A short while later, after the vegetable congee in the copper pot was ready, Fern went out again and returned with a bowl of plain congee, then slowly walked over to Fíliya.
"Miss Fíliya, are you able to move your hands?"
Fern asked cautiously.
"Mmm... I feel like I'm losing my strength. That stylish flick to produce two gold coins just now was my limit."
Fíliya said calmly, but it was a lie.
Although her body was still weak, she hadn't reached the point of being unable to care for herself. The reason she said this was, of course... to enjoy being served by others.
"Is that so."
Fern simply nodded lightly and sat right down on the edge of Fíliya's bed.
"Then let me feed you."
Fern's tone was also calm, as if she saw nothing wrong with this.
"Huh?! This... This is a little embarrassing."
Fern's gentle tone made Fíliya blush a little. She had only meant to tease the little eggplant in front of her, but she hadn't expected Fern to actually sit down beside her.
"It's nothing. When Lady Frieren throws a tantrum and refuses to eat, I feed her the same way."
Huh?
Fíliya was quite surprised, and she was now intensely curious about the dynamic between this master and disciple.
Frieren, you thousand-year-old relic, how are you the one being taken care of by a young human girl?
While Fíliya was marveling at this, Fern immediately scooped up a little of the plain congee with a spoon, blew on it gently, and then slowly brought the spoon to Fíliya's lips.
Miss Fíliya, of course, opened her mouth without hesitation. This feeling of being cared for even reminded her of Sense and Solitär.
"Fern... you're such a good person... I'm so touched."
After swallowing the food, Fíliya immediately looked at Fern with teary eyes.
"You're exaggerating..."
Seeing this, Fern felt a bit helpless. She had no desire to be randomly handed a 'good person' card.
"Besides... I should be the one who feels embarrassed. It's our first time meeting, yet I asked you for money for food... It's truly mortifying."
Fern continued.
"Not at all, there's no need to be embarrassed. You all saved my life. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I should have offered something... Besides, I really like your straightforward attitude. Don't you think it's brought us closer without us even realizing it?"
As Fíliya spoke, a smile blossomed on her face.
"Yes, you're right."
After hearing Fíliya's words, Fern also seemed to have her worries lifted, and she continued to feed Fíliya with a smile.
...After finishing the bowl of congee, Fíliya felt a good deal of her strength return, so she continued to look at Fern.
Fíliya suggested.
"By the way, Fern, you seem to like using honorifics... How about we be a little more casual? Just call me by my name, without all those troublesome suffixes."
"...Alright, Fíliya."
After a moment's thought, Fern nodded in agreement with Fíliya's suggestion.
Just then, a discordant voice came from Frieren off to the side.
"Fern... my bowl is hot too, you know. Don't you feel for your dear master enough to help her cool it down?"
The voice was so overly affected and coy that the three people who heard Frieren's pouty tone couldn't help but shudder instinctively.
Frieren, even after a thousand years, you're still a child who hasn't grown up, Fíliya thought.
"Lady Frieren... could you please not act so childish... you'll scare Fíliya."
Fern replied helplessly, but she still quickly went to Frieren's side and did indeed help her by blowing on her food to cool it.
Frieren... it's true what they say, seeing is believing. I never thought she'd be this interesting in person.
Watching the scene, the smile on Fíliya's face grew even brighter. She couldn't help but recall the amusing stories Flamme had once told her about Frieren.
After everyone had finished eating, Stark was the first to leave the room. It seemed he was off to carry out the task Fíliya had given him.
And Fíliya, having recovered some of her strength, was finally willing to get out of bed.
She was seen slowly making her way to the hearth, where she struck up a conversation with Frieren.
"So, Frieren, what are your plans now? You all look like you're on a journey. What's your destination?"
"Our destination..."
Frieren's expression was a bit conflicted, as if she were hesitating whether to tell the human girl before her.
"The place we want to go is at the northernmost edge of the continent... the Demon King's Castle."
Just as Frieren was hesitating, it was Fern who spoke up first and told Fíliya.
This surprised Fíliya, as it indicated that the purple-clad eggplant girl already had a certain degree of trust in her.
Is it because the little eggplant lacks wariness towards people?
Or is it... because I'm rich, powerful, and good-looking that I so easily gained this young lady's trust?
Ehehe... Miss Fíliya thought, quite narcissistically.
"The Demon King's Castle, hmm... What are you going there for? The northernmost part of the continent is crawling with powerful members of the Demon Race, you know? It could be very dangerous."
Although Fíliya's mind was racing, her expression remained calm.
"Because we heard that near the Demon King's Castle, there is a place called Aureole... Both Lady Frieren and I... we both have someone we desperately want to see again. Even if there's only the slightest hope, we want to try."
Fern continued, but Fíliya could see clearly that when Fern mentioned 'someone we desperately want to see again,' her emotions were clearly stirring.
I see...
Fíliya nodded subconsciously. In that moment, she felt a persistent longing emanating from Miss Fern.
"Aureole, huh..."
Fíliya shook her head, feeling a bit wistful.
But it was clear that Fern misunderstood Fíliya's headshake as a sign of disbelief, so she pouted and said.
"Aureole really exists, you know! Lady Frieren and I found the notes left by the Great Mage Flamme. They prove that Aureole exists, and that Flamme successfully met her fallen comrades there..."
Just as Fern was halfway through her sentence, Fíliya interrupted her directly.
"No, Fern, you misunderstand me. I know that Aureole exists. And I can assure you, that place is real... Your and Frieren's wish will definitely not be in vain."
"...?"
Seeing Fíliya's assertive tone, Fern and Frieren were momentarily stunned. They exchanged a glance, and both saw the confusion in the other's eyes.
___
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