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

After that, Frillie became much more restrained and no longer impulsively ran over to open treasure chests. Instead, she only opened them after Truman confirmed the danger.

After searching back and forth several times, they actually found quite a few good things.

It means that most of them are not needed.

And they're quite heavy, so carrying them would only be a burden. In the end, I could only leave these things here.

Even so, Frillie continued to enjoy it.

After defeating the BOSS, she explored on her own, and to make matters worse, she even used a full map to see if there were any areas she hadn't explored.

I explored it three times, thoroughly searching every nook and cranny of the dungeon.

They're really persistent.

Having wasted a day, a satisfied Frillie, laden with her loot, happily set off again. Truman and Philon could only sigh and console themselves that as long as she was happy.

"Lady Frillien, I felt we coordinated very well in the battle in the dungeon. Is there any need to find someone else?"

"Yes. That minotaur is just an ordinary monster, lording it over in this kind of dungeon, but it's nothing special on the northern continent, where monsters like that are everywhere."

"—So that means the Northern Continent is that dangerous, right?"

"That's right."

Frillie looked at Truman and Philon and nodded very seriously.

The two naturally chose to believe the elder among the three who had been to the Northern Continent unconditionally. Since even Frilian thought the Northern Continent was dangerous, it meant it really was dangerous.

Not to mention, Simmel and her group were not very strong, and their successful defeat of the Demon King was already a great achievement.

Don't say that all the strongmen are with the heroes in the south. It's undeniable that they have made greater contributions, but Simmel and his group, who were able to take on the responsibility of defeating the Demon King, should also be praised.

Truman looked at Philon.

Although she was expressionless, you could still discern her thoughts after spending time with her. And now it was—

"Strange, Philon, you don't seem very happy? Is it because you don't want Aize to join?"

"No, that's not what I meant. It's just that I don't know Lord Aize well, so..."

"Don't worry, Philon. Aize is like that stinky monk Haita, a man of few words and a kind heart. Even though we've only known each other for 10 years, he's trustworthy and an excellent front-line soldier, I can guarantee that."

Frilian was rude to Haita, but in reality, she placed Aize on the same level as Haita, indicating that she trusted them very much.

Philon said nothing.

Truman and Frillie exchanged a glance, finding it strange, but neither of them spoke again.

that's it.

Three days later, as the atmosphere became slightly strange, they arrived in the Central Kingdom of Blade and met Aize outside the hut.

"Aize, I'm here to play."

"Frilian..."

A dwarf appeared before the crowd, his long beard obscuring his true appearance, revealing only his large nose and eyes. He wore a helmet resembling bull horns, and his body was completely covered by a cloak, just like the stereotypical image of a dwarf.

"Yo, Aize... This should be our first time meeting, right? Do you mind if I greet you like this?"

"No. You greeted me the same way when we first met, without any formalities."

"yes."

"That's right."

The conversation between the two was somewhat like that between a human and a machine.

However, Aize seemed quite satisfied. He looked nostalgic. Could it be that this was how they talked when they first met?

Probably.

Frillie cut to the chase: "Aize, there's something I want to ask you. I want to travel to the Northern Continent again, to the Demon King's Castle. Could you come with me?"

"Is it for magic?"

"Yes!...You knew?"

"After all, I've been corresponding with Haita, about you, about Philon, and... about Truman."

Aize looked at Truman.

To be precise, it was a young Truman who didn't know himself.

"That makes a lot of things clear, Frilian."

"yes."

The two of them actually became riddle solvers?

"Regarding the trip to the Northern Continent, let's wait a moment." After a pause, Aize said, "Frilian, I have a favor to ask of you."

"That's possible, but can't we wait until we get back from the Demon King's castle?"

"That will be 10 years from now."

"It's not too late, is it?"

"It's late enough."

The immortal elves have a very poor sense of time, even surpassing the long-lived dwarves in this respect. Ten years may not seem like much to an immortal species, but for humans, it can change a great deal.

"Besides, that thing is also very meaningful to you."

"What is it?"

"—The Great Magician, Flame's Notebook." Aize seemed to sense what Frilian was about to say and spoke first: "I know most of Flame's notes are fakes, but this one—the notes in the Fair Basin—is real, as Haita and Truman told me. Frilian, you should know this too."

"I know?"

"It's about the soul. It was because Truman confirmed the existence of the soul that he developed resurrection magic... This is what Haita later figured out and told me. Unfortunately, it didn't work on him."

"Because he died of old age."

Frillie's lips curled up slightly.

To die peacefully and painlessly in the company of family and friends at the end of one's life is a blessing, at least for Haita, for he was happy, and a smile remained on his lips until his very last moment.

"But the Fair Basin... it'll be very difficult to find."

"Because it's very big."

"Then let's start by looking at the big trees."

"Don't worry, we have plenty of time."

"...Never mind. I'm in a hurry."

"Um?"

Hearing Frillie say that, Aze was unusually taken aback. His hand, which was stroking his beard, paused in mid-air before continuing to stroke it.

"Is it because of Truman?"

"……Um."

"yes."

Aize frequently corresponded with Highta, so he also knew about Frilian and Truman.

He also sided with Truman.

Even earlier than Haita, at least Haita initially thought Simmel was better.

And he has always been like that.

Especially on the day Simmel died, although Frilian cried, it gave the impression that she was more led by the atmosphere and that her crying was a belated reaction to the sadness of others.

However, Haita said that on the day Truman left for the second time, Frillie cried for the first time on her own initiative, and cried more fiercely than ever before.

Although Frillian may not be aware of this yet, Truman's importance in her heart is growing stronger over time.

But is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Aize couldn't draw a conclusion.

The issue of lifespan is one that can never be ignored.