Frieren 68

Title: Different Purposes

Seeing the unspoken admiration in Sense’s eyes, Ash was basically certain—though Serie’s plan was outdated, it was highly effective.

But despite being respected, Ash somehow didn’t feel happy… probably because he felt toyed with by Serie.

However, seeing the girl in front of him, who seemed on the verge of becoming antisocial due to Serie’s blow, Ash sighed and casually ruffled her overly long hair. He told her seriously: “I have no reason to lie to you. So… it’s normal to be scared and nearly hurt. I think you should step up and demand compensation from her.”

“R-really?” Sense widened her eyes in confusion, clearly hesitant. She couldn’t help but ask: “…If that’s the case, why don’t you, Ash-sama, demand compensation?”

“…Because even if I asked, she definitely wouldn’t give it.”

“Huh? Then why should I…”

“I’m different. For you, there’s a good chance… she’d give it?”

“A chance…?” Sense looked at him, puzzled, her mind unable to process clearly.

But Ash didn’t answer. He just patted her head one last time, stood up, and walked out of the ruins.

This made Sense instinctively reach out, trying to stop him: “Wait, wait a second! Ash-sama, are you leaving now? But your injuries…”

“I suddenly remembered the pet at home hasn’t been fed. Just clean up this place as best you can… Do it casually. The professional construction team will come soon anyway.”

Ash only then recalled he’d left in a hurry and forgot to leave dinner money for Fern, offering a vague farewell. He was already getting a headache thinking about how to rebuild the destroyed branch.

Plus, figuring out how to avoid a second expansion was a major project on his mind.

The expressionless Sense, whose age was unknown, sat in place, staring at his back in confusion.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At the temporary house in the city.

When Ash returned, he immediately saw the little girl holding a damp cloth, busy cleaning the room.

The long-unused blanket had been washed and was now drying in the courtyard.

The northern weather wasn’t like the south. The girl’s small, soft hands were already red. Yet she diligently did tasks beyond her responsibility, without a word.

“Like an adopted child, afraid of not doing her job well, forcing herself to work hard to prove her worth…” Ash couldn’t help but mutter as he watched Fern work diligently.

And in truth, it wasn’t far from that.

Though she didn’t hear his mutter, Fern caught his voice and instinctively turned to him.

“Welcome back, Ash… Ash-sama?!—What happened to you? Did you run into bandits?”…

As soon as she saw him clearly, noticing Ash covered in dirt and his head bloody like he’d been hit with a hammer, Fern rushed to him in a panic.

“Just ran into someone who likes bullying others.” Recalling Serie’s smug face, though slightly annoyed, Ash brushed it off. But Fern’s worried expression made him add unconsciously: “…I’m used to it. It’s fine, don’t worry.”

“Someone who bullies others?? Just? Used to it??” Fern caught the key points of his words. She casually wiped the blood on his forehead: “It’s really fine. This happens often.”

This nonchalant attitude made Fern unable to hold back from raising her voice: “This isn’t about being fine! We need to find the guards… no, we need to go to the church right away…!”

“By the way, I forgot to leave dinner money for you, sorry. Looks like I need to give you more next time. If it’s not enough, just find me.”

Compared to Fern’s panic, Ash, accustomed to battles, didn’t care at all. He even guiltily pulled two gold coins from his pocket.

But compared to his calm, Fern felt an indescribable surge of emotions in her heart. She felt warmth but also wanted to cry in panic. She pushed him out: “Now’s not the time to think about that! The blood’s dripping again, hurry to the church!”

“Ah, don’t push me. I’ll go, but…”

“No buts! Move!”

With her noisy urging, Ash was forced to the church.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At night, Ash’s blanket smelled of sunlight, a scent he hadn’t felt in ages, and a small head rested beside him.

Since the first night, on the second day, Fern was still shy. She barely dared to meet his eyes.

But after that night, though she still struggled to sleep due to anxiety, as long as Ash held her hand, Fern felt warmth in her heart and calmed for no reason.

Now, the girl, exhausted from a day of housework, fell asleep on his shoulder almost instantly.

Since the first night, their relationship had grown slightly closer. And today, it seemed… even closer?

Honestly, Ash wasn’t entirely sure. He just stroked Fern’s hair, closed his eyes, and let exhaustion pull him into dreams.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Unbelievably, Fern had been living in Strahl for half a year.

During that time, Ash left early and returned late each day. He led the reconstruction of the Continental Magic Association branch. Occasionally, he spent time in Serie’s magic book library, then went out for days to spar with Rivale.

After all, if Rivale, that battle-crazed warrior, wasn’t fought for too long, he might go out and fight others, potentially causing a massacre.

“Just eat something on the way. This country’s security is great. As long as you don’t leave the city, you don’t need to worry.”

Ash said this, adding money for Fern… though he also hired a maid to care for her, Fern had somehow taken over the housework.

Though only six years old, Fern was far more responsible than Ash, who didn’t care about such things.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

One day, as the morning light gently woke Fern, she rubbed her eyes and stretched.

The soft bed let her sleep soundly, as she and Ash had picked it out together on the street. It was almost no different from her old home. She could almost sleep well without Ash holding her hand.

Though this made her a bit lonely, she didn’t want to burden Ash too much. So, she never showed anything.

When she left the room, she naturally didn’t see the familiar figure. Though it was still early, even the maid nearby hadn’t come to work.

“…Ash-sama’s job is really busy.” Fern reached out, touching his bed, but felt no warmth. This made her feel very sad.

But she quickly slapped her cheeks with both hands, forcing herself to perk up and wash her face. After eating breakfast prepared by the maid, she hurried to school.

Her parents had once found her a magic tutor, so she had a suitable foundation in magic. Now, she attended the magic academy in Strahl.

Recently, she’d made two new friends at school… though they often fought.

“But the teacher said frequent fighting is proof of a good relationship… Ash-sama and I never fight, does that mean our relationship isn’t good?”

The sun had just risen on the horizon. The morning air was cold. Fern breathed into her clasped hands, unconsciously lost in thought.

But she soon stopped thinking. Ahead, a girl with orange hair in twin tails and a silver-haired girl with blue eyes were already in sight, arguing, making her smile: “Kanne, Lawine, good morning.”

“Ah, Fern! Quick, help me stop her! This girl’s pulling my hair again! My hair’s gonna break… this time I’ll really kill her!” Kanne, with orange twin tails, shouted excitedly.

But the silver-haired girl, Lawine, shoved her roughly, showing a proper smile: “Good morning, Fern. The weather’s nice today.”

“Yes, it’s great weather for drying blankets.”

“Drying blankets…?” Lawine unconsciously looked up at the blue sky, nodding: “True, but…”

“But it’s weather for playing, right?” Kanne couldn’t help interrupting.

Fern didn’t think much and said naturally: “Because Ash-sama likes sun-dried blankets.”

“Ash-sama…?” Kanne tilted her head widely: “By the way, I’ve heard you mention him before. He’s family, right? So why call him ‘sama’ (lord)?”

“That…” Fern was instantly stumped, unsure how to explain.

And Lawine, without blinking, kicked Kanne, sending her flying: “Don’t meddle in others’ family matters. That’s a school rule, right? Did you forget?”

“Wah! You, you jerk! I… I remember! But you didn’t have to kick like that, did you?!”

Kanne fell, her face dirty, her twin tails slightly soiled. Though she realized she’d asked something she shouldn’t, she kept complaining on the ground.

But then, Fern crouched and helped her up. Amid Kanne’s gratitude, she thought about her relationship with Ash.

It was like adoption, right? But if she didn’t call him ‘sama,’ what should she call him? Great-grandfather? Grandfather? Uncle…?

From his appearance, Ash clearly didn’t look that old. But calling him brother felt odd too.

This issue bothered her until she reached the academy and started studying. She finally let go of the thought and focused on the teacher demonstrating magic in the distance.

“…I have to work hard, so when I grow up… no one can bully Ash-sama!”

Recalling Ash’s bloodied appearance before, Fern, feeling sad, muttered softly, quietly pushing herself to work harder.

Because she wanted to become someone who could protect Ash.

Compared to worrying about their relationship, this was her greatest dream now.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

When Ash finished work and returned home… it was already pitch dark, late at night.

As he stepped slowly into the courtyard, he saw the living room still lit.

Entering, he saw an oil lamp burning in the living room. A small figure was asleep at the table, with a book on basic magic beside her.

“…Was she waiting for me, or tired from reading?” Ash wasn’t sure. But as he carried her, he couldn’t help sighing: “If this keeps up, it doesn’t seem good.”

While Fern always thought about repaying his kindness, Ash kept thinking about who’d be better to care for her.

Not because he was heartless, but after considering all aspects and the recurring situation tonight, he was certain it’d be better to entrust Fern to someone else… at least better than staying with him.

Because over time, Ash realized that besides providing food and shelter, he’d also face issues like caring for her in old age and offering emotional support.

Though after spending time with her, he was a bit reluctant, it was still better than raising her and dealing with her death later.

This was also advice from past experience—Serie’s advice.

Besides, Ash didn’t have much time to play with kids. Even hiring a maid to care for her wasn’t quite suitable.

Because… if the guardian was always absent, wasn’t that the same as abandoning the child? From a physical and mental health perspective, that was definitely bad.

As the only descendant of his friends, Ash felt obligated to provide a suitable, warm family, not a cold room and a life of abandonment.

On this, as a demon who grew up alone, he somewhat understood similar experiences.

After all, considering a demon’s growth environment, regardless of their innate nature, growing up without parents would surely make them beast-like.

Even humans, growing up alone in the wild from childhood, wouldn’t be much different… So, education and companionship were crucial.

At least, Ash thought so.