Chapter 49

！？

Mori's words made me snap back to reality.

That's right...

Meguru risked her life to save me.

So this life isn't mine, but Meguru's...

“Who here is blaming you!? Everyone was saved by you from Oono! If you can return to Japan, so what!?”

“Well... I do envy you a lot, but I think it’s uncertain how things would have turned out if the others had known about it when we were with Taniizumi. I think Meguru felt the same way.”

“Either way, it doesn’t change anything for me. I’ve already been treated to various Japanese foods by Hanahashi.”

Mori and the others responded as if they were protecting me.

No... I didn’t say it to be accepted by everyone.

“We are supposed to be non-existent in Japan. With such strange things happening, it might be wrong to think it’s strange.”

One of the combat group members muttered.

A member of the base group agreed.

“Hanahashi, did you hide the fact that you could send us back to Japan?”

“No... I only realized my ability on the first night, after being punched by Ohtake and before going to sleep.”

“Then try to send me back to Japan as a test.”

“Alright. Jits, I need you to recover my magic power.”

“Okay.”

I tried to use my ability to transfer the classmate who volunteered for the experiment to Japan.

My level has increased. Maybe it’s possible now.

I can’t specify the destination, but I tried to imagine the transfer with all my might, as if grabbing and throwing.

“...? It feels like I’m being pulled?”

The student who tried to be transferred tilted his head, but it didn’t work.

“It didn’t work...”

“Anyway, Kousuke. Just because you can return to Japan doesn’t mean we can... In fact...”

“Sakaguchi!”

Hagizawa called out.

That’s something we shouldn’t talk about.

The hope that was right in front of us... has been lost.

Mori looked at where Meguru... was lying.

Jits was gathering the ashes and starting to build a grave.

I had already used my ability to transfer the ground, leaving a large gouge.

I also started to help with the burial.

We buried everyone who was killed by Oono...

“Anyway, just because Hanahashi can return to Japan doesn’t mean we can. Thinking about it as a luxury... is understandable. But the fact is, you’ve been here trying to help us all along!”

Mori spread his arms wide and asked.

“Everyone in the base group, didn’t you receive something from Kousuke?”

Those who had distributed snacks nodded in response to Mori’s words.

“Everyone in the combat group was also saved by Kousuke today. We were treating the base group with contempt according to Taniizumi’s orders. If we had resisted, the environment would have been better.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Don’t push all the responsibility onto Kousuke... The curse of Taniizumi and the fear of Oono... The nightmare is over. Let’s find a way to return together. We will return to our original world together.”

“Even if some people don’t want to return, at least help us find a way to return, okay?”

In response to Mori and Hagizawa’s words, everyone nodded in agreement.

“Well, the one who even resorted to prostitution probably hates Hanahashi so much that she wants to kill him.”

Hagizawa added, emphasizing to a female student from the base group who had tried to ingratiate herself with the combat group.

“It wasn’t prostitution, it was love!”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

“It’s normal to fall in love with someone who helps you when you’re in trouble!”

“The one who sold her body for food was killed by Oono!”

“You can say anything with your mouth, can’t you?”

Hagizawa’s words were being thrown back at her.

Of course, given what had just happened, the expressions were not smiling, unlike the words.

But it seemed that Hagizawa had thought about it.

The girl who was interrupted understood and said:

“Hagizawa, if you don’t stop, I’ll get angry!”

“Ah, okay, okay! Anyway, don’t push all the responsibility onto Hanahashi. Whether it’s virginity or anything else, it was your own choice.”

“Well... Hanahashi and Sakaguchi were sharing food with us.”

“Hating them is misplaced.”

The girls collectively said they wouldn’t blame me for being a bystander.

“Kousuke”

Then Mori turned to me, tears streaming down his face, and tried to reason with me.

“Kousuke, calm down. Meguru was very happy. She was glad to be able to help you.”

Meguru...

Meguru’s words echoed in my mind.

“Then... if we all return to Japan and it’s revealed that you were hiding something... will you listen to my story again?”

“Then, Kousuke. If you want me to keep it a secret, will you consider accepting my confession again when we return to Japan?”

A promise with Meguru that can never be fulfilled... but I have to fulfill it.

She wanted us all to return to Japan.

For Meguru, for her sake, I have to do it.

This is the result of me being a bystander.

I won’t be a bystander anymore.

I don’t want to be.

I will bring everyone back to Japan alive.

I have to become the ideal me that Meguru loved!

“Alright. Mori, everyone... I won’t punish myself anymore. But you don’t have to believe me. A murderer... shouldn’t be trusted.”

No matter what... even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will do whatever it takes to atone for the sin of being a bystander and become the ideal me that Meguru would be proud of.

But I’ve already stumbled from the start.

Can a murderer... become Meguru’s ideal?

As I hesitated, people from both the combat group and the base group gathered and nudged me lightly.

“I don’t like it. You were hiding the fact that you could return to Japan. I can’t follow your orders. But I’ll believe the murderer who dirtied his hands to protect us. You better try your best.”

“Raising your level gives you new powers, right? If Hanahashi gets stronger, there’s a possibility that he can bring everyone back to Japan. We shouldn’t doubt so easily.”

The class representative advised.

“There’s also an old novel I read where the protagonists can’t return until they fulfill a mission. We might be wrong, but staying here is already difficult. How about we all move together to get out of the forest?”

“That’s right. We don’t even know why we were given these abilities. If this were a game, we’d be solving mysteries and saving the world somewhere. It’s impossible to stay hidden in the forest and return to Japan.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with someone’s words.

“Rather than continue surviving in this place, let’s find a way to escape, even if it’s dangerous. This is a different world, and no one will come to rescue us. Hanahashi has proven that.”

“I don’t believe Hanahashi’s story. Forgotten in Japan? Nonsense, but we should make an effort to return.”

“We can’t rely on someone else to save us. We have to overcome this situation ourselves. This incident has proven that.”

“Anyway, the barrier is gone, so we have to move. Let’s aim for the forest exit to the west.”

Hagizawa’s words received a chorus of agreement.

Jits grabbed my hand and hugged me.

“Meguru’s death is very sad... but please don’t follow her. I beg you...”

“Yeah... I understand. Meguru risked her life to save me. I want to use this life to fulfill what she wanted to do.”

“...For now, that’s fine... but... no. I understand.”

Jits let go of the hug and smiled.

“Please don’t give up. Promise me that.”

“Alright. I promise.”

“I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt... or die.”

I could really understand her feelings.

Because I had lived carelessly, something irreparable happened.

Maybe everyone has forgiven me.

But... no, because of that, I have to atone for my sins.

“So... let’s get out of this dangerous forest as soon as possible.”

Everyone nodded in response to Mori’s words and started preparing to leave.

Probably... everyone’s hearts were so worn out that they couldn’t move without someone leading them.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t accept someone like me.

But for now, that’s fine.

I’ll do whatever it takes to bring everyone back.

I’ll take on everything that Meguru was supposed to do.

I don’t want to lose anyone else.

I’ll protect everyone, even at the cost of my own life.

To never regret again, I won’t be a bystander anymore.

So, please... wait for me to come to you.

I will do whatever it takes to bring everyone back alive.

I repeated this thought over and over in my mind.

The flowers placed on the graves of Meguru and the classmates swayed gently...

And so, we abandoned our base and set out to cross the forest.

Starting tomorrow, I will update once a day.