Diana felt awkward in Trian’s embrace. However, she was in no position to object.

Before long, the bird carrying the two of them soared high into the sky.

The Joinin soldiers, forming a V-formation, headed towards the Burgden territory located northwest, with the sun at their backs.

It was a place where many people were waiting for rescue after being attacked by monsters.

“Air resistance will slow you down. Lie lower during flight.”

“……”

Diana buried her face in the feathers and nodded. Having finished speaking, Trian shut his mouth as he gazed at the horizon. The long silence was awkward and uncomfortable.

It wasn’t the heart-pounding tension she felt when she was with Raoul, but the kind of tension that made cold sweat run down her back, afraid of being caught.

Diana turned her gaze away, pretending nothing was amiss, and stole a glance at Trian’s side profile.

Surely he hasn’t recognized me, right?

It was when she was holding her breath and readjusting her tunic strings more tightly.

“Why are you fidgeting so much? Stop being restless and stay still.”

He rebuked her in an irritated voice.

“……”

Diana couldn’t answer, so she just nodded. Trian didn’t stop there and pressured Diana even more.

“If you act like baggage, I’ll push you off, pretending it’s an accident. My subordinates are too kind to do that, so I brought you. Got it?”

“……”

How could I refuse?

He was indeed a male lead faithful to the original keywords. His tone was already filled with roughness. He wasn’t the kind of man who, like Raoul, was blunt but had a gentle touch.

He was the kind of man who sharpened his edge in every matter and flared up like lightning when fighting. He always seemed to carry electricity, like a thundercloud.

Diana held her breath and stayed as still as a log or a corpse. She didn’t want to get on Trian’s nerves from the start and become a person of interest.

It was late afternoon when they arrived at the forest. Diana hid behind Trian and examined the members who had joined.

She had to keep her eyes wide open and be prepared for any eventuality, in case there was a familiar face. Fortunately, no one who knew Diana appeared.

The commander of the joint forces was not yet visible.

It was when Diana was staring at the outpost spread out over the vast forest. Just then, a person popped out from the very outpost Diana was looking at.

No, it wasn’t a person, but light. Diana’s eyes were so dazzled that she squinted for a moment. It was like looking directly at the sunlight, making her eyes sting.

Behind her, a Joinin man scoffed at her naive appearance.

“What, are you smitten too? In the end, all creatures with that thing are the same, no matter how frail they look.”

“Shut up. Go back and polish your sword.”

“Yes……”

When Trian spoke with contempt, the man cowered with his tail between his legs.

Diana looked up at Trian with an awkward smile. He was already protecting Ayla, befitting of the original male lead.

“Do you like that woman too?”

Diana hastily scribbled on a piece of paper.

I think she is incredibly beautiful. However, I am not looking at her with romantic interest. Don’t worry.

He snorted at the part about not worrying.

“Worry? Yes, it’s a worry. I’ve had some subordinates snatched away. You’re not a valuable asset even if taken, though.”

What, that’s what he was worried about? There was no need to worry about that either. Diana planned to quietly assist the protagonist from behind.

Getting close and becoming friendly was a truly dangerous idea.

“You’re here. You must have thoroughly prepared for today’s battle, right?”

At that moment, a voice as smooth as glass penetrated her ears.

It was Ayla. With her wavy red hair braided into two plaits and wearing a reddish-brown cloak, she looked like a tomboy.

She smiled brightly and stroked the longsword sheathed at her waist. It meant she was ready to run into the forest and hunt monsters at any moment.

Diana hid behind a large back, pretending to be invisible. She didn’t particularly want to run into her. Fortunately, Trian took a step forward, completely concealing Diana.

“You should be the one preparing.”

“Your swordsmanship still looks crude? For someone who said their goal was to become a Sword Master.”

“The Holy Maiden has a sharp tongue. Instead of sarcastically mocking others, think about winning with your own skills. Even if I’m not a Sword Master, someone like you is no match for me.”

The bragging was excessive. Diana bit her cheek and stifled a laugh.

No matter how much of a male protagonist he was, this novel was titled Ayla’s Song from the beginning.

The lyrics sung by the people quoted Ayla’s words, and Ayla’s every move was the storyline that flowed through this world.

Even Trian was no match for Ayla.

She had mastered nature magic to control the weather at will, and as a descendant of an ancient royal family, even curses had no effect on her.

She was a combat specialist who had trained under Eledore since childhood and had hundreds of real battle experiences. She could handle dozens of types of weapons.

Not only that, but she had awakened her holy power and excelled in healing arts as well.

In a word, she was invincible.

“It’s good to see you so confident. I don’t find dull opponents enjoyable either.”

“Likewise.”

“Then I’ll look forward to it. Prince.”

Ayla turned her back, poking at Trian’s background.

The golden hair standing on end was visible to the naked eye. Diana took two steps back from him, trying to make herself scarce.

“Where are you going?”

“……”

“Don’t stray and stay close to me. Don’t get into unnecessary trouble.”

It was a rather gentle remark for Trian. It sounded as if he was genuinely concerned. That’s when it happened.

A familiar man appeared from the outpost Ayla had emerged from. Diana’s gaze froze, unable to say a word.

“What, that guy came too?”

“……”

“I heard he was drafted and left, but it seems he’s back.”

“……”

“I advise you not to get close to that guy.”

“……”

“Stay by my side as you know. It’s my first time having a human subordinate, so it concerns me.”

The Joinin man who Diana thought had disappeared chimed in slyly.

“Yeah, keep yourself safe. There are rumors that guy is Lady Ayla’s lover. Most of the troops under Eledore are extremists who believe humans should be eradicated, so always be careful of your neck.”

Eradicate humans?

“Yes, if more guys like him rise to leadership positions, the war will never end. We aim for slave liberation, but they aim for revenge against humans. When the war ends, they’ll enslave humans.”

Diana moistened her lips with an anxious look in her eyes.

Enslave humans? Then how is it different from now?

The original story ended with victory in the war and Trian stepping down from his leadership position.

The final scene was Ayla, left alone after both Raoul and Trian had departed, wiping out the senior executives and ascending the blood-stained throne.

I thought Ayla would have realized the dream of slave liberation after that… Was my prediction off the mark?

My heart churned heavily. What if the corrupted Ayla enslaves humans? That would be the start of another misfortune.

‘No. Delaiah’s foresight can’t be wrong. The Goddess wouldn’t lead humans to destruction.’

The ending the Goddess desired was a peaceful new era, not the creation of new victims. At least that’s how she felt as the Holy Maiden.

It was when Diana was crumpling her pants with a heavy heart.

Puu-woo―. Puu-woo―.

The sound of a horn trumpet rang out, and suddenly the sky darkened.

The hunt had begun.

Ayla summoned a whirlwind, instantly wiping out the monsters around the outpost. Pools of blood gathered where the fierce wind had swept through.

“If you don’t move quickly, you’ll lose again?”

“Nonsense.”

Trian drew his sword and extended his sword energy towards the sky.

Winged monsters were instantly reduced to falling leaves.

While the two engaged in a fierce battle of energy, Raoul quietly rescued the soldiers.

“Don’t stand there stupidly and get out of the way.”

The speed was incredible. Brushing off the blood-stained tunic, he shoved the dazed soldier into the outpost.

‘He said to think only of us….’

Raoul was inherently a kind person. Even when he tried to be selfish, this was the result.

Ah, that’s right.

Diana took out a perfume from her pocket to avoid Raoul’s eyes.

It was an action others might call crazy, but Diana didn’t care and quickly applied the floral scent to her body.

Before Raoul, with his keen senses, could notice Diana’s presence.

Fortunately, he seemed preoccupied with rescuing soldiers from the slaughter. Diana looked around in relief.

However, Trian, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.

‘Where did he go?’

Recalling his scowling face as he told her to stick close by, she suddenly felt uneasy.

‘I stayed still, so is he going to make a fuss about me disappearing?’

At that moment, a sharp scream rang out from deep within the forest.

The loudly chattering Joinin man had been attacked by a monster and was bleeding profusely from his abdomen!