A translut blue s floated silently before me, its faint glow barely noticeable against the warm firelight of the inn’s hearth. The words on the s pulsed softly, as if beio read them.
---
[gratutions to the Host for Awakening the Mage System.]
---
My breath hitched for a fra of a sed. My fingers, resting on the wooden table, twitched slightly.
This… isn’t normal.
I flicked my gaze toward Eisen aer, seated across from me, their ughter blending into the background noise of the inher of them reacted to the floating interface before me.
"They ’t see it," I realized.
I didn’t let any surprise show on my face. If this was real—and every instine it was—then I o figure out what the hell was going on. Fast.
Casually, I reached for my cup, using the movement to ceal the tension in my fingers.
Think. Analyze.
The s shifted, dispying more information.
---
[Starting Package Activated]
100-Year Lifespan Granted
Basic Spell Knowledge (Begiier)
Language Mastery (A and Moders)
Reward: Novice’s Grimoire (Fire and Defensive Basics)
---
I inhaled slowly.
"A hundred years of lifespan?"
That was already a massive deviation from Himmel’s inal fate. In Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Himmel had lived a normal human lifespan before dying of old age. This system was rewriting the rules.
Clever. Instead of granting me raw power, it was giviime. If I pyed this right, I could achieve far more than Himmel ever did.
I set the cup dowly, making sure my expression remained ral. My heart, however, was beating faster.
Before I could process everything, a voice—sultry, teasing—slithered into my mind.
"Mmm~ What a delicious rea. I was waiting for you to notice me, Host~"
A shiver ran down my spihe voice was low, seductive—almost hypnotic.
"What the hell…" I thought, my fiightening around the edge of the table.
"Oh my, you’re already so tense~ Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle… for now."
I swallowed.
"The system talks… and it sounds like a damn succubus."
I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. I couldn’t afford to look strange in front of my rades.
"You alright, Himmel?" Heiter’s voice pulled me back. The priest raised an eyebrow behind his spectacles.
I met his gaze evenly. "Just thinking about what es ."
Eisen grunted. "That’s not like you."
I forced a smirk. "Maybe I’m evolving."
Heiter chuckled. "Took you long enough."
I pyed along, taking a sip of water.
Keep it light. Don’t overpy your hand.
---
An Excuse to Test
By mid-afternoon, we left the vilge, following the familiar dirt roads that cut through rolling fields. The sky burned e as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the nd.
Frieren walked ahead, silent as ever, while Eisen aer bantered casually. I stayed at the rear, my thoughts occupied.
The system interface hovered in my vision.
---
[New Quest: Cast a Basic Spell]
Objective: Successfully cast Feuer (Fireball)
Reward: +5-Year Lifespan, Minor Mana Potion
Hint: Use the Novice Grimoire to aid visualization.
---
"So, it’s progression-based," I muttered internally. "The more I learn, the more it rewards me."
But there was a catch. The system didn’t teach spells directly—I had to figure them out myself.
I exhaled. "I work with that."
"We’ll stop here for the night," Frieren announced abruptly.
Eisen nodded, dropping his pack. "Good spot. I’ll gather wood."
"I’ll hahe food," Heiter added.
I g Frieren. This was my ce.
"Frieren."
She turned, green eyes settling on me.
" you teach me magic?" I asked with a straight face.
For a sed, the entire camp fell silent.
Eisen aer exged ghen—
"Pffft—!"
They both burst into ughter.
Even Frieren narrowed her eyes at me, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"Is he mog me again? Huff." She looked aretending to ignore me.
I smirked. "Guess that’s a no?"
Eisen spped my back. "Himmel, you? Learning magic? That’s a good one."
I forced a ugh. "’t bme me f."
But iy, I wasn’t joking.
---
Into the Woods
Uhe guise of cheg the perimeter, I ventured into the forest. The st of damp earth and pine filled the air as I distanced myself from camp.
The system s pulsed.
---
[Would you like to activate yrimoire?]
Yes
No
---
"Yes."
A ripple of light coursed through my palm. A leather-bound book materialized, runes glowing faintly on its cover. The title shimmered:
[Novice Grimoire – Fire and Defensive Basics]
Flipping it open, I found the spell I was looking for.
---
[Feuer – Basic Fireball]
A simple fire spell. Requires visualization, mana trol, and intation.
Intation: "Feuer entfache."
---
I extended my hand, fog on the spell diagram.
"Alright. Let’s see what I do."
"Mmm~ Your first time? I’ll be watg closely, Host~"
I ighe system’s sultry void took a breath.
"Feuer entfache."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
A small ember flickered at my fiips.
Excitement bubbled inside me. "It worked!"
The fme hovered, pulsily.
But then—it expanded.
"Too much mana—!"
The fireball fred, breaking free of my trol. It shot forward, colliding with a tree. Smoke curled from the charred bark.
---
[Quest plete: Cast a Basic Spell]
Reward: +5-Year Lifespan
Minor Mana Potion (Stored in Iory)
---
I exhaled, shaking my head.
"Not perfect, but it’s a start."
I studied the scorched tree, a small grin f.
"I learn. Fast."
The grimoire faded bato my iory.
I ched my fist.
"This is just the beginning… I’ll make sure to surpass Himmel."
