Published: March 21, 2026
"Hey, are you sure it was okay to leave him behind?"
As we walked to the place designated yesterday to pick up the prize, Crow asked that.
Akira was still asleep at the time we were supposed to leave, so we had left him on the sofa as he was.
This morning he had sounded somewhat reverent, but now he’d reverted to his usual tone.
What was that about this morning?
When he called me, it wasn’t "you" or "princess" but "anata"—a more polite form. And he spoke as if he knew what I had done, as if he understood Kirika.
Back then, news of the demonic beasts in the labyrinth that attacked the Elf race had spread across the continents.
Information about the Demon Clan and demonic beasts was required to be shared in case the demons attacked again.
Because of reporting obligations, Kirika’s mistake of scattering a huge amount of food for the demonic beasts had become known, but the Elf race had since worked to erase the records, so no books remain.
In other words, it wouldn’t be strange if someone alive then knew about Kirika.
But that was many years ago; considering the Beastmen’s lifespans, anyone who would remember should no longer be alive.
I wanted to ask, but if Crow’s reaction was my misunderstanding and everyone’s desperate secrecy about Kirika were to be exposed, then I…
Thinking that, I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
"…Akira has been pushing himself too hard lately. Besides, once we get the prize today we’ll head straight back to the inn, so it’s fine."
Once we collected the prize there’d be no reason to stay in this town.
We’d leave as soon as Akira woke up.
He was probably just sleep-deprived; he’d likely be awake by the time we left.
"I see. …I hope you get back safely."
Crow muttered, but his last words never reached me and dissipated into the air.
"We’re here…right?"
Ms. Ueno muttered in astonishment as she looked at the building in front of us.
I hadn’t caught Crow’s words because I was shocked by the building before us.
Where the designated place had been marked yesterday sat a filthy, nearly-collapsed hotel.
It hardly looked like the kind of place to hand over a contest prize.
The atmosphere tensed in an instant.
I’d thought everyone was on edge today, but had they anticipated this?
"…Who are you!!"
Crow’s sharp voice turned our attention, and a man in black clothing stood there.
All eyes shifted to him.
"If I recall, you are the contest chairman…"
Ms. Hosoyama widened her eyes as she spoke.
Indeed, the white rabbit ears—almost white enough to be mistaken for gray—and the face were familiar.
Unlike yesterday, when he’d seemed timid and jumpy, he stood there confidently now.
"…Seems like you’re the target."
Startled by Crow’s voice, I came to my senses and realized we were surrounded by men in black similar to Lapan, the contest chairman, a Beastman rabbit.
Despite being retired, Crow—former member of the hero party—and the hero party being here without being detected until now showed they were quite skilled.
There were twelve of them in total.
Completely encircled, no gaps.
"…I take it you are princess Amelia."
One of them said my name.
The hero party members rushed to form a protective circle and scanned the surroundings.
Their movements were as if expected.
But I didn’t have time to watch them closely.
"Yes, I am. What do you want?"
I narrowed my eyes and replied. The men in black exchanged glances and nodded.
It wasn’t a mood for a peaceful discussion—something even I, without the presence detection skill, could feel.
"Gram-sama requests your presence. Come with us."
At the name "Gram," I felt Crow’s killing intent rapidly rise.
He was the man who had been the cause of Crow’s sister’s death.
"An elf princess answering the summon of some guild master-like fellow? Unthinkable."
Normally, a member of the royal family wouldn’t be summoned like that. It was proper for them to come to you.
When I retorted, the men in black narrowed the circle.
It seemed they intended to take me by force.
Behind them, Lapan laughed lewdly.