The field was quiet now.
Aura's body had already collapsed.
The Scales of Obedience lay dim in the dirt, its authority gone with its master.
The wind moved across the battlefield like nothing had happened.
Shamrock stood slowly.
His legs were unsteady at first.
Then he straightened.
He looked at Frieren.
"…I was turned into a puppet."
His voice was quiet.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just honest.
Then he lowered his head.
"I failed as a Knight King."
Frieren blinked once.
Shamrock continued.
"And I failed as a knight."
A pause.
Then he looked up again.
"But I was saved."
He tightened his grip on his sleeve.
"…By you."
Frieren stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
"I told you I didn't need help."
Shamrock nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"That's correct."
Frieren narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Then don't follow me."
Shamrock froze for half a second.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Frieren paused.
"…No?"
Shamrock stepped forward.
"I will serve you."
Silence.
Frieren's expression went flat.
"What?"
Shamrock nodded again, more firmly this time.
"As repayment."
"You don't need to repay anything."
"I do."
Frieren stared at him like she was trying to understand a particularly bad spell formula.
"I already said you don't."
Shamrock didn't move.
"I have disgraced myself."
"That's your problem."
"And I was saved by you."
"That's my problem."
"…So I will follow you until I have repaid this debt."
Frieren's eye twitched slightly.
"No."
Shamrock smiled faintly.
"Yes."
A long silence followed.
Frieren turned and started walking.
"Then don't."
Shamrock followed immediately.
"I will."
"…Go away."
"I cannot."
Frieren increased her pace.
Shamrock matched it effortlessly.
She glanced sideways.
He was keeping up too easily.
'Annoying.'
She sped up again.
Shamrock matched her again.
Unbothered.
Still calm.
Still dutiful.
Frieren stopped suddenly.
Shamrock stopped too.
She turned to face him.
"Stop following me."
Shamrock nodded respectfully.
"No."
Frieren stared at him for a long second.
Then turned around and began walking again.
This time faster.
Shamrock followed.
Again.
Silence stretched between them.
Only footsteps.
After a while, Frieren finally spoke.
"…You're persistent."
Shamrock nodded.
"Yes."
"That's not a compliment."
"It sounded like one."
"It wasn't."
"…I see."
Another silence.
Frieren exhaled softly.
"This is going to be annoying."
Shamrock looked at her.
"I can be useful."
"You were just a puppet ten minutes ago."
"I recovered quickly."
"That doesn't help your case."
Shamrock thought for a moment.
"I can carry things."
"I don't need help carrying things."
"I can protect you."
Frieren stopped walking again.
Slowly turned her head.
"I don't need protection."
Shamrock nodded immediately.
"I understand."
Then added:
"But I will still do it."
Frieren stared at him again.
Longer this time.
Then turned away.
"…Suit yourself."
She started walking again.
Shamrock followed.
Satisfied.
As they walked back toward the town, Frieren's expression stayed flat.
But her thoughts were not.
'Strange.'
She glanced slightly at Shamrock.
He was walking normally now.
No pressure.
No mana flare.
Nothing like what she had seen during the fight.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
'Where did it go?'
During the battle, his mana had been overwhelming.
Dense.
Explosive.
Almost unnatural.
But now—
She could barely sense him.
Not suppressed by magic.
Just… gone.
Or rather—
Condensed.
So tightly it was almost nonexistent.
Frieren's eyes sharpened slightly.
'That level of control…'
'No.'
'It's unconscious.'
She looked forward again.
'He doesn't even realize he's doing it.'
A pause.
Then a quieter thought.
'That's… impressive.'
Another glance.
Shamrock was still walking beside her.
Calm.
Focused.
Completely unaware of her scrutiny.
Frieren sighed internally.
'He's going to be a problem.'
The town gates came into view.
The atmosphere had already shifted.
Soldiers were moving again.
The tension of Aura's presence was gone, replaced with confusion and relief.
Frieren stepped through the gates first.
Shamrock followed right behind her.
Immediately—
"Frieren-Sama!"
Fern's voice cut through the crowd.
She moved quickly across the street and stopped in front of her.
Her usual calm expression cracked slightly into relief.
"You're safe."
The town had settled into a strange calm.
The aftermath of Aura's death still lingered in the air, but life had already started returning in small, hesitant ways. Soldiers moved more freely. Civilians peeked out from damaged buildings. The weight of dread that had pressed over the region was gone.
Frieren, Fern, Stark, and Shamrock stood together near the entrance of the city's main square.
Fern exhaled lightly.
"We dealt with Lügner and Linie," she said.
Stark nodded once.
"Yeah. They were tough, but manageable."
Fern added, "We handled them without Frieren-Sama needing to intervene."
Frieren looked at both of them for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Good."
A pause.
Then she stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Fern's head.
"And Stark too."
Her hand moved slightly.
A pat.
Fern blinked.
"…Frieren-Sama?"
Stark froze for a second.
Then looked away awkwardly.
"…Didn't need the head pat."
Frieren ignored him.
"You both did well."
Fern's expression softened just a little.
"…Thank you."
Stark scratched his cheek.
"Yeah… thanks."
Behind them, Shamrock stood very still.
Watching.
Processing.
Then Fern's gaze shifted.
She noticed him.
"…And who is that?"
Frieren responded immediately.
"Don't ask."
Fern blinked.
"…Pardon?"
Before Frieren could say anything else, Shamrock stepped forward.
He moved directly in front of Fern with perfect posture.
His chest lifted.
His voice rang out.
"I am Shamrock."
A pause.
"The Knight King Shamrock."
Fern stared at him.
Shamrock continued proudly.
"The knight of Lady Frieren."
Another pause.
"Prepared to place my life on the line for her."
Silence.
Fern blinked once.
Then looked at Frieren.
"…A pervert."
Shamrock froze completely.
"…What?"
Fern repeated calmly.
"You're a pervert."
Shamrock took a small step back.
"Why am I suddenly a pervert?"
Stark quietly placed a hand on Shamrock's shoulder.
"It's okay."
Shamrock looked at him.
Stark nodded solemnly.
"This is what I deal with every day."
Shamrock's eyes widened slightly.
"…Every day?"
Stark patted his shoulder once.
"You get used to it."
Shamrock looked deeply disturbed.
Fern crossed her arms.
"So do we have to travel with him?"
Frieren answered without hesitation.
"I tried to chase him away."
Shamrock nodded.
"Yes."
"He refused."
"Yes."
Fern's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So he just stays?"
Frieren turned slightly.
"We travel until he gets bored."
A pause.
Fern looked at Shamrock.
Then back at Frieren.
"…That's your plan?"
Frieren nodded.
"Yes."
Fern sighed.
"…I don't like this."
Shamrock suddenly looked like he had been stabbed emotionally.
"…Why is she so cold to me?"
Stark patted him again.
"See? Told you."
Shamrock looked devastated.
Fern turned away slightly.
"This is going to be annoying."
Frieren ignored her.
Then—
Her stomach growled.
A very loud, very casual sound.
Silence.
Frieren blinked once.
"…I'm hungry."
Shamrock immediately perked up.
"I will handle this."
Fern glanced at him.
"…Huh?"
Shamrock reached into his bag and pulled out a wallet.
A very full wallet.
He opened it casually.
Coins stacked neatly inside.
Fern's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's a lot of money."
Stark leaned over.
"…That's more than Frieren has ever carried at once."
Frieren stared at the wallet for a second.
Then nodded slowly.
"…That is a lot."
Shamrock smiled.
"I will treat all of you."
Fern's expression shifted instantly.
Stark blinked.
Frieren stared for a moment longer.
Then—
All three of them subtly stepped closer to Shamrock.
Fern's voice softened.
"…Well."
Stark crossed his arms.
"…If you're offering."
Frieren nodded.
"…We can allow it."
Shamrock smiled brightly.
"Then it is decided."
Fern glanced at Frieren.
Frieren nodded once.
Fern sighed lightly.
"…Fine."
A pause.
Then Fern added, almost reluctantly—
"…Welcome to the party."
Stark shrugged.
"Yeah, welcome."
Frieren gave a small nod.
"Mm."
Shamrock stood very still for a second.
Then smiled like his entire life had meaning again.
"I will not disappoint you."
Fern looked away.
"…We'll see."
Stark muttered under his breath.
"This is going to be expensive."
And just like that, the party gained one very persistent Knight King.