Chapter 48: Let No One Sleep (1)

When the villagers heard that Lily was leaving, they all stopped what they were doing and flocked to see her off.

Seeing the sight, Lily finally burst into tears that she had been holding back and thanked each and every one of them.

It was a sight that showed at a glance how much Lily was loved by the villagers.

…What should I say, it was a very emotional scene.

Miki, who was watching it, was also moved and was on the verge of tears.

On the other hand, Ibi, saying she couldn't watch anymore, left, saying she would go on ahead, but since I knew the reason well, I just didn't stop her.

When Lily, who had finished her farewells, returned to us with a bundle of travel supplies she had received from the villagers, I first gave her some time to calm down.

“Shall we go?”

When I asked cautiously after that, Lily quietly nodded her head.

* * *

It would take about three to four days to reach our next destination, the city of wind, Daian.

However, the villagers who were worried about Lily leaving had packed so much for her, especially food, that even without buying any separate supplies, we had enough food to last until Daian and even more.

Literally, more than enough.

Even with the 「Magical Travel Bag」, it's always better to have less luggage.

Anyone who has had the experience of picking up anything and everything they find on the ground, only to find that they can't put an important item in their bag because of the weight, would probably sympathize.

So, to commemorate Lily's new entry into the party, we decided to have a rather luxurious dinner today.

Moreover, now.

“From now on, please leave the cooking at the campsite to me.”

Said a confident Lily.

Thanks to that, it wasn't just a matter of having a lot of dishes, but.

“W-Wow…!”

A luxurious spread that would make even Miki, who had grown up in a noble family, wide-eyed was soon laid out before us.

“It looks so delicious…!”

At first, Ibi, who had looked at the cleric who had suddenly asked to be in charge of cooking with a very suspicious gaze, wondering if she was going to make something like porridge while talking about frugality, was now at a loss for words and quietly drooling.

Lily, pleased with the two's reaction, smiled warmly.

“First, seat the weary travelers in front of a warm hearth and feed them until they are full. This is the teaching of Lady Sistina.”

That's why the followers of Sistina, especially the clerics, were generally good at cooking.

“At the church, I was usually in charge of the meals for my brothers and sisters. I've loved cooking since I was young.”

And among them, Lily's skills were not just good, but she even had a ‘specialty’ in [Cooking].

In other words, her skills were such that just by eating a proper meal, she could give a small buff for the day.

“Now, please enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you for the food!”

Until now, we had been simply filling our stomachs with things that could be eaten right away, like bread or jerky, so this was the first time we were having a proper ‘meal’ at a campsite.

Perhaps that's why.

“…Among the gods, there seems to be a decent one, after all.”

Ibi, who was munching on the things she had hastily stuffed into her mouth, had a somewhat emotional expression.

“Damn it, I can't. I have to break out the booze for this.”

“When did you ever not?”

Ignoring my words, I shook my head at Ibi, who had immediately started to look for and drink alcohol, and then turned my head towards Lily.

Lily, after first offering us the meal, had been praying alone and had picked up her fork late, and was just now taking her first bite.

Then, noticing my gaze, she hastily covered her mouth and chewed, then asked as if she were being watched.

“Um, what is it?”

“That, isn't it uncomfortable?”

“Pardon? What do you mean…?”

At that, I lightly pointed at my head.

At the part of Lily's head where the veil was covering.

“You don't need to hide your identity in front of us.”

“Ah…”

At that, Lily, who was touching her veil, lowered her gaze as if she were embarrassed and gave a faint, bitter smile.

“It’s just… I feel uneasy if I don't wear this now.”

“Really?”

It was proof that Lily still needed time to accept ‘herself’.

Well, the day will come when she can.

--

Companion Quest

「Devil on My Shoulder」

Continue your adventure and listen to Lily's worries.

--

I'll help her so that she can.

After a luxurious meal that would have been believable even if we had it in a castle instead of a campsite, we gathered around the campfire for a while before going to bed to rest.

“Set your stars or Fade your Stars!"

It was called a rest, but it was practically my solo [Performance] time.

After a delicious meal, as soon as I picked up the lute to play a song on a whim, Miki and Rine came and sat demurely in front of me as if they had been waiting.

Then, Lily, who had seen the two of them and seemed to think she had to follow suit, also sat in front of me, and in that situation, how could I refuse?

An attention-seeking artist, no less.

“At dawn I will win”

So I sang.

Ibi, in the meantime, was drinking alone, using the cheese she had saved from earlier as a snack, but even while pretending not to be interested, I could see her constantly glancing this way.

“I will win”

I'm sensitive to gazes, Ibi.

“I will win!!”

When I finished the song and bowed politely, the three of them responded with enthusiastic applause.

“I.”

Especially Lily, who was new to my [Performance], looked very moved.

“Have never heard a more beautiful voice in my life…!”

“I know.”

Whose voice is it, after all?

“I'll sing for you whenever you want.”

“What? R-Really?”

“I don't mind right now. Is there a song you want?”

As I acquired the knowledge of a bard, I had also mastered most of the popular songs of this world, so whatever request came, I could match it…

“Th-Then! Could you sing a hymn of the Sistina sect?”

“…Huh? Ah… sorry. I don't know that one.”

A hymn, all of a sudden?

“Ah… I see….”

At my answer, Lily's shoulders drooped with visible disappointment.

“In our village, it was a song that everyone liked….”

That’s because your village is a village of followers…

“…I'll be sure to learn it later.”

Perhaps because the artist's soul could not tolerate disappointing the audience, I couldn't help but feel that I had to do something.

“Oh, right. Is this your first time sleeping outside?”

“What? Ah… yes. I've never left the village in my life.”

So not just camping, but even sleeping outside the village was a first for her.

“Then if you can't sleep, tell me. I'll sing you a song until you fall asleep.”

I could even sing 「Song of Sleep」 if needed.

When you can't sleep, the hardest part is falling asleep in the first place… so it should be effective, right?

“Y-Yes? Does that mean…”

“You f*cking just wanted to seduce her for real, didn't you?”

Thwack.

Ibi suddenly hit me lightly on the back of the head.

“I don't care what you guys do, just don't do it in front of me.”

Then she waved the hand that had hit the back of my head and headed towards her tent.

“U-Um, are you okay…?”

“I’m fine.”

Lily seemed a little flustered, as it was probably the first time she had seen such a scene, but if that brat had hit me with all her might, I would have been knocked out long ago.

So.

“She's just jealous.”

“J-Jealous?”

“Yeah go f*ck yourself.”

At my joke with a chuckle, Ibi, without turning back, raised her middle finger high.

For an elf, she has sharp ears.

Lily, who had been staring at Ibi's back, soon turned back to me, still with a look of incomprehension on her face.

……Looking back, I shouldn't have made a joke like that.

* * *

Even though it was a relatively safe area, camping was still camping.

Therefore, one person always had to stand watch, and this time, it was my turn.

I was pretty sure I was the last one to stand watch at the last campsite before we arrived at Sista Village, but I don't know how it became my turn again.

I could see a lot of stars in the night sky that I could rarely see when I lived in the city, and.

“Slide away.”

If I got bored, I could just lightly play the lute, so it was quite bearable.

Though it's a little, hard to be depressed that there's no one around to see me.

But the more that's the case, the more emotion is put into the song.

Still, sometimes.

“…What are you doing, singing to yourself again.”

Unexpected events like this, that wash away the depression in one go, also happen.

“Can't sleep?”

“Would you be able to?”

“Want me to sing you a lullaby?”

“F*ck off.”

Ibi, who let out a dry laugh as if she was dumbfounded, casually sat down next to me.

It felt like she was closer than usual, but well, it's Ibi.

It probably doesn't mean anything.

“So? What's up?”

That's why I lowered my head and continued to focus on plucking the strings.

“……You, are you serious?”

“Huh? About what?”

“That nun.”

“Lily? What about Lily?”

“I'm here, but you're really going to make a move on her too?”

“……What?”

Thump.

I had stopped plucking the strings without realizing it.

“What, did you just……?”

“You heard me.”

At the same time, my head naturally had to turn towards Ibi.

Wait, don't tell me, the mask?

…No, no.

It was on properly.

Ibi wasn't 「Charmed」.

Her eyes were their usual color.

No, then……

“……Huh?”

What the hell is she talking about… while sober……?

“W-Wait a minute, Ibi. Were we in that kind of relationship?”

I was flustered.

“Isn't this too sudden? ……Huh?”

Sudden?

But before I could properly feel the doubt, Ibi let out a deep sigh and grabbed my collar roughly.

“You, you really don't remember anything?”

“Wh-What…?”

“In Stout. You don't remember what you did?”

“In, in Stout……?”

What on earth did I do──

“──Enough.”

Suddenly, my vision flipped.

“I'll make you remember now.”

Ibi had pushed me down on the spot.

To be precise… I should say she laid me down.

“Stay still.”

To sit on top of me.

“If you really have to, just count the stars or something.”

“Wh-What──”

“I'll be done by then.”

“My life? You mean my life, right?!”

“You know what I mean.”

“I-I don't know!?”

…No, actually, I think I know very well!

“Then you'll find out soon enough.”

“Uh, huh…?!

Wait a minute.

For real?

No, since when did she have these kinds of feelings for me…?

Don't tell me it's because of my charm?

Was her favorability for me breaking the limit just by me breathing, without me even knowing?

“I-Ibi? I know this will sound like a total piece of trash if I say it now, but actually, it was all a joke until now──”

“I know, you piece of trash.”

“…!”

I couldn't help but shudder at the sensation I felt on the nape of my neck.

“So I'm going to play a little joke too.”

“This isn't something that can end as a jo──”

──No.

No matter how I think about it, there's no way Ibi would really do this.

Right.

If I think about it carefully, it wasn't just Ibi who was strange.

In the first place, didn't I say it myself?

That I didn't know why I was standing watch.

That meant, why was it my turn again when I was definitely the last one, but.

‘When did I come out of the tent?’

It was also a question of when I had gotten here.

I was sure I had returned to the tent and ‘fallen asleep’.

──And most importantly, the most decisive evidence was Ibi, who, after pinning me down, was acting like someone who ‘had no idea’ what to do next.

Right, she did put her lips on the nape of my neck.

But… that was literally just ‘placing them there’.

For something to do in a situation like this… if I had to say, wasn't it just ‘cute’?

That's why I quickly sat up and pushed Ibi away with all my might.

“Ah──”

At that, Ibi fell to the ground.

“Wh-What are you doing!?”

Of course, she quickly got up and argued.

In the first place, there's no way I could push Ibi away with ‘strength’ like this, right?

There's a 4x difference.

In other words.

“──Why Ibi, of all people?”

This was all a ‘dream’.

“Lily?”

A succubus's.