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

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"Isn't the Magic City something the Kingdom seized during the Demon War, taking advantage of the situation to occupy parts of the southern part of the Empire? Of course, my family has many relatives with nobles in the Empire. After all, the Kingdom itself didn't prohibit this, did it?"

"...Yes, but I think it would be best if your brother didn't go to the Empire again."

"What do you mean?"

She certainly wouldn't care if someone else said that, but Ash's identity had always been mysterious. At least, given that his family held a considerable position in the magical city and Rabine vaguely knew a little about him, she couldn't help but feel puzzled when she heard him say that.

"A judgment made based on the current situation." He offered his advice casually without looking up, a knowing smile on his face.

"Really?...I'll tell Grandpa when I get back."

"Hmm...that's good."

The girl's frankness surprised him, and he looked up a second time.

It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't looked, but just one glance made Rabine unhappy: "What is that strange pause and look?"

"...I thought you wouldn't listen to me."

"I'm telling you, even though I hate you, I do know you're capable."

"How about you try to please me a little? It'll definitely be beneficial."

"Tell me what the benefits are first?" Rabindranath grinned mischievously and extended his hand directly to him.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of candy, and placed it on her, causing Rabinhee's expression to freeze for a moment: "What? This... do you take me for a child?"

Even so, she, like Connie, casually popped the candy into her mouth, but couldn't help but remark, "...A grown-up like you, still carrying candy around, you're surprisingly childlike?"

"No, this was to comfort a lost child this morning, since the child had been crying non-stop."

"...Huh?"

"what?"

"I thought you would kick a crying child."

"...Seriously, what kind of person do you take me for?"

“You damn old man.” Rabine gave the standard answer without hesitation, which made Ash’s expression slightly subtle.

Connie chuckled and once again acted as a peacemaker: "Well, well, Uncle, you're probably used to it by now, right?"

"I'm used to it, but I'm still not used to this guy being dressed like a lady yet speaking so vulgarly. But how should I put it? It feels... surprisingly interesting."

"Interesting...? Where? By the way...you're not some weirdo with strange interests, are you?" His indescribably troubled expression made Rabine think of something strange, and he instinctively took two steps back as he spoke.

The Burial of Frilian: The Official Beginning of the Journey: Chapter Thirty-Four, Second Round of Examinations, The Tomb of the Fallen King, with a Dozen of Them All

Although his words might have sounded a little strange, being so bluntly avoided still hurt Ash a little.

However, he hesitated for a moment before finally choosing to remain silent and say no more.

After all, whether you deny it or admit it at this point, the result will be the same: unnecessary misunderstandings and making things worse. So it's better to say nothing and let the rumors dissipate on their own.

"Ha, ha..." Rabine and Ash's strange attitude towards each other left Connie somewhat bewildered, chuckling awkwardly, but still trying to change the subject, he enthusiastically invited them over:

"Speaking of which...we're almost at the point of going to find Philon and Frillie, aren't you coming home with us, Uncle?"

"No, no... I need to run away from home for a while, don't worry about me." He instinctively refused, but Connie didn't give him a chance to refuse, and just pulled him towards his home: "--Uncle is such a grown man, don't act like a child and run away from home~!"

Rabindé didn't want to deal with him at first, but seeing how resistant he was, he couldn't help himself... He and Connie dragged him along and forcibly took him home, despite his reluctance to go home.

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

At first, Ash was thinking about when to find a good place to slip away, but...

On their way, the two stopped to buy some snacks as a thank-you gift for Frillie, but he saw the two of them picking out bread inside the bakery and dessert shop right there in front of it.

"Oh... Philon! We've come to play with you!"

Connie abandoned Ash and rushed forward to grab her hand, shaking it excitedly.

"Connie, what are you doing here... Lord Ash—?!" Philon paused for a moment, then subconsciously nodded, but then noticed Ash at the entrance, who was covering his face and trying to escape. His expression instantly tightened.

Frillie approached him expressionlessly, staring up at him blankly: "Ash... is there anything you want to say to me?"

My pecs are bigger than yours! What can I say? Forced to run away from home over such a trivial matter... I can only say it's not worth it! Life is not worth it! —Although I really wanted to say that and refute their attitudes towards me, there were more than just Frillian and Philon in the room. If I said that out loud, I would probably be killed instantly.

Helpless, Ash could only bow his head and apologize: "Although it wasn't what I wanted, I did see something I shouldn't have seen, so I'm sorry."

"...What shouldn't I have seen?" His seemingly harmless yet inexplicably problematic statement caused Frillie to grab his collar, her eyebrows furrowing in displeasure. "What do you take a young girl's innocence for?"

"A girl...?"

"Do you have any opinion?"

"....No."

Although she is a thousand-year-old woman, judging from her appearance and whether she has been married, she should indeed be considered a young girl, right? — He thought to himself, but then silently turned his head away, avoiding Frilian's threatening gaze. He was really worried that if he said she was old, she would burst into tears and make a scene for three days and three nights.

Connie glanced cautiously at the two of them, sensing that something was off about their atmosphere: "Um... what happened?"

"It's nothing, just the usual little tiff between Frilian and Philon." Ash smiled and touched Frilian's hair.

As expected, after just one touch, Frilian casually slapped it away and, as usual, gave a warning.

At that moment, Philon leaned closer, standing on tiptoe to get as close to his eyes as possible: "Lord Ash... please tell me honestly, where did you go yesterday?"

"...a friend's house."

"Friends? What friends?"

"It's okay, everyone else's parents are home."

"So, women?"

"...So perceptive at a time like this..."

Philon usually seems a bit dull, but at this moment he was unexpectedly sharp, which made him look at Connie.

Connie, who had initially felt that Philon's words were like a wife checking up on him, was now full of curiosity: "Does the uncle have any other friends?"

"Someone from the Magic Association, perhaps?" Philon speculated further. Frillian, seemingly amused, stroked her chin and tentatively suggested the only first-class mage she knew who was also on good terms with Ash: "Seria shouldn't be... Could it be that Zanze?"

"...Oh my, these cookies look good, Rabinha, can you buy me some?" He picked up a cookie, pretending to be very interested, and looked at the only girl who hadn't joined the conversation and was still choosing a thank-you gift.

Although he hadn't joined in, Rabinha, who was eavesdropping, glared at him displeasedly: "You old man, you're really outrageous, dodging the question at a time like this?"

"...You're so long-winded, don't talk to me like that."

"Huh?? You were the one who spoke to me first, weren't you?!"

......

As expected, Rabinhae got angry in no time. Despite being dressed very ladylike, she rolled up her sleeves and was ready to fight him.

But Ash casually remarked something and then silently walked out of the shop, pretending nothing had happened, completely ignoring Rabine's anger, leaving Rabine with nowhere to vent her rage.

Seeing his expression, everyone knew that continuing to ask would be pointless... or rather, the answer was already given, and there was no need to ask any further.

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

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

Although he really wanted to slip away, Philon gripped his sleeve tightly, pulling Ash along to go home with him.

In Philon's room, Connie and Labigne brought Frilian a basket of cookies and various desserts.

The girls sat around the soft bed, their laughter mingling with the crispness of cookies and the richness of black tea, weaving a warm and harmonious melody of life.

However, outside of this warmth, Ash seemed to be in another world. He sat quietly at his desk, the sound of turning pages contrasting sharply with the laughter around him.

He strives to keep his mind calm, unmoved by the joy around him, and immersed in the ocean of knowledge.

It was during this process that Connie's gaze inadvertently fell on Ash's focused figure, and he couldn't help but ask curiously, "...Uncle, are you always working this hard? At a time like this, most people would probably join us in chatting, right?"

“Maybe he’s just putting on an act in front of the girls, hmm… all those childish guys in the academy are like that, especially now that there are four beautiful girls here~” Rabine said with a playful smile, his words carrying a hint of teasing, and he proudly puffed out his chest as he spoke.

but.....

"......Ah."

Ash merely raised his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the four people, before letting out a faint sneer and burying himself back into his book.

That composure and focus seemed to ignore the surrounding discussions.

This action naturally made all four of them feel a sense of condescension and disdain at the same time.

It was as if Asia was observing them with an detached attitude, regarding them as little kids who hadn't even grown their first hairs yet.

"Although I admit that I said that on purpose just now, and he shouldn't be that kind of person, this attitude... is really infuriating!" Rabinhee was so angry that she couldn't help but roll up her sleeves and skirt to fight him again.

"So that's not really what they think..." Philon, who had originally intended to talk to Ash, felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this.

She had originally planned to say a few good words for Ash, but now it seems that Rabine's dissatisfaction with Ash is not mainly due to past negative influences, but rather to issues like personality clashes? Or perhaps a deeper emotional entanglement?

"Is this what Ash used to call tsundere?" Frilian didn't complain to Ash for the time being, but was just curious about Rabine's condition.

"Tsundere? What the heck is that?"

Rabindé didn't understand at all, but he sensed... it probably wasn't a good word.

After all, I simply don't get along with Ash, but I do respect his abilities... There shouldn't be any particular conflict between the two, right?

She was annoyed for a moment, then stopped worrying about it, because before they could even retaliate against Ash for belittling them... a bluebird kept by the Magic Association flew in through the window.