Chapter 101.5: Fern's Kindness is a Miracle
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The Priest, still stuck in the swamp and struggling for his life, was suddenly yanked out of the mud like an uprooted lotus root—only to be unceremoniously tossed to the side.
...
...
Ten minutes later.
The priest, who had spent a long time retching and catching his breath, finally managed to recover some composure.
"I'm so sorry, Master Frieren and Master Ash. I've caused you a lot of trouble," Fern apologized weakly.
Fern, glaring helplessly at the two culprits—who were deliberately avoiding her gaze and pretending to be busy—sighed and turned back to the monk, who had introduced himself as Sein. She bowed her head slightly. "I'll reprimand them later. My deepest apologies for their behavior."
"...?!" Frieren's expression twisted into something unreadable, while Ash stared intently at the village in the distance, seemingly lost in thought.
Sein offered a wry smile and shook his head. "It's fine. After all, you still saved me..." He gestured toward the village not far away. "By the way, are you sure you don't want to visit our village? We're preparing for the Harvest Festival, but we'd be happy to host you."
"No, we need to head to the nearby town—wait, what are you doing?" Frieren started to decline on Fern's behalf, but Ash interrupted by placing a firm hand on her head, forcing her to bow slightly.
"Hey!" she snapped, glaring at him in annoyance.
Ash ignored her irritation and turned to Fern with a grin. "The Harvest Festival sounds like fun! Fern, let's stop by the village and enjoy ourselves for a bit!"
Fern's frown deepened. "What are you talking about all of a sudden? Don't we still need to get supplies from the town?" She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "You're not thinking of slacking off, are you? I won't go easy on you, even in a crowded place, Master Ash."
"Of course not! I just want to experience the local culture," Ash replied innocently. "Besides, we're not in a rush, so why not take our time?"
"Yes, yes! Fern, I want to see it too!" Frieren quickly chimed in, putting on her best expression of excitement as if trying to support Ash's case.
Fern stared at the two of them, at a loss for words. After a long pause, she sighed in resignation. "Fine… if you insist. But don't think this means I'll let you off the hook. Once we're back and no one else is around, expect to be properly scolded in the room."
Ash nodded eagerly, his grin unrelenting. "Of course, we understand! We'll reflect on our actions thoroughly... But for now, let's enjoy the Harvest Festival!"
Frieren, for her part, raised her hands defensively. "We know we were wrong, Fern, but the festival—it's important!" She waved her hands animatedly as if to emphasize her sincerity.
When Fern turned away to focus on the path ahead, Frieren leaned toward Ash and jabbed him in the side with her elbow. Without looking at him, she muttered under her breath, "…Ash, your plan isn't working."
"...I might have miscalculated a bit," he replied, his voice equally quiet.
"Think of another way."
"Please, let's not force it. An angry Fern is hard to pacify."
Trailing behind Fern, the two whispered in hushed tones, strategizing on how to avoid the scolding they were sure awaited them.
Fern, walking ahead, caught snippets of their hushed conversation but chose to let it slide for now. With outsiders present, she decided it wasn't the time to address their antics. Instead, she sighed quietly and continued onward.
Meanwhile, Sein, who had been listening to the odd exchange, couldn't contain his curiosity. "What is your relationship, exactly? It doesn't seem as simple as just teammates…"
Fern turned back slightly, her expression calm. "Lady Frieren and Master Ash raised me," she began but stopped mid-sentence. She turned sharply toward them, her tone firm. "Lord Sein just warned us that there are many dangerous and venomous creatures in this area! Both of you, stay alert and avoid getting bitten!"
"Uh…" Sein hesitated, glancing between Fern's serious demeanor and the antics of Ash and Frieren. "Are you sure you didn't raise them? And…" His doubtful gaze lingered on the group, clearly unconvinced of their supposed dynamic.
"No, I didn't lie, and they just act foolishly occasionally, but they are actually very reliable people."
"…Is that so?"
Sein's expression turned doubtful. Considering the earlier behavior of the two, it was hard for him to reconcile Fern's claims about their occasional foolishness and their supposed reliability during critical moments. He couldn't help but shoot the two figures behind Fern a sympathetic look.
How good must this child's nature be, to still turn out so upright despite having to deal with these two? Sein thought as his eyes flicked between Fern and the troublemakers in question.
...
Meanwhile, Ash and Frieren, oblivious to sein's thoughts, were walking behind Fern, earnestly discussing ways to avoid the scolding they were certain was coming their way.
Ash, showing no regard for Sein's earlier warnings, reached up to pluck a small cherry-like fruit from a bush beside the road. No sooner had he picked it than a green poisonous snake suddenly slithered out from the underbrush, its body coiled and its fangs bared as it lunged to bite him.
But Ash's reflexes were far sharper than the snake's.
Before the venomous creature could strike, Ash casually flicked his fingers with a snap! The snake was knocked unconscious and hung limply, still twitching.
Ash grabbed it by the head and turned to Frieren, his expression dead serious. "Do you think this thing would taste good?"
Frieren recoiled, stepping back immediately. "What the hell are you doing?! Why are you asking me? I don't know how to handle snakes!" She gave him a pointed look before muttering in annoyance, "Just throw it away before you get us in more trouble!"
"But it's the Harvest Festival, right? Why not contribute something unique? This snake looks like it could make a decent dish."
Frieren's lips curled in disdain. "And what if someone eats it and dies because you didn't prepare it properly?"
Ash waved her concern off. "It's fine. Even if it bites me, we have priest here, don't we? They'll handle it."
Unperturbed, Ash walked ahead with the limp snake in hand. Once in front of Sein, he held it up, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hey, Sein! Look at this! Does this kind of snake taste any good?"
"What—AH!?"
Sein, startled by the green snake dangling far too close for comfort, jumped back reflexively. His face twisted in panic as he waved his arms to keep Ash at bay. "What are you doing!? Take that thing away! Don't you understand how venomous it is?!"
Ash tilted his head, looking at Sein quizzically. "But I caught it safely. And aren't you a priest? Why are you so afraid of poison?"
"Just because I can detoxify doesn't mean I'm not afraid of pain! Besides, when I warned you to avoid dangerous, poisonous creatures, I didn't mean for you to catch them!"
Ash shrugged, unbothered. "Relax. I wasn't going to bite it raw. I'd cook it first. That's only natural."
"'Natural'?! What part of this is natural?!" Sein yelled, darting away from the snake as Ash stepped closer.
Fern, who had been quietly observing until now, sighed deeply and stepped in. Pressing down firmly on Ash's arm to lower the snake, she fixed him with a stern glare. "I'm begging you, just throw it away."
Ash hesitated, glancing at the snake wistfully. "But it's such a waste—"
"Throw it. Away," Fern repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Alright, alright…" Ash sighed, reluctantly flinging the unconscious snake back into the forest.
But before Fern could continue her reprimand, a scream echoed from the direction of the trees.
"Ahhh!"
The voice, unmistakably Sein's, made everyone freeze for a moment before rushing toward the sound. They parted the bushes to find Sein standing frozen on the winding path ahead.
At his feet was the now-awake and very-much-enraged green snake, coiled and hissing.
The venomous snake, now thoroughly enraged, sank its fangs into Sein's calf, as if blaming him for all its misfortune.
"…Did you do this on purpose?! What kind of grudge do we have?!" Sein bellowed, his gaze shifting to the scar on the snake's head, left by Ash's earlier flick. Realizing the culprit, he stared at Ash with a mixture of grief and anger.
"It was just an unfortunate accident," Ash replied with a shrug, completely unrepentant. "How was I supposed to know you'd step on it? You were just unlucky."
"——Lord Ash!"
"Alright, alright," Ash sighed, finally turning to Fern, who was glaring daggers at him. His tone softened as he added, "I'm really sorry about that. Truly."
However, his apology lacked the sincerity it desperately needed. He spoke as if trying to convince himself rather than the others, his gaze wandering far into the distance. Unsurprisingly, Sein wasn't convinced.
Looking at Fern, then back at Ash, Sein muttered, "This child turned out to be so upright… it has to be a miracle from the goddess, right?"
While casting holy magic to detoxify himself, Sein couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of faith. It was the first time he so firmly believed in the goddess's existence. After all, how else could he explain how someone raised by the likes of Ash hadn't turned out to be a complete villain?
...
At the foot of the mountain road lay a humble village, its unassuming church nestled among the buildings. Despite being bitten by the venomous snake, Sein insisted on treating his saviors to a meal at the church to express his gratitude.
Ash and Frieren, eager to avoid another lecture, immediately agreed to the offer. Sein, however, had initially hesitated to include Ash, given how close he had come to nearly killing him again.
But as Ash stepped into the church, something unexpected happened.
A faint ripple flickered through the air as the goddess's protective blessing—an inherent part of the church—shattered like a soap bubble.
To most people, this event went unnoticed. Even the priests within the church remained oblivious, as the blessing had always been faint.
Yet Sein, uniquely favored by the goddess, felt the change acutely. The sudden absence of the goddess's protection unsettled him. Glancing around, he tried to pinpoint the cause, only to find his gaze drawn to Ash.
For the first time, Ash felt strangely out of place in the sacred space. The sensation was subtle—so faint that it could easily go unnoticed unless one paid close attention—but to Sein, it was undeniable.
Meanwhile, the person in question appeared blissfully unaware. Completely at ease, Ash strolled toward the altar and casually sat beside it, exuding a demeanor as if he had returned to his own home.
Sein couldn't suppress his exasperation. "No matter how you look at it, you're being way too casual! Just watching you sit there makes me feel like I've accidentally walked into your house!"
"Hmm? Why overthink it? Sit wherever you like," Ash replied nonchalantly, patting the spot beside him as if encouraging Sein to join him.
Sein's patience finally snapped. "——This is my house!" he shouted.
Fern immediately intervened, pulling Ash away by the arm. Bowing apologetically to Sein, she sighed, "I'm sorry. Master Ash is always like this… too casual for his own good."
"...That's probably why the goddess hates you," she muttered under her breath, casting Ash a disapproving look.
"No, no, I doubt that's the case," Sein interjected with a shake of his head. "Although I'd love to chastise him, I don't think the goddess minds his behavior. After all…"
Sein paused, his gaze softening as he added, "I've sat here many times before."
"Huh?"
Both Frieren and Fern froze, their confusion palpable.
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Another priest, dressed in formal robes and glasses, adjusted them with a resigned sigh.
"Sein… at least show some faith in front of others. And as for you, Master Ash… you truly live up to your unrestrained reputation."
"…You know me?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I've heard of you and Lady Frieren from Lord Heiter," the priest replied, his hand gently brushing the goddess pendant on his chest. The pendant was unlike the standard ones and bore a distinct, sacred design. "This holy seal was also bestowed upon me by Lord Heiter."
"Hmm~ I remember that seal. Isn't it only awarded to the most exceptional local clergy?"
"Yes, it's the only thing I can truly take pride in," the priest admitted, a faint note of regret in his voice as his fingers lingered on the holy seal. "Sein's talent, however, far surpasses mine."
"Hey~ Is that so?" Ash turned his attention to Sein with curiosity. However, Sein, visibly uninterested in the conversation, scratched his head and abruptly walked toward the back of the church.
"I'm going to prepare dinner. What do you want to eat?"
"I want meat," Ash replied without hesitation.
"…What are you saying to a priest? And don't even think about it. Frieren saved my life, while you almost ended it. You're not getting any meat."
"Isn't that a bit petty? You're a priest—shouldn't you be more forgiving?"
"—It's about principle!" Sein shot back, his irritation evident.
Without waiting for further discussion, Sein ignored Frieren and Fern's input entirely, heading to the back of the church and closing the door firmly behind him.
...
With Sein gone, the church settled into an unusual stillness.
The priest's previously neutral expression grew heavier. He glanced at the remaining three, then lowered his head as if deliberating before speaking.
"Forgive me if this seems sudden, but… may I trouble you to hear my story?"
"Of course," Ash responded casually, leaning back slightly. "But seriously, you two really are brothers. How is it that both of you love storytelling so much?"
Frieren, unable to resist, quipped in agreement, "He's right. You're quite the storyteller."
Her words were met with a sharp, disapproving look from Fern, forcing her to stop mid-sentence and retreat into silence.
Fern, ever formal and polite, bowed slightly toward the priest. "Please, Father, go ahead."
"Thank you," the priest said softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. His hand gripped the holy seal tightly as he continued, "Our parents passed away early, and as the elder brother, it fell to me to raise Sein, who is much younger than me."
A pained expression crossed his face as he spoke. "When he was a child, he always dreamed of becoming an adventurer. The light in his eyes back then… it told me he didn't want to live an ordinary life like mine. He didn't want to spend his days as a simple priest, repeating the same routine. But now… now he's become exactly like me when I was young—a boring old man."
"That's what growing up does to people," Ash said with a knowing nod. "As you grow older, you lose your dreams and hopes. But that's just how life is."
Frieren glanced up in surprise, her gaze fixed on Ash. "What? You still had dreams? I didn't notice when we were fighting the Demon King together."
The two seemed poised to launch into yet another banter-filled exchange when Fern, visibly exasperated, interjected sternly. "Lady Frieren, Master Ash… I understand that you two have a good rapport, but could you please refrain from casual conversations while someone else is speaking?"
Ash offered an awkward but polite smile, scratching the back of his neck. "…My apologies, Father. Please, continue."