Frieren 78

Title: Heiter’s Final Days

After Frieren joined the forest cottage family, significantly raising the average age of the household, peaceful years passed slowly.

As spring turned to autumn, Fern’s shoulder-length hair gradually grew to reach her waist.

But in this next winter, heavy snow fell, piling thickly on the ground. The wind outside the window howled relentlessly, swift and low… Ash’s heart felt as cold as the world outside.

“…Why is such a good and obedient child now going through a rebellious phase?” Being avoided by the child he watched grow up made Ash, sitting in his rocking chair, feel lonely and sad.

Frieren, with both hands near the fireplace, trying to soak up as much warmth as possible, glanced over and said confidently: “You left for half a year straight… Fern’s bound to feel awkward with you. How are you even worse at understanding kids than I am, when you’re not an elf?”

“Seriously?”

Though the fireplace burned strongly, crackling with blazing wood, the child he watched grow up turning cold and awkward—more terrifying than any rebellious phase—made Ash’s heart suddenly feel colder.

But the old man beside him, sipping tea, overheard their conversation and couldn’t help rolling his eyes at them both. Yet he was too lazy to correct anything.

Fern, standing nearby, stared at Ash with puffed cheeks, silent. But when Ash looked at her, she let out a soft, wordless huff, turned her face away, and showed she didn’t want to communicate.

(Adults really can’t understand kids’ feelings. Is this what they call a generation gap?)

Though he felt quite regretful, Ash still habitually reached out and gently stroked Fern’s head.

Despite her many complaints, Fern didn’t reject the gesture. Her expression softened unconsciously.

Though she’d decided not to ask too much about Ash to avoid burdening him, this time his sudden long absence made Fern unable to suppress her worry. Under his gentle touch, she couldn’t help asking: “Ash-sama, why do you always leave?”

“Well… I have all sorts of business.”

“What? Don’t tell me it’s for dating or something?”

“Dating?” Hearing such words from Fern’s mouth, Ash was slightly surprised. A relieved expression that his child had grown up appeared on his face: “So you already know what dating is.”

“Frieren-sama said Ash-sama has very low desires, always wanting to go watch falling stars with women… Is that true?”

“No, no, that’s not low at all.” Ash shook his head in confusion, unable to resist glaring at Frieren, scolding her unhappily: “What’s with you, teaching the kid weird things?”

“No, I didn’t say low.” Frieren kept waving her hands.

“Heiter!”

“Why are you looking at me?” Heiter shook his head silently: “I don’t think it’s low either. Isn’t that a man’s romance?”

“Exactly! Not low at all!” Gaining his friend’s support made Ash feel justified: “Fern, you can’t think like that. Why judge my noble soul with such dirty thoughts and learn weird things?”

“…” Fern ignored him, turning her face away and glaring at Heiter unhappily: “…Heiter-sama…!”

With just that, Heiter immediately switched sides with affection, directing his attack at Ash: “I was just kidding earlier. It’s actually very low. As a man, you shouldn’t be like that.”

“Ash-sama! Did you hear? Even Heiter-sama, a bishop, says so! Please reflect and fix it!”

Fern, instantly turning her foe into an ally, puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish, firmly demanding he change, leaving Ash stunned: “Is this really my fault?”

“Of course!”

“Haaa… so kids, when they grow up, really drift away from their parents. Starting to rebel.”

Ash didn’t argue with her. He quietly took out the precious magical device from his pocket.

With a nostalgic expression, he injected Mana, and the device soon played Fern’s younger voice: “If it weren’t for Ash-sama, I might’ve died on the roadside! Ash-sama gave me warm food and a clean bed! Gave me a home! When I felt unsafe, you…”

“W-wait a second! W-what’s that voice?!”

Fern, who had been puffing her cheeks, immediately recognized her own voice. Her face flushed, and she rushed forward to stop it.

But Ash stood up, dodging her. He let out a long, fake-regretful sigh while listening: “Back then, Fern was so cute. She even said she really liked me. But now Fern… Ugh! I really prefer the little Fern.”

“When did you record that?! Please, quick, hand over that weird thing—!”

“No way~”

“I… I’m really mad!!”

“Even if you’re mad, I won’t give it up. This is the pillar of my soul! Losing it is like losing my soul!”

Though Fern jumped at him, standing on tiptoes to grab it, Ash refused to compromise, holding it until the recording finished.

This left Fern with no choice. She could only clench her fists, puff her round cheeks, and keep staring at him, her face red with embarrassment.

If you called it cute, it was indeed very cute. Not scary at all. So, Ash had no intention of compromising. He happily showed off his treasure to Frieren.

Frieren couldn’t help nodding in admiration: “You’ve got something good. I didn’t expect the cold Fern to have had such a cute phase.”

“Right~?”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The two gathered, chatting lively. But the consequence… Fern turned away with puffed cheeks, ignoring them all night.

Even the next day was the same. Heiter didn’t even bother defending them, forcing them to apologize to her one by one.

But even so, Fern forgave Frieren but not Ash. Because Ash still wouldn’t hand over the recording or tell her where he went.

This led to Fern refusing to speak to him for days. Ash was forced to decide he couldn’t easily use this secret weapon unless necessary.

It wasn’t that Ash didn’t want to explain what he was doing. He just often didn’t clarify his situation clearly.

Besides going to Strahl, he spent most of his time in the Royal Capital and the Demon King’s Castle.

Because the two great demons there, Qual and Rivale, could teach him innovative magic and martial arts, respectively.

Both were also very strong. If not careful, they could cause major trouble outside. Ash felt that if he didn’t visit regularly, he couldn’t control them. Of course… he also wanted to improve himself, which was why he often went to the Demon King’s Castle.

If he didn’t go occasionally, who knows how many towns and villages would be destroyed. Qual focused on his research and wouldn’t go out without reason.

But Rivale was a berserker, always seeking worthy warriors to fight. This time, he even wanted to visit a warrior village to see if anyone could match him. But he gave up because a stronger opponent arrived.

Fortunately, Ash only occupied the Demon King’s Castle and didn’t declare himself Demon King, avoiding many problems to some extent.

But compared to the unchanging Demon King’s Castle, the forest cottage, over time, slowly shifted from a warm and harmonious atmosphere to one of seriousness and tension.

Because Heiter’s body, as time passed, grew weaker. Even at night, his persistent coughing could be heard.

Magic could heal external wounds but couldn’t cure illnesses, let alone reverse human aging. Not just Frieren and Ash, even Fern could clearly sense that Heiter’s life was nearing its end.

This made her, seeing Heiter accidentally fall and bedridden, feel anxious and urge Frieren: “…Frieren-sama, hasn’t there been progress on that magic book? Can’t you speed it up a bit?”

“I think that magic book… no. Don’t worry, I’ll speed up.” Frieren stopped mid-sentence. Recalling something, she silently shook her head, temporarily holding back from saying more.

Meanwhile, in Heiter’s room, Ash sat by the bedside but only crossed his arms over his chest, saying nothing.

Heiter, who had fallen and needed to rest in bed for a while, looked at the unchanged Ash and smiled: “After this, I’m counting on you for the child.”

“It’s too early for last words.”

“…But it feels like it’s soon.”

“That’s true.”

“Sorry.”

“For what?”

“For a lot of things.” Heiter slowly closed his eyes. His face showed little fear of death, only reluctance and longing.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

In the days that followed, Fern kept practicing magic, hoping to fulfill the promise she made with Heiter when he wasn’t around.

Using attack magic to pierce a rock on the other side of the cliff behind the mountain would make her an independent mage, so Heiter, who had become like her own grandfather, could leave in peace.

Heiter, feeling his life wouldn’t last much longer, wondered if he should tell Frieren how he and Ash conspired to trick her.