After several hours of walking without rest, she had surpassed the limits of her body's endurance. Yet, she kept moving forward, refusing to become a burden on Kogan.
Despite her young age, she did not lack basic knowledge:
The weak would be cast aside. Prove your worth, and they would keep you.
The ground was covered in sand and stones, but they weren't much of an obstacle.
'Get rid of the burden,' Kogan sneered internally as he glanced at Hinako. Her knees were trembling, and her steps had slowed.
"We'll rest here."
Kogan stopped walking immediately and collapsed onto the white sand.
"Thank goodness, I was about to collapse any moment now."
Hinako sighed in relief and lay down as well.
Together, they formed the shape of a "T."
The sky above them was a soft, glowing pale blue, like a calm and pristine lake.
Kogan could have kept walking—he might have even been able to run—but he chose to rest here for Hinako's sake.
He knew one thing for certain: once you step into this place, stopping even for a moment is a mistake. Don't even think about it.
Hinako's face was pale, her long strands of hair spread across the white sand like dark silk threads, gently blending with the ground as if they were a natural part of it. She lay still, her eyes closed, her expression quietly marked by exhaustion.
After resting for a while, Hinako finally spoke.
"I wanted to return to my world… but when I really thought about it, I realized this place feels right for me." She opened her light brown eyes, brimming with life.
"And what makes this place any better than your world?"
"I'm not entirely sure," she admitted. "But this… this is how primitive humans lived. They woke up, explored, found food, then slept—over and over again." A wistful look crossed her face, as if reminiscing about a past she had never lived.
Kogan's expression remained unreadable. "The death of your friend, the monsters hunting you—do you really want to stay here despite all that?"
Hinako scoffed. "That piece of trash wasn't my friend. Honestly, it's a good thing he's dead." Her voice held no remorse. "As for the monsters… you saved me, didn't you?"
She hesitated, then muttered, "Thanks."
"Your desire to stay here… it's because of me, isn't it?" Kogan pushed himself up to his feet.
"W-What are you saying? That's not what I meant!" Hinako stammered, her face turning red.
Kogan smiled gently and extended his hand toward her. "Don't worry, I won't leave you behind."
She looked up at him, her light brown eyes shimmering with unshed tears, reflecting the deep gratitude she felt. Her pale face was flushed red, almost like a ripe tomato.
Slowly, she reached out, and as Kogan pulled her up, he added in a calm voice, "But if you mess up… I won't hesitate to leave you behind."
"Huh?" The smile vanished from Hinako's face. His words hit her like a bolt of lightning, and for a moment, she almost lost her balance again.
He was still smiling, but his tone had turned sharp and cold. A chill ran through her.
"I'm just joking. Let's go."
He let go of her hand and walked ahead without looking back.
She stared at him, her brown eyes wide, her mouth slightly open—yet no words came out.
Was he really joking, or was he serious?
'He's joking… right? He did this once before, but he didn't abandon me… right? Right?'
Hinako's chest tightened as unease crept back into her heart. Just moments ago, she had felt safe. Now, that fragile sense of security was slipping away.
She had claimed she wanted to live in the wild, like primitive humans. But deep down, she knew the truth—she wouldn't survive on her own.
She lacked the resilience, the instincts, the mindset of those ancient people. She had grown up in a safe world, sheltered and weak, unprepared for the harshness of survival.
Her gaze drifted toward Kogan, walking ahead of her. His long, jet-black hair cascaded down his bare back, smooth like silk. His only clothing—a green, leaf-woven skirt—rustled with each step, his bare feet pressing firmly into the ground.
He didn't just look like a primitive man. He belonged here.
And that's why, without even realizing it, she wanted to stay.
Because she depended on him.
***
They kept moving forward without stopping, like two ants treading across the back of a blue whale.
The distance between Kogan and Hinako grew wider—ten meters apart now.
'If I keep falling behind, he'll leave me. I have to keep going.'
Hinako pushed herself forward, forcing her trembling legs to move. Her body was shaking from exhaustion, yet not a single drop of sweat fell from her skin.
She glanced back. The mountain peak they had descended from was now a distant speck on the horizon.
Once you step into this place, there is no turning back.
The light began to fade gradually, as if the sun were on the verge of setting.
'We'll spend the night here.'
Hinako let out a weary sigh. Her legs felt unbearably heavy, barely able to move.
After what felt like hundreds of sluggish steps, she finally reached Kogan.
"We'll rest here as well," he said coolly, already lying on the white sand, his black hair splayed around him.
Hinako collapsed without a word. Her dull eyes stared blankly ahead—whatever spark of life they once held had completely faded.
Night had finally fallen. Beyond the mere two meters before their eyes, everything was swallowed by darkness.
Kogan lay on the ground, fully relaxed, seizing every second to recover. After all, his body was still broken.
Thanks to that sheep—or whoever was responsible—his fingers had been healed, and some of the fractures in his bones had been mended.
After resting for dozens of minutes, he finally stood up.
"We're moving now."
"...."
Kogan glanced at Hinako, who lay on her side, fast asleep on the ground.
"You. We're moving now."
He nudged her shoulder with his foot.
"Oi, wake up! We're leaving." Kogan's voice flared with irritation.
Slowly, Hinako's bloodshot eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him—his face as expressionless as ever.
"You can go on without me," she murmured weakly. "I'm sorry... but I can't keep going anymore."
Kogan looked down at her in silence.
Hinako exhaled weakly, her voice laced with exhaustion.
"I'd only be a burden... Reaching this far was only thanks to you anyway. I'm just... decoration on the cake."
Kogan raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips—then, without a word, he vanished into the darkness.
"This is better than being eaten by monkeys," Hinako sighed in relief and let her exhausted eyes close once more.
Fear no longer gripped her—she simply lacked the energy to process it.
In truth, Hinako wasn't asleep anymore.
She had lost consciousness.