Frieren 83

Title: Love Education for Aura

Though Linie still looked petite, she hadn’t changed since her teens. From then on, she’d always look like this, just like Aura, who fundamentally wouldn’t change anymore.

Could this be called a legal loli or something? But for demons, maybe “legal” doesn’t apply? No… demons don’t have laws at all.

Confused, Ash didn’t know how to feel about this petite girl he’d watched grow up. With a hint of frustration, he stroked her hair and shook his head: “You really… Sigh, didn’t I tell you not to suddenly sit on my lap? You’re grown now.”

“True. But Ash-sama secretly enjoys it, right?” Linie sitting on his lap, tilted her head like a cute little bird.

“Well… somewhat.” Ash didn’t bother hiding it. While stroking her hair, he couldn’t help sighing: “After all, Fern, in just a few years, has grown and entered her rebellious phase. She usually won’t let me carry her.”

“Is that human disobedient? Should I kill her?” Linie, who might’ve lowered her head to read again, suddenly looked up expressionlessly. Her eyes brimmed with terrifying murderous intent.

Wearing a light dress and small black leather shoes, she looked like a gentle, fragile literary girl. Those unaware might think she was an innocent, sweet girl, but now… her frightening eyes revealed the truth hidden behind her soft appearance.

This was all due to Aura’s upbringing, turning Linie into a ruthless combat unit, overly loyal to her. Her reading now was only because Ash hoped she’d refine her emotions.

Facing this expressionless girl showing clear killing intent, Ash sighed deeply and pressed her head down: “As a girl, don’t keep wanting to fight and kill. I told you to read to calm you down and grow into a good kid in politics. Why are you… this is all your fault!”

As he spoke, he glared sharply at Aura, who pretended nothing was wrong, looking left and right, avoiding his gaze.

Aura, rarely obedient and not arguing back self-righteously, was actually restrained because Ash had previously held her on his lap and spanked her until it swelled. That’s why she finally held back a bit.

But there was no point dwelling on it now. Ash just stared at her briefly and gave up complaining further.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

As the carriage left the city, the grandeur of the Eist Empire’s capital, developed over years and nearly the second most advanced supercity in this world, slowly came into view.

On the road, stone paths shimmered slightly under the sunlight. Majestic buildings lined both sides. Shops were neatly arranged.

Children chased each other playfully. Couples carrying their kids strolled leisurely, a peaceful sight. In the middle of the road, horse carriages, residents, and tourists bustled.

The market was lively too. Merchants shouted to attract buyers. Customers haggled. It was bustling; fresh vegetables and fruits, fish and meat, fragrant wine, and daily goods were all available. There were also artists from distant places showcasing talents like acrobatics, singing, and dancing.

Everything brimmed with thriving energy. This prosperity and wealth, unlike the past, made many knights willingly pledge loyalty to him.

Ash felt very proud now. But Aura seemed uninterested, and even Linie just sat on his lap, focused on her book.

This convinced him that, when traveling, no one was more boring than these two.

Feeling bored, Ash rested his chin on Linie’s head, took documents out, and placed them on her book.

“…Ash-sama, I can’t read like this.” Linie shook her head resignedly.

“Forget it. Reading’s useless anyway, and you’re not even really reading.”

“Uh… sorry.” Linie, who’d been pretending to be serious, looked sad.

“I’m not scolding you… Anyway, put your book on your lap. It’s perfect as a document stand, so I can review them.”

“Okay~!”

As if finally freed, a faint smile appeared on Linie’s face, feeling forgiven. She followed his order, placing the book on her lap. Though she became a human document stand, she still swung her legs happily.

She learned nothing but was still happy, which should’ve annoyed him, but her appearance was so cute that Ash swallowed his reprimands, venting his frustration on the documents instead.

The carriage, under Ash’s anti-gravity magic, moved lightly through the city streets, escorted by knights, and soon reached a camp outside the city.

The carriage was lowered by knights and swapped for tamed monsters controlled in the outer camp. The monsters gripped the carriage, led by flying beast knights, heading to the nearest battlefield.

But as they flew, they passed the largest fortress city on the empire’s eastern border—Weise Fortress City.

Now, the once-prosperous fortress city was completely coated in gleaming gold. Even the forest around Weise Fortress City, larger than the city itself, had turned into shimmering gold.

This reminded Ash of the last time he came here. Or rather—before the city was coated in gold. And going back a bit further… it was when he spanked Aura.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

About forty years ago.

Facing Linie’s change, Ash, who wanted to raise a sweet, obedient child but accidentally raised a cold-blooded killer, was truly heartbroken. He couldn’t hold back from pounding his chest.

“What the heck! Why that face? Is this my fault? Didn’t I think of you? And didn’t I find a teacher as you asked~?” Facing Ash’s increasingly dangerous expression, Aura, who did it on purpose, raised her brows and curled her lips, cutting in self-righteously: “But how could I know the person specially hired by the king was secretly helping him raise his little lover? And didn’t I try hard to train this kid to be useful?”

“…Is that all you have to say?” Ash was so angry he laughed.

Aura, completely unaware of the danger, raised her head, arms crossed over her chest, and said logically: “Of course not, but you should thank me. After all, I focused on making her obey you. Now she listens to you more than me.”

“…Thanks. But, Aura, what’s the use of an executioner to me?”

“How would I know? But there’s no harm in having one, right?”

“Is that so? Well, Aura, do you know?” Ash stepped forward, gently stroking her horn.

But Aura, disgusted, swatted his hand away and glared: “Don’t touch me carelessly; I’m not your pet. So? What do you want to say?”

“Nothing. Just… if a little sister isn’t taught, it’s the big brother’s fault. You turning out like this, I bear a big responsibility.”

“Though I don’t understand, do you mean… you finally realize how much educational debt you owe me?” Aura tilted her head, puzzled. Soon, her face showed a hopeful smile.

This clueless person made Ash smile unconsciously too: “Yes, exactly. I owe you a lot of education.”

“Education?”

“In other words, love punishment.”

“Punish… wait a second? You want—Ouch?!”

An alarm rang in Aura’s head as she realized something was wrong. She instinctively backed away.

But as a mage, at zero distance from a warrior, she had almost no chance.

She only managed one yelp before the world spun. When she came to, Ash had restrained her on his lap.

“Ash, you wouldn’t do something unreasonable—Ouch!” She stubbornly tried to maintain her usual attitude, but before she finished, Ash spanked her, sending a jolt from her backside straight to her brain.

Her body tensed instinctively. Intense shame made her grit her teeth, staring at him in shock: “You actually hit me?!”

“Of course. Why should I be polite with you?”

“Ouch!—You, you! That hurts!”

“Who told you to scheme behind my back? Today, I’ll fix your bad roots and make you walk the straight path from now on!”

“—Ouch, ouch, ouch~~! I swear! I won’t let you…”

“Whether you let me or not, today I’m not letting you off!”

Accompanied by loud slaps, Aura’s yelps and various threats echoed briefly through the room.

Unfortunately, until night fell, Ash didn’t let her be “treated.” She used a cushion instead, biting it and venting her anger on the bed.

After that day, vengeful Aura didn’t speak to him for a whole year. Only when Ash was forced to apologize did she reluctantly forgive him.

And exactly one year and one month after he spanked her, Ash took Aura and Linie to the nearest battlefield, planning to collect useful corpses, passing through Weise Fortress City.