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

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"Since it's almost over anyway, why don't we go for a walk outside? After all, I hate being bored!"

The girl who had just been staring at him closely suddenly shook off his hand without hesitation while speaking, stretching out lazily like a wildcat with unpredictable moods.

And when Ash ignored her, she walked ahead with her hands behind her back, not even turning her head, saying:

"After careful observation, I've discovered... you really are hiding something from me, aren't you?"

"It would be strange if I told you everything to someone who wants to kill me."

"How could that be? I just wanted to return the humiliation to you, or do you not trust me?"

"It would be strange if you trusted me." He retorted without any politeness, causing Yubel to turn around, walk backwards in front of him, and look up at him with a smile: "That's really too much~ Aren't we already partners? How can you not trust me at all?"

"...You liar, you have no right to say such things."

"But you're not much better off, are you?"

"So you have no right to say such things."

.........

As the exam was drawing to a close, the two, who had initially had a significant conflict, unexpectedly ended up taking a walk and chatting until the exam was over.

During this process, Rabindranath froze the lake, and Frilian and Connie did something unknown.

Of course, whether the three of them ultimately obtained the Meteorite Bird was not of much concern to either of them.

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

Evening, at the edge of the barrier.

Zanze had disappeared, leaving only the examiner, who simply announced that the person who obtained the meteorite bird had qualified for the second round of exams, and also mentioned that the second round of exams would be held in three days.

He made no mention whatsoever of Ash entering the safe zone, and then left the scene on his own after saying that.

Only after the examiners finished did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, and cheers and high-fives could be heard.

Among the dozen or so people who passed by, Ash saw quite a few familiar faces.

Two of the teams that he had clearly depleted, leaving them with virtually no magic, still managed to win the election.

But for some reason, old man Duncan had a bruised and swollen face.

This prompted him to step forward and tease, "You're clearly a mage, and you're so old, why are you still fighting?"

"...This is all thanks to you, isn't it?" Duncan, who had successfully seized the meteor bird after a hand-to-hand battle with a mage who was also exhausted, was already feeling a headache just looking at Ash, but still shook his head suspiciously:

"But it's a result of our own making things difficult, so I don't intend to complain. But I still really don't understand... who exactly are you?"

"My affairs?... There are many things that are better left unknown~ Little Duncan, see you next exam."

Ash chuckled and patted the old man's head, which had shrunk considerably, before leaving him behind and quickly walking ahead.

"...Little Duncan..." The strange way of saying it made Duncan's expression very subtle.

Keep in mind that he is a 78-year-old man, and it has been at least fifty years since such words were spoken to him. Yet, he is still treated like a child.

Anyone would be stunned in this situation, but unfortunately, he didn't even have a chance to protest before Ash abandoned him and left him alone, feeling depressed.

Frillie, who had just been fighting Ash, naturally walked to his side, with Philon following closely behind, staring at him expressionlessly and asking in an emotionless tone:

"Lord Ash, I'm not angry. Please tell me honestly... what exactly happened between you and Connie?"

"Even though that's what you said, you were probably already angry when you said that, weren't you?"

“Then tell me the truth.” Philon stared at him intently, pouting unhappily. “And even if I’m really angry, it’ll definitely be because Ash-sama never explains things properly.”

"...I want to say it too, but..." How could he possibly say something like that! He looked at Frillie with a troubled expression, but she silently turned her face away and said without turning her head, "Don't look at me. I don't care about your business, and don't try to drag me into this."

"Master Ash."

"...Okay, actually, Connecticut was attacked by birds in the sky, and I just happened to be passing by and saved her. That's how it happened."

"What's wrong with saying that? Isn't this a good thing?"

"...Actually, I don't really like to show off my achievements. After all, despite my appearance, I'm actually quite shy and not used to being praised."

He selectively stated some of the facts and embellished them to justify his actions.

Upon hearing this, Philon narrowed her beautiful eyes: "...So you were hiding something after all?"

"Why do you think so?"

"Look at Lady Frillien's expression."

"Frilian...uh...hey! What's with that expression?" Ash looked over instinctively and realized that Frilian's expression looked really strange.

"Sorry, what you said was really too far-fetched, I just couldn't help it..." Frillie stiffly turned her face away, covering her mouth with her hand, afraid that she would burst out laughing.

"Sigh, you really are..." His expression betrayed him, and he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"It's alright. Even if Frilian doesn't make that weird face, no one will believe your nonsense." Yubel, who appeared out of nowhere, still had his hands behind his back and walked over to him with a smile, offering a comforting remark.

But was this really a consolation? Ash felt that she was deliberately trying to hurt him.

Meanwhile, Connie, one of the parties involved, noticed the conversation but didn't approach the area at all. In fact, she even got into a fight with Rabinha, who was also asking her what had happened.

Glancing at Philon and then at the girls wrestling, he couldn't bring himself to imitate Connie and join in the wrestling on the ground with Philon to change the subject. He could only look up at the night sky and sigh, "Ah, youth..."

"Lord Ash, please don't look away."

"Today's weather..."

"Don't try to change the subject."

"So this topic isn't over yet?"

"Because you haven't explained it clearly yet."

.......

Beside him was a girl who kept a close eye on him, so familiar with him that she would interrupt him with her ever-present topic-changing technique, while two guys on the side were watching the drama unfold.

This made him feel bitter, so he simply walked with his head down in silence, saying nothing more, using silence to fight against everything.

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

After the group returned to the magical city.

Because of his promise to Frillian last night, Ash found a nice restaurant and was forced to invite these three girls, none of whom were easy to deal with.

Meanwhile, the more normal Rabindranath and Connie had already gone home to reunite with their parents.

But as soon as they got nearby, they saw three familiar faces standing in front of a shop not far away—Duncan, Lichta, and Laofen.

"The last time my wife and I came here was 50 years ago, and it feels just like it did back then... It's incredible." Duncan gazed at the gate, stroking his long beard, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Hearing this, Frillie unconsciously gazed at the signboard, which seemed unchanged except for its slightly aged appearance compared to the past, and sighed with emotion:

"Indeed... The last time I came here with Ash was eighty years ago, right? It's been almost a century. It's really a novel feeling to still have humans eating with me."

“...Eighty years??” Duncan heard the voice and instinctively turned his head to look, and Ubel also looked extremely surprised.

"How old are you... exactly??" Yubel reached out and pinched his cheek: "You look so young, it doesn't look like you're wearing makeup at all."

"Don't touch other people like that, it's rude." He pulled Yubel's hand away and sighed, "...You should know Zanze, right, Yubel?"

"I've seen you before, I know you, what's wrong?"

"From more than ten years ago until now, she has never changed and is still an adorable little girl."

"Huh? You're from the same clan?"

"...Don't call that cute child something weird, okay?" Ash slapped Yubel on the head, abruptly ending the conversation.

Frillie offered some explanations for the situation, leaving everyone completely bewildered.

It's not unusual to occasionally encounter a centenarian blessed by a goddess, but his appearance and demeanor certainly don't suggest he's a centenarian.

Could it be that spending so much time with Frilian, this elf who has lived for who knows how long, has made them feel younger? — Everyone couldn't help but speculate.

Philon had previously heard Ash say that he was actually a special being capable of immortality, so he wasn't worried about Ash dying of old age, but...

Even though he wasn't participating in the conversation, Philon kept staring at him, making him feel very uncomfortable.

There was no way around it; although he desperately wanted to pretend he wasn't hearing, the intense gaze still forced Ash to turn his head, resting his chin on his hand, to look.

"Philan...why are you staring at me?"

"...Zanze, what a lovely child."

"what happened?"

"...Lord Ash wouldn't say he likes older sisters, but actually like a childish girl like Miss Zanze, would he?" Philon looked unhappy, clearly doubting his true nature.

"How could that be? I just like cute things, and you must feel the same way, right?"

"Even so... is that really all there is to Ash-sama? Is it really just that kind of liking? Are there really no strange thoughts behind it?"

Philon placed his hands on the table, leaning slightly towards him with each word he spoke, almost pushing him off the table.

“What else could it be?” Forced to lean back to avoid the assault, he sighed, stroking Philon’s hair as he tried to soothe the child who questioned his fetish, while turning to look to the side: “Frilian….”

"...Don't always look at me at this time, it bothers me too."

The expressionless elf girl almost buried her face in the menu between her hands, making muffled sounds without raising her head, her long ears drooping down.