Chapter 77: Did the old men tacitly betray the elve?
_____
Frieren took a long moment to calm herself after the initial shock. She continued to clutch her chest, trying to settle her racing heart, all while keeping her gaze fixed firmly on Ash. She finally managed to ask, though her voice was still tinged with disbelief, "So… you already have a great-granddaughter? When did you get married? And why doesn't anyone know about it?"
Ash responded with an easy smile, "What's so surprising about that? Isn't it perfectly normal for humans to marry and have children?"
"True... but still… that's not the point!" Frieren shook her head in exasperation. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Didn't you know?" Ash leaned back, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Actually, Fern's grandfather is Heiter."
"…Is that true?" Frieren froze, clearly not expecting that answer. A long silence followed as she processed the revelation, before she suddenly leaned forward, bracing her hands against the table.
However…
"Don't be so excited; that was just a bit of a joke," Ash said, noticing her reaction. He placed a gentle hand on her head, nudging her back into her seat, his chuckle warm as she stared at him, utterly bewildered. "In truth, Fern is actually an orphan from the wars in the southern countries."
"…Huh???" Frieren's face darkened instantly, her tone a mixture of frustration and confusion. "—You were joking? About all of it…?"
"But," Ash replied without missing a beat, "Heiter genuinely treats her like a granddaughter."
"Impossible!" Frieren shot back, shaking her head in firm disbelief. "Neither of you is the kind to help out without reason…"
"Her ancestor was once my adjutant and one of my closest friends," Ash explained, his voice calm. "I had no clue about raising children, so I brought her here. Somehow, she and Heiter have bonded quite well."
"...."
Frieren opened her mouth, ready to speak, but Ash's unexpected revelation silenced her. Her thoughts were jumbled as she tried to process everything he'd just said. She felt an overwhelming mix of irritation, confusion, and even a bit of humor at his casual demeanor, uncertain whether to berate him or laugh.
Ash, however, remained relaxed, sipping his tea as he continued to smile. "But enough about my situation. Why are you here so suddenly?"
"…I was on my way to the Holy City to buy something," Frieren replied, looking pointedly at the older man who had entered from the kitchen, evidently drawn by the noise. She hesitated before continuing, "I also remembered that I owe Heiter quite a few favors. I thought… since you're still alive, I might as well repay them before it's too late."
"Wait a minute—don't just repay Haita. What about my favors?"
"I don't recall owing you anything…"
"Oh, if Millie were still alive, she certainly wouldn't be so forgetful," Ash sighed, putting on an exaggerated look of disappointment, as if deeply wounded by her words.
The mention of Millie reminded Frieren of a significant favor she owed Ash from a thousand years ago. Their friendship was close and often marked by playful conflicts, and because of that, she'd set the debt aside all this time. But now, with him bringing it up, she couldn't help narrowing her eyes at his smug attitude, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.
"…I was going to repay you, but after this, I think sparing you a punch should be repayment enough."
"Haha! You two really have always had such a wonderful relationship." Noticing the tension, Heiter calmly seated himself between them, his deep wrinkles softening with his gentle smile. He nodded, his voice warm, "I'm honestly envious."
"It's not wonderful at all; it's just bad luck," Frieren muttered, turning her face away in frustration, clearly not wanting to deal with either of them anymore.
"It's a bad fate, but speaking of which…" Heiter didn't seem to mind. His gaze wandered to Fern, who was quietly peeling potatoes in the kitchen. Then he looked back at Ash with a knowing smile, recalling their last successful plan. Without any words exchanged, Ash seemed to catch on, nodding slightly.
They both rose at the same time, leaving Frieren bewildered. "What's going on?"
"Come here for a moment." "We need a favor from you."
Ash and Heiter spoke in unison, their synchronization uncanny and slightly unsettling. Frieren shivered at their excessive tacit understanding, feeling a strong sense of foreboding. These two were undoubtedly the most peculiar characters in the group, yet she trusted they meant no harm. Hesitating for only a moment, she followed them to Ash's room.
"This is the magic book of the sage Evisi," Ash said, handing her a worn tome on the table. Heiter added with a smile, "It contains the secrets of lost magic: resurrection of the dead and immortality."
"I've heard countless legends about that sort of magic, but… does it really exist?" Frieren, like Ash, was skeptical about magic that could grant immortality. She opened the book, her eyes scanning the densely packed symbols and cryptic sketches, many looking like they'd been stained or scribbled over. She nodded slightly.
"Using coded graphics? People from that era were really fond of this encryption style, but…"
"Our request is that you help us decipher this book," Heiter said with a calm smile.
"And during this time, we'd also like you to teach Fern magic," Ash added.
Ash's own magic had been honed specifically for demonic spellcasting, making it less than ideal for instructing humans. He'd tried teaching, but found it uncomfortable, even awkward, so he abandoned the effort. Besides, Schlacht had advised him not to share the advanced magic of the future he had been taught. Ash didn't want to risk mixing up his knowledge and accidentally altering the future path Schlacht envisioned.
Frieren, holding the book in her hands, looked at the two of them, realizing the weight of their request. Without overthinking it, she nodded, flipping through the pages. "This isn't impossible. I can probably figure it out in five or six years. But are you both really afraid of death?"
"Who isn't afraid of death?" Heiter turned his back to her, keeping his face calm, as if trying to hide any hint of vulnerability. "I may not have shown it before, maybe to keep up appearances in front of everyone. But as I grow closer to it, I find myself fearing death more. I don't crave immortality, but I wouldn't mind buying a little more time."
"For the sake of the child?"
"Of course. Even the scriptures say that we should strive for a healthy life, and longevity is the ultimate expression of health."
"...You're quite the drinker; it's surprising to hear you say that."
"Haha! Ash said something similar once. You're both equally rude to an old man like me," Heiter chuckled, not at all bothered, and left the room with a hearty laugh.
Frieren, still holding the magic book, turned back to Ash with a puzzled expression. "What about you? Are you afraid of death too?"
"Of course. Isn't every human afraid of death?"
"…Really? Then you'd better hang on until I can decipher this," Frieren said with a slight nod. Her fingers traced the worn cover of the magic book, her expression turning somber as she added, "But don't get your hopes up too high. I have a feeling that kind of magic might not really exist."
"It's okay. No matter the outcome, we won't hold it against you. During this time, please take care of Fern."
"That's fine... but can you please stop touching my hair all the time? You're really annoying."
Frieren nodded in agreement, but when Ash reached out to touch her head, she grew visibly irritated, slapping his hand away. His habitual action seemed to truly bother her.
But as she watched him walk away and the door closed behind him, an unexpected sense of loneliness crept over her.
' I wonder where Millie went. Perhaps she's dead? Or maybe I'll never see her again.'
With her master gone, Ash was the only friend left from a thousand years ago. The thought that no one would tease her like this or ruffle her hair anymore gave her a fleeting sense of relief, but as she pondered it further, Frieren felt a pang of loneliness.
While this "old elf girl" wrestled with melancholy inside the house, outside…
The two old men raised their hands in a silent, victorious high-five.
"How about a drink?" Ash lifted a bottle, and Heiter, after a brief hesitation, held up his glass. "Alright... just a bit."
Not only did they high-five in celebration, but they even decided to have a few drinks, toasting the success of their plan.
Of course... it would be unfair to call the two of them entirely unethical for tricking an old friend.
Normally, if Frieren were asked to take on a disciple, she'd refuse outright, with past instances backing this up.
Though their plan to keep Frieren around to train Fern seemed a bit underhanded, it wasn't overly exploitative either.
Five or six years might feel long to humans, but to Frieren…
Just as she'd previously said, a student might not even last if she wasn't cautious. She could easily pass this time by taking things a bit slow.
To make amends, Heiter prepared an exceptionally lavish dinner, although… it might also have been because he was thrilled to have an old friend around.
...
Unexpectedly, Frieren kept her promise, teaching Fern earnestly. With a mentor far surpassing anyone in the academy, Fern dedicated herself fully to her studies.
Meanwhile, Ash was entirely liberated, frequently vanishing northward for a month or two at a time, returning each time as though he hadn't been gone at all.
He would disappear periodically without sharing many details, but no one ever pressed for explanations—they all accepted it in silent agreement.
As winter neared again, Frieren, who despised the cold, showed no desire to venture out. She stayed by the fire, basking in its warmth.
Ash, having just returned from one of his trips, as usual, attempted to pull Fern onto his lap to serve as a human warmer, but Fern, who had just handed him a cup of hot tea, shrank back in resistance.
______
T/N: I didn't expect you all to reach 300 power stones so quickly, so here's the extra chapter as promised.
Now, let's level things up! From now on, for every 400 power stones, I will release an extra chapter because I don't have many chapters stocked up, as they tend to be quite long.