Chapter 841: Intermission: Kujou Hikari ~ ~ The Friendship Between the Hero and the Chivalrous Thief ~ ~ Part 2 (1/2)

During their journey, there were times when they had to stay outdoors, but of course, there were also times when they rested at inns. It was rare to find an inn with a large room that could accommodate all four of them, so they would basically have two people stay in one room.

In those cases, the basic room arrangement would usually be Hikari and Hapti sharing one room, and Laguna and Fors sharing another.

At that time, magic tools didn't exist in the Human Realm yet, and the room was only dimly lit by the pale light of a lantern. Finished writing her diary, Hikari moved her gaze.

A few distance away from her, her roommate Hapti was laying out knives and other items on the floor, checking them one by one with a serious expression on her face.

Hapti would always, just like this, clean her tools before going to bed. Regardless of whether they were used that day or not, she would check all of her tools……

After Hikari watched her for a while, Hapti put away her tools, as if she had finished cleaning them…… and took out what seemed to be cheese.

This is also basically a daily thing, as Hapti eats a little something before going to bed. She eats dried meat, fruit or whatever she can eat in one bite before going to sleep, so when she takes out some kind of food, it's a signal that she's ready to go to sleep.

Taking out a small piece of cheese, Hapti cut it into small pieces and offered a slice to Hikari. Since this was also a regular occurrence for her, Hikari accepted the cheese as usual and put it in her mouth at the same time as Hapti.

After eating the cheese, they would usually turn off the light and go to sleep…… but it was a little different that day. After finishing the cheese, Hikari didn't turn off the lights, and instead looked like she was thinking about something, which made Hapti tilt her head in wonder.

[……Hikari?]

[Hapti…… If, I'm just saying, if…… for example, errr…… I want to run away or something like that…… what would you do?]

It was difficult for Hikari herself to explain why she said such a thing. Perhaps, she may have been traveling for quite a long time and might have been exhausted.

The fact that it was currently just her and Hapti, who she knew well, may have loosened the tension in her heart a little bit, and she may have started to feel weak.

If one applies the calendar of her former world to the calendar of this world, tomorrow would exactly be Hikari's birthday, so perhaps…… she might be feeling a little homesick.

In response to the jumbled emotions dwelling within Hikari's heart, Hapti only plainly responded, without seemingly thinking about it.

[Unnn? Then, let's run away together! In that case, let's become a Chivalrous Thief Duo! Well, since Hikari's an amateur, I'll teach you everything I know!]

[……Pfft, fufu…… Ahaha.]

[Why are you laughing……]

Hikari couldn't help but laugh at her response that sounded like the most obvious thing in the world. Her response was just like Hapti after all……

In the end, she has always been the same. Like when she talked about the reason for fighting before, she said that she was accompanying Hikari on this journey to defeat the Demon Lord, and that if Hikari ran away, she would run away together with her, because there was no reason for her to stay in the party any longer……

No matter what choice Hikari makes, she can feel that Hapti…… ”will always be there with her”, and those words…… For Hikari, who has been summoned to fight in another world, those words make her feel that she isn't alone…… and they may make her inexplicably reassured and filled with happiness.

[After all, you're not a Chivalrous Thief. You're just a simple thief.]

[Ehh~~ I think I'm a Chivalrous Thief who helps the weak and crushes the strong though.]

[Ahahaha!]

[Why are you laughing that hard!?]

That's why, Hikari laughed…… as if to ”cover up the tears of joy” that welled up at the expected response.

After Hikari apologized to a slightly disgruntled Hapti and was about to go to sleep, as if she suddenly remembered something, Hapti spoke.

[……Ahh, that's right. It's a little early, but I'll give this to you now.]

[Unnn? What's this?]

[It's some kind of weirdly designed necklace sold by a street vendor.]

[……And why is it that you're giving this to me?]

What Hapti handed was, just as she said, a strange necklace…… that had a subtle design that was neither cool nor cute, and receiving it, Hikari curiously tilted her head.

[Tomorrow's Hikari's birthday, right? That's why, that's my gift!]

[……You remembered huh……]

[Of course, I remember my friends' birthdays, you know?]

Indeed, Hapti knows Hikari's birthday. Rather, cross-referencing the calendar of Hikari's world to the calendar of this world was something she had done when they had just started their journey together, and Hapti asked about Hikari's birthday at that time.

[……T- Thank you.]

[You're welcome.]

Hapti smiled somewhat happily at Hikari as she thanked her. After a  short chat, deciding to go to sleep to prepare for tomorrow, they turned off the light.

By the time she got under the covers and closed her eyes, the loneliness that Hikari had been feeling had disappeared, and her heart was only filled with a gentle warmth.

For Hikari, Hapti was the first friend she had made in this world, and a very important one of whom she trusted enough to show her weaknesses.