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

Page 93

"Don't compare me to you! I've never regretted my choice back then, and you!? How long are you going to keep regretting it!?"

"Brother..."

Zain covered his face in a daze, angrily rebuking his brother, his face full of disbelief and astonishment.

At that moment, Ash silently turned and left, returning to Frilian and Philon's side, intending to let the two brothers talk alone.

He thought his easily achieved breakthrough should have earned him the respect of both Frillie and Philon, but...

"...It's really amazing that you can say it's a one-sided 'I'm doing this for your own good' argument." Frilian looked at him speechlessly. "You used to think it would be more appropriate to give Philon up for adoption, right?"

Philen pursed his lips, his face full of displeasure: "Lord Ash, please reflect on your actions!"

"...It's been so long, why do you still remember things from when you were little?"

Why do I hurt myself when I'm lecturing others? Shouldn't this be the time to compliment me? It's so strange... so strange! He covered his mouth, looking puzzled, and lowered his head, so frustrated that he wanted to squat down and escape this harsh reality.

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As the sun sets, along the riverbank next to the church.

Ash lay on the lawn by the river, gazing at the sunset as he reflected on life.

But suddenly a foul smell of smoke wafted by, followed by Zain's melancholy voice:

"You're right... I apologized to my older brother."

"is it?"

“But don’t misunderstand, he’s a very gentle older brother, he’s never hit me once in my life.” Zain sighed with guilt, “But… I let such a gentle older brother hit me.”

"What a peaceful family."

Comparing Zain's family to his own past with Aura, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the difference between humans and demons.

Despite believing himself to be a good person, he felt it was hard to accept that he couldn't even be treated as well as a monk who indulged in wine and meat.

Zain, who was sitting beside him watching the sunset, couldn't help but ask curiously when he heard this:

"...Speaking of which, you seem to have a younger sister. How do you get along with your sister?"

"Of course I am also a very gentle older brother. When we were little, we depended on each other for survival. She would do all the chores herself. She was so sensible that it broke my heart. I couldn't even stop her."

"What a good sister."

"Yes, that's the kind of sister I'd want."

"Hmm? What you expected?"

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

"I see..." Zain felt there was something that bothered him, but after hesitating for a moment, he gave up and said, "Never mind... Anyway, I've decided to become an adventurer... I'm going to chase after that guy."

"is it?"

"My travel goal is to find that guy... and fulfill my silly childhood dream with him, so before that, I'll just travel with you guys."

"is it?"

"Shouldn't this be the time to be moved?! Why are you still as cold as before? Can't you at least show some of the necessary emotion?"

"Because I'm not really interested in that kind of thing, but I'm also somewhat interested... I guess I just spend time with the kids and kill some time between my cultivation sessions?"

Faced with the indignant Zain, Ash nonchalantly voiced his thoughts.

This left him completely bewildered: "...Seriously, what exactly is the purpose of your trip?"

"I already said, it was just a walk."

"And you were just talking about me? You made me sound so bad?"

"...I wanted to show off in front of the kids, but it seems to have backfired."

He sighed rather dejectedly, and shut his mouth when Philon sat down on his other side, remaining silent and saying no more.

This made Zain pause for a moment before remembering something and asking, "...Speaking of which, what is your purpose?"

“Let’s go to the capitals of the two largest countries in the vicinity.” Frillian, still flipping through a book, said casually as she sat down on the lawn above Ash, “If possible, I also plan to take a trip to Heaven.”

"Heaven? Do we really need to go to a place like that? We just die and we get there!"

"Can Lord Zain go too?" Philon asked a rather pointed question without looking up, while urging Ash not to wrinkle his clothes.

This prompted Zain to cautiously ask Ash, "Um... does this child dislike me?"

"Isn't that normal? Kids certainly won't like an old man like you. You should learn from me."

"No, no, no, you're just being taken care of by this child right now, aren't you?"

Zain looked at the lazy Ash beside him, and then at Philon, who seemed a little unhappy but not at all impatient, as he straightened Ash's clothes... Even though they had known each other for a while, he still couldn't figure out what the relationship between the two was.

But in the end, he decided not to delve into these matters any further. Instead, he looked up at the sky, reached out to grasp the setting sun, and murmured to himself:

"Although it's a little late, I still need to take action now... to seize the last bit of youth and dreams."

"...What is this person doing? So childish." Ash glanced at him and couldn't help but complain. Philon frowned slightly and gently reprimanded him, "Lord Ash, even if it's true, you can't just say that. It's very inappropriate to criticize someone in front of them."

"Ash is so immature~ Adults are all like me, keeping things to themselves." Frilian above flipped through her book, a gloating smile on her face.

Although both of them were saying Ash was wrong, the strange conversation between the three of them made Zain blush and withdraw his hand, glaring at the three of them with a mixture of shame and indignation:

"...Now I finally understand why the three of you are teammates!"

"Speaking of which, Philon, I'd like to have barbecue tonight."

"Grilled fish? Sure." After a moment's thought, Philon smiled. "We're leaving tomorrow anyway, let's go get something nice to eat before we go."

Ash didn't care about his embarrassment at all, Philon readily ignored him, and Frilian kept her head down reading, not intending to respond to Zain's complaints.

"Your personalities... are so wonderful...!"

As a middle-aged man, Zain had never felt so ashamed, even when he was stripped down to his underwear. Yet now, he managed to squeeze out a sound through gritted teeth, already regretting... why he had joined this strange group in the first place.

But now, it seems he has no other choice.

They were the only team in the village, and their strength was very reliable... Apart from their personalities, they didn't seem to have any flaws.

Therefore, despite his reluctance, Zain left the village where he had lived since childhood with the three of them the next day amidst the smiling blessings of the villagers and his brother, embarking on a journey that was ten years overdue.

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After leaving the village, even though there was one more person, things were almost no different from before.

Despite the bickering and commotion, the journey went remarkably smoothly, except...

"I say, don't you guys think this team is missing something, something very important?" Zain, who was walking slowly at the front, suddenly asked the group seriously.

“Ash is a vanguard, and so are mages and monks…” Frilian pondered seriously, while Philon gave the answer directly: “Thieves, I suppose? After all, Lady Frilian always falls for treasure chest traps.”

“No, I don’t think having thieves would be of any use. What we really need is an older sister.” Ash bluntly stated his thoughts, and before Philon could glare at him, he pointed at Zain: “Of course, this is definitely not my opinion, but that’s what he’s thinking.”

"—Of course! There's always one in the team, right?" Unlike Ash, who didn't want to upset Philon, Zain hadn't taken more than a couple of steps before he couldn't help but clench his fists, his eyes brimming with tears as he excitedly exclaimed, "Sexy! And a mature older sister!! Not just me! Ash actually wants one too, right?!"

"...In this situation, please don't throw the topic at me; it's difficult for me to answer."

"Lord Ash, just say what you're thinking... I won't be angry, really, go ahead and say it!"

Philon stood with his hands on his hips, staring at him sternly.

This put him in an awkward position, making it impossible for him to express his true thoughts. He could only casually put his arm around the shoulder of Frillie, who was passing by, and chuckled dryly, "Isn't Frillie here? How could I possibly be thinking about some strange older sister?"

"Oh my...? Ash, you finally acknowledge my charm as an older sister?" Upon hearing this, Frillie looked up at him with surprise and a hint of pride, muttering to herself:

"The trigger was that flying kiss last time, wasn't it? Master really didn't lie to me... I really am a woman with many sins."

"...Ah, um...yes, the one from last time."

Good heavens, I dare say it, and you actually believe it? How did this utterly self-aware personality develop? — Ash nodded with a forced smile, but suddenly felt an urge to push Frilian off the cliff path and let her calm down in the river below.

But Philon looked utterly shocked: "Lord Ash...you're a lolicon?"

"I thought you were one of us, but I never expected you to be such a heretic! — You can even agree with someone like that?!"

Philon was simply unaware of the truth, but Zain noticed his distressed expression and deliberately suppressed a laugh, feigning regret as he joined in the mockery.

Realizing things were suddenly getting complicated... Ash sighed silently under everyone's gaze, too lazy to argue anymore. He simply left everyone behind and strode forward, hoping to be alone and quiet.

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In this season of mixed warmth and cold, Ash traversed the cliffside path; the afterglow of the setting sun brought him a touch of spring warmth, while the approaching night carried a biting chill.

The combination of these two elements was unexpectedly comfortable, and it unconsciously made him feel happy again.

And he soon discovered that not far away, hidden among the mountains and forests, lay a village.

The village scenery, viewed from afar, features stone houses arranged in a pleasing, staggered pattern, their orange tiles gleaming softly in the setting sun. Though lacking in grandeur, it possesses a rustic charm and tranquility characteristic of a northern countryside, only...

"...It's so quiet."

Ash, who was the first to arrive at the village, noticed an unusual tranquility enveloping the entire village as he looked around, as if even the wind had slowed down.

He strolled through the village, a sense of doubt creeping into his mind, until he circled the stone buildings and arrived at the village's small square.