Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 133: The Truth Discovered by Sense·

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As expected, despite Sense's cold personality, her spacious room had an unexpectedly girlish charm.

The walls were adorned with elegant fabrics and exquisite landscape paintings. A large bookcase filled with neatly arranged books stood against one wall. At the center of the room was a large carved bed draped with silk sheets, and near the head of the bed sat a dressing table.

Although the dressing table was also cluttered with books, there were surprisingly a few cosmetic items placed on it—though none seemed to have been used.

On the desk, alongside stacks of books, were some peculiar magical artifacts. The air in the room was subtly infused with a faint, pleasant fragrance.

This caught Ash's attention. He instinctively leaned closer, sniffing the air, then unconsciously picked up a strand of Sense's long hair to confirm the scent. Nodding to himself, he mused aloud:

"Is that so? You've used a nice incense in your room. It's different from the scent of your hair, but it must make your whole body…"

"What are you trying to do…?"

Sense reacted like a startled animal. Though her face remained expressionless, her hands instinctively covered her chest, and her beautiful long hair seemed to fall in front of her like a protective barrier.

"…Who do you think I am? I'm just commenting on the scent, not trying to smell you," Ash said, sighing.

"…" Sense said nothing, but her wary expression clearly conveyed her thoughts: This person could absolutely do something like that.

Ash understood her silent judgment, and knowing it was futile to try to clear his name, he simply spread his hands. "Don't be so guarded. Even I wouldn't do anything reckless, but…"

"But…?"

"No… it's nothing," he said, trailing off.

Her vigilant gaze made it impossible for him to admit he had been tempted to tease her further. The thought of hugging her, or even lifting her up like a playful child, briefly crossed his mind. But he knew better. Moments like this required restraint, and the setting wasn't right.

Instead, he sat down obediently on the carpet beside the bed and patted the edge of it casually. Sense hesitated for a moment before finally sitting next to him.

Her decision instantly brightened his mood. Smiling, he reached out and lightly touched her soft, flowing hair, enjoying the peaceful, warm moment—so unlike the atmosphere at home.

Not long after, Sense's mother arrived, carrying biscuits, desserts, and drinks. Ash didn't comment on why drinks were included, but he also didn't resist, settling into the unexpected hospitality.

Lunch stretched into the afternoon as they spent hours discussing magic and sharing amusing stories about recent events.

Despite the chilly northern weather, the room remained warm and comfortable. The atmosphere between the two gradually became relaxed and pleasant.

Whenever their eyes met, Ash smiled in a brotherly way, which helped Sense relax further. Her initial tension faded completely, and she even seemed on the verge of dozing off at one point.

By evening, after dinner, the two continued to enjoy the calm day by heading up to the terrace on the top floor. There, they drank tea and read books while overlooking the beautiful night view of the city.

…

…

Countless magic stone lamps lit up across the city, their phosphorescent glow painting the dim streets in vibrant hues. Together, they formed a scene reminiscent of a galaxy, captivating enough to hold one's gaze for a long time.

While Sense, accustomed to the sight, wasn't particularly moved, Ash quietly shifted his position closer to her. Taking the opportunity, he reached out to touch her hair again, earning a look of mild exasperation.

As the warm glow of the setting sun cast a soft red tint over her cheeks, Sense's typically listless eyes seemed gentler than usual.

Feeling the warmth of his hand resting on her head, with Ash smiling calmly beside her, she let her long hair sway slightly in the cool evening breeze. Something about the moment felt different—indescribably so.

It was as though she were being treated like a child, yet for some reason, it didn't irritate her at all. In fact, it felt oddly nostalgic, almost as though it echoed how she had felt the very first time she had met him.

Feeling a ripple disturb the stillness in her heart, Sense turned her gaze from the glowing city below to Ash. Narrowing her eyes, she spoke quietly:

"Master Ash, you truly haven't changed—not from the beginning until now."

"Isn't that the same for you, Sense,?"

"…I'm different from you."

"You smell like Lady Serie," he said teasingly.

"Old people stink?" she retorted flatly.

"…"

Sense ignored his joke entirely. After a pause, she seemed to come to a decision and spoke, her tone quieter, yet steadier than before:

"Perhaps… even if I die of old age, you will live on forever, just like Lady Serie."

"…Why would you think that?"

"I've observed Lady Serie for a long time. She's not good at hiding her emotions—she always says what's on her mind. Though she hasn't said anything directly, I've had my suspicions. And you… you don't seem to be hiding it either. Am I right?"

"…Serie is such a troublesome person," Ash muttered, deflecting her observation without directly addressing it.

Sense's wide eyes reflected her surprise at his candid reaction. "…You're not even going to deny it?"

"I don't think you'd share this with anyone," Ash said calmly. As if by instinct, his palm found its place atop her head once more.

"…Honestly, I'm a little surprised," Sense admitted softly.

"It's not such an important secret, is it?"

"…Maybe not, but…"

"Don't complicate things," he interrupted gently, shaking his head with a small smile. Without warning, he slid his hands under her arms and lifted her petite frame high into the air.

"Master Ash—!" Sense exclaimed, startled. She flailed slightly, her expression flustered.

Holding her up towards the starry sky, Ash met her gaze with a calm smile and said, "No matter how much time passes, I'll always watch over you during your fleeting time here. Just because our lifespans differ doesn't mean the time we share isn't real."

"But even so… one day, you'll forget I ever existed, won't you?"

Her words hung in the air. The girl who had been struggling just moments ago now stilled, her wide eyes locked onto his, waiting for his response.

Yet Ash couldn't bring himself to answer immediately. His gaze drifted, thoughts scattering as he recalled the dwarf guarding the village and the unchanging expressions of Serie and Frieren.

Beings like them had a concept of time entirely different from humans. Centuries passed as though they were mere moments.

Ash, on the other hand, still clung to his human perception of time, unable to truly comprehend what it meant to span millennia. He couldn't say for certain what kind of person he would be a thousand years from now.

Would this fleeting connection, this precious bond, eventually fade from his memory without him even realizing it? He couldn't deny the possibility.

Sense, noticing the distress clouding his expression, felt a pang of loneliness. She wouldn't admit it, but she couldn't ignore the ache that came with the thought.

Ash caught the faint glimmer of loneliness in her eyes. Slowly, he lowered her back to the ground, placing her gently beside him. He bent his knees slightly so that their gazes were level and offered her a soft, apologetic smile.

"A thousand years is too long for me to promise anything," he said gently. "But for as long as I remain who I am now, I will remember you as my cherished junior sister—someone precious to me during this century."