"You can."
"Since I, as a god, can take you there, I can naturally bring you back."
"Traveling to and from this world is not a difficult task for me."
Facing the expectant or uneasy gazes of the girls, Heimdall gave an affirmative answer.
Instantly, the air on the scene relaxed.
Hanazake Warabi let out a long breath and patted her chest.
Kikakujuo Mary also showed an expression of relief, as if as long as they had this return ticket, the journey to another world would become a slightly more exciting school field trip.
However,
before this relaxed atmosphere could spread,
Heimdall's next words were like a bucket of ice water poured over their heads.
"But."
"If you have the mindset of going to give it a try and coming back if it doesn't work,"
"then,"
"I suggest it's better to stay here."
"Life is something that often only explodes with amazing power when there is no way back."
"Even the most cowardly mouse, when cornered by a cat with no escape, will show its fangs and fight to the death for that slim chance of survival."
"This determination to burn one's bridges is an indispensable fuel on the path to becoming strong."
"But once life has a way back,"
"once you know there is a safety door behind you that is open at any time, and you can just turn around to return to that warm, comfortable, danger-free bed,"
that will to struggle for survival in a desperate situation will collapse."
"It's like a tightrope walker."
"If there is no safety net, he will be fully concentrated with every step, every cell screaming to maintain balance."
"But if there is a thick sponge mat spread below,"
"he will think: 'Ah, it's fine if I fall anyway.'"
"And so,"
"the movements of his feet will slacken, and the string in his heart will loosen."
"The so-called 'Last stand' has never been a tactical choice, but a state of mind."
"When a person knows they still have a way back,"
"the moment she swings her sword at a monster, her strength will be one point less."
"The instant she dodges a claw, her speed will be one beat slower."
"But in that world,"
"this one point less of strength,"
"this one beat slower of speed,"
"is the boundary between life and death."
"The place I am taking you to is not an amusement park, nor is it a simulated stage for you to play hero games."
"People really die there."
"A monster's claws will tear open the throat of every Adventurer who underestimates the Dungeon."
"If at that moment,"
"what's in your head is 'I want to go home' instead of 'I'm going to kill this beast',"
"then,"
"you will truly be dead."
Heimdall's voice fell.
The gymnasium fell into a dead silence.
Even Kirukiru Amou, who was the most excited before, now restrained her smile, and her gaze became solemn.
She wasn't afraid of death.
But she understood Heimdall's meaning.
This wasn't just a question of dying or not.
It was a kind of resolve.
A crazy resolve to completely cut off the past and bet one's entire life on the gambling table.
"So."
Heimdall spread his hands, as if issuing a final ultimatum.
"Those who want to come with me,"
"please kill that self who can still return in your heart."
"Treat this departure as a one-way ticket."
"If you don't have that resolve yet,"
"then please just let it be."
Heimdall finished speaking.
He said no more, just standing there quietly, waiting for their choice.
In this situation,
the first to break the silence
was naturally Kirukiru Amou.
After listening to Heimdall's words, the fanaticism in her eyes did not fade, but instead became increasingly intense.
"What a boring question."
"To me, this world has long been like a lifeless grave."
"Since it's a grave,"
"then why linger?"
"As long as I can feel the pain of being alive, what if it's a one-way ticket?"
Kirukiru Amou strode behind Heimdall without the slightest hesitation.
With someone taking the lead,
naturally, there was a second person to react.
It was Inaba Tsukiyo.
As it was seen,
carrying her tachi, she slowly stood up from her cushion.
"In that case, Tsukiyo will go too."
"After all, Tsukiyo's world was originally pitch black."
"Since it's night everywhere,"
"then why care if the door behind is closed?"
"Since this is the trial ground Lord God has prepared for Tsukiyo,"
"then Tsukiyo can only go forth."
"And being able to hear a different sound of the wind,"
"Tsukiyo will be satisfied."
With that said,
Inaba Tsukiyo opened her red pupils that could not see at this moment.
Holding her long sword, she walked toward Heimdall's side.
In the blink of an eye,
among the five swords, the first person had made a choice.
Seeing this, Tamaba Satori tilted her head, and the fake smile on her face vanished for a moment.
But soon after, she replaced it with an even more brilliant and more dangerous smile.
"Since everyone is so interested,"
"then if little Satori doesn't go, won't I miss many interesting things?"
"Besides..."
"A game with no way back is even more exciting, isn't it?"
With that said,
Tamaba Satori skipped over and stood on Heimdall's other side.
At this point,
one after another, people had expressed their stance.
At this moment,
among the five swords, only Onigawara Rin, Kikakujuo Mary, and Hanazake Warabi remained where they were.
The pressure on the three increased manifold.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Every second became incredibly long.
Kikakujuo Mary tightly held the Dictionary in her arms.
Her gaze drifted back and forth between Heimdall and the others.
This was the campus she was familiar with, the life of a refined young lady she had long since grown accustomed to; though a bit boring, it was absolutely safe.
What Heimdall spoke of...
...was that unknown, peril-filled Dungeon where one might actually die.
Once she took that step, there would be no turning back.
"I..."
Thinking of this, Kikakujuo Mary wanted to say something to object, to say how unreasonable this was, and to ask why she couldn't have the best of both worlds.
But the words reached her lips and simply wouldn't come out.
Because Kikakujuo Mary knew very well in her heart.
Heimdall was right.
She was exactly the kind of person who would never dare to dance on a tightrope as long as there was a safety net.
Hanazake Warabi simply plopped down on the ground, burying her head in the Black Bear's thick fur as if trying to escape this heavy choice.
Onigawara Rin, however, was different.
She still held the hilt of her sword tightly.
Without the mask to hide behind,
the expression on her face was plain for all to see.
Fear remained.
Hesitation remained.
But.
Beyond that,
an emotion called indignation was wildly taking root in the depths of her eyes.
Was she really going to let it end like this?
To keep wearing that broken mask, to keep living in her mother's shadow, to keep playing this game of five swords house in this cramped academy?
And then wait until graduation to marry and spend a mediocre life?
If this was truly what she wanted...
...then why did she chase after them just now?
Why follow them here like a fool, not only being humiliated but also persistently hanging on?
At this thought, Onigawara Rin took a deep breath.
Supporting herself against the ground, she stood up unsteadily.
Her legs were still a bit weak.
Her heart was still pounding wildly.
But.
Her gaze was fixed intently on Heimdall's figure.
If there is no way back...
...then there is no need to retreat.
Just keep moving forward.
Just swing the sword.
Even if hell lies ahead, it's better than rotting away here.
And so, Onigawara Rin grit her teeth and, step by step, moved in front of Heimdall.
This was not just a decision.
It was a declaration of war against her former cowardly self.
"I'll go!"