I just want to run away.

I really don’t want to fight anymore.

How could a wimp like her possibly beat a vicious wolf?

She wasn’t Lunorette—she couldn’t make a difference on the battlefield.

The girl slowly pushed herself up from the ground. The distant battle had reached its peak, but she no longer cared.

All she wanted was to get far away from here. Lunorette didn’t matter. The princess’s life or death meant nothing to her—they weren’t even close.

Besides, she wasn’t even an Imperial citizen. She owed them nothing.

She turned to leave.

“Wait.”

A voice stopped her from behind.

Moyu turned around. The pink-haired girl’s stern face came into view.

“Caina?”

Moyu stood frozen, unsure what to do.

“Where are you going?”

Caina’s expression was calm, yet an unspoken pressure radiated from her.

Moyu Manatsu stayed silent, rooted to the spot.

Caina studied her for a long moment before the tension in her face finally eased.

“Luno-chan.”

Her voice softened.

“Everyone’s fighting their hardest right now. That’s why we need your strength.”

“…”

“Theos is battling the enemy, but he won’t hold out much longer. Luno-chan, you’re so strong—you could turn things around if you stepped in.”

“…There’s no way to win.”

Moyu knew exactly what Caina was thinking. Like most students, she blindly trusted top performers.

Because they were stronger, she never questioned them—never realizing the weight they carried.

Erika had been the same. Her blind faith in the girl who looked like Lunorette had led to tragedy.

“That guy’s too powerful. How could I stand a chance? Even Theos can’t beat him.”

“Luno-chan…”

“You see it too, don’t you? We’re not on his level. Fighting him would be suicide.”

Caina’s shock was plain—she couldn’t believe such defeatist words came from her friend.

“What if… we summon Sifrena?”

Caina gentled her tone.

“With summoning magic, Sifrena should—”

“It’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know summoning magic. It’s that simple.”

Moyu had given up pretending. There was no point in playing Lunorette anymore.

“Luno-chan, are you joking? You’re the Academy’s top student—the genius Chief Student. How could you not know such basic magic?”

Caina desperately tried to salvage the situation, unaware she wasn’t speaking to Lunorette at all.

“Hey, Luno-chan… didn’t you promise to be our shield? To protect us? We need you now. If this keeps up, everyone’s in danger.”

“So what?”

“We finally found Her Highness! If we miss this chance, there won’t be another. This is about the Empire’s future!”

“…”

“Luno-chan, say something! Why are you so silent? Don’t you realize how terrifying you’ve become?”

Caina’s voice trembled. She couldn’t fathom her friend’s cold indifference—as if none of this concerned her.

And it didn’t. Moyu Manatsu had no stake in the princess’s fate. She wasn’t even from this Empire.

Fighting as Lunorette’s replacement? Impossible.

Moyu Manatsu had never had anything worth protecting. No resolve to fight for a cause.

“That confident you… that smiling you… the you who always stood ahead of us—where did she go? You promised to bring the princess back! I believed in you!”

Was she disappointed?

Well, it couldn’t be helped.

The girl lowered her head, offering no defense.

“I’m sorry.”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“I can’t do it.”

Moyu Manatsu was just an ordinary person living in the real world.

Shunha Nanami’s words echoed in her mind once more.

Moyu lifted her face, letting the wind tangle her hair. An explosion boomed in the distance. The battle seemed over. Whoever won, she already knew the outcome.

“Right now, Luno-chan is the only one I can trust. Even if you lose, I just need you to save the princess. She might not be your friend, but she’s still our classmate…”

“…”

“Tell me—who are you really?”

Caina finally said it.

She hadn’t planned to.

But she couldn’t hold back anymore.

The girl before her was nothing like the Lunorette she remembered. It wasn’t just odd behavior—it was as if someone else lived inside that body.

“When did you figure it out?”

Moyu asked calmly, unsurprised.

“Isn’t it obvious…?”

Caina clenched her fists, fighting to control her emotions.

“Luno-chan would never sacrifice a friend as bait while she fought alone. She’d take the wounds herself to protect others. She’s strong, yet kinder than anyone.”

“Because we’re friends. I know everything about her.”

“But you? You’d do anything for your own gain. How could you ever be Luno-chan?”

Her gaze was colder than ice—not just anger at an enemy, but fury at whoever stole her friend’s body.

Moyu Manatsu didn’t argue. She knew excuses were useless. No matter how polished, she *had* hurt innocent classmates to win. That guilt couldn’t be erased.

She was a human from a virtual world, thrust into reality. Survival left no room for kindness.

“You’re right.”

Her voice was flat.

“I’m not Lunorette. Just an ordinary human… occupying her body.”

She’d said it.

The secret between her and Lunorette was out.

And to Caina, of all people.

Lunorette would be furious. For blurting this out…

“Miss Caina… you’re sharper than I thought. To have figured it out.”

Moyu smiled—a bitter, weary curve of her lips.

“Give my friend back! Give Luno-chan back to me!”

Caina raised her sword, its point aimed at Moyu. Her gentle demeanor had vanished, replaced by raw fury.

The game of friendship was over. With this truth exposed, every shared moment dissolved into nothing.

During her time in Lunorette’s body, she’d lived as her with Caina.

Mornings waking up without a bra, met with Caina’s patient smile…

Walking to the cafeteria together every day…

Studying side by side…

Caina clinging to her, warm and trusting…

So much had happened.

It hurt to admit it—but those days had been happy.

“I never meant to take her body. We’ll switch back tomorrow.”

Moyu’s tone was light, hiding the flicker of sadness in her eyes.

“Why…?”

“What?”

“Why would someone like you steal the most precious thing my friend owns? You—”

“I told you—it wasn’t my choice. And this ‘friend’ you keep mentioning? She means nothing to me.”

“You’re despicable. And I… I spent all this time with you, not even realizing…”

Caina turned away, jaw tight, swallowing her rage.

She’d never imagined her best friend could become this stranger.

But now it made sense. Lunorette hadn’t changed—she’d been trapped. That was a relief.

Yet the one who stole her body? Unforgivable. That familiar face now filled her with disgust.

“I’m not Lunorette. I don’t owe her duties. I only care about surviving.”

“What kind of excuse is that? Do you think wearing Luno-chan’s face lets you wash your hands of everything?”

“What do you want from me?”

“You took my friend’s body! Do you know how much you’ve ruined? Without Luno-chan, we barely escaped the forest. Without her, we can’t save the princess—even though she’s right there, helpless!”

“Even with her, you couldn’t win.”

“You understand nothing! Luno-chan would turn the tide. She’d fight to the death for her friends. With her, everyone believed we could win. Someone selfish like you could never grasp that!”

Harsh, but true.

Moyu Manatsu *was* selfish.

Someone like her could never be a hero fighting for others.

“Coward.”

Caina’s glare was icy.

“You’re a coward. Luno-chan would never run away like you.”

“Fine. I’ll save the princess myself.”

“Your life or death? I don’t care anymore.”

Caina sheathed her sword and walked away, leaving only her back.

Those words felt hauntingly familiar.

Watching her go, Moyu’s mind drifted…

*(“What’s the point of you coming? You’re useless! Just a burden!”)*

Right. Yuki had said the same thing.

Called her a burden. Good for nothing. Always getting in the way.

Now Caina had said it too.

The real world truly was awful.

Unlike the fleeting virtual one, reality forced her to face things she never wanted to.

“A burden, huh…”

Moyu’s smile was broken.

If she was useless, why was she even here?

Was fate mocking her? Throwing her into another world twice, knowing she wasn’t cut out for any of this.

She wasn't Lunorette. She couldn't possibly help.

Moyu turned around, ready to leave.

But she really couldn't accept it.

If only she were stronger. If only she could be someone others relied on.

If possible, she never wanted to be a weakling at others' mercy.

"The meaning of survival..."

What was it?

She felt confused about herself.

She'd always thought living online was enough. But why did real-world pain cut so deep?

Moyu Manatsu turned back, retracing her steps. She didn't understand why—just a feeling that not turning back might bring regret.

"Classmate Lunorette..."

An injured girl spotted her and staggered over.

"Classmate Iril, you're hurt! Don't move!"

"Classmate Lunorette, please save everyone..."

Iril grabbed her clothes. Blood soaked through her own bandages, staining everything red.

"Classmate Theos lost too. Only you're left..."

As she spoke, Iril collapsed, silent.

Her blood-stained hand marked Moyu's clothes, painfully obvious.

"Why are you doing this..."

Moyu touched the blood on her clothes. It reeked, fishy and foul, yet it hurt.

"I'm not Lunorette..."

Why were they forcing this on her?

She was just ordinary, capable of nothing. What did she even know?

She'd only gotten Lunorette's body by chance. She couldn't change fate.

Even Caina called her a coward. What about her was worth trusting?

Ahead, a red-haired girl lay fallen. Moyu rushed over.

"Saria..."

She propped her up. The girl was unconscious, unresponsive to shaking.

The whole land was eerily quiet. Only she remained.

If she ran, no one would blame her. No one would know.

But was that really okay...

Moyu Manatsu asked herself.

No one had ever needed her. Not with Yuki. Not now.

But...

What would Lunorette do?

How would she handle this?

With her never-abandon-companions nature, she'd fight to the death.

"You people are really going too far..."

Why must she be Lunorette? Why bear responsibilities not hers?

After all, I'm just a dead internet addict...

This stage belongs to Lunorette...

"You'll definitely face retribution..."

These duties, these obligations—they had nothing to do with her.

Moyu set Saria down. She stood up. Striding forward, she headed into the unknown.