[Hayami Madoka’s POV]

How many days have passed, I wonder…

Curled up, hugging my knees with my eyes closed, I can’t tell how much time has gone by.

I look at the membrane of dimensional distortion covering me.

Not that it helps, because through the warped membrane, I can’t even see the forest, let alone any green.

Just a white space.

The moment I saw the enemy coming to capture me, I reached for my suicide handgun, but at that moment, I quickly thought to deploy a membrane that envelops me in a sphere between dimensions.

Once, during a training accident with spatial transfer magic, I was left stranded between dimensions.

The loneliness I felt in that empty, white space where no one came to help was unimaginable and became my trauma.

Back then, I repeatedly tried transfers like a madwoman and luckily escaped, since then, I’ve always taken a large safety margin when using my spatial transfer spell.

“Still, deploying this membrane between dimensions was a good idea, even if I do say so myself.”

To stave off loneliness, I purposely spoke aloud to myself.

My throat, not used to speaking for a while, was incredibly hoarse, and I could only manage a small voice.

“Anyone touching the membrane between dimensions is immediately swallowed into it. This makes it hard for the enemy to get at me.”

Through the membrane, I could see the enemy trying various ways to destroy it or force my movement, but all in vain.

Even soldiers who touched the membrane, rifle shots, or the blast from small planted bombs couldn’t make even a breeze reach inside this membrane.

This membrane between dimensions would be useful in various situations.

For example, it could be set as a booby trap for base defense, or deployed in the middle of an enemy army to disrupt their command structure by engulfing their commander…

“Well, thinking about these things is pointless for someone like me who won’t get out of here alive.”

My thoughts to stave off loneliness were quickly swept away by the reality of my situation.

Currently, I’m literally isolated in the middle of enemy territory.

Hoping for rescue is hopeless.

Moreover, this membrane between dimensions isn’t perfect.

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, pain shot through me, making me cry out in agony.

The membrane in front of me rippled.

This pain was the same as that caused by a spatial transfer disruption spell.

Though I can’t see outside, I assume it’s interference by an enemy with spatial transfer disruption magic.

As I analyzed this to distract from the pain, the attack ceased.

“Ha… ha…”

Seeing the interference with the disruption spell was intermittent, the enemy’s mage likely couldn’t continuously use it.

Their ability to recast requires a cooling period.

This also means they probably don’t have multiple mages with the same power.

Analyzing the enemy’s strength, I gasped through the lingering pain and looked at my suicide handgun in the holster on my left thigh.

“At this rate, I can hold out for one more day…”

I calmly scheduled the deadline of my life.

Hunger and thirst had long since exceeded their limits, so they were hardly painful.

But my strength was steadily waning.

If I don’t have the strength to move when the membrane is breached, it’s pointless.

Also, during the activation of their disruption spell, the pain might prevent me from properly using the gun for suicide.

Thus, I need to take a proper safety margin.

To ensure my suicide is successful.

“Even in such times… No, precisely because it’s the end, my ingrained habits come out.”

I laughed self-deprecatingly at that moment.

Despite the recent attack, the membrane suddenly boiled and changed shape violently without any warning.

(…………!)

Then, an intense headache, far worse than any pain before, hit me, making me writhe in agony, unable even to scream.

I was naive…

Did the enemy bring in reinforcements, or were they saving their maximum output for the end…

Racked by pain, regret, and despair, I had no time for reflection.

No… Stay conscious…

Not yet… There’s something you need to do at the end…

Then, luck struck.

As I twisted in pain, my knee hit my face, causing a nosebleed.

The brain, recognizing the new pain, briefly eased the headache as a danger signal.

In this moment of reprieve, I managed to stay conscious.

Now is my only chance!

In agony, I somehow pulled the handgun from the holster and released the safety.

“I’m glad… I can choose how to die.”

Crawling, I pressed the handgun to my temple, grateful for the last bit of luck.

I remember trying to commit suicide once before when I was left behind in the jungle during my officer academy days.

In that sense, having lived several more years after deciding to die, and being with my admired Yuu-sama, I had a good life in extra time.

Thinking that, I put strength into the finger on the trigger.

“Wait!”

My finger stopped at the sudden Japanese voice.

A small light broke through the warped world.

A muddy hand reached into my realm through the broken membrane, grabbing my arm.

“I’ll pull you out by force! Hang in there!”

Ah… I see…

The intense pain earlier wasn’t an enemy assault, but you reaching out to me…

You, who gave me life, are still giving me more…

If it’s something you give me… I will gladly accept it…

As the membrane was forcibly broken, excruciating pain as if my whole body was being torn apart ran through me, but I bit my lip and kept conscious, even feeling a kind of euphoria.

Enduring such intense pain without blacking out might leave lasting damage on my brain.

But I didn’t mind.

“Hey! Stay with me! If you’re alive, answer! Hayami-san!”

Because I stayed conscious, I could see Yuu-sama’s desperate face, just like when he saved me as a young soldier, looking at me again.