Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Completely Contradictory Goals

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Noticing the silent longing in Sense's eyes as she sat on the ground, Ash was practically certain—though Serie's plan was straightforward, it had indeed succeeded.

Yet, despite the clear respect directed toward him, he couldn't bring himself to feel pleased for some reason. Instead, he still felt like Serie was scheming against him somehow.

But looking at the girl in front of him, who seemed on the verge of retreating into herself after being struck by Serie's harshness, he sighed, gently stroked her overlong hair, and told her solemnly:

"I have no reason to lie to you, right? And besides… you were frightened and almost got hurt. I think you should go up to her and ask for compensation."

"Is... is that so?" Sense looked at him blankly, her face filled with doubt, even as she hesitated. She couldn't help but ask, "...If that's the case, why don't you ask for compensation, Master Ash?"

"...Because even if I asked, she definitely wouldn't give it to me."

"Ah? Then why should I..."

"I'm different. If it's you, she'd probably give it to you."

"Probably...?" Sense stared at him, her mind struggling to fully grasp his words.

But Ash didn't answer. He simply patted her head, stood up, and started to walk out of the ruins.

Seeing him leave, Sense instinctively reached out, trying to stop him: "W-Wait! Master Ash, are you leaving already? But what about your injuries…?"

"I just remembered—I haven't fed the animals back at home yet. Go ahead and clean up the place as best as you can. A professional construction team will arrive soon anyway."

Ash suddenly recalled that he'd rushed out and hadn't left any dinner money for Fern. So, with a simple goodbye, he left, already preoccupied with thoughts on how to rebuild the damaged section of the branch—and how to prevent future expansions as much as possible.

The girl, of uncertain age, remained sitting there, gazing at his back as he disappeared.

　　.....

At his temporary residence in the city.

When Ash came back, he immediately noticed the little girl busily working with a damp cloth, wiping down the room.

The bedding, which had been left lying around, was now freshly washed and hung out to dry in the yard.

The cold northern climate had turned her small hands red, yet she continued her chores diligently, performing tasks beyond her responsibilities without complaint.

"It's like watching an adopted child, nervous about being abandoned, forcing herself to work hard, putting on a cheerful face, trying to prove her value..." Seeing Fern's efforts, Ash couldn't help but sigh.

And in truth, his assessment wasn't far off.

Although she couldn't clearly hear his mumbling, Fern looked up, having heard the sound, and asked instinctively.

"Welcome back, Master Ash?! - What happened to you? Did you run into robbers?"

Finally taking a good look at him, she noticed that he was covered in dust, with blood on his face as if someone had struck him with a hammer. She immediately rushed over in panic.

"It's just that I ran into a bully." Thinking about Serie's smug face, he was a bit exasperated but tried to brush it off. However, seeing Fern's worried face, he couldn't help but add: "...I'm used to it. Really, there's no need to worry about it."

"A bully? Getting used to it?" Fern picked up on his words, but without further comment, she calmly began wiping the blood from his forehead, saying softly, "It's really okay; this seems to happen often."

Fern's concern finally burst out as he shouted, "—This isn't a small issue, is it?! We have to go find the guards right away… No, we should go to the church first…!"

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to leave you some money for dinner. Sorry about that—I'll make up for it next time. Just come to me if you run short," Ash replied, pulling out two gold coins from his pocket with a hint of guilt.

Compared to Fern's rising panic, Ash, accustomed to battles and injuries, seemed completely unfazed. But his indifferent attitude, combined with his thoughtfulness, stirred up something warm and indescribable in her heart, like a mix of gratitude and frustration. Trying to hold back her tears, she pushed him forward and urged:

"—Now is not the time to worry about things like that! You're still bleeding, hurry to the church!"

"Alright, alright, I'll go. Just don't—"

"No 'buts'! Please, just hurry!"

　　...

With Fern's firm but frantic pushing, Ash finally found himself inside the church, where they saw to his wounds.

That night, when Ash settled down to rest, he noticed his quilt was filled with a faint but comforting scent of sunshine, reminding him of something long-lost. And nearby, tucked in the corner, was the faint outline of Fern's head resting close.

On that first night, Fern seemed a little shy and avoided his gaze, her nerves keeping her from looking directly at him. Yet despite her unease, whenever Ash took her hand, she felt a gentle warmth fill her heart and an odd sense of calm that washed away her worries.

The young girl, after spending most of her day doing housework, had grown exhausted, and gradually fell asleep with her head leaning against his shoulder.

Perhaps that quiet night had brought a subtle shift between them, creating a small, new closeness. Ash wasn't entirely sure, but he stroked Fern's hair gently and closed his eyes, letting sleep take him away.

　　.....

　　.....

As time passed, Fern's temporary stay in this magical city stretched on until more than half a year had flown by.

During these months, Ash's routine became one of early starts and late returns. He took charge of the reconstruction work at the Magic Association branch and often found himself spending time at Serie's library. Now and then, he would even head out of town to spar with Rivale, known widely as the bloody god of war.

After all, a warrior like Rivale, left idle for too long, would eventually find someone else to fight—and that could mean serious trouble.

"Just grab something to eat from the street vendors. This country is quite safe, so as long as you don't leave the city, you don't need to worry," he said, increasing her allowance a bit. Even though he had hired a maid to help look after her, Fern had naturally taken on much of the household work.

For a girl just six years old, she showed a surprising sense of responsibility, often handling things that even Ash neglected or overlooked.

One particular morning, as the soft, warm light of dawn filtered through her window, Fern rubbed her eyes and stretched, feeling the gentle sunlight rouse her from sleep.

The soft bed made Fern sleep soundly; it was incredibly comfortable, as Ash had taken the time to find a mattress on the street that felt just like the one in her old home. She could now fall asleep peacefully without needing Ash to hold her hand, though that left her feeling a bit lonely. Still, she didn't want to trouble Ash, so she kept her feelings to herself.

When she stepped out of her room, she didn't see any familiar faces around. It was still early—so early, in fact, that even the maid who stayed nearby hadn't arrived yet. Naturally, Ash wasn't there either.

"...Lord Ash is really busy with work," Fern murmured to herself, reaching out and touching his bed. The lingering coldness of the sheets told her he'd been gone for some time, which made her feel a little disappointed. But with a quick pat on her own cheeks, she forced herself to cheer up, then washed her face, ate the breakfast the maid had prepared for her, and hurried off to school.

Since her parents had found a magic tutor for her when she was younger, she had a good foundation in magic, so it was only natural for her to be studying at the city's magic academy now. Recently, she had even made two new friends at school… though, oddly enough, they quarreled often.

"But the teacher said that being able to argue like that is also a sign of a strong bond… Master Ash and I have never argued. Does that mean we don't have a good relationship?" Fern wondered to herself. The sun was just starting to rise, and the air on the street was chilly in the early morning. Fern hugged her hands close to her face to warm them as she pondered.

But soon, she stopped thinking about it, as she noticed the two familiar figures approaching. The girl with orange hair and twin ponytails, and the silver-haired girl with blue eyes, were bickering as usual, bringing a smile to Fern's face.

"Good morning, Connie, Rabinie," she greeted them warmly.

"Oh, Fern! Hurry and help me pin her down! This girl keeps yanking my hair! I swear, if she doesn't stop, I'm going to kill her!" shouted Connie, the orange-haired girl with twin ponytails, her expression dramatic as she wriggled around in frustration.

But Rabinie, the silver-haired girl, simply pushed her off, giving a calm smile as she greeted Fern, "Good morning, Fern. It's a beautiful day today, isn't it?"

"Yes, perfect weather for airing quilts," Fern replied without much thought.

"Quilts?" Rabinie glanced up at the clear sky, pondering for a moment. "You're right, actually… but…"

"But wouldn't a day like this be better for just having fun outside?" Connie added, seeming puzzled.

Fern, not giving it much thought, responded, "Well, Master Ash really likes the smell of quilts that have been dried in the sun."

"Master Ash…?" Connie tilted her head. "Come to think of it, I've heard you mention him before. He's family, right? Why do you call him 'Master,' though?"

"This…" Fern hesitated, a bit distressed as she fumbled for an answer.

Without missing a beat, Rabinie kicked Connie sharply, sending her stumbling forward. "Don't pry into other people's family matters. Isn't that one of the school rules? Did you forget so quickly?"

"—Ugh! You… you jerk! Of course I remember! But there was no need to kick me like that!" Connie grumbled as she brushed herself off, looking both flustered and annoyed. Realizing she might have crossed a line, her attitude softened a bit, but she kept mumbling complaints as she dusted herself off.

Fern quickly knelt down to help Connie up, and seeing Connie's grateful expression, she couldn't help but think about her own relationship with Ash. How should she describe it?

Technically, she'd been adopted by him… but if she didn't call him "Master," what else could she call him? Great-grandfather? Grandpa? Uncle…?

But judging from his appearance, those titles clearly didn't fit. Even calling him "Brother" felt odd.

The question troubled Fern until she finally arrived at the academy, and with the start of lessons, she managed to set it aside. As her teacher demonstrated magic at the front of the class, she watched intently.

"I'll work hard, so that when I grow up… no one will be able to bully Master Ash!"

Every time she thought of his bruised and bloodied appearance, her heart tightened. Fern whispered her resolve to herself, secretly vowing to put in more effort.

Because—what she wanted most was to be someone who could protect Ash.

Rather than worrying about their exact relationship, this was her biggest dream right now.

　　.....

When Ash finally returned home after a busy day, it was already late at night, the sky completely dark.

As he tiptoed into the courtyard, he noticed a warm light coming from the living room.

When he stepped inside, he saw an oil lamp flickering softly and Fern, curled up over a desk, fast asleep with an open book on the basics of magic beside her.

"...Was she waiting up for me, or did she just fall asleep while studying?" Ash wondered, feeling unsure. But as he gently picked her up, he couldn't help but sigh softly. "This can't go on, you know?"

While Fern often worried about how she might repay the kindness he'd shown her, Ash was frequently caught up thinking about who might be the best person to raise her.

It wasn't that he lacked compassion; on the contrary, he felt this way precisely because he cared. Considering everything, and knowing that this wasn't the first night he'd come home to find her asleep waiting for him, he was increasingly certain it would be better for her to grow up with someone else… someone better suited to care for her.

Because as time passed, Ash had come to realize that, beyond just providing for her immediate needs—food, clothing, shelter—there were deeper responsibilities: offering her emotional support, stability, even a future she could rely on.

Though he felt a certain attachment to her after living together for a while, he knew that finding her a true family, rather than being the one to raise her indefinitely, might be kinder in the long run.

This was advice he'd once received from Serie—a reminder rooted in his own past.

Moreover, he simply didn't have the time to be present in the way she needed. Hiring a maid to care for her seemed like it would only make her feel like a child left behind.

Because… when a child grows up with their caretaker always absent, don't they just become "left-behind"? Ash knew that from the perspective of her well-being, both physical and mental, this was far from ideal.

As the last descendant of a dear friend, he felt it was his duty to ensure Fern had a warm, loving home rather than a cold, empty room where she felt isolated.

Being a demon who had grown up alone, Ash could relate, if only a little, to how isolating such a life could feel.

After all, if he looked at the harsh environment in which many demons were raised, it was no wonder they became hardened over time. Even humans, if raised without connection in a similar way, would likely end up no different.

Ash believed deeply that a nurturing environment, with guidance and companionship, could make all the difference.

At least, that's what he had come to believe.

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T/N: Longest Chapter yet, Power Stones would be appreciated