"Because the Third-Class Mage exam site was the closest to me. The Second-Class one was too far, so I couldn't be bothered to go."
Fern said nonchalantly, making it clear she didn't consider the Mage Class Examination to be anything important.
"Good! Very spirited... no, you have a lot of character!"
Fíliya clapped repeatedly, growing more and more fond of this purple eggplant girl. In her view, this was how a mage should be: not bound by rules, not shackled by anything. A true mage should act according to their own disposition.
And after she finished clapping, Miss Fíliya immediately realized something that made her a bit embarrassed.
Which was... she was very hungry now.
So she rubbed the back of her head, asking with a slightly awkward expression, "By the way, is there anything to eat?"
Hearing this, Fern immediately replied. "The stew will be ready in a little while, but it's nothing fancy..."
"That's fine. Do I look like some pampered young lady to you?"
Fíliya said casually, but then she noticed that the purple eggplant girl in front of her suddenly looked troubled. It was clear she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to, and in the end, she could only look toward her master with a difficult expression.
"Hm?" Fíliya also turned her gaze to Frieren, confused.
"Oh... Fern means to ask if you could contribute to the food expenses. Speaking of which, we've been quite broke lately, constantly troubled by financial problems."
Frieren, getting the hint, said the words that Miss Fern had been struggling to get out.
"Isn't that because of you, Lady Frieren? Every time we reach a city, you immediately run off to the local grimoire and magic item shops to spend money... You don't even consider our feelings. When will you ever learn to save money?!"
Seeing Frieren's completely unrepentant expression, Fern's face immediately flushed red—not from shyness, of course, but entirely from a surge of anger.
This time, it was Fíliya's turn to be shocked (ΩΔΩ). She wore an expression full of question marks.
For real...? She was very confused.
Of the three people before her, one was the legendary Elf mage who defeated the Demon King; one was a young prodigy who was a Third-Class Mage on the surface but could probably challenge for First-Class; and the other, while looking very green, was undoubtedly a powerful warrior.
A party like this is short on cash? You could just take any random quest or commission and not be in this state... Or could it be that her senior, Lady Frieren, really has a habit of spending money like water?
"What do you mean, 'it's all my fault'? You and Stark haven't exactly been frugal when you go on dates, have you?"
Faced with Fern's accusation, Frieren's face immediately soured. She puffed out her cheeks and spoke, her expression screaming, 'I'm not listening, I'm not listening.'
"It's not a date!"
After hearing Frieren's words, Miss Fern's usually composed and quiet expression suddenly turned sharp.
Ah... okay, so this is what they call 'every family has its own problems', huh?
Miss Fíliya couldn't be bothered with how Frieren and her disciple got along. After all, she was in no position to interfere in their interactions. All she had to do was silently pull out two gold coins from an inner pocket of her robe.
"Is this enough?"
She first placed one gold coin on the bedside table. The pleasant clink of metal against wood immediately drew the attention of all three.
While Fern and Frieren were still staring blankly, Stark immediately stepped forward and hastily tucked the gold coin away.
"It's enough, more than enough... Lady Fíliya, do you have any other commands? I would go through fire and water for you without hesitation."
"Mmm... going through fire and water won't be necessary, but I do need you to do something for me, Tomato Boy."
"Yes! Please, tell me!"
Stark immediately stood up straight, as if he truly saw himself as a guard, completely ignoring the rather teasing nickname Fíliya had just used.
"Here, this." As she spoke, Fíliya placed the second gold coin on the bedside table.
"This one, please give it to the priest who healed me. Although I was unconscious and didn't get to meet him, I still need to express my gratitude... And, Tomato Boy, no embezzling it, okay?"
Fíliya found Stark's overly dramatic expression particularly amusing.
"I understand!" Stark nodded hastily. As he spoke, he was about to pocket the second gold coin.
Just then, Frieren suddenly spoke up. "Wait... Stark, let me see that coin."
Hearing Frieren say this, Stark, though confused, did as he was told and handed the coin to her.
Frieren took the coin and studied it in her palm for a long while, her expression thoughtful, as if she were trying to remember something.
"This is a coin from the [Empire]." Frieren finally confirmed this fact.
"Hm? That can't be right. We've seen coins from the Empire before, haven't we? They don't look like this." Miss Fern, standing beside Frieren, voiced her doubt.
"No, I'm not talking about the current [Empire]... This coin is a currency issued a thousand years ago by the largest Unified Empire on the continent... These are very hard to come by now."
Hard to come by...?
A playful smile appeared on Miss Fíliya's lips. In that mysterious labyrinth on the Northern Plateau, there was a mountain-like pile of them.
"That's right..."
Frieren nodded, a smile unconsciously forming on her lips. She even subconsciously rubbed the coin's surface with her finger a few times.
"So, what's the difference between this coin and a regular gold coin?"
Stark asked with a confused look. To him, all gold coins were more or less the same, with the only difference being their gold content, which affected their exchange rate.
"Well... you see, this coin, issued a thousand years ago, is a symbol of the [Empire's] glory. The current Empire in the north is eager to restore that former glory, so they're actively collecting these coins that symbolize it (Note: This Empire does not refer to the current Empire)."
Frieren cleared her throat.
"Ahem... to put it bluntly, if you were to sell or exchange this coin, one gold coin from the ancient Empire could be traded for ten, or even dozens, of the common gold coins used on the continent today."
"In other words, this coin... has acquired an 'appreciated value' similar to an antique?" Fern added.
Because in that moment, she suddenly recalled a story from a thousand years ago.
At that time, a dispute arose within the prosperous Empire... over what image should be engraved on the gold coin that symbolized its glory.
One faction believed it should bear the emperor's portrait, while another argued it should be engraved with the image of the Great Mage [Flamme].
The two sides debated for a long time, but in the end, both the emperor and Flamme felt they were unworthy and, in a moment of mutual understanding, rejected the proposal.
Ultimately, the coin was engraved with what best represented the Empire's glory: the [Imperial Capital's Royal Castle].
___
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