It's hard for me to breathe.
I feel strong pain in my abdomen, but I don't feel anything in my right arm.
Oh right.
My arm was cut off.
Even my vision is blurry.
Unfortunately, I can still see.
As I drag my legs on a devastated battlefield, I can see countless corpses, both friendly and enemy, around me.
But for me, it didn't matter whose bodies they were; the presence of death in every place where I rested my gaze brought great sorrow to my heart.
'Why do I fight?
Why do I kill?
Why am I still alive?'
While I am disoriented, an enemy soldier directs his sword at me with the clear intention of stabbing me in the heart.
After all, it's been a long time since my armor broke.
Even if I still have the strength left to dodge or block that attack, I do nothing.
To be honest, I'm very, very exhausted.
I just want to rest and maybe, just maybe, when I open my eyes again, I'll have woken up from this terrible nightmare.
However, the world will not let me die in such a senseless way.
When the blade of the enemy soldier's sword was about to stab me and kill me there.
!!!
Another sword deflects the attack at the last moment, saving my life.
"What are you doing now, Franz!? Are you so injured that you can't protect yourself from an attack like that?"
A pleasant and energetic voice reached my ears.
"It's time for you to wake up!"
I abruptly opened my eyes, my entire body covered in sweat.
Even my breathing was a little rough.
I raised my torso from the bed and turned my head to both sides to recognize where I was.
Once I remembered where I was, I turned my head towards the other end of the bed, expecting to see Nat sleeping.
However,
There was no trace of her.
I looked to my left and could see Nat on the balcony from the bedroom window.
I got up slowly and put on my coat.
I walked over to the door to the balcony and opened it.
An icy wind hit my face, helping me wake up even more.
Luckily, no snow was falling; instead, countless stars could be seen twinkling in the sky.
Moonlight fell on Nat as she leaned against the balcony railing.
"What's wrong? Trouble sleeping?" Nat said as she turned her head in my direction.
"...Yeah," I answered as I stood next to her.
"How about you?" I asked.
"I guess the same as you," she turned her head towards the sky.
"I just wanted to see the stars to clear my mind. If only it wasn't so cold, it would even be nice to stay up all night looking at the stars, don't you think?" Nat asked.
I nodded; the sight of the stars in the sky was something spectacular, especially for me.
After all, I was a 21st-century man from Earth.
So I couldn't enjoy a starry sky like this during my old life.
Maybe if I had lived in the country or even in a smaller town, I might have seen something even slightly similar.
Unfortunately, I lived in the capital of my country, so it was almost impossible to see stars in the sky at night due to pollution and the night lights of the city.
"Did you have a nightmare, Franz? I see your expression is paler than usual, and please don't you dare tell me it's because of the weather because we both know that hardly affects you."
I scratched the back of my neck and said:
"I did have a little nightmare, but it's nothing to worry about."
Nat detected the lie immediately.
"If you say so. As long as it doesn't always happen to you, it shouldn't be a problem."
Nat deftly said a tricky comment.
"Yeah, no problem," I replied.
And Franz fell right into the trap.
In Franz's defense, he just woke up and casually responded to Nat's comment.
As a consequence, Nat learned that this wasn't the first time he had nightmares.
No, maybe he has them quite a lot.
She could easily sympathize with him because since her father disappeared, she too has been having nightmares almost every day.
However, since her death was confirmed, and she said goodbye to her father in front of his grave, her nightmares suddenly stopped.
She thought she could finally sleep peacefully, but tonight she dreamed of her father again.
'At least this time it wasn't a nightmare.' Nat thought.
She had only dreamed of a conversation she had in the past with her father.
It wasn't a bad dream, but she woke up because of the strong emotions she felt when she was able to see him again.
But unlike her, Franz was still suffering, tormented by nightmares.
'I wish I could do something to help him.'
Unfortunately, Nat didn't know why Franz was in that state; she also felt that even if she asked him, he wouldn't answer her honestly.
Sure, she could just find out everything by asking trick questions and using her unique ability.
But would it be okay to do something like that?
Nat had been questioning the moral limits of her power.
If it is used carelessly, it's the same as invading people's hearts and minds.
We all keep things that we want to remain secret.
Privacy and personal space are very important.
Besides...
Even if it's too soon for Franz to consider her his friend, she will never be a true friend if she forces him to reveal his secrets.
'I want him to recognize me as his friend and tell me so himself.'
Nat took an oath at that moment, not to abuse her power on sensitive issues of those close to her.
While Nat was still lost in thought, a blanket fell on top of her.
"If you plan to stay out here any longer at least wrap up more. Can't you see you're shaking?"
Nat looked down at her hands and realized that her hands were indeed shaking from the cold.
"Thank you, Franz-" She tried to tell him.
But Franz was already back inside the room and closing the balcony door.
After all, if he left the door open, the room would cool down from the loss of heat.
'This idiot...
I don't know if he is someone considerate or not,' Nat thought.
She was soon back in the room as well.
Of course, she didn't forget to roll the blanket into a ball and throw it to Franz with all her force.
***
The next morning.
The girls went to buy suitable clothes to attend Duke's party.
On the other hand, I was delayed by finally falling asleep late at night.
Nat didn't wake me and let me sleep peacefully.
'This girl! Why didn't she wake me up!'
Although she had done it as a kind gesture, Franz didn't take it very well.
After dressing, I went down to the first floor of the inn hoping to have a quick breakfast.
I was met with an unexpectedly familiar face, though.
'Isn't that Eric, the guard?'
Indeed, the man who had allowed us access to the city and had even recommended this inn to us was sitting at one of the tables on the first floor.
His eyes were looking in a certain direction.
I could understand the situation with a single glance and approached him stealthily.
When I was next to him, I crouched down slightly and whispered in his ear:
"She's quite the beauty, isn't she?"
As a result, Eric, who hadn't
noticed my presence at all, jumped out of his chair and blushed immediately afterward.
"Wh-what are you talking about?!"
"Hahaha, relax, man. Don't you remember me? You let us into the city the other day and even gave us good recommendations."
Eric narrowed his eyes as he looked at me.
"Ah! You are that merchant guy!"
Eric didn't take long to realize it.
"Yeah, that's me, Franz," I replied with his hands resting on my hips.
"So, from what I see, you listened to my suggestion to stay here, huh?"
"Yes, I did that. It's a pretty nice place, the prices are not exaggerated, the building is immaculate, and... The members of the inn are quite graceful as well."
I smiled as I looked at Eric with a somewhat quizzical expression.
Eric swallowed nervously.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Though the members of the inn are indeed very professional."
I didn't need Nat's unique ability to be sure of this. '
This guy has definitely a crush on the receptionist!!'
But while both were exchanging friendly words.
"Mama!"
A little girl ran next to us.
Soon, she fell into someone's arms, resting her head on two large pillows.
"Miriam, what are you doing here? You should be home with Grandpa."
"I wanted to play with Mom!"
"Oh honey, I can't do it right now because I'm working. Can you please wait until after my shift is over?"
"Yes! I'll wait!"
The adorable girl's mother was none other than the beautiful receptionist.
I turned my head and could see Eric with a devastated expression.
'...So, she is a married woman?' I thought pityingly.
Saddened to see a comrade fail in love even before the battle could begin, I decided it was my duty to help him lift his spirits.
"Eric! Let's go out together to drink and eat somewhere; I will pay for everything!"
"Wh-what?"
I firmly gripped Eric's arm and forced him to follow me.
Eric was unable to put up a fight; after all, my strength was superhuman.
So he had no choice but to follow me obediently.
Although when we were both leaving the inn, I could see how the receptionist's eyes were watching us intensely.
I found the look she was giving us very suspicious.
'Maybe this guy has actually a chance?'
It was too early to conclude.
When we both had already left the inn and were crossing to the next street.
Suddenly,
Something really, really strange happened.
"THERE IS NO SALVATION!!!"
I could hear several screams from the other street.
"THE END OF EVERYTHING IS NEAR, THE CITY WILL COLLAPSE AND THE SKY WILL TURN BLACK!!!"
The screams came from a short old man, who looked homeless due to his unkempt appearance and worn clothes.
"THE SKY WILL FALL AND EVERYONE WILL DIE!!!"
Soon, several people crowded into that street.
Some whispered about that man.
"He's just a crazy old man. That guy is always talking nonsense about how he can see the future. He says crazy things like everyone will die in a couple of days," It was what some said between whispers.
I stared at the old man for a moment.
The expression on the man's face was a combination of fear and madness.
'As if he had actually witnessed the end of the world.'
I found the situation strange but also thought it was the nonsense of a senile old man.
So I went on my way dragging Eric with me.