After several hours of riding in the horse carriage, the sky slowly darkened.
Leo eventually told the driver to stop along the side of the road. The forest around us had already grown quiet, and the only light came from the moon above.
We set up camp for the night.
Taiga gathered some firewood while I prepared a simple meal. Soon, a small bonfire flickered in front of us, its warm light pushing back the darkness of the forest.
The four of us sat around the fire.
I looked at Leo and Taiga.
"So… how did you two meet and become heroes?"
This was it.
The moment I had secretly been waiting for.
Back in my previous life, I had read their story countless times while lying in a hospital bed.
But now, I could hear it directly from them.
Leo smiled slightly.
"It's nothing that special," he said. "It was our dream to become heroes ever since we were kids."
Taiga laughed loudly.
"This guy was always stubborn about it."
Leo continued explaining how they traveled together when they were younger and eventually discovered the Holy Sword that recognized Leo as its wielder.
He talked about the trials they faced, the training they went through, and how they were eventually summoned by the king.
Listening to them felt strangely surreal.
I felt happy.
Really happy.
This was exactly what I had wished for.
To witness their story with my own eyes.
After a few hours of talking, Leo stretched his arms and stood up.
"We should get some rest."
Taiga nodded.
The two of them headed toward their tent.
---
Soon, only two people remained beside the bonfire.
Me and Dia-chan.
The fire crackled softly as the night grew quieter.
Dia-chan slowly walked over and sat beside me.
Then she gently rested her head on my shoulder.
"Hey, Satou-kun," she said quietly.
"Hm?"
"I'm actually scared."
Her voice sounded softer than usual.
"Scared of what might happen to you."
I turned slightly toward her.
Ah.
This must still be about the bandit incident.
After all, it had happened less than a week ago.
"I'm really afraid that I might lose you again," she whispered.
Her arms wrapped around mine.
I could feel her holding me tightly.
I thought about it for a moment before speaking.
"Don't worry."
"Leo is the Hero, and Taiga is really strong."
Then I lightly patted her head.
"And besides, this time I'm here to protect you."
"You'll protect us with your healing magic too, right?"
"We all have each other's backs."
Dia-chan stayed silent for a moment.
Then she looked up at my face and smiled brightly.
"Hehe… that's right."
She hugged my arm again.
"I'm not going anywhere, Satou-kun. I'll stay by your side."
…That's not exactly what I meant.
But before I could say anything—
Something suddenly moved in the darkness.
My body reacted instinctively.
"Ambush!" I shouted.
"Leo! Taiga! Wake up!"
Both of them rushed out of their tent immediately.
Then they saw it.
Dark shapes surrounding our camp.
Demons.
"Dammit," Leo muttered. "We're surrounded."
He drew his sword.
"Taiga! Clear the back!"
"Got it!"
Taiga charged toward the rear with his massive gauntlets.
Leo rushed forward to face the demons approaching from the front.
I quickly grabbed my sword.
Beside me, Dia-chan stood frozen in shock.
"Dia-chan!"
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly.
"Get yourself together!"
More demons descended from the sky.
Gargoyles.
Their stone wings cut through the air as they swooped down toward us.
One of them dived toward Dia.
Slash.
My sword barely cut across its body.
Too shallow.
"Damn it!"
I stabbed again.
This time the blade pierced deeper, and the creature collapsed.
Meanwhile, Leo and Taiga fought relentlessly on both sides of the camp.
Dia-chan finally regained her focus and began casting healing magic from the center.
I stood in front of her.
If anything reached her…
I would stop it.
The battle continued for what felt like forever.
Two hours later, the last demon finally collapsed.
Leo wiped the blood from his blade.
"Looks like that's the last—"
"Satou-kun!!"
Before he could finish speaking, something suddenly pierced my back.
A sharp burning pain exploded through my body.
I slowly looked down.
A spear.
One of the demons had still been alive.
Leo and Taiga rushed toward me.
"Satou!"
"Hang on!"
Dia-chan fell to her knees beside me.
"Heal! Heal! HEAL! HEAL!"
She kept casting the spell again and again, her voice trembling with panic.
But my vision was already fading.
The world slowly grew darker.
The last thing I saw was Dia-chan's tear-filled face.
Then everything went black.