"I'm not a child! And Ash-sama… next time you see her, you must properly thank her and properly apologize!"
"Mm!"
"And no bullying either. Absolutely not! Be polite! In the end… that child must be the daughter or granddaughter of some big figure in the Magic Association, right?"
"So... I'm not bullying anyone."
The contrast between the two of them had caused a misunderstanding, and that gave Ash a bit of a headache, but right now he could only nod quietly.
Then, under the clerk's gaze, who clearly didn't know what expression to wear, he signed his name on the document. Compared to anything else, what he felt more was annoyance that he actually had to take this kind of exam.
———
After leaving the Magic Association, the group began to split up.
Because after learning that the house she used to live in hadn't been sold by Ash, Fern decided to move back to her old home to stay. Not just because she wanted to go back, but also because it would save a large amount of lodging expenses.
But before that, she planned to buy some cleaning supplies.
After all, so many years had passed. The things there were probably all broken by now. And Frieren was forcibly dragged along, with plans to bring Ubel over later as well, so they could do a full cleaning together.
As for Ash, in order to avoid letting them discover that he had come back a few times before, he could only make an excuse to temporarily leave the group and quietly return home ahead of them.
However, this time his return was anything but ordinary. To his surprise, a cute "unexpected guest" was already waiting quietly in front of his door.
Sense, who had just left the Magic Association earlier, that expressionless girl who looked like a lazy kitten, was standing blankly in front of his house. She was staring absentmindedly at the clouds in the distance, as if the entire world had frozen inside her eyes. Even when a small bird landed on her head, it didn't disturb her calm at all.
Seeing this, Ash couldn't help but feel puzzled. He stepped forward lightly, unintentionally startling the bird into flight. Then he bent down slightly, hands on his knees, and asked, "Sense, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?", Sense came back to her senses and blinked slowly, her long eyelashes swaying.
"No, why does it feel like you're the one who doesn't know what I'm talking about?"
"You said you'd treat me to a meal later. Didn't you just say that, Lord Ash?", The girl tilted her head slightly like a little bird, "Did I remember wrong?"
"I did say that, but... uh, forget it," Ash rubbed his aching temple and said helplessly, "Let me confirm something first. Has anyone ever said they'd treat you to a meal before?"
"Yes," Sense answered neatly.
"And did you go?"
"No."
"I see."
Ash muttered under his breath, secretly guessing, 'So are geniuses always missing a screw somewhere? Or are they just so focused in one area that everything else gets weakened?'
As a powerful First-Class Mage, and the youngest First-Class Mage in history, Sense's magical talent was outstanding. So maybe when it came to dealing with people, she was just a bit... too straightforward?
Though that probably wasn't really a flaw. After all, being strong enough as a mage was already the biggest advantage. But still—
"Didn't bring money?", Noticing Ash seemed troubled, Sense quietly handed over her money pouch, "I brought some. Use mine?"
"If I use yours, then it's not me treating you, is it?"
"I don't mind."
There was no pretense or false politeness in her tone. She genuinely didn't care about such external things.
Before becoming a First-Class Mage, she had already come from a very well-off family, so she had never cared much about money.
That made Ash suddenly realize something.
She was a complete life winner. A standard upgraded rich beauty. No, more accurately, a rich and powerful girl.
Even if she wasn't his first choice of an elegant older-sister type, she was definitely the best option to cling to when you didn't feel like working hard.
Sense didn't understand the random thoughts running through Ash's mind. She simply took out the book from earlier and gently pushed it toward him.
"Lord Ash, if possible, could you explain the basic structural formula of that spell earlier while we're eating?"
"So that's your real goal?"
"Not entirely. I am also looking forward to eating with Lord Ash."
That was what she said. But from her face, Ash really couldn't see any anticipation. He could only sense that she seemed serious.
He studied this expressionless girl for quite a while, to the point that Sense started to feel uncomfortable under his gaze. Only then did he give up.
"From your expression, I really can't tell you're looking forward to it."
"Eh?", His blunt comment made Sense widen her eyes slightly. She lowered her head and troubled herself over it for a moment before softly apologizing with a small, helpless tone, "I somehow feel... a little sorry."
"No, no, there's no need to apologize. I'm not angry or anything."
"Is that so?"
"Anyway, let's put that aside for now," The difficult girl made him sigh as he pushed open the courtyard gate, which hadn't been used for at least several years, "I need to tidy up the situation inside first."
"Cleaning? I'll help."
"No, just wait outside."
Sense nodded blankly. Then she saw him open the door and create a gust of wind that swept through the house, blowing everything into a mess.
He deliberately made it look as though the place had been broken into and left open for years. Only then did he leave, satisfied under the girl's confused gaze.
It couldn't be helped. Although it hadn't been used for several years, that was still very different from more than a decade. Since that was the case, it was better to mess it up completely so the original state couldn't be seen.
———
On the way to find a restaurant, the two walked one in front of the other, without much conversation.
It couldn't be helped. Sense was naturally quiet. But Ash was used to people like that, so he didn't feel uncomfortable.
Even without speaking, the atmosphere between them was still fairly harmonious.
Halfway there, Sense seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which Lord Ash, who were that child and the elf just now?"
"Fern and Frieren?", He thought for a moment, then asked back, "A long time ago, I should've asked you all whether you wanted to raise a child, right?"
"You did. But you didn't ask me. When Lady Serie was acting recklessly, you protected me. You only said you were raising a small animal at home, and that you hadn't fed it yet."
"You were still a kid back then. How could I ask you?"
"As far as I remember, you weren't married?"
"They're a friend's children."
"You've raised them for so many years?"
"I just kept raising them without noticing. Time really flies. Back then you were only this tall... hmm, you're still this tall now?", He gestured at his chest, but his hand unconsciously shifted and landed on the top of the girl's head in front of him.
The fact that she hadn't grown at all made Ash chuckle as he rubbed her head, "You really haven't grown all these years."
"I was already an adult when I became a First-Class Mage. Even if I could grow, it wouldn't be much," His strange sigh made Sense look somewhat gloomy.
"If I remember right, the kingdom's legal adult age used to be fifteen. No, half a century ago it was changed to eighteen? By the way, how old are you now?" [T/N: I changed the numbers.]
"That's a secret."
"Oh? You actually have such a girly side. That's surprising."
Sense turned her face away in resistance. Ash, surprised, continued rubbing her head and even pinched her cheek, teasing this usually expressionless girl who had finally shown a clear emotion.
"Please don't do this... I'm troubled..."
"It's fine, I'll treat you to something tasty later."
"Even if you say that, I still..."
The lines Ash used to coax Sense didn't really sound like something a proper gentleman would say. Sense couldn't help but smile awkwardly, not knowing what to say about him.
To outsiders, however, the scene was easily misunderstood as a teenager bullying an unwilling girl.
Sure enough, a girl in eye-catching clothes rushed into this "scene" like a gust of wind.
She had orange hair tied into cute twin tails, short and neat.
A white cropped top, emerald green hot pants with a white belt, and over-the-knee white boots. Every step she took looked heroic.
Her face was delicate and lovely, and her eyes held an unquestionable sense of justice.
"You! What are you doing?", Her voice was clear and strong, carrying anger and disbelief, "Bullying a girl in broad daylight! Come with me to the guard immediately!"
As she spoke, she grabbed the "demonic hand" that had been teasing Sense, ready to drag him away on the spot.
Sense was quite surprised by the sudden situation, while Ash looked extremely innocent.
"Wait! Even if you're arresting me, shouldn't you at least hear my explanation first?"
"You can explain to the guards!"
"You're talking like I actually did something strange."
He never expected something like this to happen to him. Shaking his head, Ash looked at the still-dazed Sense and said helplessly, "Don't just stand there. Hurry up and explain for me."
"Is it normal to let the victim explain?", Sense muttered softly, but still sighed and stepped forward, "If I remember correctly, you're Third-Class Mage Kanne, right? Let him go."
'The girl being bullied is actually someone I know?', The girl called Kanne turned around in surprise.
She looked Sense up and down, staring blankly for a long time. Then, as if she suddenly realized something, she made an exaggerated expression.
"Y-You! Could it be... First-Class Mage Sense?"
"You recognize me? That makes it simpler."
"Because of your long hair! And... ahem!", Kanne tried to suppress her shock and the overly obvious features she hadn't finished mentioning, "W-Why would someone as important as you be bullied by some street thug?"
"Lord Ash is not an ordinary street thug."
"Eh... not an ordinary street thug?"
That strange explanation stunned not only Kanne, but even Ash started doubting his own ears.
It felt like deliberate revenge. He turned around and pinched Sense's cheek, "I'm begging you, when you explain, can you be clearer? Talking like that just makes it easier to misunderstand."
"Sorry. What I meant was... Lord Ash is...", It was her first time encountering something like this, and Sense looked troubled. After thinking for a long time, she looked at him seriously, "How should I put it?"
"Don't ask me!"
"Then... he's actually a pretty good person?"
After racking her brain, that was the best answer she could come up with. Once he finally let go of her, she let out a quiet breath and secretly stepped back.
After confirming a safe distance, she looked back at Kanne with a blank expression. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly asked knowingly, "Why do you recognize me, but not Lord Ash?"
"Eh? Because don't you go to the Magic Association every day? I happened to see you once when I went before. It's more surprising that you'd recognize someone as insignificant as me."
"Because I remember the appearance and name of every mage in the branch," Sense replied calmly. Then she looked up at Ash seriously, "Speaking of which, Lord Ash, you really should come here more often. Otherwise, not only the lower staff, even newly promoted First-Class Mages will start treating your existence as a legend."
"Didn't I come two years ago?"
"If you showed up more, at least the front desk would recognize you. It wouldn't have been so troublesome earlier."
"I have all sorts of things to deal with."
Ash more or less understood that Sense wanted him to come here more often. But he had no choice.
Over the past ten-plus years, he not only had to train in magic and martial skills, but also take care of all kinds of matters. Recently he even added raising children to the list. In recent years he hadn't even had time to serve as an examiner.
So when he came to the Magic City, aside from occasionally coming home, he usually went straight to Serie's office.
Either he occupied Serie's lounge, or occasionally went to the private library. He rarely visited the grand hall like an audience chamber, and the people who appeared there were all First-Class Mages.
As for ordinary mages, except for a very small number of special cases, it was basically impossible for them to know him. Especially those who appeared in the last ten-plus years. The last time Serie split a branch was when Sense nearly met with disaster.
And he was already busy enough. There was no way he would waste time personally explaining things to the grassroots. If something needed to be done, he would just pass it down to the First-Class Mages. After all, what high-ranking figure would personally handle every detail?
In the end, he barely did any actual work here in recent years. He mainly came to read books, or to look after Sense occasionally. His real workplace was the Demon King's Castle and the Royal Capital. After all, the Magic Association was nowhere near as important as those two places.
While Ash showed a troubled expression under Sense's unblinking gaze, Kanne unconsciously began observing him carefully.
After all, even a First-Class Mage called him "Lord." He had to be some extraordinary figure. And she vaguely felt like she had heard that name somewhere before.
In fact, she didn't know why, but she felt like she had seen him before too. So she thought hard for quite a while. Suddenly, she raised her hand, pointed at Ash, and shouted, "I remember now! You're that annoying old man!"
"Annoying old man?"
"Lord Ash?", The sudden accusation left Ash confused. Sense widened her eyes in shock, "You didn't really... go around being a thug, did you?"
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