D’Élysée’s lips moved several times. He clearly opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

“…Why.”

It was a single word he barely managed to squeeze out after much effort.

“Why did he die? Or why did we keep you here? If it’s the former, it’s due to excessive blood loss and infection, and if it’s the latter, well…”

Jabel muttered blankly.

“Maybe I just needed someone to talk to.”

D’Élysée couldn’t understand the situation at hand. A slight tremor ran through the tip of his sword, glowing with blue aura.

“It’s just, I keep thinking about something. At the end, at the end I didn’t know was the end, he said he was scared for the first time. He asked if I could stay with him…”

“…”

“I swore on my life. I told him not to worry at all. You don’t know how many times he thanked me with a smile. But…”

Jabel grabbed his own hair. His clenched fist was trembling with all its might.

“Damn it, he died while I was gone to get water.”

Jabel was crying.

“Everyone was in chaos. We had barely settled here and it hadn’t been long…”

“…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for his last moments. I wanted to tell you, at least.”

The tip of D’Élysée’s sword slowly pointed downward.

***

The time when Egru was still breathing.

It was around the time they had finally shaken off the Imperial soldiers and settled in an underground area with a high ceiling.

“I’m keeping an eye on Egru. I’ll go up and try to get some medicine.”

Tuunri said, covering Egru with her outer garment.

“No. It’s dangerous. It’s already daylight.”

“That’s right! The entire system will be crawling with Imperial soldiers!”

At the Orc Chief’s objection, Bey added.

“Then how do we treat him? With bare hands, without medicine or magic? If only we didn’t have these damn restraints…”

Tuunri suddenly looked down at her wrist.

“…Cut off my wrist.”

“Tuunri! Are you in your right mind?”

Bey shouted angrily.

“Yes, I am. Why didn’t I think of this earlier.”

Tuunri was resolute.

“If the restraint is gone, I can quickly stop the bleeding from an amputation. I trust my skills.”

“Are you serious?”

The Orc Chief asked. Tuunri rolled up her sleeve without hesitation.

“Egru risked his life for us. Your arm is rotting too. I should at least do this much.”

“It won’t work.”

“?”

“I’ve seen a demon who thought like you before. I appreciate your courage for our kind.”

“What do you mean?”

“As you know, this isn’t an ordinary restraint. The moment you cut off your left wrist, it will move to your right wrist.”

“Then…!”

“If both wrists are amputated, it will move to your ankle. If that disappears too, it will move to your neck.”

“…”

“It’s a restraint that won’t come off until you cut your own throat.”

“Damn it!”

Tuunri quickly prepared to leave.

“I’ll be back as fast as I can. I have a few business partners I contracted with in the system. They’re all humans, but surely at least one of them will help?”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, Bey. The more people, the harder it is to move. You can’t go either, Jabel.”

Jabel, who was about to get up quietly, stopped abruptly.

“Looking at his condition, he should be fine until tomorrow evening. He’s holding up better than expected. Admirably. I guess the Orc race’s body is quite strong.”

“You really intend to go alone?”

Jabel asked with a frown. Tuunri nodded.

“I’ll definitely be back before tomorrow evening. Hold Egru’s hand for me.”

Tuunri said as she entered the tent where Egru was lying.

“Egru, can you hear me? You’re going to live. I’ll make sure of it.”

“…”

“Just wait a little, okay?”

Finally checking on Egru, Tuunri brushed off the worms tangled on his pale green belly. They were all wriggling, their bodies plump.

“Don’t… go…”

“Hm?”

“Don’t go…”

At the barely audible metallic voice, Tuunri smiled warmly. She kissed Egru’s round forehead.

“I’ll be back.”

Jabel entered the tent. Tuunri, finishing her farewell with a nod, left the tent and hurried her steps.

***

“Egru, are you feeling a bit better? That’s good.”

Jabel said, sitting next to Egru.

“We didn’t have time for proper introductions before. My name is Jabel.”

“N-nice to meet you… Jabel…”

“Me too.”

Jabel gently held Egru’s hand so as not to hurt him. Outside the tent, the Orc Chief stood guard, and Bey was taking care of the other demons.

Fortunately or unfortunately, no demon was as severely injured as Egru.

“Right! Our hero Egru! How do you feel?”

“The… the best…”

Egru smiled, trembling while lying down.

“Such… such precious treatment… is a first for me…”

Jabel looked around the tent.

‘Just a makeshift bed made of old clothes…’

Such a delicate soul, purely happy with something so small. The old clothes full of dust were gradually turning red. Jabel held Egru’s hand a little more gently.

“Shall we continue what we were doing before?”

“S-sure…”

“What should we do, ah! What’s your favorite food? Let me go first! I love the taste of deep-fried bass dipped in cream sauce!”

Jabel spoke almost shouting. It seemed Egru could no longer hear well.

“It’s terrible when grilled! But when fried, it’s really delicious! Pair it with a glass of apple cider and it’s perfect! What about you, Egru?”

“I… I like… ch-cheese…”

“Cheese?”

“Yes… It’s really delicious…”

Jabel tilted his head.

‘Isn’t cheese more of a side dish than…’

Isn’t it something you eat as an accompaniment?

Jabel carefully looked down at Egru. His terribly thin body now bore a somewhat pained expression.

After silently pondering for a while, he soon rummaged in his breast with a determined face.

“Oh my! Egru! You’re really lucky!”

“?”

“I happen to have some cheese left! How about a taste?”

“R-really?”

“Of course it’s real!”

What came out of Jabel’s breast wasn’t cheese. It was dry military ration crackers.

“Th-thank you… I really wanted to eat…”

Egru’s eyelids trembled slightly. Though still weak, he seemed excited.

“Let’s… share it… with everyone…”

“We’ve already eaten our fill! You’re the last one left!”

Jabel took out a canteen and soaked the crackers in water.

“Wait a moment! I’ll warm it up to make it easier to eat!”

Jabel moved his hands busily. As he broke and molded the crackers, it took on a shape somewhat similar to cheese.

“Here! It’s ready! Can you open your mouth?”

“…”

His lips, so dry they were turning white, opened just a little. Jabel slowly put the cracker mold into his mouth.

“Eat up! You’ll be all better by tomorrow! Then you can do all the things you’ve wanted to do!”

“Y-you’re right…”

Egru smiled happily. His bone-dry mouth moved very slowly.

“Th-thank you… It’s really delicious…”

Jabel smiled bitterly. He probably couldn’t taste anything now. He probably couldn’t see properly either.

‘But still…’

If this could give him even a little strength. Jabel desperately believed in the power of white lies.

“Right! What do you plan to do when you get better?”

“I want to… meet my brother… I have to tell him…”

“What do you want to tell him so badly?”

Egru’s lips moved slightly. Jabel leaned in to listen to the tiny whisper.

“…Don’t say that.”

Jabel soon straightened up and said.

“I must tell him… He’s really… such a good child…”

“…”

“He might… be sad alone…”

Jabel looked down at Egru with a miserable face.

“When… when can I go see him…”

“Soon. Soon. Don’t fall asleep.”

Jabel said as he took off his outer garment.

“Are you very cold? I’ll put more firewood in the fire.”

He rolled up his outer garment and put it in the campfire lit next to Egru. That’s how scarce the fuel was.

There was no chance of finding good quality firewood in the damp underground. Only branches that had washed down during the heavy rain a few days ago, but even those were wet and swollen, utterly useless as firewood.

“Um, Jabel…”

The amber eyes, now lifeless, looked at the ceiling and asked.

“Yes?”

“Could you… do me one favor?”

“Of course, just say it.”

“I’m scared… when I’m alone…”

“…”

“Could you… stay with me?”

Jabel immediately took Egru’s pale green hand in both of his.

“I swear on my life. I’ll stay by your side.”

“Th-thank you… Thank you so much…”

Finally seeming relieved, Egru smiled and chewed on the remaining cracker in his mouth.

“Actually… actually…”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“Every day… was hard… but, being in the system… with my brother…”

Egru coughed dryly. Jabel wiped the blood that flowed from his pale lips.

“It… gave me strength…”

“I see… Oh, damn! Egru! Your throat is blocking up!”

His already faint voice grew even smaller. Jabel’s expression darkened instantly. He had been shortsighted. He shouldn’t have fed him carelessly.

‘I just wanted to let him eat something…’

Jabel fidgeted anxiously. The canteen was already empty.

“Jabel.”

It was then. The Orc Chief lifted the tent flap and asked.

“Can you ask Egru if he knows a man named ‘Levian’?”

“Huh? Levian?”

“Yes, he came saying he must see Egru. How he found this place is a mystery, but…”