Frieren 59

Title: Farewell and… See You Again, Serie, After a Thousand Years

Amid the celebration nearing its end, a group of people quietly gazed at the falling stars filling the sky.

In this serene atmosphere, Ash’s muttered wish was clearly heard by Frieren and Heiter beside him. Both instinctively turned to look.

They felt a warmth and placed their hands on his left and right shoulders.

“Instead of that, just look at the falling stars now.” Heiter’s breath reeked of alcohol. But Frieren’s voice, for some reason, was gentle: “Yeah, don’t always think about weird things. At least you still have me, the mature big sister, right?”

“You two are really weird… Ugh, forget it, I’m too lazy to talk to you guys.” Feeling pitied by these two, Ash felt uneasy. But precisely because these two were such extraordinary anomalies, arguing with them felt like a waste of time.

So, he turned, wanting to speak, but ended up sighing in resignation.

“What’s wrong? If you have a problem, you can tell me. I’m a monk, aren’t I?” Heiter said, taking another swig of his drink.

“…Even if I wanted to confess, I’d find a proper priest, not an uncle like you.”

“You’re too rude.” Heiter’s smile stiffened slightly. Frieren added flatly: “But the uncle part is a fact.”

“So you’re the rude ones, aren’t you? By the way… I’m so jealous of Ash’s magic. Not changing at all over time. It’s like cheating.”

The hero’s party now generally knew why Ash didn’t age. Besides complaining about Frieren, Heiter was also a bit envious of Ash.

But Frieren seemed very relaxed about it: “It’s only ten years. Humans age too quickly.”

“Only ten years…?” Himmel’s face grew slightly gloomy upon hearing this. But he quickly let it go, looked at the sky, and smiled again: “A meteor shower every 50 years is perfect for ushering in an era of peace.”

“…Honestly, it’s a bit hard to see clearly in this city.” Frieren complained coldly. Meanwhile, Ash shook his head: “Just accept it. Don’t be too picky. Besides, watching it with you guys, if it’s too beautiful, it’ll just make me gloomier.”

“You two are really insensitive.” Even Himmel felt a bit speechless: “Is this some kind of telepathy?”

“…I don’t want this either. It makes me look weird.”

“I was just about to say, you don’t have the right to call us weird, do you?” Ash’s grumbling made Frieren narrow her eyes in displeasure.

In truth, everyone nearby wanted to complain: You’re both equally weird! But… this was the end of the journey. Perhaps it was better not to say hurtful things.

Ash sensed the mood too. He placed his hand on Frieren’s head, forcing her to look down: “This might be our last meeting. I’m just a passerby, so no need to dwell on it. But you’re an official member, so try to read the room… though this meteor shower for a farewell isn’t exactly great.”

“…Not great?” Frieren was slightly surprised and said hesitantly: “I know a place where the night sky looks beautiful. If… if there’s a chance, 50 years from now, I’ll take you all there?”

“50 years from now, huh…”

“What’s wrong?”

“…Is that even possible?” Ash glanced at everyone, feeling a bit melancholic.

Aside from the dwarf and the elf, he wasn’t sure if the other two would live another 50 years. No one could say for sure.

But Frieren lowered her head sadly because… her concern was different from Ash’s. She didn’t truly believe Ash would live until then.

And the atmosphere afterward, without anyone noticing, grew a bit sadder—Frieren’s overly long promise didn’t need discussion, and now they were truly parting.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The adventure was over, and everyone had to go their separate ways.

They no longer had a reason to stay together. Each had their own life to live.

Inevitably, this world was stingy with its heroes. Even after saving the world, the kingdom wouldn’t grant them noble titles or the like. Don’t expect grand rewards. Having a statue made was already good. Marrying a princess was a pipe dream.

On the way back, Himmel was thinking about what job he could get in the capital. Heiter had a clear goal… finding a job that let him drink. Only Eisen said nothing.

But in this slightly melancholic parting atmosphere, the lively庆祝 also slowly came to an end.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The next day, in a forest outside the capital, beside an arched stone bridge.

The morning forest was shrouded in a thin veil of mist. Sunlight pierced through the treetops, casting soft, dappled light. A group stood there.

At the moment of their final farewell, Frieren looked at Ash, the only one who hadn’t mentioned his plans, and asked curiously: “I plan to keep collecting magic like before. For the next hundred years, I’ll travel through the central countries… What about you?”

“Me? I’ll probably check out the southern countries.”

“I see? Well then… I’ll head off first?” Frieren nodded slightly, then stepped onto the arched bridge.

But after two steps, she turned back: “I’ll come back sometimes… Himmel, Heiter, Eisen, will you guys be here later?”

No one spoke; they just nodded with smiles, waving to see her off.

But before Frieren crossed the stone bridge, she turned back once more, looking at Ash, and said hesitantly: “50 years from now… will you still be here?”

“Life is always full of surprises… who can predict a future that hasn’t come?” Ash smiled helplessly, then walked in the opposite direction from Frieren, waving without looking back: “Anyway, I’ll head off first. If there’s a chance, I’ll come back to see you guys. Hmm—if fate brings us together, see you again.”

The air was filled with a faint sense of farewell and hope. On both sides of the winding path ahead, blooming flowers and green grass formed nature’s most beautiful tapestry.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying a subtle chill that was hard to feel. It was perfect weather to start a journey again.

Frieren, standing in place, watched him for a moment, then nodded to her friends and turned to leave… This time, she didn’t look back.

“Really… in the end, I still don’t understand those two.” As Himmel waved with a smile, there was a hint of regret in his words.

Heiter smiled resignedly, slowly lowering his trembling hand: “Yeah. I don’t know how long Frieren has lived or where Ash came from. But if I don’t get drunk… maybe we can meet again 50 years from now. And both Frieren and Ash said they’d come back occasionally to see us.”

“…Ash might be fine. But don’t put too much hope in Frieren’s ‘occasionally.’ An elf’s ‘occasionally’ is something even dwarves can’t wait for.”

At the end of his sentence, Eisen’s rough voice still couldn’t reveal what he felt.

A faint sadness slowly dissolved in the air after the two left, lingering around the three.

Perhaps they’d never meet again. The three surely thought of that.

But in this era, that was the most normal thing. Though there was regret… it was unavoidable.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After bidding farewell to everyone, Ash faced the cool morning breeze and flew above the clouds… The direction he was actually heading was completely opposite to what he told everyone—he was going straight north.

He was working toward the future. In the kingdom he controlled, he studied magic with the Elder Sage of Corruption and tried to gather more demons for future preparations.

After that, in seclusion, time passed quickly.

About twenty years flew by in the blink of an eye. Ash suddenly noticed a strange organization emerging in the world—the Continental Magic Association.

Its headquarters was established in the Holy Capital, and a branch was set up in the second-largest city of his kingdom—the City of Magic, Äußerst.

Needing more land, they recently wanted to expand. The local ruler under his control couldn’t decide and sent him a request letter. The letter was still on his desk.

“…I heard the founder is an elf? Even Serie? That’s got to be a scam.”

Seeing the request letter, Ash, who had heard rumors that the founder was Serie, couldn’t help but be suspicious. Could it be his friend from the elf village—Milli—or another elf posing as someone else?

In his memory, Milli was skilled in plant magic… though mostly for making wine. But her magic wasn’t weak a thousand years ago. Still, thinking about it, Milli clearly wasn’t interested in the world or humans, so it couldn’t be her.

And Serie? Even less likely.

According to Frieren, in the will Flamme asked her to deliver, Flamme hoped Serie would come out and teach humans.

But back then, Serie tore the will to shreds… She refused a thousand years ago and even destroyed her disciple’s will. How could she suddenly come out now?

Frieren was also impossible. She didn’t get along with Serie, wouldn’t use Serie’s name, and wasn’t the type to found an organization.

Out of curiosity and a desire to expose the impostor, Ash personally went to Äußerst. He wanted to see who this legendary founder of the Continental Magic Association was. However…

As a recognized Earl, Ash entered the Magic Association’s reception room without obstruction and kicked the door open without hesitation.

*CRASH!*

The wide double doors swung open, tilting and half-broken.

“Let me see who—Huh? It’s… really Serie?” Ash hadn’t finished speaking when his expression froze.