Northern Lands.
The territory of Count Graf.
As a city in the Northern Lands responsible for connecting Port Neutrall and Heiß Fortress, a fortress pass on the Northern Plateau.
The geographical location here is excellent, and trade is bustling.
It is a bustling and extraordinary large city.
It is even more prosperous than the trading city of Warm seen before.
However.
Unlike before.
Facing such a good place.
This time, Frieren wanted to purchase supplies quickly and set off as soon as possible.
"Speaking of which, Frieren has been quite strange since arriving here."
She was purchasing supplies with Stark on the bustling street.
Fern lightly pressed her finger to the corner of her mouth.
A thoughtful look appeared in her eyes.
"Strange?"
Stark tilted his head.
He recalled Frieren, who had run to the inn and holed up, refusing to go out as soon as they arrived in the city.
Frieren, who was determined to be a homebody.
Stark nodded affirmatively.
"It is indeed very strange!"
"But if we just purchase the supplies like this and leave immediately..." Fern looked around the busy street with a slightly disappointed gaze.
"Wouldn't it be a bit too regrettable?"
She also wanted to set off quickly to continue following Yulian's footsteps.
But.
In terms of the meaning of the journey.
The scenery and experiences along the way are also very precious.
"How about we invite Frieren to come out and eat dessert together?"
Looking at Fern's disappointed appearance.
Stark's mind was working furiously.
He came up with an idea.
"While we are out eating dessert, we can also have a good look around."
After Stark finished speaking.
He saw Fern suddenly stand still.
Motionless.
Staring at him intently.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Stark felt a bit nervous being stared at.
He immediately fumbled and scratched his head.
"Nothing..." Fern gently shook her head.
She withdrew her gaze that was fixed on Stark.
Länge opened her mouth and said with a smile.
"I just didn't expect Mister Stark to be so clever."
Clever... really...
Hearing Fern's praise.
Stark's face slightly reddened.
Suppressing a hint of shyness, he said stubbornly.
"I've always been very clever... alright..."
However, Fern was no longer paying attention to what he said next.
"Then let's go."
Fern walked ahead, shaking the bag of bread she was carrying.
Under the setting sun.
She suddenly turned back.
She smiled gently at Stark.
"I... am willing."
Stark's pupils slightly widened.
His lips slightly parted.
But he met Fern's confused gaze.
"Willing?"
"What are you talking about?"
Fern blinked her eyes.
She seemed to be questioning whether the 'clever' label she had just given Stark was wrong.
Why are the question and answer completely different?
Read and replied randomly?
Fern scratched her cute purple hair, feeling a bit bewildered.
"That, that, that!"
"I mean let's go!"
"Let's go find Mistress Frieren!"
Stark shouted loudly, his face red and so nervous he was incoherent.
This time, Fern finally heard clearly.
She immediately nodded her cute cat-like head.
She led the way towards the inn.
The inn.
The room.
"So comfortable..."
Frieren's cheeks were slightly flushed.
Feeling the warmth emanating from her body.
Her entire mood was extremely pleasant.
The Northern Lands have a tradition of bathing.
Almost all slightly better inns provide bathtubs for bathing.
Filling the bathtub with slightly hot water.
Lying naked in it.
Will wash away all fatigue and tiredness.
Making one feel as comfortable as if reborn.
And now, Frieren was soaking in the bathtub.
Enjoying this beauty of life.
"Item Retrieval Magic."
Frieren's slightly narrowed eyes opened a little.
She extended her slender jade-like hand from the water.
After a splashing sound.
An ancient Grimoire flew from the bedside to her side.
It quietly hovered in the air in front of her.
It began to turn pages on its own, without wind.
"If I can find [Moment] again, I can start arranging the Magic circle."
On the Grimoire, a complex Magic circle was inscribed.
Recording pages and pages of complex materials.
"Frieren, I'm coming in~"
After a sudden knock on the door.
Fern's voice followed closely.
"Oh..."
"Fern."
Frieren raised her head.
After quickly throwing the book back onto the bed, she slightly lowered her head and looked at the calm water surface.
She replied.
"Come in."
"Click~"
The key was inserted into the door.
Fern, carrying the bread bag, walked into the room.
Entering, she saw Frieren, naked and soaking in the bathtub, staring at her with her beautiful large emerald eyes.
Fair and tender skin.
Slender arms.
Long, doll-like legs.
An unremarkable, flat chest.
Everything, absolutely everything, crashed into Fern's eyes!
"Bang!"
After forcefully closing the wooden door.
Fern quickly covered her eyes.
Her cheeks were flushed red.
She let out a gasp!
Oh my god!
What did she just see!
Not sure!
Look again!
She quietly opened a small gap between her fingers covering her eyes.
Fern was both shy and unable to restrain herself from secretly peeking.
"Why that expression?"
Frieren tilted her head indifferently.
Her wet hair stirred the water surface with her cute movement.
Making a rippling sound.
"I should be the one asking you, Frieren!"
Fern shouted indignantly.
"Why are you bathing here and not in the bathroom!"
"I..." Frieren glanced guiltily at the Grimoire on the bed.
She said, pretending to be calm.
"Because it's wider here, the space is larger."
"When taking a bath..."
"It's because of the Grimoire, isn't it?"
Fern sighed, exposing Frieren who was lying.
Compared to the lighting in the small bathroom inside the room.
It is indeed brighter and more comfortable to read a book here.
"Frieren is truly studious..."
Fern sighed.
"But since you're bathing, you should properly bathe..."
"In that case..." As Fern spoke, her face, which had just returned to normal, slightly reddened again.
She didn't say the rest of the words.
But she thought it through completely in her heart.
[In that case, I shouldn't have seen Mistress Frieren like this...]
[Just like this, naked, meeting frankly...]
"I understand, Fern."
＜(´･_･`)＞
Frieren walked out of the bathtub, looking like she had no desire to live.
She beckoned for a towel and wiped the water drops from her body.
Being lectured again...
"Frieren, although we are both girls..."
"But you should pay a little attention..."
Fern restrained her desire to look at Frieren.
Her gaze helplessly flickered towards the small black leather shoes she was wearing.
If this continues.
She felt that the strange things in her mind would increase much, much more again!
"It's fine, it's fine..." Using a dry towel as a bathrobe, she wore it on her body.
Frieren walked over to Fern and gently hugged her.
She pursed her lips, wrinkled her nose, and giggled.
This move was the most effective.
Using it whenever Fern was angry or lecturing her.
Would make Fern almost instantly forgive her!
This time was naturally no exception!
"Frieren..." A red blush rose on Fern's cheeks.
Feeling Frieren's warm embrace.
Her heart couldn't help but soften.
Only then did she remember the main business.
"We have already bought the supplies..."
"Next, let's go out and wander around..."
Going out...
Frieren hesitated a little.
But after thinking about it, she still gently nodded.
She turned around and started changing clothes.
"Why is Frieren so reluctant to go out?"
Fern couldn't help but become more curious watching this scene.
She thought silently to herself: I must ask Frieren properly later!