"I…want to resurrect her!"
"Her?"
Serie¹ paused, a glint in her eyes as a figure surfaced in her mind.
The next moment, that figure—identical to what she recalled—began to take shape within the life-filled green magic circle.
"It really is her…"
Staring at the tall, full-figured woman who appeared to be in her prime, Serie whispered in disbelief.
"Mm…"
When the formation faded, the chestnut-haired woman opened her eyes with a trace of confusion. Until she spotted Frieren, her gaze becoming fixed there.
Surprisingly, Frieren was wearing a faintly gentle smile.
"Long time no see, Master."
Flamme.
She lived over a thousand years ago and was revered in history as a heroic master of magic. She was also Serie's student… and Frieren's teacher.
Indeed, it was Flamme who had rescued Frieren in the wake of a massacre in an Elven village and taken her in as a student.
The combat magic Frieren learned came from Flamme. Yet Flamme was only human—her lifespan could not compare to an elf's, and in the end, she grew old and died.
Frieren, whose longevity blunted her emotions, nevertheless understood how true Flamme's kindness was. Flamme also had keen insight into human nature and "demonic" natures, realizing that demons were basically human-shaped monsters. And she warned Frieren: don't let the pursuit of achievements alone define you as a mage.
After becoming the God-King of Nature, the first thing Frieren wanted to do was use her powers as a nature deity to research a spell for resurrecting the dead. She succeeded with little difficulty. And so she revived her teacher—one of the few people she truly cared about, who had left certain regrets behind.
The naked body was clothed. Serie personally examined Flamme's condition and, after confirming she was perfectly fine, let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief. Then, giving Frieren a hearty pat on the shoulder, she asked,
"How exactly did you create a resurrection spell? Teach me!"
She showed no air of self-importance. To her, learning magic was far more interesting than putting on airs.
Flamme, now adapting to her body, also turned to Frieren.
"Frieren, why did you resurrect me?"
She could feel an indescribable vitality coursing through her body—something beyond any human scope.
Facing Flamme's puzzlement, Frieren calmly replied:
"Because you are my teacher, so I wished to do it. And since the demons' fate has reached its end, I'd like you, Master, to see what flowers bloom a thousand years later."
"…I see."
Flamme took a moment to still her emotions, then said gently,
"Thank you, Frieren."
"Wait. You're not going to explain the demon by your side to Flamme?" Serie asked, pointing at Aura.
Flamme simply shook her head.
"No need, Master. I'm sure Frieren has good reasons."
"Fine."
Seeing this, Serie didn't push. But straight away she changed the subject:
"Frieren—teach me your magic!"
Seeing her teacher so hungry for knowledge made Flamme smile in fresh surprise: she'd never seen Serie in quite such a state. She herself was also curious how Frieren had mastered something as miraculous as resurrecting the dead. Meanwhile, a bit worried:
"Frieren, is there any cost in using such a spell?"
This power felt like a taboo. She feared a hidden price.
"No."
Frieren shook her head.
"Because I am now a god."
"A god?"
Serie and Flamme exchanged astonished looks. Yet they saw no deceit in Frieren's words. Next, they heard her further explanation:
"Not long ago, Rei Ao came here, helped me solve the time-travel problem, and granted me divinity."
"What, him?!"
Serie's eyes lit up again at that name, showing excitement.
"Where is he?!"
She was itching to meet him.
"Rei Ao…who's that?" asked Flamme, feeling left behind. What sort of being could give someone the power to become a deity?
Serie said, "Flamme, Rei Ao is a man—and apparently your student's man."
"Huh?"
Flamme was startled. She couldn't picture how emotionally aloof Frieren could end up finding a partner.
"Heh, I was shocked too. But isn't it interesting?" Serie gave a mischievous grin. "Flamme, no doubt you're eager to know."
"…Yes."
She didn't deny it.
"Oh, he's gone back. He had some things to attend to," Frieren said matter-of-factly, shrugging. She'd told Rei Ao that her mentor wanted to meet him, but he said he'd come another time if his schedule permitted. She had no desire to cause him trouble now. "I'm not sure how his gathering is going, or if he's got further commitments afterward."
"Ugh…" Serie grimaced.
"Well, if he's got stuff to do, so be it."
Flamme approached Frieren and spoke with feeling:
"Frieren, you've truly grown."
"Mind telling me about all the things that happened in those thousand years?"
"Sure."
…
Rays of a fiery sunset glinted against the windowpane. Pressed there, Yukinoshita Haruno's body trembled, her alluring figure made even more radiant by that romantic glow.
"Did I die…?"
She murmured through parched lips, once again glimpsing a sort of paradise. Haruno realized she had no control over her body anymore. Having experienced paradise time and again, she was unsure if she had truly ascended to heaven.
"Hmph, you're still very much alive. No matter what you say, I'm not going to 'paint' you to death," came Rei Ao's soft whisper at her ear, guiding her mind back from the illusion of heaven and into reality.
"Heh-heh…"
She forced an awkward little smile, half-laughing, half-crying. Her rolling eyes spoke volumes. She looked as if she might die of bliss. Her lips trembled, just about to speak—
But Rei Ao preempted her:
"If you want to say more, be my guest, but I will continue."
A mere shift—
"!!!"
Haruno instantly felt him growing ready again. A flicker of alarm lit her gaze:
"I surrender! I surrender, all right?!"
This time, Haruno was truly frightened. She wasn't about to let herself get so embarrassed as to die of dehydration.
~~~
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