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

022 Magic, isn't it amazing?

In order to have an excuse to go back, Truman went to the guild to find the older sister at the counter to learn how to brew wine. She didn't hold back at all; in fact, the method of making sparkling wine was already public knowledge.

I spent one day complaining to Wiz, one day at home, one day learning brewing at the guild, and then today I returned to the mountain cabin... It's been four days in total.

Truman stood in front of the big tree, hesitant to move forward.

He was standing in front of the big tree where he and Frilian had first met Philon, and he had been scratching his head here for the past hour.

Because it's embarrassing.

Although they didn't say anything like "I won't come back even if I jump off here," they've already proven it's actually quite appealing in some ways.

What excuse should we make him give now?

Haha, I didn't expect this big tree to be completely unchanged... or something like that? What a joke, he's only been gone for 4 days. This excuse made Truman so embarrassed that he dug a three-bedroom apartment out of the ground with his toes.

Actually, he had been digging with his feet since just now.

"What are you doing, Truman?"

Suddenly being spoken to, Truman's body stiffened for a moment, then his head, like a rusty, unoiled robot, turned around haltingly, and he saw the silver twin-tailed elf.

"Fri-Frilian!?"

"It's me, Frilian. It seems you recognize me. Long time no see. I didn't expect you to have changed so much."

"Long time no see. How could I possibly... um?"

haven't seen you for a long time?

Truman blinked. They had said goodbye just a few days ago, so why was he saying "long time no see"? Was his way of greeting him wrong?

Frillie said to him naturally, "You're going to the cabin in Haita too, right? Let's go."

"oh."

Truman nodded subconsciously.

It was then discovered that Frilian was carrying a basket filled with some kind of mushroom and various wild vegetables, indicating that she had gone to collect ingredients.

The two of them said nothing and simply walked silently toward the cabin.

The atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Truman wanted to speak but didn't know what to say; the short journey felt incredibly agonizing to him.

But when he finally arrived at the cabin, intending to use Philon to defuse the awkward situation—

"I'm back! Did you miss me, little Philon!...Little!?"

He was not greeted by little Philon.

You misspoke.

It should be said that Philon has grown up.

Frillie was an elf, and her clothes and appearance hadn't changed much, which led Truman to mistakenly believe that he had only been gone for a few days. But when he saw the grown-up Philon, he realized the seriousness of the situation.

We arrived at the cabin.

Haita's room.

Lying on the bed was a emaciated old man. His hair was gray and messy, unkempt, and he looked haggard with sunken eyes. The rise and fall of his chest was barely noticeable unless you paid attention. Even when he was covered by a blanket, you could see that he was skin and bones from his exposed arms and neck.

Listless, on the verge of death, about to die.

Truman quickly grabbed Haita's hand and used the skill [Touch of Absorption] to transfer his life force to him.

after awhile.

Haita slowly opened his cloudy eyes.

"Truman...you're back. How was it? Weren't you surprised? I did it on purpose. Magic, isn't it amazing?"

"Haita, you tricked me!"

"Hehehe...cough cough...hehe, that's the kind of expression I wanted to see on your face, Truman."

Haita laughed, then choked.

Truman patted him on the back.

"But how exactly did you do it?"

"You used the Anti-Reality Gate magic. Truman, you said that if one day... you made me unhappy, then go ahead and use this magic, and you'd definitely be punished... Heh, did you receive the punishment for abandoning Frillian and Philon?"

"……ah."

"But this should put your mind at ease, as you won't have wasted four years."

————! ?

Truman's heart clenched, his blood rushed through his veins, and his cheeks flushed slightly with anger.

"Who gave you the right to act on your own—"

"Why are you so sad, Truman?"

His brows were furrowed, and he appeared furious, yet the sorrow in his eyes was impossible to conceal… because Haita had seen his inner turmoil and hesitation, and had chosen this method to help. But the price was…!

"So why is Truman sad? You seem to have misunderstood... I spent the most fulfilling four years with Frilian and Philon. The one who wasn't invited was you, Truman."

"...American bullying, bastard."

"Hehe. These past four years, whether it was Frilian or Philon, I've gotten along very well with them. They were the best four years of my life. They were uniquely mine, Truman, so you'd better not be jealous."

"Who would be jealous?"

Truman rolled his eyes.

As the [Touch of Absorption] continued to work, Haita's condition improved significantly. He was no longer like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to vanish at any moment, and his aura gradually stabilized.

"Didn't you promise to drink my homemade sparkling wine? What if you die? Are you going to break your promise, Haita?"

"If that really happens, then please, Truman, pour the bubble wine on my tombstone. I'll taste it then."

"It must taste terrible."

"I know."

Haita seemed like an old man without regrets, having accepted his fate of death, and his smile grew even more benevolent.

"But I don't accept it."

"...Truman?"

"Who wants you to die like this? Listen up, Haita! I'm going to start brewing right now, and you just wait! I won't let you die until the brew is finished!"

"Hehe, then I'll look forward to it."

Haita smiled with satisfaction.

Truman then turned and left.

Philen helped Haita lie down again, and Frilian followed him outside the room.

Truman stood outside the mountain cabin, gazing at the lush greenery, and slowly exhaled. He felt a deep sense of oppression. He must have left and returned at roughly the same time, which was why he hadn't noticed. If he had returned in winter, he definitely would have noticed.

Why...?

"I'm sorry, Frilian."

"Why should Truman apologize? You didn't do anything wrong. Speaking of which, Truman, do you feel like you've been punished?"

"Ah, this punishment will probably be unforgettable for me for the rest of my life. It is undoubtedly the harshest punishment ever."

"Hmph. That's good!"

Frillie put her hands on her hips triumphantly.

Truman asked疑惑地, "Why is Frilian so smug? Even if it's punishment, it was Hyta who did it, not Frilian..."

"Of course I'll help! Besides, after this punishment, Truman won't just abandon me again, right?"

"I guess so……"

strangeness.

Is this kind of personality in Frilian?

At this moment, Philon also came out of the hut.