MTM 55

That night, Zed and Harto decided to go to bed early. Because of the long days of travel, Zed was also exhausted, and the moment he lay on the bed, his eyelids grew heavy.

“……”

But before falling asleep, he felt a strange emptiness.

‘Zed… can I sleep with you…?’

Whenever they camped, Harto, in his monster form, always curled up beside him to sleep. It had been the same in the inn at Belnok, so Zed hadn’t minded before. But now it was different.

Zed turned his head and looked through the dark. Harto was laying on the bed right beside him with the blanket pulled up to his chin.

“Harto.”

“Yes?”

He immediately replied.

“If you’re cold, you can sleep here.”

Zed lifted the blanket to make room.

“Ah….”

Harto’s eyes widened. It was too dark to see clearly, but Zed could tell he was flustered.

“N-no, it’s fine….”

“Why?”

“Uh, well… you’re really tired, and I… I’m tired too….”

Zed narrowed his eyes. They had always slept together before, so why was it a problem tonight?

“…Alright.”

Zed covered himself with the blanket again and turned away. His chest felt tight. He couldn’t stop thinking about how Harto had suddenly started keeping distance from him.

Harto didn’t know what to do about Zed’s reaction and gripped the sheet, mumbling softly,

“Good night, Zed….”

“You too.”

He answer came back, and only the sound of their breathing filled the room.

‘I want to sleep with Zed too….’

Harto curled up under the blanket, feeling regret.

It was always good to fall asleep in Zed’s warm arms. When he put his ear against Zed’s solid chest and listened to his heartbeat, he felt his anxiety gradually disappearing, and he could drift into peaceful sleep.

Even though Zed hadn’t been able to wash for days, he didn’t smell like sweat. Instead, the subtle scent he exuded him felt like something uniquely Zed’s, and Harto liked that it made him feel the warmth of being in Zed’s embrace.

But tonight, he couldn’t. Because he had already made a promise with Leon.

‘But… do merchants work until dawn?’

Harto recalled the conversation he had with Leon during dinner.

‘I heard they sell day and night, every single day, without rest.’

‘Really? Then it’s like a convenience store?’

‘A convenience store? What is that?’

‘Ah, nothing. Just talking to myself….’

Of course, taverns were known to stay open late, but if it was something like that, Zed and Allen wouldn’t have gone out of their way to stop them from visiting. What kind of place was it that made them refuse to even mention its name? The more they hid it, the stronger Harto’s curiosity grew.

‘Harto, hold this. If you feel it shake, come outside.’

Leon had placed a black crystal sphere, about the size of a large candy, into Harto’s hand.

Now, careful not to let Zed notice, Harto lay on the bed holding the sphere tightly in both hands. Even so, he kept thinking he would rather hold Zed’s warm hand than the cold crystal.

‘I’m sleepy….’

It wasn’t as comforting as sleeping beside him, but he could still hear Zed’s breathing. That sound became a lullaby as he started to drift off. Then, a small vibration pulsed in his palm.

“Ah…!”

Harto let out a startled sound, then quickly covered his mouth. He turned toward Zed, worried he had woken him, but only soft breaths came from the other bed.

After waiting a moment, Harto carefully got up and stepped down from the bed. He moved as quietly as possible and slipped out of the room.

Click.

The moment he took his cloak and closed the door, he saw Leon standing there in the dark.

“……!”

Harto flinched in surprise, but Leon brought a finger to his lips to signal silence. Then he gestured for them to head outside first and started walking.

They went down the stairs to the first floor. The dining hall still buzzed with clinking cups and bursts of laughter. Even though it was late at night, the place was lively as if it were evening.

Once they stepped outside, the difference was even clearer. The streets were filled with people walking, laughing, and talking. It looked no different from daytime.

‘This is completely different from Belnok. Well, that place was always under the holy knights’ watch….’

As Harto thought that, he looked around and saw a bright glow shining at the far end of the street.

“Leon, is that the Feast District?”

“Yes. Whew, I can finally breathe a little.”

Leon inhaled the cold night air, then exhaled with a tired look.

“Because you couldn’t sleep?”

“Do you know how long Allen went on about the weapons he bought today? My ears almost fell off. He wouldn’t sleep, so I had to use a bit of magic.”

“What kind of magic?”

“A scent spell. I lit an aromatic candle that relaxes the body, and he soon fell asleep snoring.”

“Wow….”

Harto’s eyes brightened. It seemed this world even treated things like aromatic scents that calm the mind as magic.

“Anyway, it’s a relief that Zed fell asleep early.”

“Yes, Zed looked really tired. Ah, here, I’ll give this back.”

Harto held out the black crystal sphere that he had been clutching. But Leon shook his head.

“It’s better if you keep holding it. If something, by the slightest chance, happens, I’ll send a signal. When that happens, even if I’m not beside you, you must return to the inn no matter what. Understood?”

“It probably won’t happen, but… okay, I got it.”

When Harto put the crystal sphere into his pocket, Leon smiled.

“Good. Then we’ll just take a quick look and come back.”

“Yes! I can’t wait!”

The two of them walked toward the Feast District with eager steps.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

‘Wow… there are so many people now.’

The townspeople were all heading toward the Feast District too. The entrance was still far away, yet the streets already shone with dazzling lights.

Every alley was permeated by the smell of food. Stalls that hadn’t been there during the day sold spiced dishes and fruit wine. Martial performers breathed fire and did tricks, musicians beat drums and blew pipes, merchants sold rare and strange goods brought from distant lands, and there were even people showing off mysterious animals said to have come from the long-lost Forest of Life.

Because of all that, the night street was as bright as day, and the air was filled with an atmosphere so foreign it felt like another world.

Everything was new to Harto, and he was delighted. Leon couldn’t hide his own excitement either.

“They kept a place like this secret among themselves… I feel quite offended.”

“Yes. Why would they do that….”

Harto thought that if it were Zed, he would have shown him a place like this without hesitation.

‘…They say mermaids live in the southern sea.’

Harto recalled what Zed had said. If he wanted to show him something as mysterious as mermaids, then why hadn’t he mentioned this place at all? Harto wondered for a moment, but soon his attention was stolen by the dazzling sights around him.

“Harto, look over there.”

“Huh?”

As Harto watched a show with a pony and its trainer, Leon poked his side. When Harto turned to where Leon pointed, he saw people lining up in front of a tent decorated with ornate designs and draped with violet curtains.

“What could that be…? The atmosphere feels strange.”

The two of them stepped closer to the tent. Then, through the crowd of people coming out, Harto saw someone.

It was a woman adorned from head to toe with mysterious ornaments. Her long golden hair, the same color as Zed’s, flowed down to her waist. Around her head and shoulders she wore a scarf embroidered with constellations in gold thread. And in front of her stood a large crystal sphere glowing brightly.

‘A fortune-teller…?’

As soon as the thought came to him, Harto met the woman’s mysterious violet eyes.

“You there, little one.”

Harto blinked in surprise. Even though she was quite far away, he clearly heard her voice.

“L-little one?”

Realizing she was talking to him, Harto turned to Leon.

“She’s… she’s not calling me, right…?”

“Maybe she called you because you look like a ragged kid. It seems she’s telling you to come. How about going?”

When Harto looked back, the woman was gently beckoning him to come closer.

“Uh, but….”

Harto hesitated. There was already a long line in front of the tent, yet she had called him in just because their eyes met. That was strange enough, but the woman herself exuded a cold and unsettling aura that sent a shiver down his spine.

“Harto, hurry.”

“Okay….”

But since Leon had already started walking toward the tent, Harto had no choice but to follow him.