When I returned from exploring the dungeon to save the world, I found out that my lover had been stolen, and I was blamed for the failed expedition. Enraged, I quit Japan's strongest party—only for them to self-destruct on their own. - Chapter 13

(From Akane’s Perspective)

What happened afterward was nothing short of disastrous.

Hideaki refused to see me anymore.
His eyes sparkled as he talked about his upcoming dungeon expedition.
A traitor…

I sent him a message, hoping he would take me along. But of course, he refused.
Someone like me wasn’t needed in a party of elite explorers.

Koichi was gone. Haruka was gone.
I was all alone.

Then came the highly anticipated Tokyo Dungeon raid led by Hideaki’s team.

It was obvious—it was not going well.

Compared to the last time, they were struggling.
In fact, they had advanced so effortlessly in the previous expedition that the current difficulty seemed unreal, even in floors I barely remembered.
The monsters hadn’t changed.
The only difference was the party itself.

Koichi wasn’t there.
Hideaki had taken his place.
The difference between them was painfully clear.

Within the Dungeon Association, only the higher-ups remained indifferent, seeing it as an expected outcome.
But the public? That was a different story.

Instead of the man they had vilified—Koichi—they had placed their faith in Hideaki, the son of the Dungeon Association president and their supposed rising star.
The media eagerly played along, glorifying the expedition in their coverage.
Even commentators on TV were optimistic, convinced that this time, success was inevitable.

And then, it became painfully clear to everyone that it was all a lie.

The internet exploded with outrage.
People mocked the media as “trash reporters,” condemned the Dungeon Association president, and trashed Hideaki.
And me.

Liar. Scum. Traitor.

I deserved every word.

I had lost my boyfriend, Koichi.
I had lost my sister, Haruka.
I had lost my affair partner, Hideaki.

Everyone I clung to eventually disappeared.

Now that I had lost everything, I found myself thinking… none of it mattered anymore.

So, I quit the Dungeon Association.
I walked out of my home.

My resignation was accepted immediately—everyone there had despised me.

Looking back, that decision was barely in time.
Or perhaps, just in time?

That expedition ended in failure.
Kotone and Ayaka died.

Hideaki abandoned them.
He also left Haruka and Yokota behind to escape on his own.

And the worst part?
It was all recorded.

That one act of cowardice shattered his credibility beyond repair.

Naturally, his other lovers abandoned him too.
Not that I cared.

The Dungeon Association was in complete disarray.

But the most disgusting part was President Akihito Kazuno.
He tried to dodge responsibility with lies, threats, and excuses.

And then Hideaki, with his countless affairs laid bare, turned on his own father.
Their falling out was nothing short of comedic.

It only got worse.

President Kazuno was arrested—for embezzlement and bribery.
Hideaki was arrested too—someone came forward with allegations of assault against other explorers.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

Because he came back.

Haruka, left for dead after Hideaki’s cowardly retreat, had prayed to the charm he had given her.
Unbeknownst to her, that charm was connected to him.

And so, he appeared.

It was like something out of a fantasy story.

Seeing Haruka’s radiant, relieved expression, I closed the livestream.
I couldn’t watch anymore.

Because that was the moment I realized—

I had been the obstacle between them all along.

No, it wasn’t something I lost.

It was something I threw away.

If I hadn’t done what I did, he would have handled things more rationally.
None of this would have happened.

It all started with Hideaki.

But I was the one who went along with it.
Because I couldn’t handle the loneliness.

I was the one who betrayed the people who truly mattered.

Now that I could finally reflect on everything, I realized something—

It was too late.

Not a single tear came.

I was alone.
I had no intention of ever facing Koichi or Haruka again.

Goodbye.

The sheer despair made me feel sick.

And then—

The worst thing happened.

I was pregnant.

The timing made it undeniable.

The father could only be Hideaki.

The worst possible person.

I went to see Hideaki after his release.

Unlike his father, who was charged with multiple serious crimes, Hideaki had only been convicted of minor assault.
So he got out quickly.

“I never thought you’d come to see me,” he said.

“Yeah…”

Even now, he remained as oblivious as ever.
He didn’t even notice my expression.

I was a fool to have ever chosen him.

“You look thinner,” he said.

I stayed silent, focusing on the road.

“Take me to the Dungeon Association. My assets should still be there. And—”

He still thought he had a place there.

Had he not been watching the news?
Probably not.

Even if he had, he likely ignored anything that didn’t suit him.

“I quit the Association. I can’t take you inside.”

“What? Why?”

You’re seriously asking me that?

“Hey, Ha—wait, Akane! Just drop me off at the entrance. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

Did he just call me Haruka?
Or was he thinking of another woman?

This man…

“I’m pregnant. And it’s yours.”

“What? That’s impossible. It’s been months since—”

Who the hell was he confusing me with?

Or had he lost track of time in prison?

“You’re serious?”

I stared at him in silence.

His face twisted in panic.

“Now’s not the time for a kid. We’re not even married. Get rid of it.”

Of course. He was the worst.

The moment he regained his composure, those were the words that came out of his mouth.

Why?

Why had I chosen him?

“Wait, are you lying? This isn’t my kid, is it? You were cheating on me, right? No way you got pregnant from just that.”

I pressed my foot on the accelerator.

It didn’t matter what he said.
It was possible.
Was he an idiot?

“Hey! Say something! And let me out!”

I was done.

Goodbye.

The baby was already gone.

There was no way I could have carried it in this state.

But still…

I had wanted him to care.

Even just a little.

I was a fool to ever expect that.

“Hey! Stop the car! Watch the road! Akane!”

Too late.

I wasn’t stopping.

The car wasn’t stopping.

Hideaki’s fist flew toward me, but I blocked it with my left hand.

Damn it—my watch…

“Hey! Stop—”

The car crashed through the guardrail.

The impact stole my breath.

And then—

We plunged off the cliff.