"WOOOOOOOONNNN!"

With a roar that seemed to carry weight, Marcothias spread his wings wide and soared into the sky. But there's no need for us to struggle anymore. Let's just watch him go.

If only the demon lord, like a great spirit, could have his inner sanctum visible through the barrier stone, we might have held him off for half a day—but that kind of lucky break isn't happening.

"Ah, um… Hikaru…?"

"What's wrong? Are you in pain somewhere? You lost so much blood, you might be feeling dizzy or sick."

"I-I'm fine, really… but…"

"Hm? You look a bit flushed. Is it a side effect of the Scroll…?"

The Scroll might just be designed specifically for Earthlings.

The wound appears to be healing without issue, but in this world, mysterious forces like spirit energy exist. It wouldn't be surprising if there were some side effects.

I place my hand on Refliah's forehead.

There's no fever, but Refliah's eyes glisten, and her face—and even her entire body—is flushed red.

"So it really does have side effects? Damn it... what should I do... what can I even do...?"

"Ah, um... Hikaru... I'm fine, really... I mean, it's just... it caught me by surprise, being so close like that..."

"Close?"

Hearing that, I finally take a step back and objectively assess the situation for the first time.

I was still supporting Refliah, who was lying on her side, hugging her from behind.

"W-wait, sorry!"

"Mm, you don't have to pull away so suddenly..."

"Say that kind of thing... Are you really okay with the injury?"

"Yeah... I'm fine, really. But I'm sorry. I'm just an idiot—I lost my head, even though I knew it was impossible... I couldn't stop myself."

Reflair lowered her face, gently stroking her legs, where not even a scar remained.

That was the result of me pushing her to her limit. I don't blame her for it.

Of course, I don't want it to happen again. She's already learned her lesson—more than anything, she's felt it in her body.

"It's just that things were going too smoothly up until now. It was probably better this way, at this moment."

"But..."

"But there's no 'but.' You'll lose easily to a strong opponent, and you might even die. It's only natural. The fact that you've actually experienced that—that's a good thing."

In the end, knowing when to step back comes only through experience.

Press when you must press. Withdraw swiftly when the time comes to pull back.

Mastering this dance of battle can only be learned through actual combat, but experiencing the threshold of defeat—losing—is something that usually happens only once in real combat. And that, in itself, means 'death.'

To endure that experience and still survive.

That will surely serve her well throughout her future life as a knight.

I was always someone who preferred larger safety margins, but this time, reaffirming the true danger of monsters was a positive outcome.

...Today marks the end of our adventure together.

In that sense, this experience of nearly losing and nearly dying might have been the greatest gift I could give her before we part.

"But... I was seriously injured, right? How did you do it? It looked like you healed me with that scroll."

I had just managed to seal away the healing spell, but there won't be a next time.

The effect of the Great Healing Scroll is immense, but gaining three points isn't something easily achieved.

And in another sense, there won't be a next time either.

Fighting alongside Refrea is no longer necessary now that the viewer race has ended.

"Still, that's an incredible effect. I thought I was going to die... I'd prepared myself for it, but it feels like a lie."

Refrea bounces excitedly in place, testing her condition. It seems there really are no side effects; though a faint redness still lingers on her face, she appears to be fine.

"I really was on the verge of death, so let's just stay here in the barrier and rest. The Demon King has already gone off somewhere."

"Wait, but Hikaru, don't we have to defeat the Demon King and stand out as the top contender? I'm fine now, so let's go."

No, it's already over—

I almost said it, but I bit my tongue.

I couldn't possibly say it. That I'd withdrawn.

Of course, there's no need to be brutally honest and say I quit to heal Reflair's injury. But if I said it ended now, she'd surely realize it was because of my own injury.

I'm her partner.

It goes without saying that her injury is also my responsibility.

"We haven't defeated the Demon King yet, and others could get hurt too... I won't push myself anymore... okay?"

"Can you promise not to push yourself?"

"I promise. And I won't lose, absolutely not."

In response to my question, Refrea firmly declared, placing a hand on her chest.

There's some anxiety, but we're already on the boat.

Let's fight through to the very end today.

Together.

◇◆◆◆◇

Our remaining points are zero.

We have some crystals, but since we've borrowed points, we can't use them until we've paid off the three-point debt. It would've been better to exchange them for potions beforehand, but it's too late now.

The Demon King will dispel our magic.

While the darkness itself remains effective, there's simply not enough strength on our side.

Cooperation with another party is essential.

Myself and Refrea stepped outside the barrier.

The barrier not only keeps the Demon King at bay, but also repels outside threats, so monsters stay far away.

A cry resembling the Demon King's terrifying roar echoes without pause.

"We have to find the Demon King. He's flying around, so spotting him will be no easy task."

"Just head toward the entrance, that's all we need."

"At least he flew off in that direction, so we should be fine."

After running toward the entrance for a while, a low, distant horn blast suddenly rang out.

Then came the shouts of the explorers.

It seemed another party had already begun fighting.

"Hikaru! It's coming from over there!"

"Wait, hold on— I heard it from this side! Ugh, this fog is really annoying!"

This layer would be a well-visible one if not for the thick fog, but visibility is poor and sound bounces around unpredictably, making it easy to lose one's sense of direction.

"Wait, wait, wait—wasn't there a phrase with the horn that could pinpoint our location?"

It sounds like Booboo-ba, nothing more than random blowing.

Or maybe this is supposed to work?

"This won't do. Are we really at a party that hasn't properly practiced with the horn?"

"Then what's the point!?"

"Few people actually take the horn training seriously... I myself haven't even gone through it properly... If you know the proper phrases, you can locate places, but I'm just not good at playing it myself..."

"Explorers... really..."

"Ah, monsters, Hikaru!"

Two hobgoblins and one troll.

I want to pursue the Demon King, but in this foggy labyrinth, it's hard to bypass monsters. There's no choice but to defeat them and move forward.

"Refrea, handle the goblins!"

Refrea on the brink of death, and above all, having given up on Nanami's revival—only then did I truly grasp, in the deepest sense, that my being in this world was an unavoidable reality.

...No, there's no need to use such complicated words.

Resolve—or resignation.

I am alive in this world.

I will live in this world.

That's all there is to it, simply understanding it deep down in my heart.

"Darkness Fog!"

Strangely, my body felt lighter.

It was as if the dark, sticky sensation I'd been carrying for so long had been slightly lifted.

I dash toward the troll struggling helplessly in the darkness and plunge the short knife straight into its throat.

The monster, severed from its spiritual energy source, collapses with a thud, transforming into a spirit stone the size of a fist.

"Refrea. Can you fight?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Turning around, I see Refrea has finished as well.

For a moment I worried that her severe injury might have left her traumatized by battle—but it seems my concern was unfounded.

　

The horn is blaring nonstop, signaling serious danger.

Myself and Refrea pause briefly, focusing our ears to pinpoint our positions.

In the misty labyrinth, sound reflects chaotically, making location detection difficult.

"That way! Wait— isn’t that the entrance? Damn it, we wasted time!"

Let's go!