Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 149: A prideful and stubborn girl

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Ash didn't care about Lawine's rage. He simply patted her head, finally acting like an adult. "You should save that kind of thing for when you get back. Now... do you plan to continue taking the exam or head back?"

"…Of course, continue," Lawine replied curtly.

"Can you still walk? Your thigh is injured, isn't it?"

"—See?! Did you see that?!" Lawine, who had been about to move her hand, instinctively grabbed the hem of her skirt, glaring at him with murderous eyes. "…Pervert!"

"You showed it to me, didn't you? I didn't do it willingly." Though Ash wasn't entirely unwilling—after all, who would complain about a little unexpected blessing?—he wasn't going to say such a thing aloud. He valued his reputation and didn't want to be misunderstood.

Lawine, her face burning with shame and anger, snapped back, "—Didn't you say you were a gentleman? A kind and gentle uncle?! Then why were you looking?!"

"I couldn't help it. If I didn't even look at you, wouldn't you feel inferior?"

"No way!!" Lawine shouted, her frustration rising to the surface. "—And you touched! You touched it!"

"You exposed it for me to touch. Wouldn't you be upset if I didn't? It's just your belly. Don't make it sound weird—it gives people the wrong impression."

"So… No! I wouldn't feel sad or inferior!!"

"Alright, alright," Ash replied, his calm demeanor sharply contrasting with Lawine's mounting anger. He nodded slightly and looked her over, noting the scratches and knife wounds scattered across her body. "Can you still walk? Should I carry you? Or should you just throw the bottle and give up the exam?"

"I can walk by myself!" Lawine snapped back sharply, her tone dripping with defiance.

"But your knee is bleeding," he pointed out without hesitation.

"—None of your business!" Lawine barked. Her legs trembled slightly as she stood, and her wounds stung painfully. Despite this, she turned her face away, unwilling to show weakness.

She couldn't comprehend why Ash, who had embarrassed her so much, seemed utterly indifferent to her emotions. His unshakable calmness infuriated her further, making her feel like a fool for getting so emotional. Her frustration bubbled dangerously close to the surface, threatening to spill over completely.

Yet, contrary to her expectations, Ash didn't immediately walk away. Instead, he paused, staring at her with a slightly confused expression.

The inexplicable pause felt strange, like a gentle force brushing against her frayed nerves. It caused her to purse her lips unconsciously, but she still couldn't resist saying something biting, as was her habit.

"What's wrong? Normally, you'd just leave, wouldn't you?"

"Okay, okay... I'll leave now," Ash replied with a shrug. "Be careful, and if it gets too much, remember to break the bottle."

Though it seemed like he had more to say, her irritated glare silenced him. He nodded, turned on his heel, and walked away without hesitation.

His resolute figure disappeared into the dim corridor, but his parting instructions, tinged with genuine concern, lingered in the air. Lawine unconsciously extended her hand as if to stop him, but her pride wouldn't allow it. Slowly, she let her hand fall.

---

The dark corridor quickly returned to silence.

Before she realized it, she was completely alone. Only the sound of her labored breathing and the occasional hiss as she accidentally brushed her wounds broke the silence.

"I… I'm such a mess," Lawine muttered bitterly. She crouched down, wrapping her arms tightly around her knees, as though trying to find some small measure of warmth and comfort in the cold, desolate corridor.

"Obviously, the uncle is much better than I initially misunderstood, but I..."

Her words were laced with regret and self-blame because she had finally realized that her words and actions might have been truly inappropriate.

However, Lawine's pride and strong self-esteem didn't allow her to show any weakness at this moment.

Even though she had regretted her outburst for some time now, her pride wouldn't let her take back her words. And even if she tried, no one would likely take her seriously.

She wanted to stand up and leave, but her depleted magic power and the injuries covering her body made it impossible.

There she was, a person battered and bruised, thrown into a dangerous dungeon, unable to give up but barely able to get up.

The combination of her injuries, exhaustion, and mounting regret almost overwhelmed the strong-willed girl. She bit her lower lip hard, suppressing any sound of weakness that might escape.

But just as Lawine teetered on the edge of despair, her emotions threatening to spill over as tears welled in her eyes, the silence was broken by the sound of familiar footsteps.

The person she thought had already left—Ash—had come back.

The echo of his footsteps reverberated through the corridor, each step seemingly pounding against Lawine's heart, causing her heartbeat to quicken.

"W-what! Weren't you already leaving? Why are you back now—to laugh at me?!"

Did I really just say that again? What's wrong with me?—To be honest, she wanted to cry.

But Ash merely squatted down in front of her, leveling his gaze with hers, and gave her a helpless smile.

"Normally, I'd leave. But seeing you like this… you're seriously injured. It wouldn't feel right for an adult to leave you alone here."

"…Now you're suddenly talking about adult responsibilities?"

"Why 'suddenly'? I've always been responsible," Ash replied with a faint smirk.

"…I don't believe an adult like you," she muttered, looking away stubbornly.

At first, Ash had seriously considered leaving this awkward, prideful girl behind, letting her learn about the hardships of life on her own.

But the further he walked, the more wrong it felt. Leaving a child like Lawine—even one as frustrating as her—wasn't something a proper adult should do. It lacked basic decency. Besides, their relationship wasn't entirely impersonal—they weren't strangers.

So, he returned. Without overthinking it, he gently patted her head. Ignoring her displeased expression, he carefully maneuvered around her legs and lifted her up in his arms.

"—Ah! Wait, wait a minute! Where are you… What are you doing?!"

The sudden movement startled Lawine, and for the first time, her boyishly strong and unyielding demeanor cracked, letting out a surprisingly girlish yelp.

"Given your condition, carrying you on my back doesn't seem appropriate. So… just think of it as me taking advantage of you, and you can't resist, okay?"

"Th-that's not… Fine, whatever… There's no other way," Lawine muttered, her voice trembling as she hesitated.

Perhaps it was her earlier regret that made her falter. She reluctantly accepted his help, speaking in a voice so soft it was barely audible. When Ash looked down at her in surprise, she quickly closed her eyes, avoiding his gaze in embarrassment.

If the situation were different, Ash might have teased her. After all, Lawine's strong-willed and tsundere nature made her reactions particularly amusing.

But considering her current state, teasing her didn't feel appropriate.

Instead, he adjusted his hold on her and carried her quietly, refraining from saying anything unnecessary.