As soon as he looked away, Fern silently moved in front of him and stared at him with her lips pressed together.
"Lord Ash, is there anything you'd like to explain?"
"Sorry. I was wrong."
"Are you reflecting on it?", Fern pressed.
"Very actively...", he said, though he had already prepared himself for a lecture. He didn't think Fern would believe him anyway, but, unexpectedly, Fern only gave a slight nod before smiling.
"Then I won't say anything today. I'll save the lecture until after you come back."
"Oh, oh? Right... Then I should probably..."
"Eat something before you go. Going out on an empty stomach isn't good. It's better to leave after you've had a proper meal."
Fern cut him off, grabbed his hand, and pulled him toward the kitchen.
"My cooking isn't as good as the royal chefs', but it shouldn't be too bad. Lady Frieren wants to treat you too."
"Honestly, I want to go to sleep now."
Frieren looked full of complaints, as if she was about to collapse and fall asleep at any moment.
A warm feeling rose in Ash's chest.
He had already prepared himself for blame and dissatisfaction, but he hadn't expected Fern and Frieren to express their concern and reluctance like this.
All he could do was smile and nod.
No matter what happened on this trip, he would come back safely. He wouldn't let the people who cared about him worry.
———
In the palace's rear kitchen, the dazzling array of utensils would have amazed most first-time visitors.
But the two girls had clearly already scouted the place.
Even the chefs who normally worked in shifts around the clock had been driven away by them.
Frieren rolled up her sleeves.
Fern picked up a kitchen knife.
One grilled hamburger steak, while the other prepared cream stew for breakfast.
Since all the ingredients had already been prepared beforehand, it didn't take long before a fragrant hamburger steak and a cream stew rich with the smell of milk were placed in front of him.
They were simple dishes, yet so familiar that they gave him a strange feeling of home.
"Fern deserves praise, but Frieren... nobody's birthday is today. Why did you make such a huge hamburger steak?"
Looking at the absurdly large hamburger steak in front of him, Ash couldn't help wondering if eating something like this first thing in the morning was a bit too greasy.
"Eisen said that only a ridiculously large hamburger steak can be a proper gift for a warrior who gave it everything. Consider this an advance reward."
Frieren rested her cheek on one hand and yawned, forcing herself not to collapse while trying to squeeze out a sleepy smile.
"But when you come back, I'll make another one for you."
Hearing those sleepy words from Frieren while she was wearing an apron, Ash couldn't help feeling, 'Why does this sound so much like a red flag?'
The strange remark left him with an expression as if he had swallowed a fly.
Especially after thinking about what Fern had said earlier. Telling him to eat well before leaving sounded a little too much like "have a full meal before your final journey."
Of course, he knew they didn't mean it that way.
Still, it felt very...
'Awkward.'
"What? I rarely make hamburger steak for you, and you're still unhappy about it?"
Resting her chin on her hand, Frieren noticed his strange expression and immediately looked displeased.
"Sorry, sorry. I just thought of something unpleasant."
"Why did looking at my face make you think of something unpleasant? Are you picking a fight?"
His instinctive explanation only made things worse.
Frieren's face darkened immediately.
A trace of irritation flashed through her eyes, and her cheeks puffed out slightly.
Realizing he had said the wrong thing again, all he could do was lower his head and start eating enthusiastically while repeatedly praising the food.
"I-It really is good! You've inherited Eisen's skills!"
"I only got the recipe. Besides, even if you praise me now, I absolutely won't be happy about it!"
The elf girl, who was strangely good at holding grudges, pursed her lips and puffed out her cheeks a little. She turned her head away and deliberately looked elsewhere instead of at him.
Yet a bit of pride she couldn't hide appeared on her face.
Ash didn't see any of that.
He merely let out a helpless sigh and reminded her, "You said this is for rewarding warriors, but I'm actually a mage. Isn't that..."
"Stop worrying about that and eat already!"
Seeing him about to start rambling again, Frieren finally turned back.
The gentleness from before was gone, and she was glaring at him instead.
"Alright, alright. Don't get worked up. It's my fault. I won't say anything else. I'll eat, okay?"
Since this might end up being his last breakfast, and someone had actually cooked for him for once, Ash decided not to say anything more and quietly focused on eating.
Fern slowly sat across from him at the table.
Dark circles were visible under her eyes, just like Frieren's.
She rested her chin on her hand and stared at Ash without blinking.
A trace of concern hid in her gaze.
Her fingers unconsciously brushed against the tabletop, as though she were thinking about something.
When Ash looked up, she suddenly spoke.
"At a time like this, shouldn't you say something, Lord Ash?"
"What am I supposed to say?"
Or rather, hadn't he already said it before?
Faced with such a sudden and somewhat unreasonable request, Ash simply felt troubled.
"Something like you'll definitely come back?"
"I think I've already said something similar."
"Not firmly enough."
Fern's voice rose slightly, and a hint of urgency appeared in her eyes.
"Even if you say that."
Ash scooped up a spoonful of cream stew.
He looked like he wanted to complain.
But when he noticed the fingertips of the hand Fern had placed on the table trembling slightly, he swallowed those words.
She was probably really scared.
He could more or less understand how she felt, but he couldn't expose it.
So he put down his spoon and smiled helplessly.
"You're right. Then I'll definitely come back. And when I do... hmm, what should I do then?"
"Think of something quickly. A good attachment. That way you'll have a stronger reason to come back. Maybe it'll be like in storybooks. Thinking about that goal might let you break through your limits."
"Go back to my hometown and get married?"
"Pervert."
The girl who had been worried just moments ago immediately darkened her face.
She slapped both hands onto the table, her beautiful eyes opening wide as her cheeks puffed up in annoyance.
"That's unreasonable, isn't it? You're the one who told me to say something."
"Pick a more serious reason, pervert."
Fern bit her lip and continued staring at Ash, a trace of reproach in her eyes.
"I can't think of anything else."
The unreasonable demand left him depressed as he stirred the cream stew, looking completely troubled.
Fern quietly added another comment, dissatisfaction still in her voice.
"Pervert."
"Can you stop calling me a pervert all the time?"
"Lord Ash is a pervert."
Fern turned her head away.
Yet the corners of her lips lifted slightly, as though she were hiding some of her nervousness and worry.
———
Warmth filled the dining room.
The fire burned brightly in the stove, and the dancing flames seemed to add energy to this special moment.
Frieren was perhaps truly exhausted.
She gave a small yawn, then unknowingly fell asleep on the table.
Her breathing was steady and calm.
The faint snoring that echoed through the quiet dining room was so clear that Ash couldn't help laughing.
Fern, meanwhile, kept watching Ash.
She wanted him to give a reason that was suitable enough, convincing enough, to put her at ease.
As the process continued, her hands unconsciously tightened, and her body leaned forward slightly.
Ash struggled to think.
He struggled and struggled.
The spoon in his hand stirred the food absentmindedly.
Only after a long while did he finally seem to make up his mind.
"Actually, I don't need many reasons. As long as I can come back and see you, that's enough for me."
"R-Really?"
Ash's voice was low and gentle, and his eyes were sincere.
Fern found herself completely unable to doubt him.
Her voice trembled slightly.
She seemed both surprised by the answer and unable to quite believe it.
"Of course, if possible, I'd like us to go back to how we were before."
"Before?"
The sudden statement immediately confused Fern.
Her brows drew together slightly as she tried to recall the past.
"That's right! Like that! Um... wait a second..."
As he spoke, Ash reached into empty space and pulled out a recording magic tool he had carefully preserved.
The moment she recognized it, Fern's expression froze.
Ash silently poured magic power into it and activated it.
An instant later, the dining room echoed with the confession of a young girl.
Her voice was childish, yet almost hysterical.
["If it weren't for Lord Ash, I might have died by the roadside long ago! Lord Ash gave me hot food and a clean bed! He gave me a home! When I was uneasy, you held me tightly! During nights when I was scared, you gently held my hand! Even when you were covered in injuries, the first thing you thought about was whether I was hungry, so... so! I-I... like Lord Ash like this the most!"]
By the time the girl finished her breathless confession, Fern's face was already as red as a ripe apple.
Ash looked directly at the girl across from him and stated the reward he wanted if he managed to return alive.
"If you ask me about my biggest regret and my only wish for you, then it's definitely this: I want you to go back to how you used to be. Honest with me, cute, and liking me the most, just like before."
"W-Why?"
"Why make that wish? Because I've always—"
Ash had barely started explaining when Fern interrupted through clenched teeth.
"That's not what I mean! Why do you still have that thing? Didn't I tell you to destroy it a long time ago?"
The embarrassing memory from her childhood resurfaced along with the recording.
Fern became so agitated that she jumped to her feet.
Leaning across the table, she desperately tried to snatch the recording magic tool.
But Ash quickly pulled it back and said with complete seriousness, "How could I destroy it? This is my emotional support! Every time you lecture me, I listen to it once! If you want me to destroy it, you might as well kill me!"
"Y-You can't do that! That's too much! This... this is basically bullying!"
Her voice rose loudly.
It trembled slightly, and her cheeks became even redder from embarrassment and frustration.
Ash simply looked at her with a grin and showed no intention of backing down.
"Come on, don't be angry. It's really precious to me. It witnessed our wonderful memories together."
As he spoke, he even lightly waved the recording magic tool in his hand, as if deliberately teasing her.
Fern was so angry that she stomped her feet.
But she also understood that getting angry was meaningless right now.
So she bit her lip, tried to calm herself, and directly threatened him in a cold voice.
"Destroy it right now, or I... I really won't talk to you anymore!"
"Destroying it is impossible. I'll never destroy it. But..."
Halfway through, he suddenly changed direction.
"If you keep it for me, that's fine. After all, this is my most precious possession. It wouldn't be good if it got damaged."
As he spoke, he directly held it out to her.
Caught completely off guard, Fern froze.
A conflicted expression appeared on her face.
She couldn't even understand why he seemed willing to hand it over to her.
Wasn't he afraid she would destroy it on the spot?
But Ash saw through her thoughts and gave a sly smile.
"Even if you break it, it doesn't matter. Something this important obviously has a backup stored in the royal capital."
"And you call it your most precious possession?"
"Because this is the original. The sound quality is the clearest~"
"You're always... so cunning!"
She wanted to complain more, but the words wouldn't come.
In the end, Fern carefully tucked the recording magic tool into her clothes.
Her fingers lightly brushed across its surface.
A complicated look appeared in her eyes.
Then she took a deep breath, raised her reddened face, looked at him, and forced out the words.
"If... it's only for one day, then I suppose it's possible," Her cheeks were still flushed.
Whether from embarrassment or because her earlier agitation hadn't fully faded, it was impossible to tell.
Seeing her reaction, Ash smiled with satisfaction.
"So that's a yes?"
"Only one day."
Fern lowered her head slightly, her gaze wandering.
"That's enough. Now I have plenty of motivation."
Ash straightened up and answered confidently.
The energy and confidence in his appearance made it seem as though he could already see himself returning in victory.
"You're going to stay alive and come back just for something like that? Isn't that a little too careless?", Fern raised her head.
Her brows unconsciously drew together.
Her eyes seemed to say: How can someone be this childish?
Yet her concern for him was still impossible to hide.
"What's wrong with that?"
"A lot is wrong with it! But..."
Fern lightly bit her lip.
Her gaze gradually softened.
A trace of helplessness and compromise appeared as the corners of her mouth rose again.
"Fine. If it can really help you find your fighting spirit, then I suppose I can agree."
"That's good."
"In return, you absolutely must come back."
Though embarrassed, Fern still managed to force out a smile.
Then she quietly sat back down.
Her body leaned forward slightly, and her hands rested on her knees as she maintained a proper sitting posture.
Her eyes never left Ash.
She quietly watched him finish breakfast.
There was a different kind of gentleness in that focused gaze, as though at this moment the entire world contained only the two of them.
And she was willing to accompany him in this way through this brief and precious time.
Even though a faint sadness remained beneath the warmth in the dining room.
Frieren was still asleep on the table.
Her snoring remained steady, as though she knew nothing about what was happening around her.
Which, in fact, she didn't.
After all, being able to sleep anywhere thanks to her exceptionally good sleep quality was one of her strengths.