My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

"Welcome back, Akira. Any injuries?"

"Of course not. More importantly, what is this...?"

Avoiding the pile of unconscious bandits, I moved toward the center where the ring had been a moment ago, and Amelia hurried over. Hot on her heels came an unusually glossy Yoru. The Elf warriors—seeing Yoru pass instead of Amelia—stepped aside as if terrified. Seeing that, I half-closed my eyes without meaning to. Did this guy do something...? No, what did he do?

'I think I know what my master is thinking, but I didn’t do anything, okay?'

"Is that so?"

"Hey, don't you believe me! ...But still, it's kind of nice seeing humans be scared when they look at my face."

Feeling a little uneasy at Yoru's villainous (well, cat-like) face, I checked with Amelia. Because he'd enlarged for battle, his paw pads—about three times their normal size—pressed into my cheek with a squish. Hmm, not a bad sensation. Later I'll let Amelia and I squish them together.

"Yoru isn't lying. These people just keeled over the moment they saw Yoru's face."

If Amelia says so, it must be true. Pathetic, bandits. Leaving the cleanup to the Elf knights, we were talking when William cautiously approached, keeping his distance from Yoru.

"Um, Akira-dono, may I ask you something?"

His gaze kept drifting to Amelia. He must be asking permission of the highest-ranking person present. What could someone so formal be so eager to ask that he would interrupt a conversation? He waited for Amelia to nod, then finally looked at me.

"Is this Yoru-dono Akira-dono's familiar?"

"Hmm. Is that so?"

'Of course! Look at the crest on my forehead and the crest on my master's arm—it's obvious!'

Leaving Yoru to his baying, I looked at William.

"Seems so."

"Excuse me, may I see Akira-dono's arm?"

Having a crest on my arm is embarrassingly edgelord-ish, and even if none of my acquaintances were looking, I couldn't walk around the city flaunting it. So no matter how hot it was, I kept the sleeve of my black outfit down.

I pulled my sleeve up and showed the crest. The black mark looked darker than when I contracted with Yoru.

"Ah, thank you. As an Elf who's lived far longer than humans, I never imagined I would meet a 'one who commands demonic beasts' in my lifetime."

"'One who commands demonic beasts'?"

More and more cringey names keep piling up. Normally the protagonist gets the humiliation like this, but where the hell is our protagonist (the hero) and what are they doing? I can't imagine that idiot dying somewhere, but since he's left the castle, his actions are even harder to predict.

"I think it's an Elven phrase."

'Yeah. It used to mean a hated member of the Demon Clan, but now it refers to people like the masters who suddenly appeared among humans, Elves, and Beastmen.'

Amelia and Yoru apparently knew the meaning.

"Generally, demonic beasts are incompatible with humans. There's practically no data on them. But a 'one who commands demonic beasts' makes research possible!"

William said, breathing heavily, staring at Yoru. Maybe unnerved, Yoru slightly changed his size and jumped onto my shoulder.

"I see—Yoru-dono's specialty magic is size adjustment!"

He babbled the wrong conclusion as he approached.

"William, I know this is unusual, but could you not frighten my child?"

"…Ah!! I apologize! It was such a rare thing I might never see again that I couldn't help myself."

He looked embarrassed to have shown such a side, but his eyes never left Yoru.

"Hard to give up, that man."

"It's downright obsession at this point."

'I hate that guy.'

While Yoru spouted his frank impressions, the boss I'd been carrying finally woke up.

Alright, interrogation time. I hope I don't have to make him suffer. I want him to spill quickly.

Sorry, this is a good stopping point, so I'll move to the next part.