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

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I really wanted to eat fish. When I saw such a big fish, I jumped into the river without thinking."

Frillie looked like a child who had done something wrong.

Truman did not scold her for this. In fact, he was used to Frillie doing this, even though the methods were different. She would do such things sometimes.

"It doesn't matter. But Frilian, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. My cheek just hurts a little."

Yes.

His face was swollen from being slapped by the fish.

When she pouts, she looks more like a fish.

It was only then that Truman noticed that, apart from her pouting lips being somewhat comical, Frillie's thin white shirt clung tightly to her skin because she had just jumped into the water, revealing her rosy complexion through her exquisite curves.

"goat."

Although Frillian said this, she made no attempt to hide anything. She was like a mature woman who had experienced many storms and didn't care about it at all.

however--

Truman glanced at it and then let out a snort of snort, which greatly offended Frillie.

"I'm sorry that the childlike physique didn't satisfy Truman."

"Lady Frillien, please put on some clothes!"

Philen ran over, clutching her clothes.

Although they were a little wet, Truman and Frillian put on their clothes, took the big fish they had caught, and headed toward the camp where they would set up their tents.

That evening they had a whole fish feast.

It tastes delicious.

Frillie looked thoroughly enjoying herself, seemingly finding the experience of being slapped in the face by the giant fish quite worthwhile. Truman somewhat agreed, but to prevent Frillie from doing it again, he didn't show it.

After dinner.

Frilian and Philon rested in the tent, while Truman cultivated outside. He maintained the flow of magic to a subtle degree, and the mysterious ball of light kept spinning, looking somewhat dazzling, until it finally couldn't hold on for half an hour and slowly dissipated.

"Lord Truman, what are you doing?"

"Philan, are you still awake? I am in meditation."

"Practice spiritual cultivation?"

"I'm training my magical endurance. I still haven't learned flight magic. Frilian said it's because my magical energy flow is unstable, and I can't output magic effectively and continuously, which causes my flight to go up and down and ultimately fail. I think she's right, so I'm practicing diligently."

"is that so……"

Philon nodded.

For a long time, the three of them often encountered obstacles in the wild that required taking a long detour and spending a lot of time, at which point they would choose to fly short distances.

Sometimes Truman uses magic to enhance his jumping ability, and other times he asks Frilian or Philon to fly him there.

"Disillusioned with me?"

"That's not true."

"It doesn't matter. Philon, I just want you to know that whether it's me, Frilian, or Haita, we all have imperfections. Individually, we're just ordinary people. But together, we become a group of heroes capable of defeating the Demon King. It's because we trust each other and make up for our shortcomings that we become so powerful... Although I say that, I haven't yet achieved any great feats of defeating the Demon King."

Truman chuckled self-deprecatingly.

It's a bit like a pretty but empty-headed embroidered pillow that only knows how to talk big.

Philon shook her head again. She didn't think defeating the Demon King was important. Rather, Truman, who saved her and gave her the chance to live, was more important.

"However, people are capable of learning, and even imperfect people can move in two directions."

"...Two kinds?"

"That's right. One way is like me, gradually working towards perfection despite your imperfections. The other way is to focus on perfecting your strengths, even if you have imperfections... like Frillian."

There is no difference between the two methods; they are simply different paths.

Moreover, neither is easier or simpler than the other.

That's life; there are no shortcuts. Like spiritual practice, you can only move forward steadily and surely to gradually improve your situation.

"So, Philon, which one are you?"

"I...I..."

After thinking for a long time, Philon shook her head blankly, unsure of what choice to make.

Actually.

He became a magician to repay Haita and to show her that he could survive on his own using magic; he stayed by Frilian's side because of his promise to Haita and because of Truman.

"This is probably the meaning of spiritual practice."

Truman leaned against the tree roots.

I looked up at the bright moonlight.

"Frilian isn't a very good teacher, and Philon might feel that she doesn't care about you, but actually, Frilian is just using her own methods to help Philon find the path she should take. Is it to continue to cultivate her strengths and become unmatched? Or is it to make up for her weaknesses and become more well-rounded...? It all depends on Philon."

"……I?"

"That's right."

Truman stroked Philon's bewildered head and said, "Of course, you don't need to be in such a hurry right now. The answer may come tomorrow, or it may take a long time. The best outcome is when things happen naturally."

"Um……"

Philon didn't seem to understand.

But this confusion is a good thing. It is because of this confusion that we want to find answers. Only by actively seeking answers can we change ourselves, just like Frillie embarking on the path of the hero again.

The next day.

After resting, the three continued their journey into the depths of the canyon. Soon, they arrived at the depths of the canyon and saw a giant red dragon dwelling on the canyon plain.

"That's a dragon..." Philon said, somewhat taken aback. "This is the first time I've ever seen one."

"The Red Mirror Dragon is quite large. Much bigger than the Black Horned Dragon we saw before, isn't it, Frilian?" Truman asked.

"Um."

Frillie nodded.

Her purpose in coming here was this dragon, or more precisely, the magic book in the dragon's nest, which was what she had been searching for all along.

Not only that.

This Red Mirror Dragon has already devoured quite a few adventurers; no matter what, it should be dealt with.

"Philan, let's go."

"Yes."

"Don't hit its nest."

Under Frilian's command, Philon unleashed powerful magic, swift, stealthy, and incredibly potent.

pity.

"It didn't work, Lady Frillien."

"Dragons are tough as nails. There's no other way, run!"

As she spoke, Frillie leaned onto Truman's shoulder, who was already prepared, and let him carry her.

"Lord Frilian?"

Philon didn't understand why she did that, but she soon found out.

"Roar——————"

A deafening roar filled the air, and a massive red dragon dominated their entire field of vision. Phyllen was frozen in fear, unable to move. Truman scooped her up and ran.

—Let's grease the road with mud!