Chapter 64: The Last Journey of the Hero: The Old Friends Are Like Leaves Falling in the Wind, Withering Away
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The three of them walked out of the royal capital, shoulder to shoulder. Just beyond the city gate, they spotted two figures waiting by the edge of the city wall—a tall man and a shorter figure.
Despite being an alcoholic and a known drunkard, Heiter remained impressively tall, and even though fifty years had passed, he didn't look drastically different. His face bore deep wrinkles, and he looked somewhat aged, but surprisingly, he wore the same style of robes as before. Perhaps he had donned them specially for today's gathering. Ash couldn't resist a tease:
"You finally look like a real priest. You're no longer the drunken priest you used to be. Should I say you've grown more respectable or something?"
"That's because I'm now the bishop of the Holy City," Heiter replied with a proud grin, shrugging slightly as he looked at the two. A sigh escaped him. "You two really haven't changed at all."
"A priest who only cares about food and wine, becoming a bishop?" Frieren muttered, amused.
"Haha! Looks like I'm blessed by the goddess, unlike someone here who's probably managed to offend her," Heiter chuckled smugly, looking far from the pious figure a bishop should be.
"...Offended, huh?" Ash mused aloud.
"What? Any clues? Did you actually do something disrespectful to the goddess?" Heiter asked, intrigued.
"Well, when I was young, I might've had a bit too much to drink back in the village and, uh...held onto a statue while I vomited everywhere. Does that count?"
"What do you mean, 'does it count?' Of course, you'll be punished for that!" Heiter looked momentarily taken aback, despite his own easygoing relationship with alcohol.
Even the usually silent dwarf, Eisen, couldn't help but sigh. "The mystery we've wondered about for years finally has an answer."
Unlike the two humans, Eisen hadn't changed much over the years. But Ash, glancing at him, couldn't resist asking, "You...you've aged, too, haven't you?"
"...Really? Has Eisen changed at all?" Frieren couldn't help but glance over curiously.
With a hint of nostalgia, Eisen closed his eyes and replied, "While my appearance may not have changed much, everything within—the body's functions—has aged. It's certainly not like before."
"Is that so?" Frieren turned to Ash, perplexed. "But he seems stronger, doesn't he? Come to think of it...all of you have weakened, yet Ash somehow grew stronger."
"That's because..." Ash began, but Himmel interrupted with a gentle smile, "Human constitutions vary widely."
"Is that right?" Frieren tilted her head in confusion.
"Remember Azer? He was one of the strongest warriors among humans, wasn't he? Even after a dragon bit off part of his head, he still survived," heiter explained, smiling. "A normal person could never handle that. So maybe Ash here has a particularly resilient body. Who knows, maybe he'll even live another twenty years."
"True," Eisen nodded. "Even after being bitten by a snake whose venom could kill monsters, Azer survived through sheer willpower. He was once shot by a poisoned arrow strong enough to make a dragon faint, but he bounced right back. Other dwarves wouldn't be able to withstand that kind of damage at all."
"Exactly," Heiter added, patting Eisen's helmet with a grin, then turned to Ash, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ash, I'm starting to think your body might be as ridiculously resilient as Eisen's."
Ash lowered his head, speaking vaguely, unsure of what to say in this moment.
Because... compared to the somewhat oblivious Frieren, the others had clearly picked up on something. Yet, they showed no signs of asking about it or even hinting at what they'd realized. Were they just pretending not to notice, or were they worried that, even with their combined strength, their age might leave them too frail to confront him?
No... that couldn't be it. Though he didn't fully understand their reasons, this was the one thing Ash felt certain about.
...
After Himmel and Heiter's explanations, Frieren, though still a little confused, eventually accepted their perspective. She knew her understanding of humans was nowhere near as deep as that of these two older men and, ultimately, chose not to dwell on it any longer.
She never considered that they might be lying to her—after all, why lie about something so trivial in everyday life?
And with that minor episode behind them, the group, carrying only light provisions, set out on this—final adventure.
They walked under the gentle morning sun, crossed winding rivers, climbed mountain ridges, and camped in serene forests. Each new day, as sunlight filtered through dense leaves casting a pattern of light and shadow, they continued their journey, accompanied by a gentle breeze.
In this way, they traveled leisurely, and after about a week, they reached Lake, nestled atop a mountain.
At sunset, these old friends who had been reunited after so long gathered on the grassy banks, chatting as they waited for nightfall.
"...You know, Ash," Frieren said, suddenly recalling something as she turned to the boy who hadn't aged and smiled. "Didn't you make a wish all those years ago, wanting to watch shooting stars with a lovely, serious girl? And now... here we are."
"...Yeah, I suppose I did," Ash replied.
"Fifty years, and still no luck?" she teased.
"I've been training all this time... The candidates who came my way were all a bit... unusual. Honestly, compared to them, you seem much more normal." Only now did he remember the wish he'd made fifty years ago.
Reflecting on it, he realized he had spent half a century in the same old monotony. It was a bitter thought, and he didn't even know how to express his frustration.
Seeing his troubled expression, Frieren softened. She shook her head with a gentle smile and, together with Himmel, put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Watching this, Heiter couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Smiling, he straightened his glasses and said, "Isn't this nice? If things don't work out this time, you've still got another fifty years to look for someone. And if you can't, well, we'll be here next time too—if we're still around."
Himmel stroked his beard, adding, "There's no rush. Since we're seeing another shooting star, why don't we make another wish now?"
"...Forget it. It's pointless anyway. Wishing again now would only leave me feeling more empty," Ash replied.
"Really? But... I think this isn't so bad," Himmel mused as he gazed up at the sky, smiling. "It really takes me back. Being with all of you is like reliving the days when we traveled together."
Frieren raised her head with a grin, boasting unreservedly, "Of all of us, I'm the most reliable one here."
"You?" Himmel chuckled warmly. He chose not to mention her embarrassing past, when treasure chest traps would often catch her off guard. Instead, he watched as the first meteor streaked across the night sky and murmured thoughtfully, "Now that I think about it, you've always been part of my fondest memories."
"...Isn't that a bit sad?" Ash said, shaking his head with a faint smile as he gave Himmel a gentle pat on his bald head. "Isn't this supposed to be a happy time?"
"You really lack respect for your elders," Himmel sighed with a wry smile, though he didn't brush Ash's hand away. Instead, he lifted his gaze toward the sky and whispered, "Frieren, because of you, I get to experience this wonderful adventure again."
"Hmm?" Frieren glanced over curiously but remained silent.
Himmel then lowered his voice further, leaning in to address the young man beside him. "And Ash..."
"What is it?"
"From now on, I'll be relying on you to look after Frieren... and the humans."
"That's... quite a lot to take on all of a sudden."
"I know you can handle it."
"Why?" Ash asked, a bit surprised.
"It's my intuition." Himmel smiled, leaving his answer at that.
Their conversation was meant only for the two of them, with Heiter, seated nearby, overhearing. Meanwhile, Frieren and the other companion were lost in the splendor of the night sky, captivated by its serene beauty, as if it offered them a glimpse into the mysteries of life itself.
...
After fulfilling their fifty-year-old promise, the group returned to the city, their laughter and joy marking a bittersweet end to their journey. But, on the very first night back in the city, Himmel quietly passed away in his sleep—his wish seemingly fulfilled, with nothing more to tether him to this world. He left peacefully, a gentle smile gracing his face.
To honor the departed hero, the kingdom held a solemn funeral at the cathedral in the capital. Soldiers in full regalia formed the honor guard, while Heiter personally presided over the ceremony. People from all corners of the city gathered, those who had been touched by Himmel's kindness coming to bid him farewell. The low, mournful tones of the funeral music echoed through the cathedral, filling it with an atmosphere of both reverence and sorrow.
Throughout the crowd, soft sobs and deep sighs broke the silence, and every face reflected a sense of loss. Even Frieren—who once thought Ash had perished and had known that sorrow—now lowered her gaze, her expression one of quiet grief. In a voice barely above a whisper, she murmured words only she could hear: "Human lifespans are... so fleeting."
Had even elves come to change after all these years? Ash looked at Frieren but chose to remain silent.
Instead, his gaze returned to Himmel's still, smiling form in the coffin, and he, too, echoed her sentiment: "Yes... human lifespans are indeed short."
As he stood there, watching his old friend rest eternally, Ash found himself understanding why Serie had long avoided deep connections with humans. When his eyes drifted to Heiter, he felt a deep ache, knowing it might not be long before he'd attend his old friend's funeral, too. Perhaps, Ash thought, it would be best to leave once this farewell was over... and maybe never return.
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T/N: POWER STONES WOULD BE APPRECIATED