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

Page 132

"I'm sorry... You've always been very gentle with me at crucial moments, but... I think I've been a little too willful without realizing it."

"How could that be... Rather, the fact that you were able to break through on your own initiative is already a sign of growth."

As he spoke, he smiled and squinted, gesturing with his fingers above the girl's head as if deep in thought, and said, "You have indeed grown a little taller than before?"

"...I think that's it?"

Zanze nodded vaguely.

The previous conversation seemed to be forgotten by the two of them, and they rediscovered the warm atmosphere of the past.

Trivial matters intertwine to form conversations and laughter over tea and meals.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, Ash reluctantly bid farewell to the place.

After all, he would never stay overnight at a girl's house without permission... especially when her elders were around. Otherwise, he would have liked to give it a try.

On the terrace, the girl watched his figure gradually disappear into the boundless night. Zanze's heart, which had returned to tranquility, found that familiar loneliness was inexplicably replaced by a strange desolation as the surroundings returned to emptiness.

Like a shooting star streaking across the sky, it eventually disappeared into the vast night sky, leaving behind an indescribable sense of loneliness and reluctance.

This made her inexplicably concerned about the traces Ash left behind, always feeling as if that warmth still lingered in her hair.

Especially the gentle touch that lightly brushed her head made her unconsciously raise her hand to touch the ends of her hair, as if to confirm whether that warmth was still there.

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It wasn't far from Zanze's home.

In a dimly lit corner, Ash unexpectedly spotted Yubel, who had his hands behind his back, leaning closer with a smirk and a malicious grin on his face.

Suddenly, a girl with a side ponytail appeared in the darkness. Although she was a beautiful girl, her smile was... rather strange.

"...I saw it. You weren't secretly plotting with Zanze to cheat or something, were you?" Before he could speak, Yubel gave a strange guess with a mischievous grin.

"...Do you think I need to do this?" Without thinking, he slapped her on the head, pressed her down, and quickly walked ahead.

"Just kidding, I'm just curious about your relationship."

"...Zanze is my junior."

"When you came, you two seemed to have a good relationship~ Are you really just juniors?" Yubel asked curiously, quickly following behind him.

“I didn’t say I was just a junior; after all, we’ve known each other for over a decade.”

"More than ten years? You must have known quite a few people for more than ten years, right?"

"Well... it was a bit of a coincidence that our communication deepened? So we're the juniors I'm closest to."

Ash didn't mind at all. Under the girl's persistent and curious questioning, he casually talked about how they met, and then headed home with this strange girl by his side.

Although he really wanted to complain, what was this guy doing standing here all day? Could it be that he'd been squatting on the side all day...? If it was Yubel, then that was quite possible.

They chatted casually like this, and before long they returned home, only to find that Frilian and Philen had already fallen asleep.

Although Yubel clearly wanted to enter his room and continue to ask him about his past, he turned around and slammed the door shut, leaving her with no chance to enter and nearly hitting her nose on the door.

But Ash himself just lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, troubled by what Zanze had said... and couldn't sleep all night.

Fortunately, he had plenty of energy, so even if he didn't sleep all night, it wouldn't matter.

And before dawn, he quickly left home, temporarily avoiding Philon and Frilian.

After wandering around the city for a while and playing with the lost child in the park to kill some time, I took the child home.

After doing all that, he still went to the Magic Association.

But as soon as they stepped onto the stairs, they saw a lively girl with orange twin ponytails, looking like a little puppy, perched on the railing of the high platform outside the gate above.

When he subconsciously looked up and met his gaze, Connie seemed inexplicably embarrassed, but still raised his hand and waved it at him.

As he ascended the steps, he leaned against the railing of the platform, glanced at the girl beside him who seemed somewhat uneasy about his presence, and then spoke first:

"what are you doing here?"

"Actually, I'm waiting for Rabine... then we'll go find Frilian to thank her, and then play with Philon... or something?"

"Really? How youthful! You should get along well with her." Upon hearing this, Ash couldn't help but chuckle and casually touched her hair.

Connie didn't resist, but seemed a little itchy, and shrank back slightly.

"I always felt... that uncle was like that, he liked to touch other people's hair..."

"After all, I can't touch your stomach in public, can I?"

"Huh? -- Normally, even if there's no one around, it's still not okay!!"

The unexpectedly regretful remark startled Connie, who shrank back to the side, his face turning red.

"...I was just saying, I wouldn't actually touch her, right? Besides, the only thing you can touch a girl is her head... Hmm, I think I already said that before?"

"...Isn't there an option where you don't touch it at all?"

"The sense of distance between people is the same as the physical distance, so I only touch people I want to get closer to."

"I feel like I can accept it, but I can't accept it either..."

He probably accepted this somewhat subtle explanation. After a moment of annoyance, Connie stood next to him again, but still looked a little wary, as if afraid that he would touch his stomach.

This made him chuckle, but he simply patted her head and pulled a piece of candy from his pocket: "...Want some?"

"...I'm not a child." Despite his complaints, Connie took the candy and asked, puzzled, "Why does the old man carry candy?"

“A child was crying just now, so I bought some... It would be a waste to lose the extras, so I carried them with me.” He looked back at the book in his hand and answered without turning his head.

"...So you really think I'm a child?" Connie muttered dejectedly, but still peeled off the candy and put it in her mouth, letting the sweet taste spread on her tongue. Then she quietly leaned towards him, watching the book in his hand from the side, and asked in confusion, "Uncle, are you waiting for someone too?"

"I didn't have any plans with anyone today, but you must be bored waiting here all by yourself, right? So I'll keep you company for a bit until Rabinhere shows up."

"Hey~ This uncle is quite gentle~"

"I've always said this... you just don't believe me."

"Now I believe it~" A smile unconsciously bloomed on the girl's face.

The two leaned against the railing and started chatting... Although Connie mostly complained about Rabinha, she seemed quite happy, so Ash listened quietly.

And not long after... the familiar silver-haired girl appeared from below the steps.

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I've arranged to meet my childhood friend in front of the Magic Association, and I'm in a pretty good mood right now.

But when Rabindranath saw Ash, this outsider, also appear there, his expression froze for a moment:

"...Why are you here too?"

"Just keeping Connie company..." Ash glanced at the girl who always seemed angry, and said nonchalantly, "Your attitude towards your elders is just too terrible, no matter how you look at it. How about showing a little respect to your elders?"

"Of course I respect my elders, but only if they are worthy of respect."

He was fine with everyone else, but when it came to Ash... Rabine's tone always carried a strong sense of hostility.

Now that things have come to this, Ash no longer expects the girl to easily change her attitude towards him, and habitually lowers his head to look through the book in his hand.

It was precisely this attitude that made Rabindranath stomp hard on the floor tiles and approach him, saying unhappily:

"...What? If someone says that to you, shouldn't you say something in response?"

"It's too much trouble. Forget it, I don't want to argue with you."

"You bastard...you're really infuriating!"

Rabindranath was so angry at being given the cold shoulder that he stomped his feet.

Connie stepped forward and said with an awkward smile, "Speaking of which... you're even cuter than usual, Rabind?"

"...This outfit?"

Rabinhae, looking dejected, slightly lifted the hem of her skirt.

Unlike the blue Gothic Lolita outfit she wore for the exam, she was now dressed in a pure white dress.

The white dress and light blue short jacket are cleverly combined, creating a fresh and elegant look. She also wears a white sun hat with a flowing blue ribbon, giving the impression of a gentle breeze on a summer morning.

Overall, she seems more like a gentle and noble young lady than before, but unfortunately... her actual personality is straightforward and strong-willed, and her words and actions are like a boy's.

"I'm afraid the only way to act like a young lady is to stay silent," Ash muttered after observing for a moment.

"Did you say something?" Rabindranath, with his unusually sharp ears, heard his muttering and couldn't help but glare at him sideways.

"It's nothing, I just feel like we're not a good match."

"Do you think I wanted this? I hope it wasn't because my three older brothers came back from the capital with a whole bunch of Qiqi clothes, and Mom was so excited... that she just had the maid change me into them."

"That's wonderful, Miss."

"...Don't think I don't know you're actually a powerful figure, right? My grandfather told me to be polite to you, and my older brother also hopes I can get along well with you."

His casual remark immediately drew a rebuttal from the girl, who seemed to grit her teeth.

But he didn't care, he just muttered to himself:

"The capital city? It seems your family has had considerable ties with the empire in the past."