“The girl took two unconscious steps forward.”

  “Ch… challenge?”

  Her eyes flicked to the empty court, then back to Frieren.

  “‘Pfft… don’t toy with me.’ A breath slipped past her lips.”

  Kraft glanced at Frieren. “I don’t think she would play volleyball, Frieren… I don’t think she’s even interested in sports…”

  Frieren stared at Kraft for a moment. “Sports…?”

  “Ah, excuse me,” Kraft said, bowing his head.

  “No,” Frieren said as a flash of light came out of her pocket.

  “She will…” Frieren flipped the phone in her hands,

  to the girl, who

  gasped, throwing her arms into the air.

  “My phone!!!” the girl cried as she darted toward them.

  “When was the last time she broke her character like this?” A playful laugh escaped Kraft as he said it.

  “Break what…?” Frieren said, staring at Kraft.

  I really don’t know this world’s rules, she thought as she tapped on the phone’s screen.

  Once she tapped more than twice, the phone’s screen turned on, a faintly glowing clock.

  Interesting, she thought.

  Frieren’s grip on the phone didn’t loosen.

  For Kraft, Frieren looked unimpressed,

  but she was the opposite.

  The screen reflected faintly in her eyes.

  She touched the screen slightly.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Then the clock glided upward, vanishing.

  “INSERT PIN”

  Frieren blinked as she saw the rows of numbers.

  Seems like the dungeon ruins’ gates… Frieren thought as she stared at the sky.

  “Himmel always knew the way…” she whispered.

  Frieren tapped a random number.

  INCORRECT. Try again.

  The phone’s vibration in her hand felt like hollow echoes.

  “Oh…” Frieren didn’t move, but something in her gaze darkened.

  The girl’s grip tightened on the phone, but Frieren didn’t let go.

  “How dare you steal my phone? You’re not only an evil elf… but a thief!!”

  Their hands trembled between them.

  Frieren frowned when the girl pulled the phone with force.

  Kraft inhaled sharply, unsure whether to step in.

  The phone buzzed again: FACE ID ?

  Then the phone unlocked.

  Frieren didn’t resist, but she looked at the phone again—curiosity more than conflict.

  A picture of a girl with her mother filled the screen.

  The girl’s face flushed crimson.

  “J–Just give me the phone already!!”

  Frieren lowered her hands as the girl pushed backward.

  Interesting scrying stone… I want to get one like it, she thought.

  Frieren’s eyes lingered, quiet and distant.

  The girl swallowed hard, looking away.

  Frieren sighed, then turned to Kraft.

  “Alright, alright… I will get you one.”

  Then he bent close to Frieren’s ear, close enough that only she could hear.

  “Once you’ve done the job.”

  Frieren didn’t react, but her fingers twitched.

  Suddenly, the girl turned.

  “…O… okay… let’s play…” The girl stared at Frieren with a steel-set gaze

  “If you win… you will do whatever you want.”

  Then the girl stepped slowly toward Frieren.

  “But if I do…”

  “You should leave the island.”