"Ahaha, I was actually worried I'd get hated for dragging you along so forcefully. I've been anxious this whole time. ...Thank goodness."

"There's no way anyone could hate Refreia."

"So do you like her?"

"Hmm, no comment."

"Ahaha! I do like her, though!"

Pretending to joke, they playfully tease each other.

Even as they're doing this right now, the viewer race continues, and they might miss their chance to come in first.

That thought constantly races through their mind, but it's also true that their perspective had grown narrow.

They'd been thinking, "If I fight the Demon King alone, maybe my viewership will rise and I'll come in first," or "Even if I die, it'll be fine somehow..."—all without any real basis.

I couldn't even defeat a Garden Panther by myself, and maybe I wouldn't have been able to run away at all.

(I wonder why I was thinking like this?)

... I'd been utterly exhausted from just living in this world for so long.

Maybe I was only convincing myself that I had to push myself to aim for first place, when in reality I was just searching for a reason to die.

There's no doubt in my heart that I want to bring Nanami back to life. But I wasn't strong enough to truly face that desire head-on.

Trying to become number one was impossible from the start. Maybe I kept telling myself it was impossible unless I went to the extreme—so extreme it could cost me my life—just as an excuse.

Maybe what I was doing was nothing more than a slow form of suicide.

I wasn't really avoiding overexertion at all. Before coming to this world, I was just an ordinary high school student no one ever noticed.

—Actually... I had long since surpassed my limits.

"...Reflia always finds me, doesn't she?"

If I hadn't met her, I might have pushed myself even harder just to keep up with the ratings race. I could have easily gone down to the fifth floor alone, even if it was only the fourth.

Human connections are truly mysterious.

If it hadn't been for her cheerful smile finding me, I might have already given up on living in this world long ago.

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"Nothing much."

"Aww, come on, I'm curious. You're being so sweet and all... Hikaru, you're such a tease..."

"Don't say weird things. That's just normal."

I just felt unusually at peace, for the first time in a while.

Maybe that's why it showed on my face.

◇◆◆◆◇

I had dinner at a restaurant known for its delicious vegetables from the domain of the earth spirit, where Reifrea had visited once before.

It felt like I'd eaten real vegetables for the first time in a while.

After finishing our meal, just before parting ways outside the shop.

Reifrea asked me again, stressing her concern.

"Hikaru, I'll be joining the demon lord's destruction tomorrow... promise me you won't push yourself too hard? Don't go wandering into the dungeon alone, okay?"

It might have been something she'd wanted to ask me all day.

Until the demon lord is defeated, low-ranked explorers like me aren't allowed to enter the dungeon.

Meanwhile, Reifrea, ranked silver, is permitted to join the mission.

If we're together like this, she could keep watching over me forever—but of course that's not possible.

She truly cares about me.

I wanted to respond to that kindness.

But—

"……Sorry. I can't promise that. I'll be joining the demon king's defeat, even if it's under the radar."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I know it's dangerous… but I have to go."

I wasn't planning to go alone anymore.

But if it's a proper expedition team—maybe even with several silver-ranked explorers, or possibly even a Holy Knight participating—the danger could be minimized.

Winning alone might boost my viewership and put me at the top, but thinking clearly about what I can actually do and acting accordingly was just as important.

I'd be willing to die if it meant bringing Nanaumi back to life. There's no lie in that feeling.

But that doesn't mean it's okay to die without bringing her back.

"Hikaru... You really, really have to go, don't you? Is fighting the Demon King really that important to you?"

"Yeah. If I don't do this, I think I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I know it's a bad thing... but, honestly, I don't think I'll be a burden."

If I don't hold back my abilities, the dark spirit magic should be quite useful in battle.

Since there aren't any dark spirit mages in this town, that makes it even more important.

"Well then, since you've kept me company all day, here's my thanks!"

Stopping in the middle of the path, Refreia finally let go of my hand, stood straight in front of me, and handed me something.

It's like a black board.

"What's this?"

"This is the official certification for the Demon King Slayer Team Porter. I forcibly took it and brought it back for you!"

"Wait... what exactly does that mean?"

"With this, Hikaru can enter the dungeon alongside the Slayer Team as a full-fledged Porter. I figured you'd go in alone anyway, no matter what. Honestly, I couldn't have gotten this certification by myself, but I just made up some excuse about recent achievements being due to the Porter's help and got it issued. ...Was that really helpful, or just a burden?"

I was stunned.

I never thought Refreia would do something like this.

After all, I hadn't told her the reason why I needed to enter the dungeon—why I absolutely had to go in.

She simply sensed that I wanted to fight the Demon King, and so she arranged for me to enter the dungeon.

"Seriously... if I have this, I can enter? So Porter, fighting isn't allowed?"

"Once combat starts, it doesn't matter at all—let's just go ahead and claim the reward, Burn!"

If I had followed quietly, I might have been caught and kicked out, or worse, put Refrea in a bad position if she was in the same party.

But with this certification, everything's clear.

"Ah, thank you...! Thank you, Refrea. I'm really happy...!"

"Hehe, maybe you don't want to let me go anymore, Hikaru?"

"Well, I— "

I started to say it, but couldn't finish the sentence.

Refrea's eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.

The way she looked—holding back a laugh, holding back tears—left me utterly unsure of what to do.

Just five more days... no, four days, and the viewer race will be over.

After that, I plan to be alone again.

Anyone with even a modicum of sensitivity could tell that Refreia still wants to keep exploring with me.

I don’t know the specifics of her situation—when the Holy Knight exam will be, or whether she needs to practice spirit magic—but clearly, she’s prioritizing time with me.

I didn’t need her to explain it; her actions and expressions made it obvious.

I, too, enjoy diving into the labyrinth with Refreia and Grapeflour—just the three of us.

There’s a sense of fulfillment I never felt when I used to plunge into the dungeon alone, heart empty.

If this were merely a case of being transported to another world, I could’ve chosen to do that, too.

But... there was nothing I could do about it.

The more pure and beautiful she was, the more impossible it became for me to be with her.

"Well... I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Hikaru...?"

I took one step, then another, stepping back and bidding her farewell.

—She had her own dreams,

—And I had my own impossible circumstances.

I closed my eyes, unable to bear the sight of her anxious expression.

Hardening my heart like steel, I turned my back on her.

"Good night!"

I ran with all my might.

So that no regrets, no emotions, nothing could catch up to me.

Carrying a heart as heavy as lead.