Chapter 105

Chapter 105: The Old Man Forgotten in Time·

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In the Middle Ages, nobles placed immense importance on their social status and dignity. Even in the relatively peaceful central regions, it was considered a capital crime for commoners to show disrespect to the nobility.

Border nobles, however, were a different breed. They relied heavily on force to establish their standing and placed extraordinary value on honor. For many among the warlike factions of these border territories, maintaining their family's reputation was worth sacrificing their lives.

Unfortunately for Orden, his son was present during the confrontation. Though he had initially steeled himself for revenge, the presence of his child ultimately led him to back down.

There was little choice in the matter. While Ash initially appeared to be a retired adventurer, his behavior told a very different story. He showed no deference to nobles, nor did he carry himself as someone who would surrender easily.

Under these circumstances, even if Orden and two others joined forces, there was no guarantee they could defeat him. Worse still, failure might invite retaliation, leaving Orden's family territory vulnerable to invasion or even annexation by a neighboring kingdom. Ash's demeanor and actions suggested that he held a high-ranking position in an enemy nation rather than the persona of a mere adventurer.

Despite the humiliation, Orden chose retreat over confrontation. Yet Ash, observing this sudden withdrawal after such fiery words, found himself puzzled.

While avoiding a fight might have been the best outcome, especially with Orden's child present, Ash couldn't help but feel something was amiss. Even after taking the initiative to leave potential trouble behind, the three people accompanying him now gazed at him with strange expressions.

Fern, in particular, was the first to break the silence. Once the carriage carrying Orden and his son disappeared, she exhaled deeply, patting her chest as if to calm herself. Then, she pursed her lips and turned to Ash with a pointed glare.

"Master Ash… is there something else you're hiding from us?"

"Hm? Haven't I heard this question before?" Ash tilted his head slightly, gazing skyward at a 45-degree angle. "I feel like I've answered it before, too."

"Because every time, you reveal something new and shocking that we've never heard of!" Fern's voice rose with frustration. "And it's always something incredible!" Her concern was palpable; if Ash kept revealing secrets like this, she feared her heart might not be able to take it.

Ash spread his hands in an exaggerated show of innocence. "I didn't hide anything intentionally. You just never asked, did you?"

"…You were in the military?"

"Yes," Ash replied matter-of-factly. "I even went to the battlefield and accidentally left someone with a scar."

His frankness, paired with his complete lack of reservation, left Fern momentarily speechless. She couldn't decide whether his answer was an attempt to avoid the deeper issue or merely his way of brushing it off.

Sein, meanwhile, stared at him with a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "You… you actually joined the army? You fought against someone as important as him? And there's still bad blood between you two? Are you not afraid of being hunted down? How do you have the nerve to just wander into someone else's territory?"

Frieren, who had been silent until now, shook her head with a sigh. "Let's get out of here quickly. I really don't want to get caught in some military pursuit," she said, already starting to walk ahead of the group.

Her tone betrayed her concern. Whatever Ash had done in the past, staying in this region for too long could spell disaster. Leaving as soon as possible seemed like the safest option.

The group's concern centered on one pressing issue: what if Orden refused to let the matter drop and sent a large force to hunt them down? Such a provocation could easily enrage Ash, and if that happened, the nearby fortress city would likely be reduced to rubble.

Frieren doubted that the fortress could withstand someone like Ash, who might even overpower her formidable magic. She wasn't naive enough to condemn soldiers for their actions on the battlefield; her priority was saving lives and avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.

---

After leaving the fortress city of Vorig, the group traveled swiftly until they found a suitable spot by the river to rest. While they relaxed, Frieren couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer.

"Ash, tell me the truth! What have you been doing all these years?"

Fern quickly added her own frustration. "We agreed to build an apple orchard! But now… have you gone and become a general or something?" She seemed certain that Ash was hiding something from her.

Sein, still unsettled by the earlier encounter, shuddered as he recalled the noble youth's hostile gaze. "What have you done? I thought for sure I was about to lose my head!"

Ash held up a hand to calm the barrage of questions. "Wait a minute, all of you. You're hitting me with so many questions at once—where do I even start? And Sein, your panic isn't even my problem! Honestly, I'm more shocked by your behavior than anything else."

He glanced at Frieren and, with a wry grin, couldn't resist commenting. "Speaking of shock… Sein, you're definitely the most uninhibited person I've ever met."

"…And you're the most reckless person I've ever met," Frieren retorted without hesitation, clearly unimpressed. "The Vorig family is known for being rude and unreasonable. Since you clearly have a grudge against them, why would you walk into their territory?"

Ash tilted his head slightly, puzzled. "Is that really my fault? I didn't even know I had a grudge against them."

"...You make a fair point," Frieren admitted begrudgingly, holding her forehead in exasperation.

Ash's matter-of-fact response was frustrating in its simplicity. It was only now that he began to recall fragments of his complicated history, though his tone made it clear he wasn't entirely sure of the details himself.

Suppressing the urge to complain, Frieren sighed and pressed on. "Alright, then—who do you have a grudge against? Could you just explain everything at once?"

Ash shrugged. "I'd love to, but the situation… how can I even put it into words?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Ash gave her a wry smile. "Think about it. Can you remember how much bread you've eaten in your life?"

The unexpected analogy left Frieren momentarily speechless, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Sein wiped sweat from his brow, clearly struggling to follow the conversation. "Wait a second. What are you even talking about? Is this really a question?"

"Alright, let me try again," Ash replied. "Can you remember how many times you've lost money?"

"…Actually, yes, I can. But I also remember the times I've won!" Sein said triumphantly, as if he had uncovered some profound insight.

Ash chuckled and gave Sein an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "Very good. Go celebrate your victories. And maybe try not to gamble next time."

Without waiting for a response, Ash gave Sein a gentle push toward the riverbank. The motion sent Sein stumbling down the hill, nearly tumbling into the water.

"Well, at least that's one less question to deal with," Ash muttered under his breath.

But as he turned back, he was met with the unyielding stares of the two women. With a resigned sigh, he raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Fine, fine. I'll answer. Fern, remember when you asked about my past? Here's the truth: I know a few high-ranking officials in the Kingdom of Ester. Occasionally, I've helped them out. I'm not a general or anything, though. At most, I've been… involved in some significant matters."

Fern's eyes narrowed. "I thought there was something off about how you knew so much about Ester's monster army. So, you're not just an observer—you actually participated in all this?" Her voice rose slightly as realization dawned. "Wait… don't tell me you're the one who came up with that ridiculous plan!"

When she noticed Ash abruptly turning his head away, Frieren couldn't help but step forward quickly. Standing on tiptoe, she stared directly into his eyes.

Her youthful face, unchanged through countless years yet still holding a hint of childishness, now displayed an unusual seriousness. It was as if this matter would not rest until he gave her a proper answer.

Ash glanced toward Fern for assistance, but her expression mirrored Frieren's stern gaze. With no allies in sight, he sighed and gave up:

"…Fine. Actually, I am the leader of this plan."

"It's true?" Frieren's eyes widened in disbelief, while Fern's face twisted in visible worry. "Master Ash, why would you get involved in something like this?"

"For world peace, of course," Ash replied without hesitation.

"But you're clearly using monsters to fight humans!" Frieren retorted, her tone incredulous. To her, his reasoning sounded more like an excuse.

"True," Ash said nonchalantly. "But even if my methods involve such means, think about the peace this kingdom has enjoyed in recent years. When do you think this so-called witch will finally disappear?"

"...This…"

Frieren paused, caught off guard by his casual explanation. She thought carefully about his words and realized, much to her frustration, that he wasn't entirely wrong. For all the danger and bloodshed his methods might cause, the end result oddly seemed… beneficial?

It felt counterintuitive, but the facts supported his claim. She found herself momentarily speechless.

Fern, however, couldn't accept it so easily. "...Why didn't you ever say anything before?"

"My Lady," Ash began, his tone matter-of-fact. "Sometimes, when you're working toward a goal, you take on responsibilities without even realizing it. Isn't that the way of things? It's not like you'd go home and talk to your kids about your workday, complaining about every little thing, would you?"

"…I'm not a child anymore," Fern muttered indignantly.

"It's all the same to me," Ash replied with a smile, ruffling her hair playfully. Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking ahead.

Fern puffed up her cheeks in frustration. "...Master Ash, you're still hiding so much from me. You've never talked about your dreams or what responsibilities you carry. I don't know anything about you!"

Frieren, on the other hand, remained expressionless as she stared at Ash's retreating figure. "That guy… ran away again."

"Lady Frieren, tell me!" Fern demanded, turning to her. "What else is Master Ash hiding from me?"

"Me? Don't ask me. How would I know what's going on with that guy?" Frieren replied, raising an eyebrow.

"But haven't you known him for a long time?"

"That's true," Frieren admitted, "but even I know very little about him…"

Fern's sudden focus on her left Frieren feeling unfairly targeted. She had once tried to understand Ash better herself, only to discover how enigmatic he truly was. He seemed constantly wrapped in an invisible veil, making it nearly impossible to see the full picture.

At first, she thought she had all the time in the world to figure him out. Now, she felt too exhausted to bother delving deeper. All she could do was wait for him to reveal things on his own.

But there was one thing she now understood more clearly: Ash was influencing and reshaping the world in his own peculiar way.

Whether the results of his actions would ultimately be good or bad was still uncertain. Yet, from the current perspective of this kingdom, his efforts seemed to have borne positive results—for now.

---

For the sake of the Vorig family and the innocent people in the nearby fortress city, Frieren hurriedly pulled Ash and the others away, ensuring they left the Vorig family's territory.

They passed through the Kager Pass of the Kingdom of Ester and entered its territory.

During this journey, Fern kept scrutinizing the soldiers at the checkpoint, hoping to spot someone who might recognize Ash and reveal some clues about him.

Unfortunately, the soldiers stationed there had been replaced several times over the past decade, leaving her efforts fruitless. Disappointed, she let out a sigh.

Once they entered the pass, the group took a detour to a plain in a direction opposite the magical city. Frieren seemed particularly delighted during this leg of the journey, her long ears drooping slightly in joy.

Seeing Frieren like this, even Fern's lingering dissatisfaction from the past few days began to fade. A small smile crept onto her face as she remarked:

"...Lady Frieren looks so happy. That's rare."

"Well, I'm about to see an old friend~ I'd like to have a proper chat with him before he dies~," Frieren replied, her cheerful tone laced with casual morbidity.

Her words made it difficult for the others to respond. Fern and Sein exchanged awkward glances, unsure of how to react. Frieren, however, seemed entirely unbothered and continued muttering to herself:

"Maybe I should stay for ten years~"

"—No, only a week at most!" Fern interjected, her voice firm.

"Fern, you're so stingy," Frieren pouted.

"It's not just me. Lord Ash would find it troubling too, wouldn't he?" Fern replied seriously, turning to Ash with a pointed expression.

Caught off guard by the sudden scrutiny, Ash had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"...Isn't that a threat?" Frieren grumbled.

Despite her complaint, she noticed Fern's determined look and reluctantly nodded her agreement, unwilling to provoke any further displeasure.

Under this lighthearted yet tense atmosphere, the group soon arrived at their destination.

The plain before them was picturesque, resembling a scene straight out of a painting. Nestled within it was a quaint village that seemed plucked from the pages of a fairy tale.

Unlike the fortified walls of the Sword Village, this village's entrance was marked only by a simple wooden frame, lacking even a proper gate. There were no defensive walls surrounding it—only low wooden fences that seemed more suited to keeping children and poultry contained than warding off intruders.

At the village entrance, an elderly dwarf sat quietly on a stone. He wore a bright red battle robe and a knight's helmet. Beside him rested a short sword, standing guard like a silent sentinel.

The years were etched deeply into his face, his beard as white as snow. With his eyes closed, he seemed to be lost in a long, unbroken dream.

"Master Voll, it's been so long!" Frieren exclaimed as she approached him briskly, her eyes sparkling with the joy of reunion. Turning to her companions, she added, "Look! Just as I said before, doesn't he look like a seasoned warrior? Isn't he handsome?"

"...Who?"

When Lord Voll slowly opened his eyes, there was a flicker of confusion in his gaze, as though he didn't recognize Frieren.

This prompted Sein, standing nearby, to joke, "Isn't he just a confused old man you'd find anywhere?"

"You're so rude," Ash began, "Even I wouldn't call someone old—ouch!"

Before he could finish his retort, the old man suddenly swung his sword at Ash's feet.

However, Ash reacted swiftly, lifting his leg and stomping down on the blade before it could strike.

The force of Ash's movement drove the sword into the ground with a sharp crack. Master Voll, failing to maintain his grip on the hilt, was left staring at the embedded weapon in surprise.

Ash, meanwhile, remained calm, studying the situation thoughtfully. "Hmm… Ah! Did you try this same trick the last time I came here?"

"...Voll's tactics are as despicable as ever," Frieren said with an amused smile. The sudden attack didn't seem to surprise her in the least. In fact, she couldn't help but laugh. "But they've never worked on Ash!"