Frieren 63

Title: Himmel’s Unspoken Trust

Seeing Ash genuinely interested in the rocking chair, Himmel even steadied himself on the chair, about to give up his spot.

His demeanor was like a grandfather yielding to a spoiled grandchild, prompting Ash to quickly step forward, press him back down, and deny it: “No need, no need. I’m just curious, I don’t want to sit. At most, I just feel like you’re really just an ordinary old man now!”

“Haha, what are you talking about…” Himmel kept shaking his head, smiling kindly: “Though I’m old, I’m still handsome, but I really am just an ordinary old man now. Only you haven’t changed.”

“…That’s true.”

“By the way, you came for the 50-year promise, right?”

“Of course.”

“Frieren too, but she arrived three days ago. She’s been out of sight, though; seems she went outside the city to look for something? Not sure where she went.” Himmel sighed resignedly but then smiled and teased: “Though you two are heartless, never visiting us, it seems you’re not so heartless as to forget this promise.”

“Uh, sorry… I’ve been really busy lately…”

Facing Himmel’s retort, referencing his earlier quip about switching to being a dwarf, and feeling guilty for never visiting, Ash now felt a bit embarrassed.

“Haha~ Just kidding, don’t take it too seriously. But honestly… we all doubted whether we’d see you two again in our lifetime… I never expected we’d get this chance to reunite. That alone is enough to make us happy.”

“Just that is enough to make you happy…?” The more the other said this, the more Ash felt he wasn’t human… though, well, he wasn’t human.

But Himmel didn’t press further. He just looked at him with a kind, nostalgic, and reminiscent smile, then returned to the main topic: “By the way, when Frieren came, I already wrote letters to Heiter and Eisen. They’ve been in this country, and tomorrow morning, they’ll meet at the city’s outer gate.”

Himmel, whose speech had slowed with age, added one last sentence: “Now, tell me what you’ve been doing these past 50 years. Think of it as keeping an old man like me company. You don’t have any business here, right?”

“Well… not really… I’ve mostly been training.”

“I can tell you’ve made great progress in everything. But…”

“But?”

“Nothing… never mind.”

(If you’re already at the end of your life, why train like this? And while a human’s appearance can be maintained, can their body truly stay the same forever? Why are you always improving?)

—Himmel didn’t ask those questions. He just shook his head lightly, then looked at him with a kind, parental gaze toward a young person, and said slowly with a smile: “You’re our friend… So, we’ve always been curious about both of your pasts, you and Frieren, all this time.”

“Is that so?”

(Why did he suddenly emphasize the word ‘friend’ at this moment?)

Ash found it a bit strange. Combined with the unfinished question earlier, he could also sense something was off.

But… since Himmel didn’t probe further, he felt no need to explain anything now. After all, it wasn’t something to celebrate.

With that thought, he muttered with slight unease: “…Over the years, nothing interesting happened. Is that okay?”

“No problem, no problem, just tell me~”

“Hmm, do you know about the Continental Magic Association?”

“Oh, yeah, I’ve heard of it. Wasn’t it founded by your master?”

Unable to refuse, Ash reluctantly shared the parts he could talk about.

Namely, how he accidentally challenged and met the true owner of that place… memories that were both deeply frustrating and slightly amusing.

After that, Ash also talked with him about what he’d been doing. They kept chatting until night fell, then went to a bar to drink and talk.

As for Frieren, who should’ve arrived earlier… they didn’t meet her at all. No one knew where she went.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The next morning.

Sunlight slanted into the room, casting a warm and gentle glow on the cold winter living room. The air was filled with the warmth of the burning fireplace.

Ash stayed over at Himmel’s house, and after a morning bath, he immediately lounged in the rocking chair by the hearth.

With the chair’s gentle rocking and the crackling of the fire in his ears, everything felt so comfortable. He could probably understand why Himmel loved this rocking chair.

He, too, unconsciously sank into this comfort, closing his eyes and rocking freely.

But… not long after, the living room door slowly opened.

A voice, still recognizable after half a century and deeply missed, sounded from behind: “Is that… Ash?”

In a hazy state, Ash slowly opened his eyes. The owner of the voice had already appeared before him.

Frieren stared at him with a dumbfounded expression: “Why… are you here? And what are you doing…”

“Hmm? Oh… want to try it too?”

“No—!”

Seeing Ash quickly stand and offer his spot, Frieren reflexively rejected the offer.

This should’ve been a reunion after a long separation. But seeing him in the rocking chair, looking relaxed and old like an elderly person, almost identical to the house’s owner, Himmel.

This made Frieren genuinely feel… though this guy’s appearance hadn’t changed, Ash was actually old, wasn’t he?

Though she didn’t know what an old human man should be like, judging from his state, so similar to Himmel’s, Frieren could probably guess. But…

“How old are you now?”

Though Frieren didn’t want to ask, she blurted it out unconsciously.

“Hmm… over a hundred. A hundred and ten?”

“…So lazy humans can actually live long?”

“No, this is still within normal limits… maybe.”

“Is that so?” Frieren looked at him in the rocking chair, with an odd, hard-to-describe expression.

Honestly, coming this time, she had prepared herself for bad news—that Ash couldn’t come or had even died. But she’d forgotten how many times she’d had to mentally prepare like this.

Yet, every time she thought Ash was dead, he’d suddenly reappear cheerfully… It even made her feel her mental state was a bit shaken by his back-and-forth.

Noticing her strange expression, Ash couldn’t help but stare back: “What’s with that look? Are you hoping I’d die soon?”

“No way… It’s just that I thought this time, I really wouldn’t see you again forever.”

Frieren didn’t wish for her friend’s death. It’s just that the feeling of thinking Ash was dead, only for him to show up again, was hard to explain.

This made her cross her arms, showing a thoughtful expression: “By the way, isn’t this Himmel’s house? Why are you in his chair?”

“He went back to his room with a comb. Probably to comb his hair. He said I could use it for now.”

“Though I think it’s unlikely, did you, while I was gone, fight Himmel for this rocking chair?”

After asking suspiciously, Frieren recalled something and frowned unconsciously: “No, I remember… Himmel’s bald now, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know. Bald people have their pride too… I remember him saying something like that.”

“…I don’t quite get it. Humans are so weird.” Frieren shook her head in confusion, then sat in the chair across from him. She propped her elbow on the table, resting her cheek in one hand, and grumbled irritably: “What have you been doing for the past half-century? I heard you were outrageous, never visiting them.”

“That’s my business. Why didn’t you visit either? I thought you would! Do you know how sad I was when I heard you never came either?”

“That… sorry, I was wrong. It feels like, without realizing, 49 years just passed… Hmm? No, wait a second?”

Frieren lowered her head sadly at his words. But she suddenly realized something was off.

As she narrowed her eyes in displeasure, Ash waved his hand: “Alright, alright. I’ve forgiven you. Let’s not talk about the past anymore. Of course, if you could push me, I’d be happy.”

“—Are you a grandpa?! And… you have no right to say that to me.”

Realizing she was being teased, Frieren looked very annoyed.

But after a moment’s hesitation, seeing him looking relaxed and old in the rocking chair, Frieren sighed, stepped forward, and began pushing him from behind.

In the warm winter room, tranquility returned.

With a good friend by his side and the fire burning warmly, everything seemed so harmonious and beautiful.

But… when Himmel finally finished tidying up and came out, he saw the two youngsters. One was yawning while pushing the chair, and the other was fast asleep in his rocking chair. He genuinely didn’t know what expression to make.

He wasn’t even sure if he should disturb their strange yet somehow harmonious atmosphere.

After a moment, he suppressed the odd feeling. With a sense of amusement, he tapped his staff on the floor, telling them to temporarily end their weirdly harmonious ‘grandpa and grandchild’ mode.