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

After leaving the hotel.

Frillie embarks on her journey alone.

She never had any specific purpose; she only embarked on the journey to collect magic, and this has been the case for the 70 years since she defeated the Demon King, and it will continue to be so in the future.

A solo adventure isn't as arduous as you might imagine.

This is thanks to Truman, who, although traveling with her, did not spoil her in any particular way. Their relationship was not one of one taking care of the other, but rather of helping and supporting each other.

Frillie walked alone in the dangerous canyon, skillfully dealing with formidable opponents and frequently interacting with fellow travelers, just like usual.

...That's how it should be.

One month, two months, three months...

"Oh no, I've gotten lost."

Frillie struggled to the top of the mountain, looking around to find the cliff below completely surrounded by forest. She couldn't find a way out, or even the way she'd come. She instinctively said, "We can't find our way out. Let's rest here for a while, Truman...?"

Then he froze, stunned.

She forgot that Truman had already left.

Frillie didn't say anything; no, she couldn't even find anyone to talk to. She could only silently search for ingredients, silently light a campfire, silently prepare dinner, and silently eat her food.

It tastes awful...

Frillie ate a little but couldn't eat anymore.

She then chose to rest.

For some reason, it was unusually cold tonight; even wrapped in a blanket, she felt inexplicably chilly. She glanced at another blanket in her suitcase, hesitated for a moment, and then draped it over herself.

after awhile.

Even though her body temperature had been slowly rising, Frilian still felt cold, empty, lonely, and cold. Her heart was also slowly contracting, as if someone was clenching it, and her nose was also feeling a little sore.

I am not under a curse.

She knew very well, and had verified it using various methods, but this reaction that lasted for three months was really worrying.

"Power reactor, it hurts..."

Is that what it was said?

Frillie recalled her daily adventures with Truman. She looked up at the night sky and murmured, "Let's go find the magic to make hair black."

Before we knew it, the campfire gradually died down, and the sun slowly rose, signaling the arrival of a new day.

Frillie embarks on her journey once again.

……

She really tried her best.

She found the magic that could turn her hair black, and she also found Truman. Although he didn't recognize her anymore, Truman was still Truman. They got along just the same as always, without any distance or awkwardness.

We clearly promised to let him see that my hair is black, we clearly promised to go find the magic book together, why...

In the basement.

"Sobbing...!"

Frillie lowered her head, her slender, thin shoulders trembling, and large tears dripped down, staining the book and the words on it.

She cried very hard.

Although it couldn't compare to Frilian's three days and three nights of crying during the battle against the Demon King, Haita knew that this was when she was crying the most and was the most heartbroken.

Truman, you have committed countless evil deeds!

Although Haita wanted to say that, he knew it was Truman who told Frillie about the emotions she lacked and taught her what love was. He just hadn't expected it to be done in this way.

Simmel and Truman both love Frillie.

At least that's how he and Aize see it.

After defeating the Demon King, Frilian expressed her desire to embark on another journey to collect magic. Simmel respected Frilian's choice and backed down, while Truman volunteered to accompany her as her bodyguard.

Although it's not good for him as a companion, the outcome was already decided 70 years ago when the two made different choices.

"You've tried very hard, Frilian."

"————!"

Haita gently placed his hand on her shoulder, but Frillie cried even louder. It seemed that she might cry for seven days and seven nights, let alone three days and three nights.

Seeing Frillie sobbing uncontrollably, Haita knew he had to do something.

"By the way, Frilian, let's punish Truman."

"Hiss!... Punishment?"

Frillie stopped crying.

She sniffed hard, looking at Haita with tears in her eyes. Only this topic could stop her from crying now.

"That's right, punishment. Punish Truman for abandoning us, dumping all the trouble on us, and then disappearing on his own. Don't you want to get back at him, Frilian?"

"But Truman didn't do anything wrong."

"Making you cry is a huge mistake. If Simmel knew, she would be so angry that she would draw her sword and kill Truman."

"...Why is Simmel angry?"

"That's not important."

Haita realized he had said the wrong thing, but he naturally changed the subject. "The important thing is, doesn't Frillian want Truman to regret abandoning us and say 'You tricked me!' the next time they meet?"

"...Pretty good."

Frillie became even more interested.

Just like Truman said, she didn't do anything wrong, but she still made herself feel bad. So since Truman didn't do anything wrong either, she should make him feel bad too.

"What should we do?"

"Of course, we'll use magic."

Haita chuckled.

Under Frilian's questioning gaze, he pressed down on an inconspicuous brick in the basement, and then the bookshelf in the basement slowly opened outwards, revealing a secret room inside.

"What a surprise, Haita actually did this design."

"It was Truman who did it. Okay, come with me."

The two entered the secret room.

The place was very empty, unnaturally so. Above was just an ordinary mountain cabin, yet underground lay such a huge, secret chamber…

"No, it's magic? Has magic been used to expand the space here?"

"That's right, this place has been enchanted with a spell called the Seamless Stretch Charm. Alright, we've arrived."

There wasn't enough time to study magic.

The two arrived at a door. The door was about one meter wide and two meters high, with a plain and unadorned exterior. It looked just as ordinary as a bedroom door, and no one would notice it even if it were placed outside.

but……

Frillie looked at the familiar door and instinctively uttered, "The Door to Truth?"

"No." Haita shook his head. "This door is not the true Door of Truth. Although it looks similar, it is not, nor is it a weakened version, and it doesn't even have its functions... It's just an alternative product with a similar appearance."

Truman studied the Gate of Truth for a long time.

Unfortunately, all efforts were in vain.

Frilian knew about this as well; in fact, the heroes all knew about the Gate of Truth, but they had spent a lot of effort without making any progress, even after the Demon King was defeated.

"However, this door is sealed with a spell."

"magic?"

"The magic of days dragging on endlessly."

Haita's smile was cunning, like that of a shrewd old fox, as if he had long anticipated this day.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I changed the cover; the old one was too simple. Also, please keep reading! Please keep reading! Please!