Chapter 41: Farewell
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Frieren, who couldn't see the future, naturally had no idea what Frank, who could, was sighing about.
To her, his words sounded cryptic and difficult to grasp—like the ramblings of a charlatan trying too hard to be mysterious.
Frank could easily sense her unspoken thoughts, but he didn't mind and continued speaking to himself:
"Anyway... can you please deliver a message when you meet that young man?"
"What message?"
"—Tell him, 'The strongest hero of the South, I will personally pave the way for you, even if my deeds are buried in the haze of history.'"
"...Is that all?"
"Yes, that's enough."
"But does this mean... you're going to die?" Frieren nodded casually, but realized something unsettling in his words.
Frank remained composed as he replied, "Yes, I will die during the expedition. Specifically, it will happen a year from now. I'll be ambushed and killed on the northern plateau by the All-Knowing Schlacht and the elite demons under the Demon King's command."
"You won't try to avoid it?"
"If I don't go, you'll be destroyed by Schlacht before you get the chance."
"...You don't seem too scared? Why? You're saying you'll die, right?"
"There's still a year left. If I start worrying now, what good will that do for the future?" Frank shrugged, seemingly unfazed.
"Is that so?"
"By the way, could you keep this future a secret from Ash?"
"You can count on him, but why?"
"His situation is... complicated."
If he could, Frank would work with Schlacht to usher in a new Demon King and bring an end to the chaos.
But even with the ability to see the future, there were still far too many factors beyond their control.
In the end, there were many things Frieren still didn't understand, but she decided to help keep the secret... After all, there was no point in revealing anything when she wasn't sure if his words were true or false.
Later, Frank had a brief chat with Ash and shared part of his plan:
"...Don't worry about the Demon King for now. Focus on getting stronger. After all, if you want the demons' support, you need to be stronger than all of them."
"You mean I'll have to defeat the Demon King?"
"The Demon King is powerful, but nothing in the world is ever 100% certain. And nothing is ever 0% either. When the future is in sight, what's the real difference between 1% and 100%?"
Frank smiled proudly, giving Ash a firm pat on the shoulder. Without looking back, he turned and began walking toward the cliff. "The next time we meet will be a year from now. But trust me, my friend—the path ahead of you will definitely be cleared."
"Will it really be cleared?"
At first, it seemed like an ordinary statement, but after thinking about it, Ash couldn't help but feel something was missing—like who would be the one to open the way? Would it be Frank, Schlacht, or someone else?
Before he could ask, Frank laughed and leaped off the cliff, vanishing without a trace.
After Frank's departure, Frieren stepped up beside him, staring at the spot where Frank had disappeared. With a sigh, she remarked:
"As expected of your friend, he's even stranger than you are."
"I don't think I'm that strange, but... Frieren, I'm afraid I'll have to say goodbye soon."
"Goodbye?"
"I'm happy to see you safe, but there's someone else I need to check on. It's almost time for me to go."
"Is that so?" Frieren didn't pry any further. She simply nodded, though a hint of regret flickered in her eyes.
"Hm, you still seem a bit cold."
"...Wouldn't it be troublesome to be overly affectionate with you?"
"That's fair." He laughed and nodded, not taking her remark seriously. This made Frieren chuckle as well. "From the beginning, you've always been a bit weird."
"I really don't think so~ But... let's catch up later. Once I finish my business, I'll definitely come back and visit."
As he spoke, he playfully ruffled Frieren's silver hair, causing her to glare at him in annoyance. With a grin, Ash turned and walked away, in the opposite direction from Frank.
Frieren remained, watching him leave. A quiet loneliness crept into her voice as she whispered to herself:
"Really... will there be a next time?"
Her soft murmur received no answer, carried away on the mountain breeze as it disappeared into the sky.
...
Three months later, in the northern countries.
Deep within an ancient forest, a castle stood silently amidst the wilderness.
The dry northern monsoon howled as Ash approached, making him sigh at the region's harsh environment. Nonetheless, he quickly arrived at the castle's gate.
This area belonged to the demons, yet he strode boldly through their territory, flaunting his power and his identity as a demon.
His powerful aura allowed him to approach the castle almost without resistance.
But right before the gate, a large group of demons and headless soldiers stood at the ready, prepared for battle.
It wasn't unusual. After all, demons often fought among themselves, and vigilance was necessary when faced with unfamiliar, high-ranking demons.
Just then, the castle's gate opened.
A small girl with two horns, a delicate face, and twin ponytails—Aura—emerged slowly, flanked by her subordinates.
Upon spotting the familiar figure, Aura's lips curled into a wide, exaggerated grin:
"Well, if it isn't my adorable jerk of a brother, Ash!"
"Ha, haha..."
This girl's so rude... I really want to knock her out. But wasn't I the one who taught her to act this way? What should I do? Though he hadn't expected a touching reunion with Aura, the moment she opened her mouth, Ash nearly stumbled in disbelief.