Chapter 221: Setting Out on a Journey

Actually, when Liyakade had asked Alice when she was going back to her hometown, Alice hadn’t answered immediately for this very reason.

She didn’t know if she should bring Liyakade back home with her.

However, after Field’s counseling, Alice was finally at ease.

The next day, she agreed on a time with Liyakade and Field to return home, preparing to set off three days later.

And today was the day they planned to depart.

“Mm, the weather is really nice today.”

Liyakade walked from the main entrance into the courtyard.

After a few days of rest, her complexion looked very good.

She gazed at the sun hanging in the sky and the bright sunlight, squinting her eyes as she stretched and let out a comfortable hum.

She had also changed out of her usual Academy uniform.

She wore a white dress with a blue ribbon tied around her waist and a large straw sun hat.

A pink bow was tied to the hat, making her look much more relaxed than usual.

“Liyakade seems to be looking forward to this trip.”

Alice followed behind Liyakade.

Seeing her excited appearance, Alice smiled sweetly, gazing dotingly at Liyakade’s back.

After Field’s advice and spending the last few days with Liyakade, Alice understood that Liyakade only acted that way because of her bloodline.

She wasn’t actually afraid of Alice.

Consequently, Alice’s mood had improved significantly.

“Of course I am.”

Liyakade held the brim of her hat and turned her head, smiling at Alice as she spoke cheerfully.

“The Slave Contract and the business with Darkness are all settled, and the Demon King’s revival is still a long way off. Of course I have to enjoy life during the time I have left.”

How could Liyakade not be happy?

How could she not be excited?

From the first day she had traveled to this world, she had faced the crisis of being controlled and used, not to mention that fated Death Ending.

After Liyakade broke the Slave Contract, she thought life would settle down, but she hadn’t expected an even greater crisis to be hidden within the Academy.

Now, the two major threats facing Liyakade had been entirely resolved.

She finally didn’t have to live her days in fear.

Naturally, Liyakade’s mood was excellent.

The survival crisis was solved, she had formed connections with the two protagonists of the Original—even developing a romantic relationship with them—and the Demon King was nothing to fear.

Wasn’t the next step to enjoy life in another world?

Liyakade intended to fully experience the local customs and culture of this world.

“You’re right. It just so happens that it seems we haven’t traveled together like this yet,” Field added, watching Liyakade’s smile.

“Besides, Alice’s parents don’t know about us yet, right? Going back to Alice’s hometown this time is the perfect chance to meet them. Don’t you think so, Alice?”

“Wh—Meet… meet the parents!”

Alice was suddenly startled.

After a pause, a faint blush appeared on her small face.

When she first invited Liyakade, she hadn’t considered that layer at all.

Being reminded by Field, Alice suddenly realized the situation.

“That… that seems to be the case!”

“Pfft… Are you a dummy, Alice? It’s like you didn’t even think of that from the start.”

Liyakade couldn’t help but giggle at Alice’s shy appearance.

She had thought Alice was planning to take her to meet the family all along, but she hadn’t expected Alice to have overlooked it entirely.

“So, what does Alice plan to do? Should we say we’re just your friends first? Or will you tell your mother about our relationship directly?”

Alice had only ever spoken about her mother and had essentially never mentioned her father.

Liyakade only mentioned telling Alice’s mother because she had played the Original before crossing over.

She knew Alice’s family situation; her father had left before Alice was old enough to remember him.

Alice’s golden hair was inherited from her father.

Whenever her mother saw Alice’s hair color, she would be reminded of her husband.

This was why Alice had been so frantic when Liyakade first arrived in this world and the Original Host was about to commit the atrocity of cutting off her hair.

Therefore, Liyakade deliberately avoided mentioning Alice’s father and only asked about her thoughts regarding her mother.

“Well…”

At the thought, Alice felt a bit troubled.

Although her mother didn’t know Liyakade was of the Demon Race, Liyakade was a girl.

Alice felt that her mother was likely a rather traditional person.

Seeing her precious daughter’s romantic partner be a girl would probably be difficult to accept.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just a romance between two girls, but a romance between three girls.

That was even more shocking.

Compared to the high-ranking Nobles who played around in private and had more open-minded views, a Commoner like Alice’s mother might be much more conservative.

Because of this, Alice wasn’t sure if her mother would accept their relationship.

“Since Alice is a little worried, we can just address each other as friends in front of your mother for now.”

When Liyakade wasn’t being affected by the Light Element, her emotional perception was very sharp.

She saw Alice’s internal struggle at a glance, so she stepped forward and lightly patted Alice’s shoulder.

“We don’t have to say it directly. We can test your mother’s attitude first. If she isn’t resistant to such things, then we’ll tell her.”

“Mm, I’ll do as you say, Liyakade.”

After hearing Liyakade’s words, Alice felt relieved.

Actually, there was nothing to worry about because Alice’s love for Liyakade was real.

The two of them truly loved each other.

Therefore, no matter what hardships they encountered, the two of them—no, the three of them—would find a way to overcome them.

Alice believed that her mother would be able to feel her pure affection and the joy of being with Liyakade.

A mother who could feel her daughter’s true feelings would surely be moved by their love.

“Alright, why think so much? We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. My old man is the King, after all,” Field said, following up on Liyakade’s words.

“Alice, weren’t you there at the time? My old man even tried to interfere, but now he’s just turning a blind eye. As long as you communicate well with your mother and convey your thoughts to each other, you’ll definitely be able to understand one another.”

“Mm…”

Hearing the comfort from Liyakade and Field by her side, Alice couldn’t help but feel a bit moved.

“Thank you. It’s so good to have you both with me.”

“Haha, there’s no need to thank us for such a small thing.”

While the three were chatting and laughing, the carriage Field had previously sent someone to retrieve drove out from the stable and stopped before them.

Two white horses pulled the compartment.

The decorations on the carriage were very luxurious, but this fancy style wasn’t exclusive to the Royal Family; it was just the kind often used by Nobles.

After all, the specific symbols and decorations of the Royal Family were too conspicuous.

Such a long journey would attract too much attention, so Field had decided to use a Noble-class carriage.

Of course, if Alice were returning home alone, Field still would have sent someone to drive a carriage to take her.

She wouldn’t let her comrade sit in a plain, ordinary carriage with common facilities.

An ordinary carriage would be bumpy the whole way; after sitting in it for a few days, one’s back and waist would surely ache.

Alice’s hometown was at the border of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Calderra was vast, and it would take about half a month to get from the Royal City to Alice’s home.

“Please, get in.”

As a Princess, Field appeared very well-bred at this moment.

She made a “please” gesture, letting Alice and Liyakade board the carriage first while she got on last.

Alice and Liyakade naturally didn’t stand on ceremony with Field.

They were so close that they had already shared the most intimate of connections; they certainly wouldn’t care about such small details.

Once all three had boarded and settled in, the driver flicked the reins, and the horses galloped out of the courtyard.

The carriage traveled slowly through the streets of the Royal City.

Before long, they were outside the city walls.

But after exiting the Royal City, they didn’t hit the road immediately.

Instead, they stopped near a group of people and horses outside the city.

There were many of them, most driving slightly more mediocre carriages piled high with goods.

A small number of people, like Liyakade and the others, drove slightly more luxurious carriages.

However, even though Field had already downgraded the level of their carriage, it was still the most luxurious one in the group.

In fact, this group was a merchant caravan heading to the border towns of the Kingdom.

It was simply too far to go directly from the Royal City to Alice’s hometown.

Although their individual strength was great and there were few things in the Kingdom that could threaten them, relying only on the three of them and a few scattered guards for a fifteen-day journey would be exhausting.

Bringing too many guards would seem too ostentatious once they reached the border towns.

Besides, they were on vacation now; there was no need to be so tense.

Returning to Alice’s hometown should be a trip for them, a fun occasion.

They certainly didn’t need a crowd of guards following them.

So, Field simply didn’t bring any extra manpower.

There were only the three of them and a driver who had signed a Slave Contract and was absolutely loyal to the Royal Family.

She then found a merchant caravan preparing to head to the border and joined them after giving them a few gold coins.

In truth, when Alice first came to the Royal City, she had also traveled with a merchant caravan.

Ordinary carriages were indeed a bit bumpy.

Liyakade expressed great approval of Field’s plan.

First of all, in the Original, Field had followed Alice back to her hometown in this exact way.

Secondly, Liyakade felt that traveling with a merchant caravan was part of an adventure in another world.

Moreover, according to Liyakade’s memory, they would encounter bandits this time.

Wouldn’t that be even more exciting?

After the carriage pulled over to the side of the road, the driver got out to talk to the Boss of the merchant caravan.

After the caravan waited outside the city walls for a while and everyone was ready, they finally officially began their journey back home.