Just looking at him while contemplating when we might meet again, Duncan took off his jacket.

Then, as if it were a predetermined act, he placed it on my shoulders.

The jacket, infused with his pleasant scent and warmth, felt cozy.

“This is the fourth jacket I’m giving to you.”

“……”

“I’ll have a fifth one ready, so please give me the chance to cover you again.”

His words, whispered in a low voice, were sweet. It gave me unfamiliar goosebumps all over.

I almost fell into the illusion that Duncan liked me romantically.

The hope for our reunion didn’t seem like it would fade into disappointment.

“Will you give me the chance?”

This time he asked as if seeking confirmation.

I found myself nodding at his somehow forceful question.

Of course, I sincerely wanted to receive his fifth, sixth… even hundredth jacket.

And maybe by the hundredth jacket, we might grow old together…

“Can you give me the hundredth jacket too?”

Ah, what I meant to just think slipped out between my teeth.

Duncan nodded without showing any surprise. And his answer was quite amusing.

“We’ll need to live long for that.”

I giggled along with Duncan at his practical response.

Duncan gently stroked my grinning head while meeting my eyes.

“I meant living long together.”

Was the word ‘together’ always this heart-fluttering?

My heart started making louder sounds than the breaking waves.

I worried he might hear my heartbeat, which seemed to resonate through my entire body, not just my ears.

I deliberately avoided his gaze by lowering my head.

I couldn’t casually ask if he liked me or what he meant by those words.

Such things can only be said carelessly when they’re not sincere.

I must have gotten strange from the peaceful atmosphere. There was no other way to explain my heart that wouldn’t calm down.

It felt like my flutter for him had become genuine.

***

When the sun set and darkness fell, we got back on the Ptero.

As we crossed the Pandora Forest, we saw flashing lights in the distance.

“That must be where the A-rank monster appeared.”

Duncan had the Center’s watch, so he knew what monster had appeared.

Perhaps because it was A-rank, his voice was indifferent. He seemed to believe it would be resolved well without major accidents or casualties.

…His attitude showed he didn’t expect Benjamin to get hurt by an A-rank monster.

“Though they’ll handle it well without me, as Center Director, I can’t just ignore it.”

“Yes.”

“After I escort you back, I’ll return to the Center right away.”

“I’m fine, but……”

But I wanted to suggest watching the fireworks together if he had time at night.

However, Duncan looked too busy for me to make the suggestion readily.

“Do you have other plans for the evening?”

This man, he’s always so perceptive.

“Ah, no. Nothing like that. Though you won’t go to the battlefield, please be careful!”

“Thank you for your concern.”

While I hesitated, we had already arrived at the inn. The chief Ptero seemed to be in good condition today, making the flight smoother than usual.

We could have returned slowly…

As he had announced, Duncan dropped me off in a place without people and left on the Ptero.

I watched helplessly as they disappeared.

“I wanted to watch the fireworks together… Should I go alone now that it’s come to this?”

At that moment, I heard a voice I had momentarily forgotten about.

―Kyuu kyuu!

‘You’re not alone!’

It was Bless, who was as perceptive as Duncan.

Bless had been watching over us from nearby, trying not to disturb Duncan and my time together.

I was glad to hear him chattering again as soon as Duncan disappeared.

“Bless! Yes, that’s right. I’m not alone, am I? Let’s go watch together!”

I was certain that with Bless, I wouldn’t feel lonely at all.

Afterwards, we started walking toward the building the Guildmaster had told me about.

Fortunately, the Guildmaster’s building on the outskirts was very close to the inn.

Conversely, being far from the busy downtown area, I was able to reach the building without any particular danger.

The five-story building looked incredibly desolate, as if it had been abandoned for a very long time.

It seemed there were no occupants, and parts of the building were broken or rusted. When I lightly touched the exterior wall with my fingertip, some residue came off.

“Ugh. It looks like it could be haunted.”

Still, since I came this far, I should at least go up to the rooftop. The Guildmaster had praised its view endlessly.

I used the key I had received from the Guildmaster in advance to open the heavily rusted iron door.

Creeeak―

Beyond the door that opened with an eerie sound was pure darkness. The longer I stared, the more it felt like I would be sucked in.

“B-Bless. Is it okay for me to go in?”

―Kyuuuuu!

‘Yes! I’ll protect you!’

“O-Okay. I’ll trust you and go in!”

When I stepped onto the stairs with trembling legs, something amazing happened.

The lamps on the walls began to light up one by one.

It seemed they had set up magic to automatically turn on the lights when someone stepped on the stairs.

As the illuminated area expanded, the darkness receded.

The stairs, now visible in the light, were surprisingly clean. It was completely different from the terrible exterior.

Perhaps because I could see well around me, my fear subsided.

I straightened my shoulders as if I had never been frightened and climbed the stairs.

After climbing non-stop until I was out of breath, I saw the door leading to the rooftop.

As soon as I opened the unlocked door, I felt a sense of liberation. It was because of the unobstructed view.

Perhaps due to the building’s height, I could look down on almost all other buildings.

Not only could I see the capital’s scenery, but even the Imperial Palace in the distance was visible in detail.

“This is amazing……”

I leaned against the waist-high railing and gazed at the city’s bright scenery for a long time.

There were so many people gathered in the downtown area decorated with various ornaments. And there seemed to be lots of food, too.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten properly today. I’m hungry.”

Overwhelmed by my hungry reality, I stopped looking down at the buildings. Then, I belatedly noticed two sunbeds set up on the rooftop.

“Sunbeds……”

Just earlier, I was sitting with Duncan watching the waves…..

I wistfully stroked the sunbed.

‘It would have been so nice to watch the fireworks here while having dinner with Duncan.’

Well, nothing can be done about it now.

I flopped down on the sunbed and looked up at the gloomy night sky.

After watching the fireworks with Bless, I’ll have dinner at the office.

I think I had some potato skewers left from yesterday…..

I don’t know how long I spent killing time like that. At some point, a delicious smell began to reach my nose.

Maybe I was thinking too much about potato skewers, or maybe my sense of smell was playing tricks on me because I was too hungry.

The delicious smell didn’t fade away easily and kept tempting me.

I finally started walking toward the source of the smell. I wanted to check if it was real or just my imagination.

Soon, I discovered the source of that smell in a corner of the rooftop.

A man wearing a robe was crouching in the corner.

In front of him was a small fire pit with potato skewers cooking well over it.

“……Honey?”

He looked exactly like the Guildmaster.

At that moment, the man looked up and said.

“It seems you came alone after all. Would you like some potato skewers?”

As I had guessed, it was indeed the Guildmaster.

“How did you come here? No, how long have you been here? I told you no spying!”

“I wasn’t going to come because of our promise, but……”

“Are you saying you have a reason?”

“Yes.”

Could something have happened?

The Guildmaster looked down at the potato skewers again and said, “I came to question you about the incorrect information you gave.”

Incorrect information?

I tilted my head in confusion.

The Guildmaster spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.

“You said Benjamin would get injured.”

“Yes.”

“But there were no casualties or injuries in today’s battle.”