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Under the solemn glow of the moonlight, the two girls faced each other in silence, their expressions grave.

The blonde girl forcefully pulled the black-haired girl, who was both taller and older than her, into her arms. She embraced her tightly, a dangerously enchanting smile curling at the corner of her lips as she looked straight into those pure, untainted eyes.

It looked almost like a lovers’ solemn vow, sworn beneath the heavens.

“Believe me, alright?” the blonde girl said seriously, as though this were a promise that not even the end of the world or the drying up of the seas could overturn. “I will definitely cure your mother.”

“I…” The black-haired girl’s lips trembled as she hesitated. But in the end, she yielded to those gem-like, crystal-clear eyes. She chose to bel…

“That’s wonderful!” Liana slapped her thigh and exclaimed in delight. “With the Mountain Ghost helping, Mother’s illness will definitely get better very soon!”

“…Huh?” The domineering Mountain Ghost’s wicked smile instantly froze. She stared at Liana, who was beaming with joy as if her earlier sorrow and tears had all been an illusion, and immediately understood what had happened.

“So you… had already planned this from the start!” The Mountain Ghost ground her teeth. “You deliberately tricked me into this!”

“Haha, no, not at all. It’s just that if Mountain Ghost hadn’t been willing to help, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.” Liana shyly covered her cheeks as she spoke. “I just didn’t expect Mountain Ghost to be so overbearing. That look, that expression, ah, this is so embarrassing. I think I’m about to fall in love with you, Mountain Ghost. What should I do?”

“Not my concern.” The Mountain Ghost expressionlessly released her grip, letting Liana lose her balance and fall flat onto the ground with a thump. Liana cried out in pain as she rubbed her sore backside.

The Mountain Ghost sneered. “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll go back on my word, or tamper with things while treating your mother? You’re so foolish that even if I tricked you to death, you probably wouldn’t realize it.”

“Is that so?” Liana paused for a moment before replying. “Although I really am not very smart, I feel like Mountain Ghost doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“Why?” The Mountain Ghost scoffed. “Just because I look good? Don’t be stupid. There are countless good-looking villains in this world. For all you know, I could be the most wanted criminal alive. The bounty on my head might be enough to buy several planets.”¹　

“Maybe it’s because…” Liana lifted her head and gazed up at the sky. The weather was nice today, and the moonlight was still bright. “Maybe it’s because you like the moon too.”

As if recalling something beautiful, Liana let out a soft giggle and continued, “Mother once told me that people who like the moon aren’t bad at heart. Mountain Ghost, you like the moon so much. You’ve been watching it here for so long without getting tired of it, and you even want to go up to the moon someday. So I think you can’t be a bad person.”²　

“……”

The Mountain Ghost stood there in silence, carefully studying Liana’s eyes, as if trying to see through her. But in the end, she couldn’t help letting out a small laugh. Her smile was breathtaking, like a painting, so beautiful that even the moonlight seemed to pale for an instant.

“You really are foolish, Liana.”

“Is that so?” Liana scratched her head and grinned foolishly. “People say that to me all the time. I’m already used to it.”

“But I don’t dislike foolish people.” The Mountain Ghost once again extended her hand toward Liana and said with a smile, “Leave your mother’s illness to me with peace of mind.”

“Really? That’s great!” Liana happily pounced forward. “See, I knew Mountain Ghost was a really good person. Mother didn’t lie to me at all!”

“Yes, your mother didn’t lie to you.” The Mountain Ghost couldn’t help reaching out to pat her head. ‘To be able to live so foolishly, so innocently, you must have a good mother. She must have protected you very well.’

“I suppose it’s time for me to go out and walk around again. Sleeping here all the time isn’t much of a life.” The Mountain Ghost murmured in a voice so soft that no one else could hear. “I wonder how you’re doing, Mom.”

“Hm? Mountain Ghost, did you say something?” Liana tilted her head and asked.

“Did I? You must have misheard.”

“Is that so? Ah, never mind.” Liana enthusiastically grabbed the Mountain Ghost’s hand. “There’s no time to waste. Let’s get going.”

“So eager? Are you sure you can move through the forest in the middle of the night?”

“Th-that’s true…” Liana’s excitement was instantly doused by a bucket of cold water. “Then let’s leave tomorrow at dawn.”

After saying that, she casually lay down on the smooth, flat boulder, imitating how the Mountain Ghost had rested earlier, and patted the space beside her. “Mountain Ghost, come sleep too. Once you fall asleep, tomorrow will be here in no time.”

“You really are carefree.” The Mountain Ghost sighed, but still obediently lay down beside her. She did not go to sleep, though, because she had already slept for a very, very long time before this. As for how long, even she did not know.

Liana closed her eyes, and the Mountain Ghost stopped speaking as well, and so everything returned to silence. But that silence did not last long. Liana sneakily opened her eyes, her wide-awake gaze darting around without the slightest hint of sleepiness.

“Mountain Ghost, I can’t fall asleep.”
“If you can’t sleep, then try harder.”
“But even if I try hard, I still can’t sleep.”
“You didn’t even try.”
“I did try.”

Liana said, “If I don’t fall asleep within five minutes, then it becomes really hard for me to sleep afterward. I’ve been like this since I was little.”

“Oh.” The Mountain Ghost felt that she was up to no good and decided she did not want to engage.

“Aren’t you curious how I used to fall asleep in situations like this?”
“Not curious.”
“Back then, whenever I couldn’t sleep, Mother would sing to me. Her singing was really beautiful. As long as she sang, I’d fall asleep very quickly.”
“……”
“So maybe…” Liana blinked and asked tentatively, “Mountain Ghost, you could also—”
“Don’t even think about it. I won’t sing.”
“Eh? But you sing so beautifully.”

“Tsk, so you did hear it.” The Mountain Ghost clicked her tongue softly, her cheeks faintly flushed. “But I won’t sing again. Don’t even think about it.”

“Ah, that’s such a shame.”

……

“Mountain Ghost, do you usually only eat flowers?”
“I prefer meat. I’m just too lazy to go get it.”
“Eh? That won’t do. If you don’t eat properly, your body will suffer.”
“……It won’t. Even if I don’t eat, I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t need to eat at all?” Liana exclaimed in shock. “Mountain Ghost, were you born from a rock?”
Then, as if something occurred to her, she gasped in alarm. “Don’t tell me the rock we’re lying on is actually your mom?”

“……”

For some reason, her fist clenched very, very tightly.

……

“Mountain Ghost, your hair is so pretty. Is it dyed?”
“……It’s natural.”
“That’s such a shame. I really want that color too.”
“……”

……

“Mountain Ghost, how long have you stayed here?”
“……”
“Eh? Did you fall asleep?” Liana turned her head and saw that the Mountain Ghost was already breathing evenly. “That’s a shame. I still wanted to know Mountain Ghost’s name. Well, I’ll ask tomorrow.”

Thinking that, Liana finally tried to sleep properly. Although she claimed she couldn’t fall asleep, after being exhausted all day without rest, she soon drifted toward slumber.

Just as she was about to fall completely asleep, she heard a voice whisper by her ear. “Lilith. My name is Lilith.”