Published: March 21, 2026
A little short.
The path was carpeted with red leaves, like a red carpet, and the two humans and one beastman walked along it in silence.
Well, the one beastman wasn't walking—she was perched on Crow's shoulder.
"...So? How long do you plan to follow me?"
Crow asked without looking at Amelia, who was walking beside him.
"Until you nod," Amelia replied without turning to look at him.
Crow snorted.
"Then give it up. I don't take disciples, nor do I intend to teach my techniques to anyone. Besides, it's not some cutesy skill an ojou-sama can learn just because she wishes it."
Amelia, contrary to her appearance, was stubborn and wouldn't back down over that.
Yoru wagged his tail sharply.
"I'm prepared for that. If I want to catch up to Akira, of course I'll make the necessary effort."
Crow shook his head and quickened his pace.
Amelia matched his stride.
"...How do I get this one to give up, demonic beast?"
After walking for a while, Crow finally glared at Yoru in frustration.
Yoru answered with the same snort Crow had used earlier.
"Give it up. Miss Amelia's stubbornness and appetite are world-class."
After that remark, Crow finally stopped.
"Back then, I tried, like the others did, to take on disciples and teach them my techniques. Every last one of them broke mentally and left me."
Amelia tilted her head as if to say, Is that so?
"I'm strong. I may be weaker than you, who were chosen to represent your race, a gold rank adventurer, but—"
She muttered calmly.
Crow glared at her profile.
"Of course. Birthrace doesn't matter. The strong win."
The wind blew, scattering Amelia's white hair and the red leaves into a dance.
Yoru simply watched that fantastical sight.
He was ordered by his master, Akira, to accompany Amelia.
He had no intention of intervening.
"Even the weak deserve a chance at a comeback. I fight to make sure I seize that chance. Akira grabbed his with his own hands. Now it's my turn."
She clenched her hand tightly.
"Teach me your technique... no, the first generation hero's technique."
"...Well, something like that, right?"
After rambling about guild manners and common sense inside the guild, Mile looked at my face.
The content was really basic—apologize properly when you're wrong, don't dine and dash—and other obvious rules.
"There’s a dueling system, huh?"
I asked what bothered me most.
Mile smiled wryly, looking a little troubled.
"Yes. The number of duels increases year by year; it's become a pastime for the hot-blooded citizens. There are bets, too."
I’d heard beastmen were far more hot-blooded than other races, so a dueling system made sense.
Of course, the human and elf Adventurer Guilds don't have a dueling system.
Apparently the beastmen guild takes the lead to prevent unfair betting.
"Just the other day, an unregistered Human fought a yellow-rank party on the main street, got trounced, and that Human turned out to be a guest of the guild master. They had their rank revoked and were thrown out of town with whatever magic they'd used still on them."
Hm, that sounded like something I'd heard somewhere.
Maybe some assassin used someone as bait to show off their skill?
"Speaking of which, that guild master's guest was dressed like an assassin, much like you—"
Mile froze when he saw me.
"Are you okay? You look pale."
He pointed at me and mumbled with his mouth open; it was amusing.
"Hey, why point at an adventurer like that?"
Another adventurer stepped out from behind the motionless Mile.
He tilted his head when he saw my face.
"You are, if I remember—"
I recognized his face too. Before I could wonder where, the answer came from him.
"The assassin who absolutely obliterated the yellow-rank party on the main street."
Hearing that, I exaggeratedly snapped my fingers.
"Ah, the guild staff who got stuck with cleaning up because Ringa dumped it on them."
We looked at each other with a "huh?"
Mile tried to hold back laughing and was shaking.
"Well... for now, I'm Yamato. Nice to meet you."
Yamato cleared his throat and extended his right hand.
I gripped it firmly.