**Episode 007: The Price of Forgetting Reality**

Surprisingly, we managed to win quite easily. However, I didn’t do anything at all.

“All right! I leveled up!”
“Me too!”
“It seems I leveled up as well.”
“Me too.”

It appears that their levels went up. The four of them were jubilant. It’s common in any game to easily level up from one to two.

Perhaps, just like when their stats awakened, the level-up announcement echoed in their minds. However, the fact that I didn’t get a level-up announcement indicates that I didn’t contribute to the battle and didn’t receive the necessary experience points.

“You guys are amazing. It didn’t feel like our first battle at all.”
“Hahaha. Thanks. I’m surprised myself.”
“Yeah, it felt like my body moved as if I’d known how to fight for ages.”
“I understand that too. I could use staff techniques and attack.”

When I praised them, they seemed somewhat pleased. Despite my discomfort around extroverted people, the fact remains that they helped us, and indeed, they were capable fighters. It was truly impressive.

“So, our levels went up, but what about Rokudo?”

Sanada seemed concerned that I didn’t join in the excitement.

“Well, no, I didn’t level up. Probably because I didn’t do anything.”

“Well, leveling up just by doing that would have been too easy.”

Sanada responded disappointingly to my answer.

This guy surprisingly seems to care about me.

“Since it seems fine with just one monster, let’s aim for the evacuation point, defeat them, and level up.”

“Understood.”

Sanada included everyone in his gaze, reiterated the future strategy, and the extroverted crew nodded in agreement.

Perhaps because no corpses were left behind, they didn’t seem to have a strong sense of having killed something resembling a living being. It’s reassuring, or whatever you call it. I know we can’t afford to be wishy-washy in this situation, but it’s not easy for me to be as pragmatic as them.

I followed them with mixed emotions.

From then on, we silently moved forward, defeating stray monsters. Gradually getting used to it, after defeating dozens, it became so easy that dealing with one wasn’t a problem at all.

Before they knew it,their level had increased again, and it was natural that it would become easier and the number of opponents would increase. They could easily handle up to two.

As it became easier, it started to be fun, and the human desire to aim higher kicked in.

“Everyone, next three. What should we do?”

“I think I can handle it.”
“I’m fine if it’s like before.”
“I’d like to see the situation with two more a bit, but…”

Shinozaki, who had gone ahead, returned and confirmed that three monsters were wandering in the direction we were heading. She asked us what to do.

I, being just a protected party member, didn’t say anything.

The fact that she asked means that Shinozaki also thinks she can handle three confidently, based on her experience in previous battles. The same goes for Yamada and Takatori. However, the leader Sanada, who is more cautious, opposes it, suggesting that it’s better to get stronger first.

Certainly, it’s essential to be cautious because lives are at stake.

“No, no, do you guys understand? This isn’t a game.”

Despite that, Sanada continued to advise the three without backing down.

Indeed, he’s right. The three have been smoothly progressing, and they’re starting to misunderstand the situation as if it were a game.

“What are you talking about? Of course, we understand. Do you think we’d say this if we didn’t?”

“That’s right. We understand that much. Still, we believe we can win even if it’s dangerous.”

“I understand too. I’ll carefully watch the three monsters and make sure my professional intuition tells me it’s okay.”

However, the leader’s voice didn’t seem to reach the hearts of the three who had awakened to the pleasure of defeating monsters and had become somewhat reckless.

“Sigh… I get it. If it gets dangerous, you’ll retreat immediately, okay?”

“All right!”
“Hehehe. You don’t need to worry that much.”
“I’ll make sure to take down the first one with a surprise attack so that it’ll be easy.”

Sanada, having given up on persuading them, seemed to have made up his mind to face the three monsters.

“Sorry, Rokudo. I did something reckless, deliberately putting you in danger.”

“No, those three probably wouldn’t have listened even if you tried to stop them. Don’t worry about it. Besides, I’m the one being protected. I can’t say anything.”

Sanada came over to me and apologized. I could only shrug in response.

“Yeah, you’re right. I hope they don’t get into too much trouble…”

“That’s something Sanada has to figure out somehow.”

“I understand.”

Concerned for his companions, this guy seems to have a decent personality among the sunlit personalities of the group, and I thought he must be going through quite a bit.

“Alright, let’s go, everyone!!”
“Understood.”

We signaled quietly and headed towards the three monsters.
“Hush.”
Shinozaki erased her presence, approached the monsters, attacked, and with Takatori and Souta diving in, the first one was easily defeated in about a minute.
Yamada took on the attacks of the second and third ones, and as soon as the first one died, the other three jumped onto the second one.
The second one wasn’t damaged by the surprise attack, but it seemed like it would be over in two or three minutes at this rate.
“Vooeeeeee!”
However, while the three were dealing with the second one and Yamada was defending against the attacks of the two, the third one emitted a low, horn-like cry that I had never heard before.
“What was that just now?”
“I don’t know. Let’s just defeat the last one.”
“Right.”

After defeating the second one, the three, still concerned about the earlier cry, turned their attention to the third one. Even Yamada, who had been defending against the attacks of the two, joined the battle, and after about three minutes, the fight ended.
“It wasn’t a problem after all.”
“But this time, there was no treasure chest.”
“The first one that appeared was probably just lucky.”
“Sigh, I’m glad we defeated them, though.”

Except for Souta, the other three innocently rejoiced, but he let out a relieved sigh.
—Boom, boom, boom.

However, the crisis was not yet over. Suddenly, an earthquake occurred, and the sound rapidly approached us.
“W-What’s happening!?”
“What’s going on!?”
“Wait a minute!? From over there, a large number of—”
In the face of the sudden situation, the three were in confusion, observing the surroundings anxiously. In the midst of that, Shinozaki was about to say something, but her voice was cut off. However, we understood without her finishing her sentence.
“Vooooo!”
A large number of monsters entered the alley.
It wasn’t five or ten; there were probably dozens, or maybe even a hundred.
“Everyone, run!!”
With Souta’s signal, we, who had been paralyzed, frantically headed towards the evacuation point.
And I found myself betrayed by Yamada, cornered in a dead-end alley.