Moreover, frightening animal-like cries could be heard, making me afraid to move recklessly.

‘If only I could use magic…’

Although I learned the basics of magic several times from Arpeggio and tried to execute it, I had never succeeded in using magic even once.

According to Arpeggio, magic is made up of complex formulas, so to use magic freely, you first have to master the basic formulas.
However, even after mastering the essential formulas, it didn’t lead to the activation of magic. Arpeggio also didn’t know the cause of why magic wasn’t activating.

“Shall I try?”

I already knew the spell formula for teleportation from Arpeggio.

Of course, long-distance travel would be impossible, but

“I wonder if I can at least escape to the top of this tree.”

“You should never use magic alone. Your condition is unstable due to passing a long time with a clogged core. There’s a high risk of going berserk. If there’s no one to control you, try to refrain from using magic as much as possible.”

I remembered what Arpeggio had said before.

I should refrain from attempting to use magic recklessly alone. Going berserk with magic means that my body might explode. If there’s no one to control me, using magic recklessly is highly dangerous.

Anyway, I can’t just stay here. Whether I die at the hands of enemies hiding somewhere or get attacked by the creatures living here, either way, isn’t it the same fate?

Long-distance teleportation is an impossible situation, and I might end up moving to a deeper and stranger place in this unknown situation. But if I’m on top of a tree, I might be able to protect myself from the strange creatures making eerie wailing sounds, right?

Yeah, let’s try.

Deciding and getting up, at that moment,

“Grrrr.”

A strange wailing sound was heard very close.

Moreover, golden eyes flashed in the darkness. The fierce light in the bloodshot eyes was obviously not human. Feeling the instant presence, my spine tingled, and my body stiffened. In the darkness, a very faint figure was seen in eyes accustomed to the dark.

The form was too gigantic to be called a human, and the structure itself was different from the beginning.

It was not an ordinary creature. It was too big even if it was big. It was the size of trampling over a person lightly.

“Maybe a magical beast…”

I remembered what Hila said about magical beasts inhabiting the restricted area. While walking along the promenade, I saw a high chain-link fence surrounding the restricted area. Could it be that this place is beyond that chain-link fence?

“Grrr…”

I felt the magical beast gradually narrowing the distance.

The distance was too close, and if I turned around to run, my throat would be torn off immediately. However, it was also impossible to subdue a magical beast as large as a house with sheer strength.

All that was left was magic, but

“I, I don’t know any attacking magic…”

If magic was something that came out smoothly as desired according to the situation, I wouldn’t be sitting here like this. Riley stumbled backward and picked up a stone. Perhaps because her hands were sweaty, the stone slipped.

It wasn’t that I thought I could eliminate a magical beast as large as a house with this small stone; I just felt that I needed to catch something to feel a bit relieved.
Riley felt like a helpless beast. Is this how animals feel when dragged to the slaughterhouse? The powerlessness and loss, the feeling of wanting to live desperately, wanting to do something, but having nothing to do, drained her strength. She couldn’t even think of throwing the stone she held in her hand.

Her body froze in fear, unable to move. Anything, she had to do something, anything… The eerie feeling of death made her hairs stand on end.

At the moment when the magical beast was about to charge, Riley realized there was nothing more she could do and closed her eyes.

Right at that moment.

“Hey, what are you doing! Now!”

Vroom , an enormous heat surged. The charging magical beast, entwined in flames, started to burn.

Black smoke and a pungent smell covered the surroundings. The intense heat made it seem like flesh would sizzle. Riley was surprised and opened her eyes. Only now could she clearly see the shape of the magical beast that wasn’t visible in the darkness.

Sharp, protruding white fangs, a gigantic body covered in long blue fur, a thudding tail shaking the surroundings.

Staring blankly at the burning magical beast, a man suddenly lifted her.

“Hey, you idiot! What are you doing! Use magic or something.”

Ah, the man with an unknown name.

He never introduced himself all the way, but his face was familiar from every time she received help.

Riley felt very relieved at his appearance.

“How did you get here?”

In response to Riley’s question, he jumped up and said, “Let’s get out of here first. Other magical beasts might gather here soon.”

So they left the spot and took refuge on top of a tree.

The trees here were so high that the ground below was pitch black. The giant magical beasts looked small from above.

“Um, so, what should I call you…”