"You can relax. I won't repeat the trade. Anyone who traded with me during the last exam can go straight through. But for the rest of them, I can't just break my principles for free, right? If I did that, you and Denken would definitely feel it wasn't fair, wouldn't you?"
"To be honest, I'm starting to worry whether the Magic Association is going to come after you."
From within the crowd, the middle-aged man, Richter, tossed out a complaint. Still, he readily handed over the grimoire that recorded his earth magic.
After all, this was an exam where you had to risk your life to begin with. As long as they could pass, everything else was worth it.
Because of that, the others didn't hesitate much either. One after another, they handed over the grimoires they carried with them.
After the crowd had all left, only Lawine remained standing there, watching Ash bind Sense's clone with gravity magic.
She was surprised, of course. Seeing how gravity magic suppressed this close-combat mage so completely left her a little speechless. She couldn't help worrying as well.
"Didn't you say that if people passed too easily, the third exam might become life-threatening?"
"The situation's changed. It's not my problem to worry about anymore."
He reached out and gently stroked the head of Sense's clone, which was pinned to the ground and basically unable to move. While petting it like that, he answered without even turning his head.
"That's Serie's problem now."
"Why?"
"I know Serie. Even though she has a sharp tongue, treats people harshly, and says things that really sting… she's not the kind of person who'd watch so many talented mages get sent to their deaths."
Ash casually voiced his understanding. After thinking for a moment, he added, "If she'd just given me the First-Class Mage certification directly, we wouldn't have to worry about this problem now. So really, this is all Serie's fault."
"I heard she's your master, right? Is it really okay to talk about her like that?"
"What's wrong with it? When the time comes, Serie will definitely say it's all my fault anyway and push all the blame onto me."
He said it with absolute certainty.
Hearing that, Lawine didn't even know what to say.
"She must be a pretty eccentric person too, huh?"
"Among the higher-ups in the Magic Association, she's famous for being willful."
"No wonder you're master and disciple. You two really are alike."
"Actually, compared to Serie, I'm a little better."
"Not by much."
That's what she said out loud. Still, for some reason she was now certain that the legendary great mage born in the mythic era was probably very different from the stern, aloof powerhouse she had imagined before.
Just thinking about that made her sigh again.
"Why are you sighing while looking at me?"
"Because I always thought strong people should act like strong people. But… sigh!"
"Then stop sighing at me. That's pretty rude, you know? I can get hurt too. Besides, isn't the whole point of becoming strong so you can do whatever you want? If I have to act according to other people's expectations, why would I bother becoming strong in the first place? 'Acting like a strong person', what even is that?"
"That… actually does make some sense?"
Lawine thought about it, but in the end she gave up worrying about the issue. With a slightly troubled look, she handed over the grimoire she had compiled.
"It's just my own notes, combining what I learned at the academy and putting it all together in the end. If you don't mind, you can have it."
"You're unexpectedly willing."
"Because I want to pass too."
"Actually, since we're already this familiar, you could also just let me touch your stomach."
"D-die! Pervert!"
It had only been an offhand joke, but it instantly made Lawine recall what had happened earlier. Her face turned bright red. She shot him a fierce glare, pressed down her skirt, and hurried away from the scene.
That left him alone with the clone.
The proud silver-haired girl fleeing while clutching her skirt in embarrassment was strangely amusing to watch, but…
"It was obviously just a joke. Why does it look like I'd really go around flipping up people's skirts?"
Ash watched her disappearing back and felt a little depressed that such an obvious joke had been misunderstood.
But there was no one else around right now. All he could do was pet Sense's clone to vent his frustration.
Though the clone's texture was a bit stiff, and it didn't smell nice either… at best it could only count as a cheap substitute.
———
Ash guarded the entrance to the deepest part almost like a ticket seller. He gave people convenience while also benefiting himself. At the same time, he was willing to give them a chance to challenge him.
The only pity was that no one wanted to challenge him at all.
So when Sense arrived at the deepest point together with Frieren and Fern, the moment they saw the scene in front of them they were completely stunned.
They simply stared at the familiar figure in the distance, tilting their heads silently, unable to say a word.
Frieren, however, immediately rushed forward.
"Why do you keep lying to me every time? And you even!"
"Wait a second."
He quietly raised a hand, stopping her accusations, and said with a serious expression, "I still believe in you. It's just that you don't believe yet… in the me who believes in you."
"Stop lying! You were obviously trying to kick me while I'm down!"
"Then do you have any proof? Or did you see anything with your own eyes? When you think about it, if you see this as deception… doesn't that mean you're certain you'll definitely get bitten by a mimic chest?"
He spoke confidently.
For a moment, Frieren really couldn't think of a good way to refute him.
Still unwilling to accept it, she pressed her lips together and tried to think of something to say back. But soon she simply raised her staff, intending to settle things with force.
Seeing that, Ash calmly reached out and pressed the staff down.
"Frieren, did you forget what Flamme taught you? When facing demons, you can use force. But conflicts between humans require not magic… but dialogue!"
"Lately I've been seriously wondering whether you're even human."
"If everything is solved with force, then the era of peace will never arrive. Have you forgotten? This is exactly what Flamme taught."
"But even now, even after defeating the Demon King, the real era of peace hasn't arrived, has it? That means Master tricked me again, just like you, jerk!"
Unable to properly refute him, Frieren glared at him unhappily and muttered resentfully.
"Believe me. There are still more good people in the world."
"But you're definitely not one of them."
"Hmm! Speaking of which… what should we do about the third round of the exam?"
To change the subject, he quietly looked over at Sense, who was still standing there in a daze.
Sense pressed her lips together, troubled.
"Before I answer that question, shouldn't you tell me how many people you let pass?"
"Just a little bit more than usual."
"Are you sure it's really just 'a little bit'? Really?"
While questioning him, Sense walked closer, hoping her small stature might somehow give him a bit of pressure.
But he quietly turned his face away and changed the subject again.
"Compared to that, I think the fact that you used to wipe out every group completely, and now a few more people pass, could help improve your reputation. Isn't that a good thing?"
"That only works if your 'a little bit' really is just 'a little bit.'"
Sense let out a long sigh, as if releasing all her emotions at once. Looking toward the deepest part, she murmured helplessly, "Lady Serie is definitely going to be angry…"
"It's fine. I trust Serie."
"She'll also be angry with you."
"What a coincidence. I think so too."
He nodded with a calm smile, clearly not worried at all, as if he already had a plan prepared.
Ash's calm attitude now was completely different from the time when Serie had chased him down before. The contrast left Sense puzzled.
"Have you already figured out how to face Lady Serie?"
"Of course! I don't do things unless I'm confident."
After pondering for a moment, he patted the head of the clone he was sitting on and solemnly declared, "Tomorrow, we'll leave this place."
"Run away after causing trouble? How can you be just like Lady Frieren!", Fern stared in disbelief and couldn't help shouting.
"Running away can't solve problems, but it can avoid them!"
"So you're planning to cause trouble and then leave me alone to deal with it?"
Before the future where Serie might become angry even arrived, an unhappy expression had already appeared on Sense's normally blank face.
"How could I leave you behind? At a time like this, you just have to elope with me."
"E-elope?"
The girl who had just been slightly unhappy was immediately startled by this sudden proposal.
Fern, however, could no longer tolerate it. She looked down at him coldly as he sat on the clone.
"Lord Ash. I don't tell you stop joking, but even jokes should have limits. Otherwise it becomes sexual harassment."
"With my relationship with Sense, this level isn't a problem at all~"
"What does Lady Sense say?", Fern turned to look at the short girl.
Sense froze for a moment. Her eyes wandered as she lowered her head awkwardly.
"It's a little troubling…"
"Sense?"
The sudden betrayal nearly made him jump off the ground.
"Ahaha! How does it feel to betrayed? Serves you right," Frieren immediately began gloating.
After a moment of silence, Ash proposed a revised plan.
"Then maybe we should just say it's Frieren's fault. She and Serie never got along anyway. If we say a few bad things about her together, Serie will definitely believe it."
"Hey! You're planning to smear someone right in front of them?"
"Just kidding. Even I wouldn't do that right in front of someone."
"You shouldn't do it behind their back either, right?"
Frieren understood he was just taking revenge. She looked a little annoyed but also somewhat helpless, and she didn't bother saying anything more.
Fern, however, stared at him expressionlessly. Her gaze clearly conveyed one thing without words, 'Just wait until we get home.'
Maybe she was still bothered by the "elope" comment. Or maybe by the idea of blaming Frieren. Even though both had really just been jokes.
———
Frieren and Fern didn't stay here long. As examinees, they soon headed to the deepest part of the dungeon.
Ash didn't follow them. Sense also remained where she was, staring at him with a deeply troubled look, saying nothing. Or rather, not knowing how to say it.
Only when Ash started to feel a little uncomfortable under her gaze did he break the silence himself.
"Why do you keep looking at me? If you have something to say, just say it."
"Why has my clone become your chair? And… what is your hand doing?"
"Don't misunderstand. I just felt a little lonely being here alone, so I thought I'd treat her as a companion-type partner."
"A companion-type partner?"
The strange phrasing made Sense frown slightly.
"As the original, how do you think I feel?"
"It's fine. I can pet both of you together. Actually, I prefer the real body's texture, and also… ahem! anyway, that's about it."
At the end, to avoid being distanced or damaging his reputation, he stopped mid-sentence and laughed awkwardly.
Then he casually used binding magic to tie up the clone, which had already been worn out by his antics, and tucked it under his arm.
He stood up as well, freed one hand, and placed it on Sense's head, gently rubbing her long hair that reached her ankles.
"Lord Ash, I've repeated many times in the past that I'm not your pet."
Under his excessive rubbing, Sense's body even swayed slightly. Still, she just stared at him expressionlessly. After a while, seeing no reaction from him, she lowered her gaze gloomily and muttered,
"And I'm not lonely or anything. I just feel that the way you're using my clone… is a little inappropriate."
"I'll deal with it properly."
"Really?"
"When it comes to serious matters, have I ever let you down?"
"But that's only if you actually treat it as a serious matter," Sense's expression became subtle and complicated.
Ash finally grew a little more serious. Twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers, he looked into her eyes and slowly said, "I know that sometimes I do things wrong, and it's true I might've dragged you into trouble before. But if you mean using her to gain benefits, I think that's just making reasonable use of the rules. This exam never forbade people from helping each other. Everyone agreed willingly and was happy about it. What's wrong with that?"
"..."
As if only realizing this now, Sense lowered her gaze slightly and remained silent, like a finely crafted doll.
"When something's bad, you stop talking again."
"..."
"But you really don't need to worry. Even though I said that just now, once we get out, I'll talk to Serie. Of course, if it's eloping, I'd welcome that even more~"
"Lord Ash…"
The strange suggestion made Sense want to say something.
"The second half was a joke."
"I know that."
Even though she knew, she still wore that same strange expression.
Ash pondered for a moment as if he had caught her mood. Then, in order to reassure her, he continued, "When the time comes, Serie will definitely say everything is my fault. She won't really blame you. So for now, we can just assume everything is Serie's fault."
"Your relationship with Lady Serie really is good."
"She's just a troublesome girl. The mature me is simply tolerating her."
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