Afterward, Frieren followed the elderly man, Vorm, to the shop he had recommended.
In addition to the items on her shopping list, Frieren took an interest in a magic tome, which led to an intense bargaining session with the shopkeeper.
All the while, Vorm simply stood by her side, silently watching. He observed the way Frieren's eyes lit up with delight when she spotted the tome on the shelf, and how she argued with the shopkeeper over the price. He seemed to find none of it boring.
Time passed, and the sun climbed higher in the sky.
A silver-white twin-tail swayed in the breeze as Frieren used magic to levitate up a tree, plucking a small ball from its branches.
As soon as she landed, five children rushed over.
"Here, your ball. Take good care of it."
Frieren handed it to the nearest child. "Next time, be more careful. And if it does get stuck in a tree, don't try to climb up and get it yourselves. Ask an adult for help, understood?"
"Understood!" the children chorused.
They ran off, their laughter echoing through the streets.
Frieren gave them a small wave, a faint smile touching her lips.
"This city really has changed a lot… Back then, you'd hardly see this many children playing in the streets."
"Hahaha, I'm truly glad to hear you say that."
Vorm let out a hearty laugh, visibly delighted.
Frieren glanced up at the sky, then turned to him. "Thank you for today, Mr. Vorm."
But Vorm merely shook his head and said something that Frieren found a little puzzling.
"I should be the one thanking you, Frieren… Because of you, today has been one of my happiest days."
Lowering his head, he muttered in a voice too soft for her to hear—
"I thought I'd never have the chance to see you again…"
Frieren tilted her head slightly, a trace of confusion on her face.
"It's already noon. I should head back," she said. "If I'm late, Fern will scold me again."
"Is that so? I suppose it is about that time," Vorm chuckled. "You should hurry back, then. I should probably check in at home as well, just so no one worries too much."
"Do you need me to escort you?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful… is what I want to say, but I'll have to decline. I have faith in the order of this city—nothing bad will happen."
And so, Frieren bid Vorm farewell and started on her way back.
However, the moment she arrived at the inn, she saw Aesc and the others just about to leave.
"Lady Frieren! You've returned."
"What's going on, Fern? Are you heading out?"
Fern fixed Frieren with her usual composed stare. "Lady Frieren, the city lord just sent us an invitation. He wishes to have lunch with us."
Stark immediately stiffened in panic. "Wait—does that mean if we offend him, we'll get executed too…? This is terrifying."
"Did you get everything we need?" Aesc asked Frieren. "If so, just set it down somewhere in the room for now. We'll sort it out later."
"Since this is a formal invitation from the city lord, it wouldn't be polite to keep him waiting."
A carriage was already waiting outside, with a distinguished-looking butler standing by, a clear display of the lord's sincerity and goodwill.
Apart from Stark, who was so nervous he was practically frozen stiff, the others remained perfectly at ease as they rode in the carriage.
"Relax, Stark. It's just a lunch invitation, not an execution. The lord isn't going to eat us or anything," Aesc said, finding his reaction a bit much.
Unfortunately, her words didn't seem to help.
"B-but… he's a noble! Are we, as commoners, really allowed to dine in a noble's castle?"
"What commoners? Didn't that very stylish old butler just say it himself? We are Lady Aesc and Lady Frieren of Hero Himmel's party."
Aesc smirked slightly and straightened her posture. "That title isn't any lesser than a noble's, is it?"
"But still—"
"Sir Stark."
Fern joined in, trying to reassure him. "I've heard quite a bit about Moluff's lord. He's highly regarded among the people. I don't believe he'd be the kind of person to act unreasonably."
Through the carriage window, Aesc observed the city as they passed through.
Children playing, merchants tending to their stalls, people laughing in the streets.
A vibrant and thriving city.
"Moluff wasn't always like this."
Resting her chin on her hand, Aesc spoke in a calm tone. "Back then, Moluff was strong enough to resist monster attacks, but life here wasn't exactly good for the common folk. The previous lord only cared about the land itself—he provided for the people simply because it was convenient, not out of any real sense of duty."
"But then, his son inherited the position, and within just a few decades, Moluff changed completely. The current lord may not match his father in ability, but he values the people just as much. That's how Moluff became the city we see today."
Stark and Fern listened attentively, while Frieren, on the other hand, didn't seem particularly interested in Aesc's explanation.
Noticing this, Aesc suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, and by the way, the previous lord never married. The current lord we're about to meet is actually his adopted son."
Stark and Fern both showed clear surprise—perhaps even mild shock.
As they chatted, the luxurious horse-drawn carriage arrived at the lord's castle.
To their astonishment, the city lord himself had come to personally greet them.
"Welcome, Lady Frieren, Lady Aesc, and your esteemed companions. I am Patricheit, the lord of Moluff."
The lord of Moluff was a distinguished-looking man in his prime. His pale golden hair radiated an air of nobility, while the neatly trimmed beard at his lips added to his mature charm. He was tall, with a poised yet approachable demeanor.
Despite his noble status, Patricheit carried none of the arrogance often seen among the upper class. There was a warmth to his presence that even put Stark at ease.
"Hero Himmel and his companions once saved Moluff. Whether to repay that debt or simply as a gesture of hospitality, I would be honored if you would join me for lunch."
Years ago, when Himmel's party passed through this city, the ruling lord at the time had thrown them in jail for no apparent reason. It was only after the group eliminated a sudden outbreak of monsters near the city that the lord finally agreed to release them.
And so, with that history in mind, Aesc and the others followed Patricheit into the castle.
As they walked, Stark leaned closer to Fern and whispered, "He really… doesn't feel like other nobles at all, huh?"
Fern silently nodded in agreement.