Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 136: Chapter 123



Chapter 123: Disturbance

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Kanne cheeks had quietly turned crimson, radiating a shyness filled with pure, irresistible charm. In the soft glow of the moonlight, the blush on her face appeared even more captivating, exuding an unexpected beauty that caught Ash off guard.

It was this unanticipated cuteness that caused Ash, who had been on the verge of refusing, to extend his hand.

One hand gently rested on her flat, warm belly, his fingertips brushing against her delicate, smooth skin. Meanwhile, his other hand instinctively moved to stroke her head, his fingers running softly through her silky orange hair.

Though he felt a surge of curiosity and a strange sense of joy, as if he were stepping into a new and unfamiliar world, he couldn't ignore the slight tremor in her body.

Kanne's breathing became shallow and rapid as his hand lingered on her belly. She fought hard to control the turmoil within her, attempting to maintain an outward calm.

Yet, behind her tightly shut eyes lay a deep sense of shame she couldn't suppress. She could feel the warmth of Ash's palm against her skin, a heat that seemed to seep through and reach her very heart, making it pound even faster.

...To be honest, though it had been her own suggestion, she had expected it to be more of a polite gesture—something they would both laugh off after some playful banter.

She hadn't anticipated that Ash would actually go through with it. He didn't hesitate, didn't try to refuse or brush it off, which left her feeling helpless and flustered.

---

The air grew increasingly tense as the seconds stretched on.

Kanne, overwhelmed by embarrassment, was already searching for a way to escape the situation when Ash finally realized he might have gone a bit too far without meaning to.

Though she had been the one to invite him, he couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps he should have shown more restraint. Was he really not at fault here? He wasn't entirely sure himself.

As Ash pondered how to gracefully end the awkward moment, a sudden voice shattered the delicate silence:

"…I must say, isn't it a bit odd to be doing this in the middle of the night? Isn't it time for bed?"

"—?!"

Both of them froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the voice.

There stood Frieren, who had somehow appeared behind them. She was squatting a short distance away, her hands resting on her knees as she observed them with an unreadable expression.

Her gaze was reminiscent of the look she'd given Sein as he sank into the swamp that day. However, unlike the cold indifference she'd shown then, there was now a faint, almost malicious smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Kanne's face turned scarlet, the blush spreading all the way to her ears. She shot upright, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly in both hands as though trying to shield herself from the mortifying situation.

Ash, on the other hand, quickly withdrew his hand, stood up, and plastered on a slightly awkward smile in an attempt to diffuse the tension.

"Ah… Hey, Frieren! The weather is nice tonight, isn't it? Tomorrow's bound to be a good day!" he said, breaking the silence with a forced cheerfulness.

Kanne, still hiding behind him, gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Uncle, it's raining outside the barrier right now…"

"…Reality isn't important at this moment. What matters is changing the subject!" Ash shot her a disappointed look and muttered a warning before turning his attention back to Frieren.

Frieren, still sitting with her knees hugged to her chest, looked at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Before Ash could think of something else to say, she spoke first, her tone laced with a mild headache:

"Don't make assumptions. How many times have I heard you use that line?"

"…Really? A lot?" Ash asked sheepishly.

"My ears are practically calloused from hearing it."

"Ah… My apologies! I'll think of a better one next time," Ash replied, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "But, uh, it's getting late, so we should probably head to bed now!"

"Think of a better one? Why should I bother? Isn't this already a successful change of topic? As long as I get criticized, it's a win!" Ash said calmly, brushing off the situation as he prepared to bypass Frieren, who was clearly enjoying the show, and head toward the forest.

Kanne, still flustered, kept her head lowered, using Ash as a shield to avoid Frieren's piercing gaze. But…

"I say, isn't this the part where you ask me when I started watching?" Frieren's voice rang out behind them, stopping Ash in his tracks.

"Huh? When did you…?" he asked hesitantly, turning slightly to glance at her.

"From the beginning," Frieren replied nonchalantly.

"From the—?! You mean you saw everything?!"

"Every single moment."

"Then why didn't you say something earlier?!" Ash finally turned around, glaring at her in exasperation.

Frieren tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a sly smile, as if silently asking, Is this really how you want to talk to me right now?

Realizing his outburst wouldn't get him anywhere, Ash's shoulders slumped as he sighed in defeat. "Fine. What do you want? Just say it."

"The exam's over, and I'm hungry. You're treating me to a big meal—plus three servings of Mercury pudding," she declared smugly.

"…Fine. Just let it go already."

"Good!" Frieren clapped her hands in satisfaction before turning her gaze to Kanne. Her expression grew more serious as she said, "Just so you know, showing your belly is typically a sign of submission—or an invitation for interaction with your master. If you keep doing this, Ash might start treating you as an amusing pet."

"No, no, no!" Ash interjected hastily. "Kanne is a friend, not a pet! I wouldn't do something like that!"

Frieren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're saying it's perfectly normal to grow up together, play around, and then… casually touch the belly of your female friend? Isn't that a bit much?"

"That's… a very long and unnecessary setup," Ash muttered, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself? Or any thoughts?" Frieren pressed, her tone teasing.

"Well…" Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully before grinning. "It's… exciting to think about?"

Without a word, Frieren turned and began walking toward the forest. "I'll let Fern know when we get back."

"Wait, wait, wait! Don't just go tattling like that! I was joking!" Ash hurried after her, grabbing her shoulders in a panic. "I'm not that weird, I swear!"

After some desperate persuasion—and bribing her with three extra desserts and drinks— Frieren finally agreed to keep quiet.

Watching this unfold, Kanne couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Uncle, you're unexpectedly funny~"

"…Funny? Where?!"

"In a strange way… huh?" Kanne replied with a teasing smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She quickly passed through the forest, heading back to camp.

Frieren, however, paused with a peculiar expression on her face.

"What now?" Ash asked warily, noticing her hesitation.

"She doesn't hate you, you know," Frieren said, her tone thoughtful. "She's just too embarrassed to admit it, so she forces a smile."

"??? Kanne's words are strange enough on their own, but…" Ash rubbed his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "How did you even come to that conclusion?"

"No one would willingly let an 'uncle' touch their belly. That girl must have bottled up a lot of grievances. You should apologize to her properly later," Frieren replied matter-of-factly.

Yet, even as she spoke, a hint of doubt crossed her face. "But… now that I think about it, she didn't seem all that uncomfortable. She wasn't exactly eager, but she wasn't completely against it either. It doesn't quite add up…"

Ash groaned, his headache worsening as he muttered, "You're not making this any easier, you know…"


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