So what if I am just a mob in a novel : I will get what I want

Ragith clenched his fists as he walked away from the fire, his emotions tangled in a chaotic knot. His conversation with Rishitha had only fueled the storm brewing inside him. The woman was an enigma—a frustrating, reckless enigma who seemed to bring nothing but danger.

And yet, Mo Tang trusted her.

How can she trust someone like that? he thought bitterly, his steps crunching against the fallen leaves. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to pull his sister away from Rishitha, to take her far from this madness. But Mo Tang had always been stubborn, and the look in her eyes when she defended Rishitha earlier...

She believes in her. Why?

Ragith's thoughts churned as he leaned against a tree, his back pressed against the rough bark.

He wasn't a stranger to danger or hardship. He'd fought monsters, navigated labyrinths, and survived disasters most wouldn't dream of. But this? This was different. This was personal.

Ever since their parents died, Mo Tang had been his responsibility. He'd sworn to protect her, to make sure she'd never feel alone or abandoned. But seeing her follow Rishitha, risking her life without hesitation, made him feel like he was failing her.

Am I not enough?

The thought stung more than he cared to admit.

Rishitha's presence felt like a constant threat. She was reckless, secretive, and far too calm in the face of danger. And yet, despite everything, she had managed to save Mo Tang in the cave.

That fact alone tore at his resolve.

I hate her, he admitted silently, his jaw tightening. I hate that she put Mo Tang in danger. I hate that she's hiding something. I hate that she makes me doubt myself.

But most of all, he hated the gnawing guilt that crept in whenever he thought about her.

Ragith closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. He replayed the moment he found them in the forest—the relief he'd felt when he saw Mo Tang alive, the anger that surged when he saw Rishitha beside her, unscathed.

She should have been the one to suffer, he thought darkly, and then immediately hated himself for it.

He knew it wasn't fair. Rishitha wasn't the enemy, no matter how much he wanted her to be. She was struggling too—he could see it in her eyes, in the way she carried herself. But acknowledging that didn't make it any easier to forgive her.

She's hiding something, he reminded himself. And until I know what it is, I can't trust her.

His mind drifted to the nights he'd spent searching for them, the endless hours of trekking through the forest, the mounting fear that he was too late. Every step had been driven by a single thought:

I have to find her.

Mo Tang was all he had left. She was his reason for fighting, his anchor in a chaotic world. The thought of losing her was unbearable.

And yet, here we are, he thought bitterly. Following someone who barely knows how to keep herself alive.

Ragith pushed off the tree and made his way back to the fire, his expression guarded. Rishitha was still seated, her arms wrapped around her knees, staring into the flames. Erin sat nearby, sharpening his blade with an air of casual indifference.

Mo Tang looked up as Ragith approached, her gaze questioning.

"Get some rest," he said gruffly, his voice softer than usual. "I'll take the next watch."

Mo Tang hesitated, then nodded, lying down beside the fire.

Ragith settled against a tree, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes flicked to Rishitha once more, watching her as she stared into the fire.

What are you hiding? he wondered, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions.

For now, he would tolerate her. For Mo Tang's sake.

But he wouldn't stop searching for the truth. And if that truth proved dangerous to his sister...

I'll do whatever it takes to protect her.

Ragith sat apart from the others, his back against a gnarled tree, fingers gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly his knuckles whitened. His thoughts roared louder than the crackling fire, drowning out even the faint sounds of the forest.

The relief of finding Mo Tang alive and unharmed had quickly been eclipsed by the gnawing anger burning inside him. His sister—the one person he had sworn to protect above all else—had been put in harm's way. And the person responsible? That woman, Rishitha.

He glared at her from the shadows, the flickering firelight casting sharp angles on her weary face. She sat silently, staring into the flames, her expression unreadable. It infuriated him.

Why does she look so calm? he thought bitterly. How can she sit there like she hasn't dragged my sister into hell itself?

Ragith had made a promise long ago, one etched into his very soul the day their parents died: Protect Mo Tang at all costs.

She had been his reason to keep going, his anchor when the world seemed too cruel to bear. Mo Tang wasn't just his sister—she was his family, his light, the one person who made him believe in something better.

But seeing her now, lying so trustingly near Rishitha, it felt like a betrayal.

Doesn't she see it? he wondered, his chest tightening. The danger that woman represents?

Rishitha wasn't like them. She wasn't a fighter. She wasn't someone who had grown up learning to survive in a world that didn't care about weakness. And yet, Mo Tang trusted her—followed her, even.

Why?

His mind wandered back to the days he had spent searching for them, every moment stretching into an eternity of fear and doubt.

The forest had been unforgiving, each step through the dense undergrowth feeling like a march into failure. He had called out for Mo Tang until his voice was raw, the echo of his own desperation mocking him.

The nights had been worse—alone with his thoughts, haunted by the image of his sister lost, hurt, or worse. The guilt ate at him like a festering wound.

I should have been there.

When he finally found them, the sight of Mo Tang alive had been a balm to his soul. But that relief had been short-lived the moment he saw Rishitha standing beside her, unscathed.

Why her? Why did she come out of this unhurt while my sister was dragged into danger?

The resentment had been immediate and sharp, a blade twisting in his chest.

And yet, despite his anger, there was something about Rishitha that unsettled him.

She wasn't like anyone he had ever met. She didn't act like a leader, yet people followed her. She didn't look like a warrior, yet she had survived. There was a fragility to her, a vulnerability that should have made her weak.

But it didn't.

Ragith hated it—hated the way she seemed to endure, no matter how unprepared or ill-equipped she was. He hated the way she carried herself, like she was burdened by a weight only she could see.

What is she hiding?

He had seen the way her eyes flickered when Mo Tang spoke, the way she seemed to withdraw into herself when the others weren't looking. It wasn't guilt or fear—it was something deeper, something heavier.

And it terrified him.

The fire crackled, snapping him out of his thoughts. Rishitha shifted slightly, pulling her knees closer to her chest, and Ragith felt a pang of something he couldn't name.

She doesn't belong here.

The thought came unbidden, but it was true. She was an anomaly, a mystery that didn't fit into the world he knew.

But the way Mo Tang had defended her, the unwavering trust in her voice... It made Ragith question everything.

Am I the one who's wrong?

The thought was like a splinter, small but impossible to ignore.

Ragith's gaze softened as it flicked to Mo Tang, her form peaceful in the glow of the firelight. She was his everything—the one person who had always stood by him, no matter how hard things got.

I can't lose her. Not to this world, and certainly not to Rishitha's recklessness.

But as much as he wanted to protect Mo Tang, as much as he wanted to drag her away from all of this, he couldn't ignore the reality in front of him.

They were in this together now. Whether he liked it or not, Rishitha was part of their group. And for all her flaws, she had saved Mo Tang.

Maybe she's not as weak as she looks, he admitted begrudgingly.

But that didn't mean he trusted her.

As the firelight dimmed and the forest settled into an uneasy quiet, Ragith stayed awake, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword.

His eyes remained fixed on Rishitha, watching her as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

I'll keep an eye on you, he thought, his jaw set with determination. For Mo Tang's sake. But if you put her in danger again...

He didn't finish the thought. He didn't need to.

Because Ragith knew one thing for certain: he would do whatever it took to protect his sister.

Even if it meant turning against the person she trusted most.

The sound of distant voices cut through the dense forest air, growing louder as the group pushed forward. Rishitha, Erin, Mo Tang, and Ragith moved cautiously, their steps measured as they approached the source. The clearing ahead was bustling with activity—shouts, laughter, and occasional arguments filling the space.

They stepped out of the trees and into a makeshift camp where a group of students milled about, their faces a mixture of relief and tension. Some were tending to wounds, others sorting supplies, and a few stood by the fire, animatedly discussing something.

All eyes turned to them as they emerged.

"Hey! They're here!" one of the students shouted, waving them over.

The students had constructed a crude but functional shelter—a collection of branches, leaves, and cloth strung together to form a barrier against the elements. It wasn't much, but it provided some sense of security in the otherwise hostile forest.

"Where were you guys?" a tall boy with sharp features demanded, stepping forward. His voice was laced with irritation, but there was an underlying concern in his gaze.

"Got delayed," Mo Tang replied curtly, brushing past him to inspect the shelter.

Erin followed, his sharp eyes scanning the group. "This everyone?"

"Everyone who made it this far," another student chimed in, a wiry girl with her arms crossed. "We lost a few in the first wave of monsters."

Rishitha felt the weight of their gazes on her. She could sense their unspoken questions, their doubts. She wasn't like them—didn't have the same confidence, the same ease in handling this world.

But she forced herself to speak. "We should focus on reinforcing the shelter. The forest isn't safe, and we'll need something more reliable if we're staying here for the night."

Her voice was steady, surprising even herself.

As the group settled in, the noise level rose again. Conversations overlapped, voices clashing as plans were made and abandoned in rapid succession.

"We need more firewood."

"No, we need weapons. The last attack nearly wiped us out!"

"Why don't we split into teams? One for supplies, one for defense—"

"Enough!" Ragith's voice cut through the chatter like a blade. His sharp glare silenced the group, and he stepped forward. "We can't afford to waste time arguing. If we're going to survive this, we need to work together."

His commanding tone left no room for debate, and the students reluctantly fell in line.

Rishitha stayed on the edges of the group, watching as the students organized themselves. They were loud, brash, and uncoordinated, but there was an undeniable energy to them—a resilience she admired.

Still, a pang of guilt gnawed at her. These were real people, with real hopes and fears. She had to keep reminding herself of that. Even if this was a novel's world, even if her mission was tied to a preordained ending, these lives felt too real to dismiss.

Her eyes lingered on Erin as he spoke with a group of students, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to their panic. He had a quiet strength about him, one that seemed to draw people in. Mo Tang, too, had quickly integrated herself, her sharp wit and resourcefulness earning the group's respect.

And then there was Ragith, standing guard at the edge of the camp, his watchful eyes scanning the perimeter. He was a protector through and through, his dedication to Mo Tang unwavering.

As darkness settled over the forest, the group huddled around the fire. The crude shelter offered some comfort, but the tension was palpable. Everyone knew the forest wasn't safe at night.

Ragith spoke first, his voice low and firm. "We'll set up a rotation for keeping watch. Two people at a time, every two hours. If anything happens, wake the group immediately."

"I'll take the first watch," Erin volunteered.

"I'll join him," Mo Tang added without hesitation.

Rishitha nodded, feeling the weight of exhaustion pulling at her. She knew she needed rest, but her mind was too restless. The system's missions, the looming danger, and the guilt she carried—it all churned within her, refusing to let her relax.

Later, as the camp settled into uneasy silence, Rishitha sat by the dying embers of the fire. Her gaze wandered to the others, each lost in their own thoughts or struggles.

They're real. They're not just characters. They're people.

Her fists clenched at the thought. The system's cold, calculated nature grated against her growing attachment to these people. They weren't just pawns in some grand story—they were her companions now.

But how long could she keep her secret? How long before the weight of her mission crushed her completely?

As the stars glittered faintly above, Rishitha made a silent promise to herself. I'll protect them. No matter what it takes.

And in the shadows, the system's cold, mechanical voice whispered:

[Pending Missions: Awaiting Completion.]