Chapter 112 – Moving the Era Forward
For three consecutive days, while Robin busied himself outside, Frieren locked herself in the study.
As Elias passed by, he heard a voice of utter despair from within.
"I can't read it…"
"Even using books from the Mythic Era as reference… I still can't read it…"
…Since when did Frieren become interested in ancient texts?
With that thought in mind, Elias didn't bother knocking. He unlocked the door and walked in.
"AHH!!"
Frieren shrieked instantly.
She was half-sprawled across the desk, as if trying to cover something.
"Elias! Why didn't you knock?!"
"Why would I?"
He smiled coolly.
"This is my study."
"Frieren, I distinctly remember when I wanted to clear out a room for a study, you were firmly against the idea."
"And now you're occupying it alone? Isn't that a bit excessive?"
"I'm borrowing it!"
"Just borrowing!"
She protested loudly, still pressing herself firmly over the desk.
Elias, however, showed no interest in whatever she was trying to hide.
"Frieren, if you're trying to block that sheet of paper covered in strange writing…"
"I'm afraid you're too late. I read it three days ago—when you first brought it back."
"What?!"
Frieren shot upright, glaring at him furiously.
"That's spying! That's blatant spying!"
Elias spread his hands helplessly.
"Frieren, you know my abilities."
"Other than the bathroom, which Flamme protected with anti-surveillance magic, every corner of this house is within my awareness."
"You were careless."
Frieren hid the paper behind her back and gritted her teeth.
"Regardless, Elias—I want you to forget what you saw!"
"This is my discovery. Only I can decipher its secrets!"
Compared to her urgency, Elias merely tilted his head casually.
"It's just text copied from that stone monument. What's there to be proud of? I already knew about it."
Frieren froze for three seconds.
"…What?"
"Elias—you knew about that cave? And that monument?!"
"Yes."
He recalled calmly.
"Eight years ago, when I first arrived in the village, I explored all the surrounding caves."
"I discovered the Goddess Monument back then."
Frieren blinked in confusion.
"Goddess Monument?"
"That's its name?"
"Don't tell me, Frieren…"
Elias sighed at the elf's density.
"You've been digging through books for three days and you don't even know its name?"
She lifted her chin stubbornly.
"I'm not flipping through books all day! I have other things to do besides the monument!"
"Oh? So you're quite busy, then."
Elias chuckled teasingly. Out the window, a brown-gray figure flashed past—Robin, hard at work again.
"Speaking of which, why did you stop competing with Robin? He's been working harder than ever these past few days."
"See that pile of goods at the door? All gifts from villagers."
But instead of bristling at the provocation, Frieren wore a look of absolute confidence.
"That's because Robin and I made a bet."
"If I can prove something within one month, all his earnings go to me."
"If I fail, I'll do chores for him for a whole month—for free."
"I see. And this 'something' is?"
"That's none of your business!"
She hugged the paper protectively.
"The secret of the Goddess Monument…"
"…will be unlocked by me, Frieren, personally."
Elias studied her expression quietly.
For once, her stubbornness wasn't childish.
It was… ambition.
At that, Frieren suddenly widened her eyes and stared at the great demon before her.
"Wait… Elias…"
"You don't already know the answer, do you?!"
Elias noticed the faint irritation flashing across the white-haired elf's face.
Stubborn creature.
But this time—
"Congratulations, Frieren."
He spoke calmly.
"In the past three thousand years, I've encountered the Goddess Monument more than once. I never understood its function, nor was I able to decipher the inscriptions."
"In fact, as a demon, merely approaching it fills me with a bone-piercing chill."
Frieren's expression changed instantly. She lowered her voice and muttered with a sly smile,
"Oh~ so that's how it is."
"When I approach it, it feels warm…"
"Don't get arrogant, Frieren. The Goddess's script is not so easily deciphered."
Elias smiled faintly.
"Even the sacred scriptures of the Goddess—countless sages and priests have studied them for a thousand years without fully decoding them."
"I advise you to give up. When Flamme returns next month, she won't be pleased to see her disciple wasting time."
"Giving up is not an option~"
Frieren's gaze did not waver.
"The persistence of countless mages throughout history created the age of human magic."
"This time, it'll be me—Frieren—who moves the era forward."
Elias offered no reply.
He simply turned and left the study.
The Goddess Monument…
It brought back memories from two thousand years ago.
Aivis had once tried to decipher it—only to fail.
Serie, too, had touched it once and afterward behaved… strangely.
Even now, Elias did not truly understand the monument's purpose.
As for Frieren's determination to "move the era"—
Heh.
Let her play around for a month.
---
Near sunset, Frieren returned to the cave carrying a pumpkin.
The pig guarding the Goddess Monument lifted its head the moment it saw her.
…Was that look one of complaint?
For a fleeting second, Frieren even wondered—
Was the Goddess speaking to her through the pig?
She set the pumpkin down. As the pig happily devoured it, she slipped on the pig snout again.
"Hey, I was late bringing food. Were you just angry at me?"
"SNORT!!!"
Frieren nodded with a satisfied smile.
Her suspicion deepened.
To verify it, she needed a way to understand pig speech.
Unfortunately, she only possessed a device that translated human speech into pig sounds—not the other way around.
Then—
A spark of inspiration.
"That's it!"
"If I reverse-engineer the pig-translation device… maybe I can—"
"Ahem."
A deliberate cough interrupted her from behind.
Robin stepped into the sunlight, framed by the beautiful flower field—wearing a thoroughly unamused expression.
"Well, I'll be…"
"Frieren. I never thought you'd actually stick with something as foolish as talking to a pig for three whole days."