Some things just can't be rushed—especially once you're hooked.
Shichen found Fern more and more irresistible, to the point he couldn't stop. By the time their "duet" finally ended, it was already deep into the night. Frieren, armed with snacks, behaved herself and lay on the bed reading manga.
Stark, meanwhile, was sprawled across the kitchen table like he was dying of hunger.
"Stark, what are you doing?" Shichen asked, walking over and looking at him in confusion.
"Boss…" Stark lifted his head, looking like he was about to cry.
"I'm starving!"
"Yeah? It's fine—just wait a bit. Fern will be out soon to cook."
"I've been waiting forever…" Stark sounded utterly hopeless.
"All waiting is worth it. Fern's cooking is really good."
"But—"
"Can't help it. You know girls take forever to bathe," Shichen comforted him.
"But this is too long! It's past midnight already!"
"Small problem. Being hungry for a while isn't the end of the world. It's not like you have school or work tomorrow."
"Work?"
"Ahem. I mean—you can eat your fill later, then sleep until noon."
"Sleep until noon…" Stark started imagining it.
Shichen kept leading him on. "Think about it. You eat and drink your fill, then a soft bed is waiting for you. Sleep however you want, as long as you want, with no one bothering you."
"Boss, stop talking—I can't wait anymore!"
"That's why. Bitter first, sweet later."
"Right! Bitter first, sweet later!" Stark was completely convinced.
"Shichen-sama, what do you mean 'bitter first, sweet later'?" Fern came into the kitchen just then, cheeks rosy and hair still damp.
"I'm teaching Stark about bitter first, sweet later."
"I see. Teach him slowly—I'm making dinner." Fern walked calmly toward the kitchen.
"Take your time," Shichen said.
"Mm." Fern went to cook.
Stark glanced at Fern's wet hair and fully believed it. Do women really take that long to bathe? That's terrifying.
"Come on. Let's go train for a bit," Shichen said.
"Huh? But I'm starving…"
"That's what makes it effective."
"…Fine."
They went outside to train.
Shichen didn't personally spar—he sat on a stone stool by the door (one he'd dug out himself), while Stark fought a stone-and-earth golem, trading blows back and forth.
The golem was controlled by Shichen.
Stark didn't really need "instruction" anymore—what he needed was real combat, a clear understanding of his strength, and confidence.
There aren't "levels" to raw strength. You don't get stronger just by meditating—you get stronger through fighting, learning, and refining yourself in actual battle.
Shichen could keep the golem just slightly stronger than Stark, forcing him to adapt and improve.
And since Stark wouldn't die, and Shichen could heal him if he got hurt, it was simple:
Get hurt. Recover. Learn. Improve. Repeat.
That was the correct way to use healing magic.
As long as a warrior can't be trained to death, you train them like you're trying.
If they still don't get stronger, then they truly have no talent.
But Stark did have talent—young as he was, he'd managed to make Eisen from the Hero's party feel fear. Even the Red Mirror Dragon wasn't his match.
Stark kept training until Fern finished dinner.
When they returned, Frieren was already eating—she hadn't waited for them at all.
Shichen sat with Frieren and Fern on one side, while Stark sat by himself on the other.
Not because Shichen was trying to be affectionate—Stark was just drenched in sweat.
Stark couldn't stand it either. He wolfed down his food, took another quick bath, and collapsed into bed like a corpse.
Only then did he truly understand what Shichen meant by "bitter first, sweet later."
After training, eating your fill, and dropping onto a soft bed… it was heaven.
He fell asleep instantly.
Shichen and the others ate as if Stark didn't exist.
After dinner, Frieren went back to reading manga. Shichen helped Fern wash the dishes, then got dragged into the bath again.
Fern was the one who pulled him in.
She really was a little pervert—more enthusiastic than he was.
What could Shichen do? He could only cooperate.
By the time they returned to the bedroom, dawn was almost breaking. Frieren was already asleep.
Fern, despite not sleeping all night, still looked wide awake—eyes bright.
She wasn't even twenty yet, and she was already… downright ferocious.
Good thing Shichen was strong enough.
They lay in bed a while. Eventually, Fern finally got sleepy and fell asleep first, and Shichen hugged both of them and drifted off too.
…
"Boss!"
"Boss, wake up!"
Stark's shouting from outside woke Shichen.
He opened his eyes, saw Fern and Frieren still sleeping, and quickly put up a soundproof barrier. Then he got dressed and went out.
"It's early—what are you yelling for?" Shichen asked as he entered the living room and found Stark hiding behind the door, peeking outside.
"Early? It's afternoon!" Stark turned around, looking exasperated.
"Is it? Then why aren't you sleeping properly? Isn't the bed amazing?"
"The bed is amazing, but I'm used to getting up early."
"Even so, you can't go around waking me up."
"I didn't want to! But something's wrong outside!"
"Hm?"
Shichen went to the door and looked out through the peephole.
A crowd of villagers had gathered outside.
Damn. He'd forgotten to set up a concealment barrier last night.
"Come on. Let's go see," Shichen said.
"Is it safe? It feels like they're here to pick a fight!" Stark tensed up.
"A fight? You're scared of them? They're all old men."
"…That's true!"
So Stark marched out first, full of bravado.
"Oh—someone came out!"
"Is that the mage?"
"It has to be!"
"…Boss, I don't think they're here to fight," Stark murmured, stopping when he heard the villagers.
Shichen walked up behind him. "That's obvious. Villagers are simple and honest."
"Then why are there so many of them?"
"Probably asking for help."
Shichen walked up to an old man who looked like the village chief and asked gently, "Grandpa, do you need something?"
"Are you… the great mage?" the old man asked.
"I'm a mage…"
"Mage, please help us!" The old man dropped to his knees.
Everyone behind him kneeled too.
"Wait—don't do that. Tell me what happened. I'll help," Shichen quickly said, helping the old man up.
"It's like this: there's a monster blocking the road to the nearest town. We can't get past it at all," the old man explained.
"A monster?"
"Yes. It can turn into the person you care about most. You end up clinging to it, unable to leave… and then it kills you."
"I see…" Shichen remembered what kind of monster that was.
"Mage, please—please help us!" The old man tried to kneel again.
"Don't, don't. I'll handle it. Go back first—this will be solved today."
"Really?"
"Thank goodness!"
"As expected of a great mage!"
With Shichen's promise, the villagers quickly dispersed.
Shichen didn't go deal with the monster immediately. He waited until Fern and the others woke up, then brought them along.
"Shichen-sama, why are you taking us?" Fern asked, puzzled.
"That monster's pretty interesting. It'll let us see the person we care about most—good chance to untie a knot in our hearts," Shichen explained.
"Untie a knot…" Fern murmured.
"Can I not go?" Stark looked completely against the idea.
"No."
"…Sigh."
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— This Fanfic is Completed in Patreon!