Yeah, okay. Sure. It was great and all that I managed to successfully follow her.

But what kind of fucked up situation was this?

[Shouldn’t you stop them?]

“...Stop that?”

When I saw Riru and Eleanor enter the arena, such a response came out automatically.

“If I interfere, it’ll just turn into an even bigger shitfest, you know?”

[...I do agree with that, but…]

Caliban let out a bitter laugh.

[Does that mean you’re just going to let those two fight?]

“...”

I knew that would be disastrous in its own way as well.

If they fought right here and now, one of them would die. Most likely, it would be Riru.

And the moment Riru died, the foundation in clearing Chapter 3 was as good as lost.

‘...That person is absolutely necessary.’

I didn’t say the equipment needed to be shared with another person for no reason.

After all, in this chapter’s boss battle, we had to face both Tatiana and Alan at the same time.

When taking Tatiana’s abilities into account, there would be times when it was impossible to use ‘weapons’. So, it was not an exaggeration to say that Riru was the only one who could deliver effective strikes with her bare hands.

“...Let’s just watch for now. It’s not like it only does harm.”

Considering the original game’s progression, there was a narrative that when Vessels clashed with each other, their skills rapidly improved.

Apparently they stimulated each other’s Devil’s Aura, thus dragging out their latent abilities.

Of course, most of the time, it led to catastrophic situations, but judging by the current situation, it wasn’t like there were only negative parts about it.

After all, I was someone who earnestly wished for Riru’s growth.

[Anyway, doesn’t that just mean it’s already half-certain that an incident is about to happen?]

“...”

He wasn’t wrong.

[What are you going to do when that happens?]

“...”

I stroked my chin at Caliban’s question.

Finally, I gave him a serious response, wearing a stony expression on my face.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out fine, right?”

[...]

“You can’t even answer that, can you?”

[...]

Yeah, no. I knew you couldn’t.

In any case, I believed in myself…

That I’d do whatever the fuck it takes to survive when any fatal threat comes my way…!

[...Aren’t you just slowly starting to give up now as well?]

“...”

Yeah, he wasn’t wrong.

As expected of the academy that encouraged fights among students the most out of the three academies, the arena in the Forge of Struggle was a state-of-the-art facility.

You need look no further than the medical station; it healed the patient’s injuries to a level that was almost magical.

At the very least, there was no need to worry about dying, no matter how many clashes and explosions occurred in this place.

And, honestly…

Right now, such help was more desperately needed than anything else.

“...”

From the outside, Eleanor didn’t seem to be that angry.

In the first place, she always wore an expressionless face, so it was impossible to read her emotions just by looking at her.

Even so, she could certainly feel it.

Killing intent. The tingly sensation that was crawling up her skin was undoubtedly that. She wasn’t imagining it, it was as real as it could be.

“...”

She steadied her breathing.

There wasn’t really a particular reason why she chose Eleanor out of the many people in the Forge of Struggle.

It was just that she instinctively felt that this person was the most dangerous among all the humans near her right now.

Simply because of the experience they had before…

And also because her senses had been ringing alarm bells ever since the ‘awards ceremony’.

That was a monster she should never go up against.

“...”

However…

She was going to fight that very monster.

“...I know who you are, Riru Garda.”

While she was lost in such thoughts, such a sentence was sent her way.

“Any warrior of the Tribal Alliance would look for an honorable fight and a glorious death. I am fully aware of such a disposition.”

“...What?”

“The thought of you using Dowd as part of such a process doesn’t make me feel any particular emotion now.”

“...”

“So I shall forgive you if you at least withdraw now. Or else.”

Eleanor took a single step towards heer.

A familiar feeling.

It was as if her entire body was being sliced by a blade, even though there had been no physical danger that had come her way.

She wanted to back down. They had faced each other many times, but even now, she desperately wished to turn her back and run away.

“...”

However…

This time was different.

“...At first, that was how it was.”

Riru began to speak in a gloomy voice.

“Even until some time ago, my head was filled with thoughts of… ’Using’ him to accomplish my goals.”

She herself understood why Eleanor showed such a reaction.

After all, in the past, Eleanor reacted most intensely when Riru, in an attempt to get on her nerves, mentioned that she would take away her lover.

Therefore, it was likely she believed that even this current situation was merely an extension of that time.

She probably thought that Riru was just trying to pick a fight, like what an average Tribal Alliance warrior would do.

However…

The situation now was vastly different from before.

Both her feelings about Dowd, as well as the gap between her and Eleeanor.

This woman was undoubtedly strong. However, it was absolutely not to the extent that she would feel overwhelmingly outclassed.

“Come at me. I wasn’t saying such things as mere empty wo—”

Before she could even finish those words, a powerful blow struck Riru’s abdomen.

“...-!”

With a single kick, her insides were completely wasted.

Without any chance to react or readjust her posture…

Her body, honed over many years….

Was reduced to nothing by a strike from a lady from a household famed for their swordsmanship, despite the fact that she hadn’t even drawn her sword yet.

[ Fatal injury detected. ]

[ Medical drone activated. ]

At that moment, the medical station that would only respond to fatal injuries was immediately activated. As if emphasizing the level of the damage she had taken.

If this wasn’t the ‘arena’ but a real battle, she would have died from that strike just now.

However…

“...Again.”

Riru wiped the blood trickling from her lips.

The flame in her eyes remained undiminished.

“I’m just getting started.”

Again, they clashed.

This time, there was a slight difference in result.

She managed to adjust her footwork, carefully measuring the distance between her and her opponent as she advanced.

However…

“...-!”

Once again, she was kicked aside effortlessly.

Three compound fractures in the ribs. The arm that had blocked the blow was grotesquely twisted.

[ Fatal injury detected. ]

[ Medical drone activated. ]

“...”

Riru gritted her teeth and stood up again.

“...Again.”

And following that…

The same routine repeated itself.

No matter how she tried to clash, she was shattered and broken under the opponent’s effortless strikes, as if merely swatting a fly.

The gap was overwhelming.

An insurmountable difference that made her feel like all the techniques, powers, and knowledge she had accumulated were utterly useless.

“...Why are you going this far, Riru Garda?”

Eleanor let out a sigh.

She wasn’t even moving properly, yet she was practically beating Riru into mush without shedding a single drop of sweat.

“I shall be honest. I do not understand the reason behind these actions. That is why I am going easy on you.”

“...”

Was all of this actually Eleanor going easy on her?

Even though she was displaying such monstrous strength?

It was enough to make her feel despair.

At the very least, she wanted to drag out this woman’s ‘full power’.

Only then could she at least find the foundation she needed to lay out, but…

It seemed it was impossible with her current abilities.

“Because I want to become stronger.”

“If becoming stronger was your wish, there are an abundance of ways. There’s no particular need to come find me and do something so reckless.”

“...”

“To be honest, it wasn’t even worthy of a warm-up. I'm not sure if there is anything you can gain from here.”

“...”

Riru bit her lip so hard, blood flowed out.

“Moreover, there is even less of a reason to namedrop Dowd.”

Eleanor continued in an apathetic voice.

“Why would you say you would take that man for yourself if it wasn’t to provoke me? What’s the reason for that?”

“...”

“You don’t love him deeply enough to warrant this much effort to go against me.”

That was true.

It would be a lie to say that she had no favorable feelings for that man, but it would also be a lie to say that she was in love with him.

If anything, the most vivid emotion she held was…

Jealousy.

That was the emotion she felt when Kasa chose that man over her, someone who had been by her side and had taken care of her for decades.

However…

That wasn’t the only reason why.

“...I don’t want to receive help again.”

She muttered with frustration.

The identity of that emotion… Even she herself didn’t know…

What she knew was that she didn’t want that man to suffer for her sake anymore.

She could feel such an emotion clearly, like a lump in her chest.

“Even more so… If it’s from someone I’m indebted to…”

In such a short time, she had gained this chance for revenge, even though she wasn’t even certain that she could secure such a chance alone if she were to spend her whole life working for it.

But even after giving her such a gift, he continued to help her.

If she at least knew what his intentions were when helping her, she wouldn’t be this frustrated. However, for her sake, this indecipherable man busied himself, suffered, and continuously intervened in her actions.

To be honest, she didn’t even know how to treat him.

As such….

“...I also have a duty to do the right thing. At the very least, I should get rid of the thing he fears.”

If you receive something from someone, return their favor, even if you have to stake your life.Kasa had taught her as such.

So, even if it was to avoid receiving future help…

She had to grow strong enough to protect him at least once by eliminating the thing he was most terrified of.

Risking her life and clashing with this woman was a part of such progress.

“...Fear? What does Dowd fear?”

Riru’s face was covered with incredulous disbelief.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“What?”

“It’s you. You and the swordswoman who wields that white aura.”

“...”

“He seemed afraid of you two from time to time.”

“...”

“Wouldn’t he be able to gain at least some peace of mind if I defeat you and make you never approach him again?”

As a seasoned warrior on the battlefield, this was a fact that she could assert. Moreover, as a capable unarmed combatant with extreme sensitivity to emotions, she could state this truth with even more certainty.

That man, from time to time, was afraid of these two women. Such a sensation was conveyed vividly.

Eleanor’s eyebrows twitched.

“...You’re talking utter nonsense.”

“...”

Riru’s expression became slightly serious.

This woman, who had always treated her as if she were a mere nuisance, had reacted in a sincere manner to that statement.

In other words, this could be considered an ‘opportunity’.

An opportunity to see this woman’s full power.

“Are you sure it’s not that you’re in denial?”

She began to provoke Eleanor.

“You guys don’t look good together, though.”

“...What?”

“Why do you think he accepted you? It’s because he had no choice. You kept throwing yourself onto him like—”

As soon as such words were spoken…

----!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A flash of light exploded in front of Riru’s eyes.

Dirt and dust turned the surroundings into a fog of smoke.

‘That was dangerous…!’

With such thoughts, I looked at Riru, who was retching while vomiting blood.

She was a complete mess. If I hadn’t just used that skill, she would have died on the spot.

As soon as she left the stage, she would not have been able to receive any support from the medical station.

“...”

With cold sweat dripping down my back, I looked at the completely devastated stage, courtesy of Eleanor’s sword swing from just a moment ago.

How did she even manage to think about fighting something like that?

“...Are you okay?”

“...”

As I whispered in a volume that Eleanor couldn’t hear, Riru’s eyes kept rolling backwards.

“...Don’t help me.”

“What?”

“I said don’t help me!”

Riru spoke with clenched teeth.

It was a voice filled with shame and humiliation. And somehow, it also sounded tearful as well.

But more than that, I witnessed a chilling sight that made my blood run cold.

“This time, I don’t need your help! There’s still so much I owe you, so don’t make the list any longer…!”

A blue aura was spreading.

I didn’t know why, but this person became extremely angry as a result of my help.

“Riru.”

For now, I opened my mouth.

Above all else, I had a duty to calm this person’s ire.

However, I couldn’t think of anything to say.

What should I say?

I didn’t even know why she got so angry in the first place…!

However, if I didn’t reassure her right now, there was no doubt that it would become a massive problem.

As such, I opened my mouth to calm her down.

System Message

[ Title ‘Playboy’ recognizes your situation! ]

[ After recognizing the situation and target, it composes the optimal sentence to overcome the current crisis! ]

“...”

No.

Please don’t. Don’t do that.

When I saw the system window that popped up in front of my eyes, goosebumps rose all over my body.

Although I applied it quite usefully when pushing away Yuria before, I still remembered what this son of a bitch did to calm Eleanor down.

If this fucker handled the part that I didn’t ‘plan’...

It was going to fucking spit out whatever ridiculous shit it want—!

“There is no need for you to feel indebted to me because of my help.”

As soon as the sentence popped out of my mouth before I could even finish my thoughts…

“After all, it was all my choice. I wanted to do it.”

“...What?”

“I like you, Riru Garda.”

Riru’s expression instantly turned blank.

“...”

And mine did as well.

W-What…

What the fuck did I just say?