Chapter 95

The following morning arrived. Though it was a rushed schedule, Harold set out at daybreak to search the mountains, bringing Rainer’s group along to resolve the miasma issue. Part of his haste was due to Lifa being fully prepared, but another part was his own anxiety; he knew that the longer he stayed at the Sumeragi Mansion, the higher the risk of some unforeseen "flag" exploding.

Itsuki stood at the entrance, excessively worried about Erika and Harold like an overprotective mother seeing her son off at a train station. Ignoring him with a cold gaze, Harold took the lead toward the restricted area. Before they crossed the threshold, however, there was something he had to address.

"Why are you here?"

"I am Lady Erika's attendant, after all~"

Yuno had joined the group. Given her position and skill, her presence wasn't exactly strange, but she was still wearing her usual kappogi apron. It was hardly suitable attire for trekking deep into the mountains.

Then again, the same could be said for the rest of the women: Erika in her student uniform, Colette in her revealing, tropical-style outfit, and Lifa in her miniskirt. Everyone was dressed exactly as they were in the game.

I won't nitpick it anymore, Harold told himself, forcing the realization down. That’s just how this world works.

Focusing on more practical matters, he decided to re-confirm their strategy for the restricted area.

"……Fine. You lot, take these."

"What are these?"

"Medicine to mitigate the effects of the miasma. Drink them before we enter."

He handed out the antibody medicine stockpiled by the Sumeragi. He had brought extra, so they would likely be safe even if the investigation took longer than anticipated.

However, having medicine didn't mean they could ignore the miasma entirely. No matter how effective the antibodies were, their efficacy dropped with repeated doses. While a few uses hadn't shown any confirmed health hazards, the risk naturally climbed the more one inhaled the toxins. Ultimately, the forests of the Sumeragi Territory would remain useless until the source of the miasma was eradicated.

This was data the House Sumeragi had gathered through grueling, repeated investigations. It was a layer of reality that the game—where one simply synthesized a potion, drank it, and cleared the event—had never bothered to depict.

"I warned you yesterday, but lingering in the miasma leads to nothing good. We’re finishing this quickly while the medicine is still effective."

"It’d be great if we could, but the forest is huge, isn't it?" Hugo asked.

"I already have a lead on the location."

"……You really do know everything, don't you?"

Hugo gave him a look reserved for something incomprehensible. To Harold, it was merely original story knowledge. He had cross-referenced the current terrain with the game’s dungeon maps; there were specific points that overlapped perfectly, and that was where they would start.

The scale of the actual world was vastly different from the game’s map, which would undoubtedly cause some delays, but it was still far more efficient than searching blindly. Of course, to Hugo and the others—who couldn't possibly imagine this world was a game Harold had played—his foresight must have seemed eerie.

But Harold didn't have the luxury of holding back. He had to lean into his role.

"Naturally. Who do you think I am?"

"It’s terrifying how easily I can believe that," Hugo muttered.

"More importantly, Rainer."

"Hm?"

"You remember the plan from last night, don't you?"

"E-Err…… Miasma is bad, so don't breathe too much, and the monsters are extra grumpy so watch out…… right?"

"Thirty points."

Harold curtly dismissed the answer. What Rainer had just recited was merely the premise. Last night, Harold had explained the methods to avoid those dangers, but it clearly hadn't stuck in the boy’s head. His status as an "idiot protagonist" was in top form.

The plan Harold had laid out emphasized speed above all else. To minimize miasma exposure, they needed to find the device quickly, stay on the path, and avoid unnecessary combat.

Engaging in a fight would force them to breathe harder and more frequently, pulling more toxins into their lungs. Furthermore, the miasma drove monsters into a murderous frenzy. Combat was to be a last resort. To achieve this, Harold had instructed them to remain hyper-vigilant and keep their presence-detection sharp.

Rainer likely remembered the gist of it, but he was clearly poor at articulating the details.

"You’re a boar. The moment something happens, you lose sight of your surroundings. You’re a liability who will charge off alone and break the line."

"Ugh……"

Rainer winced, clearly aware that Harold had hit the mark. His reckless streak was born of a stubborn sense of justice—a classic protagonist trait. That straightforwardness was usually a strength that pulled his comrades forward, but here, it was a danger.

"Even if we encounter monsters, prioritize evasion," Harold hammered the point home. "Do not fight unless you have no choice. Understood?"

"Yeah!"

The reply was enthusiastic, but whether Rainer would actually follow the command was a different matter entirely. Colette let out a heavy sigh, clearly sharing Harold’s skepticism regarding the boy’s self-control.

Still, with a party more powerful than the original story's lineup, Harold figured they were safe enough, provided they remained cautious. After walking for a while, they reached the foot of the mountain that had been sealed off for years. Warning signs and makeshift fences stood as token deterrents, but they were easy enough to bypass.

The miasma covered too much ground to be fully fenced in. Instead, the Sumeragi had focused their defenses on the residential districts to hold back the maddened monsters.

"Everyone, did you take the medicine?"

Nods all around.

With that confirmed, Harold stepped onto the mountain path. At the entrance, the forest looked normal, though it was unnervingly silent. While the original story only mentioned monsters going berserk, the truth was likely grimmer; since the miasma was toxic to humans, it was probably shaving away the life force of every living thing in the woods. The silence was the sound of a dying ecosystem.

He stared at his map and pressed on. Eventually, a thin, pale-purple haze began to drift through the trees.

"Is this the miasma……?"

"At this concentration, the impact is negligible. But if your limbs feel heavy or numb, report it immediately."

"What do we do if that happens?" Rainer asked.

"Healing magic works as a temporary measure."

I literally explained this last night, Harold thought. With Erika and Yuno present, they had enough magical support to manage. In hindsight, that was likely why Itsuki had sent Yuno along—she was a perfect backup for Erika.

Advancing through the gloom was unpleasant, but Harold didn't falter. He pushed through the thick undergrowth, heading straight for the heart of the mountains.

---

A black-clad back led the way through the trackless forest. Even as the miasma grew thick enough to obscure the path, Harold’s stride never wavered. He moved as if he knew exactly where the machine was hidden.

He always does this, Erika thought, watching him.

Harold carried the weight of the world alone. It was rare for him to ask for help like this—if he was even truly "asking." The miasma was a Sumeragi problem. Previously, he had traded the antibody recipe for a debt of gratitude, but now that he had severed ties with her family, that motivation was gone.

Lifa was necessary to deactivate the device, and Harold himself was more than capable of clearing the path. He could have prepared the medicine alone, and while he needed a healer, it didn't strictly have to be Erika or Yuno. Given his personality, Harold never did anything without a calculated reason.

That means it is somehow necessary for all of us to be here, she realized. She couldn't see the full picture, but Harold clearly had a reason for involving them.

The thought that her people were suffering while Harold risked his life to save them—all while she contributed almost nothing—made her chest ache. She had tried so hard to become someone who could support him, someone worthy of standing by his side.

Yet every time they met, the gap between them only seemed to widen. No matter how fast she ran, she felt she would never catch up. A dark, persistent weakness gnawed at her mind.

Will Lord Harold ever truly need me for anything…?

It was a question she had been too terrified to voice. Once the thought took root, it wrapped around her feet like leaden weights. If she stopped now, she knew she would lose sight of him forever.

I’ve worked so hard because I couldn't bear the thought of losing him, but now, even that effort feels so painful.

She hated how weak she was. She had told herself that as long as she could be useful to him, it didn't matter if he never looked at her. But that was a lie. As his back grew more distant in the haze, her heart screamed for him to turn around. She was terrified of him reaching a place where she could no longer follow.

The pretense was stripping away, leaving only a raw, uncontrollable longing. The more her love grew, the more her own perceived inadequacies cut into her heart. Someone as weak as her—someone who couldn't even conquer her own self-doubt—could never be his equal—

"Hey."

A sharp, displeased voice broke her spiral. She felt a hand shake her shoulder. Harold was standing right in front of her.

Erika blinked, startled.

"Hey, can you hear me?"

"……Ah, no, my apologies. I was just lost in thought……"

She snapped back to reality, her voice trailing off. Without realizing it, she had lagged behind to the very rear of the group. Her thoughts had literally slowed her steps.

Harold didn't scold her immediately. He simply stared into her eyes. It had been so long since he had looked at her like this.

"You—"

Harold started to speak, but he didn't finish the sentence.

Suddenly, he lunged forward. His left arm hooked around Erika’s waist, pulling her flush against his chest with startling force.

Erika froze, her mind a whirl of confusion and sudden tension. Her heart hammered against her ribs so loudly she thought he must be able to hear it. Amidst the chaos of her senses, his warmth was overwhelming. Her face was buried against his chest, and his grip was so firm she couldn't move—yet even that slight breathlessness felt right to her.

Wait, what am I thinking!?

Her face turned scarlet as she felt a scandalous wish that time would simply stop. She didn't even understand why he was holding her.

"Tch. When the miasma gets this thick, presence detection is nearly useless," Harold growled near her ear. The visibility had indeed plummeted.

"My apologies, I missed it," Francis said, stepping closer.

"Lady Erika, are you alright~?" Yuno added.

Piecing it together from their reactions, Erika realized a monster must have lunged at her from the gloom, and Harold had killed it while pulling her out of harm's way.

He was still holding her. Erika couldn't even turn to see the fallen beast. She didn't want to move; she couldn't bring herself to ask him to let go.

But the moment passed. Harold’s grip relaxed, and he stepped back. Erika barely managed to stifle a small sound of regret. Harold looked at her again, his gaze intense enough to make her feel like she was simmering.

"Erika."

"……Yes."

"Do you realize where we are? Save your daydreaming for later."

"I am terribly sorry……"

The rebuke was deserved. She felt a wave of misery; she couldn't even follow the simple instructions he had given them all. Tears threatened to spill over.

"……If you've learned your lesson, let's move."

Harold sounded exasperated, but then his hand reached out and grasped Erika’s wrist. He didn't let go. He simply started walking, leading her behind him.

"Eh? U-Um…… Lord Harold?"

"Shut up. Just follow me and don't say a word."

"Y-Yes."

He was so unfair. Or perhaps she was simply that easy to sway.

A moment ago, she had felt so lost, so weighed down by agony. Yet with a single gesture, she felt as though she could follow him to the ends of the earth. Even if his actions held no special meaning, they gave her the strength to keep walking.

"……Truly an unfair person," she whispered to the ground.

Erika kept her head down so no one could see the tears in her eyes—or the smile that had finally returned to her face.