Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 112: I Want to Become a Father Closer to Sense than He Is! [1]

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Ash didn't really care about being teased by kids, but…

Watching the figure of the girl running toward his home, he couldn't help but touch his chin, murmuring with a worried expression, "I don't feel like going home for a while…"

"Why?"

The seemingly random remark made Sense, who had been quietly listening, look at him in confusion.

"Because she'll definitely tell my children about us being together."

"Is there anything wrong with that?" Sense asked, tilting her head.

"I left on the pretext of having something important to do," Ash admitted with a sigh.

"…Yeah?"

Sense's eyes widened slightly, her expression showing surprise. Her reaction puzzled Ash, who raised an eyebrow.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Master Ash probably thinks it's important to have dinner with me," Sense replied without hesitation, her tone matter-of-fact. She glanced at him as if trying to confirm her guess. "…Am I wrong again?"

"…Well, it's not entirely a misunderstanding," Ash said with a helpless smile.

Faced with the concerned gaze of his junior, Ash could only nod and stroke her soft hair.

Spending time together was important, sure, but initially, he'd planned to tidy up his house and cover any traces of his brief visit before heading back. However, saying such things out loud felt unnecessarily hurtful, so he kept it to himself.

He was mildly anxious about what might happen when he returned home, but for now, he was outside, and a charming girl was by his side. Other concerns could wait. At least, that's how he rationalized it at the moment.

But…

"Master Ash… why do you keep touching my hair?"

"Because your height is just right~" Ash replied, stretching out his hand as if to demonstrate. To him, Sense's height made her the perfect handrail for his idle gestures.

Sense gave him a strange look, but before she could comment, Ash suddenly asked:

"Come to think of it, I've mentioned before that girls should be more diligent about taking care of their hair. When was the last time you washed yours, Sense?"

"It's a little long and hard to manage… but I washed it yesterday," Sense replied defensively.

"Did you really wash it yesterday with hair this long?" Ash asked, genuinely surprised. He leaned closer, picking up a strand of her hair and inspecting it. Without thinking, he brought it closer to his nose.

Sense's mouth opened slightly in shock, and she instinctively took two steps back. "—Wha-what are you doing!?"

"Just checking the smell~ It's just hair, right? What's the big deal?"

"…It's really just hair, but… I feel a little embarrassed…" Sense mumbled, her cheeks faintly flushed.

"It's fine! It smells like flowers—it's not unpleasant at all!" Ash said, seemingly unfazed.

"…That's because I added flower petals when I washed it," Sense muttered, looking at him as though trying to reassure herself. Then, with a soft sigh, she added, "But this isn't just about the smell… Master Ash, you're even weirder than I am sometimes…"

"No, no, I understand girls have a sense of shame, but…" Ash, who had sharp ears, caught her words and felt compelled to explain. "To some extent, I've watched you grow up, haven't I?"

"…Meeting occasionally doesn't make you responsible for me," Sense replied, sighing silently in her heart. "Besides… you're not my guardian."

"Then how about this—I'll be closer to you than your father. How does that sound?" Ash suddenly interrupted her thoughts, his tone a blend of seriousness and teasing.

"???... What do you mean?" Sense's voice unconsciously carried a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Do you want to establish a deeper relationship with me?"

"Haha, don't think about it that way. I just said it on a whim. I didn't have any specific plans in mind."

"...I figured as much. You always do things like this… unexpectedly," Sense replied softly. Although she had already anticipated his response, hearing him confirm it again made her let out an inaudible sigh.

She wouldn't be angry at this point. After all, they had known each other for more than ten years, and she had grown accustomed to his temperament.

Even so, no matter how long they'd known each other, whenever she was around Ash, her usually calm heart was always stirred by his playful words or actions.

For someone like Sense, who often gave off a dull and expressionless impression, it was surprising even to herself that she didn't dislike this feeling.

---

As agreed, Ash led Sense into a nearby restaurant to fulfill his promise to treat her.

At the dinner table, Ash patiently explained the magic formula he had proposed two years ago. Under his guidance, the complex and intricate theories became vivid and easy to understand.

However, as he explained, a trace of doubt crept into Ash's mind. Had Sense never tried to delve deeper into this formula over the past two years?

Surely, she could have asked Serie, who was always nearby, for clarification. Then again, he remembered that Sense and Serie weren't particularly close, so it wasn't surprising that she hadn't sought her out.

Though the doubts lingered, Ash quickly brushed them aside and shifted the conversation to lighter topics, sharing updates about his recent experiences.

Naturally, the discussion veered toward magic and Serie's current situation. Ash skillfully guided the conversation, subtly probing for ways to sneak into Serie's private library without running into her.

Time flew by, and before they realized it, the restaurant's lights were dimming, signaling closing time. Ash settled the bill as promised and then accompanied Sense on her way home.

---

Halfway through their walk, Sense suddenly stopped and turned to Ash, who was looking around.

"Master Ash, I've always had a question."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Why do you insist on walking me home every time after nightfall?" Sense's voice carried a hint of confusion.

"Because you're a girl. Walking alone at night is always a little unsafe," Ash replied casually.

"...I may not be as powerful as you, but I'm still a first-class magician," Sense said, tilting her head slightly like a curious bird. "Besides, close combat is one of my strengths."

"It's not just about physical danger. You really have selective common sense," Ash said with a teasing smile.

"That's the one thing I don't want to hear from you," Sense muttered, exhaling softly.

"I know what you're thinking, but the danger I'm talking about isn't purely physical," Ash explained, his tone light yet sincere. "And besides, the desire to protect someone has nothing to do with whether they're strong or not."

"...I don't understand."

"You'll understand when you grow up."

"...How old do you think I am now?" Sense pursed her lips slightly, her tone carrying a hint of sensitivity to the phrase "grow up."

"Definitely younger than me."

"While that's true, I'm not—" Sense began but stopped herself mid-sentence. She sighed softly, deciding against pursuing the topic further.

---

The two of them strolled through the deserted streets late at night, and before long, Sense's house came into view.

"Come to think of it… I wasn't just saying it casually."

As Sense approached her house, Ash's sudden remark made her stop in her tracks, a trace of confusion flickering in her eyes.

"...What do you mean?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I want to be closer to you than your father..." Ash spoke with a gentle smile, though his tone carried a subtle seriousness. "Even though it's a sudden thought, if you ever encounter trouble, you can always tell me. After all, I really want to be closer to Sense."

"Ah..." This unexpected remark left Sense momentarily stunned. She turned around slowly, her eyes filled with confusion and doubt. "Why?"

"Why so many whys? I just said what I was thinking."

"...You're such an unpredictable person."

Sense looked up at his face with her usual calm, emotionless gaze, though something seemed to stir within her. Finally, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her eyes softened. "But I don't hate it."

After saying that, she turned back around, and Ash stood there, watching her as she walked slowly into her courtyard.

---

The guard at the door stepped forward to greet her, and she turned back briefly, nodding slightly to Ash in a wordless farewell before stepping into the courtyard and disappearing behind the door.

However, as she walked in, her gaze met her mother's lively eyes from a distance.

Her mother's expression, initially cheerful, turned subtly inquisitive when her eyes shifted from Sense to Ash, who was still standing outside. Sense could already predict the kind of conversation that would follow.

Ash, noticing the presence of Sense's mother, simply smiled politely and waved before quickly leaving the scene.