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In a human town, inside a certain room at an inn.
A room for two; a sleeping woman and a woman watching her.

The moonlight of the deepening night streamed in through the window, faintly illuminating Snow's sleeping face.
Coai spent the moments of the night just gazing, continuing to gaze at her.

Beside her, bathed in the same moonlight.
Not even willing to spare the time to light the room's lamp, she didn't leave her side.

She slept without any expression on her face.
Her breathing seemed as calm as it had been before they arrived at the inn. From her untroubled expression, Coai could surmise that she wasn't suffering or in agony.
Thinking that brought a sense of relief. Relieved, she could stay by her side.

Coai spent the moments of the night with a calm heart.

She didn't know how long she had been like that... but suddenly, she heard a knock on the door.

"Ma'am, the old master from the Nanai Forest Inn has brought your meal. May I open the door?"
As Coai's gaze shifted to the entrance, she realized she had already nearly forgotten about the food.
But that wasn't a major issue. Coai looked at her sleeping face once more to confirm nothing had changed... then stood up as she replied.

"I don't mind."
The food... if she didn't wake up, it wouldn't mean much even if it arrived.
Feeling a little melancholic, Coai first headed to the doorway and lit the candle mounted on the wall beside the door.

"Excuse us, then."
Beyond the opened door stood the innkeeper and an old man, side by side.
The innkeeper muttered something while pointing toward the table, and then the old man walked over to it. Following him with her eyes, Coai saw that the old man seemed to be carrying something box-like on his back.
The old man walked to the side of the table and pulled out a chair from underneath it.

"I heard using this is good for the body because it lets you stretch your back, but it's a bit of a pain... heave-ho."
He then placed the thing from his back onto the chair and wiped the sweat from his brow.