Merle, wake up. We're about to arrive?

　Along with a soft voice, his body is shaken.

(Hmm.....)

　When I woke up, in front of me was the white beauty of Illtimina-san, beautiful as the moon.

　Oh, she's really beautiful.

　My heart warms up in my sleep and I fall in love with her for a while.

'Merle?'

　Staring at me like that, she calls me with a strange voice.

　.........Ah.

Hmm, I'm fine. I'll be up. --Good morning, Illtimina-san.

　I came to myself and hurriedly replied.

　Ms. Illtimina rolled her eyes at me, then giggled and

"Yes, good morning, Merle.

　I smiled languidly.　

　We gave each other a small laugh.　

　Then I helped her white hands help me up and slowly looked around.

　We were in a cavalcade.

　It wasn't the carriage with its seats, but rather a bunk room with a row of four bunks.

　I was sitting in one of the four bunks.

　When I looked over, I saw that Solstice was also asleep in the bunk next to me, and just now, she was being woken up by Kilt-san, just like me.

'Huh-ah,'

　It's a big omission, not unlike a beautiful girl.

(Haha....)

　Chuckling a bit, I got out of my bunk.

　The room was dark, and the lanterns on the walls swayed in time with the vibration of the dragonwheel.

　The window is black - outside, it's still night.

　As I approached the window, I pushed up the clear glass and peeked out of it.

　Bwah.

(P......

　The wind was stronger than I thought it would be, hitting my face.

　The wind that came across the darkness of the night was so cold that it made my skin bubble a little.

　I stare at the wind pressure, squinting my blue eyes.

　The night sky twinkling with stars and a meadow landscape that looks like a black sea.

　On that grassland, a roadway lined with equally spaced stone towers that emit magical light, known as the 'Stone Towers of Light', stretched endlessly. At the end of that roadway, far in the distance, the figure of a huge city wrapped in light could be seen.

(........The royal capital, Mulia!

　His heart trembled at the sight.

　It had already been more than a month since they left Astilio, the capital of the Arun Divine Empire, the divine imperial capital, and more than a month had already passed.

　We disembarked from the airship at a city near the border, and from there, we crossed the border fort and traveled by dragon carriage for nearly two weeks on the roads inside Shumuria.

　And finally, we finally arrived at the royal capital of the Kingdom of Shumuria, Mulia.

　Grrrr.

　I suddenly felt a weight on my back.

　Ms. Illtimina leans against me and together we look out the window.

　A white hand holds her beautiful dark green hair, which is ruffled by the wind.

'....Finally, you're home, aren't you?

　An emotional voice.

　Its crimson eyes narrowed nostalgically, reflecting the city of light in the distance.

'Yes.'

　I nodded my head in agreement.

　About five months have passed since we left before, and we have returned to the royal capital of Mulia again.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　As the city walls approached, I saw a long line of carriages and dragon carts that must have come from all over Shumuria, even though it was nighttime.

(Ugh, I miss it.)

　It's a traffic jam, a specialty of King's Landing.

　A large cargo carriage, a small dragon carriage that seems to be able to carry two people, and other vehicles of all kinds and sizes are stopping with lights on along the streets.

　We thought we were going to be in line for the tail end of them, but

　rattle

　With the sound of the wheels echoing, we moved forward, sideways through that line of traffic.

(Huh?)

This is a unit that works for the King of Shumuria, remember?

　Noticing my expression, Kilt-san tells me with a wry smile.

　I see.

　If you think about it, we were sent to the Arun God's Empire in the form of a request from Princess Reclear. It's a slightly different position from that of an ordinary adventurer accepting a request, and I've come to realize now that I'm in a different position.

(But I'm sorry about that...)

　That's how I felt about people standing in line at midnight.

　And so our cavalry car moved forward.

　Eventually, at the filling station built into the city walls, Shumurian knights, who are also gosha, took care of the formalities, and we were able to enter the royal capital, Mulia, safely and in not much time.

　A rumble.

　The vibrations and sounds created by the wheels and the road echo inside the car.

　From the window, I can see the night view of the royal capital, Mulia.

　It's night, so the impression is a little different, but the familiar scenery and streets feel very nostalgic, even though it's only been five months.

　I continued on the main street for a while.

　Ahead of me, I saw a large square and a huge statue of the goddess Shrean towering over it.

　Behind the statue was the Shumurian Cathedral.

　And further back, a long flight of stairs led to the illuminated splendor of the Holy Shumurian Royal Castle, built on a vast lake.

(Beautiful....)

　The beauty and majesty of the place is still the same after five months.

As expected, we can't visit it in the middle of the night.

　Looking at the royal castle, Kirt-san muttered and changed the path of the dragon car after consulting with His Highness, Shumurian Knight, and changed the course of the dragon car.

　Goto.

　The dragon car proceeded down the street along the lake.

　After about fifteen minutes, the cavalcade came to a stop.

　It was in front of a chalk tower-like building built on a site facing the lake.

　Adventurer's Guild, Moonlight Wind.

　It was the headquarters of the organization we belonged to as adventurers, and it was a place like my parents' home where Kirt-san lived in his own room.

''You're.......back.

　Solstice muttered as she looked out the window.

　Iltimina and Kilt also stared out the window for a while.

'Alright, everyone, let's get your stuff together.

　At the sound of Kilt's voice, we gear up and tuck our bags into our backpacks.

　We put them on and finish getting ready to disembark.

'You two haven't forgotten anything, have you?
Yes.
I'll be fine.

　The younger group, me and Solstice, nodded at Iltimina-san's question.

　In case you're wondering, Kilt-san was inspecting every inch of the dragon car to make sure we didn't forget anything, but he was like a leading teacher.

'Alright, let's go.'

　And so we went down the dragon car.

　We open the door and go down the guest room, where three Shumurian knights, who are also Gosha, are waiting for us.

　They salute us.

''Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your great service, and thank you for all your hard work.

　A resolute voice.

　Mr. Kilt nodded and held out his right hand to them.

'You've done me a lot of good.

　He smiled that way, showing his white teeth.

　Then, we exchanged a firm handshake with each of them.

　Following that, we, too, shook hands with the three Shumurian knights.

''Thank you so much for the entire trip.

　I put my head down.

　They laugh.

'I'll give you the honor of traveling with Jingu-den and helping you on that journey, even if only in a small way, to the last generation.
Good luck, Mister Merle.
If we get a chance to do it again, we'll be together.

　Their smiles were dazzling.

　They were smiles filled with all sorts of emotions: a sense of accomplishment at the end of their mission journey, and a sense of sadness at the thought of saying goodbye.

　The hard palms of their joined hands.

　There is a sword dacoit there, made from daily training.
　It was a hand that I could feel their lives cultivated honestly and diligently.

　Iltimina-san and Solstice's sisters also shook hands firmly with the three of them, exchanging goodbyes and thanks.

(You guys, too, thank you.)

　I also called out in my mind to the two dragons that had been pulling my dragon car all the way through the journey to today.

　Two huge four-legged dragons.

　Those sturdy behemoths, however, didn't seem to care about the emotions of humans, and they just looked up at the moonlit night above them with their vertical pupils faintly dilated.

　Gata Goto.

　Soon, the big cavalcade begins to move out of our way.

'Goodbye,'

　I waved widely.

　The Shumurian knights also leaned out from their seats to the side and waved back.

　However, the figure illuminated by the streetlights became distant and eventually disappeared as if lost in the darkness.

''.........''
..........
..........
..........

　We looked away until it was completely out of sight.

　Pan, pan, pan.

　Suddenly, Kilt-san's hand tapped me and Solstice on the shoulder.

''Alright, then, is it time for us to return to our guild?

　He smiles at me and says so.

'Yes.'
Yeah.

　We smiled and nodded our heads.

　Illtimina-san watched the three of us with gentle eyes.

　The four of us, who have finished our long journey, exchange smiles as we enter the chalk building illuminated by the night moon.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


Oh, welcome back, Mr. Kilt!

　The voice of the nostalgic red-haired beastman, Guild staff member Qualina Fasse, echoed loudly in the building.

　There were still about a dozen or so adventurers in the large entrance of the guild's first floor, although the number of people was small since it was late at night.

　Then Qualina-san, who happened to be in charge of the front reception desk, spotted the four of us coming in through the entrance before anyone else.

We're home, Koo.

　Kilt-san, the most adventurous person in this guild, smiling with her white teeth.

　Quarina-san runs down to us, her glossy red ponytail swinging. She was dragging her right leg lightly from the aftereffects of an injury she sustained when she was an adventurer, but her face was all smiles.

''Kirt-san, I'm glad you're safe again this time.

　sizzling sound

　Ms. Qualina shook hands with Mr. Kilt.

　Then she looks at us.

Welcome back, Miss Irna, Sol.

　I shook hands with my sisters as well.

　Finally, they look at me.

Merle, welcome back!　

(Really?)

　I smiled and shook hands with Quorina-san, who congratulated us on our reunion like that, and I smiled and shook her hand, saying "I'm back" too.

　And if we stood out like that, naturally, the other adventurers would notice us - especially Kirto Amandes, the Golden Mark demon hunter, and

Hey, aren't you the devil's girl?
Welcome back.
I heard you were going to Arun this time?　That's tough.
Wow, you're a long way from home.
Good job, Mr. Kilt.

　In no time at all, we were surrounded by other adventurers.

(Whoops!)

　I don't know you, Mr. Adventurer, but for some reason, even I get a casual pat on the head just because I'm Kirt's partymate.

　Itata.
　It's fine to stroke him, but I wish he'd be gentler.

　Incidentally, everyone knows that we had traveled to the Arun Divine Empire at the request of the Shumurian royal family.

　However, the existence of the 'Child of Darkness' is not made public.

　In order to hide it, our official request was to go to the neighboring Arun Divine Empire to pass on information about the great demonic beast that the late Golden Seal Demon Hunter, Eldorado Rogue, the Lion of Blazing Fire, had defeated in a counterattack, which was our official request.

　And it is also said that Kirto Amandes and his team, along with Arun's army, had defeated the great monster that had appeared in the Cocudo area.

(You're mixing the truth into a lie, and hiding the 'Child of Darkness' related things very well.)

　The adult world is a tough one.

　I guess I'm one of the parties involved myself, but it was pretty easy, because the quilts do all the hard stuff, like covering up and stuff, so it was pretty easy.
　Well, I'm a little sorry, but....

　When I looked over, Illtimina-san and Solstice's sisters had somehow separated themselves from Kilt-san and casually escaped the rough welcome.

(Sah, that's great.)

　We've both known Mr. Kilt for a long time, so he's used to this kind of thing.

　I'm already caught up in it, and I'm stuck in a circle of people.

　Ugh.........
　I'm being stroked all over the place, my hair is crumpled up, I'm getting banged up on my shoulders, back and arms, and all sorts of other things.

　As I'm being rubbed by the rough and tumble of welcome, Mr. Kilt shouts out.

'I'm sorry, guys!　I'm glad you're here to greet me, but let me go ahead and complete my request.

　His voice made them all huff and puff.

　As the same adventurers, we all know the importance of the procedure for completing a request.　

''Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Kilt. Then come over here.

　Qualina apologizes and heads to the reception counter a step ahead of me.

　Good grief.

'Are you okay, Merle?'
Uh-huh.

　With Mr. Quilt pushing us back, we start walking through the crowd to the reception counter.

　The next thing we know, our sisters have returned to our side.

'I'm sorry, Merle. We left you behind.

　Illtimina apologizes in a small voice.

　I chuckle.

　Solstice cowers her shoulders.

You don't have to apologize. Wasn't this a good experience?　When you're with the quilt, all this hassle comes with you.

　Looking at my sodden form, she smiled very pleasantly.

　Ku.........Convinced.

　The popular "Golden Seal Demon Hunter" chuckles a small smile at the three of us and starts the procedure at the counter.

　I hold my hand over the magic ball, the golden adventurer's seal shines on the back of my hand as I verbally enter the completion of my request.

　After that, I sign a number of documents prepared by Qualina-san.

(Looks hard as always...)

　Even though all I have to do is fill in my name, repeating nearly ten pages just seems like a bit of a chore.

'Phew.'

　Eventually, he filled everything out and Mr. Quilts plucked at his wrist.

　Ms. Quarina checks one sheet, one by one.

'Yes, it's all right. The process is now complete. Thank you so much for your hard work, Mr. Kilt, Irna, Sol and Marle!

　She lays down her beast ears and laughs softly.

　We smiled back, too, and we were finally feeling comfortable - and then

Kilt-chan.........

　We heard an impressed voice and we looked up above us.

　At the top of the spiral staircase near the reception counter stood a beautiful beastie dressed in all white.

　Kilt-san said, "Oh? I muttered.

　Mumpa Vina-san.

　She's the guild leader of this adventurer's guild, Moonlight Wind, and the sister who is also Kirt's childhood friend.

　Of course, she knows the whole truth about our journey this time.

Hey, Mumpa. We're back.

　Mr. Kilt raises one hand and calls out to her comfortably.

　Mr. Mumpa gasps.

　Then, with his dress-like costume and long, fluffy tail fluttering, he suddenly leaps over the railing of the spiral staircase.

(!)

　Everyone is surprised.

　Even Kilt-san is surprised, panicked, and catches her firmly as she falls.

　Gasp.

Hey, hey, Mumpa?
..........

　When his friend didn't move even though he held her in his arms, Mr. Kilt let out a sound of confusion.

　Geez.

　Mumpa's arms were tightly wrapped around Kilt's neck.

　As if to make sure it was safe.

　To make sure that its existence was not a dream.

(...Mumpa-san.)

　Noticing his friend's trembling body, Mr. Kilt laughed in annoyance and patted his pure white, wavy hair gently with a pat on the back.

'I'm home, Mumpa,'
Yeah ... welcome back, Kilt.

　Mumpa finally smiled, brushing away the tears around her eyes with her fingers.

　Oh, I see.

　She's the only one who knows how dangerous our journey was.



　Sometimes it's more painful to just wait in a remote location than to actually be there, I thought even more so when I saw Mumpa-san now.

　Some of the assembled adventurers were surprised, but I was strangely convinced.

(Good for you, Kilt.)

　I was a little envious that I had a friend who was so concerned about me.

　Noticing my gaze, Kilto-san, while holding Mumpa-san, showed a slightly embarrassed face just to me--.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　After that, we moved to the guild leader's office on the top floor, where we were aware of our surroundings.

　An artificial circular island was built in the center of a waterway with plants planted and flowing waterways.

　The four of us sat on the island and sat on the visitor's sofa.

　Since it was late at night, there was no secretary, and the tea that Mumpa had made for us was laid out on the table in front of us.

I'm sorry I'm so distracted.

　The all-white beastman put his hand on his faintly reddened cheek and grinned shyly.

　Mr. Kilt chuckled, "Not at all," and we laughed a small laugh.

　Eventually, Mumpa-san took a seat across from us, and we all brought our cups of tea to our mouths.

(Hmm ... delicious.)

　I felt that the refreshing sweetness and savory flavor would soothe my body and mind after a long journey.

　Katja.

　I put the cup back in the saucer and Mumpa's red eyes stare at us.

'With the pterodactyl flight, the information on Arun reached me down there. Thank you all so much for your hard work.

　A hearty exertion.

　We smile, and then Mr. Kilt asks.

'Did nothing happen on the Shumurian side?'
Yeah.

　Mr. Mumpa nodded.

''There's nothing in particular that has happened that could be related to the Children of Darkness. After the incident in the Cocudo area, the Shumurian royal family sent the 'Dragon Horsemen' to the 'Sealed Land' within Shumuria, but so far, there is no indication that anything has happened.
"Hmm.
I've been trying to get some background information on the case.
Nothing?
Yeah.

　She nodded, then put a finger to her cheek and nodded her head.

'I just wonder if it's possible that the favelas of Mulia have been noisy lately.

(Is the favela noisy?)

　I get a scowl.

　Kilt-san and Illtimina-san also have a strange look on their faces.

'What's that?'
'It's been four or five days, but I don't know the details yet. I'm gathering information.

　When I say favelas, I mean the orphanage nearby where Asbel, Luta and the other adventurers I know grew up.

(Is everyone okay?)

　I remember the faces of the children in the orphanage and I'm a little worried about them.

'But I don't think that has anything to do with the Children of Darkness,'

　Mr. Mumpa added.

　Mr. Kilt stroked his hand down his shapely chin and nodded, "Hmm, I see.

Sounds about right from me.
Hmm.
Now, it's your turn to get your quilts.　I'm aware of what's going on, but I'd like to hear the details of what happened from the quilts.

　Smiling, Mumpa leans forward.

　Even his large, drooping ears are faintly lifted, as if he didn't want to miss a beat.

　Mr. Kilts chuckles and tries to nod, but just before he does, he suddenly looks like he's realized something.

　His beautiful face turned toward the three of us.

(?)

Hmm. It's going to take a while to explain. Would you like to rest first?
What?

　We were surprised, and Mumpa said, "Yes," he said, "It's already dated.

It's already dated. Marle and Solstice are just kids, and I think it would be better if they did.

　That being said.

(Sure, I'm tired from a long trip, and I should be.)

　I thought.

　Looking at the faces of the other two, the sisters agreed.

'Shall I take you at your word?'
Yes.
Yeah.

　We nodded at Iltimina's confirmation.

　Mr. Kilt laughed and

Then you can stay in the straw room tonight. Suit yourself.

　Her room was rented in perpetuity to this guild's accommodations.

　We nodded 'yes' and stood up.

'Yes, yes. The report to Princess Reclear will be made tomorrow afternoon, so don't forget that, everyone.

　Mr. Mumpa tells us as he recalls.

(Tomorrow afternoon?)

　Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.

"Let's go then, Merle, Sol.
Yes.
Yes?

　Prompted by a smiling Illtimina, we walked out to the short bridge leading from the artificial floating island.
　We headed straight for the doorway of the room.

'Good night, guys,'

　Mumpa's soft voice was on my back.

　I turned around and waved, and she waved back with a gentle smile, too.　

　Katya.

　He opened the door and walked out of the room.

　In the room that I could see just before it closed, I saw two of my childhood friends talking to each other with a look of mutual acceptance.

''-- actually, in Arun, in Naruda.
'Well!　To that red devil, Naru?

　Mr. Quilt seems to be enjoying himself.

　Mr. Mumpa, surprised and laughing.

(............)

　The appearance of the two of them warms my heart somewhat, and I close the door of the room quietly--.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The accommodation on the third floor of the Adventurer's Guild, Gekko no Kaze - at the far end of it, there was a room rented by Kilt-san.

　Gacha.

I'm home.

　What a surprise, Solstice is the first to enter the room, unlocking the door.

(Oh, I miss it.)

　It's like a luxury hotel suite.

　There are so many rooms that you wouldn't think it's necessary to live alone, and the furniture and sleeping quarters are all magnificent.

　And perhaps the guild staff had cleaned the room while they were away, but there wasn't a single piece of dust in the room, including those pieces of furniture.

　Poi-poi.

　On such a carpet, Solstice throws her bags away and dives into her bunk.

　Poof.

'Oh, it's the fluffiest bed I've had in ages. I'm so happy!

　She sinks her face into the futon, wrinkling the white sheets that were taut with pins and wrinkles, a look of bliss on her face.

　My sister scolds me in a dumbfounded voice.

'Hey, Sol. That's disrespectful.'
It's okay. It's okay.
No. With your clothes that dirty, at least take off your jacket.

　I can pick it up with a hitch.

"Tsk~

　Solstice-san takes off her jacket while being lifted up in the air with a pouting lip.

(Haha....)

　Laughing, I unloaded my own stuff into the corner of the room and took off my jacket too.

　Click, click.

　They also take off their swords, armor, and other equipment.

(........................Armor, it's tattered.

　The chest of the armor was cracked and punctured by a crack and hole in the chest of the armor after being beaten by the 'rock-man woman' during the battle in the Cocudo area.

　A pretty good piece of equipment.
　I think it's going to be expensive to repair.

(Well, it's not worth the cost of my life, though.)

　So I convince myself.

'Oh my god, Sol...'

　I suddenly hear Illtimina's sigh and turn around.

(Ugh?)

　Solstice, in the middle of taking off in the air, to my surprise, had fallen asleep.

　Did the relief of reaching a safe place cause the tense thread to break?

　Iltimina chuckled, and once again, she put her sister down on the bed and removed her undressed jacket and shoes.

''Unnu~''

　Even though he is made to turn over in his sleep from side to side with a rumble, there is no sign of him waking up.

　She looks so happy in her sleep.

　Looking at it, rather than being angry or dumbfounded, I felt somehow smiling.

　I don't know if it was the same for Illtimina-san, but when our eyes met, we laughed together.

'Is Marle sleepy too?'
Yes.

　I have to admit, looking at Solstice made me jealous.

　Miss Illtimina nodded.

Well, since you've come all this way, let's take a bath before you go to bed to get rid of the fatigue of your long journey. You'll feel better the next day.

　He smiled so serenely.

(Yeah, maybe that's better.)

　I thought that honestly, and I easily nodded to Illtimina-san's proposal.

　.............
　.............
　..............

'Marle, do you have an itch?'
Yeah, I'm fine.

　Why is that?

　For some reason, Illtimina is in the bathroom filled with white steam, along with a naked me.

　Kush, Kush.

　She's at my back, washing my hair.

　Her thin, white fingers comb my brown hair and gently rub my scalp.

(Ki, it feels good, but...)

　I'm so nervous, my body is ticking over.

　I finish washing my hair, and finally, they pour hot water over my head. I close my eyes and wait for the bubbles to fall off.

'Hmmm, don't be so hard, please?

　She whispered sweetly in my ear.

　As she did so, her body came close, and her two large elasticities lightly popped against my back.

(Shh!)

　I was so embarrassed that I couldn't open my eyes for a while.

　Eventually, she turned her back to me and I was allowed to help her wash her long hair. It was still a strange hair that didn't get caught and felt good through my fingers and made me want to touch it all the time.

''Oh Marle has a great way of stroking your hair,''
Oh, yeah?

　I was so excited by the sound of your pleasant voice.

　Then, after I cleaned my body, we went into the bathtub together.

　As expected, it's embarrassing to face each other head-on, so we stand side by side and soak in the tub. Still, my heart is like an early bell, and it doesn't quiet down.

　Right next to me, within touching distance of each other's arms, is a naked Ms. Illtimina.

　Her skin is a white pearl.

　Her hair is a dark green bun, shining wet and glossy.

　Two lushly-fruited breasts float to the surface of the water, and the line from the white nape of her neck to her shoulders is glamorous.

　The fact that the tall, fleshy beauty is right there.

(I feel like I'm going to get upset in a different way...)

　I'm spinning my wheels.

'It's not easy for us to bathe alone like this during our travels. From now on, while we're in King's Landing, we should bathe together, right?

　It was such a fascinating proposition.

(Oh, the whole time I'm in King's Landing!)

　I was surprised, but Marle's boyish heart honestly nodded first, ".......uh, yeah.
　Ah, ah.........

　For a while, silence falls on the bathtub.

　Pichon.

　The sound of water droplets bouncing on the surface of the water.

　Suddenly, Iltimina spilled the words out, as if whispering.

'Do you think I'm a trifling woman?'
...What?
''........But I wanted to use all the hands I could to make sure that two years from now, when I was an adult, Marle would choose me properly, until then.

　Her voice was a little shaky.

　I couldn't help but look at her profile.

　Although I hadn't noticed it until now because it was all about me, Illtimina-san's white beauty had turned red to her ears like a boiled octopus.

(..........Ah....)

　I finally realized that Mr. Illtimina had been serving me with a great deal of shame.

　It was different than when she had treated me like a child.

　Today, she saw me as a man and then took a bath with me.

　I was happy about that.

　I was proud of him.

　And I loved you more than anything else, Iltimina, for being devoted to me like that.

(...........)

　In the bathtub, I took her hand in mine.

　Geez.

'Oh....'
..........

　A small murmur escaped my cherry-red lips.

　As it is, we remain silent and spend some time in the warm water, wrapped in the warmth of the bath for a while, and spend some sweet heart time.

　Eventually, we get out of the bath.

　We changed into our night clothes and headed for the bedroom.

'....Merle.
Yes.

　Iltimina, lying on the bed, lifted the blanket with one hand and invited me to join her.　

　I obediently lay down in that empty space.

　Phew!

　Her arms gently wrapped around me, along with the blanket.

"..........
..........

　It was a different place to sleep with them than during the trip, a place where I felt really safe.

　There was nothing else to worry about.

　It's just a time to relax and feel each other's presence.

　Tut.

　Iltimina, holding me from my back, kissed me lightly on the ear.

　A little prank.

　Even so, a shiver ran down my spine.

　Ahhhhh my heart fluttered, I don't think I'll be able to sleep well tonight.

　Maybe the same is true for Illtimina-san.

　And that's when it hit me.

Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!　Munchies, munchies.
..........
..........

　Suddenly, from the bed next to me, a girl sleeps.

　The timing was so good that me and Illtimina-san stopped moving in a flash.

　After about 10 seconds, we both lose strength.

''Hmph ... let's go to sleep now, shall we?
Yes.

　In the darkened room, we secretly laugh at each other.

'Good night, Miss Illtimina.'

　I say.

'Good night, my little Merle.'

　Her voice responded sweetly.

　I slowly close my eyelids, basking in the comfort of it.

　In the warm darkness, our bodies touching each other make us feel each other's presence.

　That sense of security.

　We let out a deep breath.

　Our hearts were burning, but the fatigue of the long journey seemed to exceed it, and our consciousness slowly melted into the dream world.