Frieren 89

Title: You Smell Like Apples!

If he weren’t in a rush, Ash would’ve properly educated this blunt child.

Unfortunately, he only remembered Fern’s birthday at the last moment… After all, time always slipped by unnoticed. He was lucky to recall it at the final hour. Thus, in his hurry, he took an apple from Linie, stuffed it in his pocket, and flicked her forehead.

As Linie winced in pain, sadly covering her forehead, Ash left a message: “Reflect on yourself properly!” Then he left without looking back, stepping to the window’s edge outside the study and into the corridor.

As for everyone’s cold attitude when he left… he didn’t mind too much.

He couldn’t help it. For demons, leaving for a few months or a year was like ordinary people going out for a weekend.

Ash was used to this sense of time. So, after a long sigh over Linie’s behavior, he shook his head and flew out the castle window.

Based on a map he’d obtained earlier and Fern’s travel routes, Ash quickly pinpointed two targets with great accuracy…

After exhausting many flying monsters he caught along the way, Ash reached the central countries in just a week. He found his target in a small port city built on a mountainside, as if embedded in the blue coastline.

“As expected of me, I nailed it on the first try~” After a bit of pride, Ash showed a relieved expression: “But… there’s really not much time left. It seems today’s Fern’s birthday. If I guessed wrong, I’ll miss it…”

In the city’s air, there was a faint salty scent. The street buildings were all stone, with orange-painted roofs.

On a street lined with residential houses, the familiar purple-haired girl, for some reason, stood at a narrow intersection. She stared straight at a silver-haired, twin-tailed elf slowly walking away, puffing her cheeks like a pufferfish without saying a word.

Her charming, cute appearance made Ash sneak closer unconsciously. Seizing the chance, he gently poked her back with his finger.

A “pu~” sound, like leaking air, rang out. Startled, Fern reflexively stepped back, instantly drawing her magic staff.

“Wait! Wait! Calm down, it’s me!”

“Ash-sama…?” The voice that had accompanied her since childhood made Fern pause. When she saw who it was, she unconsciously showed a joyful expression.

But she quickly remembered something, puffing her cheeks unhappily and glaring at him like he was a criminal: “What… isn’t this Ash-sama, the liar? You actually remembered me? What an honor, hm! What·an·hon·or!”

“Eh… why say it twice?”

“Because it’s very important!” Fern looked like a sulking child, glaring angrily.

To avoid provoking her further, Ash could only scratch his head, feigning innocence: “Haaa~ even if you praise me like that, I don’t know what expression to make~”

“That’s not praise!”

“Instead, shouldn’t we hug for this touching reunion?”

“No way. I don’t know an irresponsible Ash-sama!”

With a sulky expression, Fern ignored Ash’s open arms and walked ahead quickly.

“…Is this her rebellious phase? Or is she really mad? But she’s turning sixteen. Humans these days grow up so fast!”

Following her, Ash observed Fern, unable to help muttering to himself.

Compared to when he left, though not even a year had passed, Fern’s height now surpassed Frieren’s. Especially her chest… even if Frieren teamed up with Linie, Solitär, and Aura, one against four might not win.

Her waist-length purple hair flowed like a violet waterfall, framing her beautiful face, adding an indescribable touch of mystery and elegance.

Time passed quickly. Unnoticed, the snotty, innocent little girl had quietly grown into a perfect, beautiful young woman.

In some ways, she’d even grown toward Ash’s taste… a mature woman.

But the child he raised turning into a mature woman made him increasingly lose his fantasies about mature women… It truly pained Ash.

He even started worrying he’d stop liking mature women because of Fern. Just like someone with an older sister rarely becomes a siscon, those with younger sisters usually don’t either.

“Sigh, life is truly unpredictable…” Looking at the beautiful girl’s back, Ash sighed deeply, quickened his pace, calmed his mood, and patted her head affectionately: “…You’ve really grown, Fern.”

“What’s that? You left just like that, and now return with a caring expression… Ash-sama’s really bad.”

Though she softened briefly, Fern couldn’t help glaring coldly, full of dissatisfaction.

Honestly, her forced cold expression was very mature. But… being treated like that by the child he watched grow up hurt Ash a little.

This expression made Fern’s face soften slightly: “What’s with that look… are you actually regretful this time?”

“Yeah. By the way, I said I had important business.”

“What important business do you have? Aren’t you a jobless person?”

“…Though I look like this, I actually care a lot about this world and strive for world peace.”

“Since when did Ash-sama start lying like this?” Though Ash tried to tell the truth, Fern couldn’t help placing a hand on her hip, sighing deeply: “You used to be more honest.”

“In fact, I’ve never lied to you, from when you were little until now.”

“Hmph, I don’t believe you. Ash-sama just treats me like a child.”

“Wait a sec.” Seeing the sulking girl, Ash raised his hand to pause her, saying seriously: “Though I don’t treat you like a child… you actually are a child.”

“No! We’d definitely be seen as—”

“From the vibe, probably a father with his daughter?” Ash chuckled, trying to ease the tension with humor.

“Ugh~~!”

Fern’s cheeks flushed slightly. She was clearly embarrassed and annoyed by the analogy. The sound she made while puffing her cheeks showed she was even more displeased.

“Seems my maturity and composure aren’t appreciated.” Ash feigned sadness, but his eyes held a gentle light. He casually patted Fern’s cheek, smiling contentedly: “Actually, no matter what you say, I’m really happy to see you grow.”

“Ash-sama’s always like this… so… so sneaky!” The familiar touch on her face made Fern’s last bit of dissatisfaction hard to maintain, leaving only embarrassment and annoyance.

“Sneaky?”

“…Leaving just like that, then coming back pretending to be gentle… Do you think I’m a woman easily fooled?”

“I don’t think I’m pretending… but, a woman?”

“What’s that! Just say it! I won’t get mad!”

Though she said that, Fern’s expression already showed dissatisfaction.

Ash wasn’t foolish. He just smiled and nodded faintly: “…Nothing. Just that you’ve grown and become an amazing woman. Patting your cheek like this isn’t appropriate. Yeah, I’ll regret it.”

“No… if it’s occasionally… it’s fine.”

“…So it’s fine?”

“Anyway! Hurry and follow! Frieren-sama’s far ahead!”

Ash’s surprised expression made Fern turn quickly, as if hiding her current expression, and she jogged to catch up where Frieren had vanished.

Fern’s slightly odd behavior made even Ash feel something was off.

But considering their relationship, he shook his head firmly, refusing to overthink for now, and quickly followed.

Fern stealthily trailed Frieren, who was unaware. Her suspicious movements resembled a novice stalker.

At least, Ash found it hard to comment on her actions. Just as he raised his hand to call Fern ahead, she, hiding behind a wall, yanked him and dragged him beside it.

Seeing Ash’s confused look, Fern lowered her voice, saying anxiously: “What are you doing?!”

“What am I doing…? Honestly, I have no idea why you’re doing this suspicious stuff.”

“I don’t think I told you…” Fern froze briefly, then explained with slight anger: “You know I handle all our travel needs, right?”

“That’s how it was, I know.”

“But! Today Frieren-sama shook her head, said she’d buy travel supplies herself, and had a suspicious expression! She’s definitely buying weird stuff!”

“Like?”

“Weird bones and potions that only melt clothes! Totally useless! And those potions are super expensive!”

Fern kept complaining about Frieren, her expression clearly hoping Ash would join her in condemning. But Ash couldn’t help saying: “No, at least the second one’s useful. Think about it… oh, actually, it’s useless. Right, Frieren’s really bad. Buying weird stuff like that, her intentions are truly evil!”

As Ash spoke, Fern’s gaze turned icy, making him wisely tap his palm lightly and quickly change his words.

“Ash-sama.”

“…What?”

“Bad!” Though he’d changed his words, Fern still glared sharply. This made Ash, trying to be a good example but always failing, lower his head in frustration: “Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time…”

“…I don’t know Ash-sama.”

Saying she was fed up, the angry Fern left him, quickly chasing after Frieren, who’d gone far.

…But she couldn’t stay mad for long.

Seeing Fern ahead asking a passerby where a good bakery was, she grabbed Ash’s hand, leaned in, and complained angrily again: “Ash-sama! Look! This person’s so sneaky, right? I haven’t eaten cake in months! She’s going to eat alone behind my back!”

“Yeah, yeah…” (What should I do? Before coming, I ate apple pie with cream with Linie and lots of macarons with Aura. Fern’s living so poorly?)

Ash didn’t know how to face her. He rummaged through his belongings but found… only the apple he took from Linie, still fresh.

No good items. So he quietly handed it over: “Anyway… how about an apple?”

“Eh? Why suddenly give me an apple?”

“…Because I only have an apple on me…”

“Sorry, I don’t understand the connection. And… sniffing closely, why do you smell like apples too? Did you eat an apple recently and wipe the juice on yourself?”

Though his clothes were washed, their closeness let Fern catch a faint apple scent, wrinkling her nose. Ash unconsciously showed a confused expression.

It’s worth mentioning that as Fern grew up, whenever Ash left for long and returned, his clothes often smelled of apples.

But Ash didn’t seem to like eating apples. Fern had a strong curiosity about this unsolved mystery from childhood.

What could Ash say? Facing the girl’s investigative gaze, he could only calmly turn his face, trying to dodge the topic.

But this attitude, in Fern’s eyes, seemed even more suspicious… It truly sparked her desire to investigate.