Three weeks after being fired from Sato’s party.

Since then, I desperately searched for other parties, but there were none recruiting unranked members.

This is because, in general, those who become clearers start from E-rank. Being unranked is not much different from the humans before they possessed magical power. Considering things like fighting against grotesque monsters as a regular human; while making up the bottom 1% of humanity, rather than holding scarcity, unranked are simply treated as rare.

On top of that, in terms of being unranked, I’m even near the bottom, that’s because I’m trash with magic power of just 5.

“I’ll carry bags or anything else. Can you please find a party for me?”

“I’m very sorry to say this, but currently there are zero open recruitment requests for unranked individuals. Well, at the moment, we’re currently sending requests to parties currently clearing E-ranked dungeons but…”

Japan Dungeon Association Tokyo Division, the dungeon association that regulates dungeons across the world.

Around me, dungeon clearers just like me were doing things like converting their magic stones into money and taking request for cubes that were near dungeon collapse.

“Ah is that so…Thank you very much.”

While looking for a party that might accept me, for multiple days in a row I wandered around.

But clearers who aimed for dungeons categorified as the bottom rank E-Rank were in few numbers, and even the ones that existed already had full parties.

For that reason, I was relentlessly rejected.

But this is unavoidable.

Everyone is putting their lives on the line; they don’t have the room to place someone in their party through thin good will if that person is just going to be a burden.

I, alone, left the Dungeon Association with heavy footsteps.

…

“Shit!”

That day, late at night, while by myself, I muttered curses.

Even after searching for a party this much, not being able to find one. Even after explaining about my sick sister, the Association won’t do anything for me.

Even though the deadline is closing in, with panic from not being able to see the road ahead and lack of sleep, I was extremely frustrated. “Big brother?” Nagi ended up waking up after hearing my voice. “Ah… Sorry.”

“Big brother…are you getting enough sleep?”

Said Nagi, seeing the bags beneath my eyes.

That’s due to these past few days running around busily and not resting because of stress.

“Of course, I’m not resting, who’s fault do you think it is that I’m running around so much?”

Out of my antagonized state, my words grew thorns. What am I saying?

Stop it, none of this is Nagi’s fault. Please stop it. Even while understanding that, I couldn’t control my emotions.

“What do you think’s going to happen if you get weak and accidentally injure yourself? Quit it and just go to sleep.” “B-But…”

“Quit and go to sleep…”

“Big brother, I…You know…Big brother. I always…”

“All you do is fucking sleep, so go to sleep!!”

As soon as I said it, I realized.

That was the worst thing I could have said. Even though I was angry, those were words that should have never been uttered.

“S-Sorry…I’m always…Thankful…I was just a bit scared and wanted to be by your side…I’m sorry…”

“*Haah* What am I doing…” While hitting my head, I promised myself that I would apologize to Nagi the next morning.”

~The Next Day Morning

“Good morning Nagi, so about yesterday…”

“Big brother… *Haa* *Haa*…good…morning”

“Nagi!”

In the early morning, as I was heading towards Nagi’s futon to apologize, I was met with an obviously weakened Nagi.

With seemingly painful breaths, Nagi, with all of her might tried to move, but her body didn’t seem to be responding very well.

I immediately went to pick Nagi up but, that body of hers was unbelievably cold. “Nagi! Are you okay!?” “I’m scared…Big Brother…I’m so scared…” “It’s okay! We’re going to the hospital immediately!”

I picked up my little sister and without even locking the door, dashed towards the hospital.

That sickened back held no power within it; I could only hear small breaths.

I could hear my heart beating through my chest, not because I was tired out, but because the feeling that I would be crushed by anxiety soon was running through my head.

Nagi’s condition is what is called ‘Amyotrophic Magic Sclerosis’ phase 2’.

While moving the body being difficult, somehow with one’s own power being able to breath, as well as being able to walk a small amount.

Never again being able to open one’s eyes.

Until death…no, even after death.

While praying to a God that I don’t even believe in, I headed straight towards the hospital.

…

At the National Clearer Exclusive Hospital

Backed wholeheartedly by Japan, a large hospital specifically used by clearers for wounds, prognostic symptoms, or even for their current family or left-behind family members.

A government plan enacted in order to increase the amount of clearers. While barely catching my breath, as if panicking, while carrying Nagi, I went up and pleaded to the receptionist. Shortly after, our designated doctor came.

With glasses hanging from his nose and wearing a white coat. A 30-something, strict-seeming, but caring towards his patients, doctor.

“Sensei! Nagi is!”

“Kai-kun…let’s carry her immediately, over here.”

Once inside the room we were ushered into, I laid Nagi down.

As the examination started, outside the room I bawled up my intertwined hands and placed them in front of my forehead, almost as if praying, I closed my eyes.

My legs were shaking.

While doing that, when just a few minutes had passed, Ijuin-sensei appeared came outside.

And I was greeted with words that I didn’t want to hear. “Sensei!” “Kai-kun, this is hard to say but…It’s phase 3. All we can do is to enter her in as a patient, put her on a breathing machine and with that we can extend her life…we’ve already completed the initial process so don’t panic but…most likely, she won’t ever open her eyes again…”

“N-No! T-that’s!”

Phase 3. That basically a death sentence.

No matter how much power one puts in, the body, almost as if wrapped in metal wire, can’t breathe properly.

Without enough power to open one’s eyes, just quietly trapped in one’s own body.

“Sensei! Something! Isn’t there anything that can be done!?”

“…Sorry, the cure to this disease still hasn’t been discovered. To begin with, magic power itself is too unknown…the modern medical solution currently…can only extend the patient’s life…The ears should still be able to hear so, at the very least using your voice…”

I already understand that.

Even while understanding, I still ask if there’s anything that can be done.

But even still, the answer doesn’t change.

With a bow, Ijuin-sensei leaves.

After, a specialized machine is carried in and fitted to Nagi.

I, while by her side, grasped her hand.

It was cold.

Almost as if blood was not flowing.

But her eyes were still open.

While fighting to not close her eyes, Nagi looks over here.

“Nagi…”

Even though up until yesterday she was laughing, until then, the thought of the disease worsening was something I didn’t even imagine.

I hear that with this disease, one where at the end, almost as if one has anemia, even standing is a difficult, will continue to go on.

The body becomes gradually moves less and less, and one’s body stops being their own. Just how frightening is that process?

And yet even then, Nagi continued to face me with a smile.

In order to not worry me, she hid that pain.

Even yesterday, she still must have been in enough fear to paralyze.

And yet, those words.

Even though Nagi told me she loves me, I returned nothing and couldn’t tell my own feelings.

Something like that being our last conversation…

“*Eugh**eugh* Nagi…I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…”

I looked at the sickly face of Nagi who was staring back at me.

I couldn’t believe it. The fact that I would never see that smile again.

In the world there are hundreds of thousands of people afflicted with this disease.

After all of humanity awaked, immediately, people across the world became fervent at finding a cure and began searching so, one day, it might be found.

For that reason, until that time comes, I want to extend her life as much as possible.

For that reason, I can’t quit being a clearer.

“Nagi…Your big brother is going to try. Try and… fight. I’m going to pull you out from there at all costs, so…”

After wiping my tears, I strongly grasped that frigid hand.

While look straight towards Nagi, I decided.

That even If it’s alone, I’m going to clear dungeons.

Even if I can’t do it, even if I die in the dungeon, my license won’t be revoked.

Rather, support towards my left behind family will be provided for.

For that reason, even if I die, Nagi should still receive health care.

I repeat the words I couldn’t say yesterday over and over again.

“Nagi… I love you. I love Nagi, so!”

And then, I grasp Nagi’s hand tightly once again.

“I know…”

With a hoarse voice, Nagi musters all her remaining strength to smile. She grips my hand tightly and then weakly, slowly closing her eyes.

That day, I spoke to Nagi late into the night, knowing that I wouldn’t receive a response. Nevertheless, I kept talking and talking.

And then, I stood up.

“Nagi, I will definitely save you. I promise you that.”

With determination,

“Even if I have to risk my life.”

I will face forward.

◇At the same time Shibuya Crossing

“Hey, what’s that?”

In the heart of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo, As the signal turned green, a massive crowd of pedestrians intermingled and crossed the intersection, walking pedestrian heaven.

One of the passersby noticed something and pointed towards the sky. As everyone’s gaze followed their finger, they all began to look up at the sky one after another.

A square-shaped object shining in gold was slowly falling from the sky.

The time was evening, and the season was summer. Despite being illuminated by the red light of the setting sun, the object shone brightly in gold as it fell.

“Hey, isn’t that…?”

“A Cube!! That’s a Cube, isn’t it?!”

“A Cube?! A golden one?! I’ve never heard of that color before!”

Passersby took photos with their smartphones one after another.

That box, called a Cube, which served as the entrance to another realm, while resisting gravity, slowly fell, like a leaf falling from a tree.

The pedestrians watched as it descended to the ground while moving away the impact site. The signal changed, and the sound of car horns filled the air.

The Cube landed slowly and silently in the middle of that place.

Shining in a dazzling golden color that no one had ever seen before.

—————————————————————————————-

From the translator:

(3/21/2023) Thank you for reading so far, I don’t currently have a set schedule for this series but I am looking to post at least one every two days, at least before I find time to get a backup of finished chapters. Expect chapter 3 tomorrow!