Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 136: It was a women

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Even though what Ash said might have been a bit strange, he couldn't help but feel slightly hurt by Lawine avoiding him so blatantly.

Still, he hesitated for a moment and eventually chose to stay quiet. After all, denying or admitting anything at this point would lead to the same outcome: unnecessary misunderstandings that would only make things worse. It was better to say nothing and let the awkwardness dissipate naturally.

"Ha, haha..." Kanne let out a dry laugh, feeling caught in the middle of the odd dynamic between Lawine and Ash. Desperate to change the subject, she cheerfully suggested, "Speaking of which... we're almost ready to look for Fern and Frieren. Uncle, why don't you come home with us?"

"No, no... I'm running away from home for a while. Don't mind me," Ash replied without hesitation. He had no intention of going back. But Kanne wasn't about to let him off that easily. She grabbed his arm, playfully dragging him along as she teased, "Uncle, you're already an adult. You shouldn't be running away from home like a kid~!"

Lawine, who initially planned to ignore Ash, couldn't resist joining in when she saw how reluctant he was. With a half-smile of triumph, she followed Kanne's lead, helping drag him along despite his protests.

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At first, Ash was strategizing about how to slip away unnoticed. However, his escape plans were derailed when they stopped to buy snacks as a thank-you gift for Frieren. Right outside a bakery, he spotted two familiar figures selecting bread and desserts.

"Oh! Fern! We're here to play with you~!" Kanne exclaimed, excitedly rushing forward to grab Fern's hand, shaking it with joy.

"Kanne, why are you here… Lord Ash——?!" Fern froze mid-sentence when her gaze shifted to Ash. He was standing at the door, partially covering his face as if plotting an escape. Fern's expression immediately became tense.

Frieren also noticed him and walked over with her usual impassive expression. She looked up at him, her tone calm but pointed. "Ash... do you have anything you want to explain?"

My chest muscles are bigger than yours! What can I say? Ash thought bitterly. Being forced to run away from home over such a minor incident felt ridiculous. The world is not worth it!

Despite his inner grumbling, he knew better than to speak his thoughts aloud—especially in front of Frieren and Fern. If he dared, he was sure it would result in his immediate demise. With a resigned sigh, he bowed his head and apologized.

"Although it wasn't intentional, the fact is... I saw something I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."

"...What exactly did you see that you shouldn't have?" Frieren's tone was deceptively mild, but her words carried an edge. She grabbed his collar and raised an eyebrow in obvious displeasure. "What do you think about a girl's innocence, Ash?"

"Girl…?" Ash started but immediately hesitated.

"Do you have any comments?" Frieren's expression grew more menacing.

"…No," he replied quickly, turning his head to avoid her piercing gaze.

She's technically a thousand-year-old woman, but judging by her appearance, she still qualifies as a young girl, right? Ash thought to himself. But he wisely kept the comment to himself, worried that calling her old would result in her crying nonstop for three days and three nights.

Kanne, sensing the tension, cautiously asked, "Um... what happened here?"

"It's nothing," Ash replied with a strained smile, patting Kanne on the shoulder. "Just the usual quarrel between Frieren and Fern."

But as Ash tried to lighten the mood, he instinctively reached out to touch Frieren's hair. As expected, she immediately slapped his hand away and issued her usual warning, her glare daring him to try again.

At this moment, Fern leaned closer, standing on tiptoe to bring her face as close to Ash's as possible. "Master Ash… please tell me honestly, where did you go yesterday?"

"...A friend's house," he replied curtly.

"A friend? What friend?" Fern pressed, her tone growing sharper.

"It's fine, their parents were at home," Ash added, as if this explanation clarified everything.

"That means it was a woman?" Fern asked, her sharp tone cutting through his composure.

"...Why are you so sharp at moments like this…" Ash muttered, visibly uncomfortable under her scrutiny.

Fern, who usually appeared a little dull, was surprisingly perceptive now. He glanced at Kanne for some support, but Kanne's curiosity only deepened. "Uncle, do you actually have other friends?" she asked, tilting her head inquisitively.

"Someone from the Magic Association?" Fern speculated further. Frieren, seemingly intrigued, touched her chin thoughtfully and tentatively said, "Serie doesn't seem likely… could it be Sense?"

Ash froze for a moment. "...Oh, this cookie looks good. Lawine, could you buy me some?" he deflected, picking up a cookie and pretending to be deeply interested in it. His eyes shifted to Lawine, who had been silent while selecting a thank-you gift.

Lawine, however, had been eavesdropping the entire time. She shot him a glare and said with clear displeasure, "You're such a disrespectful uncle. Are you seriously dodging the question right now?"

"...You're so long-winded. Stop talking about me," Ash retorted dismissively.

"—Huh? You were the one who spoke to me first, weren't you?!" Lawine's temper flared almost instantly. Despite her ladylike dress, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight.

Ash, however, brushed her off casually and walked out of the store as if nothing had happened, completely ignoring her rising anger. Lawine stood there fuming, left with no outlet for her frustration.

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, the others realized pressing him further would be futile. The conversation had already reached its conclusion—there was no need to ask any more.

Although Ash tried to slip away, Fern firmly grabbed his sleeve and dragged him back home with them.

In Fern's room, Kanne and Lawine brought in a basket of cookies and assorted desserts to share with Frieren. The girls gathered on the soft bed, their laughter and chatter mixing with the crisp crunch of biscuits and the soothing aroma of black tea, creating a cozy, harmonious atmosphere.

Ash, however, seemed to exist in a world apart. He sat quietly at the desk, the soft rustling of turning pages contrasting sharply with the lively noise around him. He focused intently on his book, attempting to immerse himself in its contents and keep his heart calm, undisturbed by the joy that surrounded him.

As the cheerful conversation carried on, Kanne's gaze drifted toward Ash's focused figure. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, "...Does the uncle always work this hard? At a time like this, most people would join us in chatting, right?"

"Maybe he's just showing off in front of the girls," Lawine said with a sly grin, her tone teasing. "Hmm... all those childish boys at the academy act like that. What's more, there are four beautiful girls here~" She puffed out her chest confidently as she spoke, clearly amused.

But...

"...Oh."

Ash barely looked up, giving them a brief glance before letting out a faint, dismissive scoff. Without a word, he returned his attention to the book, completely unfazed by their chatter.

His calm and focused demeanor felt almost disdainful, as though he viewed their conversation as beneath him. His subtle dismissal made the four of them feel oddly belittled.

It was as though Ash regarded them with a detached superiority, seeing them as mere children whose antics weren't worth his attention.

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Note: We've passed 700 power stones, and we just need 300 more! Let's go and try to reach it in the next two days.

(Wait, why am I encouraging you guys when I should be preparing more chapters?)