Frieren: Reincarnated As a Demon

Chapter 103.5: Restarted·The Curse of Sleep·The Unexpected Awakener

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Realizing that things were becoming unexpectedly troublesome, Ash sighed silently. Enduring everyone's gazes, he decided it wasn't worth arguing any further. Without another word, he quickened his pace, leaving the others behind as he strode to the front, hoping for a moment of solitude.

---

In this season where warmth and cold mingled, Ash traveled along a path running beside the cliff. The afterglow of the setting sun brought a hint of spring's warmth, while the approaching night carried with it a biting, cold wind.

The combination of the two created an unexpectedly pleasant atmosphere, one that unknowingly lifted his spirits.

As he continued along the path, Ash soon noticed a village nestled in the mountains and forests not far away.

From a distance, the village presented a quaint, picturesque scene. Stone houses were scattered in an orderly fashion, their orange-tiled roofs glowing softly under the fading sunlight. It wasn't extravagant, but it radiated the rustic simplicity and tranquility of a northern countryside.

However...

"...So quiet."

Being the first to arrive, Ash couldn't help but notice the unusual silence enveloping the village. Even the wind seemed to tread lightly here, as if reluctant to disturb the stillness.

He wandered through the empty streets, his confusion growing, until he rounded a corner and arrived at the village's small square.

What greeted him made him stop abruptly.

In the square and in front of the houses, the villagers lay scattered on the ground without exception. Some were curled up, others sprawled out, but none of them stirred. There was no sound—no cries, no groans. Though their chests rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, it was as if they were trapped in an unending dream.

Ash quickly surveyed the area, his unease mounting as he realized the entire village had succumbed to this strange phenomenon. There was no chaos, no signs of struggle—only a chilling stillness, accompanied by the sight of countless sleeping figures.

The others arrived shortly after, their reactions varied as they took in the eerie scene.

Though the strange slumber was unsettling, Ash moved through the square with a calm composure. Sein, despite his often flustered demeanor, approached with the practiced diligence of a priest, crouching beside one of the fallen villagers to assess their condition.

Meanwhile, Fern clung nervously to Ash's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly as she asked, "Master Ash... what's going on here?"

"Curse," Ash replied simply.

"Curse?" Fern echoed, her eyes widening.

"I'll read you History of Magic before bed tonight," Ash teased with a faint smirk.

"This time, I'll really read it! I mean it!" Fern exclaimed, her face reddening in both determination and embarrassment.

"Really?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically.

"Of course!"

Ash shook his head with a small chuckle. "You always say you'll change, but you're still the same, aren't you? I've told you so many times to go study it for yourself, but you never do. Honestly, who do you take after?"

He ruffled her hair playfully, causing Philen to purse her lips in frustration.

She felt indignant—once again treated like a child. But if she puffed up her cheeks and threw a tantrum, it would only confirm his perception of her.

How can I prove I'm an adult? she thought, enduring Ash's teasing. Embarrassed, she glanced over at Frieren for help.

Frieren simply smiled, as if to say, Next time you get angry at me, remember to forgive me just once.

Finally, Frieren cleared her throat, breaking the moment. "Among demons and monsters, there are many magics beyond the understanding of human magic techniques. These magics can cause various abnormal conditions, and we categorize such spells as curses."

"...Is there really no way to fix this?" Fern asked nervously, her expression tightening. "Does this mean the village can't be saved?"

"No, it's only human magic that doesn't work. The magic of the goddess is different," Frieren explained.

"I remember that the goddess' magic is all written in the holy scriptures," Fern interjected. "And in most cases, only priest can use it... right?"

"Exactly," Frieren nodded. "The magic of the goddess is similar to the magic of demons in one respect: most of it is unsolved, and the principles remain completely unclear. Even priest's rely on what's called the 'Goddess's Protection,' which is entirely innate and cannot be gained later in life. As a result, it's nearly impossible for ordinary people to use the magic recorded in the scriptures."

After finishing her explanation, Frieren's gaze shifted to Ash. He was sitting in someone else's house, casually eating a dinner prepared by the absent host—who, unfortunately, had fainted before they could eat it themselves. Frieren smiled teasingly. "Of course, I said 'nearly impossible,' but it's even rarer for someone like Ash to be completely incapable of using it."

"…I'm just sitting here eating quietly. Why are you dragging me into this?" Ash looked up with an innocent expression, clearly wishing for a peaceful meal.

Meanwhile, Fern, sitting beside him, stared at him for a long moment before sighing helplessly. "Master Ash… Is this someone else's meal?"

"Now that there's no owner, it belongs to me," Ash replied without hesitation.

"If you're hungry, I'll cook. It's not right to eat other people's food," Fern scolded gently.

"It's just a change of flavor," Ash said nonchalantly, taking another bite of chicken. He glanced at the unconscious woman on the ground and added, "Besides, this curse is troublesome. They might not wake up anytime soon. You should eat quickly—makes it easier for us to leave right after."

"Lord Ash, if you keep this up, I'll really get angry." Though Fern's tone remained measured, there was a sternness in her voice.

Ash waved a hand dismissively. "I'm just kidding. Even if only to set a good example for you, I wouldn't simply leave them like this."

"Shouldn't you be the one providing help directly? Why does it fall to me?" Fern grumbled, her face flushing slightly at Ash's teasing words.

Ash didn't reply further, merely flashing a small smile as he continued eating the meal in front of her.

A short while later, Sein returned from examining the villagers, his expression troubled. "…This is tricky. I can't determine exactly what kind of curse this is. I only know that it's a very unique one."

"Really? Ash, you've studied curses extensively, haven't you?" Frieren asked, her eyes widening slightly as she turned to Ash. "What kind of curse is this?"

Ash leaned back, thinking for a moment before answering. "I've seen this before among the captive monsters kept in the Kingdom of Ester. If I'm not mistaken, this is the curse of the Chaos Flower subspecies."

"The Kingdom of Ester has those kinds of monsters?" Frieren frowned, clearly disturbed. "They really aren't afraid of getting overrun, are they?"

"Captive or not, encountering such a monster without the proper precautions is a death sentence," she added grimly. "Even a team of heroes wouldn't stand a chance if they didn't have a Sea Tower to counter the Chaos Flower. A single misstep would mean annihilation."

Her words were not an exaggeration. A creature like the Chaos Flower could decimate even experienced adventurers.

Frieren's expression grew more serious as she spoke. "Even here, in this village, we're still within the Chaos Flower's range. If it were actively hunting us, none of us would stand a chance."

Fern, too, could feel something unusual in the air, though the nature of the threat eluded her. Without the others pointing it out, she wouldn't have even realized they were under attack.

Frieren had no idea how to dispel the curse, nor could she determine the source of the attack. Frustrated, she turned to Sein, who was equally troubled. "How about you? Do you have a way to remove it?"

"...It's possible," Sein admitted after a pause. "But it's troublesome—it requires a ritual and several specific props. Honestly, it'd be much easier to deal directly with the source of the curse."

"Can you locate the source?" Frieren asked.

"I can narrow it down to a general direction... but that's our only option right now," Sein replied, shaking his head with a bitter smile. He lacked both the necessary materials and the time to perform the ritual properly.

There was no alternative. The village was still under the curse's influence, and its effects were ongoing. Even Sein couldn't guarantee he wouldn't succumb if he took too long preparing. After all, the goddess's protection only made him resistant to the curse—it didn't grant full immunity.

Deciding that removing the curse with the goddess's magic was too impractical, the group settled on tracking its source. Without delay, they set off toward the forest next to the village.

---

The forest stretched far beyond the village, and the exact location of the curse's source remained unclear. By the time the group had made significant progress, night had fallen, and darkness enveloped the forest.

Exhaustion began to take its toll. As magicians and priest, their physical endurance wasn't much better than that of ordinary people, so they had no choice but to take a short rest and prepare for potential battles ahead.

Ash, seated by a small bonfire he had built to stave off the chill of the night, felt a faint tug at the corner of his clothes.

Turning instinctively, he saw Fern—the purple-haired girl—struggling to keep her eyes open. She could barely lift her head, but her gaze remained fixed on him, her voice soft and unsteady. "…Master Ash... what should I do? I don't think I can bear it anymore..."

"If you're sleepy, go ahead and rest," Ash said gently, smiling down at her. He placed a hand on her head, stroking it softly. "Don't worry—I'll wake you up when you're comfortable again."

"…Then please…" she murmured, her lips curling into a faint, relieved smile. "I'll make... your favorite breakfast tomorrow..."

Her words trailed off into a whisper. Before she could finish, she lost consciousness and slumped to the ground beside him.

Even in her sleep, her small hand clung tightly to his clothes, refusing to let go. The sight reminded Ash of their childhood—nights when she would cling to him for comfort during restless dreams.

Sein, observing the scene, couldn't hide his surprise. "…This child trusts you so much, doesn't she? Even in a situation like this, she believed your words completely and found peace."

"To be honest," Frieren interjected from where she was resting nearby, "I sometimes worry about that kid, Fern. I bet even if she's deceived by Ash someday, she'll still come up with excuses for him." She sighed and shook her head.

Ash raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you jealous?"

"Maybe a little," Frieren admitted with a smirk. "But I'm more concerned about what'll happen to her if you die. The thought gives me a headache. Even though I'm on good terms with Fern, I don't think I could ever take your place in her heart."

Ash chuckled at her odd concern and shook his head. "What are you even talking about? Everyone is irreplaceable in someone else's heart. I couldn't replace you in hers either. No point worrying about it."

"…Really? I suppose that's true," Frieren conceded, watching as Ash carefully cut off the corner of his clothes and used it to wrap Fern. He laid her gently against a tree, draped a sheet over her, and cast a protective barrier around her small form.

Although she still felt some unease about the future, Frieren couldn't help but let out a teasing smile. "But it's rare to hear you say something so sensible."

"…What kind of role do I play in your heart?" Ash asked, his expression caught between amusement and exasperation.

"Well…" Frieren tilted her head, pretending to think seriously, but she didn't offer an answer. Instead, she turned to Sein. "Speaking of which, Sein, can't your magic temporarily wake Fern up?"

"It's a bit difficult," Sein admitted. "Without the proper ritual and necessary tools, I could wake her up, but it would only last about five seconds at most."

"Then don't use it now," Frieren advised.

"I suppose that's for the best," Sein agreed, glancing at the girl sleeping soundly nearby.

Even though she appeared peaceful, Sein couldn't shake his worry. As someone who hadn't yet succumbed to sleep, the situation weighed heavily on him. Despite knowing how strong Frieren was, it was hard to feel entirely at ease. After all, their group had not yet formed the kind of deep trust that would allow them to fully rely on each other in times like this.

---

After Fern fell asleep, the group didn't rest long. Aware of the curse's worsening effects, they forced themselves to press on, pushing their tired bodies through the dense forest under the cover of night.

Sein, leading the way, strained to locate the curse's source. The tension was palpable in his voice as he called out without turning his head, "We're almost there—the reaction is very close! It's nearby!"

"Is that so…" Frieren muttered weakly. She clung to the edge of Ash's clothes for support, her exhaustion evident in her slumped posture. "Sein, if you find the monster, wake me or Ash… You're a priest, fighting isn't your strong suit..." Her voice grew fainter as she added, "Don't fight it alone… Ash or I can fight… even if it's just for five seconds… I can definitely…"

Before she could finish, her body gave out. Sein turned around in alarm just in time to see Frieren collapse like a kite with a snapped string.

But before she hit the ground, Ash reacted swiftly, catching her in his arms. He carried her to a nearby tree, gently laying her down before casting a protective barrier around her.

"...Really now," Ash muttered, his tone laced with mock annoyance as he looked at her unconscious form. "If you couldn't hold on any longer, why didn't you say something earlier? Now I have to set the barrier twice."

"Uh… Huh??"

Sein stared at him in disbelief. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again, struggling to articulate the growing unease Ash's behavior was stirring in him. It wasn't until a moment later that realization dawned.

It wasn't just Frieren who had succumbed to the curse. Even the magicians of the legendary hero had fallen unconscious after walking through the cursed village. In fact, most warriors would have collapsed long ago.

Yet Ash was completely fine. Despite hours of trekking through the cursed forest, he looked as energetic as ever.

Finally, Sein couldn't hold back his astonishment. "—Wait a minute! You're a warrior, right? How is it that even legendary magicians have passed out, yet you—without the goddess's protection—are still awake and completely unaffected?"

"Haven't I told you? I actually know a little magic," Ash replied nonchalantly, waving off the question as if it were unimportant.

In truth, his endurance had little to do with magic. The real reason lay in his demonic lineage. Demons had a natural resistance to this type of curse, a necessity given their inability to receive the goddess's blessing or wield her magic. Without such resistance, demons would be helpless against monsters that used these kinds of abilities.

Of course, this wasn't something he could explain to Sein.

But Sein wasn't convinced. His skeptical gaze bore into Ash as he muttered, "A 'little' magic? Are you seriously trying to pass this off as plausible? That explanation is an insult to my intelligence!"