The body falling downward was quickly embraced by someone.

It was Ban.

While nestled in Ban’s arms, Riley looked down at the tree collapsing to the ground. A massive tree, easily over 40 meters tall, was instantly cut down. Could this make any sense?

As Ban landed on the ground, embracing Riley, sharp metal tentacles attacked Ban. Ban easily avoided them, then released Riley from his embrace, pushing her away.

“Stay away from me.”

With how forcefully he pushed her, Riley tumbled and collided with the ground, her body slamming into the rocks.

Ugh.

Moaning without curling up like a shrimp, Riley struggled to get up with all her remaining strength. She then searched for Ban.

Ban stood in the distance, supporting Riley against his back. In front of him was someone else.

Not a monster, but a strangely masked man with long red hair.

「They must be watching us from somewhere around here. And suddenly appearing as an obstacle, won’t I be bothersome?」

Ban’s guess was very accurate.

Judging by the sudden attacks after his words, it was highly likely that the assailant was lurking nearby. That meant the man with the strange mask was the mastermind behind all this.

The mysterious man who appeared suddenly launched a fierce attack on Ban. With five sharp metal tentacles freely wielded, every time he attacked, holes were punched into the ground where Ban stood, turning it into a chaotic battlefield.

If Ban received those attacks properly, his body would turn into a beehive.

Riley anxiously paid attention, worrying if Ban would be hurt. Ban continued to skillfully avoid the man’s attacks while launching counterattacks. Attempting to counter with fire-based magic, his attacks were blocked by the iron tentacles.

It was the first time Riley had seen people fighting using magic. Moreover, it was difficult to follow their movements as they were so fast.

Then she suddenly noticed something strange.

‘… Why are they targeting Ban senpai, not me?’

If they had been lurking from the beginning, why had they just been watching until now?

It was still the same. Even though Ban could have been targeted as he didn’t know magic, they were solely focusing on attacking Ban. Treating her as if she didn’t exist.

If they wanted to kill, they should have done so from the start. Yet, they left her alone until now…

‘… Is it really to lure Gibran?’

Ban’s words seemed to be correct. It was an action aimed at luring Gibran.

If they wanted to kill, there was no need to keep her quiet and not make a move. Presumably, until Gibran arrived, they thought there was no need to mutually harm each other.

‘At this rate, Gibran is also in danger…’

The man is not alone. There are probably more enemies lurking around.

Riley clenched her throbbing head. It wasn’t the time to foolishly watch the fight. She needed to come up with a plan, but the situation in front of her was pitch dark.
What should I do?

Should I run away right now from here? But Ban is fighting like that. Moreover, if there are several people lurking around, does it make sense for me to run away alone? Can I escape from the unseen enemies and monsters in this dense forest and run away?

Escaping is meaningless. Then, I had to fight alongside Ban. It was essential to reduce any threats to Gibran, Ban, and even myself.

But how?

What can I do? What on earth can I do in this situation?

‘If only I could use magic…’

Riley felt the weight of her helplessness.

There’s nothing I can do. I’m utterly useless. I can’t be of any help. While Ban is fighting so desperately. If I had any skills, I would have helped in some way, but with a body that can’t even use magic, I couldn’t even intervene in that fight.

‘Pathetic.’

She always felt and resigned herself to her own incompetence. She never thought she could do anything on her own, and she never put that thought into action. She only learned how to give up. She only learned how to resign.

She had let it go first. Because recognizing all the irrationality and her own incompetence and weakness made her feel relieved.

Doing something useless if I step forward.

I can’t do anything.

What can I, weak and incompetent, change?

I’m weak. I’m useless. I’m stupid. I’m… powerless.

She always learned how to avoid the situation, how to give up. She believed that nothing would change even if she acted alone.

Give up, accept this situation, don’t do anything, just cry quietly as usual. Then everything will be more comfortable.

A strange voice echoed.

Whether it was the voice of an enemy or a hallucination, Riley couldn’t tell. She closed her eyes tightly with her ears plugged.

At that moment, the remnants of the past unfolded.

If nothing changes, it’s better to struggle. Then there won’t be any regrets.

… What does that mean?

It means whether the young lady will accept this reality stupidly and quietly as usual or whether she will struggle in some way is anticipated.

Remembering the conversation with the housekeeper MacDallin from the old days, Riley opened her eyes wide.

That’s right!