Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 116: Are you here to take an exam or to have an outing?

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Faced with the girls' vengeful glares and complaints, Ash could somewhat understand that this animosity stemmed from his daily behavior.

But changing himself? That was never an option. After all, wasn't it easier to change others than to change himself?

"Forget it... Bullying an old widower like me is clearly unjust. Even if not for my own sake, I must teach you a lesson in the name of justice." With this bold declaration, he struck a righteous pose, brimming with self-assurance.

Only...

"This man... How dare he say such a thing?" Frieren's cold gaze bore into him, her disdain so palpable it could cut through steel.

Fern mirrored her expression, shaking her head as she added, "Master. Ash's character truly needs correcting. He should at least learn to be gentler with girls. Otherwise, it's no wonder he's been single for so many years."

"Though I've always known you were shameless, I didn't expect you to lie so boldly," Ubel said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "But don't worry. I'll get to know you better during the exam. I'll treat you just as you've treated me before—sound fair?"

"Of course, no problem," Ash replied, his tone calm but his eyes gleaming with defiance. "Since you insist, I'll follow the rules. But when the time comes, we'll see who's the prey and who's the hunter."

The girls, either brimming with fighting spirit or glaring at him with contempt, didn't back down. Ash, refusing to admit defeat, met their looks with provocative confidence.

At that moment, the fragile harmony of their group shattered entirely.

Though their ultimate goal was to pass the exam and become first-class magicians, it seemed their daily grievances took precedence.

As the group followed the examiner, preparing to leave the scene, Fern suddenly stopped and turned to Ash with a solemn expression.

"I don't need any mercy from Master Ash," she declared. "But… if you fail to become a first-Class magician, I'll be very angry and won't talk to you for a week!"

"...In the end, you're just dumping all the responsibility on me, aren't you?" Ash sighed.

"Of course," Fern replied with a mischievous smile, tilting her head. "Didn't you once say that a man should be responsible? So, Master Ash, let's see how well you live up to your own words."

With that, she nodded in satisfaction and walked away, leaving no room for rebuttal.

"... Fern's still a little angry, huh? Is that why she said that?" Ash muttered to himself. "But I really don't like being forced into responsibility…"

Still, he understood. Taking care of children—or rather, dealing with their willfulness—required patience.

And Fern, with her regained smile, was undeniably adorable. There wasn't much to complain about, after all.

But soon, Ash's gaze shifted toward the distance, where spectators gathered. Among them were two level-six magicians observing the third-tier candidates this year. Among the crowd, a small, familiar figure caught his attention: Sense.

---

Meanwhile, a bespectacled man with slicked-back hair, appearing to be in his thirties, scanned the area with a researcher's precision. Falsch, the assistant examiner in charge of auxiliary affairs.

Sense, responsible for overseeing the second round of evaluations, seemed intent on avoiding the bespectacled man's gaze.

"There are quite a few strong contenders this year," the man mused aloud, his sharp eyes surveying the candidates. But when he noticed Sense's odd behavior, he frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Do you know that young man?"

"...This is not a matter of acquaintance," Sense muttered casually, a hint of guilt in her tone as he thought of someone's willful behavior that had deliberately made things difficult for others, forcing her to secretly operate the bracelet. She tried to sound nonchalant, though her feelings betrayed her.

"You're the one who passed last term… and when Lady Serie convened a meeting two years ago, you probably hadn't seen him outside yet."

"Is he a very powerful guy? By the way… Lady Serie actually meets outsiders? Doesn't she usually ignore even nobles?" Falsch couldn't help but stare at Ash in confusion. Observing his magic fluctuations, he evaluated, "The fluctuations in his magic must be concealing his true strength. But it's strange—I can't discern his original magic power. Did he use some special magic?"

"You'll find out soon enough. If you're impatient, you can ask the others. Most of them already know," Sense replied, her gaze fixed on Ash.

Sense, keeping her head down, overwhelmed with guilt, had no interest in chatting with her "new" colleague.

It's worth noting that Serie was one of the rare individuals who showed no fear of authority. On the other hand, the old court wizard Denken, a Second-Class magician taking the exam at this venue, was a typical power worshipper. Denken had witnessed countless magicians, many of whom were more talented than himself or even comparable to first-Class magicians, being persecuted, imprisoned, or executed.

But there was no alternative. Most of the powerful figures in this world obeyed the nobles and the state, refusing to resist even when persecuted. Under such circumstances, the rules of the land could not constrain someone like Serie, who was eccentric, selfish, and willful. Thus, even the court magician, despite his influence, had no choice but to take the exam obediently.

When the Magic Association was first established, Serie, who had just emerged from the mountains, clashed with the Goddess Church and the nobles of the Holy City. The conflict escalated to the point where she nearly destroyed the Holy City.

For the sake of maintaining their reputation, the Holy City kept this incident under wraps. It wasn't until much later that Ash learned of it. He realized then that Serie was far from ordinary. He finally understood her character and how she had established the Magic Association.

In essence, she had used sheer force to establish her status, overpowering laws and rules with strength beyond comprehension. This left the nobles with no recourse, even if they despised her. After all, Serie wasn't someone who could be imprisoned like other magicians.

Thus, when it came to Ash, he granted Serie special privileges—not out of filial piety or a desire to protect his master, but purely to avoid unnecessary trouble. He didn't want anyone foolish enough to provoke her and cause problems for himself.