Frieren 81

Title: Aura Wants to Act Childish

Though Frieren gained a new understanding from Heiter, she also felt that she and Fern should be able to complain about their strange jokes. But…

(Oh well, at least for now, let them have their fun.)

Watching the two talk cheerfully, though Frieren thought they were being rude as usual, she now only observed their banter with tolerance and a hint of helplessness, a faint smile on her lips.

After finishing their talk with Heiter, Ash and Frieren left the room. Then Fern entered with a smile, sat on the stool by the bed, and chatted joyfully with Heiter, talking on and on…

The remaining time seemed to be filled with happy days.

But as Heiter had thought, in just half a month… his life finally came to an end.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On a clear, quiet morning, Heiter passed away in his sleep. Frieren, the first to find him, immediately shared the sad news with the other two.

Fern naturally hugged Ash, sobbing uncontrollably in his arms.

As a retired bishop, Heiter’s funeral was surprisingly simple, per his wishes before passing.

Besides the three of them, only a few people and a priest from the nearby village attended. He was buried in the cathedral cemetery in town.

As a former bishop who once saved the world and could be called a renowned figure, Heiter’s grave was just an ordinary tombstone, without any extravagance.

The three attended the funeral but didn’t leave immediately like the others. Frieren stepped forward silently, pouring the wine she brought six years ago over the tombstone, fulfilling the promise she made with Heiter when Himmel died.

After that, the three packed their belongings and began their journey together. But… about two months after Heiter’s passing, once Fern’s emotions had stabilized, Ash used the excuse of important business. After confirming their travel route, he temporarily parted ways, planning to return for Fern’s birthday.

After all… Ash truly couldn’t patiently follow Frieren’s overly time-wasting journey.

But this led to a consequence—Fern was furious.

“…I feel like this is going to be bad. He left so quickly; am I going to be unlucky stuck here?” Frieren cautiously glanced into the distance at the purple-haired girl puffing her cheeks, sulking because Ash didn’t let her follow.

She also felt frustrated inside, unable to stop blaming the irresponsible Ash.

At this moment, Fern didn’t notice Frieren’s troubled expression, as she kept staring at Ash’s figure slowly fading and disappearing into the air.

She couldn’t help secretly vowing in her heart—when they met again, she’d be truly mad at him.

However, Ash had often left over the years… His reasons were usually casual, but they were probably used to it by now.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Whenever Ash left, he’d go to Strahl or seek out demons. Of course, he couldn’t tell them he was going to find demons or what he was doing.

Though he promised to protect Fern, even a biological father wouldn’t follow his child for life. As long as Frieren was there, it was fine if he slacked off a bit.

Meanwhile, in the Eist Empire, which Ash secretly controlled—in the castle in the capital, two demons, one large and one small, were now acting recklessly, not caring about being caught.

If asked why, it was because, over the past eighty years, everyone in the castle had been instilled with loyalty to him through scientific education, systematic training, information management, and other methods.

And just to be safe, he made them willingly accept Obedience Magic. So, even if they saw, it didn’t matter.

Upon arriving at the audience hall, Ash saw her—a pink-haired girl with two horns, sitting arrogantly on the throne.

In her hand, Aura held scales, casting Obedience Magic on a man pinned to the ground by knights, unable to move.

Though her height hadn’t increased over the years, and her face hadn’t changed, just looking at her face, she was a beautiful adult woman with an impressive chest.

Her height was a bit short, but that was tolerable. Her personality, however…

“Ara~ Isn’t this my big brother? Back again today? Still so much work~?” Finishing controlling the man, Aura immediately noticed Ash’s presence. A bright smile appeared on her face.

With many already loyal to him, the most important tasks still fell to Ash. Now, holding back a headache, he stepped forward: “…Don’t you ever think about sharing the work or something?”

“No, it’s your responsibility, right? Besides~” Seeing him hold back a headache, Aura spread her arms: “Though everyone in the castle was taught to be loyal to you and can willingly accept Obedience Magic, it’s thanks to me casting it that you can feel at ease. That means… I’m the greatest hero, aren’t I?”

“…Even so, you’re still… forget it.”

Initially, Ash wanted to ask her to try harder, but thinking of Aura’s personality, he gave up.

However, his disgusted look and immediate surrender hurt Aura’s pride. She dismissed her subordinates, frowned, and hurried down.

As Ash stopped in front of her, Aura stood on tiptoes, glaring: “—Since long ago, haven’t you been too rude to me?”

“And?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Yeah, but that’s not the point.” Ignoring Aura’s increasingly dangerous glare, Ash grabbed her horn and pushed her back: “After all these years, haven’t you realized? Besides, demons should grow too, right?”

“How dare you underestimate me…!”

“That’s not it.”

“…Really?”

“Because I only think you’re stupid, but you’re still very useful. So it’s not quite underestimating.”

“—Go die!”

Ash’s thoughtless answer chilled the atmosphere. Aura raised her hand, unleashing Zoltraak.

A dark purple beam shot out. But a light blue diamond-shaped shield in front of Ash easily blocked it. He glanced at the decorations around, shattered by the shockwave. Gathering gravitational lightning in his right hand, he swung it suddenly.

The Zoltraak beam shattered instantly, vanishing into a flash of light.

This sight made Aura, who hadn’t expected her attack to succeed but didn’t anticipate such a poor result, so angry she stomped her foot: “What’s that?! You said you kindly taught me this magic, but you have something better?!”

“It’s just ordinary gravity magic.”

“No! It’s definitely not ordinary! How could it shatter it directly?!”

“So you can tell? You’ve grown, Aura.” Ash stepped forward, slightly relieved, patted her head, and smiled openly.

“Isn’t that obvious? If I didn’t stay on guard with you, who knows what would happen?”

“…What about the sibling bond we promised?”

“You said ‘promised’ yourself, so isn’t it fine if I have a backup plan?”

“I never thought… you’re so heartless!”

“You’re not one to talk, are you?”

Ash brushed off Aura as she approached. He walked to the study, once the king’s, now his workspace.

Aura, initially full of anger, quickly calmed as he turned. Wiping her horn with a handkerchief where he’d grabbed it, she muttered glumly: “So using the sibling bond excuse still doesn’t work. Blaming him is useless too?”

“Of course! How long do you think I’ve known you? Using that trick on me now… what are you thinking?”

Glancing at Aura, Ash felt deeply frustrated. He didn’t understand why this girl, with a good face and body, had such a weird personality. Normal demons should be better than this.

(Is this my fault? Did I make her weird when she was young?)

Even now, deep regret lingered in his heart.

As Ash sat at the desk, opening important Empire documents he needed to review, Aura sat on the desk, swinging her legs freely and complaining childishly: “Ash, I’m bored~ Stop that already.”

“…Why tell me?”

“Help me find something to do.”

“If you’re bored, give me a massage.”

“No, that’s even more boring.”

“Then train your Mana.”

“Today’s training is done.”

“…Do a bit more.”

“No, I’m—so bored! Talk to me already!”

The pink-haired demon girl, as childish as Ash remembered, slapped his documents. Leaning on the desk, she stared at him unblinkingly, acting spoiled.

This made Ash, facing this strange girl for the umpteenth time, sigh deeply: “I don’t mean to say this, Aura, but you—”

“You’re talking about me!” Before Ash could finish, Aura cut him off unhappily. It made dealing with this childish, arrogant person difficult. But Ash nodded without hesitation: “…Alright, I am talking about you.”