction before being circled by the mountainous terrain of the forest's treeline.

This is quite the estate. Roswaal must have a very high status in this country. I can't begin to imagine living in such a large building. Too much work.

The carriage followed the left path towards the stables where Otto was filling Patrasche's feeding trough. The boy waved as the party approached. He wore a green top and brown bottoms, a matching cloak resting on his shoulders, tied together with a red bow. Atop his silver hair rested a verdant ushanka with a white feather protruding from its brim.

Subaru waved back at him, "Hey Otto! I've got someone for you to meet!"

"A new friend?" Otto asked as Subaru parked the carriage and undid Patrasche's riding gear.

Frieren stepped down from the carriage, briefcase in hand, "Hello, I'm Frieren."

Otto took note of her appearance before dipping into a modest bow, "I'm Otto Suwen, the Internal Affairs Officer of the Emilia Camp."

Frieren extended a hand to the boy, "It's nice to meet you, Otto."

He met her hand with a gentle shake, "So how did you meet Subaru?"

Subaru answered for her, "That's a long story! We'll go over it with everyone at lunch. For now, I just wanna get her familiar with your faces."

Accepting Subaru's proposal, Otto patted Patrasche, who made various noises in response.

"Oh really? Mhmm…" Turning to Frieren, Otto said, "It seems you've made a good impression on Patrasche!"

Oh yeah, Subaru said he can speak with animals.

"Is that so?" Frieren joined in, rubbing the earth dragon's chin.

During their conversation, Beatrice decided to take her leave and head to the new library. She planned to comb through its books for any information surrounding the Goddess's Monument, though this library's collection was nothing compared to that of the previous one.

"Well, I should introduce Frieren to the others," Subaru concluded their chat.

"Nice meeting you!" Otto said, "I'll see you guys at lunch."

With the introduction to Otto finished, Subaru guided Frieren to the manor's entrance. Standing idly at the decorative hedges, neglecting her duties as usual, was a pink-haired girl in a maid outfit.

Subaru prepared himself for the upcoming meeting. This had to go smoothly to ensure Frieren's stay at the mansion. It didn't help that Ram's personality could be off-putting, to say the least. Cautiously, the boy began, "Ram, there's someone I'd like you to meet." He ushered Frieren forward with a supportive tap on the back.

Frieren stood before the Oni, locked in, examining her appearance.

This is Ram… She doesn't have horns.

Ram's crimson eyes stared back. The girl before her was very different from Emilia, but similar enough to Ryuzu. She didn't expect to meet an elf, but it wasn't overly shocking; Ram had grown used to Subaru's tendency to attract unique people.

…

"Barusu, why is this elf staring at Ram like she's some zoo animal?" She didn't let him answer, "Do you think Ram enjoys being paraded around by a degenerate like you?"

Frieren snapped out of her trance.

Huh. I guess Subaru doesn't garner respect from everyone after all.

The boy raised two palms at Ram, "Don't be like that! Didn't anyone ever teach you that some things are best left unsaid!?"

The Oni spat back, "Ram is certain that you subjected this poor elf to your filthy advances." She scoffed. "Barusu would do well to follow his own advice."

"I did nothing like that! She's too old for me anyways!" Subaru flailed his arms around, flush with embarrassment from Ram's accusation.

I don't look that old though…

"Anyways, this is Frieren. Beako and I met her in the forest by Arlam."

Looking at the elf again, Ram said, "Did Barusu spare you from his perverted tendencies?"

Hm. She claims he's a pervert. I wonder if he truly is… or is he a victim of constant accusations like Stark?

"Subaru has made no carnal advancements on me. He's actually been very hospitable."

The Oni huffed in response.

Changing the topic, Ram inquired, "What were you doing in the forest?" Her question carried a hint of suspicion. Ram recalled that in the past, nothing good had emerged from Kremaldy Forest.

"I was exploring the area after I tou–"

Subaru interrupted her, "There's a lot to explain, but I'd rather do it at lunch when everyone's gathered."

Ram eyed the pair for a moment, "Very well." She turned to continue her haphazard hedge trimming.

Subaru was relieved that Ram opted to insult him rather than Frieren. As long as he could smoothly explain the situation to the others at lunch, the boy was confident he could secure Frieren's temporary residence within the manor. Then he could focus on learning about the monument with her.

With the greatest potential risk handled, Subaru and Frieren entered the manor. Passing through the grand doors that towered over them, the pair was met with an opulent foyer. A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, and two symmetrical spiral staircases sat on each end of the room. Various pieces of artwork hung from the walls. Down the center, a long hallway led to the mansion's various amenities.

Sweeping the lobby floor was a small girl with reddish-brown hair dressed in a maid outfit similar to Ram's. She had light cyan eyes that spread wide as Subaru and Frieren entered.

"Subaruuuu!" The girl shrieked, jumping into the boy's arms.

Subaru easily caught her and returned the embrace. "Petra! Did ya miss me?"

"Yeah! It's soooo boring when you're gone!" the girl affirmed, blushing as she nuzzled Subaru.

Back to meeting people who adore him.

Subaru let her down. "Frieren, this is Petra. She was a villager in Arlam before becoming a maid here. Petra, this is Frieren. Beako and I found her in the forest by your home."

"...Frieren," Petra said, sizing up the girl and noticing her ears. She wasn't excited that another competitor for Subaru's heart was staying at the mansion, especially an elf like Emilia. But she composed herself to make a good impression, "It's… it's nice to meet you!" she said, performing a cute curtsey for the elf.

"It's nice to meet you too," Frieren replied, smiling at the girl's display.

"Listen Petra," Subaru began, kneeling to meet the girl's eyes, "I need you to find the others and tell them that we're having an important meeting at lunch today. Can you do that for me?"

"Of course! You can count on me!" Petra scurried away, eager to start her mission.

"She seems very fond of you, Subaru." Frieren was intrigued by the amount of affection he seemed to command.

The boy rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, we've become great friends after the others and I saved her village from the witchbeast attack."

He's so casual about his accomplishments. He should be proud of his role in such feats. Not everyone has what it takes to stand up for others.

"Well, I'm gonna get started on lunch. On the second floor, there's a guest room you can stay in. It's the door between the staircases." Subaru pointed up to the room. "Feel free to roam around for a bit. Lunch should be ready in an hour or so, and the dining room is down this hallway." He departed down the hall toward the kitchen. "Cya soon!"

"I'll see you then." Frieren stood in the foyer for a moment before heading up the stairs, admiring the paintings as she passed. She entered the guest room and was greeted with a modest space. A twin bed was positioned in the right corner, and a window was installed within the wall beside it. A small dresser sat at the foot of the bed, and a desk with a mirror was on the other end of the space. The washroom door sat next to the vanity.

Frieren placeed her briefcase on the dresser before sitting on the bed.

Otto seemed nice. It must be interesting to communicate with animals, maybe a bit overwhelming… He said he's the group's Internal Affairs Officer… What exactly does that entail?

Ram… She didn't seem like the demons I'm familiar with. No horns, and she seemed to enjoy her one-sided banter with Subaru. She's a maid here too… but Macht served Lord Glück before cursing Weise. I'll talk with her more to gauge her intentions.

And Petra. She was pretty cute. Her affection for Subaru was quite apparent. I didn't expect such a young girl to be employed here.

I wonder where Beatrice went.

Frieren briefly rested her mind before standing up.

Subaru let me loose in this huge manor with an hour to explore… I guess there's nothing better to do.

As she walked to the door, three swift knocks echoed through the room.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal a pink-haired maid. Ram stood in the doorway, glaring at Frieren with scrutiny. In her hands, she carried a tray that held two cups of tea. "Ram trusts that our new guest is finding her room satisfactory?"

Frieren blinked.

Looks like it's sooner rather than later.

"Yes, it's more than enough. Thank you for your hospitality." Frieren decided to approach their conversation in good faith. For the time being, she would investigate Ram in a civil manner.

"Do not thank Ram. Barusu is the only one to blame for this." She walked over to the room's desk, placed her tray down, and handed a cup to Frieren. Ram took the other cup for herself, turned the desk's chair to face the bed, and sat down.

"Is my presence here bothering you?" Frieren quickly waved her palm over the cup, silently casting a spell to check it for poison. As far as her magic could tell, it was clean. She took a seat next to her briefcase on the dresser.

"Ram is indifferent to your presence. She was merely pointing out Barusu's habit of bringing outsiders into our household."

The girls drank their tea in unison. Frieren thought it was quite exceptional, noting its palatable level of sweetness and nice herbal scent.

Ram… Beatrice too. Their way of speaking is certainly odd.

"Don't let it bother you, I don't plan on staying long anyways."

"What is it you wish to accomplish here?" Ram pressed Frieren, recalling how Subaru cut their earlier conversation short.

She wants to vet me too.

Frieren chose her next words carefully. "I honestly didn't intend on ending up here." She recalled the boy's promise of help. "Subaru found me lost in the forest and offered to help. I'm sure he'll explain it better at lunch," she concluded.

The Oni was not stupid. She noted Frieren's evasive answer, inferring that Subaru had a particular way he wanted the explanation to go. Subaru must've instructed the elf to keep quiet. Why else wouldn't their guest simply explain herself?

"Barusu encountered you by chance and immediately offered his aid?" She shook her head. "Not surprising. That boy has a knack for throwing himself at others."

"From what I've seen, everyone seems to adore Subaru. Can you truly say that his nature is a bad thing? Personally, I find that quality valuable."

"Ram's feelings on the subject are irrelevant. What matters is the safety of this manor's residents." Ram dodged the question, but Frieren could sense a hint of compassion from her.

"How did you end up working here?" Frieren flipped the script on the maid.

Seeing no need to lie, the maid said, "Ram lived in a village of Onis when she was young. The Witch Cult attacked, killing everyone except for Ram and her… sister, Rem." While Ram didn't remember Rem, Subaru's claim that they were sisters held water since she could recognize their similarities. "Roswaal saved them. Since then, Ram has served him."

Her village was massacred? This "Witch Cult" sounds detestable.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ram." The similarities between their pasts somewhat lightened the elf's opinion of Ram. Frieren didn't think the Oni had a reason to lie, nor the knowledge necessary to manipulate her.

"Ram accepts your sympathy."

In actuality, what Frieren felt was empathy. But she couldn't explain her past to Ram yet, not before Subaru explained her situation.

The two shared a silent moment before Ram collected the teacups.

"Ram should get back to her duties."

Frieren nods in response, departing from the room shortly after the maid.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Subaru and Frederica were hard at work preparing lunch. The clanging of pots and pans echoed through the vast halls of the manor, accompanied by the pleasant aroma of their efforts.

The pair was preparing a meal from Subaru's home: vegetable yakisoba slathered with a sweet sauce the boy invented during his time at the estate. The dish was complemented with a supply of onigiri, each filled with various meats and fish.

"You always have such interesting meal ideas Subaru," Frederica complimented.

"I've come to like cooking a good bit," the boy responded, recalling his memories of training as a butler.

"But you're putting in more effort for today's lunch. You must want to impress your new friend, hmm?"

Subaru turned away to hide his blushing cheeks. "I just want to be a good host! Why does everyone always assume I have ulterior motives?!"

Frederica giggled, raising a hand to cover her teeth. She dropped the subject, and the two continued preparing lunch.

Frieren strolled down the hall of the manor's second story, admiring the lavish decorations. The building's architecture was unlike anything she'd ever seen. The elf proceeded down the corridor, stopping at a window to peer outside.

Frieren looked down at the west yard where a large, oval-shaped path was situated. She saw a young boy with spiked, golden hair running laps on the dirt track at an incredible pace. He only wore a black vest on his torso, exposing his chiseled abs and chest. His legs were covered with black, baggy pants and a purple loincloth.

He's really fast. For how long has he been running? That looks exhausting…

She left the window and continued down the hall.

I guess I'll meet him at lunch.

When she turned the corner, Frieren noticed an open door along the wall. She peered into the room and saw Beatrice combing through a large book. The spirit was standing between two tall shelves, each housing a cornucopia of literature.

Frieren entered the library. "Beatrice," she gave a low wave, "So this is the library?"

"You are correct, in fact," Beatrice answered. "Betty is looking for any information surrounding the monument, I suppose."

"I appreciate that. Have you found anything?" Frieren was grateful that the spirit was invested in her problem.

But Beatrice was not doing this for the elf. She was interested in how such a strange structure resided within the forest, unbeknownst to her and the others.

"The monument is an enigma, in fact. Betty has found nothing relating to it." She closed the book, returning it to the shelf. "Betty's Subaru has made another impossible promise, I suppose," the spirit said with a sigh. If only the Forbidden Library hadn't burned down, Beatrice thought.

"I see." Frieren's mood sulked slightly at the girl's statement.

"Still, Roswaal might know something about it, I suppose."

"I'll have to ask him at lunch then," Frieren responded, turning around to leave.

The spirit let her depart, muttering to herself, "Hmph! Betty does not understand why her contractor must help everyone he encounters, I suppose!" But in truth, she liked that about him, for he was the boy who saved her from fate.

Lunchtime arrived, and the manor's residents slowly drifted into the dining room. In the center of the space sat a long dining table with several cushioned chairs. Subaru set the table, laying out plates, silverware, and cloth napkins, while Frederica carted the food in.

Subaru chose to sit at the foot of the table.

Frieren and Petra were the first to arrive. The girl took a seat near Subaru, saving a spot for Frederica on her left and another for Emilia on her right. The elf sat in a seat adjacent to Subaru. Beatrice entered next, choosing her seat on the boy's lap.

Ram and Roswaal entered, with the latter taking his seat at the head of the table. The Margrave cast a curious glance at Frieren. Ram had briefed him on the situation, but seeing another elf was an unexpected event. Furthermore, the Oni had informed him of Subaru and Frieren's evasiveness from earlier.

Ram chose her usual spot next to her master. She was eager to hear what Subaru had to say concerning their guest.

Otto and Garfiel entered next, choosing to sit across from Petra. Otto was next to Frieren, and Garfiel was next to him. The demihuman learned of their guest from Petra, and upon first glance, he found the elf quite sightly.

Emilia was the last to arrive, quietly taking her seat next to Subaru. Her eyes widened upon seeing the elf who sat across from her. The last time Emilia had seen another of her kind was at the Sanctuary. Her eyes focused on Frieren's large, jutting ears, which differed from hers.

Nobody spoke as Frederica began distributing food from the cart. Petra, embarrassed that she had forgotten her role, immediately joined the demihuman. Ram didn't care. Once everyone was served, the pair took their seats.

Breaking the tension, Subaru began his speech. "Everyone, this is Frieren," he said, gesturing towards the elf. "Some of you have already met her, but I would like those who haven't to introduce themselves."

Garfiel was the first to speak up. Looking past Otto with a toothy grin, he began, "Name's Garfiel Tinsel." His voice was prideful, and he stuck a thumb to his chest, "My amazin' self is the shield of this camp!"

Frieren returned his smile.

Another one who talks weird.

Frederica followed suit, "I'm Frederica, Garf's older sister and a maid here." She bowed her head at the elf.

They do look similar. Her ego seems more reserved.

Roswaal went next, "I am Roswaal, the head of this estaaaate."

He wore a colorful, ludicrous outfit that suited his indigo hair but contrasted his pale face. His right eye was blue, and his left amber, a display of heterochromia that was a rare sight for Frieren.

This guy looks insane. And of course, he talks weird too.

The last to speak was Emilia. "I—I'm Emilia." She didn't look Frieren in the eyes as she spoke.

Under the table, Subaru lightly tapped her foot with his, a silent gesture for her to continue.

With his support, she lifted her gaze and said, "I'm a royal candidate that Roswaal is backing."

"The Kingdom of Lugunica is currently holding a Royal Selection for its next ruler," Subaru said, offering context for the elf. "Emilia-tan and four others are competing for the throne."

That sounds like a huge deal. How did I stumble across these people? Maybe it's a good thing… They probably have the resources to help me learn about the Goddess's Monument.

"It's nice to meet you all," Frieren said, speaking for the first time.

With everyone introduced, Subaru began to explain the situation.

"Beako and I ran into Frieren in the forest by Arlam."

He decided that the best course of action was to be truthful about the events. Frieren's appearance and magic were too foreign to lie about.

"This is going to sound crazy, but Frieren isn't exactly from this world."

Roswaal paid attention with piqued interest.

Emilia, Frederica, Ram, and Petra listened intently.

Otto and Garfiel scoffed at the notion.

"Huh? What's that s'posed to mean, Cap'n?" Garfiel questioned, his green eyes wide.

"Exactly what it sounds like. Frieren is from a world completely different from this one. There's a monument in the forest–"

"The Goddess's Monument," Frieren added.

Roswaal's gaze tightens.

"What goddess?" Petra asked.

"The Goddess of Creation, a deity from my world."

"What's this monument do?" Otto questioned.

"Two friends and I were visiting it for research. When I touched it, a blinding light flashed. Once I could see again, my friends were gone, and I was here. I don't know if that was its intended purpose."

"The elf is telling the truth, I suppose."

"And what makes you so sure?" Ram questioned with narrow eyes.

"Betty has seen enough to believe her, in fact! The elf is a mage whose magic resembles nothing Betty has seen before."

Subaru added, "She was able to see how mana interacted with Beako and me before we even explained our relationship."

"And her ears match no elf Betty has ever seen, I suppose."

"Not to mention her help with the witchbeasts we encountered."

"You were attacked by witchbeasts?" Emilia's amethyst eyes widened with concern.

"Yep, there was even one of those big ones. The kind Roswaal took down in the forest. But with Frieren's help, we managed to wipe them out without a scratch."

"Subaruuuu! You're no longer allowed to visit Arlam without extra support, and that's final!"

The boy closed his eyes, smiled sheepishly, and raised a hand in surrender.

After Emilia's input, Beatrice and Subaru looked back to Ram, satisfied with their defense.

"Ram has no further objections."

During the conversation, no one had touched their food. Not even Garfiel, who typically scarfed down his plate immediately. But in the moment of silence after Ram's acceptance, his attention shifted to the meal, and he consumed it in a few swift bites.

"Mmphh—this stuff's freakin' amazin'! Cap'n—gulp—Sis, your cookin's top-notch!" Garfiel praised the chefs in between mouthfuls. He let out a rude burp.

"Garf! Mind your manners," Frederica scolded.

And with that, the rest of the table began their meals.

"This is great!" Emilia, Petra, and Otto exclaimed in unison.

Frieren tasted the noodles first.

…

"They're right, this is extraordinary! The maid I can understand, but you Subaru? I didn't take you for a chef."

"Well, I was actually a butler here before I became Emilia-tan's knight." He rubs the back of his head, his cheeks flushed from the praise.

Beatrice, who was snacking on a small stash of sweets, declared, "Of course it is, Betty's Subaru made it, in fact!"

Roswaal finished a third of his food before saying, "As interestiiing as this waaas, I have an impooortant meeting to attend at the capitaaaal." He stood up and adjusted his frilly cuffs.

"One thing, Roswaal," Frieren began, "Do you know anything about the monument?"

Roswaal paused for a moment. He looked at Frieren and responded, "Unfoooortunately, I do not. Buuuuut, while I'm at the capital, I will look into the matter for youuuu."

It's hard to take him seriously when he talks like that.

"I appreciate that."

"Of couuuurse, what kind of host would I be if I didn't tryyyyy?"

"Roschi, how long will your trip take?" Subaru asks.

"It shouuuld only be a day or twoooo," the Margrave answered. He waved goodbye and exited the room. "See you sooooon~"

After the diverse group finished lunch, Subaru suggested that they should head outside for a magical demonstration from their guest. Everyone was interested in the elf and her abilities, so they obliged.

The Emilia Camp and Frieren exited the mansion, passing the track and entering the forest. They followed an obscure trail until they reached a clearing where a wooden obstacle course sat. A gentle breeze led the nearby fauna in a perpetual dance, the smells of nature riding along the gusts into each person's senses.

"This is our super secret obstacle course! I convinced Garfiel to build it a while back," Subaru explained.

"My amazin' craftsmanship at work!" Garfiel proclaimed, hands on his hips, his face full of pride.

"It's more of a playground, in fact," Beatrice diminished.

"And you can't exactly call it secret anymore," Otto added.

Subaru sighed and set up a series of straw dummies for the elf to showcase her spells on. Each one was adorned in purple Witch Cult robes.

The group gathered behind Frieren as she conjured her staff.

"Ooooooohhhh!" Petra gasped, "That was so pretty!"

"Frieren, do you need that staff to cast spells?" Emilia asked.

"Not necessarily," Frieren answered. "It helps with spell visualization and mana manipulation. It also serves as an amplifier. But if I was in a pinch, I could cast spells without it."

She aimed her staff at a target, conjuring Zoltraak's signature sigil to the awe of her onlookers. She unleashed the spell, sending a white beam of mana into the target, vaporizing it. The beam continued past the target, decimating the treeline and tunneling into the mountainside.

Garfiel, Otto, and Subaru cheered at the destructive display.

Emilia and Petra clapped.

"That was Zoltraak, the most basic offensive spell from my world. That particular instance was a modified version I created to kill demons."

"To kill demons?" Otto echoed.

"They're like the Witch Cult of our world,' Subaru explained.

"They must be super creepy then!" Otto replied.

"Nothin' my amazin' self can't handle, I bet!" Garfiel boasts.

"Can it only go in a straight line?" Petra asked, looking at the collateral damage. "It seems dangerous!"

Frieren aimed her staff away from the dummies, shooting a beam that curved into a target, then another, and another, before finally launching into the sky and dissipating.

Another wave of cheers rang out.

"Emilia-tan, why don't you show Frieren some of your magic?" Subaru proposed.

"O—Okay!" Emilia agrees.

She took Frieren's place in front of the dummies, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The elf saw wisps of mana flowing into Emilia from the nearby air.

So this is what they meant by "absorb mana from the atmosphere".

Frieren took in Emilia's appearance, first noticing their matching hair color. Next, half-elf's ears were, in fact, quite different from hers, appearing closer to human ears than elven ones. Lastly, Frieren examined her figure, a twitch of dismay jolting through the elf as she did. Emilia's figure resembled that of Fern rather than Frieren. The elf remembered a particular cart ride where she was unable to skygaze comfortably.

It seems the elves of this world develop similarly to humans.

Emilia raised a palm at the dummies, casting El Huma without incantation. Three crystals of ice formed in front of her. She released them, sending them flying into the remaining targets. As they entered, the crystals froze the area around them before shattering, causing the dummies to topple over.

Everyone clapped at the display.

"Beatrice told me about magic affinities," Frieren said to Emilia. "Do you specialize in Ice Magic?"

"Sort of…. I actually have an affinity for Fire Magic, which allows me to manipulate the temperature of air. I basically remove heat to form ice," Emilia replied. "I prefer to use ice, though there is no specific affinity for it."

"Those with Water affinities can also use Ice Magic, I suppose." Beatrice added.

Frieren nodded at their explanation.

"Ram is curious about your other spells," the maid said to Frieren.

The elf obliged. With no dummies left, Frieren decided to cast her favorite spell. She bent down, picking an array of purple and white flowers and committing them to memory. Using her staff, Frieren conjured identical flowers along the entirety of the lawn in front of them.

"Wow! That would make gardening so much easier!" Petra exclaimed as she began to frolic through the flowers.

Frederica smiles, "Indeed, I'm certain that spell would make Ram's life easier."

Ram closed her eyes and huffed at the demihuman's words.

"Ya got anything more deadly?" Garfiel asked.

"I have gathered numerous spells in the past millennium," Frieren replied, "But for combat, I mainly prefer Zoltraak. The situation rarely calls for anything more."

"The past millennium!?" Otto echoed with wide eyes.

"That's right! She's over a thousand years old!" Subaru said.

"Yer kiddin'! Ya don't even look like an adult!"

"She doesn't act like one either! I have to fight to wake her up!" Subaru joked, eliciting chuckles from his male companions.

"I can't help how sleepy I get…" Frieren mumbled.

"Betty looks young for her age too, in fact!" Beatrice butted in.

"Fine, fine, you're old! Course' a granny wouldn't want to use cool magic!"

"Garf!" Frederica scolded.

"It's alright," Frieren pouted. "I'm used to being called old."

"Anyways, you wanted to try to learn our magic, right?" Subaru changes the topic.

Frieren perked up. "Yes, that would be interesting," she affirmed. Recalling how Emilia and Beatrice didn't need staves, Frieren dispelled hers.

With that, the three maids took their leave and Garfiel decided to run the obstacle course. Otto went to tend to the stables, and Emilia retreated to her room to continue her studies on the Royal Selection.

"Okay, Beako, where should we start?"

"The elf is unsure if she has a Gate and says she has no affinity. I will test those claims, I suppose." The spirit stood in front of Frieren and extended a palm to begin the examination of the elf's inner workings.

Beatrice saw what she thought was a Gate. The center of the organ was circular as expected and seemed to have a massive capacity. Strangely surrounding it was a symmetrical series of petal-like limbs that pulsed slowly. And while the spirit couldn't see mana, she could sense it. The substance didn't flow into the Gate; rather, it was discharged with an almost imperceptible waver at each rhythmic breath the limbs took.

"How bizarre, I suppose."

"You can't say that without elaborating!" Subaru exclaimed.

"The elf possesses a Gate, in fact. But its shape is atypical, like nothing Betty has seen before. Furthermore, she is not absorbing mana, but constantly releasing it, I suppose."

Frieren dwelled on the description. From what she knew, mana naturally regenerated with time. Additionally, people constantly displayed their reserves in her world.

"I'm going to try something, Beatrice," The elf said. "Focus on my Gate."

"Hmph! Betty only takes orders from her contractor, but she will make an exception here, I suppose."

Frieren partially halted her suppression, unleashing a torrent of mana that expanded in a massive circle around her.

Beatrice's eyes widened. The petals of Frieren's Gate bloomed outward, shaking violently as if they were being assaulted by a raging gust. The spirit could sense an immense pressure exuding from the elf.

"Whatever you did caused your Gate to expand, in fact."

"I see," Frieren said, resuming her suppression. "Remember how I explained that magic users always have an aura of mana around them? I am always suppressing my mana, but I let it loose for a moment. That must be what you sensed."

"That seems true, I suppose," Beatrice said, nodding.

"Why do you suppress your mana?" Subaru asked.

"Demons are egotistical creatures who can't fathom why one would want to hide their mana. I exploit their pride to gain an advantage over them. They underestimate me, and I decimate them for it."

"That's cold! I remember you saying that demons learned to speak with humans to deceive them. Is your suppression kind of like that?"

That's a smart observation, Subaru. Similar to how Flamme put it.

"It's a similar premise, yes. We both deceive our opponents in a way."

With Frieren's possession of a Gate confirmed, Beatrice proceeded with the next, more perplexing issue.

"Betty couldn't sense an affinity. Being born without one is exceedingly rare and should prevent you from using this world's magic, I suppose."

"But your Gate isn't normal and you can still cast spells, so maybe that rule doesn't apply to you," Subaru proposed.

"Can I only cast spells from elements I have an affinity for?"

"No, in fact. Having an affinity allows you to use magic in general and increases your proficiency with the corresponding element. But you can still learn to use other elements outside of your affinity, I suppose."

"I see. What do you think I should try?"

"There are four main magic elements: Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. My affinity is with the fifth, Yin, and the sixth is Yang," Subaru explained, "Which one do you wanna try?"

"The first four are self-explanatory, but what do the others entail?"

"Yin Magic causes afflictions, while Yang Magic provides support, I suppose," Beatrice answered, aware that Subaru would use nonsensical words such as "buffs" and "debuffs" to explain them.

Hmm… I lived in the woods for decades, so I feel like I'm in touch with nature.

"I think I'll try Earth Magic."

"Otto specializes in that! I'll go get him." Subaru broke into an excited sprint towards the stables.

"Betty's Subaru overdid it when he first tried magic. You may be an experienced mage, but not with this world's magic, so it is essential that you exercise caution, I suppose."

"Do you have any advice?"

"Imagine your Gate as I described it, and visualize a small amount of mana flowing through it, I suppose."

Frieren nodded at her suggestion and Subaru returned shortly after with the merchant.

"So you want to try Earth Magic?" Otto said. "I'll show you the simplest spell first." He distanced himself from the group, stopping a couple of feet away and turning to face them.

"Dona!"

A tall slab of earth shot from the ground, blocking the other's view of Otto. He peered around the slab and said, "That was Dona. It simply creates a wall of earth."

Reminds me of Richter… Earth Magic could probably decimate my defensive magic.

"Wanna give it a shot?" Subaru asked.

"Sure." Frieren took her place next to Otto. She closed her eyes and, using Emilia's absorption as a reference, imagined her petaled Gate filtering mana. She opened her eyes and focused on the ground in front of her. An image of the block that Otto manipulated flashed in her mind.

"Dona."

Similar to Otto's spell, a chunk of earth emerged from the ground, but it only reached two feet in the air. Worse yet, cracks immediately veined along its surface, causing the mass to fall back onto the ground.

I wonder what went wrong. I can visualize magic perfectly fine.

"Try channeling a bit more mana, I suppose," Beatrice said, crossing her arms.

Frieren heeded the spirit's advice and repeated the process.

"Dona."

This time, Frieren managed to replicate Otto's spell.

"Nice work!" Otto exclaimed.

"Whaddya think?" Subaru asked.

"It was certainly interesting, I'm surprised it worked. I think I'd still rather use my typical defensive magic, though."

"Dona can be used for more than defense! Maybe you can use it to block someone off, or even move the earth under them," Otto said.

I didn't think of that. Creativity truly is important for mages.

"What other Earth spells are there?" Frieren asked him.

"Well, there's El Dona which is particularly brutal. You usually use a medium, such as your staff, to channel mana into a target. When the spell detonates, a bunch of earth spikes will explode from the tip of your weapon."

"That does sound gruesome. I don't like being close to my opponents, so I doubt I'll use that one much."

"There's also Ul Dona, which forms a defensive dome of earth around you. Last, there's Al Dona, which sends a deadly explosion of sediment toward your target, but I don't have enough mana to demonstrate it," Otto smiled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Thanks for showing me, Otto," Frieren said, "That's probably enough Earth Magic for me anyways. I don't want to ruin Roswaal's yard."

"No problem!" Otto gave them a wave as he returned to his work.

"Looks like you can use our magic after all!" Subaru cheered.

"Being able to use Earth Magic implies that you can learn the other elements, I suppose," Beatrice added, impressed with the elf's potential.

"Thank you for helping me, this was very interesting. I'd like to learn more another time," Frieren thanked the pair with a genuine smile.

"No problem Frieren!" Subaru returned her smile, extending a fist to her.

She glanced at his hand and inferred what he wanted. The elf met his fist with hers in a gentle tap.

"Our first fist bump! There'll be more to come!"

The rest of the day went by smoothly, as Frieren had volunteered her help to the mansion's residents to pass the time. She had helped Otto repair some wooden fences, Petra with her gardening, and Frederica with cleaning.

Once darkness eclipsed the manor, she said her goodnights to the others and retreated to the guest room.

Frieren sat at the vanity combing her hair.

knock knock.

Two gentle taps rang from the door.

Another visitor? It's pretty late…

"Come in."

Emilia entered the room and greeted the elf, "H—Hello Frieren. I was wondering if you'd like to talk."

She seems a bit anxious. Come to think of it, she has all day.

"Sure," Frieren said. She stood up and moved the chair next to the bed, offering it to Emilia. The elf took a seat on the mattress, still holding her brush.

Accepting Frieren's offer, the half-elf sat down and asked, "How have things been so far? I hope everyone is treating you well."

"It's been good. Subaru has been a great friend. I don't know what I would've done if he didn't find me."

"He's always helping people," Emilia responded. "He does so much for me and the others."

"Subaru said he's your knight?"

"That's a long story, but yes, he's my knight. He attends to me and helps with anything I need for the Royal Election."

"I see. The others have been nice too. Otto and Beatrice helped me learn some magic, and Petra kept me company in the garden. I did get some weird looks in Costuul, though."

Emilia's eyes lowered to the floor. "I—I'm sorry…"

"It's not your fault that you resemble the Witch. I can handle a few hostile glares anyways," Frieren reassures her. "I heard that you guys are working hard to change the perception of elves."

Emilia looked back to Frieren. "Not just elves. I want to make Lugunica a better place for everyone who faces discrimination," she said with determination.

"That's a great goal, I hope you're able to accomplish it."

"Subaru told me a little about the elves from your world. He mentioned that they were targeted by the… Demon King?" Emilia was saddened by the idea that, even in another world, elves faced racial hardships.

Frieren could sense the girl's interest, so she began, "When I was younger, I lived in a village with other elves. The Demon King had sent a group of soldiers to massacre us. I killed them, but not in time… I was the only survivor. Since then, I've rarely met other elves." Frieren rarely opened up to others, but something about Emilia compelled her to.

"That's horrible… I'm so sorry. Something similar happened to my village. We were attacked, and I ended up losing control and freezing the entire forest. A spirit named Puck saved me, but the other elves are still frozen." Emilia's face was twisted in a mixture of grief and guilt.

She probably feels horrible... Emilia must be pretty powerful, though. That spell sounds really powerful.

"Was it the Witch Cult?"

"I—I don't know… It was a long time ago."

Who else could it have been? Subaru's only told me about them.

"Is there any way to save the others?"

Emilia stayed silent for a few moments. In truth, becoming ruler would grant her access to the blood of the Divine Dragon, which she could use to free the elves. To Emilia's knowledge, only Roswaal and Puck knew her intentions.

"I don't know. I'm very busy with the Royal Selection, but I'm still looking for a remedy when I can."

"I see… I'm fairly adept at dispelling magical abilities such as curses and barriers. Perhaps I could take a look."

"Elior Forest is fairly far east. I wouldn't want you to spend so much time traveling there when you're trying to get back home. Roswaal will be back soon anyways."

Frieren accepted her reasoning. She took her brush and began combing through her hair, a distant look on her face as she recalled her nights with Fern. The elf wanted to lighten the mood, so she began to ask, "Would y—"

Emilia interrupted her, "I can do that for you if you'd like."

Frieren stopped brushing.

I didn't expect that, but it is quite bothersome to do it myself…

"Okay," Frieren replied, making space on the bed for Emilia.

The half-elf took the brush and sat next to Frieren. She gently combed through the elf's hair, using long, swift motions that showed her experience.

Frieren resumed her question, "Would you teach me Fire Magic?"

Emilia smiled as she continued brushing. "When I get some free time, I'd love to," she said. "Am I doing this right?"

"Yes, that's perfect. Thank you," Frieren purred. Smiling softly, the elf closed her eyes while Emilia tended to her hair. It was only the second night, but Frieren missed having someone close enough to do this.

"You're welcome," Emilia said. She finished the last strands of hair and stood up, placing the brush on top of the elf's briefcase. She said, "Goodnight, Frieren," and walked towards the door.

"Goodnight," Frieren replied, shifting to lay in the bed.

Emilia extinguished the room's candle and exited, casting a glance at Frieren and smiling.

I learned a lot today… Subaru's friends are all really nice. Except for Ram, she's kind of cold. She said that Roswaal saved her… I wonder how she treats him.

Emilia… I'm glad she came to talk to me. It's nice to meet another elf who acts normal. She said that her village was attacked a long time ago. How old is she? Whoever did that to them is vile.

I hope Roswaal finds something useful. He seems to be the only lead on the monument.

Geez, I'm tired. I can't keep getting exhausted every day, it's gonna kill me!

Frieren cleared her mind and nestled into the covers, drifting into a tranquil sleep that concluded her second day in this world.