Introduction
Narrator: During the battle, voices flew back and forth. But not a single one of them was directed at Cain Lucht. Voices of concern for a lover. Voices of trust for a lover. Even in battle, they naturally looked to each other. Cain Lucht bit his lip lightly as he swung his sword.
Cain Lucht: (…How long has it been?)
Cain Lucht: Ached deep in his chest.
Cain Lucht: (How long has it been like this?)
Narrator: Looking back, there were countless signs. Meals at camp. Conversations on the move. Seating arrangements at inns. He always found himself left out. Always alone. Always unable to join the conversation. It wasn't that anyone was malicious. …He just felt like he was the only one not needed.
Cain Lucht: (Even without me—)
Cain Lucht: He swung his sword. He cut down a demon. Still, the hollowness in his chest remained unfilled.
Cain Lucht: (This party would be fine, wouldn't it?) (What's the point of me being here...?）
Narrator: That was the moment. A tremendous surge of killing intent shot from behind him.
Cain Lucht: —!?
Narrator: He turned around—but it was too late.
Narrator: A demon, hiding in the shadow of a rocky mountain, swung its massive arm. A direct hit. There was no time to defend. The impact ripped through his entire body.
Cain Lucht: Gah…!?
Cain Lucht: His vision spun, his body flew through the air, towards the edge of the cliff.
Cain Lucht: The ground receded farther and farther—
Cain Lucht: He fell.
Narrator: The moment he understood, Cain Lucht instinctively reached out. He wanted help. Not because he was the hero, but because they were comrades. Just for that reason. “――――” The four people he reached out to. They were looking at him. They were definitely looking. Their eyes met. So he believed. That someone would reach out. That someone would call his name. But not a single one of them… reached out a hand. As if they hadn't been there from the start. As if they couldn't see him. The four didn't move. With that last sight, Cain Lucht's body was swallowed by the dark chasm below the cliff. And the hero clearly understood.
Narrator: That he had never been needed in the first place.
