ăSo are the Four Stars staying in Forestia for a while?ăHikaru asked, continuing their conversation.
ăHmm⊠Selyse is surprisingly enthusiastic. Sarah and Sophie are vague about it, just sitting on a fence. As for me, I donât really like the idea.ă
ăOh.ă
ăItâs cold here.ă
TOP ARTICLES1/5Mercenaries in Apocalypse Volume 1Chapter 29
ăAh. Where are you from in Japan?ă
If she didnât like the cold, it was either because she lived in a warmer place, or perhaps the opposite and she was sick of cold weather.
ăI lived inâŠăSelica mentioned a certain place.
ăThatâs where Iâm from.ăHikaru said.
ăReally?ă
ăWhatâs the nearest station?ă
ăEast Sakuramori.ă
ăWhoa, thatâs close by. Mineâs West Sakuramori.ă
ăWhat?! Weâre practically neighbors!ă
ăWhat a coincidence⊠or maybe itâs not?ă
ăWhat do you mean?ă
ăMaybe people who die in that area tend to get sent here.ă
In the afterlife, Hikaru realized there were only Japanese people around. At first, he thought maybe every country had its own heaven, but it didnât make sense to segregate souls based on their nationality.
Perhaps it had something to do with the geographic location or coordinates.
ăEh, whatever. Thinking about it will get us nowhere. So are you staying Forestzard for a while?ă
ăWe can stay wherever we want. Up until now, our party worked intensively, so weâre taking an extended vacation. Plus we wonât be able to go adventuring when it starts snowing.ă
ăAh, I see.ă
ăAre there any tourist spots around here that I should check?ă
ăI havenât been here long, so I hadnât gone sightseeing. AlthoughâŠă
Hikaru recalled something. The Zuburan relics catalogue that the principal allowed him to see.
ăWhat?! They excavated a massive amount of tengu masks?! Sounds like our predecessors did some stupid things.ă
ăIf you have time, it might be worth checking out. There might be things that only we know about.ă
ăThat might be a good idea⊠What about you? There are ruins perfect for Japanese people, but youâre taking it easy here as a student?ă
ăI could go check it out. But Iâm kinda tired so I want to rest.ă
ăYou sound lazy.ă
ăThatâs rich coming from the one whoâs taking an extended vacation.ă
Selica didnât mind Hikaruâs comment.
ăYou should come with me, then.ăshe said.ăIâm sure weâll discover something.ă
ăWhere? To the ruins? They mightâve excavated everything already.ă
ăWe wonât know until we go there.ă
ăPlus itâs winter. The snowâŠă
ăIt doesnât snow a lot in Zubura, does it? It says so in the guidebook.ă
ăOh⊠You checked a guidebook?ă
ăYou should be happy a pretty girl is asking you out. You might just wither away.ă
ăIâm still bursting with energy, thank you very much. Iâm only fifteen, Senpai.ă
ăThen as a young boy bursting with energy, you should come with me. Iâll go back to Forestzard first and talk to the girls. We probably wonât be back for a while.ă
ăWhereâs my say in this? I really donât want toâă
ăYou donât want to go? Really? Letâs be honest here.ă
ăW-Well⊠I planned to see the ruins some day.ă
Hikaru was curious about the ruins and lost technology apparently created by Japanese people.
ăYou donât have anything to do in the winter anyway.ă
The student alliance should be out of Hikaruâs hands now. Same for the mass wedding. League might ask him to participate some more, but these were things the citizens of Forestia should work on.
Forestian winters were long, and the academy would be temporarily closed. Itâs true. I donât really have anything to doâŠ
ăâŠFine.ă
ăNice! I got a company to talk about Japan with!ă
Selica smiled happily. It looked like she really missed her home country. She was craving for topics about Japan.
ăBut⊠if my partner Lavia says no, then I wonât go.ă
Selica stood up and walked towards Lavia. Lavia looked at her.
ăLavia, right?ă
ăHuh? Uh, yesâŠă
ăHikaruâs going with me to check the ruins in Zubura. You should come too!ă
ăWhat?ă
ăAh, this might not make sense to you.ăHikaru said.ăIn Zubura, there areâă
ăIâll tell you all about Japan.ăSelica said.
ăIâll go.ăLavia quickly answered.
ăUh, Lavia?ă
ăAh, Iâm sorry. My tongue slipped. But I want to know more about your home.ăLavia explained, looking down, her face beet red.
Hikaru couldnât say no to that face. It was simply impossible.
ăA-All right. Letâs go, then. Letâs talk about Japan on the way.ă
ăOkay!ă
ăGreat!ă
ăIâm so jealous!ă
ăYou should come too, Paula.ă
ăWhat? Are you sure?ă
ăWe canât just leave you behind alone. But you donât have to come if you donât want to.ă
ăIâm going! I did it, Lavia-san! Hikaru-sama invited me!ă
ăYeah. Good for you, Paula.ă
ăYes!ă
She seemed to be getting excited.
ăâŠSo Iâm the only guy on the tripâŠă
I might have to pay careful attention during the journey.
The moment Selica left, Paula went out as well. Hikaru told her she could stay here.
ăI canât always rely on both of you!ăshe firmly refused.
Paula wanted to go job-hunting, but since they would be leaving for Zubura soon, sheâd have to put that on hold. Hikaru gave her some money for the time being.
Selica planned to return to Forestzard on tomorrowâs carriage. She said sheâd look for an inn.
ăThis is the part where you say âYou can stay here for the night.âăSelica said.ăBut even Paula doesnât want to so I canât really ask!ă
She did technically say it anyway. Then she disappeared into the streets of Scholarzard together with Paula.
ăWill Paula be okay?ăHikaru wondered.
ăAre you worried about her?ă
ăYeah. Apparently all this time, her friends handled the lodging and food prep. Although the actual cooking was done by her.ă
ăIâm sure she can check-in to an inn by herself. I told her to get in touch once she finds a place to stay, so she should come back today.ă
ăI suppose.ă
Hikaru and Lavia returned to their room. He yawned, perhaps from finally having peace.
ăI should sleepâŠă
As soon as he entered the bedroom, he flopped onto the bed. He actually wanted to take a bath and have something to eat first, but the long journey, the briefing with Lavia and Paula, and Selicaâs sudden visit left him completely exhausted.
ăHikaru.ă
ăHmm?ă
Drowsiness came quick, and he couldnât get a word out.
ăGood night. You did great out there.ă
ăThanks, Lavia.ă
Lavia sat down on the bed and stroked Hikaruâs head, her thin fingers combing through his hair. Feeling comfortable, Hikaru closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.