Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Target: The Imperial Capital·The Decision to Accompany· Fern's Unconditional Trust

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Although there were countless things Eisen wanted to complain about—such as Ash casually tossing aside the notes of an old friend that he and Heiter had spent years searching for—he chose to temporarily set aside his shock. Instead, he turned to Frieren, who had already begun flipping through the book, and asked:

"Does it mention anything about conversations with the deceased?"

"Yes, it does," Frieren replied, her gaze fixed on the pages. "It's said that at the northern end of the continent, she found a place called Heaven, where souls rest forever. There, she supposedly conversed with her former comrades. That's what's written here."

"Is it true?" Eisen pressed, his tone both hopeful and uncertain.

"…Who knows?" Frieren answered with a subtle expression. "She's always been a very casual person."

As if to deflect further probing, Ash interjected with his usual nonchalance. "Honestly, isn't it more likely that you just want Frieren to take on the Demon King again? You've been to these places before, so why are you only asking about this now?"

"This…" Eisen faltered, caught off guard. After a moment, he murmured, "I haven't really looked carefully… I only remember the Demon King's Castle. But maybe I should investigate more thoroughly…"

"When Flamme wrote this book, she was only in her thirties or forties. Earlier, she would've been in her twenties—far from her peak as a magician. Even at her strongest, she couldn't defeat the Demon King. How could she have seriously explored the heart of the Demon Tribe when she was that young?" Ash reasoned.

"…Maybe she had a special method?" Eisen suggested hesitantly.

"Who knows," Ash replied, shrugging. "But setting that aside… are you seriously considering speaking with the dead?"

Ash avoided commenting further on the speculation, instead turning his attention to the solitary dwarf. His curiosity was plain, though his tone retained its teasing edge.

"Actually… before you showed up, at the start of our adventures, Frieren seemed a bit down. She seemed like she regretted something deeply," Eisen began, glancing at Frieren, who was still focused on the book. He sighed. "We heard an old friend of hers had passed away. Since then, Heiter and I thought that, if given the chance, we'd help her say goodbye to her old companions. Elves live so long… almost everyone they care about dies before them, right? Even if it doesn't happen this time, it will eventually."

"Is that so?" Ash muttered, leaning back. "But… how many times have I 'died' already? It seems Frieren has mistaken me for a dead man more times than I can count."

Frieren, showing no intention of comforting him, closed the book with a decisive snap and looked up, her tone merciless. "…Honestly, I'm getting tired of your constant back-and-forth between life and death. Can't you just make a decision already?"

"Hey, don't be so unreasonable!" Ash shot back indignantly. "Do you think I enjoy being treated like I'm at death's door all the time?"

"Stop arguing," Eisen interjected, shaking his head. "Since I'm still alive, let's leave it at that… But next time—if the opportunity truly arises—I'll try my luck at seeing the dead and putting some regrets to rest."

Frieren, however, was quick to shift the focus. "Eisen, there's something far more dangerous brewing in the north." Her voice carried a weight of unease, and she frowned as she brought up the distressing topic that had plagued her thoughts: the corrupt sage and the mastermind who might be lurking behind the scenes.

The mention of this troubling news cast a heavy shadow over the room, and the atmosphere in the cave grew tense and oppressive.

After a long silence, Eisen finally spoke:

"…As expected, you're still determined to head north, even if it's not for the elusive soul resting place."

"Well… it is indeed necessary to investigate the north," Frieren replied calmly.

"But venturing deep into the heart of the demon clan is extremely dangerous. If possible, it might be better to let the two major northern nations handle the investigation." Eisen stroked his beard thoughtfully and offered his advice. "It's hard to say what the emperor's stance might be, but the three generations of kings in the Kingdom of Ester are world-renowned for their wisdom. Surely, they would listen to someone like you, who once saved the world."

"The kings of Ester?" Frieren echoed with genuine admiration. "Yes, they are remarkable. How did they manage it? Three consecutive generations of monarchs, each one exceptional, with the vision and skill to continuously improve national policies. For nearly a century, their leadership has allowed the kingdom to grow and thrive without pause. They've upheld the will of their ancestors so thoroughly… I'd love to see their kingdom firsthand if I ever get the chance."

While there are diligent rulers in many nations, those who can thoroughly implement policies and rapidly strengthen their countries are rare. For a kingdom to produce three consecutive monarchs of such caliber was something even Frieren, in all her years, had never seen before.

Though the conversation was full of praise for Ester's rulers, Ash found the subject oddly grating. His expression tightened as he unconsciously lowered his head, rubbing his temples as though trying to ease a sudden headache.

Noticing this, Fern tilted her head and asked curiously, "Master Ash, do you not like that king?"

"…Should I say I don't like him? Or perhaps that I can't really say I do?" Ash muttered evasively. After all, he had been involved behind the scenes. What could he even say?

Eisen, watching him closely, suddenly said with earnestness, "Ash, if you don't have any urgent matters to attend to, how about protecting them as a warrior? Traveling with them would allow you to meet the kings of Ester and the Empire. Once you reach the Imperial Capital, it should all be straightforward. That wouldn't take too long, right?"

"…The Imperial Capital?" Ash repeated, his tone thoughtful.

Eisen's words stirred something in him, pulling him into deep contemplation.

Reaching the Imperial Capital and meeting the emperor—a ruler notorious for living in seclusion and taking extreme measures to avoid assassination—would not be an easy task. An outsider attempting to gain an audience was almost impossible. The idea of sneaking in to confront the emperor directly crossed his mind, but it seemed impractical.

However, traveling with Frieren presented a unique opportunity. If he could bypass the imperial guards and infiltrate the heart of the Imperial City, taking out the emperor wouldn't be insurmountable. The real challenge would be ensuring Frieren and Fern weren't implicated in his actions.

Still, this wasn't an issue that needed immediate resolution. He could ponder the details and make a final decision along the way. The journey itself would provide time to think and prepare.

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On this vast supercontinent—long and narrow, wider at the northern end and tapering toward the south—the northern region was larger than the central and southern regions combined. Fortunately, they were currently near the edge of the central region, close to the north. The journey wouldn't take too much time.

And spending more time with Fern and the others wasn't such a bad idea, Ash thought, finally letting himself relax a little.

After a long moment of thought, Ash finally arrived at his answer. With a smile, he looked at the three pairs of expectant eyes fixed on him, slammed the table with an air of determination, and declared:

"—Of course I will help! One of you is a child I watched grow up, and the other is my old friend. How could I possibly refuse you?"

"Thank you for your kindness, but…" Fern narrowed her eyes suspiciously at his serious expression. "Master Ash, you've been thinking for quite a while. What exactly were you thinking about? Can you tell us?"

"Uh, apple?"

"…Are you telling me that in your heart, apples are more important than we are?"

"Ah, no, no, that's not it…"

"Hmmm~~~"

Ash realized he had said something wrong and tried to backtrack, but the damage was done. Fern was already puffing out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, glaring at him like a child throwing a tantrum.

Feeling cornered, Ash turned his gaze toward Frieren, hoping for some help. However…

Frieren did not disappoint him. She simply kept her head down, engrossed in her book, deliberately avoiding his gaze. It was clear she had no intention of being dragged into this mess.

As for Eisen…

"…You all seem to have a wonderful relationship," he said with a resigned sigh, sipping his tea as if to detach himself from the situation entirely.

The awkwardness that followed was as excruciating as Ash had imagined.

---

Evening

Since Eisen's cave had never been designed to accommodate guests, let alone overnight stays, the three had no choice but to prepare for their departure.

"…You've all changed," Eisen remarked as he walked out of the cave to see them off. His gaze lingered on Ash and Frieren, his expression tinged with sentiment. "You never used to be the type to form close relationships, and now you have an apprentice and a child."

"Really?" Frieren tilted her head, her tone indifferent, as if the observation didn't concern her.

"The 'one percent journey' you once mentioned hasn't truly changed you," Eisen continued. "You're still stubborn, still reluctant to form attachments, and you never wanted to take on a disciple. So why now?"

"…Because those two shameless men, Ash and Heiter, schemed against me," Frieren replied flatly, folding her arms.

"Lady Frieren…" Fern looked at her in mild protest.

"But even if it was a scheme, their target was Fern," Frieren added, a faint smile softening her features. She raised her hand and gently ruffled Fern's hair. "So, I'm not dissatisfied."

Fern's expression brightened, her earlier gloom replaced by a shy smile. She glanced at Ash, clearly eager to hear his thoughts on the matter.

Even Eisen couldn't suppress his curiosity. "And you, Ash? Was your reason purely because she's the offspring of your friend?"

"No… To be honest, I don't entirely understand how I ended up taking care of a child," Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his head as if the question itself gave him a headache. "I know there are far more important things I should focus on. I shouldn't let myself be delayed, but… I just can't bring myself to leave Fern behind. I suppose that's all there is to it."

"…You want to grow apples again?" Fern asked, her tone laced with dissatisfaction and a hint of hurt.

"How could that be? How could apples ever be more important than someone like you, Fern?"

"Then what is it?"

"…You'll find out later."

"Why don't you just tell me now? You're lying..."

"It's not a lie. It's just..." Ash hesitated, then smiled as he tried to lighten the mood. "Well, Fern, what if—just hypothetically—I became a bad guy someday? If we ended up as enemies, you wouldn't need to worry about anything. Just follow your own beliefs."

"What kind of talk is that?"

"Well, you know, sometimes men get strange ideas, like becoming a great villain… or conquering the world. Standing against humanity in some way or another."

His vague and rambling explanation only earned a helpless and gentle smile from Fern, who sighed softly.

"Master Ash, you're already so old. How can you still have such childish, wild ideas?"

"I'm just saying, if that ever happens, would you stand by my side? Or would you choose to fight me?"

"Do I even need to think about this?" Fern replied without hesitation, as if the answer were the most obvious thing in the world. "No matter what happens, I'll always stand by Master Ash."

"Really? Should I say I'm surprised? Or maybe just relieved…"

"Why should you be surprised? Even if Master Ash occasionally does something wrong, you're definitely not a bad person. If you ever had a special reason for doing something questionable, there must be a deeper justification behind it. Either way, my first instinct would be to help you."

Her response carried a pure and unwavering trust, rooted not only in her understanding of Ash's character but also in the deep, indescribable bond they shared.

In truth, Fern couldn't even picture a scenario where she and Ash were at odds. Instead, the thought that he might doubt her loyalty seemed to upset her slightly.

Her unconditional trust touched Ash deeply. Unable to hold back, he hugged her tightly, his hand gently stroking her hair.

"—Even though I'm strict with you sometimes, you truly are a good child, Fern. I'm proud of the person you've grown to be!"

"W-what? All of a sudden like this..." The unexpected embrace caught Fern off guard. Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, a hint of embarrassment spreading across her face.

However, she didn't resist. She only squirmed slightly, appearing a little uncomfortable but not truly upset.

"…So, all this talk about becoming a villain was just an excuse to hug Fern, wasn't it?" Frieren remarked dryly. She watched them for a moment before adding with a sharp tone, "You've been ignored for a while, and now you're acting like a spoiled child."

Hearing this, Eisen opened his mouth as if to speak, but after a long pause, he simply closed it again and lowered his gaze. He seemed to sense the underlying seriousness in Ash's earlier musings but chose to trust his old companion and refrained from engaging with Frieren's blunt comments.

While Frieren's emotional awareness often seemed lacking, she wasn't foolish. She simply trusted Ash, her friend from the days of their youth, implicitly. The idea that he might genuinely do something evil never even crossed her mind.

After all, Ash often made odd jokes, and Frieren had long since learned not to take them seriously—or so she believed.

With this brief interlude behind them, the trio happily resumed their journey. It's worth noting that Fern's mood seemed especially bright. As they walked, she moved ahead of the group, holding her hands up with her palms parallel to the ground, waddling in a way that was both playful and amusing—almost like a cheerful little penguin.