My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's

"So, what happened afterwards?"

Amelia asked as she stir-fried the finely chopped vegetables.

Amelia had gotten a lot better at cooking.

Crystal usually handled the meals, so during the nights Amelia hadn't noticed her own lack of skill, but if she kept learning at this pace, she might be able to make something passably tasty.

"After that, I didn't meet him. I had forgotten about him until I sensed his magical power after coming to this town."

The day they arrived, a magical power came from somewhere.

It coincided exactly with the moment Crystal activated shadow magic.

It reached them, hidden beneath Crystal's enormous magical power.

Crystal still couldn't match Yo in magical control.

So he probably didn't notice Crow's power.

At that moment, the only one who might have noticed that power was probably the guild master, Ringa.

"Now that you mention it, Father once said that among the previous Hero's party there was someone nearly as skilled with magical power as the Demon Clan. So it was Crow, then."

Yo nodded.

The criteria for selection into a hero party had commonalities across tribes.

They had to excel in martial arts or magic, possessing overwhelming skill unmatched by others.

In Crow's case, it was manipulation of magical power.

"On that day, when Master and Miss Amelia were returning to the inn, I went to see him."

"You're here, 'Adrea's Nightmare.'"

On a hill where it felt like their first meeting, Crow had been waiting for Yo.

Yo frowned silently at that arrogant tone.

"You called me here and then speak like that. Also, I was given the name 'Yo'. Don't keep calling me that forever. It was a hundred years ago."

At Yo's words, Crow sneered.

Then he rephrased Yo's comment.

"Only a hundred years have passed. Besides, you demons who live through nearly eternity regard a century as a mere blink."

Indeed, the Beastmen's lifespan was about a hundred years more than the Human race.

It couldn't compare with the monsters who lived until slain.

"…Anyway, what's your purpose? Why did you deliberately send out your power at the same timing as Master activating magic, hiding it like that?"

Crow twitched at the mention of "Master."

"I felt something off about the magic, and then the name... So you had become a familiar. Is it alright that 'Adrea's Nightmare' serves a human, and one known as the weakest of the Human race at that? Well, if it's that Demon King, he might even have ordered it himself."

Yo flicked her tail irritably.

She hadn't come to chat about that.

After all, this was only their second meeting.

She wanted to shout, What do you know about me?

More than that, what do you know about the Demon Lord?

"What do you want?"

Prompted again, Crow sighed deeply.

"Your master — by sensing, it's probably that boy with the enormous magical power. I want to ask him several things, so bring him to me. How about I fix that broken sword as payment?"

Yo stared at Crow in silence.

The gaze she reserved for Crystal and Amelia was different now, so sharp it could seem lethal.

Crow shook his head with an exasperated expression.

"Didn't you notice? That sword was forged by the first generation hero. The magical power embedded in it is no different from a human's. On top of that, the one who carries it has a magma of magical power close to a demon's. Even from here I can tell what he's doing. …Right now he's getting close with that elf princess, huh."

Yo let out a surprised "hoh" sound.

She was thinking not of Crow's technical skill, but of the progress finally seeming to happen between Crystal and Amelia.

Still, she was somewhat pleased Crow was in better spirits.

"But you're not only here to repair the sword. What else are you hiding?"

Crow waved his index finger left and right in front of his face.

The gesture annoyed Yo slightly.

"If I told you, the master would certainly be informed. Try to find out on your own. A hint: your master has something other humans do not."

Yo silently tilted her head.

What could Crystal have that other humans don't? Yo couldn't think of anything.

"Also, these are the materials to repair the sword. Bring them soon."