If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

"Are you alright, little Philon?"

"It's...nothing..."

Philon, who had been dragged ashore by Truman, was soaking wet. Although she said she was fine, she couldn't help but shiver, indicating that she felt cold.

"Little Philon, I have something to say to Frilian. Can you go back by yourself?"

"…………Um."

Philen remained silent for a while before nodding slightly, then turning and leaving.

The atmosphere became somewhat silent.

The sound of the waterfall filled the surroundings, and two or three small fish leaped out of the water and then darted back in.

Truman picked up the fishing rod from the ground, cast it into the water, and said again, "Let's continue our previous conversation, Frillian. I'm leaving."

"...What did I do wrong?"

Frillie picked up another fishing rod, stood next to Truman, and cast it into the water with a practiced air.

Truman glanced at her.

"That's a strange question. Frilian, you haven't done anything wrong, it's just that I don't have much time left."

"Is there something important?"

"No, there's nothing urgent, and no one is chasing me. It's just that compared to Frilian, my time is very short and fleeting."

I wonder if you've ever considered that the maximum human lifespan is 120 years. At my current age, even if I live to a ripe old age, I only have about 100 years left. Even if I study one magic book and learn the corresponding spells each year, I'd only have a mere 100 books… far too few.

Frilian is an elf with a long lifespan, which allows her to live a leisurely life, such as waking up at noon every day, spending a lot of time searching for a dragon to dye her silver hair black, and choosing to stay for several years to decipher a magic book...

Truman couldn't do it.

The today you waste is the tomorrow that the dead longed for yesterday. The present you despise is the past that the future you can never return to.

His time is precious.

"Frilian, if you had a magic book you've been longing for right in front of you, but you had something important to do first thing tomorrow morning, what would you choose?"

"Look at the magic book."

"Right. You and I are the same, both utterly obsessed with magic. Making me wait four years is worse than killing me. So let's part ways here, anyway, four years is just a fleeting moment for you... Oh, you've taken the bait!"

Truman's fishing rod was shaking wildly.

Through the clear water, you can see that the fish that took the bait is a plump and fresh one, perfect for a sumptuous dinner as a farewell gift.

Frillie turned her head.

Her emerald green eyes were slightly darkened.

"What about our promise? You said you'd go with me to find the magic book."

"So it's just a temporary separation, right? And weren't you supposed to help Haita decipher the magic book...?! Waiting for several years... I can't accept that...! This is so troublesome!!"

Truman struggled fiercely against the fish.

I don't know if it's because the fish in this other world are all very energetic, but I just can't pull them up no matter what I do.

Seeing Frillie's slightly lonely expression out of the corner of his eye, Truman comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll come back after you've deciphered the spellbook."

"But what we need to collect is your magic book."

"...What?"

"Truman said that one day he would take me to collect the magic book you hid. I think that day is now."

It's me again?

Why would someone deliberately trip themselves up?

It's said that people can't empathize with their past selves, but now Truman can't empathize with his future self.

"I don't understand." Truman frowned slightly. "After all, Frilian and I have only known each other for a short 10 years, so why would I specifically..."

"80."

"What?"

「我和楚门相处了80年。讨伐魔王的旅途10年，之后的50年，以及辛美尔死后的20年……我和你相处了整整80年。」

Frillie stated a startling number in a calm tone.

—80 years.

"That's even more perplexing." Truman remained unmoved, even feigning indifference as he said, "I find it hard to imagine myself traveling with you for 80 years. What does Frilian really understand about me? What do I like to eat?"

"Scrambled eggs with tomatoes".

"What's your favorite dessert?"

"Cake puffs".

"My favorite book."

"Remembrance of Things Past"

Yes, my magic level is already 90.

……strangeness?

It seems like she really does know!

"Hmph, how long do you think I've known you?" Frilian puffed out her chest with some pride, smugly revealing information about him.

"I also know that you like gold, blue, and purple, that you always dress and wear shoes from left to right, that you start from the top when you take a shower, and that you even take off on a fixed day each month, which are ————"

"Waaaaaahh ...

Truman quickly dropped the fishing rod, then swiftly covered her mouth, glancing nervously around to see if anyone else was present.

"You can't say that!"

"Waaaaah?"

Frillie conveyed through her eyes that what she said was true.

But it's precisely because it's true that Truman finds it unbearable.

Now they've really seen right through us.

Moreover, Frilian showed no shame or disgust whatsoever; she was just like a mother to her teenage son, accepting him without scolding.

This is so embarrassing!

"...Ah, the fish got away!"

Truman looked regretfully at the fishing rod that had been dragged into the pool; not only was there no fish, but the fishing rod itself was also lost.

It's really a loss for the lady and the soldiers.

Truman sighed deeply. "But Frilian, you still don't understand me. Searching for the magic book I hid? If I really hid a magic book, if I really wanted you to search for it with me, then there would have been no need to search in the first place."

"What do you mean?"

"It means—"

Under Frillie's questioning gaze, Truman slowly raised his right hand and then said loudly:

"The Truman Show's spellbook is coming!!"

call out----

A beam of light streaked across the sky like a shooting star, then flew toward their location, landing in Truman's hand in the blink of an eye, emitting a dim glow.

The magic book has a simple, old appearance, but the intricate patterns engraved on it indicate that it is a magic book.

"—Mission accomplished."

Truman tossed the spellbook aside. "So Frilian, you don't need to worry anymore. Just focus on helping Haita decipher the spellbook. That's all."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Then I saw Philon hiding... no, standing behind the tree. Because the tree trunk was broad enough to conceal her figure, and she was extremely good at hiding her presence, she hadn't been discovered.

Meanwhile, Philon, who was behind the tree, was still a little damp, and her hair was slightly curled.

I clearly told her to go change her clothes.

Philon said nothing, only silently watching him. Truman glanced at the magic book in his hand, thought for a moment, then tucked it into Philon's arms and continued walking forward.

Then, a voice came from behind—

"You think I'll do what you want, you idiot?"

I don't know who he's cursing.