Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 98.5: Feels Betrayed· Fern's Threat

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Seeing that Ash appeared to genuinely reflect on his actions, Fern didn't feel awkward anymore. Instead, her attention was caught by a key detail in the conversation. Muttering to herself, she said, "But I really didn't expect the Great Magician Flamme to be more like a fairy tale. I used to wonder if she was even real. And now, to think the two people around her actually know each other and have such a close relationship..."

"A fairy tale...?" Frieren repeated, her expression dimming slightly at the casual remark.

"That's right," she admitted softly. "It's been so long. Sometimes I think Ash and I are the only ones who still remember what she looked like."

"No," Ash interjected. "Serie should remember, too."

"...Serie? That willful girl?"

"Willful? …True. But it can be entertaining at times," Ash replied with a faint smile.

---

The two drifted into a conversation filled with names and memories that were beyond Fern's comprehension. Left out, she eventually stopped spoon-feeding Frieren and sat in silence, a faint pout forming on her face.

Frieren, slow to notice such things but more attuned to Fern over the years, finally caught the shift in her expression. She changed the subject abruptly, her tone light: "Speaking of which, the weather is nice today, isn't it?"

"Huh? Oh… yes. It shouldn't rain tomorrow," Ash replied, momentarily startled. But when Frieren's pointed glance directed his attention to Fern, he realized the child, who usually took care of them, looked unusually downcast. Catching on, he nodded silently.

Their awkward subject change made Fern both angry and amused. "Lady Frieren, Master Ash… Did you both learn this way of changing the subject from a teacher?" she asked, half-teasing.

"Speaking of which..." Frieren began, ignoring Fern's question.

"What?" Fern asked warily, watching her closely to see if this was just another diversion.

Frieren rubbed her sleepy eyes and glanced around before picking up Ash's earlier topic. "Come to think of it, we've already reached the northern territories, close to the monsters' and demons' base camps. Yet, there are barely any monsters around, and we haven't encountered a single demon. Don't you think that's strange?"

"I know why," Fern said instinctively. "The Kingdom of Ester has been raising monsters in captivity. They've even set up a massive breeding base, captured countless monsters, and spent heavily to buy live ones. This has indirectly made the region much safer, hasn't it?"

"Really?" Frieren tilted her head thoughtfully. "But even demons don't keep monsters in captivity. They've never believed monsters could be tamed. Where does Ester's confidence come from?"

"Well, isn't this a good thing?" Fern asked, almost defensively. "At least everyone's safer now."

"It's not just the monsters," Frieren muttered, her brow furrowing. "Even the demons seem to have decreased…."

Her thoughts drifted to the demon clans and the shadowy forces she suspected were at work. Before she could voice her concerns, Ash interrupted smoothly, changing the subject:

"—When I was in the northern countries, I heard that while the numbers of monsters and demons have declined, the region hasn't grown any more peaceful. On the contrary, conflicts among humans have risen. There's been a significant increase in deserters, bandits, and the like."

"The wars between the northern countries have never truly ceased," Frieren mused. "Now that the pressure from demons has lessened, are they starting to mirror the southern countries?"

Ash's words made Fern think of her own war-torn homeland. Her gaze dimmed.

Frieren's expression turned bitter as she looked at Fern, unsure how to comfort her. Frustrated by her own helplessness, she quickly turned to Ash and stared at him pointedly, silently urging him to fix the situation he had caused.

"Speaking of which, today—" Ash began, only for Frieren to kick him under the table before he could finish.

"Change it!" she hissed.

Feigning innocence, he spread his hands. "I was going to say, the weather is nice today. Why don't we get going?"

"...You might as well just talk about the weather," she muttered, unimpressed.

"Uh..." Ash hesitated, then suddenly perked up as if struck by inspiration. "By the way, Frieren, are you a first-Grade magician?"

"first-Grade magician? What's that?"

"...Let Fern explain."

Without further ado, he pushed Fern, who was still lost in her thoughts, to the forefront. Startled, Fern blinked, trying to gather her composure, and looked at Frieren with a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"Don't you know, Lady Frieren?" she asked. "In the northern plateau, where monsters, rebel soldiers, bandits, and demons can appear at any time, many areas restrict the movement of people. To pass through these regions safely, adventurers must have a first-Grade magician with them."

Fern's tone grew serious as she elaborated. The rebels, once soldiers, now committed murder, arson, and robbery as if they were daily routines. They were often considered even more dangerous than demons.

"Demons and monsters only kill," Fern explained. "If you lose to them, you're either eaten or dead. But with rebels and bandits... for women, even death might seem like a mercy."

She paused, her face grim. "Because these areas are so chaotic, the Magic Association established the 'first-Grade magician' requirement to ensure the safety of travelers."

After finishing, Fern looked at Frieren, puzzled. "Lady Frieren... you seriously don't know about this?"

"Not at all," Frieren replied, completely confused. "What exactly is a first-Grade magician?"

"That's the qualification for magicians recognized by the Mainland Magic Association," Fern explained patiently. "You're not... an unqualified 'black-market magician,' are you?"

"Don't make me sound like an unlicensed doctor," Frieren retorted, frowning. "It's just... the management of magicians changes all the time, and I haven't been able to keep up with all the exams."

"But those changes were half a century ago!" Fern protested. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out a piece of paper and holding it up triumphantly. "Look, this is my third-Grade magician certification. I passed it when I was in the Holy City."

"Half a century ago? That wasn't long ago at all," Frieren muttered. She tried to defend herself, glancing at Ash as if to seek validation. "It was probably around the time I set out with Heiter and the others... And besides—" She pointed accusingly at Ash. "Ash definitely doesn't know about this either!"

"Don't point your finger at people so casually. It's impolite," Ash said, lazily swatting her finger away.

"See! He feels guilty, doesn't he? I knew it!"

"No, I actually do know," Ash countered, his tone indifferent.

Frieren narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but rather than dwelling on whether Ash truly understood the intricacies of the certification system, her thoughts drifted elsewhere. To everyone but Serie, Ash had often been regarded as the de facto head of the Northern Division, making his calm expression all the more irritating to the elf girl who felt increasingly out of touch with modern standards.

Frieren felt betrayed and glared at Ash. "Why? Why do you know about this?"

"Because I used to live in the largest magic city in the northern countries. The only branch of the Magic Association is located there…"

"So, you're a first-Grade magician?"

"...No, I've never taken the certification."

Ash's subconscious reply made Frieren grin triumphantly. She turned to Fern with a satisfied look. "See, Fern! This guy is useless!"

"...Why are you so proud about that? Isn't this going to be really inconvenient?" Fern sighed, exasperated. "Well, there's no other way. Let's head to the Magic City and get the exam done."

"Actually, you can just hire someone qualified," Ash suggested, raising a hand in protest.

But Fern didn't let him finish. "No! That's a waste of money."

"Then I'll ask someone I know—"

"If you ask others for help, you'll owe them a favor! It's better to take the exam yourself! Alright, it's decided. Master Ash, okay?"

"Uh… okay… okay…" Ash relented, resigned.

Ash's insistence stemmed from his past; she regarded the Magic City as a second home and seemed oddly stubborn about returning. Frieren, noticing this, patted Ash on the shoulder with a smile, prompting him to give in completely.

After all, he had practically forced Fern to leave the Magic City in the first place. Letting him revisit the familiar place felt like the least he could do.

And so, the three adjusted their course and set off toward the Magic City.

---

Led by an unusually eager Fern, the group remained in high spirits as they entered the northern plateau. But their enthusiasm didn't last long.

The sudden snowstorm extinguished Frieren and Fern's initial excitement as quickly as it had arrived.

"It's not even winter yet, and there's already a heavy snowfall… and now we're lost," Frieren muttered, her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck as she collapsed onto the snow. Staring at the vast, white expanse, she grumbled, "This is why I hate the north."

"Instead of complaining... what should we do now?" Fern, curled up and shivering, glanced at Ash. Despite the storm, Ash appeared entirely unbothered, not even wearing a scarf.

"Master Ash, aren't you cold?"

"I'm a warrior—and a pretty good one at that," Ash replied with a shrug. "The coats you're wearing can handle this cold. If I couldn't, wouldn't that make me less capable than your clothes?"

"...You really are just like Eisen," Fern muttered.

"Except I haven't tried poison arrows that can put a dragon to sleep," Ash added dryly.

Despite the biting cold, Ash looked completely at ease, strolling casually through the storm in nothing more than a thin windbreaker, as if it were a mild drizzle. His relaxed demeanor made Frieren jealous. After thinking for a moment, she pointed at the ground.

"...Squat down."

"Why?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You're not cold, and you can move easily. Carry me on your back. You'll block the wind and snow for me," she demanded, her tone devoid of any politeness despite the favor she was asking.

"...You're so lazy."

"We're companions—friends, right?"

"Why are you emphasizing that now?" Ash sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, I kind of regret meeting you."

"Well, we already know each other, so it's too late to complain now. Also, I'm freezing. And if you mess with Fern again in the future, I won't just stand by and watch like before. Deal?"

"...Deal."

After a brief negotiation, Ash reluctantly agreed. He quietly turned around, squatted down, and let the elf climb onto his back.

During the whole process, Fern didn't say a word. She simply stared at the two silently, but an annoyed expression crept onto her face.

'If I'd known this would work, I would've let Master Ash carry me. Lady Frieren is so cunning!'

Unable to suppress her frustration, Fern stomped through the snow as she followed behind Frieren, her feet making sharp, deliberate imprints.

Noticing her behavior, Frieren, who was feeling a bit guilty, turned her head to look at her. "…What's wrong, Fern? Are you cold too?"

"Yes! I'm very cold!"

"...Then, shall we take turns?"

"May I?!"

"Certainly."

"I'm sorry, Lady Frieren," Philen said as he stepped forward, grabbing her hand with a guilty expression. "I shouldn't have doubted you again."

"Eh? Doubted me? About what?" Frieren's eyes widened, her expression slowly shifting as though she had just been betrayed. Her hand, still holding Ash's neck, instinctively tightened. "Wait—are you eating dessert behind my back again?"

"I haven't had dessert in half a month…" Frieren's tone turned accusatory, and she shifted her glare between Fern and Ash. "Fern, that's too much! And Ash, you too! We said we were friends!"

"...What?" Ash, caught completely off guard, glanced over his shoulder in confusion as Frieren's grip grew firmer. "I don't even know what's going on! What's this about?"

"No?" Frieren looked back at Fern with narrowed eyes. "Then what is it, Fern? Why do you seem so suspicious?"

"...Don't worry about it," Fern muttered stiffly, turning her face away to avoid her gaze.

Ash, feeling the tension and completely at a loss, sighed heavily. Meanwhile, Fern, now aware of the chaos she had caused, couldn't help but feel guilty for unintentionally creating a rift between them.

Even Frieren began to wonder, for just a moment, if their long-standing friendship was as fragile as a sheet of paper.

---

After some time, Frieren reluctantly slid off Ash's back. Without hesitation, Fern stepped forward and took her place, climbing onto Ash's back with an unconcealed sense of joy.

"Um… Master Ash, am I heavy?" Fern asked softly, her arms lightly wrapping around Ash's neck.

"Hm~ What if I said you were?" Ash teased without much thought.

"…Then I'd have no choice but to kill you and then commit suicide," Fern responded coldly, tightening his arms slightly.

Ash froze at the reply, his teasing expression vanishing. The chilling tone in Fern's voice was sharper than the icy wind around them, her words colder than the snow underfoot.

"I was just joking," Ash said cautiously, forcing a smile. "But honestly, saying something that scary—even as a joke—is a bit much."

"What are you talking about?" Fern asked, hee face serious. "I'm not joking."

"…You're actually serious?" Ash blinked, a hint of sweat forming despite the freezing temperatures.

"And now?" Fern leaned closer, her voice soft but unnerving. "Master Ash, what's your answer?"

"Of course, you're light—much lighter than Frieren~!" Ash declared hastily, patting his chest as if to reinforce his statement.

Hearing this, Frieren immediately frowned. "Wait, how can you lie so blatantly? There's no way Fern is lighter than me! Just look at the size difference—"

"Lady Frieren!" Fern cut her off sharply, her intense gaze silencing her.

"Huh? I just feel… I mean… Oh, forget it," Frieren stammered, unnerved by her sharp tone and deciding to drop the subject.

Still, she couldn't help but wonder why someone as intelligent as Fern would believe such an obvious lie.

"...Could she have caught a cold and developed a fever? The northern weather really is dangerous." Frieren muttered to herself as she hurried to catch up to the two ahead of her. "We should find a place to rest and check Fern's temperature—she's been acting too strange."

Her concern grew with every step, unsure if it was the cold affecting Fern's behavior or if there was something else entirely causing it.