Frieren: Serie's Apprentice

[Name: Commercial Law Compliance Implant Chip - Special Edition]

[Origin: Unknown]

[Effect: Chip contains embedded Type III XX Alliance Commercial Law Supplementary Package, used to override or upgrade commercial product operating standards within XX Alliance jurisdiction]

[(Special Edition: Modified by unknown power to ignore XX Alliance jurisdictional limits, can forcibly modify operating standards for any commercial product)]

"This is... the system making a move?"

Gut's speculation wasn't unreasonable—this item came at far too convenient a timing.

Taking it out from system space, he examined it carefully in his hands.

The chip's appearance quite matched Gut's stereotypical impression—a small black strip that felt weightless in his hands, without any flashy decorations. Even the text and logos imprinted on it had been deliberately erased, making it impossible for Gut to read any information from it.

"What are you looking at?"

The elf sitting nearby noticed the small object in her disciple's hands and asked curiously while enjoying her grilled fish.

"Nothing much, just an interesting little item."

"Related to this 'magical device' of yours?" Serie said, glancing at the heating Poverty Air Conditioner in the room.

"Exactly."

After a brief reply, Gut walked directly to the air conditioner, holding the chip while searching around the entire unit's exterior for an insertion port.

Even after pushing over the Poverty Air Conditioner and carefully examining every inch of its bottom surface, Gut found no insertion point.

Helplessly setting it upright again, only when warm air from the outlet hit his face did Gut notice this passage.

"This... no matter how I think about it, it won't go in, right?"

"But besides here, there doesn't seem to be anywhere else to insert it."

"Whatever, let's try!"

Gut gritted his teeth, gently pried open the air conditioner's outlet, and inserted the strip into the black tunnel between the white spaces.

The moment it was inserted, the strip changed from firm to soft, transforming into slightly hot light spots that merged into the depths of the air conditioner outlet.

The countdown timer on the air conditioner's top screen immediately stopped, and the entire screen flashed with gray-white garbled text.

After several seconds, the screen display returned to normal.

However, except for the air conditioner's operational effects remaining unchanged, both the fonts displayed on screen and the jumping numbers had changed considerably from before.

[Remaining Trial Time: 479:59]

[Unread Messages: 99+]

"How did the trial time suddenly become so much longer, and even the font looks much more proper."

Cautiously continuing to use the metal rod to operate the screen, after clicking on unread messages, Gut got his answer.

[Unauthorized use of paid fonts for display without user consent, fined 50% of user consumption for compensation (Detection: User currently has no consumption, punishing by minimum standard, user receives 100 consumption credit points)]

[Unauthorized subscription to 48-hour Diamond membership trial package (priced at 10 gold coins) without user consent, order invalid and requires tenfold compensation per regulations, thus resetting user trial duration to ten times original length, with standard 100 consumption credit points awarded]

[Unauthorized reading of user bioelectric information for registration binding without user consent, concealing registration process, according to commercial regulations, registration invalid and requires 1000 consumption credit points compensation]

**[Without User Consent] X99

Gut scrolled to the last message, finding that besides one [Welcome to XX Alliance Commercial Law Supplementary Package], all unread messages were penalties for Poverty Air Conditioner's violations.

Even roughly estimating, he could probably accumulate over ten thousand consumption credit points.

According to the new control panel's explanation, each consumption credit point could be used as one gold coin during purchases.

By Poverty Air Conditioner's consumption standards, he could probably freeload for a very, very long time.

Gut even felt slightly sorry for this scammy Poverty Air Conditioner, wondering how much it would lose in electricity costs.

Feeling sympathetic, Gut pulled out a gold coin from his purse, studied how to access the recharge panel, planning to reward it.

However, this action was seen by girl Sola, who was sitting by the air conditioner keeping warm.

After learning this magical "device" ran by eating gold coins to provide operation, she decisively pulled out five or six coins and placed them together, saying she wanted to feed "Mr. Device" so it would produce enough "warm air."

Due to the girl's sudden action, just as Gut tried to stop her, the gold coins piled on the control panel dissolved into golden light and were swallowed by the Poverty Air Conditioner.

The next moment, a notification popped up on the panel.

[Recharge successful, stored amount +4]

"Hm?"

Just surprised about why the stored amount differed from the number of gold coins input, several more triggers appeared on the tablet.

[Due to serious fraudulent behavior in exchange rates, per commercial regulations, full refund of user recharge amount plus tenfold stored amount compensation required (Due to serious nature and compensation not meeting minimum standard, will compensate per legal minimum standard of 10,000 consumption credit points)]

Gut: ...

Looking at the gold coins reappearing on the tablet accompanied by golden projection, Gut sighed.

Some scammers really deserved their punishment—showing them sympathy was purely wasting his emotions.

Returning the coins to the confused girl tilting her head, Gut explained: "Mr. Refrigerator's appetite was too big and he got stuffed, but couldn't digest it, so he had to spit it out."

"Is that so..."

Sola stared blankly at the bright gold coins in her hands, while Gut was called over by the elf.

By the campfire, the white fish soup on the rack had boiled. Gut thought his teacher called him over to drink soup early, but unexpectedly, the elf seriously asked about how long that "strange magical device" could continue operating.

"By reason, operating continuously for over ten days shouldn't be a problem. Teacher, do you have some plan?"

"Over ten days? That's sufficient."

The elf nodded. Seeing only her disciples and their families in the room, she didn't avoid the topic, picking up a wooden fish skewer to dip in ash and drawing on the ground while explaining.

"This is the Schwer Mountains."

"North of here, there's a small village called Sword Village."

Upon hearing Sword Village, several people in the room startled, obviously having heard this name.

"So the legendary Sword Village is actually in this place—no wonder ordinary people find it hard to locate."

Ross couldn't help sighing, while Hafka's eyes flickered.

As a well-informed noble member, although Hafka knew Sword Village was in the Schwer Mountains, past adventurers mostly stumbled upon it accidentally. Regarding its specific location within the mountains, it was quite vague.

Among everyone, only Zenn, who had been sheltered from worldly affairs since childhood, and outsider girl Sola were confused, not understanding what this place represented.

Unlike Zenn, who didn't dare ask due to social anxiety, the girl immediately raised her hand, asking what Sword Village was.

The elf glanced at Hafka—clearly, such questions didn't need answering from a great mage like her.

After receiving permission, Hafka consciously explained to his sister and Zenn: "The Sword Village we mentioned is the village that has always guarded the legendary Hero's Sword."

"Hero's Sword?" The girl was stunned, asking her brother: "Is it the one Lord Hero Himmel used to defeat the Demon King?"

"Mm, exactly. Moreover, according to legend, this is an extraordinary weapon personally bestowed by Lady Goddess to future heroes, entirely surrounded by holy radiance."

"Though when I saw Lord Himmel in the Royal Capital, I didn't observe these phenomena."

"Not seeing phenomena is correct, because Himmel couldn't take that Hero's Sword away."

"Ah?!!!"

The elf's sudden statement shocked everyone.

Since the hero's victory over the Demon King hadn't happened long ago, for people it was still vivid history rather than vague legend. If these words hadn't come from Serie's mouth, they would never believe a hero capable of defeating the Demon King couldn't draw a Hero's Sword.

Regarding her disciples' surprise, Serie wasn't unexpected. Instead, Gut's complex expression caught the elf's attention.

"What, don't want to try?"

"Since we're passing through here, and your close combat ability isn't weak, why not see if you can draw the Hero's Sword? It really is a fine weapon."

The elf's tempting words reached his ears. Although his teacher considering these things for him made Gut happy, this attempt should be skipped.

If his teacher had invited him on the way here, Gut would definitely try without hesitation.

But now...

Looking at the white talent trait His Gaze on his panel, Gut was unusually calm, determined not to visit any place with Goddess power remnants.

However, at this moment, both Ross and Hafka raised their heads, eyes sparkling with eagerness.

After all, they were still hot-blooded youths who harbored unrealistic fantasies about themselves.

Even knowing the probability was slim, they wanted to try. Since even the hero who defeated the Demon King failed, they wouldn't be embarrassed if they couldn't draw it either.

"Teacher, we want to try too."

Damn!

Gut covered his face with his hands and lay back helplessly.

Should have guessed—though not comparable to himself, Hafka also had some close combat training. As for Ross...

Someone who could centrifugally scatter grilled fish with bare palms had considerable brute strength.

Anyone with some martial prowess probably couldn't resist the temptation of drawing the Hero's Sword and would want to try.

"Teacher, how about you all set out with this mobile air conditioner while I stay here to guard the place and wait for your return?"

"I don't mind." The elf shrugged. "It was just a whim anyway."

After understanding Gut's meaning, Hafka also decisively chose to cancel, but junior disciple Ross, though saying he wouldn't insist, showed some unwillingness in his eyes.

Seeing this, Gut sighed.

"Let me be clear first—I'm just tagging along outside Sword Village, not going in."

"Good!" / "Thank you senior brother for accommodating us, sorry for the trouble."

One day later.

[Schwer Mountains · Outside Sword Village]

"What a wonderful experience."

Gut carried the mobile air conditioner, walking in the middle of the group.

Warm, gentle hot air dispersed surrounding cold. The Poverty Air Conditioner running at full power forcibly created a temperature protection circle on this frigid snowy mountain.

When cold wind carrying snowflakes drifted near the group, it first became moisture, then was blown away by warm air.

Even girl Sola, directly facing the outlet, had fine sweat beading on her forehead and wanted to unbutton her chest for cooling.

However, this action had barely begun before being personally fastened back up by her brother beside her.

Thanks to teacher Serie's unreasonably extensive magical perception range, when surrounding wind and snow calmed slightly, the group successfully reached their destination Sword Village.

Looking at Sword Village's entrance before them, Gut unloaded the Poverty Air Conditioner from his back, stuffed it into junior disciple Hafka's hands, then disappeared in a flash.

The village guards originally stationed at the entrance to warn against wild beasts descending mountains to harm people in winter welcomed the remaining group into the village. After noticing Serie's characteristic elf ears, they immediately ran to the village chief's room, telling her Lady Frieren had returned.

Some time later.

A gentle middle-aged beauty hurriedly emerged from inside. After reaching the door and seeing the visiting elf wasn't Lady Frieren, disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she still smiled and said to the distant visitors:

"I'm the 48th generation village chief. Welcome everyone to Sword Village as guests."

"Tsk—"

The elf clicked her tongue. "I've been hearing since earlier that you all seem to mistake me for Frieren."

"What, does she visit this village often?"

"Eh?!" The middle-aged village chief exclaimed. "Do you know Lady Frieren? Oh, I forgot you're also an elf, the same species as Lady Frieren."

"Tsk—" Serie slightly narrowed her eyes. Being grouped with that lazy elf Frieren was somewhat annoying.

Out of hospitality for distant guests and care for Lady Frieren's fellow species, the village chief invited everyone into her home and entertained them with abundant food.

"Guest, you mean you want your disciples to challenge whether they can draw the Hero's Sword?"

The beautiful village chief said with some difficulty: "But that Hero's Sword has already been taken by Lord Himmel."

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Outside Sword Village, there were some houses destroyed by wild beasts.

Living here for a few days would undoubtedly be more convenient than building a snow shelter or digging a cave.

After choosing a relatively well-preserved house for overnight stay, Gut picked up his staff and headed toward the wilderness.

After all, shelter was secured, but food was still lacking.

Fortunately, Sword Village was built within the mountains. Even in winter, walking out a bit would reveal signs of beast and monster activity.

"Swoosh—"

As the staff's transformed silver-white greatsword swung, a white-furred magic beast wolf that had been hiding in fallen snow, waiting to ambush Gut, was instantly cut in half at the waist.

Dark red blood splattered on the pure white snowfield as it helplessly let out dying howls.

However, looking at the weapon in his hands, Gut felt using it against these monsters and beasts lacked challenge.

How about trying bare hands? A good chance to see what level this body had been trained to.

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Powerstones?

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