"Then let me put it another way. Can you remember how many times you've lost money gambling?"
"When you put it like that, I guess I kind of get it. Ah! But I do remember a few times I won!"
"Very good. Go play somewhere else. And remember not to gamble next time."
Ash nodded, then casually placed his hand on Sein's shoulder and gave him a light push, sending him stumbling toward the river. He staggered down the slope, almost rolling straight into the water.
One troublesome guy, temporarily dealt with.
But, the unblinking stares of the two girls made him quietly raise his hand in surrender.
"You want to ask the question Fern just asked, right? I'll say it. I just happened to get to know a few higher-ups in the Kingdom of Oisast, and occasionally helped out with small things. I didn't become a general or anything. At most, I just got involved a little deeper in certain matters."
"So that's why you knew so much about Oisast's monster army. You were one of the participants. No, wait. Don't tell me you were the one who came up with that ridiculous plan?"
Halfway through speaking, Frieren noticed the stiff way he turned his head away. She immediately stepped forward, standing on tiptoe and staring straight into his eyes.
On her face, which had lived through a thousand years yet still looked a little youthful, there was a seriousness she had never shown before. It was as if this wouldn't end unless he gave an answer.
He turned to look at Fern for help. Unfortunately, Fern's expression was almost exactly the same as Frieren's. He had no choice but to give up resisting once again.
"Alright. I was indeed the one who led that plan."
"It's actually true?", Frieren's eyes widened. Fern's face showed clear worry.
"Why would you get involved in something like that, Lord Ash?"
"Of course, for world peace."
"You used monsters in battle against humans," Frieren felt that was just an excuse. But—
"Even if I used them against humans, tell me, when has the north been as peaceful as it's been in recent years?"
"Well…"
Ash's casual addition made Frieren actually stop and think. She then realized, he was right.
It was dangerous. People died. Yet from a broader view, it almost felt like it was saving more lives?
Her first instinct said it was wrong. But the facts were right in front of her. She didn't know what to say.
Fern still struggled to accept it.
"Why didn't you ever tell us before?"
"Adults sometimes have things they want to achieve, and along the way, responsibilities they end up having to take on," Ash said it like it was obvious, then asked in return, "If someone goes home and talks to kids about their work and complains about it, wouldn't that be strange?"
"I'm not a child anymore."
"To me, it's all the same."
He smiled and patted Fern on the head, then walked ahead without waiting for her reply.
"Lord Ash really does still have so many things he hasn't told me. He's never talked about himself before either. His dreams, his responsibilities, I don't know any of it."
Fern had unknowingly puffed out her cheeks. She wanted to become Ash's support. But Ash didn't want her involved in his affairs.
Frieren, on the other hand, stared at Ash's back without expression.
"That guy slipped away again..."
"Lady Frieren, tell me. What else is Lord Ash hiding from me?"
"Hey, don't ask me. How would I know what that guy's up to?"
"Haven't you known him for a long time?"
"Well, that's true, that's true, but even my understanding of him is very limited."
Suddenly being targeted by Fern's stare made Frieren feel like she'd been caught in crossfire.
A long time ago, she had already felt that she didn't understand Ash well enough and had tried to learn more about him.
But it was like he was wrapped in an invisible veil. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't see his whole picture. He was hard to grasp.
At first, she thought she had all the time in the world to slowly wear him down. Now, she was too lazy to dig deeper and would just wait for him to speak on his own.
Still, she had learned one more thing.
He seemed to be using his own way to influence and change this world.
Whether the final result would be good or bad was hard to say. But at least for now, judging from this country, the result seemed good.
———
For the sake of the Vorig family and the innocent fortress city, Frieren dragged Ash and the others away from Vorig territory as quickly as possible.
They passed straight through Kagel Pass of the Kingdom of Oisast and entered Oisast's lands.
During the process, Fern kept staring at the soldiers at the pass, trying to see if anyone recognized Ash, hoping to find some clues.
Unfortunately, more than ten years had passed. The soldiers at the pass had changed countless times. She was destined to be disappointed.
After entering the pass and taking a detour toward the plains in the opposite direction of the magical city, Frieren looked unusually happy. Her long ears even drooped slightly in delight.
Seeing her like this, even Fern's dissatisfaction over the past few days gradually faded, and she found herself smiling.
"It's rare to see Lady Frieren this happy."
"It's a rare old friend. I want to have a good talk with him before he dies."
What Frieren said was not something humans knew how to respond to. At least Fern and Sein didn't. But she continued muttering to herself.
"Should I stay for ten years?"
"No. At most one week!"
"Fern is so stingy."
"It's not just me. Lord Ash would be troubled too, right?"
Fern spoke seriously and turned to look at Ash without expression.
Faced with that sudden serious gaze, Ash could only give a small nod in agreement.
"Isn't that basically a threat?"
Even as she complained, Frieren was worried Fern might actually get angry. She had no choice but to nod in agreement.
With that atmosphere, it didn't take long before they reached their destination after the detour.
It was a plain spread out like a painting. On it sat a beautiful village that looked like something out of a fairy tale.
Unlike the heavily fortified Sword Village, the entrance here was just a simple wooden frame, not even a door.
There were no walls around the village. Even the wooden fences were low, only enough to stop children and poultry from wandering out.
Yet at this simple entrance sat an elderly dwarf wearing a bright red battle cloak and a knight's helmet.
A large short greatsword rested quietly beside him. His face was lined with age, his beard white as snow. His eyes were closed, as if he were lost in a long dream.
"Old Man Voll, long time no see."
Frieren walked up lightly, her eyes shining with joy at the reunion. She didn't forget to introduce the old warrior to her new companions, and there was even a bit of pride in her tone.
"See? Just like I said before. He looks like a battle-hardened old warrior. Handsome, right?"
"Who?"
Compared to Frieren's rare enthusiasm, the old man who slowly opened his eyes looked at her with a trace of unfamiliarity, as if he didn't recognize her.
Sein couldn't help joking, "Isn't he just a confused old man you can find anywhere?"
"You're really rude. Even I wouldn't casually call someone a senile ol—huh?"
Halfway through complaining, Ash suddenly saw the old man swing his sword at his feet.
But Ash reacted fast and stepped on the blade with one foot.
Old Man Voll's sneak attack failed, and he couldn't even hold onto the hilt. The sword made a loud smack as it was forced into the ground.
Voll's eyes opened wide in surprise. Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Hm! Ah! When I came before, you pulled this move too, didn't you?"
"Old Man Voll's fighting style is as underhanded as ever," Frieren wasn't surprised at all. She even laughed, "But it's never worked on Ash even once."
"A large number of people die in battle because they're careless. You're the only one who truly has no openings. As expected of a veteran of many wars."
When Ash flicked the sword up with his foot, Voll caught it and placed it beside him, showing an aged smile.
"Welcome, Frieren, Ash. You can stay as long as you like."
"I want to stay ten years. Have the village chief find me a job."
Frieren agreed immediately and even made that strange request.
But as soon as she said it, Ash grabbed her by the back collar and dragged her into the village, not even turning his head.
"Stop fooling around. Fern will get mad."
"Ash, you disappoint me. You're actually giving in to a child."
"Then you go persuade her."
"Fine. Sometimes indulging a child's willfulness is part of being an adult."
Frieren crossed her arms as she let herself be dragged, trying her best to look mature.
Ash didn't even bother turning around to give her a look.
"You really have no shame. What were you just saying? You changed your tune that fast?"
"I wanted you to say it."
"Stop messing around. You'll just drag me into trouble and get me scolded."
"That's because you lack confidence."
"If you're confident, you go."
"I'm asking you because I don't have any."
Their usual bickering was something Fern had long gotten used to. She didn't interfere. She simply bowed politely to the old man at the entrance and hurried after them.
Soon, through the village chief's introduction, they found a short-term job. Thanks to Old Man Voll, they were also given a guest house in the village, usually reserved for passing merchants.
Since they often camped outdoors during their travels, each of them carried luggage and bedding, though most of the time they stored them in their own created pocket dimensions, just like their staffs, only summoning them when needed.
As the "guardian" of Ash and Frieren, Fern first took their bedding out to air, then started the simple work.
The work was just as simple as it sounded. Using magic to pull radishes out of the ground.
While doing this, Fern couldn't help asking a villager beside her about the Kingdom of Oisast, since this village had once belonged to another country before peacefully joining Oisast.
"Is there any difference between Oisast and the old country? Before I was born, this was already part of Oisast, so I don't really know how it used to be," The villager, holding a bamboo basket, thought for a moment before replying.
"The older generation always says life now is much better than before. The lord's taxes are lower than they used to be. And unlike before, people don't starve to death because they can't pay grain taxes."
"Why? If it's only lowered a little…"
"The kingdom regularly sends special mages to sow special wheat and potatoes. They also cast strange magic from time to time. We only need to harvest. "
The villager pointed toward the magnificent wheat fields not far from the village.
"Look over there. That magnificent field is the kingdom's cultivated wheat. The yield is much higher than the old varieties. Although most of the harvest has to be handed over to the kingdom, during famines the kingdom also generously distributes relief grain."
"I heard that this country's population increased six or seven times over the past century. Is it because people don't starve anymore?"
"Not sure. But part of it must be people fleeing from other countries. Even in our village, there are people who escaped from the southern lands."
"Even people from the southern lands?"
Hearing that people from her homeland had fled all the way to the northern continent and even to this country, Fern felt surprised. She couldn't help looking in the direction of the royal capital, a feeling of admiration rising in her heart.
"The king of this country must be someone as gentle and capable as Lord Ash."
"I do think this country is impressive, but… is your standard for someone impressive just Ash?"
Sein couldn't help laughing at her strange praise.
Fern ignored him completely. Sein then looked at the villager curiously.
"Is that Old Man Voll from the village? Why does he always sit there?"
"He has a house in the village, but he usually keeps to himself. He's very old now, and even speaking isn't smooth anymore. It's said that from a long time ago, he protected this village from demons, monsters, stray soldiers, and bandits. But no one knows why he does it."
"Aren't you curious?"
"He never tells anyone. After we joined Oisast, there haven't really been those kinds of threats. But Old Man Voll still sits there… like a guardian spirit. Ever since I was a child, he's been there, sitting alone at the entrance."
"A guardian spirit... Sounds a bit lonely."
Sein muttered softly. Just looking at that old back made him sigh like that.
Even Fern, who didn't always get along with him, couldn't help silently nodding as she looked at the old man's figure.
———
At night.
When everyone else was asleep, Ash, as usual, was training his magic power. But unlike usual, he was sitting at the village entrance.
Old Man Voll sat across from him.
Voll might have been asleep. Even sitting face to face, they remained silent for a long time.
After an unknown amount of time, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar boy across from him.
"Ash, why do you work so hard?"
"You're the one to ask," Ash didn't even raise his eyes as he replied casually, "Why stay in this village where almost no one knows your past?"
"I told you before. I'm just protecting the village my wife loved. But you're already strong enough, aren't you? Why are you still training and doing strange things?"
"Strange?"
"When we last met, it wasn't that long ago, was it?"
"Just over ten years. You even killed one of my monsters."
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