Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 74: A Silent Night

Chapter 74: A Silent Night

The rhythmic ticking of the night clock filled the dimly lit room, a steady tick... tick... tick... breaking the heavy silence. Outside the window, the full moon hung high, casting a soft silver glow that came through the window, illuminating the edges of the furniture and the four of us lying on our beds.

The day had been long and exhausting, and for me, sleep had come almost instantly. My steady breathing was the only sign of my presence, undisturbed by the quiet murmurs of the others.

Billie, however, remained awake. She lay on her bed near the window, her gaze fixed on the vast night sky, lost in thought. Her arms rested on her stomach.

Beside her bed, was Serina’s bed, where she was still engaged in conversation with Hina.

"Hina, are you asleep?" she asked softly.

There was a little silence before Hina responded, her voice low but clear. "Not yet." She lay on her back, eyes open, staring at the ceiling as if lost in her own thoughts.

Serina chuckled lightly, shifting in her bed. "And Esther is already asleep..." she remarked, amusement in her tone.

Hina let out a small huff. "Of course he is. He’s always sleepy. That guy could sleep through an earthquake and still wake up asking for five more minutes." Her voice held a teasing edge.

Serina giggled. "I see... so that’s why you were on him that day when I came to meet you in the afternoon."

At that, Hina’s body visibly tensed.

"Ahh—don’t remind me!" she whined, covering her face with her hands as warmth rushed to her cheeks.

Serina smirked in the darkness, her voice laced with playful mischief. "I really thought you two were... you know... going at it." She chuckled slowly, drawing out her words for effect.

Hina groaned, flipping onto her side and burying her face into the pillow. "Ahhh, stop that already!" she mumbled, her voice muffled but still carrying clear embarrassment.

Serina laughed softly. "Alright, alright, sorry, sorry."

With a quiet sigh, Serina turned her head towards the window, her gaze following Billie’s distant expression. The night stretched on, quiet and calm, but beneath that silence, their minds were anything but at rest.

Billie lay on her back, the thin blanket covering her up to her chest, but no amount of warmth could settle the unease in her heart. Her hands rested lightly over the fabric, fingers occasionally curling into the material. The moonlight poured in through the window, casting a soft glow across her face, but sleep was nowhere in sight.

Serina, who had been quietly lying on her bed, noticed Billie’s restless expression and finally spoke in a low tone.

"Can’t sleep, Billie?"

Billie didn’t move, her gaze still fixed on the dark sky outside. Slowly, she shook her head. "No."

Hina, lying a few feet away, shifted onto her side, propping her head up with one hand. "What’s on your mind?" she asked, even though the answer seemed obvious.

A long, heavy pause stretched between them before Billie finally exhaled and whispered, "My brother..."

Silence settled in the room as Serina and Hina listened, giving her the space to let it out. Billie closed her eyes briefly, as if trying to push back the painful thoughts, but they came out anyway.

"I wonder how he must be doing... if he ate today or not... if he’s able to sleep or if he’s scared and alone..." Her voice wavered slightly. "I don’t know if they’re treating him right... or if he’s already been sold." She swallowed hard. "I don’t even know if he’s alive anymore."

Hina clenched her fists under the blanket, feeling a sharp sting in her chest at Billie’s words.

Serina spoke up, her voice soft yet steady. "Billie... your brother’s strong, isn’t he?"

Billie blinked a few times, then let out a small, breathy chuckle. "Yeah... he is." Her lips curled into a faint smile. "He’s younger than me, but he always acted like he was the older one. Always looking after me, making sure I was okay."

Hina and Serina exchanged a glance, listening intently as Billie’s voice took on a more nostalgic tone.

"When we were little, I used to be scared of thunderstorms." Billie smiled slightly at the memory. "Every time it rained, I’d crawl into his bed, and he’d pat my head and tell me stories until I fell asleep. He always acted like he wasn’t scared, but I knew he was just pretending for my sake."

She let out a small laugh. "One time, we both sneaked out to buy sweets from a street vendor because I was craving them so badly. We spent all our money and had to walk back to orphanage in the rain. When we got caught, he took all the blame and said it was his idea just so I wouldn’t get scolded."

Serina chuckled softly. "Sounds like he really loves you."

Billie nodded. "He does. And I love him too. He’s my only family... and now he’s out there, trapped in that horrible place." Her smile faded, and her voice turned hollow. "I wasn’t there to protect him when he needed me most."

Hina sat up slightly, her expression serious. "Billie. He’s okay. We’ll save him for sure."

Serina nodded in agreement. "And we’ll put an end to that disgusting market."

Billie turned her head to look at them, her eyes filled with unspoken gratitude. She forced a small smile and whispered, "Thank you."

Serina and Hina smiled back at her, a silent promise passing between them.

They would bring him back. No matter what it took.

The night stretched on in heavy silence, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. The air was cool, and the faint glow of moonlight cast long shadows across the room. It was past two in the morning now. Time had slipped away unnoticed, and exhaustion had finally claimed everyone—at least, that’s how it seemed.

I lay on my side, facing the door, my breathing slow and steady. The girls were behind me, their soft, even breaths blending into the quiet. The room was at peace.

Then, suddenly, I felt it—a faint shift on my mattress. A small, almost hesitant movement.

Someone had climbed onto my bed.

My body tensed instinctively, but I didn’t move. Instead, I slowly opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the darkness. Even without turning, I could sense who it was.

Without raising my voice, I muttered, "Why haven’t you slept already?"

A gentle hand pressed against my back, light and warm. Then, after a moment, I felt a soft tap—her forehead resting against me in the stillness of the night.

"Why haven’t you?" Hina’s voice was barely above a whisper, carrying a small, tired smile. "You seemed to be asleep a few hours ago."

I exhaled through my nose. "I was sleeping... but that doesn’t mean I’ll let my guard down."

Hina chuckled lightly. "Like a true guardian."

I didn’t respond. There was no need to. A quiet understanding passed between us in that moment, spoken only in the stillness of the room.

For a while, she remained like that—resting against me, unmoving, as if drawing comfort from the warmth. Her breathing was slow, almost as if she would drift off right there.

Then, just as I thought she had fallen asleep, she spoke again.

"Esther..."

Her voice was softer this time. Almost hesitant.

"Yes?" I asked.

A pause. Then, "You will protect me, right? If something were to happen."

Her words carried a vulnerability that hadn’t been there earlier. I frowned slightly, not because I was annoyed, but because it was so unlike her.

I turned my head slightly, though not enough to look at her. "What happened? You were acting all tough earlier, saying you could take care of yourself."

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she shifted slightly before pressing her forehead lightly against my back once more.

"I just said that..." she admitted, her voice barely above a murmur.

Then, after a small pause, she continued, her voice quieter. "...To be honest, I’m a little scared."

For a moment, I didn’t say anything. I simply let her words settle between us.

Of course, she was scared.

This wasn’t just some ordinary fight or challenge we were walking into. The place we were planning to infiltrate—the underground market where Billie’s brother was being held—was dangerous, filled with powerful people who wouldn’t hesitate to kill. Even someone as strong-willed as Hina couldn’t be completely fearless and the fact that she has witnessed lots of deaths since the time she is walking with me.

I exhaled softly, my breath steady and calm. "Hmm... I can understand."

She didn’t move.

I let a small pause stretch between us before I finally said, "Don’t worry. I will protect you for sure."

Hina stayed quiet for a second before she whispered, "That’s a promise."

Then, gently, she lifted her head from my back. I felt the shift in weight on the mattress as she got up, and a moment later, the sound of soft footsteps as she padded back to her own bed.

I exhaled slowly, my muscles finally relaxing.

The room fell back into silence. I closed my eyes once more. And this time, I let sleep take me.