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"Sssuuu... mmmph."

While breathing softly in her sleep on Coai's lap, she shifted slightly.

With that movement, a slightly muffled, cute voice could be heard.

And it felt as if that sound was gently stroking the inside of Coai's chest.

As sunset was approaching, the right-hand wall of the castle city of Delsue, visible ahead, was tinged with red.

He urged his horse forward, approaching the city's north gate... but unlike the last time he came, there were fewer stakes and fences that should have lined the sides of the road.
He hadn't noticed when heading north toward Argoon, but it seemed there were few fields or pastures on the north side of the castle city.

As he proceeded further, he could see the castle gate was open... and just before he reached it, a bell rang twice. Afterward, several figures emerged from the gate, turned to face Coai and the others, and stopped.
Were they watching them?
Coai urged his horse forward while checking the men's movements. But other than watching them, they made no noticeable moves.

When the distance to the unmoving men had mostly closed, Coai looked up at the castle gate.
There, above the gate, was something like an elaborately designed sign... a thing called a hengaku (a decorative tablet).
On it was written 'Delsue Uzal'. It seemed to be the same design as the one he had seen at the south gate before.

Just then, one of the men near the gate ran up to the cart. Coai shifted his gaze, wary of the approaching man.