Just like before, Ash did not take part in this delicate chore. Instead, he chose to stand to the side and watch together with the stubborn granny.
Seeing that, Ubel also sat down beside him, looking at him with the same unchanged smile and asking curiously, "Aren't you going to join?"
"If I were the one cleaning that stone carving, if I accidentally used a bit too much force while wiping it, it might break."
"Oh my, how scary," Ubel pressed a finger to her lips and nodded as if recalling something, "By the way, you're clearly a mage, but your strength is frightening. Did you train like a warrior too?"
"You did too."
"Just the basics, and still within the scope of a mage," Ubel gracefully crossed her left leg over her right and asked with a smile, "By the way, your companion will probably be leaving soon. What do you think?"
"Why should I answer your question?", Ash replied calmly.
"Then~ what if I let you see my underwear again?"
"I've already seen it twice. What's there to see?"
"Today's style is different from before," Ubel's cheeks flushed slightly as she lifted the hem of her skirt just a little.
That half teasing, half shy look was quite tempting. But in reality, she was already prepared. If he really dared to make a move, she would immediately shout for help.
However, Ash had no intention of acting like before.
Instead, he showed a hint of surprise and stared at Ubel, "Ubel, you…"
"What?", Ubel asked, pretending to stay calm.
"Are you… a pervert?"
"Huh? No!", His oddly serious gaze almost twisted her expression with anger. Even though this was her own test, she could not help gritting her teeth and revealing her true aim, "This is just a test! If you really try to look, I'll call people!"
"But if I really lifted it, wouldn't that mean I've seen it again? Are you really okay with that? You don't mind?"
"That wouldn't be good."
"Hmm! You really didn't think it through," After watching her expression gradually stiffen and her head slowly turn away, he chuckled. He grabbed her ponytail and guided her to look back at him.
"You, with such good magic talent, shouldn't let your impulses control your actions all the time. Though I get it. You're overly emotional and lacking in rationality. Even the way you use magic is pretty much like that."
"You already understand that, so why are you still saying it?"
"I just want to tell you that being eager for revenge, or being blinded by anger and hatred, won't lead to good results. Even if you want to deal with me, at least calm down first. After all, when does revenge ever end? Why not be generous and just forget past grudges?"
"You look like some teacher setting an example, and what you say does sound reasonable. But why are you holding my hair while saying it?"
Ubel forced out a rather frightening smile.
"Isn't it convenient? Like... right, like a handle."
"Heh?", Ubel tried hard to keep her smile from breaking, then in the next instant suddenly swung her fist at his face, "Go die!"
However.. before the punch landed, Ash had already grabbed her wrist. Then, with one hand holding her ponytail and the other controlling her wrist, he pressed her down onto his lap.
"Mm! Let... let me go!", She struggled, but it was useless.
"No~ You walked right into this. Can't blame me."
Ash held Ubel on his lap just like that. One hand casually patted the upper half of her bare, pale, smooth back. The other rested his elbow against her soft backside. He supported his chin with his hand and looked at the others busy in the distance, lazily yawning.
"What nice weather today. The sunlight's just right, the blanket's warm, and the cushion's soft. Maybe I should find somewhere to take a nap later?"
"...."
Turned into a free self heating blanket and also a soft pad to ease the pressure on his elbow, Ubel struggled all she could but could not break free. She hesitated to call for help... because her current state was too embarrassing.
Beside them, the stubborn granny's mouth hung open in shock. From start to finish, she had been stunned.
At first she simply could not believe young people these days were this outrageous, playing this wildly. By the end, when Ubel was being used like a tool, the granny even unconsciously shuffled farther away, afraid of getting involved with them.
Or of being dragged into some strange dispute by this strange pair.
———
As the sun gradually set and the statue was basically finished, Fern finally could not hold back. She walked up to the two of them and looked coldly at Ash.
"Lord Ash, what are you doing? Are you bullying her? Can you explain?"
"She tried to hit me. I subdued her. I was just afraid of being hit and retaliated against, so I kept restraining her like this. That's about it."
"I'm sorry... What are you talking about? I completely don't understand. Could you explain in more detail?"
Ash smiled slightly and casually patted the back of Ubel's head.
"By the way, while you were cleaning the statue, I was also cleaning the filth in her heart. Teaching her that revenge never ends. Guiding her to let go of old conflicts and embrace a new life."
Although Fern looked very angry, Ash spoke like an enlightened priest, giving what he thought was a very clear explanation. At least in his own mind.
This humiliation made Ubel swear that one day she would take revenge. On the surface, she still showed a dark smile.
"While you're teaching me all that, I've actually wanted to ask from the start. Would you forgive the people who once brought you unbearable humiliation?"
"You still don't get it, Ubel."
"What?"
"You know those teachers who teach business? They teach others how to do business, but why don't they do it themselves? Of course, some might have. But among their students, there will always be people who surpass them. Do you understand what I mean?"
"No."
"It means that actually, for you... I have high hopes."
Ash wore a gentle smile as he stroked the girl's hair on his lap.
Judging from his expression alone, he really did look like a kind and respected elder hoping his junior would surpass him.
Of course, that was after ignoring Ubel's murderous expression.
Fern's face at the side was also so cold it was chilling. Sein and Frieren both decided not to get involved, in case they got dragged into trouble because of Ash's nonsense.
Just as the atmosphere grew more and more tense, the stubborn granny finally could not help clapping her hands, interrupting their strange conversation.
"As I said earlier, this was the last request. If you're still interested in the Gorilla Warrior's whereabouts, I'll tell you."
"Of course we're very interested! Hurry and tell us, stubborn granny!"
Ash, at the center of the storm, stood up without hesitation and eagerly pulled the granny away.
The girl who had been on his lap was directly thrown off when he stood up, rolling and falling onto the ground with a startled "Uwah!"
Such terrible treatment made Ubel stare at his back with lifeless eyes, like a resentful ghost.
Even Ash felt that maybe he should be a bit gentler with this girl. But... thinking from the beginning, had he really done anything wrong?
He was not quite sure. It felt like he had not done anything wrong. At least, as someone who believed in equality between men and women, he should have been correct.
After a short storm of thoughts, he simply gave up thinking about Ubel and happily listened to the story about the Gorilla Warrior.
Even though, he actually had no interest in that gorilla for now.
———
After getting the necessary information, they did not leave the village immediately.
They said goodbye to the stubborn granny and walked to the village entrance, but paused before continuing their journey.
After learning his best friend's direction, Sein did not show the joy he had when he first got the clue. Instead, he looked troubled.
It could not be helped. At first, the Gorilla had headed north, roughly the same direction as them. But according to the stubborn granny, starting from this village, which was like a crossroads, he went toward a trade city in the central region of the northern lands.
They, however, were heading to the magic city in the southern part of the northern continent. The trade city was located in the north central region.
That meant, if they wanted to catch up to the Gorilla, they would have to head east from here.
"What should I do?", Sein sat at the fork in the road, looking at the two different paths.
For once, this wine and meat loving priest showed a troubled side.
Ubel, however, could not understand, "What's there to worry about? It's just choosing one of two. You can answer that easily, right?"
"Just shut up! I've never seen anyone worse at reading the mood than you."
Ash slapped Ubel on the head and pushed the strange girl behind him.
Honestly, sometimes he wondered whether she was the demon or he was.
He did not know why, but after he pushed Ubel away, everyone's eyes suddenly focused on him, as if he had said something strange.
In the end, no one said anything. Only Fern sighed softly and shook her head, breaking the strange silence as she parted her lips.
"The sun is almost setting. Let's stay in the village tonight. It's not too late to decide tomorrow."
"Hm? The sun hasn't set that much yet. If we leave now, we might still reach the next—"
"Lord Ash, please come with me for a moment. I have something I want to talk to you about."
Fern slightly raised her tone and cut him off.
"Why? Aren't you usually the one who cares most about time? For this kind of thing, it's better to decide quickly. If you don't cut it off, it will only cause more trouble. Rather than suffer in indecision, it's better to decide immediately. That's good for everyone. Otherwise—"
"Lord Ash! This is not the time to reason with you. Even if what you said makes sense, right now, please close your mouth and come with me, okay?"
Fern forced a smile, but there was no warmth in her eyes. It made him instinctively want to flee.
Unfortunately, before he could move, Fern had already dragged him away.
The rest did not say anything more.
Frieren just patted Sein on the shoulder and followed along with Ubel.
Sein was left alone, still sitting on a rock, staring at the fork in the road and blowing out smoke rings, silent for a long time.
———
When night fell, the air suddenly turned cold.
Sein borrowed an empty house from the village chief. Ash followed Fern to buy ingredients for dinner.
As he carried the groceries back, Fern, who had chosen them, could not help sighing and lecturing him.
"Lord Ash, could you sometimes speak more tactfully and consider other people's feelings?"
"I did consider them. That's why I reached that conclusion, didn't I?"
"Do you dislike Lord Sein?"
"Of course not. Isn't he quite interesting?"
Ash was not lying, and Fern could see he had no ill intent. What he said earlier did make sense.
But precisely because of that, it gave her a headache.
She wanted to say more, but Ash smiled and freed one hand to pat her hair.
"But Fern has grown up too. Now you even know how to care about other people's feelings. That's impressive!"
"Please don't treat me like a child. It makes me very—w-wait?"
Before she could finish, Ash suddenly grabbed her hand, making her shrink back instinctively.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Of course I'm checking if your hands are cold. What else would I be doing?", Ash did not let go. Feeling the temperature in his palm, he nodded unconsciously, "They're really cold. Your dress doesn't have pockets. Why not put your hands in my pockets?"
"Wouldn't that look strange?"
"Maybe... Then hold one of my hands, and put the other in my pocket?" [T/N: Huh? How does this work?]
"Thank you."
Standing on his left, Fern hesitated for a moment before softly thanking him. She let him hold her left hand, and quietly slipped it into his pocket.
Even though the posture was still a little strange, the warmth from his hand made her lips curve upward without her noticing. Her heart also felt warmer, and she secretly glanced at his profile.
But when a gust of cold wind blew, she could not help looking at the hand he used to carry the heavy bag of ingredients, exposed to the cold.
"Lord Ash... Maybe I should carry it for a while?"
"No need~ I'm not at the point where you have to worry about me."
"But... leaving all the work and responsibilities to you, I..."
"These are things adults are supposed to do. You don't need to worry about it."
"Like I said, I'm not a child anymore!"
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