During the night, I was able to walk without danger.

　Considering the remaining distance, it would take at least another 8 days to exit the forest.

　And there are only 5 points left.

"I had 9 points back then—couldn't I have escaped by using the barrier during the day, sleeping, and walking at night, repeating the cycle?"

　In the end, I just couldn't make a rational decision.

　The barrier stone is effective for 12 hours, so if I broke it in the morning, it would last until evening.

"It's pointless to say that now."

　It's already happened. Worrying about it won't change anything.

　I've barely used the crystal, and it hasn't accumulated much—definitely not enough to reach 30, which is just one point.

　So, realistically, I should keep using the crystal while aiming to escape.

It is currently 6 PM.

Yesterday, I walked nonstop through the night and shattered the barrier stone at dawn.

The sun is beginning to set.

It's time to depart.

I'll pick out items exchangeable with crystals that are practically usable.

"Health Recovery Potion – 3 Crystals"

"Stamina Potion – 3 Crystals"

These should do.

The Health Recovery Potion seems to instantly eliminate fatigue—something like a stimulant, perhaps. It's unlikely to be toxic to the body, though…

The Stamina Potion appears to boost endurance. It's like an energy drink, but since it requires three crystals, the actual effect must be strong.

Honestly, both the Health Recovery Potion and the Stamina Potion are usable.

Crystals can be exchanged for food or other items, so while they're valuable, I'll stick to trading them primarily for these two.

Current crystal count is 14.

For now, I'll exchange them for stamina potions.

The item that appeared when I tapped the screen was an orange-colored juice in a ceramic cup.

"Surprisingly, it's meant to be drunk right away."

It seems there's no intention to store it after exchange.

Maybe I could transfer it to another container, but for now, there's nothing I can do.

After drinking it, the taste was like orange juice—perhaps it's tailored for Earthlings. It's pleasant just for the sake of enjoying the flavor.

I don't feel any noticeable increase in stamina, but I'll believe in its effectiveness.

　

I dispelled the barrier and chanted the Darkness Fog technique.

In the darkness. Blending into the shadows, I dash forward.

Though it's only a light jog.

I'm not particularly athletic, so I'm more afraid of injuring myself by pushing too hard.

Still, it's better than walking—hopefully I can cover a bit more ground.

"I'll survive. I'll live, and I'll get through the forest."

Becoming one with the darkness, I race through the night.

Two hundred and eighty kilometers remain until I break free of the forest.

◇◆◆◆◇

It was going smoothly.

For four days straight, I ran only under the cover of night.

Stamina potions and vitality recovery potions did their jobs perfectly.

I drank a stamina potion, pushed myself to the limit, then downed a vitality recovery potion, and repeated the cycle.

The distance traveled in a single day reached fifty kilometers.

I had considered walking during the day, but it was impossible.

Monsters would appear from somewhere. Though they could be dispelled using barrier stones, walking outside of night time was extremely dangerous, and I couldn't risk it.

The monsters weren't just wolves; they included smaller versions of that flaming giant ape, or strangely aggressive deer.

The forest was overflowing with death, as if the lack of monsters in the giant ape’s territory had been a lie.

Upon closer inspection, animal bones were scattered everywhere, yet fruit and berries were abundant on the trees nearby.

Life and death.

It was a strange forest.

Or perhaps this was simply what the other world looked like.

And at the final checkpoint, I shattered the stone I'd just exchanged, sprinting through the forest with everything I had left.

Points and crystals both at zero.

If I couldn't escape the forest now, I had no idea what would happen.

"Huff... huff... Only eighty kilometers left... damn it!"

As for this strange forest, the deeper I got toward the exit, the denser and darker it became.

The gaps between trees narrowed, and overhanging branches made progress nearly impossible.

In the deep darkness, I was rarely attacked by monsters.

Probably because nocturnal predators that would prey on humans hardly lived here.

Occasionally, I'd nearly be ambushed by large feline beasts with glowing eyes, but I always escaped 100% safely using Darkness Fog.

In the darkness, I was nearly invincible.

That was precisely why I wanted to escape during the night.

I wanted to,

but... "It's getting lighter...! Shit... damn it...!"

The sunrise cheerfully peeked out, beginning to vividly color the forest.

I unfold the map. The remaining distance is 42 kilometers.

That's equivalent to a full marathon.

An utterly hopeless distance.

Having run nonstop through the night, of course I'm exhausted.

But now, sleeping is impossible.

There's no choice but to keep going.

The daily viewership had surpassed one billion.

They probably know I've used up all my points.

Are they cheering me on?

Or are they just watching me die in disgrace?

After all, a billion viewers means a billion different feelings.

With daily viewership exceeding one billion, three crystals had been issued.

Exchanged the stamina recovery potion and immediately drank it all.

Now, the only weapons left to me are an attack-powerless Dark Spirit Technique and this frail, life-sized body.

"Darkness Fog"

I dash from one dimly lit spot to another, even within the forest.

I've come this far.

I absolutely don't want to die.

For the sake of reuniting with Nanami.

For my family.

...And for the viewers who are cheering me on.