Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Frieren's Little Regret: You Are Actually Scheming Against Me?!

_____

Though the heavy rain kept the air cold, being in Ash's arms filled Fern with a warmth that seemed to envelop her like the entire world's embrace.

To her, it was no exaggeration—right now, even if offered the entire world, she wouldn't trade this closeness for anything.

Without realizing it, the sadness and panic in her heart melted away. Long gone was the stubborn resistance she once felt as a young girl. Instead, she leaned into him, unconsciously holding onto him tightly.

As they stood in the rain, Ash began to think it wasn't wise to linger. He lifted her the same way he used to when she was young, gently settling her into the crook of his arms as though she were still a small child.

"Master Ash? What… what are you doing?" The sudden lift made Fern feel more embarrassed than alarmed, as she was concerned he might struggle under her weight, despite his magical strength, and suggest she walk on her own.

But, to her surprise, just as when she was younger, his arm remained steady and unshaken, holding her securely.

"Let's head back now. Staying out in the rain like this isn't good, especially since you haven't eaten yet. You must be hungry, right? I've already prepared a table of food."

"Well… if you say so…" At this point, Fern, unable to resist further, nodded and yielded.

Though she was much taller now, making it a little awkward to sit in his arms, and feeling quite shy, she quietly reached out, wrapped her arms around his neck, and rested her cheek against his. Her expression softened, becoming more relaxed than she'd felt in a long time.

Amid the heavy rain, she even closed her eyes. No matter how fierce the wind blew or how uncertain the future felt, right now, she had someone she could rely on completely, someone with whom she could reveal her vulnerability… and even, if only for a moment, act a little spoiled.

...

When Ash decided to forgo flying and walked down the hill in the rain, he finally returned to the cabin and opened the door. The aroma of food immediately greeted him.

As soon as he set the hungry Fern down, she—though reluctant to part—quickly released him upon meeting Frieren's surprised gaze. With a slight blush of embarrassment, she dashed off to the bathroom, concealing her emotions.

After a refreshing bath, Fern returned to the table, ravenously devouring her meal, forgetting any ladylike manners she might normally observe.

Frieren, meanwhile, sat at the table, watching Fern while propping her chin on one hand, then glanced at Ash, who was about to head for his own bath, with an amused look in her eyes.

"…You really surprised me. You managed to convince her to come down."

"I told you I would, didn't I?"

"Indeed… it seems you understand people better than I do."

"Oh, don't flatter me. If I couldn't manage that, I'd be a fool, wouldn't I?" Ash chuckled, shaking his head as he closed the bathroom door behind him.

By the time he emerged, Fern had already finished eating and even cleared away her dishes. Yet, there she was, still sitting at the table, her head resting on it as she looked at him with a small pout.

"…And what's that look for?"

The way Frieren's expression shifted, like turning a page, left Ash watching her in confusion. But Frieren only shook her head, choosing not to say anything.

Fern, still lying on the table, muttered aloud, "I thought Master Ash had cooked the meal."

"Are you saying Frieren's cooking isn't tasty?" Ash asked.

"No! It's just..."

"Just what?"

"From the atmosphere, shouldn't it have been Master Ash who prepared the meal?"

"Don't be greedy. Contentment is key," Ash said, patting her head gently. He gestured toward Frieren, still engrossed in deciphering the magic book, and added, "I'm already perfect enough. If I could also cook, how would someone as flawed as Frieren stand a chance?"

"Hey, isn't it a bit mean to talk like that?" Frieren glared at him in protest. But Ash simply chuckled and continued with his "lesson": "Anyway, that's the deal. A person has to learn to be satisfied with what they have."

"...But still, right now, I really wanted to eat something made by Master Ash."

"But life has its regrets~" he teased with a grin.

The playful banter between Ash and Fern eased the atmosphere, lifting the somber mood that had settled around them. Meanwhile, Frieren, who'd been somewhat forgotten in their exchange, couldn't shake the feeling that she deserved an apology for Ash's earlier jab. Besides…was she becoming the third wheel here?

And the thought crossed her mind—it might be better to just ignore him and leave him to grow old on his own. After all, if she didn't do that, she might get so angry at him that her own life would be cut short, and she'd probably end up dying even earlier than him. It was almost funny to imagine.

...

Although Frieren entertained the idea of giving Ash the silent treatment, she ultimately sighed, grumbled under her breath, and went back to decoding the magic book with renewed vigor.

Watching her, Ash felt a mix of guilt over the deception he and Heiter had maintained for so long. While he could understand why young Fern might not suspect anything, Frieren's prolonged obliviousness was harder to fathom.

If a spell for immortality truly existed, would a sage like Heiter be so resigned to die? Did he simply feel he had overstayed his welcome? Even if he could have been slain, surely others would fight over such magic. How could such power remain exclusively in Heiter's possession? The whole idea seemed incredibly unlikely.

But as he thought about it, he remembered Frieren's unwavering faith in a charm Flamme had taught her ages ago, believing it was a foolproof spell of attraction. She hadn't doubted it for over a thousand years. If he looked at it that way, he might just be able to keep her in the dark indefinitely. The thought amused him, and he couldn't help wondering how long it would take before Frieren began to notice that there was something... unusual about him.

Meanwhile, time slipped by. Heiter's life slowly ebbed away...

Fern, too, continued developing her talents. With a sharp mind for magic and a gifted mentor, her progress was steady. About a year and a half after her fall from the tower had left her barely able to walk—and six years since Frieren had come to live with them—fifteen-year-old Fern finally succeeded in hitting the rocks on the other side of the cliff with her magic.

Ecstatic, she immediately ran back to share her success with the elderly man who treated her like family. Heiter's laughter, full of joy, echoed through the room once again.

Just a few days later, Frieren completed her work on the magic book.

However…

"...There's no magic for immortality, no spell for resurrecting the dead, not even a way to extend a person's life," Frieren said softly, placing the fully deciphered book on Heiter's bedspread.

Despite the news, Heiter remained unexpectedly calm, as though he'd been anticipating it. He replied casually, "…I see. The reward for your efforts is in the table drawer; feel free to take it."

"…You knew all along, didn't you?" Frieren asked, suspicion edging her tone.

"Because if there were such a spell, wouldn't the sage have used it himself?" Heiter replied so matter-of-factly that Frieren was immediately perplexed.

"Then…why make me go through all of this?"

"You'll have to ask Ash about that," he said with a slight smile.

"Ash?" Frieren was taken aback, and as she recalled that scene from six years prior, her frown deepened. "Don't tell me—you both were plotting against me?"

"Though there might be some truth in that," Ash, who had been lingering by the door, interjected, preemptively defending himself, "it's not fair to those who were deceived, is it? How was I supposed to know you'd actually believe it and work overtime to decipher it? I even told you not to push yourself too hard."

"At the time, I thought you were genuinely concerned for my health!" she snapped.

"What are you talking about? You've been slacking off for years. Putting in a little effort isn't a bad thing, though I was concerned that the harder you worked, the more annoyed you'd get with us." He shrugged, hands spread in a frank admission of his initial intent.

Frieren ground her teeth in frustration. "After everything, that's your attitude?"

"Alright, alright, I admit I was wrong. I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head in apology before she could lose her temper further.

Heiter, watching them with a grin, raised his hand in solidarity. "Same here. If you're mad, feel free to take a swing at me."

"…How could I possibly do that? If I had to hit someone, it'd be this idiot," she huffed, glancing in Ash's direction.

"Hey, I'm over a hundred too, you know," Ash said, gesturing to himself in mock self-defense. Yet his youthful appearance made his words seem almost cheeky, which only further irritated Frieren. "Even if you were to pass away, people would probably breathe a sigh of relief," she shot back coldly.

Though she scolded him, Frieren held back from actually lashing out. After a tense moment, she finally exhaled, suppressing her irritation. "So, enough games. What are you two really planning?"

"Nothing underhanded," Ash replied with a soft smile. "Just wanted to repay a debt. What's truly needed now is for you to take Fern with you when you leave."

"Isn't this essentially asking you to take on a disciple?" Heiter added, chuckling. "She's more than capable now and should be able to help you in many ways. Now, you don't really have a reason to refuse, do you?"

"…You two really did set me up!" Frieren exclaimed, a mixture of exasperation and reluctant amusement in her voice.

"Haha~ Well, regardless, you two should set off tonight. As you can tell, I don't have much time left," Heiter said, ignoring her frustration. His usual cheerfulness shone through as he continued, "I don't want the child to go through the pain of losing someone close again. So, Frieren… I'm entrusting her to you. This is my final request."

Frieren paused. "Shouldn't you be saying this to Ash?" But she quickly realized something was amiss and stopped mid-sentence. Heiter offered a knowing smile. "I already discussed it with Ash a year and a half ago."

"You two… You made this decision without even telling us?" she protested, though her voice softened.

"I'm sorry," Heiter said quietly.

But Frieren's gaze softened as well. "Heiter, no need to act so noble right now. Fern's already prepared to say goodbye. Before that happens, what you need to do is… share a proper farewell with her. Leave her with as many memories as you can."

During this conversation, Frieren sat back in her chair, unable to bear the emotions welling within her. She lowered her head, trying to suppress them, but her shoulders and voice shook uncontrollably.

Tears spilled down her face, dripping onto her hands, completely betraying the sorrow she felt.

It wasn't just the grief for Fern, the child she'd watched over for six years; it was also the heartbreak of soon losing an old friend.

Seeing her collapse, Heiter looked troubled but offered a small, regretful smile.

"Though you seem cold and indifferent like Ash, you're actually very gentle... Frieren."

"Leave me alone…" She turned away, her trembling hands clenching her skirt. Yet, when she felt a familiar hand on her head, she couldn't help but let out a choked complaint, "Ash too! Don't touch my head!"

"…Don't complain. I wouldn't mind if someone would do the same for me." He glanced toward Heiter. "This guy still calls me heartless after everything. It's not easy for me to keep a straight face."

Ash and Heiter exchanged a smile, their usual banter lightly mocking their old friend even at this somber moment.

Heiter, despite his own sadness, smiled and said, "Look at you, Frieren's already in tears. Why don't you let me see a tear or two from you?"

"No, no, no. At your age, this is practically a happy farewell. Why should I cry? Or…do you have any regrets left?"

"Of course I do. I was hoping to attend your wedding with Fern."

[T/N:...!??]

"That might be difficult. How about I go ahead and marry them tomorrow?"

"Now that's an idea. Three wishes granted at once."

...

Their light-hearted banter slowly lifted the heavy atmosphere, unknowingly easing the sadness.

Frieren gradually stopped crying and trembling, her gaze settling on Heiter's face, now lined with time's traces.

The vitality and brightness that had once filled their youth had long softened, subtly fading without notice.

Yet, in this moment, she began to understand the concept of "aging" in a new way—it didn't feel as heavy or frightening as she'd once thought.

For in her time with Heiter, she'd come to see aging as a natural rhythm of life, like the changing seasons, each phase holding its own unique essence. It wasn't envy she felt, but rather an unexpected realization of a truth she may have never otherwise grasped.

______

T/N: As promised extra chapter