IDDYD 12

Chapter 12

Alice rode her horse, swiftly galloping through the dense forest. When she glanced back, she saw Aiden following at a similar speed.

*’What, he rides well.’*

Aiden handled the horse quite skillfully. Even though he’d acted worried, saying the last time he rode was 500 years ago, it seemed she didn’t need to be concerned.

Then, they had to get to the Saint Mountains as quickly as possible and finish the investigation. The Temple had also sent an investigation team there. She didn’t want to create a situation where Aiden and the Temple priests would meet.

Confirming that Aiden was keeping up well, Alice finished the practice and increased her speed toward the mountains. Alice and Aiden rode and rode until the sun began to set.

Only when the surroundings grew dim did Alice gradually slow down. Tying her horse to a nearby tree, she said, “Shall we stop here for today?”

“You plan to camp here?”
“Yeah, going further now is dangerous. It’s getting dark, and we won’t be able to see well ahead.”

The place they had reached was a relatively flat area within the wooded forest, which seemed suitable for a night’s camp.

Alice, expertly securing a spot on the flat ground, fiddled with the ring on her right hand. As her mana-infused finger touched the ring, a fluffy blanket popped out from it.

*’A spatial storage ring?’*

Aiden, watching her, widened his eyes in surprise.

When he was last in the human world, he had heard rumors of artifact rings in the north capable of storing items. But he hadn’t expected it to be in the possession of House Erdin.

*’She doesn’t seem like a novice at this.’*

Having already tied his horse to a tree, Aiden crossed his arms and observed Alice’s actions. Watching her had become one of his new hobbies recently.

The Alice he saw was more noble, arrogant, and self-confident than anyone else. She readily displayed her emotions outwardly, but this seemed not because she was unskilled at hiding them, but because she felt no need to conceal her feelings. After all, she was the heir to the Erdin Ducal family, one of only three ducal houses in the Empire. She had absolutely no reason to act while minding others’ opinions. Was that why she showed her emotions so transparently?

*’I didn’t think she’d still be bothered by what happened a few days ago.’*

Remembering Alice at the mansion, Aiden chuckled. It was rather amusing—her expression clearly showed her pride was hurt by being even slightly flustered by him, and her attitude of not even trying to hide such feelings. It was also kind of cute.

That’s why, even though he could have easily put on the necklace himself, he had deliberately asked her to do it. He was curious whether she would comply with his request or refuse, asking why she should.

Contrary to Aiden’s expectation that she would refuse, Alice grumbled but approached him and put the necklace on him. For someone with such strong pride, she could have refused. Alice was quite different from the nobles Aiden knew. She had the characteristic arrogance of high nobility but wasn’t苛刻 to the servants, didn’t complain incessantly, and didn’t look down on or belittle others.

*’Usually, nobles in positions as high as Alice’s are quite cocky. In the past, they were also…’*

As his thoughts continued, Aiden’s expression soured. A memory buried deep in his mind, one he hadn’t dared to look at, had surfaced.

His good mood plummeted instantly. *Why did I have to recall the past?*

Aiden shook his head as if to shake off the memory. He had no intention of devoting any part of his mind to someone who was long dead.

“What are you doing over there by yourself?”
Just then, Alice called to Aiden, waving the blanket she was holding. It meant, *’Don’t just stand there, come help me quickly.’*

At her call, Aiden emerged from the past. Recognizing the meaning of her gesture, he burst out laughing.

“Alright.”

Yeah, what’s the point of dwelling on the past? I should focus on the present. Aiden walked towards Alice with light steps.

* * *

Aiden tapped the empty air. A transparent wall appeared and disappeared in the space where there was nothing. It was a barrier created by Alice.

A transparent protective shield blocking external attacks, a fluffy blanket, and even a magically created fire. For a midnight camp in the woods, it was warm and cozy.

“Here, eat.”
Alice handed Aiden a piece of bread. Aiden took it and said, “This feels more like a picnic than camping.”
“It’s still camping. We’re sleeping outside, after all.”
Alice answered, taking a bite of her bread. Savoring the nutty flavor filling her mouth, she looked at Aiden.

He chewed on the bread Alice gave him but didn’t take his eyes off the surrounding scenery. Was there still something to be amazed by? Looking around with a face full of curiosity, he was just like a cat.

*’He really likes the human world.’*

As she had felt before, he was indeed a peculiar demon. Nowhere in any book about demons she had read was there mention of a demon so interested in the human world.

*’Was he like this 500 years ago too?’*

Alice stared at Aiden, lost in thought. Come to think of it, she knew almost nothing about Aiden. All she knew about him were his identity, his skills, and the fragmentary information that he lost a sword 500 years ago.

Still, as his contractor, shouldn’t she know more about him? There might be information helpful in finding his sword among those details.

Staring intently at Aiden, Alice opened her mouth.

“How did you come to the human world 500 years ago?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.”
“Hmm…”
Aiden trailed off.

*This isn’t a difficult question to answer, is it?* Alice asked with a puzzled expression.
“What’s wrong? Weren’t you summoned by someone else back then too? Like how I summoned you.”
“Huh? Oh, well… I guess so. It was 500 years ago, so I don’t remember well either.”

*He remembers losing a sword 500 years ago clearly but doesn’t remember how he came to the human world?* At this absurd answer, Alice let out a dry laugh.

*’Did he do something wrong? Is that why he can’t talk about it…?’*

Could it be that the person who summoned Aiden 500 years ago was consumed by greed and harbored ambitions to rule the world? And Aiden participated in it, endangering the Empire…

“I can guess what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t like that.”
Seeing Alice’s eyes narrow, Aiden flatly denied it.

Well, if someone had summoned Aiden 500 years ago with the intention of throwing the world into chaos, she probably wouldn’t have met Aiden. He would have been executed by priests and holy knights back then. And an incident of Aiden’s execution would have been recorded in history books as the noble servants of the goddess thwarting the demon’s wicked plan, passed down to this day.

But since she hadn’t read such content in history books yet, it seemed Aiden hadn’t tried to rule the world during his time in the human world.

*’Then how did that guy come to the human world? For a demon to come to the human world, there must be a summoning circle. Did someone secretly summon him, and it wasn’t recorded in history books? Is there a reason to secretly summon a demon? Or maybe, like me, someone unintentionally summoned a demon and had to hide it…’*

Her thoughts trailed on, one after another. The more she tried to learn about Aiden, the harder he became to understand.

Aiden quietly watched her, lost in questions, and then spoke.
“I didn’t know you were so curious about me.”
“Well…”
*It’s because there are so many unclear parts.* Before Alice could finish her sentence, Aiden spoke first.
“I’ll tell you if you find my sword.”
“Huh?”
“The things you’re curious about.”
So, find the sword he lost for him. Aiden smiled slyly.

“I’d do that even if you didn’t say anything.”
Not because she was curious about Aiden, but purely to send him back to the Demon Realm. Alice pouted inwardly while reaffirming her goal.