“Ray, you might as well keep sleeping. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Lesley is right. Take it easy. Thanks to you, the threat is already gone.”

“I can cast a spell to make you sleepy. So why not stay in bed a little longer?”

When I tried to go outside, the three of them rushed around trying to force me back into bed.

My body still hurts, but until just recently my daily routine was sword training and magic meditation every single day.

If I don’t move, I get restless and frustrated.

So lying around all the time is honestly more stressful.

“I can’t even run in this room, so I just want to sweat a little. I won’t suddenly disappear or go to a deserted island or anything like that.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, Master Lesley.”

They worry about me so much that it feels excessive.

During sword training, she used to strike with blows strong enough to break bones without hesitation, like a demon instructor.

But now even the slightest touch makes her panic. Are you really the same person?

“Wait a moment. We will hold a meeting. —The 55th Meeting: What Should Be Done to Safely Guide Ray.”

As soon as Lesley announced the mysterious title, the other two immediately gathered into a circle.

I was confused since this was the first time I’d seen it, but apparently they had already done this fifty-four times.

Also… Master, you had this kind of comedic side to you?

“Ray says that, but I still think it’s not acceptable. Eleanor, what do you think?”

“I agree. When someone has suffered severe injuries, it should be judged from a third-person perspective. I’d also like to hear Sophia’s opinion as a healer.”

“Of course it’s not acceptable. Ray’s body is one with ours.”

They nodded seriously, and their representative Lesley turned toward me.

“So, the result of the meeting is—”

“No way! That’s clearly a rigged vote! I refuse to accept that!”

I objected as strongly as I could to such an unfair meeting.

But of course, they weren’t people who would be persuaded by something like that.

So I changed my approach.

“As for the curse mark on my right arm, I think the more my immunity drops the faster it will progress. So now that I’m able to move, exercising should slow the progression.”

Lesley immediately tried to refute my logical argument.

But just before speaking she hesitated and turned to look at Sophia along with Eleanor.

After all, she’s the healer and understands the matter best.

My mentors trust each other deeply.

I’ve known that ever since our travels together. They respect each other’s areas of expertise.

And I believe I understand Sophia better than anyone.

If I give a rational argument instead of an emotional one, she should respond properly.

“…Medically speaking, Ray is not wrong. Mana tends to invade people with weaker magical power more quickly, meaning those with weaker resistance. If we consider it similar to undead transformation, that possibility is extremely high. However…”

Sophia walked toward me.

“We are worried. We feel a fear that Ray might once again make a decision alone and leave us behind. I would like you to understand our feelings… even if only a little.”

Right now I understand them painfully well.

If the situation were reversed, I can imagine how painful and heartbreaking it would be.

A trusted companion throws their life away alone.

And if you believed it was your own fault, it would hurt even more.

Right. There’s only one thing I should do.

“I’m sorry. I acted selfishly. I truly apologize.”

I bowed deeply.

Why didn’t that thought come to me earlier?

I knew what I did was selfish.

But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to let everyone keep suffering because of it.

I should have said something properly.

Lesley lifted my head.

Her eyes looked slightly moist.

“The ones who are inadequate are us. What you did is something to be proud of, not something to apologize for. …Thank you for staying alive, Ray.”

“That’s right. We should have communicated better too. —Thank you, Ray.”

“Ray, thank you very much. They’re right. I was only focusing on the present and becoming pessimistic. I’m sorry.”

“No, thank you.”

Seriously… these mentors really are the best.

The DWS scenario is terrible, but the characters are amazing.

Even though this is reality now, I still genuinely think they’re wonderful people.

That’s exactly why it hurts to think about how tragic their pasts are.

And with that said—

“Then I’ll go exercise outside.”

I spoke clearly and energetically.

Actually, even just walking still hurts all over, but I don’t want to show that.

I heard screams of panic behind me, but I pretended not to notice and stepped outside the mansion.

But then I froze.

“…Huh?”

What shocked me was the enormous garden stretching out before my eyes.

Even among noble estates, there’s a huge difference depending on whether it belonged to a baron’s family or a marquis’s family.

Like the difference between a rundown apartment and a luxury high-rise.

This garden was obviously far too large.

The gate was incredibly far away. The maintenance had been neglected for a while, but colorful flowers bloomed freely everywhere.

When I turned around, the mansion behind me was a five-story luxury residence.

“…Come to think of it, I vaguely remember hearing something while my head was foggy. You bought this mansion, right?”

The mentors who had followed me outside nodded as if it were obvious.

“That’s right. We couldn’t exactly stay at an inn.”

“How much… did it cost?”

Even though we’re a party, we don’t keep track of each other’s finances.

Everyone keeps their money with deposit keepers, something like banks in this world.

Some people also carry gold bars or magic stones instead.

“It wasn’t that expensive. About ten large gold coins. Don’t worry about it.”

One large gold coin is about one million yen. So that’s ten million.

But that’s using the currency of this world. In Japanese yen it’s roughly five times that value, so about fifty million.

Apparently the three of them split the cost. But buying this entire place in cash just so I could stay here… I’m grateful, but I feel guilty.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if Ray and I lived here forever.”

“I like flowers, so please leave the garden maintenance to me.”

Wait, are they raising a new imprisonment route flag?

And I was about to abandon this place easily to go to a deserted island. That’s terrifying.

Me >>>>>>>>> an uncrossable wall >>>>>>>>> money.

That’s way too extreme!

Still, thanks to that, there seemed to be a huge backyard area.

I don’t plan to swing a sword immediately, but I at least want to run and sweat a little.

If possible, I don’t want to die either.

There should still be some time left, so maybe I’ll try holding out a bit longer.

“—Get back. Ray.”

At that moment, Lesley’s tone suddenly became sharp.

At the same time, Eleanor and Sophia stepped in front of me as if to shield me.

A sharp killing intent filled the air, prickling against my skin.

All three of them were staring toward the gate.

Curious, I peeked between their bodies.

Standing far away in front of the gate was the Grand Guildmaster of the Adventurers’ Guild.

And beside her stood the members of the A-rank party ‘Silver Scales’, renowned as one of the strongest parties even in DWS.