Freedom, in essence, is the ability to live on your own terms and conditions. There are many factors that can make this happen, but financial independence figures right on top. Being financially independent gives you the wherewithal to see your plans through.
Imagine taking a break from work, but having to worry about the next paycheck instead of enjoying your downtime. Not planning and building an emergency corpus to fund your expenses for a few months means you are free to quit your job only in letter, but not in spirit. Having an emergency corpus in place would have meant you being truly free to enjoy your break.