We continued our journey to the neighboring vilge.

  Along the way, the small Mirelle fell asleep on my p, hugging the little Herschdorf she had named Steins. I silently hoped she would take good care of him.

  Eventually, we arrived at the next vilge—Enfield, a rge settlement with strict security at its gates. After delivering the medicine, we would likely be allowed to stay here for a while.

  “Hey, you two! Get off the cart now. I’ve booked an inn room for you—and of course, dinner too!” called out Mr. Cursdorf.

  “Is that really okay, sir? Wouldn’t that trouble you too much?” I replied, worried that we were being a burden.

  “It’s no trouble at all,” he said with a hearty chuckle. “But I only rented one room for the two of you, and another for myself. I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with your little apprentice?”

  “That’s perfectly fine. Thank you very much, sir,” I replied sincerely.

  I turned to Mirelle, gently nudging her awake.

  “Hey, Mirelle, we’ve arrived. Wake up. You can leave Steins here—he’ll be safe. Let’s have dinner, take a bath, and get some rest.”

  “Fwaaahh… Alright, Master Maeda,” she answered sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she set Steins down gently in the carriage.

  At the inn's restaurant, I said, “Let’s eat,” and began enjoying the meal with Mr. Cursdorf and Mirelle. The food was delicious, and Mirelle looked like she was truly enjoying it. I hoped I could see that cheerful face of hers every day.

  “Hey Mirelle, you look like you’re really enjoying yourself,” I said with a smile.

  “Yes, Master Maeda! It’s so tasty!” she replied brightly, like the first ray of sunlight at dawn.

  “What is it, Master Maeda?” she asked curiously.

  “It’s nothing,” I said, gently patting her head. “Just make sure to finish your meal, then take a nice warm bath at the inn. It’ll help you rex.”

  “Okay, Master Maeda!” she answered cheerfully.

  After dinner, we headed to the open-air hot spring at the inn.

  I found myself gazing up at the night sky above Enfield—filled with stars and a breathtaking moon. It reminded me of the skies back in Japan… but somehow, it felt closer here.

  So close, in fact, it felt like I could reach out, pluck it from the heavens, and offer it to someone on the verge of giving up.To show them that surrendering isn't the answer.

  That giving up is just a coward’s way of avoiding a temporary problem… while unknowingly inviting a thousand more.

  Before I realized it, I had spent half an hour lost in thought under that starlit sky. I eventually stepped out of the bath, dried myself off, and got dressed.

  I was pnning to find Mirelle and bring her back to our room—it was already getting te.

  And there she was, that small figure of hers sitting quietly on a bench in front of the inn.

  In that moment, I knew—She was the one.

  The one who nearly gave in to fate, but still chose to fight.

  Even after being told that her efforts meant nothing, she kept moving forward.

  Now, it’s my turn…

  To help those tiny steps of hers grow into strides that could carry her through life.

  “Hey, Mirelle. Come on inside—it’s getting te. You’ll catch a cold out here,” I called to her.

  “C-coming, Master Maeda,” she answered

  Inside our room, there were two beds. I was relieved—we wouldn’t be too cramped tonight.

  I took the bed near the corner, sat down, and gnced at Mirelle, who had climbed up on her bed across from mine.

  “So, how was today, Mirelle? Did you enjoy it? Are you tired?” I asked, just to make sure she wasn’t pushing herself too hard.

  “I loved today, Master Maeda! So much happened—

  I met you, rode a cart to a new vilge, met baby Steins, and now I get to sleep in a real inn!

  It all means a lot to me. Thank you, Master Maeda!” she said with a bright, beaming smile.

  “I’m gd to hear that. Be sure to save that energy for tomorrow—there may be even more exciting things waiting for us,” I chuckled softly.

  “What do you mean may be? I want lots of fun things to happen!” she pouted, lightly smacking me with her tiny hands.

  “Haha, alright, alright. Then go to sleep now—maybe the first fun thing will happen in your dreams,” I said as I gently rested my hand on her head.

  “O-okay… hmph.”

  She huffed, turning her face away and puffing up her cheeks.

  I reached over and turned off the mp. Then, I id back in my bed, listening to the quiet of the night as I slowly drifted off to sleep., running up to me.

  That night, I had a hard time falling asleep—like someone who knows tomorrow might be their st day. But suddenly, I felt something tugging at my bnket from the left. Then, someone tried to climb on top of me, and suddenly...

  “BAAAHHH!” Mirelle shouted, trying to scare me.

  “Eh?” I guess this is the part where I should be scared. I should give it a try.

  “Wahh,” I said softly, trying to py along so she’d think I was actually scared.

  “Hmmm,” Mirelle squinted at me, her hands still raised. Huh? Did I do something wrong?

  Then, with a suspicious look, she slowly lowered her arms. “You weren’t really scared, were you?” she said, puffing out her cheeks.

  “Eh? How did you know?” I asked.

  “Ehhh? It was super obvious! You’re so bad at acting!” she replied.

  “Hehehe, sorry for that, so what’s up?” I asked.

  “A-actually... I couldn’t sleep, so... may I sleep on your bed with you, sir?” she asked hesitantly, her voice small and shy.

  “F-fine, you can sleep with me. But make sure you sleep properly, okay? Don’t stay up too te,” I told her, turning back and trying to sleep again.

  Then I felt a warm hug from her tiny arms behind me. I could feel her warmth... and before I realized it, I had already fallen asleep.

  I woke up to the sunlight streaming through the window, shining softly on Mirelle’s sleeping face—her mouth slightly open.

  “Steins... Don’t take my food...” Mirelle mumbled in her sleep.

  “Seems like she’s having quite the unique dream,” I said to myself as I opened the window, taking in the view outside the inn in Enfield vilge. It was a beautiful day, with people walking to and fro.

  “Mirelle, wake up. It’s morning already. There’s still warm bread. If you don’t get up, I’ll give it to Steins,” I called out to her.

  “Fwaaahh... Five more minut—” Mirelle paused mid-sentence, then quickly sat upright.

  “NO! I want the warm bread!”

  “Hahaha, I knew that would work. Alright then, come downstairs quickly. I’ll be waiting,” I said.

  “O-okay, Master Maeda,” she replied, looking a bit flustered.already fallen asleep.

  When we arrived at the inn’s dining area...

  “Eat well. This morning, we’ll be heading back to Meirose Vilge,” said Mr. Cursdorf.

  “Alright, and thank you again for the food and the lodging,” I said, expressing my gratitude.

  “No need to mention it. This may seem like nothing... compared to what’s waiting on your journey home,” he replied.

  “What do you mean by that, sir?” I asked, wanting to confirm what he meant.

  “You’ll see soon enough. For now, eat before it gets cold,” he said, gesturing to the food.

  Then we enjoyed the delicious breakfast. Mirelle looked very happy with her warm bread. After that, we returned to the carriage, and I saw Mirelle carrying a piece of warm bread with her.

  “What’s the bread for, Mirelle?” I asked her.

  “It’s for Steins. He must be hungry,” she replied.

  “I’m not sure if Beasts like eating bread,” I said with a small ugh.

  Once we got to the carriage—

  “Let me give it to Steins,” I said, reaching out my hand to Mirelle for the bread.

  “Alright, Master Maeda,” she handed the bread to me.

  “Here, Steins. Eat up,” I offered the bread to Steins, but he turned his head away.

  “Looks like Steins doesn’t like bread,” I told Mirelle.

  “Give it to me, Master Maeda,” she said while taking the bread from my hand.

  “Here, Steins. Open your mouth. Aaaah—” Mirelle held out the bread to Steins, and he ate it eagerly.

  “See, Master Maeda? He likes it,” Mirelle said with a smile.

  “Looks like I was wrong,” I lowered my head in defeat.

  “He’s just picky, but still sweet, isn’t he?” Mirelle said as she gently stroked Steins’ head.

  I let out a small ugh.

  “In that case, from now on, you’ll be in charge of feeding him.”

  “Okay! Leave it to me!” Mirelle replied energetically while giving me a pyful salute.

  “Hey, you two! Didn’t forget anything, did you? We’re about to depart,” Mr. Cursdorf called out to us.

  “I don’t think so, sir. We’re ready to go,” I replied.

  “Alright then. Forward, Hersch,” Mr. Cursdorf commanded.

  “BWOOORH!” Hersch roared and began running, pulling the carriage back toward Meirose Vilge.

  Along the way, suddenly a great commotion erupted from the forest around us. Birds flew wildly in every direction, and other animals came rushing out of the woods in panic.

  “What’s going on, Mr. Cursdorf?” I asked him amid the chaos.

  “He’s about to awaken,” Mr. Cursdorf replied calmly.

  “Huh? What do you mean?” I asked, trying to understand.

  “Tori’zekh. The Beast who guards the gate between the demon and human worlds,” he answered.

  “Huh? Wait, Tori (Chicken)?” I asked in shock.

  Then, not long after, a giant rooster appeared from the forest in front of us.

  “Ah, I was right,” I said in surprise.

  “He only shows up to clear the way for demons entering this world. Usually, his appearance and the demon’s arrival are about a month apart. This Beast will cause havoc during his stay. Now it’s up to you—are you ready to defeat this Beast?” he asked me.

  “Of course. In my homend, we call that a chicken, but this one’s much bigger. Even so, no problem—I’ll take it down,” I said as I grabbed my dagger from the carriage and leapt down.

  “Hersch, stomp your foot!” I commanded.

  “WROOOHH!” he roared and smmed his massive hoof into the ground, sending a powerful tremor that shook the trees and dropped leaves into Tori’zekh’s line of sight. I dashed around the enormous beast, then leapt onto its back, driving my dagger into its flesh and dragging it to carve a gash—but the wound vanished instantly, regenerating.

  “Looks like you’re going to be a tough opponent... but not for long,” I muttered. I jumped off and resumed circling it, looking for a vital spot. Then I saw it—something glimmering at its beak. It was absorbing something from the surroundings—and it was coming from Steins. He looked like he was in pain, and Mirelle was trying to heal him.

  “So that’s how this giant creature works...” I said, then leapt onto its back again, using it as a unch point to spring toward the beak. I nded with my dagger, thrusting it in hard and dragging it from end to end until the beak came off.

  “With this, it’s over,” I said, driving my dagger into Tori’zekh’s eye. The beast let out a piercing cry, then shattered into tiny fragments that floated skyward. I fell, but Hersch caught me, and I nded safely on his back.

  “Thank you, Hersch,” I said to him. “How’s Steins, Mirelle?”

  I asked Mirelle, concerned that Steins might be seriously injured.

  “He’s getting better, Master Maeda,” she replied calmly, holding the now-sleeping Steins in her arms.

  “I’m gd to hear that. Let’s continue our journey, Mr. Cursdorf,” I said.

  “Very well. Forward, Hersch,” Mr. Cursdorf commanded.

  “WOOOORRRHH!” Hersch roared and took off at full speed.

  “Eh?! HEY, WAIT FOR ME—I’M STILL ON YOUR BACK!” I yelled, clinging tightly to Hersch to avoid falling. All I could do was hold on as we raced toward the vilge of Meirose.

  When we finally arrived in Meirose around noon, I clutched my dizzy head and said, “I think I’m going to throw up... That was the craziest ride of my life.” Mr. Cursdorf handed me a gold coin.

  “Here’s your reward,” he said.

  “Woah! Thank you, Mr. Cursdorf. I guess money really is the cure for everything—no matter what world you’re in,” I said cheerfully, taking the coin.

  “Well then, we’ll take our leave, Mr. Cursdorf. We’re going to look for an inn,” I told him.

  “Take care,” he replied.

  Mirelle and I wandered around the vilge until we found a pce to stay. We rented a room for a week.

  “Alright, we’ve got a pce. Let’s go find lunch, Mirelle. And also some warm bread for Steins,” I said.

  “Yes, Master Maeda,” she answered.

  Under the clear sky, Mirelle, Steins, and I enjoyed a peaceful, quiet meal. Steins devoured his bread eagerly, while Mirelle ate her meat stew.

  "Finally... a seat and some food," I said as I leaned back against the chair, letting out a long sigh.

  But it didn’t st long.

  “BRAAAKKK!”

  A loud crash came from the bcksmith’s shop. What was that?