Published: March 21, 2026
"I need to warn Lady Amelia. We've received information that the demon king has begun moving to target Amelia's skill 'revival'…"
I frowned.
Too many things were messy; I felt like writing it down on paper to sort it out.
Of course, that's impossible while moving at high speed in the unstable night sky, and besides, there was no paper or anything to write with.
"Master, it's the boss room on the tenth floor."
Yoru, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke.
When I turned my head, I could see the large doors of the boss room where Yoru was looking.
"We haven't been in the labyrinth that long…"
"Who do you think I am… What will you do, master?"
I turned my body from facing Ria to facing forward.
I put my hand out and closed my eyes.
"Charge."
"Understood!!"
Without doubting my order even a millimeter, Yoru crashed into the door.
Behind me, Ria screamed and clung to my back.
"Shadow magic… remote activation."
The moment the door was broken, I opened my closed eyes.
The labyrinth, already gloomier than the surface, was painted into complete darkness.
But that darkness cleared as if it had been a lie the next instant.
Feeling the solid feedback, the corner of my mouth lifted.
"Eeek!!"
Before Yoru could turn to head to the door leading to the next floor, Ria apparently saw it.
The boss, now nothing but a scattered, mangled heap, lay in the center of the room.
Until now I had only been able to activate shadow magic using my own shadow and the other shadows overlapping mine, but thanks to remote control of magical power inside the Cantinen Labyrinth and pushing shadow magic to its limit this time, I discovered I could use shadows other than my own.
Granted, only within my field of vision.
"…Are you scared?"
I tossed my voice to the silent space behind me.
Yoru had already found the stairs to the twelfth floor.
Like the Cantinen Labyrinth, traps activated, and the next moment Yoru was no longer there.
"It would be a lie to say I'm not scared. However, I am accompanying you. I cannot complain."
She said that, but the hand gripping my clothes trembled.
Surely her head understood that. But at a more instinctive level she surely wanted to run away right now.
Living creatures, humans, are like that. You cannot go against primordial fear.
"Who exactly are you?"
I thought a little before opening my mouth.
"I'm just an Assassin who got dragged into this, Amelia's lover, and… one of the people you most loathe."
"...What!?"
Ria gave a surprised cry.
I ignored it and submerged myself in thought.
I hadn't expected the demon king to be targeting Amelia.
I had assumed I was the target; maybe calling me through Yoru was aimed at Amelia instead.
If so, why would they need Amelia's 'revival'?
Is it to prolong a life that's close to death?
I couldn't understand why anyone would go to such lengths to stay alive in this world.
"...Did you come to this world via a hero summoning?"
"Yeah. I was one of the humans summoned using your family's magical power and life. Do you want to kill me?"
From what I heard, there was no reason Ria had to kill me.
Still, her circumstances were sympathetic. I had no intention of being killed, but I was ready to take a few hits if necessary.
I had underestimated Ria, though.
"No, it's not your fault. I understand that hero summoning is truly unjust. But I cannot forgive those from Reytis who performed the hero summoning."
She said that clearly, and I felt like I'd been winded.
Yoru's body shivered below.
"I've been outplayed, master."
"Shut up."
I turned back to face Ria again.
This time I grabbed Yoru's fur without flinching.
"Then I'll change the question. Do you want to kill the hero?"
When I first met Ria, her killing intent had indeed been directed even at those of us who were summoned.
If she wasn't going to kill me as just another among many, then the remaining target would be the hero.
As I suspected, Ria nodded.
"I know the hero doesn't have a choice either…"
Ria cast her eyes down.
So she couldn't accept it that simply. Well, as long as it doesn't harm me, it's fine.