Chapter 64

"Finally, tomorrow, huh?"

I mutter, gazing up at the full moon from my room.

"Tomorrow, Onee-chan, you're going to the 92nd floor, right?"

Sophia, in her cute pajamas, asks me. My little sister is really adorable. Just looking at her is soothing.

"Yeah, that's right."

"Are you nervous?"

When Sophia points it out, I realize for the first time that my hands are trembling.

"There's no way. This is just pre-battle jitters. After all, it's finally time for our long-awaited revenge."

I suppress my inner anxiety and act strong. I can't show my weakness in front of Sophia. I have to be the strong older sister. If I don't, Sophia will get anxious.

I have the responsibility to protect Sophia, having taken her out of the house without a word.

"…If you're scared, it's okay to say so, you know?"

"…Huh?"

As she says this, Sophia hugs me.

"I don't want you to go. Because, what if you die tomorrow? I want to be by your side always. But if you're going to go, then the only thing I can do is share my courage with you…! Recently? I feel like I've become friends with Carol and Log. I'm leading the party now, and I feel a little braver. So, even though it's a little, I'll share my courage with you! Onee-chan, you can beat the Black Dragon! Try your best!"

Sophia has grown so much. Until recently, she was a shy girl who always read the room. Was it Orun who gave her the push to change? The crybaby Sophia has become so strong. I can't be afraid here.

"Thank you, Sophia. Thanks to you, I feel braver. We are—"

◇

I'm looking at the tattered jacket of the "Silver Hare of the Night" in my room.

"Mr. Albert, tomorrow we're going to the 92nd floor—to challenge the Black Dragon."

Since Mr. Albert left, I've become the oldest in the party. That's when I realized how great Mr. Albert was. Am I a good older sister?

I'm not as much older than everyone else as Mr. Albert was, but I decided to be everyone's older sister and have been trying my best. But how am I doing?

"…Tomorrow, we'll catch up to Mr. Albert. To the Albert who was a member of the previous hero party. And then, we'll catch up to the current hero, surpass them, and I— we will become the next hero! Tomorrow is the first step. It would be nice if you could watch over us from heaven. We are—"

◇

"Beautiful moon, isn't it?"

I look up at the full moon from the rooftop of the "Silver Hare of the Night" headquarters.

"Hehehe, it's fitting for the night before the big battle of the 'Silver Hare of the Night'!"

Whenever I feel anxious, I come to a place where I can see the moon. I'm so anxious. We've been working harder than anyone else this past year. But, I don't know if it will be enough.

If Mr. Albert saw me being so weak, he'd probably laugh… Maybe he's laughing his head off in heaven right now. Wait, thinking about it, I'm getting angry?

"…This time, I won't lose anyone. I'm sick and tired of that feeling. That's why I've studied recovery magic a lot this year and even created original spells. I control everyone's life and death. I won't let anyone die. We are—"

◇

"Here, maintenance is done."

"Thanks, Mr. Alan."

In the open space, I swing the dual-bladed sword that Mr. Alan has maintained.

"As always, perfect work. It feels so natural in my hands, it's almost scary."

"That's good to hear. …Will, you've grown stronger."

"…What do you mean, all of a sudden?"

"You've grown stronger. Not just in your skills as an explorer, but in your heart. You're still as carefree as ever, but the Will I knew would have run away by now. But you're not running; you're fighting. You've grown stronger."

"……Haha, what's that supposed to mean? …I disgraced myself and got Mr. Albert killed. I should have died there. But I survived. So, I have no choice but to do this…! Whether I'm scared or people point fingers at me, I have to take over that person's dream and conquer the Great Labyrinth…! For that—"

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

"Tomorrow, we'll defeat the Black Dragon and step on the land of the 93rd floor!!!!"

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