When the plan truly begins, will Sense even still be alive? That's not a small question. In fact, the people he knows might end up like before, leaving only Frieren and Serie behind.
"But if, in their memories, I'm just an ordinary good person, that might not be such a bad ending either. After all..."
The moonlight flowed like water, quietly spilling across Ash's face, reflecting the complicated look in his eyes.
He raised his head to the sky, staring at the unchanging bright moon, and softly revealed his greatest secret.
"I'm not human."
To be honest, after recalling his identity again, he felt a little regret over the things he had said to Sense earlier.
He really did enjoy playing around with that junior who was like a little animal. But, the passage of time, for him, might be nothing more than a fleeting glance. For Sense, however, it was an unavoidable countdown of life.
'So, is it really okay to let things continue like this?'
"But since I already plan to take care of Fern in her old age, adding one more person I'll have to say goodbye to doesn't seem like such a big problem, right?"
'No, that shouldn't be it, should it?'
He muttered out a solution to himself, then immediately shook his head hard, denying it in his heart.
In the end, he reached no real conclusion. So he gave up worrying about it and decided to just take things as they came, leaving the problem for the future.
———
The familiar entrance to his home.
Because he had broken the lock earlier, it had already been replaced with a new one. Naturally, Ash could only choose to climb over the wall.
The moment he stepped into the courtyard, the sight before him made his eyes light up.
The ground that had once been ravaged by wind, covered in yellow mud, sand, and fallen leaves, was now spotless. In its place was cleanliness and freshness.
The plants in the courtyard seemed to have been carefully tended as well. No longer growing wildly, they had been neatly trimmed. Everything looked brand new, completely opposite to the previous chaos. For a moment, he even wondered if he had come to the wrong house.
Before he could say anything, a familiar figure entered his sight.
That girl who was like an energetic puppy, Kanne, was carrying a bucket out of the house. Her face and clothes were dirty, making her look just like a little dog that had been rolling around everywhere.
When their eyes met, Kanne froze for a moment. Then she put down the bucket and strode toward Ash, her face full of dissatisfaction and anger.
"Look at this! Your house was such a mess! And you were out fooling around until now? Only coming back after everything's almost done? Aren't you ashamed?"
Hearing that, Ash teased, "The way you say it makes me sound like an irresponsible husband."
"H-Huh? What are you imagining on your own? Who would ever marry an old man like you! Honestly! What I hate most are adults like you! Even if—WAH!"
He had only teased her lightly, but Kanne stomped her foot in agitation and fiercely retorted.
However, the water she had been controlling from the bucket to clean the walls lost control when her emotions collapsed. It splashed all over her, drenching her completely. She cried out as she instantly became a soaked mess.
Ash merely glanced at the unexpectedly well-developed girl in front of him, now soaked and putting on an unintentional display. He didn't bother averting his eyes or acting awkward. Instead, he spread his hands casually.
"From the first time we met, I wanted to say this. Even though I am an old man, it still hurts a little to be called that to my face."
Even though Ash was openly looking at her drenched state, there was no strange intent in his gaze. He was even sharing his feelings with her. That made Kanne feel a bit relieved, yet even more annoyed.
"Is now really the time to talk about that?"
"So which is worse, the cold on your body or the cold in my heart?"
"Who cares about your feelings, you old man!"
Facing Ash's confident defense, Kanne clutched her chest with both hands, her cheeks flushed red. Her eyes held both shame and anger. If not for the gap in strength between them, she probably would have already tried to fight him.
Ash wouldn't go so far as to seriously argue with a child, but her appearance still made him laugh. He lightly flicked his finger against her soaked abdomen and smiled.
"You really are a kid with no manners. Good thing I'm a gentle and kind old man. Otherwise, you'd be in trouble right now. You should thank me."
"Ah? F-FERN!"
Overwhelmed with embarrassment and anger, Kanne shrank down and squatted on the ground, loudly calling for help.
That startled him. He reflexively stepped back, flustered.
"Wait! Are you in elementary school? Calling for a parent when something happens? No, wait! Calling for someone! Show a bit of mage spirit! At least challenge me to a one-on-one duel or something! I was just getting a little revenge, I didn't actually do anything to you!"
"If you really did something, it would already be too late!"
"I'm not that kind of person! Honestly, I—"
Before he could finish, the familiar purple-haired girl rushed out from inside.
"What happene—huh?"
She looked at her soaked and pitifully squatting friend, then at Ash beside her. Fern's expression instantly froze. Then she stared at Ash with an almost cold gaze.
"Lord Ash, do you have anything to explain?"
"This isn't my fault. It's all this kid's fault!", Ash quickly organized his words, trying to shift responsibility, "I didn't splash the water, and she kept calling me an old man. As a small 'retaliation' for that, I just lightly flicked her stomach. That's not excessive, right?"
"If everything you said is true, that kind of behavior is generally called sexual harassment."
"But she called me old man several times! I only flicked her stomach once. That absolutely counts as legitimate self-defense, and within legal limits."
"But 'old man' is a fact, isn't it?", Fern stared at him expressionlessly and calmly stated the objective truth.
"Fern... I really didn't expect that your thirty-seven-degree mouth could say something so cold and heartless."
He clutched his chest as if stabbed by an invisible blade, dramatically grieving. Then he turned his head toward Frieren, who had just come out and was now sitting on the swing, clearly planning to watch the show.
"Can I borrow your chest for a bit? I want to cry for a while."
"Of course not. Don't drag me into this," Frieren looked like she wanted to distance herself immediately. She was still shelling sunflower seeds.
"Why are you being so cold too?"
"I just don't want to get dragged down."
"By the way, what do you think of my house?"
"Hm? Your house? Smaller than I imagined. The exterior is too plain. It doesn't look like you at all."
"What did you imagine my house would be like?"
"Some strange fortress?"
Under Ash's deliberate guidance, their conversation drifted away from the original issue at an astonishing speed.
He casually wrapped an arm around Frieren's shoulders and pulled her up, walking toward the house together as if nothing had happened.
However, just as they were about to pass by Fern, she silently raised her hand and blocked their way. Her face was expressionless.
"Lord Ash, do you think I met you only yesterday? Or do you think I'm some easily fooled idiot?"
"So it won't work, huh?"
Under the girl's cold stare, he let out a long sigh. Then he pulled Frieren in front of him as if she were front armor.
He even placed both hands on her shoulders to fix her in place and rested his chin on her head, speaking seriously.
"If you want to criticize me that badly, then criticize Frieren along with me!"
"Why drag me into this...", Frieren didn't struggle, but her face collapsed into a helpless expression.
Fern felt even more depressed, "Why are you resisting to this extent this time?"
"Because I don't think I'm wrong. Honestly, it's Fern who called me old man who should apologize to me."
"You really... why are you acting like a child?"
"I'm just saying no to unfair treatment. And I even found an ally!", As he spoke, he grabbed Frieren's hand and lifted it up for her.
Frieren's mouth twitched. She didn't even know how to condemn this forceful act of dragging her completely into the mess.
"You're even saying it like I'm the one at fault now? I didn't even criticize you yet! We were working, and you secretly went out to meet someone!"
Fern puffed up her cheeks like an angry pufferfish and huffed.
"That's enough! I absolutely won't care about Lord Ash anymore!"
With that, she angrily grabbed Kanne and quickly left, leaving the two alone in the courtyard.
———
In the suddenly quiet courtyard.
After a long while, Frieren, who had been used as front armor, sighed and tilted her head back to look at the culprit behind her.
"Why did you drag me into it?"
"It's too lonely alone. I wanted you to keep me company through this hard time."
"Honestly, Ash, it's not the first time I've thought you're selfish in a scary way."
"I'll keep you company next time."
"Fine. Since we're friends, I guess I can't be too picky."
Unable to guarantee that he wouldn't anger Fern again, Frieren was easily persuaded by Ash. She showed no sense of contradiction at all.
The two sat side by side on the swing, staring blankly at the sky.
After a while, Frieren seemed to remember something and casually asked while still looking up.
"By the way, I just remembered, that child Kanne said the First-Class Mage you were 'dating' seemed to respect you a lot. From the description, it sounds like the one we met at the Magic Association?"
"Yeah, that's Sense."
"Confess honestly!", Frieren suddenly turned to him, looking more serious than ever, "Is your status in the Continental Magic Association actually very high? Can't you just get us all a First-Class Mage certificate directly?"
"I'll be honest. Serie is the founder of the Magic Association. So what do you think my status is?"
"You're lying? Serie?", Thinking of Serie from a thousand years ago, who had torn up their master's will and scoffed at their master's ideals, Frieren frowned, "You're lying, right? She'd actually come out to teach humans? When she was so opposed before?"
"If you think I'm lying, you can go ask her yourself."
"Forget it. I believe you."
She couldn't think of any reason for him to lie. After weighing it for a moment, Frieren gave up verifying it herself. After all, she and Serie didn't get along. That's why they hadn't met for a thousand years.
But after thinking seriously, she couldn't help asking, "Since it's Serie, if you just ask her a little, then maybe..."
"Can you think about it from my perspective? If I really wanted to become a First-Class Mage, would she happily agree?"
"How would you know if you don't try?"
"Why don't you go?"
"Honestly, after you said Serie is the founder, I don't even want to participate anymore," Frieren looked unwilling and depressed, "Because she definitely won't let me pass."
"What did you say to me just now? How would you know if you don't try?"
"Yeah... just pretend I didn't say that."
Though not exactly the same, their positions were somewhat similar. Frieren quickly gave up criticizing him and reluctantly accepted reality.
The two continued chatting while looking at the sky.
After a long time, until Kanne, now wearing Fern's clothes, made a face and left, the two finally went back inside.
Although Fern was still angry and refused to speak to him, she carefully arranged his bedding and belongings in his room. With a bit of emotion in his heart, he lay down on the bed and, as usual, began training his magic power.
———
The next day, Fern still didn't speak to him. Kanne came over to play again, this time bringing a new companion, Fern's other former friend.
But unsurprisingly, just like Kanne, that person also had a strong prejudice against him and had no intention of talking to him.
Fern stayed angry for several days, refusing to speak to him. But slowly, she returned to their usual interactions. Though at first it still felt awkward, he himself was busy and occasionally left the Magic City.
During that time, time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, the first round of the First-Class Mage selection exam arrived.
At the top of the venue's steps, behind the podium, stood a middle-aged examiner Ash vaguely recognized but couldn't remember the name of. He had probably become a First-Class Mage within the past ten years. Ash thought he had seen him maybe twice.
The examiner looked down at the scattered crowd below and directly announced the rules.
"This exam will be a team battle. A total of fifty-eight participants are taking part. Teams of three will enter the exam. If there's one person left over alone, that's just bad luck. After all, luck is part of strength. If you're left alone, you can't blame anyone else."
After saying that, the examiner's gaze seemed to briefly sweep over Ash's face. Then, as if worried about being noticed, he quickly looked away and distributed the magical bracelets used for grouping.
On Ash's silver bracelet, the engraved text read: [20]
"Twenty? Is this backdoor manipulation? Deliberate targeting? Or am I just that unlucky?"
Looking at the number on his bracelet, Ash doubted his life choices for a moment.
Frieren, who leaned over to look, noticed the number and couldn't help patting his shoulder.
[T/N: 58 people divided into groups of 3 will result in 19 groups and a single man left. MC is in the 20th group so he is the single man.]
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