Chapter 104

Chapter 104: The Promised Morning·

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Ash's casual answer left Sein feeling duped, and he couldn't resist the urge to step forward and shake him by the shoulders.

"A little? Just a little? Are you serious right now?"

His words sounded more like a frustrated complaint than a genuine question, but before he could press further, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble, as if something massive was approaching.

The sudden quake made Sein abandon his interrogation. Instead, he scanned the surroundings cautiously, his voice tense as he said without turning, "Are you really sure about this? Let me make one thing clear—I only know a little bit of the goddess's combat magic. Don't expect me to defeat some monster capable of casting a curse of this level."

"It's fine. I'll figure something out when the time comes," Ash replied nonchalantly.

"No... I'd better bring Frieren with me," Sein insisted, still uneasy. Despite Ash's apparent confidence, Sein couldn't bring himself to fully trust him. "With a magician as strong as her, I'd feel more at ease... even if she can only fight for five seconds."

"You really don't trust me, huh?"

"Do you have any accomplishments that would make me trust you?"

"No, but we're companions. Shouldn't you have a little more faith in me?"

"—Absolutely not! If you can't handle this, the village and I are both doomed!"

Ash sighed, exasperated but understanding. Although he could resist the curse, Sein's insistence on involving Frieren was more a sign of his nervousness than a lack of faith. To reassure him, Ash removed the barrier and gently lifted Frieren into his arms.

He chose not to explain. Sometimes, being nameless is more dangerous—just like how nameless great demons are often the most fearsome.

---

Sein, leading the way, clutched his holy book tightly and moved cautiously, his every step filled with tension. He tried to calm himself with deep breaths, his eyes darting around the forest in search of the source of the curse.

The ominous atmosphere thickened, and Sein's nerves were wound tight. He didn't have to wait long, however.

Soon, they entered a clearing, and Sein's eyes locked onto the true form of the monster responsible for the curse.

It was, as Ash had speculated, a subspecies of the Chaos Flower.

The creature's appearance was as bizarre as it was unnerving. A massive, vibrant flower bloomed at its top, its colorful petals glowing faintly. Below the flower was a network of twisting green vines and branches, resembling the legs of a "standing" octopus. Despite its plant-like nature and height of only two to three stories, it moved with an eerie grace, using its fragile-looking branches and leaves as makeshift feet to slide across the ground. Its body shimmered with a mirror-like sheen, amplifying its otherworldly presence.

"—The Goddess's Three Guns!"

Though drenched in cold sweat, Sein didn't hesitate. The moment the monster seemed to notice them, he opened his holy book and unleashed his most powerful attack magic.

Three radiant golden beams tore through the air, aimed directly at the core nestled in the center of the Chaos Flower's petals. The spell was precise, designed to strike the target with lethal force.

But to his shock, the Chaos Flower reacted with incredible speed. In an instant, it closed the small opening in its petals. Three of its broad, glossy leaves moved with surgical precision, intercepting the golden beams.

What happened next left Sein utterly stunned.

The golden light, instead of penetrating the leaves, was refracted. The beams scattered into countless fragments, ricocheting into the surrounding forest like a dazzling meteor shower, leaving trails of light in their wake.

"—How is this possible?! It can actually reflect magic?!" Sein exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.

He spun around, his wide eyes falling on Ash, who was calmly setting Frieren down beneath a nearby tree.

Ash, unbothered by Sein's outburst, adjusted Frieren's position before standing and brushing off his hands.

Seeing Ash's apparent lack of urgency, Sein couldn't contain his anxiety. He shouted, "—Stop taking your time with Frieren! It can reflect magic! Hurry up...!"

"Alright, alright, don't be so nervous. Didn't I tell you I'd handle it?" Ash replied, shaking his head helplessly.

At that moment, the Chaos Flower turned its attention to Ash. With surprising speed, it lashed out one of its massive, car-sized leaves in an attempt to crush him.

Ash didn't flinch. Instead, he calmly raised a hand and waved it as if brushing away a minor inconvenience.

Suddenly, a surge of purple lightning erupted from his fingertips, crackling like a violent storm. The tranquil night shattered under the deafening roar of energy.

Boom—!!!

The Chaos Flower's reflective, mirror-like leaf was obliterated in an instant. The destructive force of the lightning didn't stop there—it surged forward like an unstoppable tide, tearing through the monster's body with merciless precision.

---

In the blink of an eye, the Chaos Flower met an overwhelming and incomprehensible force. Its enormous form was utterly dismantled, shredded into unrecognizable pieces.

For Sein, the scene was utterly surreal.

Just moments earlier, he had been ready to mourn for Ash, assuming that using magic against a monster capable of reflecting it was tantamount to suicide. But the reality that unfolded before his eyes defied all logic.

The ground beneath the Chaos Flower caved in as its body was crushed into fragments and buried in the earth. The sheer force of Ash's attack compressed the monster like an octopus under a hydraulic press. Beyond the area of destruction, debris and viscera were scattered like leaves in a storm.

What remained was devastation: a crater filled with the remains of a creature that once radiated terror.

---

Sein stood frozen, paralyzed by shock and fear. Even though Ash was on his side, the raw display of power made Sein's body tremble uncontrollably. His mind struggled to process what he had just witnessed.

When Sein finally recovered from his stunned state, he turned toward Ash. His eyes were wide, and his voice trembled as he said, "Is this what you call... just a little magic?"

"I said some magic," Ash replied casually, as though he'd just performed a mundane task.

"—How can this even be magic?!" Sein exclaimed, rushing forward in disbelief. Grabbing Ash by the shoulders, he shook him vigorously. "I've never seen anything as exaggerated as this in my life!"

"Don't be so dramatic. Isn't this your first time out of the village? What kind of magic could you have seen?" Ash teased, his tone lighthearted.

"Even so, I still have common sense!"

"Really? But I told you at the start—I'm pretty capable. You're the one who didn't believe me," Ash countered, smirking.

"—No, no, no, no! This isn't even within the realm of 'capable'!" Sein protested, shaking his head frantically like a rattle.

Ash chuckled at Sein's exaggerated reaction, shaking his head. "Don't sweat the details. At the end of the day, it's your fault for doubting me in the first place."

"...I'm not interested in whose fault it is. Even if I was wrong, how did you do it? That thing could clearly reflect magic, right?" Sein asked, his voice tinged with lingering disbelief.

Ash offered a simple explanation: "All I had to do was exceed the threshold of its reflective capacity."

"...That's so easy to say."

"It's actually pretty simple," Ash replied with a shrug.

"...Damn it! He's one of those naturally strong types, isn't he?!" Sein muttered under his breath, his frustration clear.

"Well, I am considered strong," Ash admitted with a grin.

"I'm so jealous!" Sein cried, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Sein let out a deep sigh—not just a simple one, but the kind that spoke volumes of genuine envy. He felt so jealous that he half-jokingly wanted to bite a handkerchief to vent his frustration.

Seeing Sein's exaggerated reaction, Ash couldn't help but feel amused. Although he didn't think it was worth bragging to this wine-drinking, meat-eating priest, a smug expression crept onto his face, and he decided to provoke him further.

Of course, Ash didn't explain the mechanics of his attack. He hadn't mentioned how his magic (with its layered breakthroughs) or the oppressive force of his thunder spell worked. It wasn't necessary—pure magical prowess was enough to overwhelm.

After a moment of envy and awe, Sein finally regained some semblance of composure. While he couldn't completely recover from his shock, he managed to steady himself and stared at Ash with a newfound respect, as though his opinion of the man had undergone a complete transformation.

"...You're already insanely strong, aren't you? So, why do you keep pushing yourself so hard?"

"So that one day, I can conquer this world, of course," Ash replied with a playful smirk.

"What's this? Some grand declaration of world domination?" Sein couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "The world is so peaceful now—what are you even talking about?"

"Is it really peaceful?" Ash asked, his tone still lighthearted.

"Well... at least for the most part, it seems peaceful... probably…" Sein trailed off. As someone who had spent his whole life in the village, he lowered his head in thought, clearly struggling to reconcile his limited knowledge with the broader world.

Meanwhile, Ash remained unfazed. He casually picked up Frieren, still fast asleep on the ground, and hoisted her over his shoulder without bothering to wake her. Without looking back, he started heading into the forest. "I was just kidding. Let's get back quickly."

"...Of course, I know it's a joke," Sein muttered, sighing bitterly as he followed. "But coming from you, that kind of joke doesn't feel all that funny."

As they walked back, Sein couldn't help but stare at Ash's back. A thought crept into his mind—if Ash ever turned into a villain, who in this world could possibly stop him?

He couldn't come up with an answer. Ultimately, Sein could only dismiss the thought, chalking it up to a ridiculous joke.

"Hm... it's just a joke, right?"

Though reason told him it must be a joke, Sein couldn't shake an odd, inexplicable sense of unease. Still, unable to think of any way to resolve such a situation, he vigorously shook his head and pushed the thought out of his mind.

Since Ash didn't wake Frieren or Fern, the two slept peacefully through the night, aided by the lingering effects of the Chaos Flower.

---

Early morning.

As the sunlight gently brushed against Her face, Fern slowly opened her eyes, hazy with sleep. The warm glow of the sun brought a comforting sensation, as though dispelling the fatigue of the previous night.

Before her, the serene beauty of the forest unfolded like a living painting, bathed in the soft light of dawn. She stretched with a satisfied hum, savoring the moment.

Gradually, her mind cleared, and she remembered the events of the previous night. Looking around instinctively, her gaze landed on Ash sitting nearby, casually reading a book.

When Ash noticed her, he lifted his head and greeted Fern with his usual gentle smile.

"Good morning, Fern. Looks like you had a good sleep."

"Yes... Good morning, Master Ash," Fern replied, her voice warm and sincere.

The uneasiness from the night before had completely dissipated. Instead, an indescribable sense of comfort and gratitude filled her heart. A broad smile spread across her face as she looked at Ash.

This scene didn't escape Sein's notice. He glanced at Frieren, who rarely woke up early, and hurried over with an unusually serious expression.

"I have to ask... are those two really not married yet?"

"...What on earth are you talking about so early in the morning?" Frieren rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "At least act like a clergyman and stop thinking about such nonsense."

Still half-asleep, Frieren regarded Sein with a look that suggested he was beyond hope.

Sein, chastised, briefly doubted himself. Maybe the problem really lies with me, he thought, though the idea passed quickly, replaced by new emotions.

As the team's representative and its sole priest, Sein took on the responsibility of waking the cursed villagers who had fallen into an unnaturally deep sleep. When the villagers awoke, their gratitude was directed toward him, particularly from an elder sister who spoke on behalf of the village.

Her gentle smile and heartfelt thanks banished all of Sein's earlier worries and confusion. By the time they left the village to resume their journey, Sein's face still held a faint blush, and the corners of his mouth remained curved in a blissful smile. That feeling of happiness lingered for an uncomfortably long time, much to the irritation of the others.

"Master Sein, this is so gross…" Fern muttered with disdain. "A reliable master should be someone like Master Ash—upright and powerful!"

She cast a scornful glance at Sein before turning to Ash with a smile full of respect—and perhaps a subtle warmth that was difficult to miss.

Frieren, stroking her chin thoughtfully, decided to join the discussion. "I don't think either of them is normal... But, if I really think about it, Ash is slightly more normal."

Sein, however, was far too immersed in his elation to notice their cutting remarks. Caught up in his excitement, he enthusiastically approached Ash, slung an arm around his shoulders, and grinned conspiratorially.

"Hey—don't you think that big sister was amazing?"

"...How exactly am I supposed to answer that?" Ash muttered.

The pointed stares from Fern and Frieren behind him made Ash uneasy. He had no intention of getting dragged into this ridiculous conversation, knowing full well that any agreement would earn him the same disdain currently directed at Sein.

"Ah, they're just kids! Why are you so hesitant, Dad? A real man needs to be shameless!"

"...If you like her so much, why don't you stay in that village?" Ash retorted dryly.

"I want to! But—she's already married!!" Sein wailed, clenching his fists dramatically. He regretted it so much that he pounded his chest and stamped his feet.

"If I'd known, I should've left the village a few years earlier! Then I would've been the one to marry her!"

"You've really thought this through... but aren't priests forbidden from marrying?"

"Oh, come on! You might as well say priest can't smoke, drink, eat meat, or gamble, too!"

"...Fair enough. You win."

Faced with Sein's unrestrained personality, Ash was momentarily at a loss for words. Even he didn't know how to respond.

Given how outrageous Sein already was, the idea of him breaking another rule wasn't all that surprising. However, the icy gazes from behind made Ash increasingly uncomfortable. Somehow, just participating in this conversation had managed to implicate him in Sein's nonsense.

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