Frieren began to wander through the town with Fíliya, the distance between their shoulders only a fist's width apart, just like old friends of many years.
They walked for quite some time, and neither Frieren nor Fíliya chose to speak first. But strangely, even though no one said a word, the atmosphere between them was serene, and neither felt the slightest bit of awkwardness.
After walking a little further, Frieren finally came to a stop. The reason for her pause was now right in front of Fíliya.
"It's Himmel again… Statues of the hero are really everywhere, aren't they."
Fíliya looked at Frieren with a light laugh.
"That's just how he was. Everywhere he went, he would eagerly help the local people. When they tried to reward him, he would always refuse and instead start pestering them to build a statue of him… He was just so vain."
Frieren said with a sarcastic smile, and as she spoke, she casually cast a [Dust-Cleaning Magic] on the statue before them.
"Huh? I thought the locals built these statues voluntarily to thank the hero… I didn't realize they were pestered into it? The image I had of the hero seems to have shattered a little."
Fíliya shook her head.
"Mm… that's not entirely true. There were statues built voluntarily by citizens who wanted to express their gratitude… The ratio was probably about 40/60?"
Frieren tilted her head slightly and then continued.
"But after we defeated the Demon King, Himmel's statues suddenly seemed to multiply on their own, increasing countless times over… There weren't nearly this many statues when we were traveling 80 years ago."
"Isn't that normal? Before defeating the Demon King, Himmel was just an enthusiastic young man. But after defeating the Demon King, he became a true hero. Even in places he had never visited, they would surely erect statues of him. That's the power of fame."
"Yes, that's right."
Frieren simply nodded slightly in agreement with Fíliya's explanation.
"Mmm… and I think you're a bit too dense, Frieren."
Fíliya said suddenly, looking at Frieren's profile.
"Hm?"
Frieren turned to look at her. Although she had been called dense by countless people over her long life, she still wanted to see if Fíliya would offer a different take.
Fíliya shook her head.
"Why do you think Himmel pestered the citizens and craftsmen to erect statues of him?"
"Because he was very vain and narcissistic, of course."
Frieren answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Tsk… So you really don't get it. That makes the hero seem rather pitiful."
Fíliya said, shaking her head again.
"I think… Himmel wanted you… to remember him as much as possible. Even after his death, as long as these statues remain, you can still think of him. As long as these statues remain, you're not alone, are you?"
After giving her analysis, Fíliya began to observe the dense elf's reaction, but Frieren's face didn't show the pleased expression she was hoping for.
So, Miss Fíliya chose to press on.
"Sigh… Frieren, you lucky thing, to be enveloped in love."
After this sentence, Frieren finally reacted.
She frowned slightly, then muttered as if talking to herself, "Love? How could that be… Himmel didn't like me."
Fíliya felt as if she was about to laugh from sheer exasperation and couldn't even be bothered to continue arguing with Frieren on this topic.
"Let's change the subject… Hmm, since we've come across a statue of the hero, why don't you tell me some stories about your past, Frieren? I've only ever been able to read a little about you in books. I'm personally very curious about your stories."
"...They're all just trivial matters from the journey, not exciting at all."
Frieren turned her head away, looking as if she didn't want to talk about it. Of course, it was also possible she was still mulling over Fíliya's earlier point.
"Just chat a little. We're just killing time anyway."
Fíliya continued to persuade her.
"...Alright. Speaking of which… Himmel used to walk with me like this, too."
Finally, unable to resist Fíliya's persistence, Frieren began to speak.
"Oh? Tell me more, quickly!"
Fíliya urged her on, her eyes sparkling with a thirst for gossip.
"Mm… I remember it was after a commission. Himmel asked me to go shopping with him alone, and then… he took me to a jewelry stall… just like that one over there."
As Frieren spoke, she pointed ahead and to their side. Coincidentally, in the direction she was pointing, there were indeed some small vendors selling jewelry and gifts.
"Himmel told me to choose a piece of jewelry I liked, saying it was a reward for my contribution."
"Oh? And what did you choose?"
"I don't quite remember… Let me think…"
Frieren frowned slightly, clearly trying hard to remember.
"I just picked a ring randomly… But something strange happened."
"Hmm? What was strange?"
Fíliya played the role of the perfect straight man, prompting her to continue.
"Well… after Himmel bought the ring, his expression became hard to read… Then we walked a little further, and just as we were about to leave a small alley, he suddenly made a very strange gesture towards me…"
As Frieren spoke, she pulled Fíliya into a nearby corner. It seemed that even her subconscious felt that performing that gesture in public would be especially embarrassing…
"It was something like this…"
Frieren said, kneeling on one knee right in front of Fíliya and taking her right hand.
"Uh…"
Fíliya froze on the spot. She never would have imagined that the first person to make a [proposal] gesture to her would be this incredibly infuriating white-haired elf in front of her.
Although she knew full well that Frieren had no idea what this gesture meant, she couldn't suppress the overwhelming urge to retort.
And you say you weren't loved. Frieren, you idiot, you didn't even know you were being proposed to. What a disgrace! Go sit at the same table as Aura!
"It was strange, wasn't it? Just baffling… Usually, he would say whatever was on his mind, but that day he insisted on being cryptic and wouldn't tell me anything…"
Frieren re-enacted Himmel's gesture, placing an invisible ring on Fíliya's ring finger.
At this, Miss Fíliya felt she had reached her limit. She desperately wanted to teach this ridiculously dense elf a lesson, but in the end, she held back. She could only tell herself not to stoop to a fool's level.
___
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