My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

Thanks for waiting!

The contest is held for men and women at the same time.

Of course, I have zero interest in the men’s side where the hero is competing, so we only watch the women’s side — but it feels like the heroes are hiding something.

Kyousuke, who has an even better poker face than I do, never changes expression no matter what you say. I’ve known him longer than the others, but I still have no idea what he’s thinking.

Then there are the obvious ones.

Especially Ueno and Kazuki; as the contest start time approaches they both get increasingly fidgety.

“All right, I’m going now.”

The men’s contest is apparently being held a bit off to the back, somewhere secluded.

There’s not much interest in it to begin with, and most of the people who gathered are probably there for the prizes. In other towns, the women’s contest is the main event too.

“Have a good one.”

Kazuki, Nanase, and Tsuda are going to cheer on the hero, and follow after.

The four of them are sent off by the girls and Kyousuke.

...Something’s nagging at me.

Before I can figure out what, everyone’s gaze turns to the entrance.

“I told you already!!! I’m Rusty! I’m Demon Clan, damn it! I came to join the contest!!”

A hooded woman is shouting something at the entrance.

The words blast out at high volume, and after my mind processes them I freeze.

“...Demon Clan?”

So openly??

I look to Yoru, perched on Amelia’s shoulder, as if to confirm — he’s frozen too, mouth agape.

The woman doesn’t notice the stunned reactions around her. She lifts a fist to the sky, purple eyes flashing from beneath the hood.

Her gestures have a somewhat childish feel.

“What the hell!! There are Humans and Beastmen here, and there’s even an Elf race princess — but because I’m Demon Clan I can’t enter!? That’s discrimination!”

“Discrimination is bad,” her father told her!

She presses the sweating organizer, whose nervous sweat has only gotten worse since earlier.

“Uh, um…”

I lock eyes with the sweating man who glances around like he’s about to faint.

He’s the person in charge, yet he looks like he wants someone else to handle it. I sigh; asking him—someone who was already overwhelmed just by the arrival of an Elf race princess—is useless.

“Yoru, come on.”

“Ah, master?”

I grab Yoru by the scruff and head to the entrance.

On closer look, the organizer man is a Rabbit Beastman.

At first I thought it was white hair, but it turned out to be drooping white ears. Rabbits give off a timid vibe, so it’s surprising he became the organizer.

From behind I can see a trembling white tail near his tailbone.

...Fat man with rabbit ears... absolutely no demand for that.

“Is something the matter?”

I call to him while still holding Yoru.

His rabbit eyes seem to brighten.

“Hey, do you think Demon Clan shouldn’t be allowed to participate?? If you say they shouldn’t, I’ll give up.”

Before the Rabbit can say anything, the hooded Demon grabs my free hand — the one not holding Yoru — and speaks.

Because we’re so close, I catch a glimpse of a chest that probably looks bigger than Amelia’s. I feel Amelia’s killing intent afterwards.

“...I don’t see what the problem is.”

I look away from the chest and say it. The hooded Demon raises both hands in delight.

The Rabbit’s eyes widen beside me.

“B-but! This is the first time a Demon Clan member will compete in this contest...”

“Precedents are made. Besides, if this one causes trouble I can handle subduing them.”

My skill danger sense doesn’t react, and the magical power they emit is only something non-combatants could withstand. Even if they went berserk, I could restrain them alone, and even if they were hiding their true strength, they wouldn’t be stronger than Mahiro — Crow could take care of it.

“W-well, I can’t take responsibility if anything happens...”

Saying that, the Rabbit slinks back.

“So, you’ll be accompanying me. Got it?”

The hooded Demon nods eagerly, purple eyes shining.