Chapter 70 Heiter: Be a decent person!
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Heiter's retirement home was a typical Western-style cottage.
Though it was considered "small," it was actually fairly spacious, with at least three or four rooms on each floor. It wasn't luxurious by any means, but it had a simple charm, with ivy creeping up the walls and a small attic tucked on the second floor.
An independent well stood by the entrance, along with a modest vegetable garden. It was autumn, the season of harvest, and before Ash even knocked on the door, he couldn't resist glancing back. Without waiting for Fern to say anything, he picked a tomato, wiped it clean, and took a bite.
Fern watched with a worried expression.
"Master Ash, it's really not proper to pick and eat things without permission. The owner of this place could be upset…"
"It's fine, he won't mind… Though I'd prefer this tomato cooked, like in scrambled eggs with tomatoes."
"Then don't pick it in the first place…" Fern seemed distressed by his casual attitude.
"What are you saying, Fern? My friend grows these veggies; it's only natural I'd want a taste first! That's kind of the whole point, right?"
"...I'm sorry, I don't understand at all."
"It's alright. You'll get it when you're older."
"...Really?" Fern nodded uncertainly. But as she looked at their suitcases, a thought crossed her mind, and she spoke up, "But Master Ash, rather than thinking about things like that, we didn't bring any gifts or anything. Is it really okay to visit like this…?"
"A gift?"
"Is something wrong?"
Fern looked up, puzzled, while Ash played with the tomato, muttering, "…This is odd. I don't remember teaching you about all these strange, complicated etiquettes."
"This is basic manners," Fern insisted, unconsciously emphasizing her words. "Even a seven-year-old like me understands that."
"No, I think it's normal not to understand such things at your age."
Ash was both amused and exasperated by this little child with such an adult-like demeanor. With a sigh, he reached out and ruffled her hair, then handed her the half-eaten tomato.
"Huh? What is this?"
Fern instinctively took it, about to question him, but before she could get an answer, Ash had already strolled up to the cottage and knocked confidently on the door.
"Heiter~ Heiter! I'm here to hang out! Open up already!"
"...I'm coming, I'm coming."
Soon, footsteps sounded from within, followed by an elderly voice.
The door creaked open, and there stood an older man, walking slowly with a cane. When he saw Ash, his eyes widened, and a nostalgic smile spread across his face.
"Well, I thought I must've misheard… Never expected you to actually come here on your own."
"Yeah~ something like that."
"Haha, didn't you just say you were here to hang out?" Heiter chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. Whatever Ash's real reason for visiting, he didn't seem to mind. "Well… come on in."
"Then I'll help myself!"
"When have you ever been polite with me?"
"That's true." Ash chuckled but didn't enter the house immediately. Instead, he turned around and called out to the little girl who was still lingering by the vegetable garden, glaring at the tomato in her hand with a hint of annoyance.
"Fern, stop fussing over the tomato and come in."
"Yes! I'm coming." Fern snapped out of her daze, quickly running over. She stopped in front of Heiter and bowed politely. "Nice to meet you, Master Heiter. I've heard so much about you from Master Ash."
"Oh, what a polite child! Not like you at all," Heiter chuckled, squatting down to look at Philen with a warm smile. However, when he noticed the half-eaten tomato in her hand, he couldn't resist casting a sidelong glance at Ash and shaking his head. "I take it she learned that bit of impoliteness from you?"
"Ah, well…" Fern looked at the tomato, then up at Ash, clearly embarrassed. She quickly bowed her head to Heiter and apologized, her voice soft with guilt.
"S-Sorry! I ate the tomato without permission."
"Eh? Oh… it's alright. I was only joking. Feel free to pick and eat whatever you like. Make yourself at home." Heiter laughed, waving his hands dismissively. Then he shot Ash a playful look. "Let me tell you, this kid is nothing like you. She's polite and well-behaved."
"Uh… actually, I'd like to clarify something…"
"What is it?"
"That tomato… I was the one who picked it. I didn't think it tasted very good, so I gave it to Fern." Ash hesitated, realizing it wasn't right to let the child take the blame, and finally confessed.
Heiter's smile froze. After a long silence, he dropped his kindly demeanor and scolded him sharply.
"Could you be decent for once?! You actually let a child take the blame for you?!"
"No… this is your own misunderstanding, isn't it?" Ash protested.
"The child admitted it herself!" Heiter retorted, exasperated. Ash blinked, a little taken aback. "Oh… so it seems?"
"This is definitely your fault!"
"No, no, no, this is completely unfair! I didn't ask her to do that, much less train her to cover for me." Ash spread his hands in innocence, but Heiter wasn't buying it. "What normal child would willingly take the blame like that?"
"Maybe she was influenced by my good character," Ash replied, feigning sincerity, "and grew up to be such a good kid."
"Impossible! This is…" Heiter's voice suddenly faltered as he was overtaken by a fit of coughing. "Cough! … Cough, cough!"
"Alright, calm down. Why get so worked up? Just take it easy!"
"You… cough… you realize… cough, cough! This is entirely… your doing…!" Heiter continued his complaint between coughs, pounding his chest in an attempt to catch his breath. His eyes were full of frustration, while Ash remained casually innocent, patting Heiter on the back to ensure he didn't choke.
Fern watched this exchange with a puzzled expression, wondering if these two had a good or a bad relationship.
...
Once they were inside and seated at the simple wooden dining table, Heiter was still regaining his composure.
Heiter rested his hand on his forehead for a long moment before shaking his head and sighing.
"I've been a bishop for so many years, maintaining a dignified, calm image... and yet you've come along and ruined it all."
"Actually, maybe you were just pretending to be good all along?" Ash replied with a smirk.
Heiter gave him a disapproving look. "Is that what you say to an old man? You may think otherwise, but with age comes this kind of change. Not everyone is like you."
"Oh, is that so?"
Heiter opened his mouth to respond but hesitated, his gaze shifting to Fern sitting next to Ash. Whatever he wanted to say seemed to vanish as he grew silent.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked, sensing the shift.
Fern smiled and shook his head, then turned back to Fern with a curious glint in his eye. "No, it's nothing. But… Fern, is it? Such a charming little girl. It almost seems like a shame that she has to follow Ash around~"
"That's not true at all!" Fern's face grew stern as she defended Ash, refuting the remark with unexpected resolve. "And… please don't say bad things about Master Ash!"
"Right on, Fern!" Ash nodded approvingly from the side, clearly encouraging her. "Let's team up against this wine-drinking, meat-loving Priest!"
However, Fern, looking distressed by the teasing, turned back with a sigh. "Master Ash, you're also not helping. Master Heiter is the bishop here, after all... It doesn't feel right to say these things."
"Haha! What an interesting child!" Heiter laughed heartily, as if he were genuinely amused by his favorite young visitor. He leaned on the table and observed her thoughtfully. "Fern, what is your relationship with this troublemaker? Are you his daughter? Though, judging by how you address him, that doesn't quite seem to fit."
"Eh? My relationship with Master Ash...?" Fern looked troubled for a moment, clearly caught off-guard. She had, indeed, pondered this question on her own before, yet had no clear answer.
Sensing her unease, Ash reached over, placing a hand gently on her head. "Actually, it wouldn't be too far off to think of her as my great-granddaughter or something along those lines."
"Great-granddaughter? Since when were you married?" Haita asked, his surprise evident.
"No, actually, I was thinking of her more as your granddaughter."
"My... my granddaughter...?" Heiter looked stunned. When the words finally sank in, he took up his cane with renewed vigor, his expression determined.
Ash, however, was quick to react, pulling Fern onto his lap, effectively blocking any attempt Heiter might have made to reach him. "Now, now, is that any way for an elder to behave? Using a child as a shield?"
"Shield? That's an awfully biased view. I'm simply showing my warmth in her presence." Ash said it lightly, patting Fern's head with a gentle smile. "Isn't that right, Fern?"
"Yes… I suppose so," she replied, clearly embarrassed by being used as an innocent buffer between the two. Nevertheless, she obediently stayed seated on his lap, looking both flustered and a bit resigned.
Heiter observed the exchange thoughtfully for a long moment before finally speaking, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Ash, could we speak alone for a moment, as old friends?"
"What's on your mind?"
"Something… important." Heiter adjusted his frameless glasses carefully, his voice low.
"Well, that's rare." Ash nodded casually, looking down at the girl on his lap. "Heiter, why don't you head outside and play for a while?"
"Okay." With surprising understanding, Fern nodded, slipping down from his lap. She made her way to the door and stepped out, even thoughtfully closing it behind her to give them privacy.