"Fíliya..."
Frieren blinked blankly a few times, then quickly pulled Fíliya aside.
"Hmm?"
Fíliya continued to look at Frieren with a puzzled expression, because the white-haired, twin-tailed elf had placed her hands on her hips, looking at her with a smug expression.
"Fíliya, you're still just a kid after all, completely clueless about the ways of the world. I know, you see. Fern definitely didn't want to be so direct, which is why she kept dropping hints for Stark."
Heh... What are you so proud of?
Seeing Frieren's demeanor, Fíliya could only feel the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
This elf who doesn't understand people's hearts is now lecturing me on emotional intelligence. Who says I don't have any?
Frieren, you're only on the second level, and you think I'm on the first. In reality, I'm on the fifth.
Miss Fíliya, adept at self-consolation, immediately brought up the famous "thousand-layer cake" theory and continued speaking.
"Hmm... I admit I don't really understand the tender and hazy love of young people. I just wanted to share some of my own experience."
...Hearing this, the doubt and disdain in Fern's and Frieren's eyes became even more apparent.
[A girl who's barely a few months older than me is talking about experience.] [You, a little human girl, are lecturing me? Even a mature big sister like me, who's lived for over a thousand years, hasn't figured out what love is...]
The above were their respective thoughts.
Seeing their indifferent gazes, Fíliya cleared her throat in annoyance, simultaneously reminding the two in front of her to pay attention.
"Ahem... Pay attention!"
"Hmph... Fern, and you too Frieren, did you know that most of the world's regrets and tragedies are caused by people not speaking up, not making things clear? If you're always worrying about your pointless pride and so-called 'ladylike demeanor,' you might regret it for the rest of your life, you know? With a dense boy like Stark, you should just drag him directly into the gift shop instead of trying to drop hints."
After Fíliya finished speaking, the two in front of her finally set aside their disdain.
They had to admit that what Fíliya said seemed to make some sense.
So, after a moment of thought, Fern turned to look at her master.
"Lady Frieren, could you please step outside for a moment?"
Fern's tone was exceptionally serious, and her previous sulky mood seemed to have vanished completely.
"Huh? Why are you kicking me out...? Isn't this supposed to be a time for us girls to help each other?"
Frieren had a look of utter confusion.
"Because you're too useless. You'll only hold us back here. I want to discuss this with Fíliya."
Fern showed her master no mercy, speaking with a perfectly straight face.
And so... Frieren left the room dejectedly, wearing a devastated expression as if she had suffered a world-ending blow, all the while making strange whimpering sounds as she walked.
[I'm a useless old hag... sob sob sob...]
[Fern doesn't love her useless master anymore... sob sob sob...]
Only after Frieren's figure had completely disappeared from the room did Fíliya turn back to Fern and speak.
"This doesn't seem very meaningful, does it? Even if Frieren isn't in the room, she can still sense what we're saying anytime she wants."
"It's fine. At times like this, Lady Frieren gets extremely depressed and won't use Mana Detection at all. I bet she'll go to a nearby tavern for a drink or some juice... Ah, I can see her already."
As Fern spoke, she pointed out the window. Fíliya followed her finger and saw that Frieren had indeed left the inn and was heading straight for a nearby tavern.
Whoa... She's already figured out the pattern.
Fíliya couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.
For the next few minutes, the little miss eggplant who had deliberately driven her master away bowed her head, as if deep in thought.
I see. It seems what this child really wants to talk to me about isn't birthdays.
Seeing Fern's expression, Fíliya understood and took the initiative to speak.
"Hmm... I'm guessing you're a little jealous of me, Fern. Am I right?"
After saying this, Fíliya immediately saw the satisfying reaction she expected on Fern's face and continued.
"It's easy to understand. You're the one who's been with Frieren for many years, but then in the past month, someone suddenly falls from the sky who gets along with Frieren on all sorts of topics, someone who's even in perfect sync with her when they're being silly... For you, Fern, that must create a bit of a sense of crisis, right?"
Fíliya said this as she slowly sat down beside Fern.
Fern didn't shy away from her, but silently nodded.
"You're really smart. You figured out exactly what I was thinking from just a few clues."
"Hehe... It's just that your thoughts are too obvious, Fern."
"But Lady Frieren and Stark don't notice."
"That's because those two are too dense."
"Is that so..."
"It is."
"Then... what should I do?"
Fern's tone was slightly helpless.
"For now, why don't you start by telling me your story, Fern? We haven't had much chance to be alone together recently."
Fíliya tried her best to make her tone gentle.
And so, Fern began her story.
"I was... a child saved by the priest Heiter... Heiter was like a father to me. When Heiter felt his life was coming to an end, we were visited by Lady Frieren, who had come to see him. After that, Lady Frieren became my master, teaching me magic and raising me."
Heiter?
Fíliya's eyebrow twitched as she instantly realized—wasn't the priest Heiter also a member of the Hero's party?
So to Frieren, this child is the orphan entrusted to her by a dying party member.
"I see. No wonder your relationship with Frieren is always so strange... Hmm, it's a mix of friend, master and apprentice, and senior and junior. That's actually quite nice."
Fíliya reflected on this, and in that moment, she couldn't help but think of two other people who were very important to her.
It's just that her relationship with Sense, and with Solitär, was probably far more complicated than Fern and Frieren's.
"Well then, I can only give you two pieces of advice, Fern."
Fíliya said, turning her head to look at the purple-haired girl with a smile.
And Fern was clearly in a posture of listening intently.
"Hmm, first: train hard, become a powerful mage, and then give me a sound beating to win back your master."
"Please don't joke..."
Fern gave Fíliya a weary look.
"Mmm, okay, then pretend I didn't say that... In that case, the only advice I can give you, Fern, is... you don't need to listen to any advice."
Eh?!
Fern was clearly taken aback. She had been expecting to hear some philosophical words from Fíliya. After all, during their time together, Fíliya's image had grown to be almost as grand as her master Frieren's—of course, this was in terms of magical prowess. In daily life, they were both very troublesome old children.
"Sigh... that's just how it is. Do I look like someone who has life all figured out, who's enlightened? How could I possibly give any valuable advice."
Fíliya spread her hands.
"So I can only advise you to stick to your own path and your own ideas."
Looking at Fíliya's sincere expression, Fern felt it was a bit strange.
Although Fíliya said she wasn't an enlightened person, Fern was still very envious of her attitude.
"Pfft... I thought you were a very reliable person, Fíliya, but now I'm going to have to lower my evaluation of you. Is that okay?"
"Of course. In fact, that's exactly what I want. If you kept thinking I was some kind of incredible person, Fern, I'd be the one who's troubled. This is much better."
Fíliya said lightly, even throwing herself back to lie spreadeagled on Fern's bed.
"Is that so..."
Fern fell into a brief silence, then looked at Fíliya with a smile.
"But there is one thing I think you were right about."
"Hmm?"
Fíliya also turned her head, her eyes meeting Fern's again.
"Some things really are much better once you say them out loud... I don't feel so jealous of you anymore."
___
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