Frieren 79

Title: Even Until the End of Your Life, I Will Protect You

Due to Ash’s unique nature, Heiter couldn’t be certain how long he would care for Fern.

Thus, before Frieren left, he hoped Fern would at least gain abilities comparable to one of them, or that by the time he died, he could see Fern capable of standing on her own. That way, he could leave in peace.

After all, just as Fern saw him as a grandfather, Heiter genuinely regarded this little creature he met at the end of his life as his granddaughter.

Ash fundamentally understood what Heiter was thinking. So, looking at the frail, exhausted old man in bed, he let out a resigned sigh: “I know your wish, but you’re definitely mistaken. Now, there’s no way I’d leave her… I can assure you of that. Besides, if she takes one more step forward, she’s basically independent. Fern has the ability to make a living as an adult. There’s really not much to worry about.”

“…Honestly, what is Fern to you?” Heiter suddenly asked a strange question, catching Ash off guard: “Fern? A kid, right? What else could she be?”

Fern was the child he watched grow up. Even if Ash wanted to see her as something else, it would be very difficult.

“Haha… That’s true. In our eyes, that child will always be a kid.” Considering the reality, Heiter couldn’t help but smile. But then he said meaningfully: “But kids grow up. One day, she’ll become an elegant young woman. And you won’t age. Not long from now… at least in appearance, you’ll look the same age.”

“Just in appearance.”

“When she was little, she could see you as a father, but when she grows up and looks your age, can she really keep seeing you that way? I think that’ll be very hard. And what do you think yourself?”

Ash’s situation was very special, forcing Heiter to sit up from the bed. He was serious, as if he were a grandfather looking out for his granddaughter.

This odd attitude confused Ash: “What are you thinking about every day? An older brother, of course, right?”

“No blood relation.”

“Then, a neighbor’s older brother.”

“A neighbor’s older brother… who raised her since she was little. What’s that?”

“…Let me think about it.”

“We can put that off for now. Later, when Fern’s in her twenties, what about you?”

“Don’t overthink weird stuff.” Not wanting to be bothered by this question anymore, Ash waved his hand, cutting off Heiter’s strange speculations, and said firmly: “Anyway, I’m the older one. I’m sure, even if she’s a bit rebellious, deep down she respects me. When she’s grown, she’ll still see me as a parent.”

“Even if she thinks that way… what about you? Don’t you always want to find a normal girl to watch falling stars with? Fern’s already cute now. When she’s fully grown, she’ll be even cuter.”

“…So, what kind of person do you think I am? How could I ever touch a kid I watched grow up? I might act toward demons, angels, or old elves, but there’s no way I’d do anything with Fern.”

His old friend’s absurd suspicion made Ash immediately give a firm response, almost swearing to it.

In truth, besides having watched her grow up, there was a very realistic reason… the age difference. This was a fundamental issue.

As they had encountered during their adventures, there was a case of a dwarf marrying a human wife.

The result, of course, was that the human wife died first, while the dwarf husband still guarded her grave and the village. He didn’t even know how many more years he’d have to guard it.

Races with different lifespans, after all, shouldn’t be together. This was a lesson history taught them.

Even without the issue of union, Ash would still see Fern age… This seemed unavoidable.

Thinking of this, Heiter said nothing more. He only let out a slightly resigned sigh, gazing at the ceiling again. In a low voice, he said: “Then later… I’ll pray for you both in heaven.”

“Don’t overthink now. Just live your life well.”

“Haha, that’s true…”

Smiling weakly, Heiter closed his eyes, causing Ash to shift his gaze away from him, looking out the window.

At that moment, perhaps the sky also pitied the old man, over a hundred years old, still worrying about others. Outside, the wind and rain were fierce. Raindrops relentlessly pounded the window, giving the illusion that doomsday was approaching.

But Ash stayed silent for a long time. Then he suddenly said: “But… no matter what, you don’t need to worry too much. Whatever happens, and however Fern sees me, I’ll protect her until the end of her life—not for you. I just can’t stand the thought of a child I raised dying for unnatural reasons.”

“That’s truly… better than anything. But that makes me feel really bad for you.”

“Forget it. It’s my choice too.”

“Then… thank you. I’m counting on you later.”

Their conversation ended there. After that, the room was filled only with the sound of the wind seeping through the window’s cracks.

Ash didn’t stay long by the sickbed. He left Heiter’s room.

In the living room, Frieren sat lost in thought at the dining table. Her expression was far gloomier than that of the two men.

Though she’d just returned from outside, soaked through with water dripping, she had no intention of tidying up. She just sat there, daydreaming.

This made Ash shake his head repeatedly. He grabbed a towel and tossed it onto her face, instantly darkening her view. At the same time…

Frieren, already in a bad mood, yanked the towel off and glared at him angrily: “I’m not in the mood to fight with you! Not now…”

“You’re grown up; you should know better. You need to take care of your body before you can do anything else. What if you catch a cold? Magic can’t cure the flu.”

“…Of course I know that. You don’t need to tell me.” Frieren turned her face away unhappily. But she still took the towel and headed to the bathroom. Before closing the door, she suddenly said without looking back: “Fern’s still up on the mountain. Go check on her. It’s not good if something happens to her.”

“You don’t need to tell me; I know. But… I’ll bring Fern down later. After you’re done bathing, don’t forget to cook. Preferably something the kid likes.”

“You still don’t understand her.”

“What do you mean?”

“At least for now, I don’t think she’ll come down that quickly.”

“But I’ll bring her down.”

Ash shrugged slightly. He grabbed an umbrella… and as he opened the door, he stepped into the wind and rain.

His exit looked very cool. But with the wind and rain so fierce, the medieval umbrella broke the moment he opened it. Cold rain hit his face.

“With rain this heavy, she’s still so diligent. This kid is really…”

Ash wiped the rainwater from his face, muttering, and immediately floated into the air. He vanished from the spot like lightning.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the mountain behind, at the edge of a barren cliff by the forest.

The girl with long purple hair reaching her waist stood at the cliff’s edge. Ignoring the fierce wind and pouring rain, she kept staring at a protruding rock on the other side.

Focused, she repeatedly fired ordinary attack magic, adapted from killing magic, at the distant boulder, over and over.

But no matter how many times the light shot out, due to insufficient control and Mana, it quickly lost momentum and vanished in the wind before reaching the rock.

Ash stood nearby, observing for a moment. Unable to hold back, he stepped forward, reached out, and placed his hand on Fern’s head, advising: “…Take it easy. You won’t succeed right now.”

“I can’t. Both you and Heiter-sama don’t have much time left. If… if Frieren-sama really can’t finish in time, I need to at least let you see that I’m capable of living on my own.”

The girl turned around. Standing in the pouring rain, she stared at his face unblinkingly.

The resolve in her words made her seem unshakable.

Ash crouched slightly, meeting her gaze at eye level. He looked into her clear, water-like eyes. After a moment’s thought, a gentle smile formed at the corners of his mouth. He said slowly: “This is a secret between us… Don’t tell anyone. Not even Frieren.”

“…What?”

“Actually, I’m different from Heiter. I’m very special. My body is strong enough to see your future. I’ll keep watching over your life. So—even until the end of your life, I’ll protect you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I can swear to it here. No matter what happens in the future, or how our relationship changes, I’ll never abandon you.”

His tone was firm. Ash’s gentle eyes held deep warmth, leaving Fern stunned, her eyes slightly widening.

Though his words had no basis, she found it hard to doubt them… or rather, she didn’t want to.

After that, Ash said nothing more. He just gently stroked her head, making her tense body relax in his hand. She even felt the urge to hug him like she used to.

But before she could decide, Ash gently embraced her, just like before. It made her, once again, surrender completely to that warmth without condition.