In Frieren as a 1000 years old Demon

At the end of the first year living in the Imperial Capital— 

Around 3 PM in Eisberg's largest jewelry store: 

Agusheed was selecting accessories displayed on the counter under the shopkeeper's flustered gaze. 

According to Furame, today marked their first wedding anniversary. 

Thus, they were to prepare gifts for each other. 

Although Agusheed found this both a waste of time and an interruption to his study of [Sage Aevish's Magic Guidebook], 

he wouldn't refuse Furame's request. 

After all, complying with her wishes and living by human customs might offer him some inspiration. 

However... 

"Choosing gifts really isn't my forte..." 

Agusheed sighed inwardly as he gazed at the hundreds of differently styled accessories on the counter. 

"If I may be so bold, Lord Agusheed..." 

Seeing Agusheed's prolonged indecision, the shopkeeper rubbed his hands together and asked: 

"If my memory serves me right, today seems to be your and Lady Furame's anniversary..." 

"Are you selecting a gift for Lady Furame?" 

Agusheed nodded, lifting his gaze to the vaguely familiar shopkeeper. 

"Yes." 

"I'm just unsure which would be more suitable... Do you have any suggestions?" 

The tall shopkeeper laughed heartily and thumped his burly chest confidently. 

"Among all accessories, the most fitting for couples is none other than the 'Mirror Lotus Blossom.'" 

As he spoke, the shopkeeper precisely picked out a necklace from hundreds of items. 

"This 'Mirror Lotus Blossom' necklace was brought back from the southern regions of the empire, crafted by its finest artisan—" 

"If it's for Lady Furame, there's no more perfect choice." 

Agusheed didn't doubt the shopkeeper's enthusiastic recommendation. 

The longer one lived, the sharper their discernment became. 

The 'Mirror Lotus Blossom' necklace was indeed as exquisite as described. 

Agusheed could appreciate its masterful craftsmanship and precious materials. 

Moreover... 

Amidst the other accessories earlier, he hadn't noticed— 

but upon closer inspection now... 

Its craftsmanship seemed identical to that of the shoes he'd once gifted Furame. 

"I'll take this. Please wrap it if possible." 

Once decided, Agusheed didn't hesitate further. 

Noting the price tag, he retrieved six Rasiel gold coins from his purse and offered them to the shopkeeper. 

Yet the shopkeeper merely handed him the elegantly packaged 'Mirror Lotus Blossom' necklace, 

never accepting the coins. 

"Did I underpay, or is the price mislabeled?" 

Agusheed asked, puzzled by the refusal. 

"Not at all—" 

The shopkeeper shook his head, gently pushing Agusheed's hand back. 

"Lord Agusheed, I cannot accept your payment." 

"Have you forgotten?" 

"You and Lady Furame once helped me tremendously. Without you, I'd likely be long dead." 

Agusheed didn't respond, 

struggling to recall— 

but nothing came to mind. 

Though the shopkeeper's face held a faint familiarity, 

Agusheed truly couldn't remember him. 

"My apologies..." 

"Though you say so, I genuinely don't recall you." 

Rather than taking offense, the shopkeeper laughed as if expecting this. 

"Still as blunt as ever, completely unchanged..." 

Remembering how Agusheed's careless words had devastated his entire caravan eight years prior, 

the shopkeeper shook his head with a resigned smile. 

He solemnly placed the necklace box in Agusheed's hands: 

"Nevertheless, I must repay you and Lady Furame." 

"Perhaps you no longer remember me." 

"But eight years ago at 'Leaub Hills,' had you not intervened, my caravan would've been slaughtered by demons." 

"So let this 'Mirror Lotus Blossom' necklace serve as belated compensation." 

"If it brings you and Lady Furame joy, nothing would please me more." 

Even after leaving the store, the shopkeeper's words echoed in Agusheed's ears. 

"Repayment... It was merely an incidental act eight years ago—I'd even forgotten—" 

"Why would he remember it till now?" 

"Unfathomable... Was I ever like this?" 

Pondering these questions, Agusheed traversed the streets. 

After being respectfully acknowledged by passersby sixteen times, 

he finally arrived at the cottage he and Furame owned in the capital. 

Observing the sunset-gilded window frames, he quietly pushed open the oak door. 

A subtle click sounded— 

This noise was intentionally created by Furame's [Door-Squeaking Magic]. 

She called it the "homecoming signal," considering it essential for atmosphere. 

Entering the living room, Agusheed detected rosemary-roasted chicken aromas from the kitchen, 

mingled with the bitterness of some magical potion. 

Clearly, Furame had returned much earlier. 

Glancing toward the kitchen, he saw her back turned, busily working at the counter. 

Her light red hair was casually pinned up with a clip made from an old magic guidebook cover. 

Unknown purple powder dusted her apron's hem. 

"Agusheed, you'll never guess what I just discovered—" 

Furame called over her shoulder without turning. 

She tapped the cast-iron pot with a short wand. 

"Didn't you say stew tastes best at precisely 62.3 degrees?" 

"I tried maintaining that temperature using [Heating Magic] and [Chilling Magic] simultaneously." 

"But over prolonged stabilization, their foundational spells began exhibiting mutual transformation tendencies!" 

"I'm calling it the [Principle of Magical Convertibility]. A few more controlled experiments should confirm it." 

"By the way, which theory number is this for me?" 

"The twenty-first." 

Though chronically forgetful, Agusheed always remembered everything about Furame with precision. 

Yet he couldn't explain why. 

Nor whether he might forget even this someday. 

When Furame finally finished her kitchen tasks, 

she removed her apron and settled slowly across from Agusheed.

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