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While Rin and Cain are engaging in a fierce battle, Claire, who was returned to the surface, laments her incompetence.

(—protect everything? What a joke)

‘After giving such a vow, why am I here?' Thinking like that, Claire powerfully gripped her hand, making blood flow, as her nails stabbed her own palm. However, that wound healed in just a few seconds.

A dungeon that suddenly emerged. That phenomenon instantly gathered curious onlookers around the said dungeon, and Claire happens to be the first one that came. There is one strange point regarding this dungeon. It was that the gate that should have existed in every dungeon wasn't there. Because of that, no matter how strong an adventurer was— even if it was Claire, they couldn't enter the dungeon.

But when she was feeling helpless as she couldn't enter to save everyone who got trapped inside, she remembered something.

A few minutes ago, when her body was enveloped in the faint light of transfer magic, she had two options.

The first one is for her to try defeating Cain in the short time before the transfer is activated. Even if she failed, she intended to enter the dungeon again. However, there is a high probability that everyone who was left behind will be killed by the time she reaches the boss room again. Right after she thought of that— an image of what happened a few moments ago emerged in her mind.

After defeating Ifrit with a single blow, Claire looked back and saw Rin's eyes. His eyes don't show any hatred or anger. Even when overwhelmed by his powerlessness and helplessness, the eyes of Rin that were reflected in Claire's eyes haven't lost their light.

The moment she saw such a Rin, Claire immediately decided to choose the other option. That option is, in other words, to leave everything to Rin, as instinct told her that she should. Hence, at the very least, she decided to leave Cursed to protect the others beside him.

And after that the transfer magic was activated, and now here she is. Right now, the dungeon before her has no gate. This means, if she had chosen the first option, Claire was sure that the situation would’ve been too terrible to look at. In that sense, her choice was correct. However, it doesn't mean she was convinced by that. Because the fact that she was here, even after vowing to protect everyone means,

(Once again, I ended up, unable to protect—)

When she displayed a pained expression because she couldn't do anything to help just like now–

"Oi, someone is back!"

"—–!"

Hearing the voice of people, Claire lifted her head. And she saw the tattered figure of Rin, who was already unconscious, with his body about to collapse, standing there.

"Amane-san!"

In that instant, Claire ran toward Rin and caught his collapsed body. ‘Why is he the only one who came back? Don't tell me Rin is the only one who survived?' Thinking like that, her heart skipped.

However, her heartbeat soon calmed down. Because the face of Rin who was resting in her chest definitely looked like he had accomplished something.

"—–tss"

Looking at that smile, Claire immediately understood. Indeed, she didn't know what happened inside after she left. Even so, she knew that Rin succeeded in protecting everyone.

"Thank you, very much…"

After expressing her thanks, for the time being, she cast healing magic on Rin's wounded body. Although it is good that his wounds are healed with that, staying in this position will put a strain on his body. Nonetheless, it also doesn't mean she could lay Rin's body on the ground just like that.

‘… Cannot be helped.’

Therefore, Claire sat there and leaned Rin's head on her lap, then slowly caressed Rin's head, as if to heal his fatigue even a little.

"Thank you for your hard work, Amane-san."

Then, she said with a gentle voice. At that moment, she wondered whether it was just her imagination that Rin seemed to smile a little.

Finally, a few tens of seconds later, the dungeon disappeared and everyone who was left behind returned to the surface.

Thus, the incredibly long day for Rin has finally ended–.