They returned to the inn before the sun completely set.
I could see happy expressions on their faces, and I couldn't guess what exactly they had just done.
It also wasn't something important, so I didn't need to be too curious about it.
——
The night had grown even later, and there was only silence in this room.
Hime and Yuu-chan were already fast asleep, while I was still awake.
Hah… why do I often have trouble sleeping like this? I don't even know how many times this has happened to me.
Honestly, it bothers me a little, because my sleeping time gets reduced, and then the next day I end up feeling sleepy.
Maybe… I'll go out for a moment— Geh.
I was slightly surprised because Hime, who had been asleep, was now sitting up on the bed.
"Hime… why are you still awake?" I asked quietly, so I wouldn't wake up Yuu-chan.
"E-ehm…" instead of answering my question, she stretched her arms a little first.
"What about you…" Hime asked in a voice as soft as mine.
"I just don't feel like sleeping yet," I replied.
Well, I didn't have any other excuse to give her.
Hime got up from the bed and began fixing her slightly messy hair and clothes.
I have a bad feeling… it seems like I'll be alone with Hime again for the umpteenth time.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
Hime began putting on her usual purple clothes, and reflexively, I immediately averted my gaze.
W-what is she thinking?! She's changing clothes in front of me, a guy? Does she not feel embarrassed when I'm here?
I peeked a little to see whether Hime had finished putting on her clothes or not.
"Don't peek…" Hime said while covering her body with the clothes she hadn't put on yet.
I quickly turned my face away again. Huh…
"I'm done," Hime said.
I turned to her again, and this time she was already wearing her usual purple clothes.
"So, why did you suddenly put that outfit on again? Don't tell me you're going out," I said.
She wouldn't wear that outfit again unless she had something she wanted to do.
And the only possibility that crossed my mind was that she wanted to go out tonight.
"You figured it out? Good, come with me," she said.
"Hah?" I asked in confusion.
——
The night air was of course cold, and I hoped it wouldn't rain.
The streets of the city were no longer as crowded as earlier this afternoon; only the lamps along the road made the atmosphere slightly brighter.
Houses and shops had closed their doors, and there were only a few lights from windows.
Most people were asleep at this hour, and those lights came from people who still had business this late.
There were shops still open at this hour—what else but cafés and places to drink sake and wine.
Shops like that usually weren't open all day, serving various kinds of customers who wanted to enjoy their time there.
I was the same as them, having business at this late hour: following Hime's footsteps.
"Where are we going? And why did you suddenly drag me out?" I asked.
There was no way I'd let Hime go out this late at night; it was dangerous for her.
I didn't know whether there were people targeting Hime out here or not, so I had no choice but to follow her.
Even though I had intended to lie down and fall asleep without realizing it, Hime ended up being the one who woke up.
"You'll see later," Hime said.
—
We kept walking, passing through many streets toward a certain place.
And finally, Hime stopped in front of a very old-looking tower.
This tower was located on the outskirts of town, and no houses were built near it.
There were only wild grasses growing all around the tower area.
The atmosphere here was of course very cold and dark, with only a small light in the room at the top of the tower.
"Let's go in," she said.
I followed her inside, and I was a bit surprised because there was no door at the entrance.
This allowed anyone to enter the tower.
There were no rooms upon entering; there was only a staircase spiraling upward following the shape of the tower, leading to the highest point.
I didn't know how tall it was, but it felt tall enough to make me quite exhausted.
——
Clank, clank.
That sound echoed when our feet stood on the stairs; it felt like the stairs were made of metal.
Because of that, when we stepped on them, we could hear the sound of metal ringing.
Even so, I felt safe enough while climbing the stairs.
This metal still seemed very solid, because I didn't feel the stairs shaking, even though they were built in a spiral like this.
The walls of the tower were also made of arranged bricks without any cement coating.
Once we reached the top, I was immediately slapped by a strong gust of wind.
At the top of this tower, there was a small place, and it had no walls around it.
There were only small pillars installed as the foundation so the room was open around the edges.
It was like the top of a lighthouse, except without any windows.
Because of that, when standing here, I could feel the wind blowing due to the height.
From here, I could also see the city of Necvalion with small lights shining from the windows of houses.
This view looked so beautiful and made me feel at ease; this was my first time being in a place like this.
"Yukito-san, what do you think about this place? When I was little, I often came here to see Necvalion from above," Hime said.
"…Then, why did you bring me here this time?" I asked.
"For some reason, I wanted to come here before traveling to many other places to defeat the Abyss, and I wanted to do it with you," she answered.
"That's it?" I asked again.
Hime nodded, and she looked at the city with a relieved expression.
I approached her, and she leaned my hand on the railing beside her.
"Yukito-san, are you really sure you want to come with us? Even though only Yuu-chan and I were chosen, why did you still want to join us?" Hime asked.
"I know the three of us have been together and formed a party, but most people would be terrified when facing the Abyss' forces."
"Especially since you don't have strong skills or magic abilities, but I still know that you can become strong in your own way, and that's why I trust you," she continued.
"But you don't need to force yourself if you actually don't want to come with us," she said again.
…I didn't know why she suddenly asked about that again.
Even though back then, the three of us had already been certain that our party would go around the entire continent and defeat all the remaining Abyss forces.
"Hime, are you having a fever? Why are you suddenly worried about that again…" I replied.
"The point is, the three of us are a party and we already trust each other, right? So you don't need to worry about it. You yourself said that you two trust me, right?" I asked.
She looked at me with a gaze filled with various emotions, then smiled.
"Well, I guess I really am a bit feverish, thinking about something like this again," she said.
For some reason, seeing Hime like this in front of me made me want to do something to her.
Plak.
I placed my hand on Hime's head, and I could feel the texture of her hair directly.
Hime's face immediately showed surprise, confused by what I did.
"Ah, I didn't mean to—" I said.
I quickly pulled my hand away from her head; maybe she felt annoyed because I suddenly touched her.
Seeing her like this made me want to pat her head, but I ended up just touching it.
Plak.
My hand was back on her head again, but not because I wanted to do it.
Hime herself pulled my hand so I would touch her head again.
"…Please let me feel your hand for a little longer…" Hime said quietly.
Ehm… maybe I'll let this situation happen for the next few minutes.