“No way you could possibly draw its attention. Or buy time. You all look down on that giant beast.”

Shuen-dono says.

“I said earlier – it’s very sturdy. It didn’t get a single wound after all we did. It didn’t react at all. It’s too unknowable. Also… there’s too many of those fearsome four-eyes around it. They keep pouring out.”

“But, if we just leave it alone, the forest will only be devastated. If there’s something we can do, we must do it.”

Aro-dono says without hesitation.

“A breakthrough plan would be good. But you cannot draw its attention… This is just rash. It’s folly.”

Shuen-dono doesn’t look accepting of the proposal.

“Aooh…”

One of the red monkeys makes a sound at Shuen-dono, glancing towards Aro-dono after.

“It’s not that I’m being malicious. She’s going to die pointlessly.”

“Aoh.”

The red monkey raises the bucket in its hands to Shuen-dono… the helmet with the carving of a dragon on it.

“…That’s true, the boss. To protect the village… He challenged an opponent much bigger than himself. He protected the village. We heard that from Anego.”

With lips drawn tight, Shuen-dono hesitates for a while. He then turns towards Aro-dono.

“You two are strong. I can see that from the mountain of four-eyed corpses there. But, that gigantic beast… Is way stronger than you think. However, with the forest continuously being destroyed, if we’re unlucky, it’ll be annihilated… It’s also true that we need a plan.”

“If that’s the case…!”

“There are fast four-eyes. There’s also winged four-eyes. Once the gigantic beast roars, they appear without limit. Do you have the confidence to draw its attention and run?”

“Yes.”

Aro-dono answers without hesitation again.

“…I understand. For the forest, this is a necessary battle but… It’s still true that this is a rash gamble. I place great importance on honour. You two are staking your lives. I’ll at least match that… Once you head out, we’ll protect the tribe. Regardless of whether or not you succeed, we’ll guard the humans.”

“Thank you very much.”

Aro-dono lowers her head to Shuen-dono.

We’re grateful to Shuen-dono’s proposition. However, within that is also an implication that we have a high chance of dying pointlessly.

“…I’m sorry for selfishly deciding on this without discussing it with you, Treant-san.”

『No, it’s fine. It’s true that I was shocked but… Considering your position, I can understand that this was the only choice.』

“Treant-san, protect the Lithovar tribe together with Shuen-san’s group. You should be easily received by the tribe because of your resemblance to the Feared Gods. In addition… We need to know if Shuen-san and his group are honouring their promise to us.”

Aro-dono says, glancing towards Shuen-dono’s face. He snorts.

“Don’t use me as an excuse, woman. The Feared God has a sense of honour stronger than I. If I break our agreement, our cohesion will crumble. The forest will lose its unity.”

『That’s cruel, Aro-dono. Having come this far, let me accompany you further.』

I fold my wings and throw out my chest.

『It’s going to be a long battle. You haven’t got enough stamina or defence to do it by yourself.』

“Treant-san… I’m sorry. Until the end, you’ve been caught up in my stubbornness.”

Aro-dono lowers her head.

『I’d rather have gratitude than apologies. We’re working together after all. Also, I… I don’t plan on dying at all. It’s fine if we run until Master-dono returns, or if we throw it off and hide. It might unexpectedly be a blockhead that’s just big in size. We also have the possibility of taking it down right then and there.』

I say, punching the air with my wings.

『That God’s Voice wasn’t paying any attention to any of us besides Master-dono. Miia-dono also said that Master-dono would be better off cutting us away. But… Isn’t that frustrating? Isn’t it okay to be stubborn? What’s wrong with wanting to oppose a superior enemy for the sake of what’s precious to you? Let’s show them the stubbornness of those living in this world.』

At that moment, Aro-dono who had been nursing a worried expression for the longest time unintentionally breaks out into a smile.

“Thank you… Treant-san.”

Aro-dono brings me upward into a hug. Her eyes glisten slightly with tears.

As the enemy is surrounded by numerous monster troops, it’s better to be able to throw more attacks. Aro-dono’s MP appears high, but it also functions as her HP.

By tripling her number of attacks with her main skill [Darkness Kaleidoscope], her MP consumption becomes severe. I can’t imagine that Aro-dono, being specialised for ending fights quickly, could buy enough time against the Magic Beast King.

In addition, the Magic Beast King showed no reaction at all no matter what attacks were thrown at it. Naturally, it’s hard to think that would be the case with Aro-dono’s firepower, but she’s indirectly damaging herself with each barrage of attacks from her clones and herself. If the Magic Beast King doesn’t take damage, then this plan will amount to nothing.

For me, I possess skills like the magic skill [Guard Lost] to lower the target’s defence, and the skill [Armour Pierce] that penetrates even those with high defence. If we’re really thinking of buying time against the Magic Beast King, the plan shouldn’t be able to leave me out.

I know all too well that this is a reckless battle. Including me might have only raised the odds of success from 2% to something like 3%. With Aro-dono acting rashly, I had believed that I ought to be responsible for forcefully stopping her, even if it meant being hated by her. In that sense, even now, I should probably be making some irresponsible remarks to anger Shuen-dono and cause our cooperation to come to an end.

However, Aro-dono is currently putting her life on the line. More than that, she’s going to protect what’s precious to her. Looking at her face… Rather than stopping her, I want to help her, even if it’s just a little. That’s what I end up thinking.

In addition, with two of us, even if in the worst case one of us has to act as a decoy, it might be possible to save the other. I have the [Decoy] magic skill. With the simple effect of drawing attention to me, it hasn’t been of much use all time. When I acquired it, I had thought that I’d been struck with another pointless skill again.

However, if I’m able to protect Aro-dono with it, then there’s no greater skill than this. I don’t think it’ll work against the strongest Magic Beast King in history, but even so, it should be effective against the four-eyed beasts surrounding it.