"Frieren-sama's weakness…" Fern touched her chin and thought for a moment.
"I have no idea," Übel said, shaking her head.
She hadn't known Frieren for long. How could she possibly know her weakness?
Frieren's legend had been around for ages, sure, but her weakness definitely wasn't something people talked about.
"Don't look at me. I don't know either," Frieren said, shaking her head.
"That makes sense… If you knew your own weakness, you probably would've fixed it already. Weaknesses are the things you don't realize about yourself," someone said.
"Then what do we do?"
"Can't we get through?"
"How long are we supposed to fight our own copies?"
"Can we help?"
"We'd probably lose half our lives just getting caught in the blast."
"So what now…"
Frieren wasn't like the others. Her power was so absurdly far beyond normal standards that sheer numbers wouldn't solve anything.
If anything, more people would just be a burden.
The others were different. Against their own copies, working with teammates had been enough.
"I think… I might know Frieren-sama's weakness," Fern suddenly said.
"What is it?" someone immediately asked.
Fern looked at Frieren and smiled. "Something that'll make Frieren-sama's copy surrender very easily."
"Seriously?" Even Frieren didn't believe it.
"Then just watch. Frieren-sama and I can handle it. You all wait here."
"Will that really be okay?" someone asked worriedly.
"It'll be fine."
"I'm coming too," Übel said.
"…Fine," Fern agreed, even if she wasn't thrilled. Since they were already companions, there was no need to hide anything.
The three of them entered the final chamber together.
Everyone else could only wait outside.
It made sense for mages to hide their weaknesses. They all wanted to know what Frieren's weakness was, but passing the exam mattered more right now.
Inside the final boss room, there was only one figure standing in the center.
She was dressed in pale gray-white, and she looked exactly like Frieren.
"So that really is Frieren-sama's copy…" Fern couldn't help studying it.
"Don't get too close yet," Übel warned.
"Fern, what exactly are you planning to do?" Frieren asked.
"Relax, I'm just taking a closer look. I was wondering whether Shichen-sama would like this copy. It might make a decent puppet."
"…You don't need to worry about that. He already has that kind of ability," Frieren said.
"Really? Then has Shichen-sama ever made a copy of you?"
"No." Frieren shook her head.
"No? That's kind of surprising."
"Fern, you still don't understand Shichen-sama well enough. He wouldn't be interested in something like a copy. He only likes the real us." Frieren looked smug.
"…Of course I know that," Fern shot back.
"Oh? Then why did you just say that?"
"I just thought, with Shichen-sama's weird tastes, he might make a copy just to mess with people."
"When you put it that way…"
"But this copy really is exactly the same. It even perfectly copied Frieren-sama's figure," Fern commented.
"…What exactly are you trying to say?" Frieren asked expressionlessly.
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"So what if yours is bigger?!"
Frieren snapped and smacked Fern right across the chest.
It was like the air itself shook, and anyone watching might've sworn their vision wobbled too.
Frieren stared blankly at what she'd just hit, and despair filled her heart.
Why had she ever tried to fool herself?
"Frieren-sama, what are you doing?" Fern covered herself and glared at her.
"It's nothing. Don't mind me." Frieren waved her hand weakly, looking utterly defeated.
"?"
Fern looked confused. She was the one who got hit, so why was Frieren the one who looked devastated?
She turned to Übel. "What's wrong with Frieren-sama?"
"Don't ask me." Übel turned her head away.
She had a pretty decent figure herself, but compared to Fern, she was still no match.
Girls naturally compared themselves.
"And now you're acting weird too?"
"Enough. Just deal with Frieren-sama's copy already. We've wasted enough time," Übel said irritably.
"Fine. This is actually pretty simple."
As she said that, Fern walked toward Frieren's copy.
"Wait, be careful!" Übel called out instinctively.
Frieren also focused and watched her own copy closely.
"Relax. I know what I'm doing."
Fern stopped in front of the copy and raised her staff toward it.
Frieren's copy finally reacted. It lifted its eyes and looked at her coldly.
Fern's heart skipped a beat.
Compared to the original Frieren, who usually looked harmless and easygoing, this copy radiated pressure.
Its cold eyes held no regard for life at all, as if all living things were beneath notice.
This copy was definitely stronger than the original.
Fern was certain of it.
Even if the original and the copy had the same power, the original had emotions, instincts, and room for mistakes.
The copy didn't.
It had no feelings—only reason, only the optimal solution.
How could the original possibly beat the copy?
Fortunately, because it was a copy, it had also copied the original's greatest weakness.
Fern's staff began gathering mana. In the next moment, she cast her spell.
A phantom appeared before her—a man's figure.
"That's… Shichen-sama?" Frieren froze.
"What kind of magic is that? An illusion?" Übel asked.
"Yeah, more or less. It can create the phantom of whoever I'm picturing."
"You really do know a lot of random useless magic…" Übel muttered.
She'd already realized that during the first exam.
Things like making fire, cleaning, falling asleep quickly… none of it had anything to do with combat.
As for combat magic, Fern only used the most basic stuff.
And yet Übel knew perfectly well that she still wasn't Fern's match.
Fern had polished the most basic attack and defensive spells to perfection. She used them as naturally as breathing.
Fast, precise, flawless—like a veteran mage.
And yet she was still just a girl.
Was this all because of Shichen's training?
Übel knew Fern had learned everything from him.
"I also know a transparency spell. Want to try it?" Fern turned around and asked with a smile.
"…No thanks." Übel's face stiffened.
"You two can stop chatting. Focus on the important part. Fern, are you saying my weakness is Shichen-sama?" Frieren asked.
"Yes. Shichen-sama is Frieren-sama's greatest weakness."
"No way." Frieren gave a disdainful laugh.
"Then just watch."
Fern began guiding the phantom of Shichen toward the copy.
Something unbelievable happened.
The copy didn't attack.
It just stood there, staring blankly at the Shichen phantom as it approached.
Just like that, the illusion reached her with ease.
The copy still didn't move.
Frieren's eyebrow twitched. Was this for real?
Then the phantom of Shichen raised a hand and placed it gently on the copy's head, stroking it softly.
And the copy… actually closed its eyes and started enjoying it.
The corners of its mouth even lifted into a happy little smile.
"So it's real…" Übel stared in astonishment, then glanced at Frieren.
Her mouth was twitching too, and she looked like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"See, Frieren-sama? Everything is under my control."
"Heh… heh…" Frieren could only force out a dry laugh. Even she hadn't expected Fern's plan to actually work.
That useless copy—how could it actually lose to Shichen-sama's head pats?