My consciousness gradually cleared amidst the sound of steady rain.

Another rainy night.

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar stone ceiling. The room was filled with a pleasant scent of incense.

Then, I realized someone was tightly holding my hand.

I sat up in bed and looked to the side.

It was Adam again, keeping vigil by the bed.

No, was it really him? I might have already been captured by Necross and locked in some dark cell. Regardless, I couldn't be fooled a second time.

Holding my breath, I scrutinized the boy closely.

He had dark circles under his eyes, looked haggard, was lightly biting his lip and frowning as if having a nightmare. His appearance matched my memory; I couldn't see any difference.

Sensing something, he looked up. After staring at me dazedly for a moment, he immediately let go of my hand and said,

"Sorry, you grabbed my hand in your sleep, so I just—"

"Adam, shall we get married?"

Adam merely opened his eyes a bit wider, looked at me expressionlessly, and said nothing.

Not a single reaction to my joke. That's right, this feeling of emotional neglect—it's him.
If it were Necross, she'd be spouting nonsense already.
Come to think of it, that serious, straight-laced sociopath is more passionate than you. You should really reflect on how you treat me, you know?
No, being reserved and having self-respect is Adam's strong point. Can't force him...
...Speaking of which, has Adam not blinked even once since just now?

I quickly clasped my hands together in apology.
"You looked a bit tired, so I made a joke. Sorry."

After another few seconds of stiffness, Adam suddenly lowered his head. The force of it was comparable to when I smashed Necross.

He let out a long sigh towards the floor, his demeanor somewhat resembling someone who finally hit the pity timer on a gacha, only to find it was a duplicate legendary.

He said quietly,
"Congratulations on waking up. I'll call Mr. Wilson right away."

Trying to ditch me again. Harsh.

"Wait, wait, wait! Where is this? How long did I sleep this time? What happened to Necross? What about his accomplice?"

Adam looked up. He seemed to want to smile at me, but the effect was completely a forced, skin-deep smile—a bit uncanny valley, worse than Necross's.
Maybe you should just not. Don't do things you're not used to.

"We're in a room in Mr. Wilson's old watchtower."
"It's the second night since we went to the church. You slept for a full day this time."
"Necross escaped. As for his accomplice... you mean the contractor? I haven't heard Mr. Wilson mention anything about that."

Grey, you unreliable man! Can't even clean up the kill properly!
No, he didn't know the medal was Necross's core. He probably rushed straight to Adam, who I had disemboweled, as soon as he revived.
Can't blame him for letting the enemy escape.
But, no accomplice? Then what was that strange feeling before I passed out? Maybe I was just in poor condition from having my life/death boundary blurred a bit.

"Adam, are you recovering alright? Does your stomach, your ribs hurt?"
"No problem. Mr. Wilson healed me very well. In fact, I was already fully healed when I woke up this morning. I didn't feel any pain at all; I only learned about the injury from him."
"By the way, he said my wound didn't look like it was caused by Necross. Could it be related to the accomplice you mentioned?"

Wait.
Come to think of it, that scene must have looked like I, in a fit of impotent rage after Necross escaped, punched through the wall to vent and accidentally hit Adam who was embedded in it.
Thinking more carefully, I was a bit too into the fight back then. Should have been more careful; maybe could have broken fewer ribs.
I'm sorry. I am very, very sorry. Truly apologize.
A complete failure as a hero.

"Uh, that was me. Sorry."
"...Huh?"
"Of course, there was a reason! I can explain! Necross had a core; you couldn't defeat her without destroying it, and she put that thing inside your body. In a moment of crisis, I had no choice but to resort to that method."

Adam's expression didn't change. Well, of course! It sounds completely like an excuse.
Can you please not tell anyone? I'll do anything.
"I'm not trying to excuse myself. Looking back, there probably was a better way... Anyway, sorry!"
"Hey, how about you punch me in the stomach a couple times too?"

Adam finally showed a natural smile.
Uh, even though I said you could hit me, I did save your life, so go easy, okay?

He showed no intention of doing so. Should I expose my stomach first? Fine, I'll do it.
"It wasn't placed by Necross. I ate it myself."
"...Huh?"
"At first, I just thought the medal was strange, so I kept it Stagnated in my hand to investigate... Then the lights went out, and I felt someone touch my hand, trying to take it."
"At that moment, my consciousness rapidly blurred and I couldn't speak. In a panic, I had no choice but to swallow it."

No wonder there were contusions in his throat. Ugh, that's a bit scary.
"That must have been painful... You worked hard. Your observation skills are really sharp."
"Mr. Wilson had scratched the medal up quite a bit. When I picked it up, I noticed the positions of some of the scratches seemed to have changed."
"I stared at that medal for a long time, so I naturally noticed."

Probably marks left when she animated the medal.
I applauded in admiration.
"You better not tell Grey you stared at the medal for so long. He'd get a big head."
"...Hah."

After Adam's two dry laughs, an awkward silence fell over the room.
Time for the older one here to steer the conversation.
Right, let's talk about Mary. She nearly lost her life; she must be very vulnerable, pitiful, and in need of support right now.
Adam, now's not the time to be chatting with others in the sickroom. You need to fulfill your loving responsibility and go take good care of her.

Just as I was about to speak, Adam spoke first,
"Sylvia, do you remember the prophecy from the Stargazing Ritual?"

He's speaking slowly, as if he's made some kind of resolution. What's this about?
The prophecy from the Stargazing Ritual. Honestly, I don't remember it very clearly. Do you remember what you talked about when you went out singing karaoke with friends yesterday?
Grey seemed to be trying to set Adam up with Mary.

"Any progress with Mary?"
"Progress...? Oh. I think training will resume in a day or two."
Training...? You can't treat a real-life girl like a galgame to be conquered, you know.

Adam continued,
"What I wanted to say is, Sylvia, could you please not go to the mines with me and Mr. Wilson? He's already told me you wanted to join."

What's this all of a sudden? Adam shouldn't have a reason to oppose this. That means Grey is starting to find me a nuisance, right?
That freeloader has some nerve.

"Why? Does Grey have some complaint about my actions at the church?"
"No, he greatly admires what you did. He talked to me about it for a long time. I don't want you to go."

That is truly shocking news.
"Reason?"
"You'll die. The Star God's prophecy didn't state it explicitly, but I think it's probably referring to this time. I asked Mary; the prophecy isn't absolute. It can be avoided if you deliberately go against it."

Was there such a prophecy? Adam is surprisingly prone to anxiety. He might have misinterpreted the god's words on his own.
Even if there was, it doesn't really matter.

"Mm. I can promise you that."
Adam wore an "That's it? No conditions?" expression. I'm indirectly refusing, you dummy.

"But then you have to tell me, what should I do next? Stay in a safe place forever?"
"Well..."

Adam mumbled for a while but didn't say anything. I patted his shoulder.
"Thank you for your concern. I'm really very happy."
"I've traveled with a priest of the Star God before, so I know a bit about the nature of prophecies. Most prophecies are accurate, but they are very vague, open to multiple interpretations, and can even be self-fulfilling."
"Therefore, deliberately defying or following them doesn't mean much."
"Just do what you want to do, what you should do. You should cheer up a bit too."

After a long silence, Adam looked at me and said,
"I understand. Then... are you free tomorrow... no, the day after tomorrow?"
"Should be fine, depending on whether Grey has any new discoveries. Need help with potions?"

Adam shook his head, looked straight into my eyes, and said the words that would shock me for the entire night:
"Please go on a date with me."