WITH permission from the innkeeper, the Hero Party rented a separate room for each party member, giving everyone their own space for one night.
Aki had changed into the long nightgown she borrowed from Mina and was absently staring up at the wood ceiling from the bed next to the wall.
Elias had returned to his senses, putting their group back on course, Sutcliff of the Shadow Tribe had joined their party, and now they were ready to finally head to the Dark Lord’s Castle. Surely Nako, who had disappeared in Aki’s absence, and Dark Lord Kerdes would be waiting for them.
Aki hoped, and suspected, this meeting with the Dark Lord was going to be full of answers about the Goddess powers she and Nako unknowingly harbored, along with the truths hidden in the Book of Creation. She had a hunch once she understood the origins of this world, all the riddles and mysteries would string together in a coherent picture.
Once everything was clear and they did what they had to…would Aki return to her original world with Nako? Would she just go back to her everyday life as if nothing happened?
Back to being a boring old office worker with nothing interesting going on? Was that what she wanted?
Will I never be able to see everyone…see Elias, again? I mean, I won’t have a reason to be in this world once my duty as the Hero’s Right-hand ends.
The thought gnawed at her. She rested her head on the lumpy pillow and stared at a stain on the ceiling to escape reality. It didn’t work.
Will I be forced apart from everyone I care about? I won’t get another chance to be with them? Aki covered her face with her hands. I don’t…I don’t want that to happen! I wish this journey would continue forever. It doesn’t have to end.
She shook her head from side to side, her cheeks smacking the pillow. Those were dangerous thoughts. She rolled off the bed onto her feet.
Being alone at night depressed her. Getting into a fight with Elias and battling off monsters had fatigued her physically and mentally.
“…I need some fresh air.”
Seeking calm, Aki’s feet carried her to the window where gentle moonlight shined in.
When she opened the cozy, floral curtains, the dark sea and the inky night sky dotted with glittering stars spread across the horizon. The window exited onto a balcony with a handrail.
Enjoying the night breeze might help cheer me up.
Mind made up, she unbolted the latch, slid open the double window, and stepped out under the night sky. Her ears were immediately greeted by the sound of lapping waves. The sea breeze tousled her hair and brought the smell of salt to tickle her nose.
“So nice…”
Captivated by the peaceful night view, she stretched her arms overhead and walked up to the railing. She placed her hands on it and leaned forward. Orange lights glittered in the direction of the city square. They seemed to be holding some kind of night market.
She had seen hundreds of stalls lining the central square in the afternoon, so the area seemed lively night or day. When she thought of how they protected the locals’ everyday life, she was glad she stuck it out and fought off the monsters.
Granted, it wasn’t her efforts alone, but that of the group that made it possible. Elias slew the dragon, Leo wiped out the monsters with a fireworks display of magic, and Johann repaired the barrier.
They are all so amazing. When will I become as strong as them?
Things might be very different if she did a better job of drawing on the Lunar Goddess’s powers. She rested her chin on her hand on top of the railing and sighed.
“Can’t sleep, Aki?” a familiar voice asked from above.
Startled, she craned her neck back. She spotted Elias’s face on top of the roof. “E-Elias? What are you doing up there?”
“Hi,” he greeted, waving down at her. Against the moonlight, his blond hair looked silver. His lips quirked into a playful smile. “Good evening.”
“G-Good evening—don’t dodge my question!” Aki pounded on the railing. “Why are you there? It’s dangerous! Come down here! Sheesh.” She pouted.
“It’s not dangerous for me,” he said, stating the obvious.
“M-Maybe not, but it makes me anxious seeing you up there. Get down! Right now!”
He always does things his way, Aki thought, cradling her head in her hand. She slapped the top of the railing several times to urge him down.
Laughing, he slipped down from the rooftop and onto Aki’s balcony with catlike reflexes.
He’s more agile than a cat. I wish I had one percent of his agility.
He was dressed casually with his top shirt button undone, while Aki was dressed for bed in Mina’s white cotton nightgown. Meeting under the stars at this hour, in these clothes, sent her heart rollicking.
Her eyes traveled from his moonlit profile to his slightly exposed chest, and she quickly looked away before her eyes lingered too long.
Calm down. Calm down… I mean, why does Elias have so much more sex appeal than I do? Aki’s shoulders slumped.
Elias leaned against the railing and pushed the bangs off his handsome face. “…I just couldn’t fall asleep after everything that happened today. So I decided to get some air first.” He flashed her the smile of a prankster who found someone to tease.
Oh? Am I the only one whose heart is pounding over our nighttime rendezvous? Displeased by that possibility, Aki narrowed her eyes on him and shot back a terse response.
“Heh. Are you so pent up you have to climb onto the roof to get some air? You never cease to amaze me,” she huffed, placing a hand on her hip.
Elias let out a deep, rumbling laugh. “Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t trying to scare you. I thought I could see more stars from the roof, and most of all, I was trying to see if you might come out onto the balcony.”
“Why…?” She tilted her head.
He scratched his cheek as he usually did when it was awkward. “…Because I wanted to apologize to you properly. I said some really horrible stuff to you during the afternoon.”
True enough, their breakup made her so sad she cried her eyes out. But they already made up, and she felt the fight actually made them grow closer than before, so it didn’t bother her anymore.
Wanting to make sure he understood, Aki looked into his eyes and lightly shook her head. “It’s okay. I’m over it. Besides, I feel like I’m the one who needs to apologize. This whole ordeal started because I couldn’t protect myself and failed to support you as your girlfriend and your secretary. You haven’t done anything wrong, Elias.” She gave him a half-smile and shrugged. Returning his gaze, she inhaled and bowed. “I’m sorry as well. I admit started to think you had come to hate me though.” She straightened up and smiled bashfully. “So thank you for coming back to me! I love you, Eli—”
Before she could finish, Elias grabbed her arm and pulled her against his broad chest. Her face collided with his pecks, and she blinked several times trying to figure out what happened as his arms wrapped around her back.
“Whoa! Um, Elias?”
“…Me too,” he whispered in her ear, holding Aki so tight to him he was sure she wouldn’t get away. “I also thought that you…had come to hate me. I was scared to death of that. After all, I said and did things deserving of your hatred.”
“Elias…”
His shoulders trembled, and Aki put her hands around his back, returning his embrace.