"……Wait."

At the moment of leaving, my hand was grabbed.

With a feeble, fragile strength, one that could be easily shaken off.

When I turned around, she was looking up at me.

Her cheeks flushed.

Her eyes glistening.

Gazing at me with a feverish intensity.

I felt my chest seized by that sight.

"Hikaru… don’t go. If you don’t scold me more, I think I’ll make a mistake… please? Scold me more?"

It was a plea on the verge of tears.

Reflare wasn’t angry.

She wasn’t angry… but this was entirely beyond what I’d expected—

"If Hikaru leaves like this, she might really end up making a mistake... Yesterday, just standing at the entrance to the labyrinth, she was approached by so many explorers... It could get pretty persistent, and she might not be able to refuse..."

"Is that a threat?"

"Say it like this, and she'll stay, won't she? Hikaru's too kind-hearted."

I had no choice but to give in.

Scratching my head, I resettled on the bed.

Back then, my younger sisters had been manipulated the same way.

Is this some kind of woman's ultimate move?

"Reflia... how old are you, exactly?"

"Huh? Why suddenly? I'm sixteen. How about you, Hikaru?"

"I'm fifteen... no, actually, seventeen."

"Hmm, so you're older than me..."

"What's that supposed to mean...?"

Even though my physical age was only increased by two years, my mental age remained at fifteen. Still, maybe because I'd been through so much with my family, people tended to see me as older than I was. I suppose I have a youthful appearance, but perhaps the hardships I've endured showed on my face.

Still, Refreia is sixteen? ...I thought she might be older.

"If she's sixteen, she should be old enough to make her own decisions. Whether or not she follows someone she's approached—there's no reason for me to interfere, no right to say anything."

"Then, you don't mind?"

She looks straight at me and asks that.

Refreia is ruthless.

"Of course I mind."

"Why? You just said you had neither duty nor right to interfere."

"…Because Refreia is beautiful. I don't want her to be defiled by some senseless man like that."

"～～～～ッ!"

"Hey, wait—"

Suddenly tackled from the side, I'm pushed onto the bed.

"I... I'd be happy being Hikaru. No, I don't want anyone but Hikaru. I've never felt like this before... You know? Even like this, my heart keeps saying how happy, so happy it is. Just touching you, feeling your warmth, it's unbearable."

Straddling me, passionately pressing close—how could any man resist?

Even I wouldn't know, not if the whole world weren't watching.

"Calm down, Refrea. You're still drunk, aren't you?"

"You... say it again."

"Huh? You, you, you..."

"Hehehe. I've never been called 'you' like that before."

Once more, I'm tightly embraced.

Feeling his feverish body all over me, I started to feel dizzy with heat myself.

Just a moment ago, it had seemed a little more normal.

"You really should cut back on the drinking. You're bound to make a mistake. Hell, you're already making one right now."

"Do you even realize you're doing this while drunk?"

"Otherwise, you wouldn't be doing something like this—"

Before he could finish, Refreia sat up.

Her face was completely red.

But her glistening eyes weren't those of a drunk—

"…I was just pretending to be drunk. Otherwise, I couldn't possibly do something so bold, not with how embarrassed I'd be."

"Honestly… Just calm down already. I'm not going anywhere."

"You're not?"

"I already told you, I'm not!"

Then, maybe I'll go with the flirtation... If Hikaru won't take me, I'll let another man have me...

"Don't tease me like that..."

I have no idea what struck a nerve with her, but I never expected to be approached like this.

I'm so overwhelmed I can't even hear the glances or laughter from Earth anymore.

"See? You're trembling, aren't you?"

"W-wait—"

Reifrea grabs my hand and presses it against her chest.

The second time feeling it, just like when she was a courtesan.

But this time, it's immeasurably sweeter than before, and I'm on the verge of losing myself completely.

"I've been searching for you for days. All that time, I kept thinking about you—wondering what kind of things we'd talk about, how you'd smile..."

The rhythm of her heartbeat, transmitted through skin to skin. The warmth. The tenderness.

To me, who had survived this strange world alone, it was an irresistible temptation.

I wanted to be forgiven.

I wanted to be comforted.

I wanted peace.

"So… actually, the thanks… it was just an excuse. I just really enjoyed the meal, had fun, and thought it was wonderful. That’s all."

"O… oh…"

Her breath brushed against my ear, and her warm, moist lips grazed my cheek.

The silk strand of hair draped over my ear rustled softly, tickling my neck.

Pressed so tightly against me, as if drawn by an invisible force, our bodies merging in heat, I was losing all sense of clarity.

A wooden window, tightly shut, with a faint glow of moonlight seeping through.

The dim glow of a lantern casts our two shadows merging into one.

Only the sound of our breaths melts into the hot air of the sealed room.

I was on the verge of surrendering—

just then,

"Ping pong pahn! Attention all dimensional transmigrants! Starting tomorrow, we'll be holding our first-ever viewership race for two weeks! During this period, we've prepared incredibly luxurious prizes for those transmigrants who capture the most attention from viewers. Please join us in full force! The highlight prize for this historic first event is the 'Gem of Resurrection'—a rare and exclusive item impossible to obtain on Earth or in any other world! Do your best to secure first place in this inaugural competition and earn the honor of being the top viewer favorite!"

It felt as though an icy spear had been driven through my back.

A blunt announcement instantly cooled the overheated mind.

"Ah, don't squeeze so hard——wait, Hikaru...? What's wrong...?"

"I'm sorry... Could you just wait a moment?"

I quickly opened my status board.

To Reifrea, I must have looked like a strange person suddenly running fingers through empty space, but it didn't matter.

What had the announcement just said?

The grand prize was 'the Death( )Revenant( )Revival( )Pearl( )of( )Life( )and( )Soul

'—wasn't that right?

"Hey, seriously, what's wrong? You're shaking..."

"Sorry... Just... Just wait a little longer..."

I kept repeating the same excuse, my heart racing with a different kind of frenzy than before.

The status board already had the details of the viewership race uploaded.

With trembling fingers, I tapped the prize: "Pearl of Resurrection."

'Pearl of Resurrection: Sacred Artifact. A divine gem capable of calling someone dear back from the other side. Can be used for those who died on Earth or in another world. The deceased will revive at the location of their death—use caution. Only those truly precious to you can be revived.'

My entire body was drenched in sweat.

My heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it would burst.

If I could secure first place in the viewership race, I could bring Nanami back to life—?

There was no room to doubt the power of the gods now.

If he says he can revive the dead, then he must be able to.

Regardless of the gods' intentions, if Nanami can come back to life, then I—

"Kyuu, suddenly... something's weird? Are you not feeling well? Wait, yikes!"

I sat up abruptly and hugged Refrea tightly.

The decision was instantaneous.

I'll take first place.

No matter what means I must use.

Even if it means selling my soul to the devil.

"Should I really take that reward...?"

"Eh, eh? Yeah, sure, I was planning to anyway, but... why the sudden change of heart?"

"…The circumstances have changed. So, as a reward... could it be, like, a reservation?"

"A reservation? You mean you're not doing it today?"

"Yeah. Sounds weird, but I'll definitely claim it myself—just don't give it to any other man."

That's terrible.

I was thinking about using Reflair.

It's impossible for me to rank first on my own.

But the worse I am, the more viewers who hate me will be unable to look away.

Reflair pretended to think for a moment, then spoke quietly.

"Reservations... I don't mind that, but... as I said earlier, I'm leaving this town. My companions—well, they're just the girls who used to work at my family's estate, daughters ( I've come to think of as family, ) but it's about time I sent them home. I was planning to say thank you to Hikaru and leave myself."

"So you're not going to be exploring anymore?"

"Yeah. I can't do it alone, and it's too late now to team up with anyone else... I guess I might come off as too self-centered, but other explorers always look at me with distaste."

　

Joining another explorer party on my own would be a tough

hurdle. Even I, who am completely free, had never even considered such an idea. And

Reflair is a stunningly beautiful woman. If she joined a party with men, she’d undoubtedly face hardships. "…That’s why

I’m thanking you. I’d really like to receive it today. Once I return to Siltyon, it’ll be hard to come back here again." To her, this

might just be a simple memory from our journey. But to me, she’s essential. I need her—absolutely—if

I’m to win the viewership race and

bring Nanami back to life. "Reflair. Will you join my party starting tomorrow

? …I really need you." "Eh? Eh? Eh? Well, if you’re the one asking, I’d be happy to—but

seriously, what’s going on? You’re changing so suddenly—"

Too much of a change. That's exactly right.

Up until now, I've lived without drawing attention, avoiding increasing viewership.

But to bring Nanami back to life, I must do the exact opposite.

I need to stand out dramatically.

If I'm hated and people are watching me out of morbid curiosity, then I'll play the villain to the hilt and still take first place.

I'll probably be hated more than ever before.

The public might feel sympathy for Reflair, and other transferred individuals might even warn people, "He's being fooled!"

But that's fine.

No matter what the cost, if I can still achieve first place...

"I'll explain everything once it's all over. So, will you stick with me until then?"

"Yeah, I couldn't really do anything back home, so if someone strong in spirit magic like Hikaru is willing to team up with me, it's exactly what I've been hoping for."

"Thank you. We'll get along great from tomorrow on. I'll come pick you up in the morning."

I lightly kissed Refrea's cheek and slipped out of the room before she could even process it.

Refrea was stunningly beautiful.

She'd surely captivate the audience's attention.

I wasn't entirely free of guilt for using her for my own purposes.

But once everything is over, I'll make up for it—no matter the cost.

Even if it means—

I'd pay with my life if needed.