"So, are you going to give up?"

"...?"

"I know he doesn't have a shred of expectation for us. Even I don't think I'm someone worth having expectations for."

Deathbringer almost choked on his own spit at the Inquisitor's words.

Seriously, that idealist could sometimes be more scathing than any pessimist. He had no idea what was going on in her head.

"... It's not to that extent. No, why on earth would you think that? You're really not that incompetent, you know?"

In the first place, what he said... the true meaning behind his words was...

"I appreciate that. But if we're going by that, you're better than me."

At the Inquisitor's words, he lowered his head, unable to laugh or cry.

The Inquisitor didn't know. She didn't know the true meaning behind what he had said, or the reason why he had no choice but to be so resigned.

"No, I'm... I really am a meaningless person. If our purposes don't align, then I'm someone who isn't even worth being around... That's exactly the kind of person I am."

"You..."

"And it's probably the same for you. Perhaps, that's what you ended up becoming."

"...?!"

Deathbringer suddenly recalled what the Archmage had said. That the Demon Knight was avoiding him because he was confused? That somewhere in his heart, he might actually care about him?

Yeah, that might be right. No, it was right.

Whether it was out of a love-hate attachment or sympathy. What other reason would the Demon Knight have to tolerate him unless some sort of affection had built up to make him want to keep him alive? At the moment the Demon Knight couldn't bring himself to cut him down and dropped his blade, what else could have caused him to make that expression other than affection?

"You know what, softie?"

But... But still.

"The Boss is... more affectionate than you'd think."

Did the affection that made the Demon Knight tolerate him still remain even now? If the Demon Knight had realized it... what reason would he have to leave it be?

"... I know. Why else would he stand up for the weak?"

"That's not what I mean. I'm talking about... how he normally treats us."

The Demon Knight was affectionate. Yes, Deathbringer could be certain of that now. He was a warmhearted person. He was someone with so much affection that it couldn't even be hidden behind his vicious words, his reticent attitude, and his abrasive behavior.

"He threatened to leave us behind if we became a hindrance, yet when I was in danger of dying, he secretly reached out to help me. Even though he finds us annoying, he doesn't push us away when we cling to him. I think that's... the Boss's own way of being affectionate."

At the same time, he was a man who had thrown his life away for revenge. To borrow the Archmage's words, he was someone who 'wanted to stand against demons until the moment he died.'

But... was affection truly of any value to someone like that?

"And that affection is probably the most unnecessary emotion for the Boss."

For a man whose goal was to kill demons, and whose ultimate objective was to die at the end of it all, was there anything more useless than affection?

"Why would affection... be an unnecessary emotion?"

"Because it gets in the way."

Affection caught a person by the ankles, shackled their wrists, and eventually blocked their eyes, ears, and mouth while strangling their neck. That was the kind of 'affection' Deathbringer had experienced.

Even while calling it detestable, it forced people to stake their lives on it; it made them unable to resist even when they had the power to break free, and in certain moments, it made them die in someone else's place... That was the emotion called 'affection.'

"Normal people find comfort and love in affection... but that's not us."

It was an emotion that had that effect even in ordinary families where there were no life-risking battles of force. So, what would happen if 'affection' bloomed among those who actually fought with their lives on the line?

He could guarantee that it wouldn't be a pretty sight. At certain moments, it might bring about positive results, but usually, it was the exact opposite.

"That's also why I'm... why I'm struggling with what to do, softie."

And when such a thing happened, who would end up more miserable—them or the Demon Knight?

"If we just sit still, the Knight Boss looks like he'll just die, but if I reach out my hand now, will I even be able to save him? Wouldn't it just make things harder for the Boss instead?"

Who would end up making the greater sacrifice?

"Especially since I, I'm..."

... What reason did the Demon Knight have to bear all that and give him affection?

He had a history of being manipulated by a demon and nearly turning into a traitor, a history of attacking the Demon Knight because of it, and outside of that, his usefulness was remarkably low.

"... Do I even have the right to dare reach out to the Boss?"

The Inquisitor couldn't easily answer Deathbringer's question. Which path was the more right, no, the better path? She was just as clueless.

"... I really don't know."

And so, the Inquisitor admitted it. What she didn't know, she didn't know.

"However, I do not believe what you said serves as an excuse for us not to try."

Also because of that, she came to a conclusion. Deathbringer's eyebrows furrowed sharply.

"How do you know that's the right answer?"

"I do not know. It is something I have never experienced or resolved, so how could I possibly know what the right answer is? But even so, is standing still the right answer?"

"... If we move recklessly."

"Exactly, so is there any guarantee that the outcome of moving recklessly will be worse than the outcome of just waiting idly?"

The Inquisitor, wearing only her leg armor, straightened her back with a CLANK. Matching that motion, the face she briefly raised held not a single trace of shadow.

"Of course, the outcome of us taking action could be worse than the outcome of standing still. But can you know that for sure? No, you cannot. You are worrying right now because you don't know."

Instead, light overflowed from it.

"I do not know either. I intend to act because I do not know. Ignorance cannot serve as my excuse to give up, nor can it serve as a justification for me to let the Demon Knight go. Running away by using ignorance as a pretext isn't to my tastes in the first place. Setting a limit and saying it won't work without even trying is also not what I should be doing."

A radiance that eclipsed even the freckles and blemishes born from the sun's burn cascaded over the bridge of her nose, her cheeks, and her neck.

"Therefore, I will not back down. To me, inaction is far more shameful than failure."

Seriously, the softie was an unparalleled, stubborn, obstinate fool.

"And above all, I hate the idea of leaving the Demon Knight like this. Why should he have to hurt and die all by himself? Even if he hates it, I am going to cure him. A patient should be sent to a clinic; they shouldn't be left to suffer alone while awaiting the day of their death."

And a Hero.

Just as she had always been.

"On top of that, I am not trying to understand or sympathize with the Demon Knight! So it is fine! I simply want to stand side by side with him, sometimes catch him when he's about to fall, receive his help a little less frequently than I do now, and walk together with him like that!"

"... Good grief. What is that? That's just playing with words."

"How is this playing with words? According to what the Archmage passed on, the Demon Knight only mentioned absurd sympathy and understanding, did he not? Then as long as it's not those two things, isn't it fine?"

"Are you actually a fool, or a genius pretending to be a fool? I really can't figure you out."

"...??"

"Sigh, never mind. What's the point of telling you."

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Deathbringer straightened his crouched legs. The sunlight streaming in through his lowered hood cascaded over his skin just the same.

"But still... well, alright. It's true that a patient should be sent to a clinic. Divine power is poison to the Boss, so a clinic affiliated with the Temple won't work, though."

"I am aware of that now as well."

"... And I still haven't apologized yet, either."

"Do you have something to apologize for? Why haven't you done it yet?"

"... I know, right. Maybe it's because I've rarely ever apologized properly before, but it's difficult."

"What is so difficult about apologizing? You just do it."

"I guess it's because I'm not as straightforwardly steadfast as you are."

More accurately, it was because he was afraid of the Demon Knight's reaction.

"... Do you think the Boss was hurt?"

"Him? Hmm. As long as I do not know what you did, I cannot say, but it is hard to imagine him getting hurt."

"That's true, but..."

Deathbringer blinked at the Inquisitor's words. He had thought the same. That was why he had thrust his sword without hesitation.

But looking back on it now...

"He must have been hurt, after all."

"What on earth did you do, you bastard?"

"... Maybe I'm the only one in the party who the Boss now considers worthless, not everyone."

"What the hell did you actually do, you degenerate?!"

"Be quiet... I feel like dying now, too."

"Suicide is bad! Confess and repent!!"

"Fuck..."

* * *

How distracted had I been by reading for the first time in a while?

In the middle of reading a book, I realized the pages were looking red. The sun was starting to set.

"... I'll be going now."

"Y-Yes? Ah, you're leaving?"

'Ah, if I had known this would happen, I would've booked an inn beforehand. I completely forgot that if I couldn't stay at the Temple, I'd have to stay in an inn room.'

"Goodbye!"

'Would there still be rooms left if I went now?' I turned my back on the shop owner's farewell with that thought in mind.

Since it was officially dinner time, I could feel hunger in my stomach too.

"Oh, customer. You've come!"

However, while looking for an inn, I found a snack that looked too delicious to just pass by. It was a dish of stir-fried vegetables served inside bread.

"One vegetable."

"Just a moment!"

My wallet opened on its own.

"Here, take it!"

"Hold on."

I get that the bread is part of the dish and also serves as a bowl, but the fact that it gets crumbs everywhere disqualifies it as a bowl for me.

So, I took the vegetable stir-fry bread using the handkerchief I had bought earlier as a barrier. The bread was so hard that even with it completely filled with sauce, it showed no signs of getting soggy.

CRUNCH.

It was the same when I carefully took a bite of the edge. It wasn't just normally hard. If I didn't want to break a tooth, it seemed best to eat it carefully.

"Have a good one!"

CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

But still, it tasted good.

I left the stall, savoring the taste of the vegetable stir-fry that was more delicious than I had expected.

The beets, cherry tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers alternately provided a crisp texture, while the sauce soaked into them wrapped my tongue in savory flavor.

To put it most simply, it was incredibly delicious.

It seemed I would have to buy it one more time before leaving the city.

"Brother, let's go over there!"

"Where? Where!?"

"Over there!!"

"Reya, wait!"

"You'll trip if you run too fast!"

"Ehehe! Hurry up and come... Ah!"

Then for a moment, one of the kids walking past me tripped on a stone and started to fall.

My right hand reached out reflexively, then stopped.

"Uwah, wah!"

STUMBLE! STUMBLE!

In that time, the little girl somehow managed to shoot her other foot out to catch her balance. However, her center of gravity had already shifted forward.

The child's body completely tipped over.

SPLAT.

In response, I tossed my bread and reached out with my left hand. I judged that there wouldn't be enough time to switch to my right hand.

GRAB.

"Wah!"

Still, in exchange, I was able to grab the arm of the child who was already falling.

I slowly pulled the child's forward-leaning body back up.

"Are you okay?!"

"Reya is o- Gasp!"

"Th-Thank y... Hic!"

The other children who seemed to be with her ran over, only to flinch in shock when they saw me.

"S-Sorry..."

"Eek. It's an adventurer."

"I-I'm sorry!"

No, she hadn't even bumped into me, so there was really nothing for them to apologize for. If anything, I was the one who should be sorry for not helping faster because of my own personal baggage.

However, the children already seemed terrified. I glanced at their trembling bodies and silently continued on my way.

"H-He's going..."

"That's my first time seeing an adventurer up this close."

"He's super scary and cool..."

"Is he an adventurer? Isn't he a knight?"

"A knight...!"

"Uwah!"

"What is it? Why?"

"Someone threw away their food after only taking one bite! What a bad person!"

"Gasp! Really!"

"What a waste!! They should've just given it to me if they were going to do that!"

"Wait a second, I think I could eat this part if I dust it off..."

And I immediately turned around.

I know how precious food is too, but still, kids, eating food off the ground is crossing the line!

"I'll throw away the part that fell, and just eat the inside of the bread..."

"Brother, can I keep this handkerchief?"

"Handkerchief? What is this, it looks super expensive... Huh?"

Did a shadow fall over their round heads? The kids noticed it and looked up. Their mochi-like cheeks turned pale.

"Gasp!"

"You shouldn't eat things that fell on the ground."

I first separated the bread from the kids' hands. Frozen stiff, the children couldn't even react. SPLAT. The bread returned to the ground.

The handkerchief? I just left it in the little girl's hand. I had bought a spare handkerchief anyway, and even if I hadn't, I could just buy another one. It wasn't something I couldn't give away since I had barely used it.

"S-Sorry..."

"Don't apologize to me."

Regardless, you brats, that wasn't something to apologize to me for, but to your stomachs. There wasn't even a clinic here anyway, so if you got a serious stomachache, it would be hard to cure.

I let out a soft sigh as I looked at the three trembling children. Seeing kids half the size of my torso acting like that made me feel needlessly bothered.

"Follow me."

"Eek!"

"I think we're going to get scolded..."

"Mommy..."

So what could I do? Sometimes, coincidence becomes fate. It would be one thing if I hadn't seen them, but since they caught my eye, I had to do something.

I led the children back to the stall where I had bought the bread earlier.

The kids were shivering in fear, probably thinking I was going to punish them, and the residents were staring at us, but it couldn't be helped.

Of course, what could I do when my impression and vibe were ruined to begin with? It wasn't like they'd let me customize my character again.

"Four of them."

"Ah, aren't you the customer from earlier?"

So, rather than prioritizing clearing up the misunderstanding, I just waited for it to resolve itself.

A few coins left my hand for the owner's, and with a glance from me, three of the bought breads were handed over from the owner to the children.

"...?"

"Oh."

"Uh... are you giving these to us?"

"You can go now."

I figured meat stir-fry would be better than vegetable stir-fry, so I even changed the filling for them. They should enjoy it.

Seeing the kids hesitating, unable to grasp the situation, I left the spot first. I judged that they would eat more comfortably if I left.

PAT PAT PAT!

"Oh, Reya!"

GRAB!

But my clothes were grabbed. I glanced back at the tugged hem of my coat.

The brown-haired girl was holding onto the hem of my clothes.

"Thank you, Mr. Adventurer!"

Her messy hair, her mouth with round gaps from missing baby teeth on top and bottom, her chubby cheeks, and the freckles sprinkled lightly over her cute nose. Even her little hands tightly clutching the handkerchief and bread.

A smile too precious to buy with just a few coins filled my vision. It was a feeling similar to the moment I had witnessed the shop owner and his sister bickering back at the bookstore.

An indescribable swell of emotion made my chest ache.

"... Make sure to chew your food well."

"Yes!"

Still, that vague sensation wasn't bad. I felt much better. Today's outing had been a success.

"Bye bye, Mr. Adventurer!"

"Goodbye!"

"Thank you."

I swallowed the sudden surge of sorrow.

"Demon Knight!!"

"...!"

Then, from behind me, a voice that I couldn't mistake even if I tried rang out clearly.

"You said we'd spar! Why aren't you keeping your promise?!"

It was the Berserker.

"Ah, Demon Knight!"

"Boss!"

Along with the Inquisitor and Deathbringer.

"Do you have any idea how long we've been looking for you?!"

"If you're hurt, hurry up and get checked out. Sparring is only fun when you're in perfect condition."

"Boss... h-how is your b-body doing...? You're not still hurting or anything right now, are you...?"

I stared blankly at them as they either smiled brightly or chattered while walking on eggshells. Because no matter how I looked at it, they didn't seem like they were going to keep their distance like I had hoped.

"Let us head back for now, Demon Knight. The Mage told us to bring you back immediately."

"Comrade, come on, let's go."

"Yeah, let's go. I, um. I have something to give you, too. And something I want to tell you along with it..."

Seriously, what on earth had the Archmage done? Did she completely fail to persuade them? Even after I spoke so blatantly?

Ah, or maybe the Archmage hadn't relayed my words exactly as they were. Since they were so harsh.

Or... yeah. It could just be that they weren't listening. The Berserker explicitly went her own way, and both the Inquisitor and DeB had a secretly rebellious streak.

"Demon Knight?"

"... Comrade, you."

It would be a lie to say that it wasn't touching or moving. It was truly difficult to hate people who approached you even when you pushed them away and rejected them.

"Move."

But... this wasn't what I wanted.

Right, it was something I shouldn't want.

"Unless you are here to deliver the news that we are leaving the city."

Those guys and I needed distance.

Even if we walked the same path with the sole goal of seeing the ending, we needed a level of distance where no matter what form our parting took, it wouldn't become a scar.

"Demon Knight..."

"Boss...?"

To put it more bluntly, whether I realized the futility of this journey and dropped out of it, or died from a lack of ability while continuing it.

Or was killed by them.

At any moment, we needed a business-like distance so that they would be hurt less.

CLANK.

And so, I walked past them with the metallic sound of my gauntlets.

I never even gave them a glance. It was something I had learned a long time ago when I had severed countless relationships by a choice that wasn't entirely my own—there was no surer method of disconnection than indifference.

Then suddenly, the thought occurred to me that I couldn't even stomach poking fun at my 'lone wolf' or 'black flame dragon' concept anymore.

It just wasn't fun anymore.