Chapter 74: "Confession"·The Old Man Is Scheming Against Me?!
_____
Fern, staggering toward the house and gritting her teeth to endure the discomfort in her fingertips, heard footsteps approaching. She instinctively looked up and noticed Ash, but there was an unfamiliarity about his expression that made Fern quickly lower her head, avoiding eye contact.
Yet, despite everything, the polite child softly greeted him with a voice still hoarse from last night's crying. "Good morning, Master Ash…"
"Morning… but I'll take this." Ash sighed as he took the bucket from Fern.
However, before he'd taken two steps, Fern's voice came from behind again. "Um, Master Ash!"
"...What is it?"
"I'm really sorry about yesterday!" Fern lowered his head so far it was nearly a full bow, her body almost at a 90-degree angle.
This display was more respectful than Ash felt necessary, almost painfully so. "It's fine. It's normal… after all, you're still a child."
"Thank you… uh…"
"Is there something else?" Ash turned, looking at Fern, who glanced up with a visibly anxious expression before carefully asking, "Did I… do something wrong?"
"No, it's my fault."
"What does that mean?"
"You're unusually inquisitive today." Setting down the bucket, Ash took a seat on the wooden steps, observing the child who stood there looking somewhat at a loss. Ash lowered his gaze and sighed softly.
"As I said at the beginning, there's nothing wrong with you, and no reason to apologize. It's completely my fault."
"No, that's not true! I think Master Ash is… a very good person!"
"Oh? Really? Be honest."
"...There are, um, some strange things… but, no! I only want Master Ash! I don't want anyone else! Absolutely not!"
Clutching the hem of her skirt tightly with both hands, Fern raised her voice, pouring all her emotion into her words. She squeezed her eyes shut as though afraid of seeing something that might shatter her hopes.
But in reality, Ash simply sat there on the steps, leaning his elbows on his knees and resting his chin on his hands with an amused sigh.
"...What kind of speech is that? If you were seven years old… No, wait, aren't you seven and a half now? If you were eight or nine, I might be moved hearing this."
"Yes! I'll definitely tell you! Even if it's eight or nine years from now, I'll absolutely tell you!"
Why did he have to wait until she was eight or nine years older to be moved? Fern was a bit confused, but she placed a hand on her chest and promised him with utmost seriousness.
Such a solemn yet innocent vow made Ash chuckle and shake his head. "You're still young, so maybe you don't fully understand, but what you just said is almost like a confession."
"Confession?"
"Yes, it means expressing the feelings in your heart… love, or affection."
"...So I'm just expressing my feelings toward Master Ash?" Fern tilted her head in confusion, thinking it over before, with a hint of nervousness, continuing, "Master Ash… do you actually dislike children? Because they're annoying? Or… am I being too difficult?"
"No, no, that's not it… uh, this is on me. Let's not talk about this anymore. If someone hears, they'll think I'm some kind of outrageous pervert."
What was meant to be a serious explanation had veered into strange territory, leaving Ash momentarily at a loss. Realizing he was dealing with a genuinely innocent child, he rubbed his forehead, unable to look straight ahead.
But despite his response, Fern still felt unsettled. Though Ash hadn't wanted her to worry, she couldn't help but say, "Master Ash, if there's something you don't like about me, I'll really try hard to change it!"
"No, you're wonderful just as you are. There's nothing I dislike about you. I like you, too. But… that's exactly why I can't stay with you like this."
"Why?"
"…Oh, how should I put this?"
Looking at the girl, who for the first time seemed a little confrontational, Ash rubbed his throbbing temple and sighed. "Think about it—I'm busy, right?"
"So?" Fern's gaze was firm, unyielding.
"So, I can't take good care of you. If there was someone better—"
"I don't want anyone other than Master Ash!" Fern interrupted him instantly, making his words stop abruptly.
"...I expected you'd say that. But why? Why do you insist on staying with me?"
"Because if it weren't for Master Ash, I might have died on the roadside! It was Master Ash who gave me hot food, a clean bed—he gave me a home! When I was scared, you hugged me tightly! In the middle of the night when I was frightened, you held my hand gently! Even when you were injured, the first thing you thought of was whether I was hungry. So… so, I like Master Ash the most… the most!"
By the end of this "confession," which could almost be called hoarse, Fern was out of breath. Her chest was heaving with the effort, and she struggled to steady her breathing.
Ash looked at her, dumbstruck, as complex emotions churned within him. He hesitated, wanting to speak but unsure of what to say.
Her words had shaken him. He hadn't anticipated that her attachment to him ran this deep… though he couldn't deny that he understood.
So… is this my fault? Yeah, it's clearly my fault. But I also have my reasons. Letting her go is the best solution for both of us. Why don't kids ever understand adult problems? No, I can't shift the blame here; Fern really doesn't know any better. To her, I'm like a parent. And to a child, losing their parent feels like losing their whole world. He could understand that.
In the end, he found himself unable to say anything. Instead, he simply patted the step beside him, motioning for her to come closer.
She approached cautiously and sat beside him, her gaze both hopeful and unsure. Ash stroked her hair and sighed softly, feeling as though he was yielding to something he couldn't escape.
"For now… let's set this matter aside."
"Why… not give up?"
He glanced at Heiter, who was peeking from a distance, and quickly came up with an idea. "By the way, have you wondered why I get along with Heiter?"
"Why?"
"Well, actually, Heiter and I are about the same age."
"…You're joking, right?"
"Believe it or not, I'm even older."
Fern's face was full of disbelief, her confusion evident. Seeing her reaction, Ash repeated the same reasons he had once given Frieren and others, reasons he knew could ease her worry without hurting her too deeply.
Compared to any other explanation, this seemed to be the gentlest way to ease the blow for Fern. Though he wasn't entirely sure whether claiming he'd age out and leave her was any kinder than just vanishing due to other reasons, this seemed the least painful route.
He was just beginning to think this plan might work—that maybe, just maybe, he could gently guide her to accept a more suitable family—when Heiter unexpectedly stepped out from his hiding place.
The old man, seemingly oblivious to what Ash was really thinking, wore a warm smile as he held an ancient book in his hands. "If it's just a matter of lifespan, then there's no need to worry."
"What do you mean by that?"
"This is the spellbook of Evisi, a sage from the mythical era. It contains the lost magic of resurrection and immortality."
As Heiter spoke, his expression remained serious, almost absurdly so.
"No, that kind of magic doesn't exist, right? You know who my master is…"
"Even the great magicians of the mythical era didn't know all the magic, and this is a spellbook that hasn't been fully deciphered yet."
"…I feel like you're lying to me."
"Please, just believe me for once. Besides, if it works, I'd like to live a little longer, too. Isn't this a win-win situation?" Heiter ignored Ash's doubt and handed the book to him with a smile, his face full of confidence.
Fern, who had been feeling cold to her very bones, her eyes empty and tears threatening to spill, saw hope rekindle in her heart as she listened to their exchange.
A small, bright smile broke across her face, and she hugged Ash's waist from the side, her face lighting up as if she'd been brought back to life herself.
"—That's wonderful! Master Ash! You can live for a long, long time! This way… we can be together forever!"
"…Yes…"
Looking at her innocent and sweet smile, feeling her small arms hugging him tightly and sensing her body trembling slightly with relief, Ash found himself unable to extinguish this small glimmer of hope.
After all, he couldn't bring himself to shatter the fragile hope of the child who'd just been pulled from despair. He couldn't bear to let her fall into an even darker place and face fresh waves of torment.
'Did this old guy really know what he was doing? Am I… am I actually falling for this?' He tried to force a smile, but inwardly he wanted nothing more than to hit the old man.
As he stroked Fern's hair, he shot a glare at Heiter and spoke through gritted teeth, trying to sound cheerful, "—To celebrate, let's break out your best wine today, shall we? You won't refuse, right?!"
"Ah, of course! Let's drink to our hearts' content today!"
The anticipated smack to Heiter's face didn't happen. Instead, he laughed with deep wrinkles on his face and took it upon himself to go to his room and fetch the prized wine.
This left Ash feeling like he'd punched air.
This guy… He really doesn't make any sense.
Did he seriously scheme against a friend he's known for years just for the sake of a kid he'd only known for a short time? Did I make a mistake in choosing my friends?
And honestly, no matter how you looked at it, this could only be considered a temporary compromise. From a long-term perspective, it was hardly rational.
Reason told him to reveal the truth, but his heart couldn't bear to cause any more pain. So, he simply held his child close, thinking about how to finally end this whole dilemma…
"Well…"
'Forget it. I'll just take things one step at a time. If worst comes to worst, I'll take care of her into her old age myself.' Holding Fern close at a 45-degree angle, he looked up at the sky and let out a long, resigned sigh, as though he'd finally accepted his fate.
_________
T/N: Sorry It's Late but As promised Here's The Extra Chapter
Also New Weekly Rankings So Give Me Power Stones And Remember you get 1 Extra Chapter with every 300 power stones