Published: March 21, 2026
Sorry for the delay — it's been hot lately.
Please take care not to get heatstroke.
Right now, a room in "Tori-Man." was wrapped in a very strange atmosphere.
Standing with legs apart, Akira (晶) faced Amelia and Yoru, who were kneeling properly.
Yoru was in his cat form, merely sitting, so it didn't look much like a punishment.
Amelia, beside the unperturbed Yoru, was near her limit; her legs trembled in small shakes.
"Well then, let's hear your excuse."
Akira smiled brightly.
Though it was only a slight lift at the corners of the mouth, combined with the usual sharp eyes and the unchanged expression, it made him look like a villain.
Even Amelia, brave as she was, trembled in fear — even without considering her legs.
"Master? Miss Amelia's legs are almost at their limit."
Yoru tried to mediate, but Akira's cold, expressionless eyes turned toward Amelia and Yoru, and the sheer intensity silenced Yoru.
There was no mercy left in those eyes that could make a silver rank adventurer and a former Demon King's right-hand monster tremble.
"What are you saying? Limits are meant to be exceeded, aren't they?"
It sounded like a line from some manga, but the intent was completely different.
"Well, you seem repentant. If you promise you won't do it again, you may stand."
"I promise."
At last freed from the torture of sitting, Amelia's eyes shone as she answered immediately.
Little did she know, the real hell was only beginning.
Two hours earlier.
Amelia had been trying desperately to get Crow, who had been a member of the previous Hero's party, to teach her a special move. She lost track of time in her persistence.
They had moved to Crow's house, and she kept asking him.
Crow's house had an impressive blacksmith workshop attached, reminding them that Crow was a genius blacksmith.
The house itself was a simple wooden bungalow — a bed, a desk, a kitchen, and nothing else.
Although they called it wooden, since the workshop used fire next door, it had been built from the world's absolutely non-flammable wood just in case — something even Yoru couldn't tell.
"Miss Amelia, if you don't head back soon, Master will worry."
Yoru warned, but Amelia kept her head bowed and did not react.
"No matter how much you plead, I won't teach you."
Crow sat in a chair, sipping tea elegantly, paying Amelia no heed as she bowed, and stuffed some high-quality-looking sweets into his mouth.
"Please. Teach me."
Amelia kept bowing.
Yoru glanced at Crow, exasperated.
"After all this pleading and still no?"
Crow twisted his body to look at Yoru.
"As careful as I am, when the princess's life might be at stake, I can't be reckless."
Crow replied nonchalantly, and a vein popped on Yoru's forehead with a sharp reaction.
Amelia flinched. Her lips were bitten in frustration.
"Hey, monster, weren't you supposed to be back by evening?"
Crow peered out the window; the sky was already dimming, well past dinnertime.
If one could read Yoru's complexion, this was the moment he would have gone pale.
"Miss Amelia, you must head back now. Master will turn into a demon. Well, it's probably already too late."
Amelia finally raised her head.
Despite having bowed so long blood should have rushed to her head, her face was deathly pale.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
When she left Crow's house saying that, Crow waved his hand in disgust.
"Yoru, how long to the inn?"
Running at full speed, Amelia asked, but Yoru only looked even paler and didn't answer.
A face can speak as loudly as words — and his expression said everything.
When they arrived at the inn, gasping for breath, the sloped-shouldered innkeeper fretted over them. As Amelia answered and went inside, the demon was already standing rigid in the doorway, waiting.
"All right, Amelia. Try to stand."
Everyone has probably had their legs go numb at least once in their life.
That indescribable, unpleasant, sometimes painful feeling after numbness is familiar.
Amelia, still on all fours, trembled like a newborn fawn; tears welled in her eyes.
"Miss Amelia..."
Yoru looked at her pitifully.