Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 1, Episode 7: Rest

Imperial Year 1023, May 7th

Normally, they would already have entered the small country of Baum by now

However, Hiro ith theles than they had anticipated

Due to unforeseen circunificantly, and so they set up camp as the sun set

The tent in which the princess slept was noticeably larger than the others The other tents were gathered around hers, like a se

Many fires were lit in the vicinity There were groups of 4 heavy infantry the area in all directions so that they would be able to deal with monsters no matter where they came from

You could see Hiro’s white breath in the cold as he gazed up at the night sky

Liz comes out from the tent behind him

「What’s wrong? We have to get up early tory?」

Hiro shakes his head side to side

「No, I was looking at the stars」

Though, he had another reason as well…

「Do you like stars, Hiro?」

「That’s not it But I’ve never seen the it was

interesting」

「I see」

She stands close enough to hear his breathing

Hiro looked up at the sky once again in order to hide his e

Maybe it was because they were near the peak, but the air was crisp and clean, and the stars were sparkling in the night sky

It was an overwhel brilliance that almost seemed to be within arm’s reach

Though their breaths were dyed white, strangely enough, they didn’t feel the cold

「I heard this froo」

Liz’s sweet, clear, transparent voice felt nice on the ears

「When people die, they become spirits, and the souls which beco, they continue to watch over the world Whenever you’re scared, whenever you’re sad, whenever you’re lonely, look up at the sky If you do, you’ll know that you’re not alone」

「That’s nice」

「It’s a lullaby any citizen of the Empire knows」

Liz’s white teeth peek out frohs sheepishly

Then, Liz grasped Hiro’s left hand tightly

「Now, let’s go back to the tent and go to sleep before you catch a cold」

Hiro was dragged away before he even had time to be embarrassed

「W-Wait! Wait! We can’t!」

「Why not?」

「Wh-What do you ether in the same tent… 」

Yes, that was the reason he was outside

After they finished pitching the tent, Liz uttered these words: 「You sleep here too, Hiro」

After co to the conclusion that he wanted to avoid that, he came up with the plan to kill time outside and wait until she fell asleep first

But it seems that ended in vain

「Cerberus is here, too」

「Well, he is, but…」

Cerberus is already asleep in the tent

「Coet in!」

She pushed Hiro from behind, and he stumbled inside

There is a lantern hanging fro in it

It’s enough to see everything inside, so it isn’t coht aet the heart pounding

An extreround to prevent the pebbles fro them

Cerberus was camped out in the middle, and a bedcover-like blanket was prepared to his left

「It would’ve been nice if we could’ve taken a bath… Sorry if I reek of sweat」

「You know, I can’t sleep with you after all」

「Eh, do I stink that much…?」

Sniff, sniff Liz takes a whiff of her body odor with her finely shaped nose

-That’s not it… Actually, I’m the one who reeks of sweat

「You can’t really s on yourself, huh? So let’s not worry about it and just go to sleep」

「No, I’ll just sleep somewhere else… I really can’t sleep with-」

「Stop coet up early tomorrow, too!」

「Gah!」

Hiro felt an intense shock to his back and let out a gasp

In an instant, his vision when black When he opened his eyes, he was on his side

He can see Liz’s face in his peripheral

Though, there was no need for him to check with his eyes because he could feel her warmth all over his body

「Cerberus doesn’t likehim when he sleeps」

-Can you not uselike that?

「Ahh… I feel like I can fall asleep right away today…」

On the other hand, Hiro couldn’t sleep because his heart was pounding so hard

「Zzz-… Mm…」

「… She falls asleep really quickly」

-Okay, what do I do now…?

It would been nice if he could hurry and count some sheep, but all he sees are demons

He gets the feeling he’ll get evil thoughts if he looks to his side, even though he’s already in a dangerous predicament

Hiro took on demon after demon as he fell into darkness…

Nothing feels longer than the time you’re awake

Nothing feels shorter than the time you’re asleep

Even when everyone ake and putting away their tents, one

It was Hiro

「Cerberus Don’t you think he’s sleeping really soundly?」

『Woof』

「I feel bad, but I have to wake him up」

『Woof』