My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

The perspective shifts from Oda Akira to Amelia Rose Quartz midway.

"Akira, have you been sleeping lately?"

The next day, Amelia—who had gotten up earlier than everyone else—asked me with concern.

I averted my gaze from her while sipping a coffee-like drink.

To tell the truth, I haven't been sleeping well recently.

I already know why.

It's because of what Crow said and asked me that day.

And Mr. Zeal's words last night only made it worse.

"I'm not sleeping, but it shouldn't affect combat. Since coming to this world, the times I've slept deeply without being knocked out can be counted on one hand."

I covered half my face with one hand as I said it.

My face is probably a mess.

I have to do something before everyone else wakes up.

Just then, Amelia leaned in to peer at my face.

She removed the hand covering my face and cupped my cheeks with both hands.

"Akira, your bad habit is bottling things up and bearing them alone. Don't you trust us that much?"

"N-no, that's not—"

She stared at me with her crimson eyes, holding my face so I couldn't look away.

For the first time, I found Amelia's eyes frightening.

"I understand that when you can't say something, it's because you're protecting us or someone else. ...Then I'll take stronger measures to protect you."

"Hey—!"

Before I could stop her, Amelia increased her magical power.

A pale blue light wrapped around my body.

"Sorry, Akira. 'Magic Creation'... 'Forced Sleep'!!"

"Ame...li, A—"

Just before losing consciousness, the last thing I saw was Amelia's pained face.

And I despaired.

Had I driven the person I love to make that face?

~Amelia Rose Quartz's perspective~

I covered Akira, who had been forced to lose consciousness, with a blanket and watched his innocent sleeping face.

I gently stroked the dark circles under his eyes.

They're darker than yesterday.

"Such a violent princess."

I looked up at the quiet voice and saw Crow on the sofa, still half-asleep, grinning at me.

I glared at him.

"What did you whisper to Akira?"

Crow turned his head away from my glare and stretched like a cat.

I stood protectively between him and Akira, continuing to stare him down.

"Don't frown so much. You'll never go back then... Besides, I only asked for appropriate compensation."

Those words caught me off guard.

What rose in my mind was Crow's silhouette from the labyrinth when he saved us in our desperate moment.

"So you helped us in the Brute Labyrinth? Answer me."

I pressed my stare on Crow, who averted his eyes.

He pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment.

"Well, who knows. I helped out of simple goodwill... The value I found in that act came later."

I widened my eyes at his meek expression.

I don't have as much history with this man as Akira does, nor do I understand him well.

Still, I could somewhat understand the hunger for revenge that comes from failing to save a younger sister. I had berated Crow for planning to abandon that revenge with time, and I wasn't even sure that rebuke had been right.

Though his first impression wasn't great, I found myself sympathizing with him later, which surprised me.

Our motivations are probably quite similar.

"You know, I used to admire you."

I was about to call him out for changing the subject, but those words left me speechless.

Crow gave a small smile at my expression.

"A princess who saved the Elf race in their despair. A wielder of 'revival magic' and 'gravity magic'—you seemed like someone to aim for. ...Well, after meeting you and seeing your very human side, I reconsidered a bit."

"...I don't like being looked at that way."

Praising me also meant belittling Kirika, who brought that hell upon us.

Crow gave a wry smile.

"Fair enough. That's who you are. ...Have you heard that I made Ria's Staff?"

I shook my head.

He probably told Akira.

We haven't had much time recently to talk quietly with Akira, so our information is uneven.

"That staff let me sense your peril. Don't you think Ria's name resembles yours?"

"Did you name it after me?"

"Yes. I gave it that name so she'd become someone like you."

I blinked at the unexpected connection, then narrowed my eyes.