I fell on my butt.

I was overwhelmed.

Those monsters emit such an aura that it seemed to me even one of them could shake the country.

“Is that… an emperor species!? And even red species and dragon species… These monsters are at a pinnacle that I’ve never seen before… What is this? What the hell is this…?”

Tanaka-san was also speechless, standing still.

“AH!?”

Even Midori-san, who should be strong-willed, screamed at the sound of the monster strongly striking the golden iron bars behind her.

“If all of these things get outside… Japan is finished…”

Tanaka-san, an A-class, seems to feel that these monsters have the power to destroy the country.

In this country, there are five awakeners called S-class, and even at that level, dealing with this will be extremely difficult.

“Is Colonel Alfred also in a similar situation right now?”

Colonel Alfred is an S-class, so he is also a monster at that level, but even he can’t win alone.

I’m not sure why such a valuable military force as Colonel Alfred was sent here, but the value of an S-class is different between the United States and Japan.

Why? They are the strongest military country in the world.

Even if it’s a preciously rare S-Class. Compared to Japan, the US has multiple times more.

Even still, the fact that they’re rare doesn’t change, I think.

“Tanaka-san… What are these things?”

“I don’t know either, but it is clear that they’re angry with us.”

I can feel the sound of my own heartbeat.

This is different from the time with the hobgoblin when I was simply scared.

It wasn’t on a dimension of not giving up or whether we could win or not.

If we were told to fight against something like this, we would only die.

However, this golden iron bar didn’t receive any damage from the attacks of those fierce monsters.

What kind of material is it made of?

“Look. Over there.”

As I was wondering that, Midori-san regained her composure and pointed her finger.

There, a golden collar shone on the ground.

A dark ceiling where nothing could be seen was connected by a golden chain.

The golden collar was open so that it could be worn around the neck.

“Are they telling us to wear it? But why only one?”

The moment Tanaka-san touched the collar.

That inorganic mechanical voice echoed throughout the area.

『Choose one sacrifice and have them wear the collar. Time until God’s barrier is released, 1000 seconds, 999…』

At that moment, a golden cube suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.

The side of the golden cube displayed a scenery of the real world, as if it were a heat haze.

“Is that outside!?”

As Tanaka-san shouted, it was a gate.

An exit from the dungeon where we could go outside.

Perhaps it’s Shibuya? The scenery outside the Golden Cube was being reflected.

“So, there’s the exit, Tanaka-san! We can get out!!”

I was filled with joy and ran towards the gate, wondering if I could finally get out.

And then, it happened.

It appeared suddenly.

Thud.

As if to say, “You may not pass.” In front of our eyes, golden bars appeared.

Blocking the only road to the gate were bars that looked exactly like the ones sealing in the monsters.

“Why…”

And then we heard the voice again.

That cold and mechanical, system-like voice, commanded to us.

『Choose one sacrifice and have them put on the collar.』

I repeated those words in my head and finally made myself understand.

What this trial was trying to make us do.

What it was trying to force us to do.

A feeling of blood draining from my body.

We looked at the monsters again.

They seemed to have understood something, drooling and silently watching us.

I could even feel their impatience to kill.

“No way….”

“I can’t believe it….”

“Stay behind… alone here…”

We understood.

It was telling us to sacrifice one person among us.

Like a scenario in a death game, where the organizer enjoys watching us kill each other, and decide who’s the weakest.

“That’s… impossible…”

I sat down on the spot.

I remained sitting there for a while, stunned.

“…. Shit! Shit!!”

Only Tanaka-san, even while knowing it was pointless, still cast spells to burn the golden bars, as well as drew his sword and cut at them.

But the lattice didn’t budge.

That was only natural. This wasn’t something that could be overcome with brute strength.

That was because this was the power of a God that surpassed human understanding, the same power that sealed the monsters.

“What is this?! What kind of trial is this?!”

Tanaka-san’s anger was now on full display as he screamed and slashed at the lattice.

Gone was his usual calm demeanor, replaced by pure rage.

“So, in order for the others to survive, we have to leave ‘just’ a single person as a sacrifice?! This is ridiculous!!”

Tanaka-san, in a fit of anger, plunged his sword into the ground and knelt down, exhausted.

“This is ridiculous…”

“…. Tanaka-san.”

“This is too cruel, what kind of trial is this? We just talked about surviving together, about going out for sushi together…”

Even Midori-san, who had understood the situation, knelt down and cried.

I feel the same way.

If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn’t have formed a circle and gotten along with them.

If only I hadn’t listened to their life stories.

Tanaka-san and Midori-san are good people.

They treated me as an equal, even though I was called garbage.

I was honestly happy.

It had been almost ten years since I learned that my magic power was only 5, and this was the first time I had ever been recognized like this.

That’s why I had come to really like these two people.

Not because of my magic power, but because they looked at me.

They were really kind people who were planning to get married, Midori-san and Tanaka-san.

I imagined that they would make a good couple.

I mean, they were so kind.

And yet, this trial seemed to be designed to select just one person as a sacrifice.

To kill kindness, to kill one person.

So, we couldn’t choose, we weren’t able do it.

Even so.

『834, 833…』

The countdown didn’t wait for us.

We would all be killed by the furious, insane monsters if we didn’t do something.

Even so, we all sat down and couldn’t move.

If there had been a villain like Sato, maybe we could have moved.

But there’s no one like that here.

Tanaka-san and Midori-san are sincerely kind people.

That’s why we couldn’t move.

Even so, the countdown mercilessly continued.

Time passed in silence.

『603, 602, 601, 600…』

It was when there were less than 10 minutes, 600 seconds left.

When no one could stand up and it had become quiet.

That’s when that person stood up.

“I’ll stay behind. Hai-kun, Midori. You guys survive. This is an order as the representative of this mission.”

It was Tanaka-san.

“Isssei! No! No! You can’t!!”

Midori-san started crying when she heard that because it meant Tanaka-san would die.

“Midori, please become happy. I don’t know if there’s a better man than me… haha”

Tanaka-san tried to send Midori-san and me off with a dry smile.

Midori-san kept saying she didn’t want to, but Tanaka-san shook his head.

But his legs were shaking too. Tanaka-san was human too, of course he was scared.

“…Okay… Issei. Wait a minute…”

Midori-san looked at me with both fists clenched.

Her eyes were filled with tears, but they looked determined.

I understood that look.

It was the same look as someone who was ready to die for their loved one.

“I’m sorry, Kai-kun. I’m really sorry. I… choose Isssei. I’m sorry. Hate me. Don’t…forgive me.”

And with those words, I was sure.

Midori-san would surely choose to let her beloved Tanaka-san survive…

I won’t say that choice was wrong.

If Nagi were here and I had the power, I would choose without hesitation to save Nagi.

Because that’s what it means to love someone.

To love someone is to make them special.

So, is it wrong to kill someone to help the person you love the most in the world?

I understand Midori-san’s feeling of wanting to protect the person she loves, painfully so.

*BAM!*

But then, Tanaka-san hits Midori when he hears that statement.

“Midori. No, I’m staying. I’m grateful for your feelings, but… this is my responsibility.”

“But, Issei! I! I! No! I don’t want that!!”

Midori cried in Tanaka’s chest.

Tanaka gently hugged her and closed his eyes.

They must be spending their last moments together.

Two people who love each other, torn apart by God’s trial.

But…

“Ahh, that’s right, that’s the answer. Nagi.”

“I won’t let that happen.

*Gacha*. “

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

“I will stay. I’ll be taking on the role of the hero.”

“Kai-kun?! What are you doing?”

“Kai-kun?! Your collar!”

Tanaka-san hugged Midori-san while I took the collar from his hand and without hesitation put it on myself.

At the same time, the golden bars in the center disappeared with a thud.

I other words, revealing the gate to the outside.

“I’m the one with the least value here. I can’t tear apart the two people who love each other.”

“Take it off, Hai-kun!”

“I can’t. There’s a keyhole, but this seems like it won’t come off. And that’s okay. I liked you guys, even for a short while. I, who was worthless and called trash, was happy that you treated me equally as a person and a friend. Really. Also… look.”

I saw their unstoppable tears.

“For people who cry for me like this, I think it’s a pretty good way to use my life.”

“Kai-kun, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Because… I said those things.”

Midori-san apologizes.

She probably thinks it’s her fault.

“Don’t apologize. The truth is, I was originally planning on dying. I told you earlier when I introduced myself, that I have a sister named Nagi. She’s suffering from AMS, but we’re poor, and the only place where we can get treatment is at a hospital for clearers. But I can’t keep being a clearer… so I’ll continue to support her treatment even if it’s through the compensation family members receive after clearers die.”

I told them what I had decided that day.

The only thing I, who had nothing, could give up in the end to save Nagi was my life.

“Kai-kun… you are…”

“So, Tanaka-san, I have one request. Can I ask you to take care of my sister at AMS where I’m hospitalized? I think she can get treatment through survivor compensation, but even if a treatment is found, she won’t be able to receive it immediately. Tanaka-san, as the vice-representative of Japan’s top guild, you can do something with your power, right? Nagi Amachi. The most important person in the world to me.”

I sent Tanaka-san the best smile I could muster.

I pinched my legs with my fingers to hide the trembling.

I was prepared to die, and if it was between failing in clearing the dungeons and having my license be voided, I’d rather use my life to provide compensation to my family in order to protect them.

But even so, I was scared.

“…Kai-kun.”

“Even if I survive here, I can’t save my family, so…”

I smiled with tears in my eyes, relying on every bit of my strength, and asked Tanaka-san and Midori-san for their help.

“So, I’m counting on you. Please take care of Nagi. I’m begging you. No matter what.”

“That was my sincere wish.

“…Ahhh!!”

Tanaka-san, immediately after, hits his head hard on the ground and bleeds.

As if he were prostrating himself, he fights with his inner conflict.

Over and over again.

And then, he lifts his face again.

“I received that wish, without a doubt…Kai-kun, I swear on my life and the name of our guild that I will take responsibility for your sister until the end. So…please rest assured.”

I smile at his response.

“That’s great. Actually…I’m lucky to have Tanaka-san’s support. Now go, there are only three minutes left.”

Tanaka-san, despite my poorly made fake smile, accepts it and they both slowly head towards the exit gate.

Their steps are heavy, and they still have conflict, but they keep moving forward step by step.

I mutter as I watch their backs.

“This is okay.”

This is okay.

I keep telling myself that over and over again.

It’s better for those two to survive than me, worthless unraked garbage.

Those two who are needed and relied upon by many are better, just by being alive they have more value than I.

Tap tap.

They seem to hesitate, but still move towards the door to the outside step by step.

I stare at their backs while being tied to a collar.

The monsters next to me, countless monsters with bared fangs and drooling, are all looking at me.

Their eyes were creepy, mixed with anger and joy.

I was truly afraid of the expression that seemed to say, “hurry up and feed us.”

When Tanaka-san and the others crossed the middle point of the straight path, I became completely alone.

At that moment, fear bubbled up inside me.

“Am I going to die…those fangs look painful…will they tear me apart?”

How will those monsters kill me now?

Will they tear me apart with those huge hands, or pierce me with those huge fangs?

Maybe I’ll burn and die from that dragon’s breath.

I imagined what kind of death was waiting for me, even though I shouldn’t have.

And then.

“I don’t want to die…huh?”

The words slipped out of me.

This wasn’t on the dimension of just not giving up or anything like that, this was certain death.

I could stand up to a hobgoblin and I never gave up on a test of knowledge until the end.

But this is different. It’s impossible to not give up on this.

I don’t want this.

I truly thought that.

“I’m scared…”

Suddenly, I start shaking.

“Don’t go…”

I unconsciously blurt out while looking at Tanaka and the others’ backs.

My small voice is drowned out by the noise of the monsters, and Tanaka and the others can’t hear me.

But once I say it, I can’t stop.

“I don’t want to diee…”

I’m scared and trembling.

Tears overflow and won’t stop.

Despite this, I desperately try to cover my mouth and curl up, so Tanaka and the others won’t notice.

If they see me like this, I feel like they might come back.

So, I try my best to hold back, but the tears won’t stop.

When faced with death, I feel like I might lose it.

“Uuuh…I hate thiss…”

Tears spill over, and I almost regret this choice.

That’s when it happens.

As if waiting for my words, a mechanical voice resonates directly in my head.

It’s as if the voice knew I become like this, and it echoes throughout the area at this timing.

『The final trial──』

“Huh?”

As soon as I hear the voice, golden bars like a prison appear between me and Tanaka and the others.

It’s the same iron bars that disappeared earlier, meaning that Tanaka and the others are separated from me.

Although I can’t pass through, there’s a gap in the golden iron bars that’s big enough to see the other side.

And then, another thing happens.

“Hey!?”

A golden collar appears around Tanaka-san and Midor-san’s necks.

It’s connected to a golden chain that suddenly appears from the sky. They have no way to escape.

“What’s happening…”

I’m confused, but Tanaka and the others head towards the cube that leads outside.

The same thing appears behind me.

And then, another thing.

“Two keys…”

Two keys appear in front of me.

It’s clear in an instant that these keys are the ones to unlock the collar.

If I use them, I can get out of here.

I understand now; this is the trial.

I’m being asked again.

To truly feel the reality of death in this situation and to truly not want to die from the bottom of my heart.

And in this situation where I can save myself if I wish to.

Can I make the same choice again, or… And then I realized.

The mechanical voice hasn’t said the name of this trial yet.

『The final trial──The Trial of the Heart has begun.』