Episode 7
“The gates are currently under complete control with neodymium. But just as we discovered neodymium, what if the monsters beyond the gate also came up with a device like that?”
With his legs crossed, he rested his chin on his hand.
“What if those monsters hold a grudge against your father, who caused the gates to close forever?”
“Are you saying… monsters might have taken my dad away?”
Goosebumps broke out over my skin.
Of course, because the gates had been closed forever eighteen years ago, I had no memories of the monsters.
However, I had seen countless records left behind in documents.
From beast-type monsters with huge fangs and sharp claws to insect-type monsters with steel-like forelegs and dozens of eyeballs.
Their forms varied, but all of them were monsters that hunted humans. Only when three or four armed men banded together could they barely kill just one.
That was why I had been so proud of my dad, believing he was a truly magnificent hero.
“Hey, don’t cry. It’s strictly a hypothesis. If they wanted revenge, they could have just killed him on the spot instead of kidnapping him.”
I wanted to snap back asking if he called that consolation right now, but because I wanted to think positively, I nodded my head.
“At any rate, this much is certain: the moment someone tries to recall your father, someone completely erases that memory. I don’t know whether that method is hypnosis or brainwashing, or how on earth such a thing is even possible, but considering the mark that appeared back then, there’s a high probability it’s related to the gates. Though it’s strictly a probability. Someone might just be trying to make it look as though the gates are being revived.”
“Who, and why?”
“There are gate follower organizations, aren’t there?”
The gate follower organization, Aclo.
They regarded the monsters as something akin to agents of God sent to cut away this rotten world.
“Humans who destroy nature and indulge in pleasure! Accept God’s judgment!”
“Be reborn through death!”
Believing that the beings beyond the gate had descended to swallow humanity whole and plant a new race, those people dismissed my dad as a blasphemer who had rejected the punishment known as the gates.
“I certainly think that side holds more possibility.”
Aclo had attempted terror attacks against Dad a few times. Of course, because they couldn’t do anything by force, it all ended in failure.
“I learned that monsters possess no intelligence. That they are merely beings that ruthlessly enjoy slaughter.”
“Well, I was taught that way as well. Though I can’t know for sure since I’ve never seen one in person.”
It seemed unlikely that such monsters could find a way to offset the effects of neodymium, or kidnap Dad and erase his existence.
“Therefore, we must leave all possibilities open. Just as you said, there might be clues in the work logs. After all, there was proof that your father actually existed.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I hugged the topmost notebook to my chest.
Although the amount was larger than expected, because Dad’s name was erased, it would be easy to spot.
“By the way, why did you come to Robeang Village?”
“Is there a problem with me visiting my family’s territory?”
“It’s not that, but…”
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been able to bring these work logs either, would you?”
Though it was an arrogant way of speaking, it was the truth. Until Aidan appeared, I had even been thinking about whether I should steal the logs.
“True. Thanks to you, I managed to get them.”
At my thanks, he snapped his head toward the opposite direction. However, there was something he had overlooked. There was no umbrella here.
Thanks to that, his earlobes—turned just as red as his hair—were very clearly visible.
So Aidan’s ears turn red first when he feels embarrassed. Unlike him, he had a cute side to him.
Moving so smoothly that one couldn’t tell it was running, the carriage came to a slow stop. Looking outside, it was in front of my house.
I thought he would just drop me off the moment we entered the capital.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I arrived comfortably.”
“Forget it, it was just on my way.”
“Young Lord Aidan, your mansion is in the opposite direction of my house.”
“What are you talking about? I’m going to the Gate Research Institute.”
“Pardon?”
“In a situation where the gates might be related, we have to investigate. If a thing like that really happens, it’s a disaster.”
I was busy with thoughts of finding my dad. Do people of high status look far ahead even in their thoughts? He truly isn’t a young lord for nothing.
“Now then, instead, you investigate this.”
He spoke as he handed over the stack of notebooks brought from the mercenary group earlier.
“Time until tomorrow should be sufficient, right?”
“Huh? All of this? You said we were going to look at it together!”
“Because now I believe you.”
Leaving those final words, Aidan truly departed.
“…What?”
So what he’s saying right now is that he believes my dad exists, right?
Someone believes my words. Strangely, just that alone felt as though it gave me room to breathe.
“Wait, this is no time to be rejoicing. He didn’t even apologize to me in the end, did he?”
I should have told him to apologize for treating me like a madwoman!
I was so flustered that I couldn’t even bring it up.
Muttering complaints, I set the notebooks down on the floor.
Still, considering Aidan’s personality, the fact that he said he believes someone is really something. It’s truly surprising.
“No, but isn’t asking me to look through all of this by tomorrow going too far?”
My dad’s assignments couldn’t be just one or two!
“Sigh, let’s just start for now.”
Picking up a black rubber band rolling around on the dining table, I tied my hair tightly into a single ponytail, then brewed a strong cup of coffee.
To organize all the contents here and report to Aidan tomorrow, I had no choice but to skimp on sleep.
***
Aidan casually turned his gaze to the side.
Just a moment ago, the silver hair that had been shimmering here under the sunlight came to mind.
“Hmm.”
Cynthia Violeta.
For the entire three years of attending the academy, Aidan could not understand her.
Despite her commoner origins, holding an uninheritable noble title received thanks to her deceased parents, she stubbornly attended the academy.
With an expression that looked entirely unbothered even when all the other nobles looked down on her.
The sight of her with her hair roughly tied up during every exam period, dark circles heavy beneath her eyes, filling the entire library with the stench of cheap coffee, was still vivid in his mind.
If it weren’t for Cynthia, he would have been the valedictorian throughout his three years at the academy.
Now, with that same tenacity, she was searching for her vanished dad. More fiercely than anyone else.
“Should I… have apologized?”
Surprised by the words he muttered without realizing it, Aidan looked to his left and right. It was an instinctive action, even though he knew no one was around.
An apology—the sole heir of the Winslow family making an apology? It was an absurd thought.
“Still, well. I ought to help her.”
Since he had come to realize that her father truly did exist.
“Young Master, we have arrived.”
At the coachman’s voice, he raised his head.
Outside the window, the imposing building of the Gate Research Institute was visible.
Although this place had started out in a small warehouse initially, it had now taken its place as a core building of the Empire in name and reality.
It was because this research institute was controlling the neodymium across the entire continent.
Director Stanley of the research institute, having heard of Aidan’s sudden visit, came running out frantically.
“Oh dear, it would have been wonderful if you had given us advance notice of your arrival!”
“Why? Is there something you need to hide?”
“Pardon? Th-That couldn’t be.”
Stanley shook his head violently. It would be troublesome if he were misunderstood. The reason the Gate Research Institute was able to grow this far was because of the full support of the Winslow family in its early days.
“What business brings you here today?”
“There are records I need.”
“Oh dear, if you had told me in advance, I would have found them and organized them neatly. What kind of records do you need?”
Every time he bowed, the few strands of hair remaining on his head fluttered gently in the wind.
“All data from the initial appearance of the gates to the very last gate. As well as the neodymium research records.”
“Pardon? All of the data?”
His short legs, which had been following along diligently, came to a dead stop.
“Why, is it difficult?”
“N-No! It’s just that because the amount is vast, it will take a long time…”
“It doesn’t matter, so all of it. Bring every single piece without exception.”
“Y-Yes!”
Behind the figure running off frantically, Aidan took his steps leisure.
