What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?

Because she didn't think that city fortress could stop her; even in terms of magic alone, she wasn't sure she could defeat that guy.

As for killing on the battlefield... even if she were, she wouldn't be so narrow-minded as to blame the soldiers for their actions on the battlefield. Right now, she just wants to save her own life.

.............................

.............................

The group hurried on and off, finally stopping to rest after leaving the vicinity of the fortress city of Frisch.

The group had just reached the riverbank to rest when Frilian couldn't help but start a fight:

"Ash, tell me honestly! What have you been doing all these years?"

"You said you were going to work on an apple orchard! But now it's turned into... Have you become a general again?" Philon felt that he was definitely hiding something from him.

Zain, recalling the way the nobleman had looked at him, couldn't help but shake his shoulder: "What have you done! I thought I was going to be killed!"

"Wait a minute, everyone. Suddenly asking me so many questions, which one am I supposed to answer? And Zain... what you're saying isn't my problem, is it? And to be honest, even I'm a little shocked by your behavior."

Recalling how that drunken monk had casually placed the glove on Frillie's foot, Ash couldn't help but admire him, saying, "...You are definitely the most uninhibited person I've ever met."

“…You’re the most reckless person I’ve ever met,” Frillie couldn’t help but interject.

"The Frisch family is generally arrogant and unreasonable. You clearly have a grudge against them, so why are you coming this way?"

"This isn't my fault, is it? I don't know I have any issues with them."

"...Uh, I guess so?"

His matter-of-fact rebuttal made Frillie want to facepalm.

Because he had just remembered that he had a past with her... but in a way, this only fueled her urge to complain, so she suppressed the urge and asked:

"In short... who exactly do you have conflicts with? Can you tell me all at once?"

"I'd like to explain, but the reality... how can I possibly explain it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it yourself, can you remember how many loaves of bread you've eaten?"

His matter-of-fact rebuttal left Frillie speechless for a moment.

Zain couldn't help but wipe away a cold sweat and interject, "...Wait a minute, I don't understand at all! Is this really a problem you're talking about?"

"Let me put it another way. Can you remember how many times you've lost money?"

"...It's not entirely incomprehensible now, ah, but I remember winning a few times!"

"Very well, go play somewhere else, and remember not to gamble next time."

Ash nodded, then casually placed his hand on Zain's shoulder and gave him a gentle push, sending him stumbling down the hillside, almost tumbling into the river.

That troublesome fellow, at least we've managed to get rid of one of them.

However... the two girls' unwavering gazes made him silently raise his hands in surrender:

"Do you want to ask Philen the question he just asked? I will answer it. Actually, I only got to know a few high-ranking officials in the Kingdom of Esther, and occasionally helped them out. I didn't become a general or anything. At most, I was involved in some things quite deeply."

"So that's why you know so much about the monster army of the Kingdom of Esther. You were one of the participants... No, wait, you wouldn't happen to be the mastermind behind this absurd plan, would you?"

Halfway through her speech, noticing his stiff head turn, Frillie couldn't help but quickly step forward and stand on tiptoe to stare into his eyes.

His face, though still slightly youthful despite the passage of a thousand years, revealed an unprecedented seriousness, as if this matter would not end until he gave an answer.

He looked to Philen for help, but Philen's expression was almost identical to Frilian's, forcing him to give up resistance once again.

"...Okay, actually I am indeed the one in charge of this plan."

"It's true?!" Frillie's eyes widened, while Philon's expression betrayed barely concealed worry: "—Why would you, Lord Ash, get involved in something like this??"

"Of course, it's for world peace."

"You're using monsters to fight humans?" Hearing this, Frillie felt it was just an excuse, but...

"Although I used it on a person, when will the North ever be as peaceful as it has been in recent years?"

"this....."

Ash's casual remark actually made Frillie think about it carefully before she realized... he was right after all, leaving her speechless for a moment.

Although it was dangerous and involved killing people, it also inexplicably gave me the feeling of saving lives from a macro perspective.

The first impression was somewhat counterintuitive, yet it was an undeniable fact, leaving her speechless.

Philon still found it hard to accept: "...Why didn't you say anything before?"

“Adults, sometimes you have things you want to achieve, and in the process, you unknowingly become responsible for things you have to take on,” Ash said matter-of-factly, before adding at the end, “It would be strange if you came home and talked to the kids about your work and complained about it.”

"...I'm not a child anymore."

"It's all the same to me."

He chuckled and patted Philon on the head, then walked ahead without waiting for a reply.

"...Lord Ash, as expected, there are still many things you've kept from me, and you've never talked about your own affairs before, such as your dreams and responsibilities. I know nothing about them." Philon had unconsciously puffed out her cheeks. She wanted to be Ash's support, but Ash... didn't want her involved in his affairs.

Frillie, however, remained expressionless, staring at Ash's retreating figure: "That guy slipped away again..."

"Lady Frilian, please tell me! What else is Lord Ash hiding from me?"

"No? Don't ask me, how would I know about that guy..."

"Haven't you known him for a long time?"

"Even so, even though that's true, my understanding of him is still very limited..."

Suddenly being targeted by Philon made Frillie feel somewhat innocently caught in the crossfire... because she had always felt that she didn't know enough about Ash, so she wanted to try to learn more.

But this guy seemed to be shrouded in an invisible veil, and no matter how hard one tried, it was difficult to see his whole picture. He was really hard to figure out.

Even though she initially thought she had plenty of time to stall him, now... she simply couldn't be bothered to delve any deeper and was just waiting for him to confess.

However, I now understand a little more—he seems to be influencing and changing the world in his own way.

Whether the outcome will ultimately be good or bad remains to be seen, but at least from the perspective of this country, the outcome seems to be good.

.............................

.............................

For the sake of the Frisch family and the innocent city fortress, Frilian quickly led Ash and the others away from the Frisch family's territory.

They went straight through the Kagel Pass of the Kingdom of Esther and entered the territory of the Kingdom of Esther.

During this process, Philon kept an eye on the soldiers at the checkpoint, trying to see if anyone recognized Ash and hoping to find some clues.

Unfortunately... the soldiers at the checkpoint have changed many times over the past ten years, and she was destined to return disappointed.

But after entering the pass, when they took a detour to a plain in a different direction from the magical city, Frilian seemed particularly happy, her two long ears drooping down involuntarily with joy.

Seeing Frilian like this, even Philon's dissatisfaction of the past few days gradually disappeared, and she even unconsciously smiled:

"...It's rare to see Lady Frillien so happy."

“He’s a rare old friend after all. I want to have a good talk with him before he dies.” Frilian’s words left the humans unsure how to respond. At least, Philon and Zain didn’t know how to answer, but she herself muttered to herself, “Should I stay for 10 years?”

"No, a week is the maximum!"

"Philan is so stingy."

"It's not just me, Ash-sama must be troubled too, right?" Philon responded to her complaint with a serious expression, and turned to look at Ash with a blank expression.

Faced with this sudden and serious scrutiny, Ash could only nod slightly in agreement, unsure of what else he could do.

"...Isn't this a threat?"

Despite her complaints, Frillie was worried that Philon would actually get angry, so she could only nod in agreement.

In this atmosphere, the group soon arrived at their destination, which they had taken a detour to.

It was a plain that stretched out like a painting, upon which sat a beautiful village that seemed to have stepped out of a fairy tale.

In stark contrast to the formidable walls of the Sword Village, the entrance here is merely a simple wooden frame, without even a door.

The village had no walls around it, and even the wooden fences were low, only enough to keep children and poultry out.

However, right at the entrance of this simple village, an elderly dwarf wearing a bright red battle robe and a knight's helmet sat on a stone.

A short, large sword stood silently guarding him. His face was etched with the marks of time, his beard was as white as snow, and his eyes were closed, as if he were immersed in a long dream.

"Fru, it's been a long time." Frilian approached briskly, her eyes sparkling with the joy of reunion. She didn't forget to introduce the old warrior to her new companions, even with a hint of boasting: "Look, just like I said before, he looks like a seasoned veteran, isn't he handsome?"

"...Who is it?"

Compared to Frilian's rare enthusiasm, Fruye, who slowly opened his eyes, had a somewhat unfamiliar look in his eyes, as if he did not recognize Frilian.

Zain, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but joke, "Isn't this just an ordinary, senile old man you can see anywhere?"

"You're so rude! Even I wouldn't call someone an old fool like that... Ouch!" Ash was halfway through his rant when the old man suddenly swung his sword at his feet.

But he was quick-witted and nimble-fingered, stepping on the sword with one leg.

The attacker, Fru, failed to grip the hilt of his sword, and the blade was slammed into the ground with a loud "crack!"