Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Meeting Eisen Again: What else are you hiding from me!

________

The overlapping sighs caught the attention of both Frieren and Ash. They glanced at each other and, for once, shared a rare smile of mutual understanding.

This did not escape Fern's notice, and She puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. "What's this? You two... Are you ganging up to make fun of me? Aren't you the ones always stirring up trouble? Why else would I get so upset for no reason?"

"I'm sorry," Frieren said, her tone laced with mock contrition. "Now that I think about it, it's definitely Ash's fault."

"Actually, it's all Frieren's doing," Ash chimed in simultaneously.

Under Fern's accusatory gaze, the two—who had just shared a moment of camaraderie—spoke in perfect unison, though their accusations were directed at each other.

Fern's frustration gave way to a mix of amusement and resignation. She couldn't help but wonder about their dynamic. Were they friends or foes? Their relationship was baffling at best.

The trio continued their banter as they traversed the forest, the atmosphere light despite the occasional sharp remark.

---

Three days later, as they approached the foot of a mountain, an ordinary-looking cave came into view. Standing beside it was a familiar figure—a dwarf warrior clad in a horned helmet and a red cloak.

The moment Frieren spotted him, a bright smile lit her face, and her voice rose with excitement.

"—Eisen, I'm here to see you!"

The dwarf, who had been praying before a stone pestle, paused at the sound of her voice. He opened his eyes with a tinge of helplessness but didn't turn around.

"Your tone's completely different from someone who hasn't seen me in thirty years," he muttered.

"Actually, it's more like someone who hasn't seen you in three or five days," Ash quipped, glancing at Frieren with a smirk.

"Thirty years isn't that long, is it?" Frieren asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Yeah, just thirty years," Eisen replied, finally turning to face them. His gaze fell on Ash and Frieren, and his expression shifted to one of mild surprise. "And now you both show up together? This is rare. I haven't seen you two in ages."

Ash shrugged casually. "I was just passing by and thought I'd drop in on an old friend."

Frieren nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! That's what I thought too."

Eisen's expression remained impassive, but his tone carried a hint of sarcasm. "You two are the most ruthless people I know, and now you're pretending to be sentimental?"

Hearing this, Fern glanced at them curiously. "Ruthless? Lady Frieren, sure... but Lord Ash? Well, maybe a little."

"Why me?" Ash protested, frowning slightly. "I should at least be better than Frieren!"

Fern shot him a sharp look. "Don't you usually spend your days running the apple orchard? When are you even planning to leave it behind?"

"Things are going well there lately," Ash replied evasively, scratching his head. "It's not like there's a pressing issue..."

Fern sighed, her tone firm. "Then leave the vanguard matters to us, okay?"

"Probably..." Ash replied hesitantly, then turned to Frieren. "Anyway, with your level, do we even need a proper vanguard?"

"Not necessarily," Frieren admitted with a casual shrug. "But if we run into a dragon with high magic resistance, things could get dangerous."

Ash narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Don't think you can sweet-talk me into leading the charge. What's the real situation?"

Frieren's expression remained calm as she outlined her thoughts. "Realistically, we'd manage. It might just take a few extra attempts. But having a warrior like Eisen—or you—makes things much easier. Eisen, especially, can endure being bitten by a venomous snake or hit by a poisoned arrow without breaking a sweat. It's incredibly convenient. And since we don't have a priest in the group, warriors need to handle these problems themselves."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, yet her demands seemed unreasonably high. It was clear this was her ideal scenario—one that wasn't exactly feasible in reality.

After hearing Frieren's expectations, Eisen closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm too old now. I can't do what you're asking of me anymore."

"Didn't you used to get through everything with sheer willpower? Does willpower weaken with age?" Frieren questioned, clearly unwilling to accept his response.

"...My will hasn't changed, but my body isn't what it used to be. Willpower alone doesn't help much when the body gives out." Eisen's reply was tinged with a weariness that made Frieren's unrelenting expectations seem particularly unreasonable.

"Eh? No way!"

"...I only said that back then. You actually believed it?"

"Of course! No ordinary soldier could've done it, right?" Frieren blinked in surprise, stunned by this revelation after so many years.

Seeing her genuine belief, Eisen felt a small pang of guilt. He sighed, clearly exasperated with magicians who never understood the struggles of warriors.

"I feel a little sorry for misleading you, but... If you're thinking of fulfilling some 'last wish' of mine, it's too soon. And as I said thirty years ago, my body isn't what it was in my youth. Really... just give up."

"Wait a moment," Ash interjected, his voice carrying a trace of amusement. "Actually, Himmel only passed away a little over twenty years ago, not thirty. You two are remembering wrong."

"...That kind of detail doesn't matter. Whether it's twenty or thirty years, it's still a long time for humans," Eisen replied flatly, glancing at Frieren with a hint of meaning in his gaze.

Unfortunately, Frieren, who often missed subtle undertones, nodded thoughtfully but failed to grasp the deeper implication. "Indeed. No wonder Heiter called us heartless for not keeping in touch for a few decades."

"...Judging by your tone, you still don't seem to feel any guilt," Eisen said with a shake of his head, realizing there was no point in pressing the matter further.

He pivoted the conversation instead, gesturing towards the cave nearby. "Anyway, come inside. I'll prepare some tea for you."

"Since you insist, I won't hold back~" Ash cheerfully followed him in.

Eisen turned back briefly, his expression one of mild confusion. "...Were you polite the last time you came?"

"Come on," Ash retorted with a grin. "Do you even have anything here worth being polite about?"

"...Bread? Bacon?" Eisen listed after a long pause, clearly unamused.

"Not to be rude, but there's wine at the High Tower, you know. You're a dwarf—shouldn't you at least keep some? Even if you don't drink, I do!"

"...You've held onto that ridiculous prejudice about dwarves for years, haven't you? Most of us don't even drink," Eisen shot back with a sigh.

---

The two continued their light-hearted bickering as they stepped into the cave, leaving Fern trailing behind with a bemused expression.

Frieren followed close behind without comment, her gaze shifting between the two as they walked.

---

As they entered the cave, Fern found herself feeling somewhat dissatisfied with Ash's blunt remarks, thinking that even between close friends, some things were unnecessarily harsh.

However, stepping inside, she realized Ash hadn't spoken too unfairly.

The interior of the cave was... entirely untouched, completely unadorned. It was as though nothing had changed since the day it was carved into the mountainside.

The cave interior was stark and primitive, with rugged rock walls forming its boundaries. Scattered throughout were small, crudely dug alcoves housing flickering oil lamps. These lamps provided a soft, warm glow to the otherwise dim and unwelcoming space, mingling with various everyday items placed here and there.

Most of the items appeared to be handmade earthenware, and the furniture showed clear signs of amateur craftsmanship. The dining table and wardrobe were obviously constructed from local materials, haphazardly assembled without much care for aesthetics or precision.

The workmanship, to put it politely, was mediocre at best. It was doubtful anyone would willingly purchase such items. In fact, something salvaged from the roadside might actually be of better quality—at least it would have been properly processed to avoid splinters and rough edges.

To Ash, the overall setup resembled a crude, makeshift shelter like those seen in short videos where someone digs out a cave after being kicked out of their home. The key difference, however, was that while others dig in soil, Eisen had dug into solid rock.

As Eisen busied himself pouring tea, Fern, who had never encountered a dwarf before, couldn't contain her curiosity. Leaning closer to Ash, she whispered, "Lord Ash, do dwarves prefer the... primitive style?"

"Who knows? Maybe this is just how they are. After all, this guy's focused on earning money. Even if he's not at his peak anymore, most fighters wouldn't stand a chance against him."

"...You make it sound like I'm some kind of bandit," Eisen interjected, shaking his head as he approached with a tray of tea. Handing out the cups one by one, he turned to Ash with a raised eyebrow. "Speaking of which, I heard from the kid that you're running an apple orchard these days?"

"Yep, I'm a farmer now."

"...I almost forgot you know quite a bit about agricultural magic," Eisen muttered, staring at the tea leaves swirling in his cup. "But honestly... farming doesn't suit you."

"Actually, I farm quite often."

"I still can't picture it."

"My dream is to own a massive wheat field."

"...Wasn't it an apple orchard?" Eisen asked, amused. "This dream sounds like something you just made up on the spot."

"Ah, you caught me! Oh, I'm so embarrassed~" Ash replied, feigning an exaggerated shyness.

"If that's embarrassment, I'd love to see what genuine embarrassment looks like," Eisen sighed, shaking his head. His gaze then shifted to Frieren, who was quietly sipping her tea. With a calm voice, he addressed her: "Frieren, about what I said earlier... If you're planning to see me off like Heiter, it's too early for that."

"...You two," Frieren chuckled softly, tilting her head in nostalgia. "One of you is eccentric, and the other is stoic, yet you've kept up a steady correspondence all these years. But do you need any help from us? Since Ash and I are here, we could assist with anything that might be inconvenient for you as a warrior."

"...If that's the case, I'd like to see the notes of the great magician Flamme."

"Flamme's notes?"

"Yes. They're said to be located nearby, in the Faro Basin," Eisen explained slowly. "If possible, I'd like you to retrieve them for me."

The moment he finished speaking, Frieren's expression turned nostalgic, as though she were recalling something distant. Ash, however, seemed to already know what Eisen was referring to. After rummaging through his belongings for a moment, he casually tossed a book onto the table with a resounding thud.

"There you go—the Volame notes from the Faro Basin."

The abruptness of this act stunned everyone in the room. For a moment, even the air seemed to freeze as they stared at the book lying on the table.

After a moment of stunned silence, Eisen finally spoke, his voice filled with confusion. "…What is this?"

"You're not that old yet, are you? Don't tell me you're already developing Alzheimer's," Ash replied nonchalantly, leaning back in his chair. "This is the Flamme's Notes from the Faro Basin—the very one you just mentioned."

"…No, why do you have it?"

"Why wouldn't I? You were just looking for it on a whim, weren't you?"

"But… but Heiter and I combed through countless books…"

Ash raised an eyebrow, his tone casual as if explaining the obvious. "If you're wondering why I found it so easily, it's because I was there when Flamme hid it. Otherwise, how could I know where to look?"

Eisen was visibly taken aback, his usually composed demeanor shaken. But the real shock came from Fern, whose jaw nearly hit the floor. Her face morphed into an expression of disbelief far more exaggerated than Eisen's.

"The Great Magician Flamme… Isn't she the ancestor of human magic?! Master Ash, just what are you…?"

"Eh? Did I never mention it? Flamme is actually my senior sister. Well, she's sort of my master, too, but in terms of seniority, she's my senior sister," Ash replied as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

"—I've never heard that before!!"

The sudden revelation was like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere. Fern's eyes widened as if she were staring at something utterly incomprehensible. Her breathing quickened, her chest heaved, and her hands trembled in the air before she slammed them down on the table with a loud thud.

"What else have you been hiding?!" she demanded, her voice low and forceful, each word practically squeezed through her teeth. "Say it all! Say everything you haven't told us yet!"

"Alright, fine," Ash said with an exaggerated sigh, pretending to think. "Actually, Frieren is my niece. Did I ever tell you that?"

"No! How old are you even?! Is that how you and Lady Frieren know each other?!"

"Well, it's a bit more complicated than that…"

Fern's frustration boiled over as she tried to piece together the absurdity of his claims. Her skeptical gaze bore into him, but it was clear she didn't know whether to believe him or dismiss everything as a joke.

Meanwhile, the reactions of the others were starkly different. Eisen remained frozen, still processing the sheer enormity of what he'd just heard, his expression a mixture of shock and incredulity. Frieren, on the other hand, appeared entirely unfazed. Instead of engaging in the chaos, she calmly opened the book Ash had casually tossed onto the table and began flipping through its pages as though nothing unusual had happened.