Frieren 42

*Title: Aura Wants to Create Memories

Aura’s casual words not only nearly made Ash stumble but also caused her followers to doubt their own ears.

After all, in that single sentence, there were three words: “cute,” “jerk,” and “big brother.” Individually, they could understand them, but together… let alone them, even humans would struggle to make sense of it.

However, Aura didn’t care about her followers’ feelings at all. She just smiled and looked Ash up and down: “Truly unexpected, Ash. You’re actually still alive.”

“I didn’t expect you to still be alive either, Aura,” Ash thought with a hint of annoyance. Not knowing what to say, he spread his arms: “Alright, how about a touching reunion hug?”

“Sure.”

“Huh… really?”

“Haha, what? That disbelieving expression is so cute~!”

As a stunned Ash laughed, Aura stepped forward from the crowd and casually walked toward him.

To this day, five centuries had passed—exactly 500 years. Yet, Aura hadn’t changed one bit from the past.

Her height was still that of a petite girl, her chest like that of a mature woman, and her face like that of a teenager. Only her smile carried a strange vibe, clearly lacking any good intentions.

However, the person least likely to agree actually agreed. This left Ash utterly confused.

On the contrary, Aura thoroughly enjoyed his shock. She smiled naturally, hugged his waist, pressing her chest against his stomach. Feeling that strange softness, she looked up and said in a teasing tone: “What’s wrong, Ash? Weren’t you the one who suggested a touching hug? Why aren’t you hugging me back?”

“…You’re right. But Aura.” After being reminded, Ash looked down at the girl in his arms, showing a puzzled expression: “What are you thinking about right now?”

“Your expression is hilarious.”

“…What about the touching part? Isn’t this supposed to be a heartfelt reunion hug?”

“Of course. I’m so moved my body’s trembling!”

“…Thanks to my knowledge of you, I’m certain you’re not thinking anything good.”

“That’s harsh.” The corners of Aura’s lips curved upward, deepening her smile: “I’ve already granted your wish, so shouldn’t you grant mine?”

“What you’re saying makes perfect sense, but—I refuse!”

Feeling highly wary, Ash instinctively smacked her face without thinking and pushed the ill-intentioned girl away.

But Aura wasn’t angry. She just covered her mouth and giggled.

“Even after all these years, you still don’t know how to be gentle with women. Or… is this a rejection that’s actually an acceptance?”

“I thought after all these years, you’d have changed. I didn’t expect…”

Facing the child he raised himself and her childish remarks, Ash’s feelings were truly mixed. He even sighed from the depths of his heart: “Haaa… What weird things have you learned all this time?”

“What are you talking about? Weren’t you the one who enlightened me?” Aura smiled and shook her head: “Besides, I always remember that time… on a winter night, after I washed my feet with cold water, you had that lustful look, wanting to warm my toes and lick my feet clean.”

“No… don’t just make up memories that never happened, okay? I’m not a masochistic pervert. Is that what you wanted me to do?”

“Is that so? Really nothing?” Aura slightly narrowed her eyes.

“I’m a good person. No way I’d do something like that.”

“No~ I remember you saying it to me.”

“What?”

“Nothing’s impossible! And as for memories, it doesn’t matter if they don’t exist. As long as—you create them!”

At the end of this conversation, Aura, who had quietly stepped back to create a safe distance, suddenly flipped her palm. Purple energy gathered, transforming into a golden scale: “Obedience Magic…!”

“Preemptive Strike.”

As Aura held the scale about to unleash her obedience magic, Ash swiftly stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant.

His actions, completely unlike a mage’s, left Aura with no time to think about why he was so fast. Ash had already swung his hand forcefully.

*CRACK!*

The metal scale shattered instantly under his hand. Aura froze in place, taking a moment to react.

After a few seconds, she raised her hand in shock, staring at her long-lost big brother: “You… abandoned gravity magic?”

“What do you think?”

“…Your magical power is almost on par with mine. That’s not the feeling of someone who abandoned it.”

“Impressive that you noticed it’s almost equal. In a situation like this, you dared to use that scale to control me? That’s not like you.”

“Haha~ Of course, that’s based on your old opinion of me. I set up an emergency mechanism. If I lose, this scale destroys itself automatically.”

“…Isn’t that a bad name?”

“Thanks for the compliment. It’s my honor.” Aura, far from embarrassed, felt proud. She nodded with an innocent smile and stepped back again quietly.

Because now she realized the safe distance she created earlier wasn’t enough… After all, she never expected this guy to learn martial arts.

But… before Aura could take two steps, Ash stepped forward with a smile. He even grabbed her horn and yanked her roughly: “Don’t rush off. We haven’t seen each other in ages. Shouldn’t we reminisce about old times?”

“You…! It’s been years! You’re still doing this to me!”

The familiar treatment, somehow vividly clear after centuries, made Aura, whose head was pulled and body tilted, grit her teeth.

The demons behind her tensed again, making the surrounding air feel dangerous and ready to explode at any moment.

But… if it were anyone else doing this, the arrogant Aura would’ve done everything to annihilate them with her undead army and followers.

Yet when it was Ash, strangely, she only felt dissatisfied and annoyed. It was far from the point of losing her rationality. Her anger wasn’t that intense either.

However, she was also deeply dissatisfied with herself for accepting this treatment. She couldn’t help but glare at him from below.