Frieren 62

Title: Reunion with Old Friends

If another friend died while he kept his promise, Ash would surely feel deep sorrow. But not showing up also felt wrong, as it was a promise with his friends.

This made him let out a long sigh on the castle wall, confused and indecisive, unable to make up his mind.

At that moment, Rivale suddenly appeared beside him without a sound. Before Ash could react…

“What’s wrong? Your martial arts comprehension has reached the pinnacle of human ability. One more step, and you’ll catch up to me. Why are you now showing an expression so unlike a warrior?”

Without hesitation, Rivale gave his back a hard slap, nearly knocking him off the wall.

This annoyed Ash, and he turned to glare at the old man. Rivale looked overjoyed, leaving Ash at a complete loss for words.

Suddenly, he felt that these great demons, one by one, didn’t seem like demons at all… Aura was understandable, as Ash had raised her himself, so it made sense that she was special.

But Rivale had none of the demons’ fear of death. He only had a fanatical passion for fighting, which completely defied demonic instincts.

Yes, Rivale had no fear of battle—this was based on what Eisen, who had fought him, had said.

It could even be said that Rivale’s strength surpassed the peak of martial arts unattainable by humans. Though Rivale had also used an axe to entertain Eisen, it was still a realm Eisen, already at his peak, couldn’t reach.

Though Ash wasn’t there when they fought, he had heard from team members… Rivale was a warrior far superior to Eisen, in a martial arts realm humans could never achieve.

When struck by Eisen’s ultimate technique, his face was only scratched. When hit by Eisen’s regular attacks, his body wasn’t injured at all.

His body was so tough that even a dragon couldn’t compare.

However, because Rivale had no fear and only craved battle, Eisen seized the opportunity, knocking him off a cliff with his signature move… and scratching his face.

But that was it. Nothing more happened. His strength could only be described as terrifying.

…Of course, that wasn’t too important now. As a teacher, he was indeed very suitable.

In appearance, he was a strange uncle with slicked-back hair, over two meters tall, always smiling.

So, Ash just turned and looked at him. With a curious gaze, he was certain—even if he watched the falling stars again with Frieren and the others, he would never watch them with this weird uncle in this old castle!

As for Serie… she could probably be ignored too. Aura… that might be his first trauma, right?

“…Watching the falling stars with Serie or Aura doesn’t seem much different from Rivale…”

“Watching falling stars? Oh, right~ The half-century meteor shower is coming up again, isn’t it? Want to watch the falling stars with me?” Rivale overheard his name and asked curiously.

To him, such things seemed unimportant. But… Ash looked very resistant: “…No, just thinking about it makes me nauseous. Forget it.”

“Why?”

“…Two big guys in the middle of the night, sitting side by side watching falling stars. What kind of picture can you imagine?”

“Warrior camaraderie!” Rivale answered without thinking, leaving Ash speechless.

After a moment, Ash sighed deeply, holding his forehead: “…Alright, I was too rigid. My apologies.”

“Haha! Forgiven. In that case, let’s fight again! This time I’ll only use one hand! Come, fight with full strength, no weapons!”

“Huh? What are you talking about? I was going to say—Whoa?!”

Before Ash could finish, Rivale’s fist, as big as a pot, slammed into his face without hesitation.

Caught off guard, the heavy blow struck his face, sending his body flying off the wall like a cannonball, crashing to the ground.

No doubt, his worries vanished under that brutal punch.

Though he had no choice but to face the battle-crazed Rivale, Ash steeled his resolve in that fistfight. He decided to go see the remnants of his old friends’ lives.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

So, the next day.

With a swollen nose and bruises all over his body, Ash flew at full speed to the central countries… He had no other choice.

Healing magic was the goddess’s exclusive domain. Usually, only those holding holy scriptures (especially priests) could use it.

Unfortunately, as a demon, Ash couldn’t use it even if he had a holy scripture. The goddess seemed… no, clearly didn’t like him and wouldn’t grant him the slightest blessing.

After half a century, the kingdom’s capital felt like another world to Ash, who was still young among demons.

Many new buildings had sprung up. The street scenery had slightly changed too. But since it was only 50 years, the city in this era hadn’t transformed too drastically.

The direction to Himmel’s house…

“—Damn it, I don’t remember at all!”

Ash had only been there once, 50 years ago. So he genuinely couldn’t recall it clearly and immediately got lost in the streets and alleys.

Moreover, a magical barrier in the capital prohibited flying. This made him start to worry, even considering whether he should release magic into the sky to draw attention and see if he could catch the eye of an acquaintance…

“Is that… Ash?” An unfamiliar, aged voice came from behind him. Ash instinctively turned to look.

“Hmm…? Who are you?”

He turned and saw only an old man with a bald head, long white beard, wearing a blue robe, and holding a staff. He stood behind him, looking at him curiously.

“Could you be…” Based on the mole at the corner of his eye, Ash asked hesitantly: “Himmel—?!”

“Haha~ Your shocked expression is as entertaining as Frieren’s.” Himmel smiled kindly, stroking his overly long beard.

“No, wait a second…”

“What?”

“You’re a whole head shorter than Frieren? Have you finally stopped being human and switched professions to dwarf??” Seeing the old man almost as short as Eisen, Ash couldn’t hide his shock and instinctively complained.

After all, while normal people might shrink with age, they wouldn’t shrink this much. Himmel was now nearly half a meter shorter than before. In some ways, he could truly be called a mutation.

His overly shocked expression made Himmel unable to hold back laughter: “You really haven’t changed a bit. Your blunt way of speaking is still so straightforward. But your words are a bit too much.”

“No… this isn’t normal at all, is it?”

“You, not changing at all, that’s what’s not normal.” Himmel smiled, looking him up and down. Then he said with a smile: “This really… makes me nostalgic. Seeing you and Frieren, I’m reminded of our adventure 50 years ago. Though you were always absent during critical moments, as if you were just visiting.”

“Well… because I’m weak.”

“…Really? Even if Eisen in his prime fought you, he might not win in close combat alone.”

“Is that so?” Ash didn’t answer directly, showing a confused expression with vague words.

Himmel murmured with deep emotion: “Though Eisen has aged too, you show no signs of aging at all… Truly a Great Mage from the Mythical Era. To even create magic like this.”

“Indeed… quite impressive.”

“By the way, how old are you now?”

“Well… over a hundred?”

“Really? That’s truly… Anyway, don’t just stand there. Come sit at my house. We can talk leisurely.”

Meeting an old friend he hadn’t seen in ages, Himmel looked overjoyed. He had no intention of discussing sad matters. With a smile on his face, he pulled Ash through the streets and alleys toward a house unchanged since 50 years ago.

Along the way, their conversation never stopped. But Himmel also revealed that Frieren hadn’t visited them even once in these 50 years.

If asked why, of course, it was because…

“…Every year at the reunion, it’s just the three of us. You two, as if by agreement, never showed up even once… We even wondered if you’d forgotten us.”

“Uh, no… it’s not like that… really.”

Himmel’s complaint, filled with resentment, made Ash feel mixed emotions. He awkwardly looked away.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. He had wanted to come 25 years ago and even bid farewell to Serie. But she coldly refused him.

Humans are different from us. Their lives are short, like flowers that bloom only briefly. Even if you have a good relationship, what’s the point? It’s just a waste of time and adds unnecessary trouble. You can’t go!—Those words unconsciously surfaced in his mind as he saw Himmel’s appearance.

But seeing his aged friend, Ash now couldn’t help but want to ask Serie: If that’s the case, why did you train so many human students?

Yet, at the same time… seeing the old man like a candle flickering in the wind, he could also understand Serie’s words.

As a hero who once saved the world, Himmel’s home was simpler than Ash had imagined. It was just an ordinary house.

Himmel also lit a fire in the hearth like an old man. He sat in a rocking chair that Ash also wanted to try… No, Himmel had truly become an old man.

“…What’s up? Want to try it too?” Himmel, gently rocking in the chair, seemed to notice his interest in it. He asked hesitantly: “Should I get up?”