Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Mutual harm with Frieren: An unforgettable birthday on many levels

____

Fern apologized directly on Ash's behalf, but Ash, the person in question, couldn't find any joy in her intervention.

Faced with such unwarranted accusations, he couldn't help but feel bitter. There was context behind his actions, so he retorted with frustration:

"…I have seriously reflected on my actions! I even apologized when Flamme mentioned it. It's not like I didn't want to do better, but how was I supposed to find anything nice while stranded in the wilderness at the time?"

"Wilderness?" Fern raised an eyebrow skeptically. Although the name Flamme rang a bell, she brushed it aside and focused on the argument. Her tone was sharp as she replied, "Even if you were in the wilderness, shouldn't you have prepared the gift beforehand?"

"Something is better than nothing!" Ash snapped back, exasperated. Then he gestured toward Frieren, shifting the focus. "And if we're going to argue about this, let's talk about her! Frieren didn't give me anything at all!"

"That's not true," Frieren interjected in her usual calm tone. "Didn't I give you the stockings?"

Silence.

Fern's expression froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Stock...stockings?"

Ash groaned and held his forehead in his hand. "See? Compared to me, she's the strange one here! I remember those stockings. Do you even know how I felt when I had to exchange a gold ring for a pair of stockings that still carried lingering warmth and smell?"

"—Exactly my point!" Fern erupted, her face red with embarrassment. She turned to Frieren, her voice rising. "Lady Frieren, why would you give such a bizarre gift? That's completely inappropriate!"

"Is it strange?" Frieren tilted her head slightly, her expression serene. "But my master said men really like that sort of thing. Ash might seem upset, but I'm sure he was secretly thrilled. He might have even kept them… Maybe he still treasures them now? Hmph~"

Her words ended with a sly, self-satisfied smirk, her eyes narrowing mischievously.

Fern stared at her, dumbfounded. It was becoming increasingly clear that Frieren, in her usual straightforward and unaware manner, had no grasp of how odd her actions were. She had simply believed her master's words and acted accordingly.

While Fern couldn't fathom why Frieren's master would tell her something so ridiculous, she still couldn't stop herself from narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Ash. "Master Ash… don't tell me you really—"

"—Who do you think I am?" Ash barked, cutting her off. He looked genuinely horrified. "Don't look at me like that! I threw them away the moment I got them! Do you really think I'd keep something like that? What was the point of saying those stockings wouldn't wear out for a thousand years, anyway?"

Though his words were firm, Ash found himself glancing involuntarily at the black stockings Frieren still wore. He decided to let go of the oddity of such items existing a thousand years ago, but for the sake of his dignity, he turned his attention back to the ring in Frieren's hand.

"Compared to that, I clearly have more common sense!" He pointed at her, emphasizing his point. "Back then, I even told you to sell that ring if you needed money! And now you're still holding onto it, only to complain about me later. Sure, the gift I gave wasn't the best, but at least it was useful. Way better than a secondhand pair of stockings no one can even sell!"

"Secondhand stockings…" Frieren muttered softly, her expression unreadable as she held the ring in her hand and shook her head. "Isn't that a bit much to say? You always call me cold and indifferent, but this is the only gift I've ever received from a friend. How could I sell it? But you, on the other hand, just threw away what I gave you. If we're pointing fingers, you're the one in the wrong, aren't you?"

"—Can you think for a second?" Ash groaned, stepping forward and poking her forehead with his finger.

"If a normal, decent guy like me started keeping stockings you gave me, do you realize what people would say about me? Could you maybe consider my perspective for once?"

"Normal, decent?" Frieren's tone shifted, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "You're the same person who climbs over walls like some kind of rogue. Why do you care what people think of you now?"

"I already said it was an accident! Stop harping on it! Even someone as kind and gentle as I am would get angry after all these years!"

"Aren't you angry already?" Frieren countered dryly.

---

Faced with the sight of an elf who was usually composed but now brimming with subtle dissatisfaction, and a human who was loudly indignant, Fern—caught squarely between the two—listened to their heated back-and-forth. For a moment, she truly couldn't decide who was worse.

The two onlookers, who had been silently observing the verbal sparring, exchanged tired glances when Ash and Frieren finally stopped exposing each other's embarrassing secrets. With cold, disdainful expressions, they delivered their verdict:

"…You're both just awful. Honestly, stop making fools of yourselves in public. Even if you don't care about your own dignity, at least think of me, will you? Lord Ash. Lady Frieren."

Frieren's expression stiffened, clearly unhappy with the criticism. She muttered in a quiet, sullen tone, "…You're mad. This is all your fault."

"You're one to talk," Ash retorted.

"—Enough! Be quiet!" Fern snapped, her voice low and sharp, her patience clearly worn thin. She nearly gritted her teeth as she spoke.

"Ah… sorry," both Ash and Frieren mumbled in unison, finally silenced. They exchanged awkward glances, realizing they had pushed things too far.

---

The sky above was painted in vibrant hues by the setting sun.

A gentle breeze swept across the sea, carrying the salty freshness unique to the coast. Waves lapped rhythmically against the shore, each crash stirring up white foam that sparkled in the fading light. The soothing splashes filled the air, inviting a sense of calm and serenity.

Everything felt tranquil and picturesque—except for the awkward silence lingering at a dining table by the sea.

Frieren, her expression uncomfortable, scooped pudding into her mouth spoon by spoon. Fern, her face utterly blank, wordlessly consumed her cake. Meanwhile, Ash, visibly ill at ease, quietly ordered a smoothie.

Frieren's cold gaze cut into him as she spoke curtly. "Pay for your own portion."

"How stingy," Ash muttered under his breath, though he refrained from pressing further.

Frieren ignored him, her expression growing hesitant as she glanced at Fern. Finally, she lowered her head slightly. "…Fern, I'm sorry."

Fern blinked in confusion. "What's this about?"

Frieren fidgeted, seemingly gathering her courage. "No… it's just that I don't know you well enough to figure out what you'd like. But… here." She hesitated briefly, then pulled a small box from her pocket and held it out. "Happy birthday."

"Ah…" Fern's eyes widened as realization dawned. "It's my birthday today, isn't it?" She had completely forgotten the occasion until this moment. Yet, as she accepted the box, a smile spread across her face. "May I open it?"

"Of course. It's for you, after all," Frieren replied.

At the same time, she shot Ash a pointed look and gave him a subtle kick under the table. Her meaning was clear: Your turn. Get your gift out.

But Ash remained still as a statue, seemingly lost in thought.

Frieren's frown deepened. "Why are you daydreaming right now?"

"No… it's just…" Ash hesitated, clearly struggling for words.

"You didn't prepare anything, did you?" Frieren tone turned accusing.

"…We came in a hurry, but it's not quite accurate to say I didn't bring anything," Ash defended weakly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Frieren asked, her eyes narrowing.

"I have… this."

Under Fulilian's incredulous gaze, Ash slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out… a dried apple. His awkward yet polite smile did little to mask his embarrassment as he placed the humble offering on the table.

Frieren blinked, stunned into silence.

There was no helping it. In his rush to make it to the destination, Ash hadn't even taken the time to prepare a proper gift. Worse still, he hadn't even had the chance to scold Linie before getting swept into Fern's birthday plans. Now, all he had to show for it was the dried apple he'd forgotten in his pocket.

"You're the same person as the father of this child, right? But even he was worse than me back then…?" Frieren's voice trailed off, leaving her speechless. She had no energy left to respond to Ash's nonsense. Instead, she focused on the small box Fern had just opened.

Ash, on the other hand, glanced nervously at Fern, bracing himself for criticism. He leaned forward slightly, speaking in a low, apologetic tone. "Believe me, Fern, I was planning to buy something. If it's not too late… can I go get you a proper gift now?"

"There's no need," Fern replied, her voice calm yet resolute. "The dried apple you gave earlier is more than enough." She gestured to the silver bookmark and the headdress she had just unwrapped. A gentle smile formed on her lips as she added, "Besides, I already have these, and that's more than enough for me."

It was difficult to tell if Fern's reaction was unexpected or simply her nature. She didn't seem remotely upset. Instead, ehe carefully stroked the silver bookmark, her smile growing softer.

"Honestly, what matters most is that Master Ash remembered to come back today. That's more than enough to make me happy. And Lady Frieren, it means a lot that you want to know me better. I know you can be a bit oblivious at times, so let me just say this plainly: thank you for trying."

"You… you really don't mind?" Frieren asked, clearly surprised by her graciousness.

"Not at all. Lady Frieren might not understand human emotions very well, but that's okay. I've noticed her feelings are strongest when it comes to Master Ash."

Frieren glanced at Ash, her expression softening, though her words carried a teasing edge. "That's because this guy is the one I've known the longest, and the one who drives me mad the most often."

She turned her gaze back to Fern, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "But Fern, don't be too polite to him. You should get mad when you need to. If you don't, this shameless man will just pretend nothing happened."

Fern chuckled lightly. "Oh, don't worry. I'm aware. Still, for someone who's human, Master Ash can be surprisingly clueless at times. Do you think he's picked that up from you, Lady Frieren?"

"Could you not talk about people as if cluelessness is contagious?" Frieren sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. Yet her eyes lingered on Ash for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "That said, I've always felt that Ash seems… different now than when we first met. Or is that just my imagination?"

"Of course, it's your imagination," Ash responded, his tone casual. "Think about how many years we've known each other. It'd be weirder if I hadn't changed at all."

"Fair enough." Frieren studied him for a moment longer, but eventually shrugged, deciding not to press the issue.

Fern, however, couldn't help but wonder how long the two of them had known each other. For Frieren to call Ash her longest-known friend was intriguing, but the moment to ask passed quickly.

After finishing her dessert, Frieren turned toward Ash and Fern, her expression suddenly sharp. She glared at them with suspicion, recalling their earlier behavior. "You two didn't save me any of the dessert, did you?"

Her accusation sparked a brief, halfhearted exchange of blame between the two, but it was quickly overshadowed by the beauty of the darkening evening.

The sky, now soft and dusky, stretched endlessly overhead. Seagulls traced smooth, looping arcs as they called out melodiously. The waves whispered against the shore, their rhythm steady and soothing.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, its final rays painting the sea in warm hues, Fren found herself smiling. Despite the questions she didn't get to ask, she couldn't deny how much she had enjoyed the day.

The lively birthday celebration, though chaotic at times, left her with memories she would cherish forever. On her sixteenth birthday, surrounded by her favorite people, she tasted cake twice and shared laughter that filled the air. Though the day had been unforgettable for many reasons—some sweet, others absurd—it was perfect in its own way.

Later that evening, Ash, determined to make up for his earlier blunder, dragged a reluctant Frieren out to help him purchase a bracelet for Fern.

---

The next morning, the three of them set out together. Ash, having no immediate plans to leave, decided to continue traveling with Frieren and Fern.

Along the way, Frieren took the opportunity to spar with Fern regularly, helping her gain as much combat experience as possible.

However, unlike their usual aimless wandering, this time Frieren led them purposefully to a village that seemed oddly familiar to Ash.

"This is…" Fern asked as they reached the village entrance, unable to suppress her curiosity. "Are you planning to collect strange magic again, Lady Frieren?"

"No, this time is different," Frieren replied, shaking her head gently. Her expression was more serious than usual.

Ash, noticing her demeanor, spoke up with a slightly odd tone. "This is about the Corrupted Sage, Qual."

"The Corrupted Sage, Qual?" Fern repeated, confused.

Frieren turned to her with a sharp look, her gaze stern. "...Didn't you read the book on the history of magic I gave you?"

"Uh… this…"

"Magic isn't just about combat experience. I'll read it to you before bed," Frieren said matter-of-factly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"I can read it myself! I'm not a child anymore… And wouldn't it be better to just explain it now?" Fern protested, visibly annoyed at being treated like a child.

She glanced at Ash, hoping he might provide some clarity. "Master Ash, do you know? Who is this person?"

"The strongest magician in the Demon King's army," Ash explained, his voice steady. "It's said that 40% of adventurers and 70% of mages who faced him were killed by his magic. Beyond that, as a demon with an extraordinary sensitivity to magic, he has talents that humans can't hope to match. He can see through most spells at a glance, find their flaws, and even replicate them."

"So powerful…?" Fern murmured, awestruck. The sheer description made her tremble with both fear and awe.

"Yes, he's a complete monster," Frieren interjected, her voice calm yet firm. "The four of us once joined forces to face him, and even then, we couldn't gain the upper hand."

"Then… if he's that strong, what do we do now?" Fern asked, her unease beginning to surface.

"Don't worry," Frieren said with a reassuring tone, her confidence unwavering. "He's been sealed for eighty years, and during that time, his magic has been thoroughly analyzed. All we need to do is eliminate him immediately. And even if, by some miracle, he escapes, it won't be for long. There's no way he can truly get away."

As Fern's anxiety began to grow, Frieren's calm and collected demeanor brought some comfort.