Frieren in Elden Ring

After that, Frieren wanted to meticulously investigate the interior of the Ruins of the King's Tomb, but urgent matters called, and they had

After that, Frieren wanted to meticulously investigate the interior of the Ruins of the King's Tomb, but urgent matters called, and they had to clean up the battlefield. Nevertheless, she asked:

"Since you've been excavating for so long, do you all have any clues?"

Lernen replied, "A long time ago, in the archives, there was a record of tomb raiders encountering shadows identical to themselves and then being killed. We once thought it was a fable, but now it seems to have some truth."

"There truly exist illusory monsters that can perfectly mimic what's in a person's mind. Could it be that kind?"

"Not necessarily."

"President, you've noticed it, haven't you? It has power, unlike weak illusions."

Unfortunately, the observation was fleeting. The white shadow either vanished or hid deeply, and its traces couldn't be found for now, so they had to give up and focus on the aftermath of the current battlefield.

The excavation supervisor also shared intelligence: some workers had reported seeing strange phantoms, but it always ended inconclusively.

What remained were mere fragments of rumors.

Although Frieren was very curious and couldn't wait to start excavating, Flamme insisted on eliminating the kingdom's hidden dangers first. Since that was the case, she had no choice but to give up. Facing the demon threat was one of the few reasons she would abandon her desire to explore dungeons. She had to crush those guys first.

First, seek revenge.

She had to keep in mind the blood debt of the elves from the north.

The minor interlude didn't affect the celebratory atmosphere. From the excavation team's perspective, they would eventually enter the tomb for exploration, and whatever strange things were inside would eventually come to light.

The group systematically repaired the fortifications, while treating the wounded, rotating shifts, and receiving reinforcements. They also didn't forget to clean up the lingering monsters, and the site finally became peaceful.

During this time, many nobles arrived upon hearing the news. After all, the commotion at the Ruins of the King's Tomb was too great to ignore.

They met acquaintances.

Vain, renowned in noble circles, was familiar to everyone. As a bridge for communication, he was perfect. Both sides conversed cheerfully, creating the atmosphere of a salon gathering. In the past, he wouldn't have been so enthusiastic, but today he had another objective:

Through introductions, Frieren, Lernen, and Flamme came to probe them.

With the perception coverage of three top-tier mages, each stronger than the last, even a demon specializing in disguise couldn't hope to escape. If they dared to come, they would be exposed on the spot.

But the enemy chose the most effective method:

Not to come.

The demon commander was very cautious, abandoning the opportunity to launch an active probe and avoiding counter-reconnaissance. Thus, the four-person team gained nothing. Since that was the case, they simply focused on socializing.

"Thanks to your help, otherwise, the area around the Ruins of the King's Tomb would have suffered heavy losses."

"I will apply for commendations from His Majesty. You all deserve this recognition, including your merit in killing the greater demon in the canyon."

"Requesting an audience? His Majesty has been reclusive for a long time and may not have time to attend..."

The nobles flattered them profusely.

Compared to topics about the royal family, they were more inclined to demonstrate what their families could bring to the Association, or simply converse with Frieren.

It was clear that the kingdom, despite outwardly disdaining magic, was not monolithic in its internal views. Most far-sighted nobles recognized the overwhelming trend and decided to establish early relations with the Magic Association to ride the tide.

Thus, they were even willing to humble themselves and flatter Flamme, an underage child.

"Thank you."

The red-haired girl merely nodded repeatedly in response. In reality, her heart was calm. This level of praise held no value compared to a word of encouragement from her master.

However, her demeanor actually became a plus point in the eyes of the nobles.

Despite her young age, Flamme did not possess the common flaws of children her age. On the contrary, she exhibited humility, courage, and wisdom, responding to everyone with grace and neither being arrogant from flattery nor demeaning.

For some pampered nobles, she was truly an experienced mage who had seen the world and faced life and death.

A prodigy today, wielding great power tomorrow.

Only a fool couldn't see that Flamme's potential meant she would become a successor. Now, the Association's two pillars, Serie and Frieren, both disliked administrative affairs. The former constantly failed to find a suitable apprentice but inquired about other people's children several times. The latter's protectiveness of her protégé was obvious.

The endorsement and cultivation by two Mythical-Era Mages guaranteed her future eminence.

It was always beneficial to establish connections early, if only to gain recognition.

The nobles warmly welcomed the team arranged by Serie. It covered three generations—old, middle, and young—with familiar faces, core figures, and future successors, a perfect group for building relationships.

Although the progenitor of magic might not have considered too much, it was still worth praising the elder.

Late at night.

People mingled until the moon hung high, gradually settling down. Of course, there were also those singing and dancing. In their excitement, the nobles even summoned musical ensembles and theater troupes, turning the night, which had been a battlefield during the day, into an amusement park.

By the quiet campfire, Flamme yawned after finishing her travel journal.

"Children grow taller by sleeping more." Frieren walked over, handing her a glass of milk. It felt warm in her hand.

"Master, do you stay short because you lost the ability to sleep?"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

She solemnly declared that her power had long sustained her body in its adult elf form, and for safety, she simply kept it sealed. Her petite stature was a byproduct.

"By the way, you didn't find any clues about demons?"

"No, the enemy is very cautious. So the plan remains unchanged; we still have to make a special trip. Lernen and I, also representing the Association, will visit King Ander V. You and Vain will stay behind to contact the local nobles and also advance the dungeon exploration. We'll split into two groups."

After much thought, the original plan still seemed best. Given the lack of intelligence, they had to probe step by step.

She would take on the most dangerous part herself.

According to their estimation, the infiltrated kingdom's high command must have set traps. Frieren, with her exceptional skill and daring, actively stepping into them aligned with their strategy, especially with the magical assassin's support.

Demons certainly had their own methods. No matter what, it would be a true test of skill at that time.

"...You don't have to worry about the court, Flamme. I didn't bring you here to experience conspiracies. Exploration is what's most important. We only have one goal in sight now: the Ruins of the King's Tomb. How do you feel about the journey so far?"

"It's great, this is the adventure I wanted."

"Exactly. Actually, it's my first long journey with everyone. I suddenly feel the world is quite vast, very expansive."

"Master always expresses a kind of inexplicable sentimentality."

Frieren smiled as she stroked the red-haired girl's head. Indeed, Flamme was remarkably perceptive. Her own sentimentality came from experiences in different worlds, and indelible memories were left in each.

Once the matter of the Ruins of the King's Tomb was settled, it would be time to return. There was still the exploration of the Eternal City.

"Aren't you sleeping? Do you plan to watch the stars all night?"

Facing Frieren's question, Flamme nodded slightly, gazing at the brilliant starry sky, feeling unprecedentedly relaxed.

It was fine to stay up.

By now, her body was not so weak that a little less sleep would tire her out. Not to mention the inherent magical amplification of her physique, just the blessing of a Great Rune was enough to make a person as strong as an ox.

Better to spend some leisure time with her apprentice.

The two lay flat, side by side, heads touching, hands cradling their heads, gazing at the inverted Milky Way. The world seemed to fall silent.

A breeze rustled their red and white hair, and they could hear each other's breathing. From the corner of their eyes, they couldn't see the bustling celebration, their vision belonging only to the stars.

"I suddenly realized something: although adventuring is good, what I prefer to experience is exterminating monsters, helping everyone solve common road problems, collecting materials, and so on. It's adventuring in peacetime, enjoying the lingering tranquility."

"But the devastation in the valley village reminds me that there are no peaceful adventures in this era. Everyone is threatened by war and destined for a life-and-death struggle."

"Perhaps some tranquility once existed in the countryside of the central and southern regions..."

"Now, we are the ones who bring war to it. There's no right or wrong. Everyone is helpless."

With their enhanced hearing, the two could, if they wished, hear Vain and Lernen's persuasive efforts to rally the nobles to send troops. In fact, the recent series of events had swayed them, and they were seriously considering it.

Apart from the king's attitude, the nobles had largely reached a consensus on confronting the demons.

The debate about whether to promote magic was no longer a topic in its presence.

War was paramount.

The human faction at least agreed that the demons must be annihilated, and a super-large-scale counterattack was brewing. At that time, all parties would be drawn in.

The Association was one of the lobbying tools, acting in the interests of the northern countries. This matter was promoted by Serie, who anticipated a grand symphony of war.

Flamme, caught in the midst of it, couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"One day, I will have to set foot on the demon frontline again, right? I look forward to it, but I also fear it."

"Don't overthink it, child. Who isn't afraid of a real battle to the death? I, too, am wary of demon powerhouses." Frieren's brow furrowed with a hint of melancholy. "But we will create the peaceful backdrop for the adventure you desire. Children are one of the reasons for fighting..."

"Don't say that."

The red-haired girl smiled and nodded.

She knew her master wasn't the type to cause trouble; she preferred to immerse herself in research. But she was being pushed forward by the times. Now, she had become proactive, perhaps due to the change in environment.

"You can say such things because Master has seen the development of the elf village, right? Now, perhaps it should be called an elf town."

"That's right. I want to protect you and the children in the town."

"Then I hope the people of the Royal Capital can also be saved." Flamme gazed at the towering buildings on the horizon. "My intuition tells me it's very dangerous."

"You're right."

"Although it's very dangerous, can I come along? At least I can add one more combat power."

Frieren shook her head and said meaningfully, "We can achieve maximum effectiveness by going to different battlefields. Assuming the illusory monster is high-level, we should split the two versatile fighters to deal with them separately. Moreover, the Royal Capital is even more perilous, and I might not be able to protect you. Don't meddle in troubled waters yet."

"Actually, Master has already thought it through, right?"

"Yes, we have both compatibility and mutual restraint. Our different combat roles can cover more situations, preventing the demons' conspiracy from wiping us out in one fell swoop."

The master and apprentice exchanged glances, guessing the possibility of a copy.

The realm of magical combat held too many strange abilities. One had to constantly maintain a flexible imagination, boldly conjecture, and meticulously verify. Now that clues pointed to mimicry, they would proceed with that assumption for now.

Frieren did not believe that truly powerful forces could be replicated; they were all unique.

Therefore, pairing Flamme with Vain was the most suitable countermeasure, and she had a backup plan. In the worst case, her main body could fly back. She had enough insurance.

The Royal Capital was more urgent.

She and Lernen would handle the toughest challenge.

If they couldn't secure a victory in the Labyrinth Kingdom, the observing nations would likely remain passive.

"But what if a copy of you appears?" Flamme mumbled, her head aching. "I can't beat Master, even a copy of you that's definitely weaker than you."

"I'm not asking you to rack your brains now. Get some good rest and enjoy the current tranquility. Don't worry, just remember that I can protect you."

"Alright, then I'll rest my head on Master's lap and be lulled to sleep."

"You're already so grown up..."

The red-haired girl sat up, her large eyes sparkling, pouting and tugging at Frieren's clothes repeatedly.

Unable to resist her playful offensive, she nodded, knelt on the ground, and patted her lap. So Flamme smiled and rested her head, feeling the warmth as her breathing gradually evened out. Her nose seemed to be filled with the scent of flowers, as if lying in the center of a flower field.

The silver-haired girl gently pinched the little one's cheek.

Just now, her apprentice had commented on her small stature. Now, she herself didn't look like an adult. Should she blame her own lack of usual sternness? But the child was already mature and easy to manage enough.

So Frieren continued to soothe her. Flamme, who had been traveling for many days, needed a good rest.

Huh?

Feeling an unfamiliar gaze, she suddenly looked towards the Ruins of the King's Tomb. A white shadow flickered again, deeply hidden, and couldn't be found for a while.

Seeing this, the silver-haired girl's expression became even more serious. This labyrinth was strangely eerie.

Yet, she couldn't ignore the demons. She could only temporarily entrust the exploration to her apprentice, the army, and the adventurers. Coupled with the archeologists' experience, they were reliable enough. She estimated that a dungeon expedition would take at least a week.

Enough time for her to make a round trip to the Royal Capital.

Therefore, both in terms of time and strategy, the royal family's side had to be prioritized. Taking a step back, if the commotion grew too large, she would simply provide active support.

Moreover, Flamme had several trigger spells on her.

After pondering for a moment, Frieren finally relaxed slightly. Her hand stroking the child's cheek became even softer.

"Have you thought it through?"

"What do you mean, thought what through?"

"Usually, at times like this, Master would definitely meticulously calculate the tactical arrangements and prepare backup plans, right?" She smiled faintly. "If you ask me, just improvise. We have that confidence..."

"Young people shouldn't be too impulsive."

"Didn't Master realize? The Frieren party is now the strongest adventuring team in the world, surpassing all contemporary hero parties. We are bound to overcome all challenges."

Flamme declared excitedly, her eyes shining. This was the confidence born from absolute strength, having understood her teammates along the way.

"Perhaps."

The silver-haired girl also smiled, gazing into the distance. Even in the night, the Royal Capital remained shrouded in mist, but she said firmly:

"That's right, if we accomplish these magnificent feats, we will be heroes, even if we're not heroes. Consider it your debut battle."

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