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

"Is that so?" Frilian looked at him in the rocking chair with an indescribable, strange expression.

To be honest, she had prepared herself for the worst this time, that Ash might not be able to come here, or that he might have already died of old age. But she had almost forgotten how many times she had mentally prepared herself for this.

Every time she thought he was dead, he would suddenly reappear, full of life... Even she felt mentally overwhelmed by Ash's constant back and forth.

When Ash noticed this strange expression, he couldn't help but glare at him: "What's with that expression? You don't want me to die sooner, do you?"

"How could that be... I just thought this time, I would never see you again."

It's not that I want my friend to die, it's just that the feeling of repeatedly thinking that he's dead and then reappearing is hard to describe.

This made her cross her arms and look thoughtful: "Speaking of which, isn't this Simmel's house? Why are you sitting in his chair?"

"He took the comb back to his room, probably to comb his hair, and said that I could use it first."

"Although I think it's unlikely, you weren't fighting with Simmel for this rocking chair while I was away, were you?"

She had barely finished speaking with suspicion when something occurred to her, and she unconsciously frowned: "Wait, I remember... Simmel is bald now, isn't she?"

"I don't know, even bald guys have their own principles... I remember him saying something like that."

"...I don't quite understand. Humans are really strange." Frilian shook her head in confusion, then sat down in the chair opposite him, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin on her hand as she stared at him, looking at him with a hint of annoyance:

"What have you been doing for the past half-century? I heard you've been quite rude, not visiting them at all."

"Is this my fault? Why didn't you come? I thought you would! Do you know how sad I was when I heard you hadn't come?"

"This... I'm sorry, it was my fault. It feels like forty-nine years have passed in the blink of an eye... Hmm? No, wait a minute?"

Frillie lowered her head in frustration at what he said, but it wasn't until she was almost finished that she snapped back to reality and realized something was amiss.

But just as she narrowed her eyes in displeasure, Ash waved his hand and said:

"Alright, alright, I forgive you. Let's not talk about the past anymore. Of course, I'd be happy if you could give me a push along the way."

"Are you an old man?! And... you have no right to talk to me like that."

Realizing she had been tricked, Frillie looked utterly dejected.

But after hesitating for a moment, seeing his comfortable and aged appearance in the rocking chair, Frillian sighed and went over to rock him from behind.

The warm indoor space in winter has once again returned to tranquility.

With my friend beside me and the fire burning brightly, everything seemed so harmonious and beautiful.

But... when Simmel finally finished tidying herself up and came out, she looked at the two young guys, one yawning and rocking in his chair, and the other still comfortably sleeping in his own rocking chair, and she didn't know what expression to make.

She was even a little confused about whether she should disturb their strange, yet inexplicably harmonious atmosphere.

After a long while, he suppressed the strange feeling and, with a mix of amusement and exasperation, gently tapped the ground with his cane, temporarily ending their odd "descendant" harmony mode.

Chapter Sixty-Four: The Hero's Last Journey - Old Friends Like Leaves Falling in the Wind, One After Another Withering Away

When the three of them walked out of the capital side by side...

As soon as they left the city gate, they saw two people, one tall and one short, already guarding the city wall.

Despite being an alcoholic monk, Haita remained very tall, and his appearance hadn't changed much even after 50 years.

His face was covered in wrinkles, giving him a somewhat aged appearance, and his clothes were surprisingly unchanged from before... Perhaps he had dressed specially for this meeting, but Ash couldn't help but tease him:

"You're finally starting to look like a monk. You're nothing like the wine-drinking monk you used to be. Should I say you've become more mature or what?"

"Because I'm the bishop of the Holy City now," Haita said with a smile and a shrug, glancing at the two of them and unconsciously remarking:

"You really haven't changed at all."

"How could a mere drunkard become a bishop?"

"Haha~ It's because I seem to be favored by the goddess, unlike someone who seems to have offended the goddess."

Haita's smug smile hardly belied his status as a person of high moral standing.

"...Should I offend you?"

"What? You've got a clue? Did you do something rude to the goddess?"

"When I was little, I got drunk in the village and accidentally vomited all over the ground while leaning against a statue of a deity. Does that count?"

"What do you mean by 'not count'... You'll definitely be punished by heaven, right?" Even though he was always getting extremely drunk, Haita was completely dumbfounded when he heard this.

Even the taciturn dwarf Azer, standing nearby, couldn't help but sigh: "The mystery that has remained unsolved for so many years has finally been solved."

Compared to the two humans, the dwarf Azer did not change much.

But Ash, while curiously observing him, couldn't help but ask, "You... look old?"

"...Really? Isn't Aize exactly the same?" Before she could even speak, Frilian couldn't help but turn her head curiously.

Aize closed his eyes and sighed with a touch of emotion: "...My appearance hasn't changed much, but all the functions inside my body have aged and I'm not as good as I used to be."

"Is that so? But..." Frillie then looked at Ash, puzzled, and asked, "He seems to have gotten a lot stronger? No, come to think of it... you all got weaker, so why did Ash get stronger?"

"This is..." Ash was actively thinking of reasons when Simmel suddenly chimed in, smiling, "That's because there are great differences in human physiques."

"Is that so?" Frilian tilted her head in confusion.

"Like Aze, a warrior who used to be at the top of humanity, didn't he get bitten on the head by a dragon and still be fine?" As the team's mood-maker, Haita also explained with a smile, "Normally, that's impossible... right? That's how big the differences in human bodies are, so Ash might be able to live for another twenty years or something."

“Indeed, even if Azer is bitten by a venomous snake that can kill a monster, he can withstand it with his willpower. Even if he is hit by a poisoned arrow that can make a dragon faint, he can still be lively and energetic. Other dwarves seem to be unable to do that.”

"Isn't that right? To be honest, Aize's muscular build is a bit disgusting." Haita laughed, patting Aize's helmet, and then looked at Ash teasingly, "Your body... isn't it as disgusting as Aize's now, is it?"

"Well... I'm alright?"

He lowered his head, speaking vaguely, unsure of what he should say at this moment.

Because... compared to the oblivious Frillie, they had clearly noticed something.

But why does it seem like no one intends to ask, and they're even helping to cover for him? Are they worried that they're too old and that even if they join forces, they won't be able to deal with him?

No... that's definitely not the case. Although the reason isn't very clear, this is the only thing Ash can be sure of.

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

After Simmel and Haita explained, Frillie was still somewhat confused, but she also believed that her understanding of humanity was definitely far inferior to that of the two old people, so she didn't think about it any further.

She never even considered the possibility that they might lie to her... After all, there's nothing to lie about in a normal situation, right?

After this brief interlude, the group, carrying only simple luggage, embarked on their final adventure.

Lightly stepping in the soft light of dawn, leisurely traversing winding rivers and undulating mountains, camping in a tranquil forest, and the next day, urged on by the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy, accompanied by a gentle breeze, to continue the unfinished journey once again.

And so, the group took their time, spending about a week, before finally arriving at the Heavenly Lake atop the mountain.

In the sunset, a group of old friends, reunited after a long separation, sat on the lawn chatting and waiting for night to fall.

"...Speaking of which, I suddenly remembered, Ash." Frillian seemed to suddenly recall something, turning to look at the unchanged boy beside her, and smiled:

"Didn't you make a wish last time, saying you wanted to watch shooting stars with a proper girl? But now... it's still us."

"...It seems there is such a thing."

"Fifty years have passed, and you still haven't found it?"

“We’ve been training... The people we’ve chosen are all quite strange. Compared to them, you guys are much more normal.” It was at this moment that he remembered that he seemed to have made some kind of wish fifty years ago.

Looking back now, he realizes that he has spent another fifty years in a dull and monotonous way. He is also bitter, but he doesn't even know what he should complain about.

His distressed expression made it impossible for Frilian to tease him any further. She shook her head with a wry smile and, together with Simmel, silently placed her hands on his shoulders to comfort him.

Haita witnessed this scene and couldn't help but show a nostalgic expression, smiling as he adjusted his glasses.

"Isn't this good too? Even if we fail this time, we still have fifty years to search. If we really can't find it, we'll still be with you next time if we're still alive."

Simmel, stroking his beard, also offered words of comfort:

"It's alright. Since we've encountered another shooting star, let's make another wish now."

"...Forget it, it's pointless anyway. Making a wish now will only increase the feeling of emptiness."

“Really? But... I think this is nice too.” Simmel gazed at the sky with a smile: “...It’s so nostalgic. Being with you all feels like going back to the days when we traveled together.”

"Of all the people, I'm the most reliable," Frillie said with a smile, raising her face and boasting without any restraint.

"...You? Haha." Simmel just smiled kindly, not bringing up her embarrassing history of always being bitten by mimics, but instead watching the first shooting star streak across the sky, letting out a long sigh to herself:

"Looking back now, I realize that you were always there in all those wonderful memories."

"...Isn't that a little sad? Shouldn't we be happy now?" Ash shook his head and patted his bald head.

“You really have no respect for the elderly,” Simmel sighed with a wry smile, but instead of brushing his hand away, she looked up at the sky and whispered:

"Frilian, thanks to you, I was able to experience this wonderful adventure one last time."

"Hmm?" Frilian didn't speak, but looked over curiously.

But then Simmel suddenly lowered her voice again to the boy beside her: "And Ash..."

"what?"

"...From now on, I entrust Frilian and the humans to your care."

"The area suddenly feels so vast."

"You can definitely do it."

"What? Why?"

“Just a gut feeling,” Simmel said with a smile, without answering.

But everything seemed to be understood without words, and Simmel never looked at the crowd, but instead gazed at the dark night sky.

Their conversation was only heard by the two of them and Haita, who was sitting next to Simmel. The other two were immersed in the magnificent scenery of the sky, which seemed to be a spiritual cleansing.

It seems like they're reminiscing about the past, or maybe they're thinking about something else?

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

After fulfilling the promise made half a century ago, the group returned to the city together amidst laughter and joy. However... before they could part ways again, on their very first night back in the city, tragedy struck.

Simmel passed away in her sleep—as if her wish had been fulfilled and she had nothing left to hold on to, falling into eternal slumber with a smile in her dream.

For the fallen hero, the kingdom held a solemn funeral in the capital's cathedral, with fully armed soldiers serving as a guard of honor, and Haita personally presiding over the ceremony.

Those in the city who had received his help spontaneously came to see him off. Somber and solemn funeral music echoed in the cathedral, filling it with an atmosphere of grief and reverence.