Chapter 145 Dream Light Following The Night Lantern
My skin recognized a vague sense of déjà vu.
Before, it felt like being carried by waves, like a jellyfish floating. But this time, my feet were firmly on the ground. In fact, it felt like I was sitting. There was a comforting stability, like leaning back in a fluffy chair.
Ah, am I in a movie theater? A big screen in front of me was showing images. I just stared at it.
When did this happen? There was no room for such questions as the images played on. What was being shown was me, surrounded by men in black suits, helping a girl.
The déjà vu slowly peeled away from my skin.
I realized this was the continuation of that dream.
'I'm sorry.'
I was restrained by the men in black and pushed into a luxury car.
From the darkness into the bright ahead, a girl in a fancy mansion's garden was half-crying and apologizing to me. Even though it had been so tense, it seemed the misunderstanding was easily cleared up.
'My name is Ourin Yuiri. This is my caretaker, Yuran.'
'I'm Yuran. Sir Atami, thank you for saving the young lady's life.'
I was invited into the girl's room in the mansion, where a stunning but expressionless maid thanked me. From there, the initial tension melted away into lighthearted conversation. Though, I was just answering a barrage of questions from Yuiri.
Living in such a mansion, she must be a sheltered girl. The questions started about me and even included what instant noodles taste like, typical for a young lady.
'Young lady, it's almost time for your hour.'
'Huh? Is it already that time?'
'Yes. I understand your feelings, but we must report to the master about you leaving the mansion without permission.'
'...Yeah, I guess so.'
Good times don't last long. From what the maid Ms. Yuran was saying, it seemed today was coming to an end.
'Mr. Shou, um, I want you to come visit again.'
Yuiri, not even trying to hide her sadness, made me nod, "Of course."
It was a casual promise I didn't think too deeply about. Still, her expression brightened up, and at that moment, I felt it was good enough.
'I'll guide you to the exit.'
So, I stepped out through the gate, waved off by my first friend, Yuiri, in this new town.
'Please take this. It totals 3 million.'
'...Huh?'
With the same blank expression as before, Ms. Yuran handed me a case made of aluminum. Three million. Even I, who had never held such a large sum, could tell it was heavy just by the sound it made──thud.
'It's a hush money. And... it's the contract fee for your promise to stay away from the young lady.'
You understand, right?
Implying it was a severance payment, Ms. Yuran didn't wait for a reply and headed back to the mansion.
I stood there, dumbfounded in front of the closed gate.
I was sure that the me standing there was thinking the same thing as the me watching this scene.
The girl's wish of 'Please come see me again' sounded like 'Help me' to me.
It wasn't just my imagination.
* * *
"────Is this the continuation of a dream?"
I murmured as I sat up. Even though I had just woken up, my eyes should still be getting used to the darkness. Maybe it was because the moon was close tonight, but the outlines of the living room were pretty clear at midnight.
"..."
As I glanced around lightly, Quollio was peacefully snoring. Despite being a nervous type, he slept deeply, so a little noise wouldn't wake him. I slipped out from under the blanket and stretched a bit.
(Maybe that damn dream woke me up halfway.)
(Seriously. What was that weird dream about?)
(Ruthless. You awake too?)
(Yup. Thanks to that, I feel sleepy but not sleepy. What a hassle.)
(Don't blame me for this, okay?)
Just like last time, it seemed Ruthless had the same dream too. But that doesn't mean I'm the one playing that film, so it's annoying to hear complaints.
"Tch. What to do..."
Even though I hadn't really slept, my eyes and head were clear. It would be hard to fall back asleep like this. I looked around aimlessly, my gaze landing on the table.
There was a single white flower. The one I sent at Sara's request. The petals in the vase glowed white under the soft moonlight.
"..."
Let's go for a walk. It's just the right thing to clear my head.
I quietly opened the door and closed it softly. Just crossing that one door made the air feel so much clearer. Summer nights are still hot in this world, but tonight, strangely enough, it felt a bit chilly.
(Midnight walks are so elegant. Haha, not very Master-like, huh?)
(Whatever, it's none ya concern.)
It's definitely not my style. But I feel like it, so there's no helping it. I must be dragged down by that dream.
I was aware of being in a strange sentimental mood. What happened to me after that dream, back then?
Thinking about the possibilities of me just standing still, I started walking into the quiet darkness.
* * *
"...Haa. I can't sleep."
A sigh, filled with annoyance, fogged up the window glass.
Sitting on the bed with her knees hugged, Shura looked up at the big moon outside. She wasn't half-awake from a dream like Hiiro. She just couldn't sleep from the start.
"..."
Her gaze shifted from the moon to a large pillow. It goes without saying whose it was. The fluffy fabric still had a slight dent, showing signs of having been laid on a few times.
"...Haa."
Once again, Shura let out a deep sigh. She also cradled her head in her hands. She couldn't sleep. Even though she had tried lying down on this bed several times, she just felt too embarrassed to stay down. It was a cycle, and she couldn't sleep.
"Why...?"
It had probably been unused for a while, and since Sara cleaned it properly, there was no lingering scent from the pillow or the bed. But that didn't mean she wasn't bothered by it, which was the tricky part, and even Shura herself couldn't understand it.
So, she felt even more ridiculous for being so restless.
"...What a mess Ash Valkyrie is in."
The only times she couldn't sleep were when she was haunted by the hatred for the raging beast and the vivid sensations from when she fought it. Yet, when she lay down on this bed, the owner's face and words floated through her mind. That alone would have been fine. But doing so made her heart ache, and she felt like crying. There was nothing Shura could do about it.
"...that idiot. Don't just touch a girl's hair without permission."
Shura still remembered the chaos in her heart caused by the Star Crown Beast's interference. He told her.'Don"t let it take over. Trust me.' Then, he reached out and gently touched her hand.
It was like a light she didn't know how to turn off. Frustration and sadness welled up inside her, so she cooled the warm glow with moonlight.
"I'm Ash Valkyrie. I don't want to be just a woman who needs protection."
She hated it. Putting everything on that back.
Trusting is fine. Relying is okay too. But she didn't want to just stare at his back. She had to stand beside him.
'So listen, Ash Valkyrie. When that time comes, you better cut me down.'
She hadn't forgotten her promise with Hiiro.
But back then, she must have sworn to herself. To make it a promise that would never be fulfilled.
That's why she felt regret. In today's battle, she couldn't do anything. On top of that, she made Hiiro turn his back on her in front of the enemy. It was nothing short of disgraceful.
"..."
Shura looked up at the moon again, wishing for strength.
Now and then.
Before they met and after.
Ironically, what she needed was the same.
"! ...Hiiro?"
At that moment, her heart jumped at the sight of reddish-brown at the edge of her vision.
Outside the closed window. A man walked through the darkness like a flickering flame, and she couldn't help but call out. Then, even though he couldn't hear her, Shura sensed Hiiro trying to turn around, and she instinctively crouched down.
"Ugh. Why am I always hiding? It just him!"
There was nothing shameful about it. Yet now, Shura feared making eye contact. She didn't know why. Feeling the frustration of her overflowing emotions, she secretly peeked outside the window.
"...where does he think he's going at this hour?"
Hiiro, tilting his head slightly, turned back and started walking into the night again. From his steady steps, it didn't seem like he was sleepy. Where on earth was he planning to go?
Surely he couldn't have plans to meet someone in the middle of the night.
"...it's probably just a walk or something."
There's no way someone would secretly meet with a rough guy like that. Bad sleep or bad dreams, it's obviously about Hiiro.
But if there was a plan to meet someone...
Once she starts thinking about it, it's human nature to keep going until she finds the answer.
"...Ugh, seriously! I got infected by that idiot!"
After worrying about this and that for nearly ten minutes, the silver-haired girl chased after Hiiro, who was already out of sight, and jumped out the window into the midnight air.
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