Neril studied my face from various angles before opening her mouth.

“You came.”

“Of course I did. It’s an invitation from a future companion.”

“Hmph. Kid, how old do you think I am?”

She looked to be in her early twenties at best, but I said her true age.

“The Witch of Carnage first appeared in the history books about 200 years ago, right?”

“Yep. I’ve been honing magic for 200 years. Honestly, if I said I studied hard that whole time, I’d be lying… but still, time like that doesn’t just disappear.”

“……”

“How old are you?”

“So this is what it’s about. You’re stronger, so you want to tell me not to act cocky?”

Neril spoke slowly, clearly, with a completely serious expression.

“That’s exactly it, Mide Mohan.”

“……”

“I quite like you.”

“……”

“Please don’t make me change my mind.”

Oh.

Just like back at the tool shop, the atmosphere began to grow heavier.

It felt like some invisible force was pressing down on me.

Like my body suddenly weighed twice as much.

I slowly, carefully put some distance between us.

“Grey said the payment would be delayed. He said he would pay up If you stick with me for seven years.”

“And you want me to just stand by and watch Grey live happily for seven more years?”

“I don’t particularly plan to let him live happily… but what kind of grudge do you have against him anyway? What did he do to you?”

“That bastard killed someone I cared about.”

Someone she cared about?

Ah—maybe that old guy.

It felt off to hear someone who looked barely twenty call an old man a ‘kid’, but considering her real age, it made sense.

I said,

“Grey told me he once tried to loot the Enerika family’s grave and ended up killing an old man..”

“You know a lot.”

“The Enerikas were a high noble family that got wiped out. What’s your connection to them?”

“You don’t need to know that. What you do need to know is that old man was the last butler of the Enerika family. A paragon of loyalty, guarding the graves of a fallen house for generations over 200 years.”

“……”

“He had no children. His line was about to die out too. It probably would’ve ended in a few years anyway.”

“……”

“But that doesn’t mean some trash grave robber gets to end it with his own hands.”

I still didn’t know what secret lay between Neril and the Enerika family.

If I could level up my Eye of Omniscience…

[Why are you calling it your Eye of Omniscience.]

…I might learn more. But that was still far off.

Then Neril spoke.

“Hand over Grey. This is your last chance.”

“……”

“You said you wanted to be a Hero, right? It’s easy to say anything. Just by talking, you can say you’ll become a Hero or save the continent.”

“……”

“Sorry, but I don’t know you well enough yet. So rather than trust your word and wait seven years, I’m going to take Grey by force now.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Right as I said that—

Whoosh!

I almost let out a very undignified scream.

I instinctively dropped to one knee.

Just a centimeter above my head, a blade of wind sliced through the air.

Wind Cutter—Neril’s signature spell even before the regression.

A single sweep of her hand could kill tens of thousands of monsters.

Crack!

Ssssshh.

I heard the sound of the tree behind me being neatly cut down.

Swish.

Neril pointed her hand at me and said,

“The Sword master of No Killing never accepts assassination requests, right? To think someone with such a dumb rule could become an S-rank mercenary. Impressive. But it won’t work on me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”

“Let’s find out, kid.”

Fwoooosh.

The surroundings went up in flames.

It was supposed to be early winter, but it felt like the peak of summer at noon.

I ran, carefully stepping only in the places where Neril’s fire didn’t reach.

Been a while since I moved like this. Tough work.

‘I never had a serious fight with a party member before, so I didn’t realize… but she’s no joke.’

[Think you can win?]

‘If I were trying to kill her, maybe.’

[But you’re not.]

‘Exactly the problem. I didn’t expect Neril to be this strong. So the Demon King of Lies withstood magic like that with his whole body…’

Now that I was the one being targeted, I could finally understand just how strong the Demon King really was.

He even had the leisure to fake his death as a ‘prank.’

Even if I become a Hero, could I really kill that guy?

[Side!]

‘Kgh—!’

Splat!

Blood spurted from my side.

I quickly pressed my palm to it and jumped backward.

After retreating more than twenty steps, I applied a high-grade potion I had bought from the guild to my wound.

“That’s an amazing potion. Must’ve been pricey.”

“Pay me back later.”

“You’re the one who used it. Why should I pay?”

“Isn’t that what having a companion means? What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is mine.”

“I get that you’re stalling for time, but I’ll play along. I do want to talk a little more with you.”

Neril folded her arms.

“I’ve lived a long time, but I’ve never met someone like you. If you were born with that kind of talent, I suppose it’s natural to think, ‘Why not become a Hero?’”

“……”

“But Heroes, and the heroes who walk with them, are on a whole different level from us. You’ve read history books, right? The kind of people who split mountains and summon tidal waves with a single swing of a sword.”

“That’s exaggerated.”

I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so I know.

Neril let out a small laugh.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I think someone like you is already at the hero level. If it weren’t for me, you might’ve had a shot at being the Hero yourself. Shame.”

“Only someone whose skills back it up can speak that confidently. It’s nice. That self-assurance.”

“……”

“But if what you say is true, doesn’t that mean you’re not the Hero? You’re getting beaten by someone like me, just a mere hero-class fighter.”

Looks like I really will have to beat her.

Guess I’ve got no choice. Should I use that technique?

Trail butted in.

[If you had one, you should’ve used it already.]

‘It’s been a while, so I couldn’t quite get the timing right.’

[Sigh. What’s the skill called? Got a name for it?]

Of course.

‘Running Fast.’

[…]

‘What?’

[Even the name is pathetic. I should’ve known when you said something about “invisibility” earlier.]

‘It’s not like I’m going to shout the name during a fight. Who cares what it’s called? And I spent two whole days thinking it up, too.’

[You absolute—!]

He seemed like he was about to start cursing again, so I lost interest.

Instead, I began focusing strength into my legs.

Creak. Crack.

I could feel my muscles twitching beneath my clothes.

Veins rose to the surface, and a slight tremor passed through me.

“Planning something, are you?”

Neril quickly picked up on the change and uncrossed her arms.

She swiftly began forming a series of hand signs.

I knew those gestures well.

It had to be earth magic.

Ta-at!

Dozens of muddy arms burst from the ground around me.

But before they could grab me, I pushed off the earth and jumped upward.

“Huh?”

Whoosh. Tap.

I twisted in midair and adjusted my posture.

Then I drew my sheath downward and used it as a foothold.

Good. I can use it.

“Hmph.”

Neril began preparing the largest spell she’d cast so far.

But from the moment she chose to prepare it now, she was already too late.

‘Quick Leap!’

[Oh, for crying out loud.]

Taaat!

Before she could complete the final hand sign, I was already five steps away from her.

I could see her pupils dilating in real time.

Frantically, she slapped the back of her right hand with her left.

I knew that move too.

A low-tier Lightning Bolt.

Of course, even though it was low-tier, if the caster was the Witch of Carnage, a normal person would be roasted instantly without even a chance to scream.

‘What do I do?’

In a split second—less than 0.1 seconds—I ran through countless thoughts.

Before the spell fully activated, I could undoubtedly plunge my dagger into her heart. I was confident in that.

But if I did that—

“Damn it.”

I subtly shifted the dagger’s trajectory downward.

Because of that, her spell was able to activate in time.

Thunk. Crackle!

My dagger plunged deep into Neril’s abdomen.

And her magic slammed into my back.

“Guhk!”

“Nnngh.”

Something smelled like cooking meat.

I lifted my head slightly to look up at Neril.

Her eyes were trembling more violently than ever before.

“Why? Why did you change your aim?”

“……”

“You were aiming for my heart. You could’ve killed me before I cast my spell.”

“Instead of saying that… focus on healing. That stab went in deep—it’s gonna hurt.”

She bled as she gave a wry smile.

“Worry about yourself. Your back’s practically skinned raw.”

“I’m in better shape than you.”

“Doesn’t look like it.”

Every time we opened our mouths, acrid smoke wafted up.

“Surrender, Neril.”

“…Idiot. I won. I could still kill you right now.”

“Surrender.”

“You would’ve won, you know. If you’d just stabbed me in the heart.”

“Ugh, save it for later. Honestly, I’m in agony too, so just surrender already.”

“……”

Come on.

I may not look it, but I’m really on edge right now, lady.

If you keep stalling, even my expensive potions won’t be enough.

Thump-thump.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

After what felt like an eternity, Neril finally opened her mouth.

“…I lost.”

“Then we’re working together for seven years, right?”

“……”

“Don’t go changing your mind now.”

With a sigh, Neril asked,

“Are you really going to just leave Grey alone? Seven years is a long time. He’ll disappear from the continent in that span.”

“I’ve got a plan for that.”

“Hmph. A plan, sure.”

“I mean it. If you don’t believe me, just give it a few days.”

“Huh?”

I grinned and spoke.

“As a celebration of our partnership, I’ve got a gift for you.”

A few days later.

Thanks to using all the high-grade potions I’d been saving for near-death situations, both Neril and I were fully healed.

It cost me a fortune, but that wasn’t a problem—Neril covered the entire bill.

“You sure you want to pay for all of it? I should at least cover half.”

“It’s fine. More importantly, why are we back here again?”

We were standing in front of Grey’s tool shop.

“I told you. I’m giving you a gift to mark our partnership.”

“……”

“Let’s go in.”

Grey was still squirming on the basement floor like a worm.

I’d given him drinks occasionally while staying here, but he hadn’t had a proper meal in about a week.

He was soaking his feet in the Redvi River—a stream said to flow straight into hell.

I removed Grey’s gag.

“H-huh. W-water, please…”

“Here.”

I poured water from a canteen, just like before.

I could feel Neril glaring at me disapprovingly from behind.

Grey chugged the water down and looked up at me.

“I… I can’t feel my arms.”

“……”

“Even a high priest wouldn’t be able to fix them now. My arms… huuuhuhuuu…”

“Don’t cry.”

“Waaaah!”

“Want to finish crying in hell instead?”

“No! I’m sorry.”

He stopped the tears instantly, as if flipping a switch.

I grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.

“You’ve still got enough strength to walk, right? Even if you don’t, squeeze it out. We’re going somewhere.”

“N-not hell, please.”

“Hell? No. We’re going somewhere—together.”

I leaned in and whispered in his ear.

“You’re going to hell later, alone.”

He shuddered violently.

Thump.

I gave him a light push on the back, and Grey stumbled forward.

I grabbed the rope binding him like a leash and walked with him.

Neril followed behind me and asked,

“Where are you taking him?”

“You were worried, weren’t you? Said you couldn’t stand the thought of Grey enjoying himself for the next seven years. Or what if he vanished in that time?”

“So?”

I continued in a casual tone,

“I’m handing him over to a place where he’ll never be happy, and never be able to hide.”

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