If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

"—It tastes awful! It really tastes awful!!"

"I'm really sorry I can't cook."

Truman’s shout echoed through the silent forest, along with Frillie’s barely audible displeasure.

The two escaped successfully.

Truman couldn't shake off the Black Horned Dragon. Carrying Freylian, it was difficult for him to escape quickly, especially since he was right under the dragon's nose.

So he played a trick where the light was out of the window.

Using stealth skills to conceal their presence, they hid behind a rock with Frillien, only relaxing completely after the dragon left.

It sounds simple, but in reality, Truman's heart was pounding in his chest, fearing that the dragon's keen sense of smell would detect their scent.

However, he was lucky in the end and managed to dodge the dragon and escape in the opposite direction until the dragon could no longer find them.

Then time returns to the present.

The two were having dinner.

After the tense and exciting survival exercise, the two felt hungry, and it was already evening. Continuing to explore in the forest would be quite dangerous, so they simply set up camp to rest.

This dinner was prepared by Frillie herself, but it was unexpectedly bad; even holding her nose, it was still unpalatable.

"Honestly, the golems I summon are better cooks than you."

"I know."

"……Um?"

"Because Truman's dolls always cook for us when we travel, I'm not good at cooking... Whether it's eating or traveling, Truman's dolls are always my tools."

"Didn't you say I disappeared for a year? How did you manage during that time?"

"That's what I ate to get through it."

Frillie pointed to the still steaming pot. Truman had clearly seen the ingredients added, but for some reason, the taste was horribly bad and disgusting.

"You're really amazing."

Truman truly admired him.

He's already a very accommodating person, whether it's work or daily life. I never expected there would be someone even more accommodating than him. It's terrifying...

"So you say that?" Frillian put down her chopsticks and looked at Truman. "You believe what I said?"

"I believe it."

Why?

"Because of your habits... whether it's the way you cut vegetables or the order in which you add seasonings, these details don't lie. I suppose I taught you those things."

"That's definitely true. Why did you notice?"

"I just knew it, it just came naturally."

Truman smiled slightly.

The firelight illuminated his face, radiating the same gentleness that had never changed... Frillian's lips unconsciously curled upwards.

It is very difficult to change a person's habits.

Especially those harmless little habits that can represent a person.

Frillie was convinced that he was Truman because of that unintentional little habit—a little habit that had been assimilated over decades of living together.

They had experienced countless escapes like the one just now. The fact that they were so adept at it even though it was their first meeting already said a lot.

"But I never expected to be the hero's companion. Could it be... that I'm actually very strong?"

"Hmm, very strong. There are only 12 magicians who can defeat me, and Truman, you are one of them... but that's in the future, not now."

"yes……"

Truman remained noncommittal.

He doesn't pin his hopes on the future, because he knows that only by taking each step firmly can he have a better future.

But he couldn't help but chuckle, and the suppressed laughter puzzled Frillie.

"What's wrong?"

"Because I think I've discovered a bug... no, an invincibility buff!"

"What do you mean?"

"You see, Frilian knows the future me, but the future me is in the past, and the present me is in the future. That is to say, the present me determines the future me, and the future me is then anchored to the past me... The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity!!"

Big discovery!

Truman was slightly agitated, even wanting to dance and express his joy. It's understandable; just like a scientist discovering something new, it's hard not to be happy.

Frillie tilted her head. "Sorry, Truman, I don't understand the connection between these two things."

"This means I won't die!"

"……Um?"

"Don't you understand? Since my future self has appeared in the past, it means that the me who hasn't gone to the past won't die no matter what I do! Frilian, do you understand!?"

He got a little carried away.

As Frilian looked at Truman, she slowly picked up the magic wand that was leaning against the tree, the red gem at the tip of the wand glowing slightly as she aimed it at him, poised to strike.

"...Friland?"

"Want to give it a try?"

"Try what?"

"Let's see if you die."

Frillie didn't have any special expression; she was very calm and composed, showing no malice or murderous intent. Although she was saying that she wanted to kill someone, it sounded so ordinary.

Truman couldn't help but shudder.

"I'm sorry, Frilian, I got too carried away. Please forgive me."

"Very good. It seems you understand."

Frillie put down her magic wand.

Truman also breathed a sigh of relief.

Startled by Frillie's words, his overheated mind cooled down. He let out a long breath, slapped his cheek hard, and became more clear-headed.

No, that's not how it works.

think carefully.

This is similar to a certain creative short film: even if the divination is 100% accurate and tells someone that they will live to be a hundred, if they jump out of the plane without a parachute, they will still have to spend the rest of their lives suffering in a hospital bed.

Truman won't die, but who can predict the future?

All I can say is stay calm and don't get reckless!

"Speaking of which, about the journey with the hero... no, never mind, don't tell me." Truman subconsciously wanted to ask about the hero's group, but quickly shook his head and refused, "It wouldn't be good if the grandfather paradox happened."

"You said that to me too." Frillian seemed to recall something. "I remember... it's a classic paradox in time travel, describing the logical problem of going back in time to kill one's grandfather and creating a contradiction within oneself, right?"

"That's right, you're absolutely right."

If you could go back in time and kill your grandparents before your father was born.

However, this action will create a contradictory situation:

You went back in time and killed your young grandfather. Since your grandfather died, there was no father, and without a father, there would be no you. So who killed your grandfather? Or, to put it another way: your existence means that your grandfather did not die because of you, so why did you kill him?

This is the grandfather paradox.

"Speaking of which, Frilian, have I told you about the Gate of Truth?"

"…………have."

"How can we go back to the past?"

"I don't know, you didn't tell me."

"yes."

Never mind, it's not important. Let nature take its course. I'm not in a hurry anyway.

"Haaah————"

It's getting late.

After falling off the cliff, encountering Frillie, and being chased by a dragon, Truman was exhausted.

"Go to sleep, Frilian."

"...It will be cool at night, here's a blanket for you."

"Thanks."

Truman wrapped himself in a blanket and leaned against a tree. Before long, his head began to nod off, a sign that he was about to fall asleep.

At this moment

Frillie suddenly spoke up and asked, "I have a question for you, Truman."

"What...?"

"A 50-year-old human woman, or a 500-year-old elf, which would you choose?"

"An elf. Even at 5000 years old, she is still... an elf... huff... huff..."

Truman could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep.

"yes."

As if she had finally confirmed something, Frilian put away the medicine bottle she had prepared from the beginning, then wrapped herself in a blanket, came to Truman's side, leaned against him, and slowly closed her eyes.

The two nestled together, a gesture that seemed practiced countless times, so skillful and harmonious, as if they had become one.