Chapter 115 – Becoming Your Future Self
After hearing the pig's proposal, Frieren decisively removed the pig ears and handed them to Robin.
"What's this supposed to mean? You want me to have a little chat with it too?"
"No, no. It said you only need to listen."
"Tch… what a load of nonsense."
Robin took the pig ears reluctantly and slapped them onto his head.
"Frieren, since it's the last day anyway, I suppose I'll humor you—"
"Shut up!"
"…Huh?!"
Robin froze.
He slowly turned his stiff neck toward the source of the voice.
The pig was staring directly at him.
"No way… I must've misheard… A pig can't actually talk…"
"Brat, quit muttering. I can't understand your nonsense anyway."
Robin's pupils shrank.
That voice—
It wasn't a pig's squeal.
It was clear.
Sharp.
And dripping with contempt.
"Idiot. So what if you don't have mana? That doesn't give you the right to doubt those who do."
"And that ridiculous bet of yours—bah! Even I, a pig, feel embarrassed for you."
Robin's face stiffened.
The pig snorted again.
"Listen carefully, you brat. Drop that pile of useless suspicion in your head and follow Frieren's instructions like you're told."
"Don't think I'm exaggerating. If you ruin this, the entire human world will go down with you."
"And when that happens, even that old fossil Elias won't let you off lightly."
"…Understood?"
"—If you understand, nod."
Robin stood there, mouth slightly open, unable to form a single word.
In the end, like an obedient fool—
He nodded.
"…Fine."
The pig snorted dismissively.
"Good. Now get lost."
"And give the pig ears back to Frieren. I still have something to say to her."
---
Robin left in a daze.
Frieren put the pig ears back on.
"—Frieren, there's something you must tell Elias before Flamme returns."
"What is it?"
"It concerns his wish to become human."
"…Wait. Did you see Elias become human in the future?!"
"Regrettably, the Goddess's scripture states: 'Innate and acquired are not the same. To perceive and to be perceived are not the same.'"
"…What does that mean? Did he succeed or not? What exactly do you want me to tell him?"
"It's only a reminder. Repeat those exact words to him."
"And remember—before Flamme returns."
"That's all I can say. The rest is up to you."
The pig turned away.
"Wait!"
Frieren stopped it.
"Where are you going? Aren't you coming back to the village?"
The pig looked back at the white-haired elf.
"Frieren… I must fulfill the mission granted to me by the Goddess."
"To become my future self."
---
After seeing the pig off, Frieren returned home.
Through the window, she saw Robin gesturing animatedly.
"Elias! Can you believe it? I just got scolded by a pig!"
"—Calm down, Robin. For me, that would hardly be difficult."
"Seriously?! Damn it… So everything Frieren said was true?!"
Click.
Frieren entered and faced him directly.
"Of course it was true. I told you from the beginning. You're the one who insisted on making that bet."
The arrogance in Robin's eyes was gone. He scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Alright, Frieren. A bet's a bet."
"Everything the villagers gave me this month—it's yours."
"No need."
The moment she said that, both Robin and Elias looked at her in surprise.
Since when had she become so generous?
Frieren took a deep breath.
"Compared to saving humanity, those things don't matter."
She then recounted her entire conversation with the pig.
Elias fell into deep thought.
The legendary Goddess Monument… capable of granting time-travel magic.
To Robin, it was unbelievable.
But to Elias—
He suddenly remembered something from two thousand years ago.
The strange behavior of Serie after she touched the Goddess Monument.
So that was it.
Back then, that old dwarf must have come from the future as well.
In an instant, Elias understood the situation:
A pig from the future had appeared, issuing orders for them to journey to the distant Southern Continent and avert humanity's destruction.
Yet another thought lingered.
If that pig knew his name—
Then it must also know whether he had succeeded in becoming human.
Just as Elias was about to question Frieren, she spoke first.
"Elias, if you're wondering about that… the pig told me to tell you this:
'Innate and acquired are not the same. To perceive and to be perceived are not the same.'"
The moment the words left her mouth, Elias froze.
It was as if something had struck him directly in the mind.
"…How unfortunate."
He lowered his gaze with a faint smile.
"And yet… why am I not surprised at all?"
"Elias?"
Frieren asked, confused.
"What does that mean?"
Elias inhaled slowly.
"That is the key to unlocking time. And a reminder from someone in the future."
"…What? I'm getting more confused the more you talk."
"Don't worry about it, Frieren. At least for now, everything is already predetermined."
With that, Elias left Frieren and Robin behind and went upstairs, his shadow trailing long behind him.
He shut himself away for several days, refusing to answer Frieren's questions.
---
Half a month later, he sensed a familiar presence from afar.
Only then did Elias leave the house and walk to the pond where he usually fished.
He gazed at his reflection on the water's surface.
"Three thousand years… and at last, the goddess I've never seen has delivered her revelation."
"…Being toyed with doesn't feel pleasant."
Plunk.
A stone suddenly struck the water, shattering his reflection.
"Well, you certainly look relaxed~"
Flamme, clad in a gray robe, appeared with a smile and walked to his side.
"Or did you sense my mana and come out to greet me?"
Elias kept his eyes on the rippling water.
"Flamme… can you imagine what I would look like as a human?"
"Oh, honestly."
Flamme crossed her arms.
"It's been ages since we last met, and that's the first topic you bring up?"
"I'm just curious."
Elias smiled faintly.
"Frieren said she couldn't imagine it. So what about you, her teacher?"
"Or… perhaps such a thing isn't important?"
Flamme sighed, her gaze deep.
"Elias… you of all people should know."
"The most important thing is your own perception."