"Amazing, that outfit. Do they sell stuff like that?"

"Not bad, right? I earned points from defeating the Demon Lord, so I traded them for this."

Alex was impeccably dressed in a sharp suit. And he'd spent exactly zero points to get it—truly a European touch. His dedication to the party was clear.

"You should try trading points for gear—it feels great. The fit's perfect, too. You got points, right, Hikaru?"

He'd earned three points from defeating the Demon Lord, but those were immediately used to pay off his previous debt.

Aside from that, he'd also gained one point along with the title 'Hero,' but he wasn't about to spend it on clothes.

"Being a Hero isn't really my style, you know?"

"Hey, you got it too? Probably because we defeated the Demon King, but I've never actually gotten a title before, so it's kind of a nice surprise, you know?

Maybe it's just a cultural difference.

No, honestly, I probably wouldn't have minded being called a hero either.

It's just that something went off course somewhere.

Anyway, the suit, right? How about you, Hikaru?"

"I'll think about it."

I dodged it casually, but trading money for something you can buy is a bad deal.

I definitely want to keep at least one barrier stone, and if possible, I'd like to always carry a great healing scroll too. With those two, I won't die unless something really extreme happens.

　

"Hey, Hikaru. Can I ask you something?"

"If I can answer it."

"What's your relationship with Reflair?"

I’d always thought I’d eventually be asked about it, and sure enough, it seemed to bother them.

"We're party members,"

"Hmm, so you're not dating then?"

"Of course not. Besides... we've already disbanded the party."

"Why? You were doing so well fighting the Demon King."

"It was only ever meant to be temporary."

I downed the wine I’d been holding without drinking it.

The dissolution of the party with Refreia was already a settled matter. It wasn’t even something most people knew about in the first place. So, the fact that it was gone didn’t really matter.

I knew that, yet still, telling someone about it made my chest ache sharply.

I couldn’t even keep a calm face without the help of alcohol.

Even though I’d chosen this myself.

"—Hey... you okay?"

I couldn't find words to reply to Alex, who asked me that while leaning against the wall just like me.

I didn't even know what expression I wore, and I drained the last of the drink in my glass.

"Oh, Refreia-san."

Refreia, who had been chatting a little distance away, noticed me and walked over.

I quickly looked away.

For some reason, right now, I couldn't seem to talk properly with Refreia—or anyone else, really.

"But, Refreia-san, you're beautiful today."

"That's true."

"Hey, Hikaru. Why don't you introduce me to Refreia?"

The handsome guy beside me said that.

Even if it was just an introduction, we'd fought alongside the Demon King before, so we were already acquainted. Still, maybe he was trying to be considerate toward me in his own way.

"Sure, fine."

"It's an introduction, you understand, right?"

He emphasized it, but basically... was he trying to seduce me?

Honestly, I didn't want to, but I couldn't think of a legitimate reason to refuse.

While I was hesitating, Refrea called out to me.

"Ah~! Hikaru, you're drinking alcohol! I was trying to hold myself back, you know~!"

Refrea laughed cheerfully, glowing like a goddess, her presence too dazzling for me to bear.

Compared to her, I was nothing—unable to enjoy the party, unable to chat with other adventurers, just aimlessly wasting time.

—Back in that dungeon.

It was only because it was dark and dim there that I could be with Refrea.

We'd only been together by sheer coincidence.

The light was so intense it forcefully made me realize that this was someone I should never have had anything to do with.

　

I don’t remember what conversation we had afterward.

After introducing Alex as another transmigrant from the same planet, I quietly slipped away from the spot.

Alex, too, was glowing.

Tall and radiant, with a bright smile revealing white teeth, standing beside Reflair, the two of them looked like a perfect match.

A dazzling party venue. Glittering attendees.

This was not a place for me.

"Pam-pa-ka-paan! Hello, fellow interdimensional travelers! Congratulations on completing the two-week-long, inaugural viewership race! Thank you all for participating! Now, the much-anticipated moment—results announcement time!"

Suddenly, a cheerful, upbeat voice rang out clearly in my mind.

It seemed the ratings race had ended.

Afterward, the voice read out the names of the winners—people other than me.

My name wasn’t there.

Of course not; I’d withdrawn on the twelfth day.

"So this is it… truly the end…"

I couldn’t bring Nanami back to life.

There was no longer any need to force myself into the spotlight.

I’d have to continue living in this world, compromising with viewers who disliked me.

Alex kept speaking insistently, and Reflair smiled elegantly.

I couldn’t even listen to them, let alone look at them, and quietly left the scene.

Stepping out from the terrace, I walked through the garden, shrouded in darkness.

I sat on a bench at a distance where the party’s noise no longer reached.

The garden without streetlights is wrapped in darkness.

The moonlight, the twinkling stars—neither has the strength to illuminate my form.

This darkness, unseen by anyone, felt comfortable to me.

As if a dance had begun, a faintly cheerful melody drifts through the crisp night air from afar.

It felt like the glow of Earth seen from space—something distant, like events from another world.

People’s laughter, vibrant music.

A world of light that had nothing to do with me.

It unavoidably reminded me of the distance between me and Reflair from now on.

Light and darkness cannot coexist.

That obvious truth—this separation, once again, made me fully aware.

… Starting tomorrow, I’ll plunge into the labyrinth alone, and live in a way that gradually reduces the swelling number of viewers.

If I just lived a quiet life hunting on the second floor, I wouldn't die or stand out.

I could leave the inn and rent a room somewhere.

I felt the need to cut down on unnecessary expenses, and now I could probably afford to rent a room.

A life like that wouldn't draw any attention from viewers.

Having failed to bring Nanami back to life, I can't find any other choice in life besides quietly living on, shunned by others.

I sat on a bench, gazing vaguely at the shimmering stars of a world different from Earth.

I couldn't help but recall these past two weeks spent with Reflair.

　

—If only they'd say they wanted to keep working with me…

Even just one word like that—

…I'd be lying if I said such thoughts never crossed my mind.

But I can't do that.

If I say it out loud, I'll never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life.

She can achieve her dream.

She can become a Sacred Knight.

Feeling a bit sentimental, I just stayed like that, gazing up at the night sky for a while.