Chapter 121: Chapter 109
Chapter 109: The Belated Truth and Understanding·
_____
Time rewinds to the present.
Even after so many years, Frieren still couldn't understand why the entire team had kept the truth from her.
That was until she saw Ash reach out and pick up Fern.
"Lord Ash… what are you doing…?" fern opened her eyes weakly, her rosy cheeks growing even redder.
She seemed to want to say more, but Ash interrupted her with a soothing voice:
"It's okay, Fern. Just close your eyes and rest. You'll feel better soon."
Frieren, watching from the side, rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Why does this conversation feel so familiar…?" She racked her brain, trying to recall a memory buried deep in the past.
Fern, still confused but trusting Ash, closed her eyes defenselessly, just as Frieren had done so many years ago. And then—
Under the astonished gaze of everyone present, the sick and frail Fern, along with the blanket wrapped around her, was petrified, turning into a stone statue in Ash's hands.
"Wait… wait a minute…!" Frieren's expression turned exaggerated, her hands flying to her aching head. She tried to steady herself, forcing a strained smile as she asked, "Ash, although I think it's unlikely… back then, you didn't… treat me like this, did you?"
"Well… if you think about it positively… sometimes things that seem impossible actually happen. Isn't that a kind of surprise?"
"…"
Ash awkwardly avoided her gaze, but it was clear that Frieren wasn't happy at all. Instead, she looked utterly stunned.
Her mind raced furiously, piecing together fragments of the past, but the realization hit her so hard that her brain seemed to freeze. She stared blankly at the petrified Fern in his arms, unable to form words.
After a long silence, Frieren finally narrowed her eyes at Ash and murmured, "I won't ask anything else right now. Just tell me this—back then, there wasn't any flying magic. How did you transport me to the Magic City?"
"This… um… like this?"
Ash hesitated before demonstrating. Using magic, he made the stone statue float in mid-air, pushing it gently with one hand.
However, the statue began to drift away, forcing him to chase after it awkwardly before catching it again.
The sight of him fumbling with the floating statue sparked a vivid image in Frieren's mind. It was as if she were reliving a memory she hadn't even realized she had.
At last, everything clicked.
Now she understood why the others had such strange expressions when she asked about what had happened during her illness. She also realized why Ash had seemed so guilty at the time, going out of his way to be unusually gentle, yet refusing to explain himself.
Her lips pursed as she asked, "You… you didn't, by any chance, carry me around like this when I was petrified, did you? Did you pretend nothing was wrong, only lifting the seal at the end to make me think I'd just been drowsy and somehow arrived at the Magic City?"
"Well… compared to such trivial details, isn't it more important that your pain was relieved and your illness cured immediately?"
"...There's nothing wrong with that. But still…!" Frieren trailed off, her tone caught between exasperation and disbelief.
Even she couldn't figure out how to properly reprimand him for such an absurd yet undeniably effective method.
After all, it had worked, but it was hard to ignore how inconsiderate it felt to be treated like cargo.
It was like cramming someone into the trunk of a car because there wasn't enough space inside. While they might arrive at their destination without issue, the experience of being treated like baggage was… difficult to put into words.
Although the treatment of being petrified might be better than being thrown into a trunk, at least there were no bumps along the way. In terms of experience, though, it still felt a bit like being knocked unconscious and stuffed into the back of a car.
...
After so many years, Frieren had come to realize that saying such things to Ash was practically useless.
After all, Ash cared far more about effective results than he did about the feelings of others.
No matter how much she complained or argued, he hadn't changed. Frieren sighed, lowering her eyes with a mix of anger and resignation.
"You need to reflect on your actions and apologize to Fern… and to me!"
"...Why?"
"Because not every problem needs to be solved so crudely. The process matters too!"
"I understand what you're saying, but..."
"What? Are you planning to justify yourself again?" Frieren crossed her arms, her expression sour.
Ash hesitated, then asked, "If you had to choose, would you prefer being petrified and wheeled to the Magic City, or being sick for days, suffering while searching for medicine? Which one is better?"
"That's not the point! I don't like being sick, but I also don't like being suddenly petrified and transported like cargo."
"Is that so?"
"Understood?"
"Not really. I just find your stance on this a little… peculiar."
Frieren shot him a sharp glare. Over the years, she had grown more confident in expressing herself, even against Ash.
Still, Ash couldn't help but muse silently, She's always had these odd convictions about certain things. Is it just because she's an elf, or is it because, at her core, she's still just a girl?
He remembered how, long ago, she hadn't even cared when her underwear was accidentally seen. It wasn't until he pointed it out that she started being more mindful.
Ash shook his head, sighing in exasperation.
"Why are you looking at me and sighing? Isn't that a bit rude?" Frieren demanded, clearly annoyed.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm just feeling a little conflicted. Sometimes, I can't even understand someone like you."
"Hey! That's even ruder!" Frieren snapped, glaring at him.
As the two bickered, Ubel watched with great amusement. She nodded to herself, a grin spreading across her face.
"These two are more entertaining than most people," she mused aloud, clearly enjoying the show.
Ash ignored Ubel for the moment and turned his attention back to the petrified Fern in his arms. He stared at the statue in silence for a while before finally speaking.
"I'll reflect on what you said later, but… since she's already been petrified, shouldn't we just get her to the Magic City first?"
"What do you mean by that?" Frieren asked, her tone sharp. "You're acting like the crime's already been committed, so we might as well go through with it!"
"...Then should I cancel it?"
"No. You've already sealed her, and it wasn't me who did it. Besides, I'm not the one who'll get scolded or criticized later. So, you might as well continue."
"You really are my best friend," Ash said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Of course, we're best friends." Frieren gave him a playful pat on the shoulder, smiling as if she hadn't just thrown him under the bus.
At that moment, Ubel raised her hand, interrupting their exchange.
"Excuse me," she said, a sly smile on her lips. "Can we break up this little lovefest for a moment?"
"What's wrong?" Frieren asked.
"How far are we from the Magic City?" Ubel inquired, her tone casual yet pointed.
"...How far?" Ash lowered his head, pondering for a moment. After calculating the speed and magic consumption required for flying, he replied casually, "Half a day?"
"Half a day? I think it'll take a little over half an day at most—if I don't stop. But if I need to take breaks, who knows how long it'll take," Ubel said, spreading her hands helplessly after a quick calculation.
"Frieren, you carry her," Ash suggested flatly.
"Are you kidding me? Even I can't fly for long. Flying magic consumes a lot of energy," Frieren retorted, giving him an exasperated look.
"Fine, I'll do it then," Ash said with a resigned sigh.
He already had a sinking feeling that the awkward posture he had once used in a snowstorm was about to make an unwelcome return.
Ash glanced at the petrified girl in his arms, noting her tall and imposing figure. Then, he turned his gaze to Ubel, whose curves were more modest but still well-proportioned. Nodding unconsciously, he muttered, "It shouldn't be too strange."
"...I don't know if what you're saying is weird or not, but don't you think your gaze is a bit rude?" Ubel, sensitive to such scrutiny, crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him fiercely.
Ash, however, remained nonchalant, entirely dismissive of her girlish indignation. "Don't take it too seriously. Now, come on."
"Are we really doing this?"
"I don't mind leaving you behind," Ash replied, his tone indifferent.
"Fine! Let's go!" Ubel, spurred by his dismissiveness, leaped onto his back without hesitation, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
The unexpected intimacy of the gesture left Frieren blinking in surprise. "When did your relationship get so close?"
"...I'm confused. Why do you think we're close?" Ash muttered, though he wanted to complain further.
"Let's go already~!" Ubel urged, sounding far too cheerful for Ash's liking.
Exchanging a resigned glance with Frieren, Ash gave up on further protests and silently took to the sky.
---
The sensation of Ubel clinging to his back was... distracting. It wasn't like carrying the petrified Fern, but it was still enough to make him self-conscious.
Why can't I feel anything about this? Ash thought to himself, trying to rally his enthusiasm. But the idea of being genuinely happy about carrying Ubel felt like a defeat he wasn't willing to admit.
"Admit it, you're actually enjoying this," Ubel teased, her voice close to his ear. "How could you not? You're getting close contact with a beautiful girl like me~!"
"Do you think that's even possible?" Ash shot back, annoyed.
"Of course it is. After all, didn't you lift my skirt the first time we met?"
"Can you stop bringing that up? I've apologized countless times already. Just… drop it."
Seeing no point in arguing further, Ash freed one hand to swat her lightly. However, realizing it might cause unnecessary trouble mid-flight, he decided to hold off for the time being.
Ubel, meanwhile, clung to him like an octopus, ensuring she wouldn't fall. The oddity of her posture made the situation even stranger, but Ash pressed on.
After two brief rests for Frieren, they finally arrived at the Magic City by evening.
"...Now that we're here, I have a question," Ubel'said, hopping off his back with ease. She placed a finger on her chin, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"If she's already petrified, why were we in such a rush to get here today?"
Her question left both Ash and Frieren momentarily speechless.
"...That's... a good question," Frieren admitted, looking at Ash with a mix of confusion and exasperation.
Ash scratched his head awkwardly, avoiding their gazes. "...Well, it's not like we could just leave her out there."
"Sure, but wasn't the whole point of petrifying her to buy time?" Ubel pressed, her tone almost teasing.
Her question left both Ash and Frieren momentarily speechless.
Because they were all focused on curing the illness as quickly as possible, they had accidentally overlooked the fact that the patient was already petrified. This meant there was no real urgency to worry about time, right?
So now...
"…We should find a hotel as soon as possible. I wonder if the one we stayed in last time has closed down," Ash muttered.
Feeling that his usual residence in the city had likely become useless after so long, Ash walked ahead, silently carrying the statue. He pretended not to hear the conversation behind him.
Frieren, meanwhile, pulled out a book and followed quietly, pretending she hadn't heard anything either.
The two of them tacitly feigned ignorance, their synchronized behavior making Ubel smile unconsciously. It felt as though she was seeing a new side of them. With a lighthearted skip, she quickly caught up to them.
Ash, moving with practiced ease, soon found an inn. After securing a room, he purchased the necessary medicine, boiled it, and finally placed the statue under the bed.
Adjusting the quilt, he carefully covered the statue before silently lifting the seal.
Although more than half a day had passed since the petrification began, by the time Ash had finished preparing the medicine, it was nearly dusk.
For Fern, however, who had been feverish and dazed, the experience felt like no more than a fleeting moment—closing her eyes and reopening them.
"…Huh? …A ceiling?"
As her eyes fluttered open, the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling made her wonder if she was hallucinating. She blinked blankly, her thoughts too scattered to make sense of anything.
Ash adjusted his expression, offering her a gentle smile. "Fern, you're finally awake."
"Master Ash?" Fern turned her head toward him, her voice soft and uncertain. "What… am I doing here?"
"You've been asleep for three days. We've arrived at the magic city," Ash replied smoothly, repeating the explanation he'd prepared earlier. He reached out and gently held her small hand, which was still warm from the fever.
"—It's so cold!" Fern instinctively pulled her hand back, her wide, slightly teary eyes looking up at him with confusion and a hint of grievance. For the moment, she forgot to question how she had ended up here.
"Sorry, sorry," Ash apologized, scratching his head. "I made the same mistake twice…"
"Twice? What are you talking about?" Fern asked, tilting her head in puzzlement.
"Ah… no, it's nothing. Don't worry about it," Ash replied hastily, realizing that saying too much would only complicate matters. He focused instead on helping her sit up.
Standing off to the side, Frieren observed the scene quietly. Memories of her own time being sick surfaced unbidden.
As her gaze lingered on Ash's cold hands, something clicked in her mind. She finally understood—he wasn't taking advantage of Fern while she was vulnerable. He was simply too preoccupied with ensuring her safety to care about appearances or propriety.
He had rushed all the way here, carrying the petrified Fern, without stopping to rest properly. He hadn't even thought of himself.
And yet, despite his genuine concern, she had always viewed him through a lens of suspicion, assuming the worst of his intentions.
…
The realization hit Frieren like a sudden jolt, leaving her momentarily speechless. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, though she couldn't tell if it stemmed from shame or some other emotion.
Biting her lower lip gently, she lowered her head, allowing her long hair to cascade down and obscure half of her face. Her fingers unconsciously played with her ponytail as her expression grew more complicated and subtle.
Even though she often found him rude and overly casual, she couldn't deny that his actions were beyond reproach.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone