My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

(From Liam's perspective midway through)

While I was chatting pleasantly with Amelia, a commotion rose up behind us.

"There's no way lady kirika could lose to such a barbaric member of the Human race! Wake up, everyone! Those lowly humans must have cheated!!"

That voice kicked off an even louder uproar. I recognized the voice stirring everyone up — it was the man I had taken hostage earlier. He was shouting at us from beneath the stage. He nearly killed Amelia and had taken a fair beating from me, yet he didn't learn his lesson.

"Liam, what part of that was cheating?"

Amelia said coldly, looking down at the man. Right, his name was Liam. I never remember handsome guys' names — same with the hero, come to think of it.

Despite his earlier bravado, the man called Liam faltered at Amelia's single sentence. Well, Amelia emits a terrifying killing intent. Especially now — she's hungry, so she's even more irritable. I turned my back on Liam and prepared to get down from a different part of the stage.

"Your sight is clouded, isn't it? As expected of a cursed child. You used to be better, but you truly are a disaster to our kin. To side with the Human race..."

I spun him around by the collar and dragged him up onto the stage. Maybe I used a bit too much force — Liam fell to his knees and coughed. Before he could stop coughing, I kicked him in the ribs to make him face me.

"Guhh!!? Hya!!!"

The instant he saw my face, Liam gave a tiny, terrified cry. Rude. I was only giving off a little intimidation mixed with a stronger-than-usual killing intent, right?

Ah, but it's been a while since my gut felt this boiling.

It's fine for him to speak to me. Words from a human whose face and name I won't remember in a minute mean nothing. But I won't tolerate an insult aimed at Amelia.

The last time I was this furious was back in middle school, when my sister Yui was groped on a train. I happened to find out and beat the pervert until others stopped me. My mother and school were notified, and somehow my mother and I ended up apologizing to the man, but when we got home my mother praised me and my sister hugged me. My mother was frail but ruthless, and Yui had been genuinely frightened. Because of that incident I got branded a siscon until I graduated middle school. Now it's a nostalgic memory.

But before I rough this guy up, there's something I need to confirm.

"Hey Amelia, what is this guy to you? Or to kirika?"

Amelia hesitated for a moment, thinking, then finally spoke.

"He was my fiancé. He was always by my side when we were little, but after kirika put him under her charm, he became kirika's fiancé."

"...Huh. So this guy was your ex-fiancé."

Even if he's an ex, it stings a bit. Amelia belongs to me now. Alright, half-lethal punishment it is.

"Eeeeeeeeeek!!"

"What did you just say? ...Hello?"

Liam was genuinely terrified and couldn't speak. I tilted my head and looked back at Amelia. When I asked if I looked that scary, she confirmed I did. Hearing that from her stung a bit.

"Fine. If you're so dissatisfied, I'll fight you — or, if you can't fight, I'll duel your representative. That should settle it."

I calmed myself and responded quite civilly. Stalling on this was making me more irritated. Liam was still crawling on the ground, too intimidated to stand. That alone decided the outcome, but because the grievance was large, the king agreed to another duel. By the way, kirika still hadn't woken up. I hadn't struck her that hard, so she should've come to soon, but either my hand slipped or she's pretending to be unconscious.

──From Liam's perspective

"Liam-sama, let me be your proxy!"

"No, I will teach that Human brat a lesson!"

"We must punish whoever slandered our lady kirika! As her fiancé's chief retainer, I will go!"

As my retainers all raised their voices, I silently closed my eyes.

Lately memories were spinning and swirling in my head. There were also many nagging things in my retainers' words.

Lady kirika? Me being kirika's fiancé?

No — my fiancé should be lady amelia. Noble and straight despite being called a bringer of disaster, her beautiful hair and eyes are the treasure of the Elf race. Undoubtedly kirika is strong and beautiful, but she cannot match amelia.