Chapter 377: Frieren Begins Her Journey
Inside Teacher Kurtz's research lab.
Even though the master of this room was about to enter a slumber lasting decades, or perhaps even close to a century, the place remained as orderly as ever. Various Magic Arrays and tools continued operating in a mana-driven state, emitting faint blue glows throughout the room.
Clearly, even as he prepared to begin a new, or perhaps final, reincarnation, Kurtz had no intention of abandoning the research in his hands.
Rather, this reincarnation itself was part of that research, a beginning that would determine whether the results he pursued could truly be realized.
Just as Kurtz was conducting the final checks on several core Magic Arrays, a knock sounded from outside the lab door. It felt strangely familiar, almost like returning to those late nights when a certain someone would always come bothering him at nearly the exact same hour.
"Come in."
He did not stop the work in his hands.
Nowadays, besides Ayla and Frieren, only a few core members of the Magic Association could freely enter his lab, most of them being disciples Serie had accepted long ago.
As for Serie herself, she never knocked.
The door opened, and Frieren walked in.
Today, she was not wearing her usual white mage robes. Instead, she had changed into dark travel clothes suited for long journeys, with a hooded cloak draped over them to block wind and rain.
Her long silver-white hair was neatly tied into twin tails. A large travel pack rested on her back, visibly stuffed with supplies, while in her hand she carried the staff Teacher Flamme had personally made for her.
Her beautiful face remained expressionless as always, and her calm gaze settled quietly on Kurtz.
"Master Kurtz," she greeted flatly.
Kurtz finally lifted his head, his eyes lingering on her appearance for a moment before understanding dawned in them.
"Leaving?"
With how obvious Frieren's travel attire was, it was clear she had come to say goodbye.
How considerate. Such a good child. Unlike a certain red-haired girl who had claimed she was merely going on a mission while secretly planning to leave entirely and never return. If he had not sensed Flamme's true intentions back then, he might never have had the chance to tell her about his plan.
"Mm." Frieren nodded lightly. "Teacher Flamme is no longer at the Magic Association. I want to go outside and travel for a while. There are still many places on this continent I haven't seen yet."
Her reasoning was simple and direct, without unnecessary embellishment.
To her, the Magic Association was home. But Teacher Flamme had always been the core that made this home feel warm and reassuring. Now that Flamme was gone, Frieren felt an invisible force pushing her outward, urging her to see the wider world.
Perhaps it was also her way of easing the emptiness left behind by Flamme's departure. At some point, she had become a little too dependent on Teacher Flamme.
Kurtz slowly put aside his research materials and turned fully toward her. With his perception, he could clearly see Frieren's current level of strength.
Her mana was vast and condensed. Her mastery over magic had become extremely refined, and she had already learned Flamme's Fusion Magic alongside Serie's signature Light Element Magic.
In terms of raw magical ability, she had long surpassed ordinary First-Class Mages.
Across the entire continent, the number of people capable of defeating her head-on could likely be counted on one hand.
But her weakness was equally obvious.
Or rather, it was the common flaw shared by most traditional mages—an excessive reliance on magical defenses and long-range combat.
Her close-combat abilities remained relatively poor, and her physical reflexes did not fully match her magical attainments. If a powerful warrior ever managed to close the distance instantly, there was a very real possibility she would die before even casting a spell.
Flamme had consciously trained her in this area while she was here, and Kurtz himself occasionally guided her as well, but such weaknesses could not be fixed within a few decades of training.
That required years of real combat experience and continuous tempering.
"With your current strength, as long as you don't deliberately provoke monsters left over from the Mythological Era or enter certain dangerous regions, there shouldn't be many threats capable of harming you."
Kurtz evaluated her calmly.
"However, remember the lessons Flamme taught you. Magic shields are not omnipotent. Always leave part of your attention on your surroundings and remain wary of sudden attacks."
As he spoke, he walked toward a nearby storage cabinet. After opening it, he retrieved several items before returning to Frieren.
A silver ring engraved with intricate spatial runes. A charm capable of automatically activating defensive magic. And a small bottle containing green liquid. The liquid itself was a condensed manifestation of advanced Life Magic. Kurtz casually referred to it as an HP Recovery Potion.
Its effects were exactly what the name implied; it could rapidly heal injuries while also replenishing mana reserves.
Of course, the potion itself was difficult to produce, and even Kurtz had very little of it. Normally, he simply used Life Magic directly, so he rarely had any reason to make these.
"Take them." Kurtz placed the items into Frieren's hands one by one.
"This ring can forcibly activate a long-distance random teleport in moments of danger, though the destination is uncontrollable, so don't use it carelessly."
"The charm should be carried on you at all times to defend against sneak attacks."
"And this bottle of potion is your final safeguard."
He looked at her seriously. "Always keep them safe. Do not dare lose them. Understood?"
Frieren lowered her head and carefully examined the three magic items. Then she nodded with unusual seriousness and stored them properly.
"I understand." After receiving them, she seemed to think everything that needed to be said had already been said.
Thus, she quietly turned around, preparing to leave.
"Wait." Kurtz suddenly called out to her.
Frieren stopped and turned back, a faint trace of confusion appearing in her eyes.
"How long do you plan to travel this time?" Kurtz asked.
He understood Elves too well.
Especially someone like Frieren.
Without a clear goal or return date, if someone like her wandered freely through the world, her dull sense of time could easily cause centuries, or even millennia, to pass before she remembered to return home.
Kurtz had no doubt that if he failed to ask now, the next time he saw Frieren might genuinely be a thousand years later.
Hearing the question, Frieren lowered her head slightly and appeared to think seriously about it.
Her emerald eyes blinked slowly. A rare trace of uncertainty surfaced within them.
"...I don't know." In the end, she shook her head honestly. "I've always stayed at the Magic Association with Teacher Flamme, or only traveled nearby."
Even when she accompanied Flamme outside, they mostly moved within limited regions while gathering magical materials.
She had never truly traveled alone before. So naturally, she had no concept of how long such a journey should last.
Then suddenly, her eyes brightened slightly. Though her expression barely changed, it was obvious she had thought of something.
She looked toward Kurtz. "Then... how about I return when Teacher Flamme comes back?"
Kurtz was momentarily speechless; he couldn't help but raise his hands and facepalm in surrender to elf logic.
He stared at the Elven girl standing before him, who had proposed such a serious answer with complete sincerity.
Even he himself could not guarantee when, or if, his plan would succeed. Yet Frieren had directly tied her return date to something entirely uncertain and intangible.
"...Forget I asked."
Kurtz waved a hand tiredly, clearly unwilling to continue discussing such an unreliable arrangement. If she could not give a proper timeframe, then so be it.
Frieren also seemed to realize her proposal was somewhat unrealistic and quietly closed her mouth without arguing further.
Silence once again filled the research lab.
Kurtz: "..."
Frieren "..."
....
After a while, he spoke again.
"Before Flamme left... did she say anything to you privately?"
He wanted to know exactly what Flamme had entrusted to Frieren before departing.
Frieren answered honestly.
"Master Flamme told me to take care of myself. Besides continuing to grow stronger, she hoped I could help her see what magic becomes in the future."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"She said she hoped that one day, magic would no longer belong only to a select few, but become something everyone could touch and learn. Like sunlight, something anyone can reach easily and receive warmth from."
After hearing those words, Kurtz immediately replied: "Don't let Serie hear that."
Frieren instantly nodded with complete understanding. "I know. Teacher Flamme never dared say those things directly in front of Lady Serie either."
Both of them understood Serie's personality far too well.
To Serie, magic was mystery itself. It was talent. A precious gift reserved only for those worthy of it. The idea that magic should become as widespread and accessible as sunlight itself?
Absurd! Proposterous!!
That concept directly challenged one of her deepest beliefs.
Although Kurtz's influence over the years had gradually softened Serie's stance regarding magical education and popularization—allowing the Magic Association to recruit more apprentices and spread basic magical knowledge—the radical belief that "magic belongs to everyone" still remained her absolute forbidden zone.
If someone seriously preached such ideals before her, they would likely be thrown straight out of the Magic Association.
Possibly with an added ban lasting several thousand years. For most races, that was essentially forever. Even for Elves, few could truly endure it.
Frieren believed she had changed considerably after spending so many years under Flamme's guidance. At the very least, she felt she now understood why humans possessed such complicated emotions.
But when it came to Serie-sama's principles in matters like these, Frieren felt remaining silent was still the wisest choice.
Kurtz, however, had some reservations regarding Frieren's supposed understanding of human emotions.
Looking at her perpetually expressionless face, he could genuinely see few signs of emotional growth. At best, it felt as though she had simply memorized appropriate responses for certain situations.
A little like Solitär.
Or perhaps more accurately, an introvert-human.
"It's good that you understand." Kurtz nodded lightly, signaling the end of that topic.
Frieren turned once more, preparing to leave.
But just then—
Bang!
The lab door slammed open violently from outside.
Judging by the timing and the sheer smoothness of the entrance, the newcomer had clearly been eavesdropping for quite some time already. A figure rushed into the room like a whirlwind.
It was Ayla.
Her face overflowed with excitement, and even the ahoge on top of her head stood upright energetically.
"Teacher! Frieren!"
Ayla rushed toward them immediately, first bowing a little toward Kurtz before instantly turning toward Frieren.
"Frieren, you're going traveling, right?! I want to come too!"
Kurtz raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at Serie's eldest disciple. Unlike Frieren, Ayla's personality was practically her complete opposite.
"Ayla?" Kurtz asked calmly. "You want to come too? Why?"
Ayla puffed out her chest proudly and adopted a perfectly righteous expression.
"Frieren is Flamme's precious disciple! Now that Flamme is gone, as her senior sister, I naturally have the responsibility to protect her apprentice, accompany her on adventures, and ensure her safety!"
The excuse sounded incredibly noble.
Unfortunately for her, Kurtz simply stared at her silently. His eyes calmly locked onto hers. Under that gaze, Ayla's confidence immediately weakened. Sweat appeared on her forehead as her eyes started darting around guiltily.
"Tell the truth." Kurtz did not believe her explanation even slightly.
Though Ayla was also an Elf, her personality was much closer to the Elves from the Elf Kingdom. After spending more time interacting with other races, she had become increasingly human-like.
Including the ability to lie with a perfectly straight face.
Under Kurtz's pressure, Ayla finally blurted everything out reflexively: "There's way too much work at the Magic Association! The documents are piled up like mountains every day! I don't understand half the reports or disputes anymore! It was manageable while Flamme was here, but now everything's dumped onto me! I'm exhausted! I want to go outside, I can't do this ANYMORE!!"
As her voice echoed awkwardly in the room, Ayla suddenly realized she had accidentally revealed her true thoughts.
She hurriedly covered her mouth. Unfortunately, it was already too late.
A faint smile appeared on Kurtz's face. Gentle. Kind. And completely lacking warmth.
"No."
He rejected her immediately.
"Kurtz-sama! Teacher Kurtz!" Ayla's face instantly collapsed in despair as she grabbed onto his sleeve desperately. "I'm begging you!"
Although Kurtz had not personally taught her as thoroughly as he had Flamme, he had still helped guide her during Serie's instruction.
Calling him half a teacher was not inaccurate. Now, however, Ayla was even using the title "Teacher" purely to escape responsibility.
It was honestly a rather pitiful sight.
"I am about to begin my reincarnation ritual." Kurtz interrupted her calmly. "This ritual is more complicated than any before. It's estimated that I won't fully awaken again for at least a hundred years."
Ayla froze instantly. Her mouth slowly fell open. A hundred years...?
Kurtz-sama was going to sleep for a hundred years?!
Wouldn't that mean all the daily management, paperwork, disputes, meetings, and countless problems within the Magic Association would completely fall onto her shoulders during that entire time?!
Although Teacher Serie would still remain present, everyone knew Serie only handled major matters. The endless, tedious administrative work had always been shared between Flamme and Ayla.
Now Flamme was gone.
And Kurtz-sama was about to disappear for a century.
Ayla could practically already see herself drowning beneath mountains of paperwork for the next hundred years.
"N-No- NOOOOOO—!" She let out a tragic wail and clung desperately to Kurtz's sleeve, looking as though tears might spill out at any moment.
"Teacher Kurtz! I need help! I really can't manage this alone after Flamme left! Look at the dark circles under my eyes! Do you know how long it's been since I've had proper sleep?! I need a vacation too!"
She pointed accusingly at the faint shadows beneath her eyes with an aggrieved expression, trying her hardest to invoke sympathy.
Looking at Ayla standing on the verge of collapse, Kurtz nearly laughed. Fortunately, he barely managed to suppress it. Patting her shoulder seriously, he spoke in a tone filled with trust and expectation.
"Ayla, you are one of the veterans of the Magic Association, and also one of the disciples Serie and I trust the most. We both recognize your abilities. This century will be both a test for you and a crucial opportunity for your growth."
"A crucial opportunity?" Ayla blinked blankly, clearly not understanding.
Kurtz continued smoothly: "If you do well, then after I complete my reincarnation and fully awaken, I'll give you a very, very long vacation."
"How about it?"
The moment Ayla heard the words "very, very long vacation," her entire face brightened instantly.
"Really?! Teacher, you have to keep your promise! Pinky promise." Ayla brought her pinky finger forward with full seriousness. For her, Pinky promise was the sacred vow she had always used to get what she wanted from her teachers.
"Of course. Pinky promise," Kurtz nodded solemnly.
After all, ten years counted as an extremely long vacation by human standards. As for whether ten years counted as long for an Elf...
That was not something Kurtz intended to think about.
"Good! Then it's a deal!" Ayla clenched her fists enthusiastically, immediately becoming full of motivation, as though victory and freedom were already within reach.
Completely unaware that before receiving that so-called "long vacation," she first needed to survive a full century of overwork.
Kurtz looked at the suddenly energized Ayla, then glanced toward the quietly waiting Frieren nearby, and inwardly shook his head.
"Alright, go on." He finally waved them off.
"Frieren, be careful during your travels. Ayla, the Magic Association is in your hands now."
Frieren nodded quietly, gave Kurtz one final look, then turned and walked steadily out of the research lab, beginning her own journey.
Ayla also took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"Don't worry, Teacher! I absolutely won't disappoint you or Teacher Serie!"
[End of Chapter]