"Hm?"

A strange sensation made me glance back toward the house. Although I was still maintaining my gravity magic, it had become second nature by now and required no conscious effort.

For a moment, I thought I felt someone’s presence… Was it my imagination? It’s been four months, and aside from Master, I’ve never encountered another person in this cursed forest.

“Wait a minute… Master wouldn’t—he might say something like, ‘An ambush might trigger a new skill to sprout.’ That sounds exactly like him.”

I cautiously approached the house’s entrance. The door, while equipped with a lock, wasn’t usually locked when we left for short trips. That alone wasn’t unusual. If Master had suggested solo hunting to stage an ambush, it would make sense.

“Hmm… aside from that brief sensation, everything seems normal.”

If it really was Master, leaving just enough of a presence to make me notice it would be typical of his meticulous nature.

I peeked into the entranceway but found no one. The dining area was also empty. That left Master’s room and my room. Better check my room first—

As I stepped inside, my eyes immediately fell on a leather pouch, its contents spilled across the table.

“That’s… the money and… the brooch?!”

The brooch we were forced to accept from that wretched princess. As the thought crossed my mind, a surge of magic energy erupted in the room, and a shadowy figure clad in black leapt out from a blind spot, killing intent radiating off them.

“Gah!”

I jerked my head back just in time to avoid the slash, but a sharp pain seared across my neck. Before I could recover, a basketball-sized fireball formed in the attacker’s hands and hurtled toward me.

Thrown off balance, I fell backward but used the momentum to my advantage. Channeling magic into my fist, I swung upward, deflecting the fireball toward the ceiling.

Still in motion, I braced myself on my hands in a bridge position and used the momentum of a backflip to launch a magic-infused kick at the shadowy figure’s jaw.

“Guh!”

The force of my kick sent the attacker reeling, but not before the fireball exploded, blowing off part of the house’s roof.

I caught sight of another black-clad figure retreating, choosing not to attack simultaneously. The one I had kicked was struggling to get back up. Keeping them in my peripheral vision, I turned to face the second attacker.

“Who the hell are you?!”

My legs felt unsteady, and I was beginning to sway. A bad sign. Something was definitely wrong.

“Shu!”

I heard Rio’s voice from the entrance. She must have returned.

“Tch! Another ‘hero’?! We’re withdrawing.”

The second figure channeled their magic, releasing another fireball. I couldn’t deflect it this time and barely dodged, the flames singeing the air as they passed.

Using the opportunity, they blasted a hole in the wall behind them.

“W-wait!”

I reached out, but it was useless. Both attackers vanished through the opening. My breathing grew labored, and my vision blurred. Why did everything seem so low to the ground? … Oh, I’d collapsed.

“Shu! Stay with me, Shu!”

Rio’s voice was distant.

“Hey, kid, what happened here?!”

Master’s voice joined hers.

Haha… So much for Master’s ambush theory. It was a real enemy attack. And damn, being targeted by people intent on killing you is terrifying. My body started trembling uncontrollably.

“Here, drink this! … Damn it, it’s not working! Girl, get this into him! I’ll—”

Master’s words grew fainter. I strained to hear, but all I felt was something soft pressing against my lips. A liquid poured into my mouth. I swallowed despite nearly choking.

Someone patted my cheeks gently, but even that sensation faded. My vision spun, my body refused to move, and soon, I blacked out.

“Huh?”

“Shu! You’re awake!”

When I opened my eyes, Rio’s tear-streaked face filled my vision. Her slim figure leaned close, a far cry from the slightly plump girl I’d known back on Earth. I guess all this physical activity in another world had reshaped her.

“Thank goodness…”

Before I could process anything, Rio wrapped her arms around my neck in a tight hug. It was a bit suffocating, but I let it slide. As I patted her back, I realized my arms could move again.

Looking around, I noticed I was lying in Rio’s bed, not my own. My bed—near the now-destroyed wall—was reduced to rubble. The sun had set, leaving the outside cloaked in darkness.

“Great… No more bed for me,” I muttered, scowling at the memory of those attackers.

I tried to sit up, but Rio wouldn’t let go.

“Uh, Rio? Can you let me up?”

“… No.”

Her weak refusal, coupled with a shake of her head, was strangely endearing.

“I’m fine now. Really.”

I coaxed her gently, and after a moment, she reluctantly let go.

“Feels like it’s the middle of the night. How long was I out?”

“A day and a half.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Finally awake, huh, kid?”

Master’s voice cut through the conversation as he entered the room.