Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

Here's today bonus chapter, enjoy~~

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Frieren noticed Aura's sorrowful expression and asked, puzzled:

"Aura, are you not happy?"

"I'm very happy."

"Then why not smile?"

"I don't know how to smile."

"But when you smile, Aura, it's beautiful."

"I just don't feel like it."

"Aura, learn how to smile like humans!"

Frieren gave the command with a smile on her face, perhaps it was just an unintentional blessing without any hostility.

But Aura shed big tears and covered her face, not wanting Frieren to see her expression.

'No, Frieren, please stop giving me these weird orders...' Aura thought desperately, her mind racing.

"Haha, hahaha, hahahahaha..."

Although she resisted in every way, the moment Frieren issued the command, Aura couldn't help but laugh.

At first, her voice was low and hoarse with a hint of tears, but as she laughed, Aura's mood became more cheerful and she became extremely happy.

In her good spirits, Aura felt that it didn't matter to follow this command from Frieren.

This is the last time anyway.

"Frieren is doing well—I saw it."

Happy!

Aura laughed heartily, clutching her stomach, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

As long as Frieren's life was blissful, safe, and warm, she would likely stay in the elven village forever. In this case, Aura will have no reason to be an enemy of Frieren.

"Goodbye, Frieren."

After accompanying Frieren around the elven village for so long, it was time for Aura to leave.

Coincidentally, the previous order of "accompany me to meet all the elves" was also completed, and there was no more order to restrain Aura from leaving here.

Aura laughed and waved goodbye to Frieren. She laughed continuously and tears kept flowing from her eyes.

"Goodbye, Aura!"

Aura saw from a distance the white-haired elf waving with a reluctant expression.

'I will never come back again in my life!'

'Let us never see each other again, forever!'

'Frieren—'

'I won't miss you.'

The purple-haired demon disappeared into the sunset, her laughter fading away.

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After walking out of the dense, shadowy forest, Aura followed a winding human road that eventually led her to a bustling, large human city. Here, she decided to check into a quaint inn that seemed both welcoming and discreet.

As she paid for her room, the inn's proprietress couldn't help but notice Aura's odd demeanor. The guest had her head wrapped and face covered, yet she was constantly laughing softly to herself. This behavior puzzled the proprietress, who wondered if there was something amusing about her own appearance.

'Is there something inappropriate on my face?'

The proprietress wondered, slightly self-conscious. She quickly glanced into a nearby mirror, checking her own reflection, scrutinizing her hairstyle, and straightening her clothes, but found nothing out of the ordinary.

Meanwhile, Aura, the mysterious guest, had started to climb the creaky wooden stairs to her room, her chuckles echoing softly in the hallway. The proprietress, now somewhat reassured, concluded that her appearance was not the source of amusement. Perhaps this guest had simply experienced something delightful and was in unusually high spirits.

With a considerate smile, the proprietress made a mental note of the guest's room number and instructed a waiter to bring up a complimentary basket of freshly baked bread and a bottle of their finest red wine as a gesture of congratulations for whatever joyful event had inspired such laughter.

Aura's lighthearted mood seemed to permeate the inn, subtly lifting the spirits of other patrons as well. The sound of genuine laughter is indeed infectious.

Soon, even the corners of the proprietress's lips curled up into a small smile, brightening her otherwise routine day.

Just as Aura's laughter faded into the upper floors, another traveler entered the inn. This new guest was also a woman, cloaked and hooded, her attire typical of weary travelers seeking a night's rest. The innkeeper, still buoyed by the earlier guest's cheerful disposition, greeted her warmly.

"Hello, welcome! Are you looking to stay with us tonight?"

"Checking in, and also buying some food supplies."

"Sure, and the name for registration?"

"Flamme."

Traveling along the borders of various countries, Flamme was a renowned first-class mage known for her prowess in hunting demons. As she entered the inn, she removed her hood, revealing a striking cascade of long orange hair intricately braided down her back.

"Who's laughing upstairs?"

She immediately noticed the strange laughter coming from upstairs.

The proprietress, still smiling from the earlier encounter, explained that it was another traveler like Flamme. She speculated that the guest might have stumbled upon a fortunate discovery, perhaps a treasure or a piece of good news, as she had been laughing happily for quite some time.

"That made sense." Flamme nodded thoughtfully.

During her extensive travels, she had occasionally met people who had good fortunes, and it wasn't uncommon for such individuals to share their joy by treating others to drinks in taverns.

Flamme herself had enjoyed free beer from such occasions.

"But this voice, it sounds so familiar..."

Flamme murmured, her brow furrowing in concentration. She racked her brain, trying to place where she had heard that distinctive laughter before. Just as she felt on the verge of recalling the memory, the laughter abruptly ceased, leaving her grasping at straws.

She squinted up the staircase, tempted to probe further. Yet, attempting to use magic to see through the wooden walls was beyond her current capabilities.

Even if she could, she knew it would be inappropriate.

She decided to let the matter rest, at least for now.

After securing a room, Flamme made her way upstairs, her steps measured and deliberate. She chose the room adjacent to the one from which the familiar laughter had emanated, hoping that perhaps a casual encounter might jog her memory.

Once inside, she quickly put away her belongings with practiced efficiency, each item placed with a purpose. She enjoyed a simple meal of bread and stew, accompanied by a refreshing drink, before lying down to rest after organizing her combat magic tools.

Flamme had journeyed all the way from the northern border of the Unified Empire, driven by a notification from the Continental Magic Association. Reports had indicated a sudden appearance of powerful demons in the area, a situation demanding immediate attention.

Her plan was to meet with a local nobleman the following day to request the deployment of additional guards, leveraging her status as a first-class mage to secure the necessary support for the upcoming hunt.

"Demons, no matter how many you kill, there are always more..." Flamme muttered, her voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the night. Her mind was a whirl of restless thoughts, each one weighing heavily on her weary heart.

"What should I do, Aura?" she asked the empty room, as if expecting an answer. The name brought a faint smile to her lips, but it quickly faded into a look of deep contemplation.

"Where have you been... Why didn't I see you after I joined the Continental Magic Association?" These questions had haunted her for years, filling the silence of her solitary nights.

"Is my power alone still too weak? Should I follow your example and devote my energy to promoting human magic, Aura?"

Flamme wondered aloud. She knew Aura had always advocated for using magic to help humanity, to uplift and educate rather than just to combat darkness. Yet, the path of a warrior had seemed the only one available to Flamme, and now she questioned if it was the right choice.

Even in her sleep, Flamme couldn't hide her exhaustion. Her body was tense, her hand instinctively clenched around the staff she kept beside her pillow. Years of relentless fighting against demons had honed her senses to a razor's edge, leaving her always alert, even in the supposed safety of an inn. It was a vigilance born from necessity, but one that kept her from truly resting.

The more she fought, the more confused Flamme became. The clarity of her purpose, once so sharp, was now clouded by doubts. During these moments of uncertainty, her thoughts inevitably drifted to the gentle figure who had taught her magic as a child. Aura's kindness and wisdom had left an indelible mark on her, shaping her into the mage she was today.

They met by chance twice and then separated twice. Until now, Flamme hasn't seen her for ten years.

Her most recent hope had been sparked by a rumor: the president of the Continental Magic Association was named Aura. Driven by a desperate need for closure or perhaps just a simple reunion, Flamme had traveled to take the first-class mage exam, hoping it would bring her face-to-face with her elusive mentor.

She passed the exam, her skill and determination unwavering, but discovered that Aura had gone missing. The newly appointed president, Zanze, had confided in her, urging her to keep the news a secret.

Flamme turned over in her sleep, her grip on the staff tightening as if seeking comfort from its familiar presence. In her dreams, she was transported back to a simpler time, when she had been carried on someone's back, a soft memory of safety and care. She reached out her hand in her sleep, brushing against the imagined touch of Aura's presence, the hard object she remembered from those days. Her tense expression softened, a small smile playing on her lips as she drifted deeper into the embrace of sleep, comforted by the fleeting sense of being cared for.

"Whoosh—"

When she awoke, Flamme was covered in sweat, a lingering remnant of the vivid dream she'd had. It had been a surprisingly restful sleep, and in her dream, she revisited memories from more than ten years ago—times when she had been carried on someone's back to attend magic lectures, even when she was hungry, thirsty, and sleepy.

She chuckled softly, pulled back the curtains, and let the sunlight stream in.

In the brightened space, Flamme took a moment to dress and then looked at herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her was that of a tall, mature woman, far removed from the small child who could once comfortably fall asleep on someone's back. She had grown into a formidable mage, but her heart still carried the weight of that past connection.

She couldn't help but wonder if Aura, the mentor she cherished in her memories, had changed as much as she had. Flamme estimated that if Aura hadn't changed much, she probably wouldn't be taller than her. But realistically, time changes everyone.

"How could she not have changed?" she mused, imagining that Aura's once smooth face would now bear wrinkles, a natural testament to the passing years.

"I wonder if you'll recognize me when we meet again."

Flamme touched her slightly round face, thinking about how she had never seen Aura's true face and feeling a pang of emptiness.

At that moment, a burst of laughter came from outside, as if someone was trying to stifle it but couldn't stop giggling.

At that moment, a burst of laughter echoed from outside, breaking the silence of the morning. The sound was joyous and unrestrained, as if someone were trying to stifle their mirth but couldn't contain it. The familiarity of the laughter piqued Flamme's curiosity. She stepped out of her room, peering over the railing towards the bar area on the first floor.

The inn was mostly empty; even the proprietress was absent, likely attending to morning duties elsewhere. There, leaning casually against the bar, was a purple-haired girl laughing heartily. The girl's face was flushed with intoxication, a clear sign of having indulged in more than a few drinks. Next to her were several empty beer mugs, she continued to pour more beer into her mouth, and one third of the beer mug was empty in one gulp.

Seeing the girl's face, Flamme's eyes lit up. She fetched her staff from her room and quietly descended the stairs.