Chapter 103: The Journey
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Even though Ash had hit her on the head, Frieren's perception of his actions gave her high hopes for him.
After all, she had been the only one working hard during this time. And though she didn't want to admit it, she knew deep down that Ash was at least a little more emotionally intelligent than she was.
While Frieren brimmed with optimism, Sein's mood was quite the opposite.
The flying kisses, which seemed more like a joke than anything else, only strengthened his belief that this group was simply playing games with him.
When Ash walked toward him for the first time on his own initiative, Sein let out a long sigh of relief. Taking a deep drag from his cigarette, he smiled wryly and said:
"Finally tired of playing house? Are you here to give up on their behalf?"
"...That's not it," Ash replied evenly.
Sein raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're not giving up yet? From the way you act, it seems like you couldn't care less whether I join or not. Are you just playing along with them for fun?"
Ash shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me personally, but Frieren can't stand people like you—people who remind her too much of herself, holding back for some reason. The least I can do is help a little."
Sein chuckled bitterly. "What? Still doting on her even though you two are always at each other's throats?"
"Well, we've known each other for a long time. A little bickering is normal, Isn't it?" Ash replied with a helpless gesture. "But let's skip the small talk. We're both men, so I'll get straight to the point."
"What do you want to say?"
"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me the real reason why you refuse to leave town. And no, saying 'it's too late' won't cut it. That's not the truth, at least not right now."
Sein sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "You really are more persistent than Frieren."
Faced with Ash's unyielding gaze, Sein reluctantly scratched his head and gave in. To put an end to their pestering, he decided to tell the truth.
---
The reason Sein refused to leave wasn't overly complicated, but the origins of it traced far back into his past.
When Sein was a child, a man named Heiter came to the village and invited his elder brother to join the Holy City.
For priests from the rural northern countries, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The position came with a significant increase in salary, better living conditions, and an elevated social status. The offer even included permission for Sein to live in the Holy City with his brother.
It was the kind of opportunity that no rational person would refuse.
But Sein's brother declined.
"I happened to overhear their conversation from behind the door," Sein began, his voice tinged with melancholy. "My brother chose to stay here, serving as a country priest for the rest of his life, all so I wouldn't lose my parents and the home I grew up in."
He exhaled a puff of smoke, watching it drift upward, and his expression grew bitter. "So how can I, of all people, abandon my brother, leave this village, and pursue some dream? It's just not something I can do."
Ash was silent for a moment, then nodded. "...I see. I understand."
"If you understand, then leave. I can't possibly—"
"——I said I understand," Ash interrupted, "but your brother wouldn't agree with your reasoning. You might wonder how an outsider like me could come to that conclusion, but think about it. Didn't he actively encourage you to join us?"
Ash interrupted Sein with a calm yet firm tone. As Sein stood there, stunned, Ash locked eyes with him and, in a low, reproachful voice, said:
"Your brother cares deeply for you, yet you've misunderstood his intentions. To some extent, you're arbitrarily and unilaterally saying, 'I'm doing this for your own good,' aren't you?"
"I just..."
"Why have you never asked what kind of person he actually wants you to be? Does he really want to see you burdened by regret like this?"
Sein's expression turned blank as Ash's words sank in. The cigarette he was holding slipped from his fingers, falling to the ground.
As his lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to respond, the priest—his elder brother—suddenly appeared beside him. Striding up with a furious expression, he raised his hand and slapped Sein across the face.
"Sein! So this is what you've been agonizing over!"
"I... I just—"
"——Don't compare me to you! I have never once regretted my decision back then! And you!? How long are you going to wallow in regret!?"
"Brother..."
Covering his face in shock, Sein stared at his elder brother, his eyes wide with disbelief and astonishment.
Ash, meanwhile, quietly turned and walked away, leaving the two brothers to their conversation. He returned to where Frieren and Fern were waiting, giving them space to reconcile.
Ash couldn't help but feel proud of himself for resolving the situation so smoothly. Surely Frieren and Fern would be impressed by his efforts. Or so he thought.
"...You can't accuse others of acting unilaterally, saying 'I'm doing this for your own good,' when you've done the same thing yourself." Frieren gave him a pointed look. "You used to think it'd be better to have Fern adopted by someone else, didn't you?"
Fern pursed her lips, clearly upset. "Master Ash, please reflect on your actions!"
"...Why do you still remember what happened when you were little?!"
Ash felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. How had he managed to hurt himself while lecturing someone else? Wasn't this the moment to bask in his own wisdom? How did it turn into this? Covering his mouth, he lowered his head in frustration, so disheartened that he nearly squatted down to escape this harsh reality.
---
At sunset, by the river near the church, Ash lay on the grass, staring at the fiery horizon and reflecting on his life.
The faint sound of footsteps approached, accompanied by the acrid smell of cigarette smoke. Sein's voice broke the silence, tinged with melancholy:
"You were right... I apologized to my brother."
"Yeah?"
"But don't misunderstand—he's always been a gentle brother. He's never hit me once, not even when we were kids," Sein admitted with a sigh of guilt. "And yet… I let such a gentle brother strike me today."
"What a peaceful family."
Ash couldn't help but compare Sein's family to his own past with Aura. He sighed inwardly, pondering the vast difference between humans and demons.
Though Sein's family seemed filled with warmth, Ash couldn't shake the bitterness of his own experiences. As someone who had tried to do good, why had he been treated so differently? Why had his kindness gone unrecognized compared to priest's who indulged in vices like drinking and feasting?
Sein, sitting beside him and watching the sunset, tilted his head curiously at Ash's musings.
"...Come to think of it, you seem to have a younger sister. How do you get along with her?"
"Of course, I'm a gentle brother too. Back when we were younger, we depended on each other. She'd always rush to take on all the work, so responsible that it broke my heart. I couldn't even stop her."
"What a wonderful sister."
"...Yes. That's what I'd expect my sister to be like."
"Hmm? Expected?"
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"I-Is that so..." Sein seemed troubled by something but, after hesitating for a moment, he decided to drop it. "Forget it… Anyway, I've decided to become an adventurer. I'm going to chase after that guy."
"Yeah?" Ash responded nonchalantly.
"My travel goal is to find him—to fulfill that boring childhood dream we shared. Until then, I'll stick with you guys."
"Yeah?"
"——Shouldn't this be the time to get emotional? Ash, why are you still so cold and indifferent? Can't you show at least a little bit of necessary emotion?" Sein protested indignantly.
"Because whether I care or not depends on the moment. If I say I have no interest, then I have no interest. If I say I do, then maybe I do a little," Ash replied with an air of nonchalance. "Honestly, I'm just passing the time with my kids after practice."
Sein was momentarily thrown off by Ash's bluntness. "…Seriously, why are you even traveling?"
"I told you—it's just a walk."
"Then what about the things you said about me earlier? Were you saying bad things about me?"
"...I couldn't help it. I wanted to impress the kids, but it seems to have had the opposite effect." Ash sighed dejectedly.
When Fern sat down beside him, Ash fell silent, unwilling to continue the conversation.
Sein, quiet for a moment, suddenly remembered something and asked, "…Speaking of which, what is your purpose?"
"To visit the two largest capitals of the nearby countries," Frieren replied absentmindedly, flipping through a book as she sat above Ash on the lawn. "If possible, I also plan to visit the Heaven."
"The Heaven? Do we really need to go there? Won't we end up there after we die?"
"Can Lord Sein go too?" Fern asked pointedly without looking up, as she gently adjusted Ash's rumpled clothes.
The question made Sein cautious. He turned to Ash with some unease. "Um… does this kid hate me?"
"Isn't that normal? Children wouldn't like an uncle like you. You should learn from me."
"No, no, no—you're just being taken care of by this kid right now, aren't you?"
Sein glanced at the lazy Ash sipping his drink, then at Fern, who seemed mildly displeased yet dutifully tidying Ash's clothes. Despite having known them for a while, Sein still couldn't figure out the dynamic between the two.
In the end, he decided not to delve into it any further. Instead, he looked up at the sky, reached out as if to grasp the setting sun, and whispered:
"It's a little late, but I have to act now… to seize the last remnants of my youth and dreams."
"…What is this guy doing? He's so childish," Ash muttered, unable to resist a complaint.
Hearing this, Fern frowned slightly and gently chided him, "Master Ash, even if it's the truth, you shouldn't say such things. It's very bad to criticize someone in front of them."
"Ash is so immature. You adults are just like me—keeping things to yourselves," Frieren teased with a gloating smile as she flipped another page in her book.
Although they both seemed to reprimand Ash, the strange banter among the three left Sein's face red with embarrassment. He retracted his hand, glaring at them with a mix of shame and irritation.
"…Now I finally understand why you three are companions!"
"Speaking of which, Fern, I feel like having barbecue tonight," Ash suddenly said.
"Barbecue? Sure," Fern replied after a moment's thought, a smile forming on her face. "We're leaving tomorrow anyway, so let's have a good meal together before we go."
Ash didn't pay any attention to Sein's embarrassment, Fern casually ignored him, and Frieren kept her head down, absorbed in her book, clearly uninterested in responding to Sein's complaints.
"Your personalities... are just so wonderful...!"
As an uncle who had never felt this humiliated—not even if he were stripped down to his underwear—Sein gritted his teeth and squeezed out the words. At this moment, he deeply regretted his decision. Why did I join this bizarre team?
But now, he realized he had no other choice.
This was the only team in the village, and their strength was undeniably reliable. Beyond their peculiar personalities, there weren't any glaring flaws.
So, no matter how reluctant he felt, Sein still set out with them the next morning, leaving the village he had called home his entire life. With the smiles and blessings of the villagers and his brother, he began a journey that was already ten years overdue.
---
After leaving the village, even with Sein's addition, the group's dynamics hardly changed.
The journey proceeded unusually smoothly, despite the continuous chatter and chaos that accompanied them. However…
"I say, don't you feel like this team is missing something? Something very important?" Sein, walking ahead, suddenly turned and asked the others with a serious expression.
"We've got Ash as the vanguard, and we've got magicians and priest as well..." Frieren pondered for a moment, clearly considering the question.
Fern, however, immediately offered a blunt response: "A thief, right? After all, Lady Frieren always triggers treasure chest traps."
"No, I don't think a thief would be that useful. What we're really missing is a simple older sister," Ash replied bluntly. Before Fern could glare at him in disapproval, he quickly pointed at Sein. "Of course, this isn't my opinion—it's clearly what he thinks."
"Of course!" Sein clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with tears as he took two steps forward. "A sexy, mature older sister! It's not just me—Ash clearly wants one too!"
"—Wait, hold on! I didn't say that!" Ash protested immediately, his irritation obvious.
"Master Ash, if you've got something to say, just say it outright." Fern placed her hands on her hips and stared sternly at him. "I won't get angry—really, just say it."
Caught under Fern's unyielding gaze, Ash faltered. Awkwardly, he slung an arm over Frieren's shoulder and laughed dryly. "Isn't Frieren here? Why would I possibly be thinking about some random older sister?"
"Oh...? Ash, have you finally recognized my charm as an older sister?" Frieren glanced up at him, her expression lighting up with surprise and a hint of pride. She muttered to herself, "It must've been the flying kiss last time, right? Master wasn't lying after all... I really am a sinful woman."
"Uh... yes, that one," Ash replied stiffly, forcing a nod.
Seriously, does she actually believe this nonsense? Ash managed to keep his composure but suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to push Frieren off the nearby cliff and let her cool off in the river below.
But before he could indulge in his thoughts, Fern spoke up, looking horrified. "Master Ash... are you a lolicon?"
"I thought you were my comrade!" Fern exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and disappointment. "But I didn't expect you to be such a heretic! How can you agree with a guy like this?!"
Fern's indignation was innocent and uninformed, but Sein, noticing Ash's growing discomfort, decided to take advantage of the situation. Holding back his laughter, Sein put on a regretful expression and said, "It's a real shame... Who would've thought Ash would turn out this way?"
Ash could only hang his head in frustration, silently lamenting his fate. Traveling with this chaotic group always seemed to end with him as the target of everyone's teasing.