"It was a swift battle. Those from the academic faction couldn't stop Frieren at all."
Greeting them at the entrance was none other than Sellen, an old acquaintance. Though some time had passed, her magical aura seemed somewhat stronger now.
Hearing this, Thops still looked around in disbelief.
"It's over?"
"Yes, the core of the academic faction has been purged. The rest are willing to submit. They're no longer a threat; the once-dominant academic cliques have been forced to open up. You saw it on your way here, didn't you? This place is more like a city now."
"Indeed, it will become a powerful engine for the revival of the entire lake region."
"According to Frieren's plan, the Academy is the Academy, and the city is the city. Mages shouldn't occupy too much space, so some residents will be brought in next. Would you mind?"
"Even I don't have much talent, so who am I to dictate? But knowledge should be widely disseminated."
Witnessing the burgeoning prosperity before him, Thops smiled.
The obsession with gaining the approval of those professors had vanished. They were nothing more than a bunch of worthless academic cliques. What was there to even look at?
They had failed, while his own magic was taking root and sprouting. Wasn't that proof enough?
It was a rare feat for a person to leave even one thing behind in their lifetime. In truth, he was already satisfied. Having gained the recognition of the Lord of Cinder, what more could he pursue?
However, Thops certainly wouldn't remain idle.
Sellen pointed ahead.
"Let's go. I'll take you to the new laboratory. She's waiting."
A moment later.
Everyone entered the Academy tower. The former discussion room had been converted into a large new classroom area. The corridors were much tidier, and the air held the scent of incense, completely refreshed, almost unrecognizable. A room's appearance is easily changed with renovations.
It turned out that once those pedantic individuals cleared out, the Academy was actually quite large, with many unused spaces.
Every time Frieren conquered an area, she would conduct a sweep. For example, after the academic faction departed, the previously suppressed new schools of thought flourished and developed rapidly.
She understood the kind of order people longed for.
For a closed-off place like the Academy, the first step was to break down communication barriers, then gradually cultivate new apprentices. A revitalized hall of magic would create vitality, just as was happening now: pushing open the door revealed a group of children with very similar faces, babbling as they learned magic. They appeared clumsy, yet their control was first-rate.
At the center of the group, being clustered around, was Frieren, conducting practical healing sessions one by one.
It was life energy!
Unlike her previous power, which leaned towards souls, this time she had mastered magic that acted upon life force.
The achievement of creating soul-healing magic was already considered the strongest form of healing. Now, by supplementing it with power over life, she had advanced even further. She was simply a genius.
Noticing the visitors, she said softly, "It's not that simple. It only appears effective because these children have good fundamentals. My research into the secret arts of life is still insufficient. I'm afraid it concerns the magical laws of the Lands Between."
She had tried various methods these past few days.
During this time, Frieren also occasionally returned to the real world, guiding Flamme's training while sharing her findings with her apprentice. The latter also felt it would be difficult to find a method of realization for the time being.
However, their approaches to solving the problem differed. The master felt she needed to find another Great Rune, while the apprentice thought she would research it when she had free time, even saying, "Since we have soul magic, we must have life magic to go with it," as if in a great hurry, which was inexplicable.
Flamme was currently the only mage with whom she could communicate normally and who possessed extraordinary talent. Even she had no solution, so they could only proceed slowly.
"Apprentice, you just need more exposure to the fundamental magical knowledge of the Lands Between. Study more, and you should find new avenues."
"That's true."
After nodding to Sellen, Frieren looked at the laboratory team.
"Long time no see, Professor Thops. Next door is the classroom I've prepared for you. It's mostly renovated. This area will be further expanded into a new laboratory and continue to operate. If anyone has any requests, feel free to make them."
"This is too much. Am I up to the task?"
"You'll definitely manage. Or perhaps, don't think of this as a reward. Consider it me hiring you."
"What do you mean?"
"Thops's Barrier has proven its performance in war. It should become one of the important factors in the differential competition between the Southern Army and the Royal Capital Army. I'm counting on it to shine on the Leyndell battlefield. What do you think, Professor? Continue to perfect it. Funding support will be ample."
"Alright. In my opinion, there are still many shortcomings. For example, it should weaken magic that possesses mass, have a wider rebound range, lower mana consumption..."
When discussing his area of expertise, his eyes immediately lit up, and he fluently listed the current deficiencies of the force field. Although it seemed devastating in Frieren's hands, it was actually her own skill that raised its upper limit.
Thops's idea was to secure the lower limit, allowing ordinary soldiers to have a means of resistance against magic, which was perfectly suited for the Southern Army.
Next came the trivial matters of moving things.
On the surface, the laboratory was merely conducting experiments on souls, grafting, Dragon Communion, and repulsion fields.
However, it secretly harbored another research project: Scarlet Rot.
From beginning to end, Frieren had never given up on studying the ecology of Caelid, though she hadn't delved too deeply. The work remained at the level of producing Preserving Boluses.
The research team was continuously improving and scaling up production in case of need.
Therefore, much of the laboratory work had to be done very carefully and under her supervision. Since she often stayed there, it had to be located there. After all, Frieren also participated; she was often absent but was the chief researcher.
It took a lot of bustling before everyone was settled.
Some dangerous items, such as grafting materials from monsters, were also moved out. Someone was already pondering how to use lobsters for the Grafted Scions. What kind of sight would that be?
"The Church of Vows battle proved the strength of the Dragon Communion adherents. We Grafted Scions cannot fall behind. We must bring the techniques of Limgrave to greater heights. Your Majesty, please allow us to hunt more monsters for materials... Of course, you might need to provide some healing."
"Alright, but I will not participate directly in the research. I'll only be responsible for saving the lives of failed subjects."
Although grafting techniques were a prominent field of study in Limgrave, Frieren openly kept her distance, letting them tinker on their own.
So be it.
Having an additional special corps was good news. Why not?
"Teacher Sellen, you're right. I probably need to find more magic books from the Lands Between. No, that includes various rare items too. I've been too busy lately and almost delayed my main business."
"So you're going to start traveling again?"
"That's right. Speaking of which, how much do you know about the Albinaurics? I hear they are artificial lifeforms. Perhaps there's some technology worth learning from."
"For you to ask that, the Academy's related information must be insufficient... Then I suggest you visit the Village of the Albinaurics."
"Village of the Albinaurics?"
"Actually, I don't know the specifics, but this village is related to the first generation of Albinaurics. Perhaps it can provide you with some ideas for the secret arts of life."
Hearing Sellen's suggestion, Frieren nodded seriously.
It was indeed time to go out and explore. Now that things were on track here, there wasn't much for her to do. It was better to explore. As long as the basic functions of the Academy were restored, the rest would fall into place.
"By the way, in your estimation, how long will it take for Liurnia and Limgrave to fully recover?"
"Very short, probably less than ten years."
"Ten years, so long!"
Coming back to her senses, Frieren shook her head. "Actually, it's not long."
Her frequent conversations with Flamme, watching her grow day by day, had nearly altered her perception of time. In reality, this was but a fleeting moment.
The world of game magic also had a certain flow of time. While the two lands developed on their own, her apprentice would also grow up. Perhaps she could help with researching new magic, becoming an academic worker sooner.
Additionally, it would take several years for the demon forces, who had suffered heavy losses at the Northern Fortress, to regroup. Only in the next large-scale conflict could she seize the opportunity to break their army.
That was fine too.
In any case, whether in reality or in the Lands Between, the next phase of the plan would be measured in years.
But Frieren still had a lingering concern: "Haven't there always been rumors about a Radahn Festival being held? Will General Radahn encounter any mishaps during this time? For example, enough to convene a Radahn Festival to besiege a Shardbearer?"
"If you miss it, you miss it, apprentice. A Radahn Festival with your participation will be the last Radahn Festival. Besides, I'd rather advise you to improve your fundamentals a bit more."
Sellen's words implied that she was no less than that demigod.
When the Radahn Festival happened wasn't important. What mattered was that as long as Frieren participated, it would bring an end, subsequently allowing for the annexation of Caelid.
But currently, Stormveil Castle's forces couldn't digest it, so it was better to wait.
Both her forces and the Lord of Cinder herself needed to recuperate.
Revival couldn't be achieved in a day or two. In the Lands Between, where the perception of time was dull, things were often measured in years.
It was still early.
Not many experts were participating in this Radahn Festival; the time wasn't ripe. On the contrary, by waiting for various regions to recover and for the support for the Tarnished to bear fruit, they could surely gather more powerful individuals for the next festival, giving her apprentice a better chance in the fight for the Shards.
That was why Sellen suggested observing the situation.
"Indeed, we can afford to wait, and we need to wait. The next priority is to repair the damage and eliminate the ailments left after the shattering of the Elden Ring."
Frieren always had a clear mind. Even without specific tasks, she could find goals.
She and Sellen together guided the work of the apprentices in the laboratory, getting the research team at the Raya Lucaria Academy on track. Henceforth, only periodic checks would be necessary.
As for Thops's research, it required concerted effort.
Although he had a talent for repelling force fields, his knowledge was too limited. It was difficult for it to be effective against certain special magics if he wasn't aware of them. Therefore, the master and apprentice duo had to give him supplementary lessons, at least to make the caster aware of such things.
Two days later.
The arrangements for the new laboratory were mostly complete, and the news had spread: they were researching topics including, but not limited to, soul magic, Scarlet Rot, and grafting techniques. Quite daring.
"Compared to what Stormveil Castle is researching, the Academy is still too timid."
Gradually, this evaluation began to circulate.
Everyone's impression of Frieren as a magic fanatic deepened. She wanted to experiment with everything, right?
Previously, the Academy was conservative and self-contained. Now, an outsider was unexpectedly more diligent than themselves. How could they tolerate this? Many mages also joined the research, vowing to contribute to the revival of the Lands Between.
After all, the precedent of soul healing was inspiring.
Just as everyone was fired up, Frieren, the role model, turned to another project: Albinaurics.
The Academy possessed the technology to produce low-grade Albinaurics, a type of artificial creature, even possessing some combat capability. They had always been regarded as useful cannon fodder for patrols.
Thanks to the academic faction's unsparing efforts to expand production, to provide expendable lives for their cowardly selves, the related technology had developed considerably.
Inside the workshop, Frieren carefully studied their structure.
Beside her, Albinaurics were constantly being formed from flesh. On the tabletop, there were bloody dissection remnants, and a group of mages in white coats bustled about, cleaning up. And on this side of the table, the silver-haired girl leafed through thick record documents.
"...The technical content isn't high, but it bears some resemblance to the Full Moon Queen's secret art of creating life."
"No, to be precise, it's manufacturing creatures, inputting commands into a piece of living flesh. But it's already very special. No wonder the Academy holds it in such high regard."
"Unfortunately, the manufactured flesh is too fragile, and I can't feel any compatibility with souls."
"It's not suitable for you."
Following Frieren's greeting, Melina's figure appeared beside her.
"So you intend to pursue the legendary first-generation Albinaurics? They are not entirely without a trace, but they may not be able to help you, because this technology itself has a generational gap."
"It doesn't matter. So-called research is about filling in the blanks. Since I know there are better Albinaurics in the Lands Between, I must meet them. If their defects are too great, it means the magical laws might not allow the direct creation of bodies, and I'll have to find another way."
"You really are persistent."
"Since I promised you, I must do it. Otherwise, how can I allow you to delay your own mission?"
"In your eyes, this is the price for me to temporarily not pursue my mission..."
"No, I'm giving you greater freedom of choice. With a body, you can roam the world freely, without always drifting with me."
When it came to communication in the world of game magic, Frieren was always simple, direct, and didn't overthink. If she had something to say, she said it. She had the confidence to trust and give her heart to anyone, simply for ease. Even if you backstabbed her, she'd just kill her way back at worst.
Therefore, Melina's matter was a promise on a small scale, and a matter of principle on a large scale. She wanted those who followed her from the beginning to live well; it was merely returning a favor.
Moreover, she was indeed interested in the secret arts of life.
What if she summarized it into a systematic body of knowledge and taught it to Flamme? The combined talents of master and apprentice might lead to even greater achievements, which was greatly anticipated.
Compared to Frieren's various thoughts, Melina was actually just purely grateful.
"You've worked hard."
Compared to ordinary Tarnished, this partner was too humane, more enthusiastic than the numb masses.
"You always take other people's affairs to heart, even if it means adding difficulty for yourself. You promised Ranni not to take the Great Rune of the Full Moon Queen, and you didn't. Yet now you want to research the secret arts of life. Isn't that even harder?"
"Because technology achieved through some item is not what I pursue. At most, it serves as a medium. Only by mastering it personally can it be reliable."
Anyone who spent time with Frieren would understand that she possessed many of the persistent qualities of a scholar-type mage.
Compared to the current trend in the Academy of lowering the threshold by relying on staves, talismans, wondrous physicks, and other means, she leaned towards the classical approach of understanding and mastering knowledge, which was also more solid and powerful.
To think someone would bypass the Great Rune of the Unborn and research the secret arts of life!
Melina saw the silver-haired girl take out an item: A Larval Tear.
She casually used such a precious item to begin combining it with the art of life magic, then, looking at the body of the nearby Albinauric, she began to sculpt a figure in imitation.
"Are you planning to experiment with creating a body from scratch?"
"Not just that. In my judgment, only a body with demigod-level resilience is worthy of your soul, so ordinary materials are not enough... At the very least, I need to mobilize the power of a Great Rune, like this, for example."
Frieren held up a shard of the Elden Ring in her other hand, and its power surged into the Larval Tear.
In an instant, a gale swept through the workshop.
The materialized magic felt like a slap across the face, sending some weaker mages flying.
They skillfully dodged, while those outside the workshop, unfazed, moved away. The disturbances Her Majesty had caused these past few days were numerous, far too common. You were the true experimentalist; if a new idea popped up, you had to show off your skills.
Even Melina felt a sense of pressure. As expected of power derived from the blessing of a Shard of the Elden Ring, even the performance of the secret arts of life was superior.
Come to think of it, the Tarnished had never used a Great Rune in battle so far.
So that was it.
According to her philosophy, external forces were just shortcuts and didn't count. Moreover, she was extremely wary of things concerning the great powers of the world, especially since she herself had a special flame within her body...
Suddenly, a cracking sound was heard. In a short time, the soft Larval Tear rapidly hardened and cracked, bursting forth with a large amount of life force.
Seeing this, Frieren's expression darkened as she tried to salvage it.
Unfortunately, it ultimately couldn't withstand the various powerful forces and withered at a visible speed... Wait! Suddenly, a cluster of flames appeared in her hand, the size of a fingernail, yet exuding a vast and boundless sense of profundity, possessing the immense power of creation, making one unable to resist want to prostrate themselves.
Crack!
However, she was a step too slow. The moment the flame ignited, the Larval Tear completely shattered into dust.
"The experiment failed. The material is too fragile; it doesn't give me any room to maneuver."
Frieren, cupping her chin, muttered, "I need a stronger Larval Tear, and it needs to be pre-processed."
"I hear this is the technology of the Eternal City. Is it underground?"
Realizing the other was asking a question, Melina nodded blankly.
"That's right, but if we don't defeat Starscourge Radahn, we can't go to the underground world."
"Just in time for the power of another Great Rune."
Then she wiped her hands, retracting all her power, as if it were just an insignificant failed experiment.
The mages beside her were still peeking with lingering fear, but she herself had already begun to calmly write records. As for the Larval Tear and a pile of bottles and jars lost during this period, they were simply not worth mentioning. Exploration always involved costs.
"Your Majesty."
Someone outside cautiously reminded, "After all laboratory teams are settled, Lord Edgar proposes a meeting to formulate a plan. Could you choose a time?"
"This afternoon."
Before embarking on explorations in the surrounding areas, the work of the higher-ups had to be arranged, and matters of governance could not be neglected.
"You should focus more on your responsibilities as a monarch. My little affairs here are not important."
Melina had originally thought that if she sacrificed herself, the Tarnished would make a big deal out of it. Now she understood:
You were naturally the type to stir up trouble, always unable to stay idle.
It was impossible to expect her partner to be content and law-abiding. This one just loved to grow stronger through exploring everywhere, and was happy to help others. If she sensed a quest, she would proactively approach, regardless of whether the other party was willing or not.
Frieren said with a troubled expression, "Affairs of state are too annoying. If only you could help me handle them."
"Don't try to pass the buck to me. There are some things you have to learn."
"I've already learned them. Since I know the process, I can delegate it now, right? In the Lands Between, power won't be lost just because it's delegated for too long."
Logically speaking, everyone's understanding of law was more inclined towards that of the demons: power was the core of everything.
Conversely, in reality, humans were ruled by nobles. Even those with great power operated within the system, perhaps related to lifespan... After all, a strong individual could at most dominate for a time, while long-standing families could provide stability and a safety net, thus forming a monopoly on orthodoxy.
Forget it.
She didn't care about the differences between the two sides. What mattered was that the Lands Between were simpler; if your fist was big enough, various resources would proactively gather around you.
"Can't you entrust it to someone else?"
"Only you are the person I trust most."
Then Frieren's eyes darted around before she added with meticulous precision, "And Torrent."
For some reason, Melina felt happy and almost laughed out loud.
"You should be wary of me, because even I don't know if that mother figure behind me will clash with you. What if we are forced to become enemies? Aren't you afraid I'll harm you?"
"So-called trust means being willing to bear the consequences. If you were to backstab me, it would be my own weakness. If I were strong enough, conflicts would disappear silently."
"The magnanimity of a king, that's what people like you are, right? Fine, let's just say you want to find a proxy for yourself, so you're trying to create a body for me."
"Since you've agreed, you should act proactively, for example, by learning soul magic to cooperate with me later."
"You anticipated this!"
Only now did Melina realize. It must have been after Frieren's experiment failed that she felt there was another crucial element she needed help with, such as strengthening her soul control to better integrate with an embryo like the Larval Tear.
This conversation had been under her control from beginning to end, firmly grasping the rhythm.
Although Frieren often seemed lazy about matters outside of magic, her intuition and wisdom were not to be underestimated.
Once one relaxed, they would fall into her grasp.
"...Alright, I'll learn. I hope nothing goes wrong. After all, I have a seal on me."
"That is something we must face together."
The silver-haired girl stretched lazily and said, "Let's go, prepare for the meeting room."
Her gradually normalizing behavior allowed those around her to breathe a sigh of relief. Her Majesty's intermittent episodes had finally stopped. Although, compared to the madness of other demigods, thinking she had an imaginary friend was a small matter, it looked strange.
What if that imaginary friend instigated Frieren to cause trouble? Or perhaps she was already doing so, given her constant efforts to make her friend appear, which had caused quite a stir.
Suddenly, the silver-haired girl looked around and sighed.
Those who felt her gaze felt their hearts tighten, a chill run down their spines, and fell silent.
"There's another reason. The sooner you appear, the sooner you can clear up the rumors that I'm mentally ill."
It's over.
Her Majesty's illness had worsened.
______________
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