Assassin Darkness

<Joshua Ryduan POV Side>

“Ceruano Yannick-kun Dead, Garec Daltry-kun Dead, Fianca Lufrey-san Dead! Class C remaining: five!”

“Wha… what are they doing!?”

Martin’s eyes go wide in astonishment.

Simultaneously, cold sweat drips from his forehead.

…Honestly speaking, I am also a little surprised.

Martin and I understand that trio’s ability well.

Even if their individual ability isn’t high, their coordinated tactics are nothing to sneeze at.

Especially Fianca.

If her magic works effectively, they should be able to maneuver even against double their numbers.

That is precisely why we entrusted them with the detour route where the defense would be tightest.

In fact, among Class C members, the only ones who could overcome that trio’s coordinated tactics were myself and Elfriede.

To be defeated so easily…

…Is this also within Baron Odrant and Lady Letitia’s calculations?

No, surely not—

“…It is frustrating, but with this, a victory in perfect form has become impossible.”

“O-Oi Joshua…”

“But the match is not settled yet. This Midterm Exam is strictly a scramble for the ‘Flag’, after all.”

—Yes, that’s right.

It’s not about defeating opponents or being defeated.

We must not mistake the objective.

Besides, we haven’t lost our main forces yet.

“As long as she—as long as Peroni is safe, the winner will be Class C.”

▲ ▲ ▲

“Wait, what are those three idiots getting beaten for!?”

Heading toward the flag guarded by Class F, Peroni clicks her tongue, “Seriously pien!” hearing the broadcast of the trio’s death.

“Hmph, whatever! I’ll just show them I can work!”

In the end, Peroni-chan is the only winner! I’ll make them understand that!

Peroni encourages herself inwardly.

And finally—she arrived at the Ancient Settlement Ruins area in the center of the dungeon.

“Finally here! Noow then? Where is my cute, cute flag-chan~?”

Climbing the tallest ruin possible, she looks around the Ancient Settlement Ruins area.

Then—

“Like♪ Found it”

Finally, Peroni finds the flag.

If she recovers that and brings it back to her own territory, Class C wins.

It was a piece of cake for her, but—

“…But this is weird~. No one is guarding the flag?”

Peroni had assumed that Alban Odrant or Letitia Barrow would be waiting by the flag.

But—neither of them are there.

Far from it, there are no shadows around the flag; it’s completely empty.

“Suspicious, right? No one from Class F has died yet, yeah? So why—”

“Caaaw!”

It was at that moment.

A cry echoes in the sky above the Ancient Settlement Ruins area.

“Nyo? Crow?”

“Caaaw! Caaaw!”

“Why is there a crow in a place like this dungeon? Did it wander in from somewhere?”

Well, whatever.

No point worrying about a crow.

—So, Peroni switches her mindset and heads toward the flag.

“Well, someone might be waiting even if I can’t see them~… oops.”

Sorori sorori, moving carefully through the urban area.

Since there are numerous ruined structures in the Ancient Settlement Ruins area, there are countless places to hide.

Understanding that, Peroni moves while prepared for a surprise attack but—in the end, she arrived near the flag without sensing any human presence at all.

“Seriously no sign of people. But super lucky! With this, I can take it back chill!”

“Caaaw!”

Again, the crow cries overhead.

Flying in circles above Peroni’s head.

“…That crow is annoying~. Why is it flying round and round above me—”

“—That is because… it is staring at you…”

“Uuwooaahhyaaaaa!?!?”

Hearing a female student’s voice suddenly from behind, Peroni involuntarily straightens her spine bikun!

She distances herself like a jumping cat.

At the same time, the crow circling overhead landed on the female student’s shoulder.

“Wh-Wh-Wh-Who!?”

“I am… Carla Rexon… By the way… this child is Dark Assassin-maru…”

“Caaaw!”

The female student who took Peroni’s back was Carla from Class F.

And the one flying as if monitoring Peroni earlier was her partner, Dark Assassin-maru.

“F-For the me to have my back taken, isn’t that seriously nasty…!?”

Peroni, who excels at infiltration and solo action, doesn’t neglect vigilance of her surroundings.

Far from it, she should be doubly sensitive to presence, yet she couldn’t notice Carla’s approach.

That is how thin Carla’s presence is.

“…I am a daughter born to a family of Assassins… If I couldn’t even take a back… it wouldn’t be a story…”

“Caaaw!”

That’s right, that’s right! Dark Assassin-maru cries high-pitched in agreement.

Hearing Carla’s name, Peroni makes a surprised face,

“! Ah… so you’re the second daughter of that notorious Rexon family.”

She lifts the corner of her mouth slightly in a smirk.

“I knew of it. The King’s trusted blade, the only Assassin family officially recognized by the Vahlrund Royal Family… That their second daughter is in Class F.”

“…”

“I’d like to say Assassins are seriously gross──but being born into a family of Spies myself? We might be birds of a feather surprisingly?”

“Assassins and Spies are completely different things… Better not think we are alike…”

Shu! Carla readies kunai in both hands.

But even readying weapons, she emits no killing intent.

Her presence remains faint, to the point Peroni feels she might lose sight of her even though she’s right in front of her eyes.

“…I won’t hand over the flag… I won’t let Alban-kun and Letitia-chan’s happiness… and the ‘Al x Letty Sweet Flirting Couple’s Happy Married Student Life’ series I’m writing end…!”

“! Al x Letty──wait, is that novel the one you wrote?”

“──!? Impossible, you know it…!?”

“That ‘worthless romance novel’ circulating behind the scenes at the academy, right? That thing, it’s gross.”

Peroni waves her hand hirahira, making a gesture as if brushing away something dirty.

“I read a bit of it~, but there’s no way a sticky romance and married life deluded by such a mojo (unpopular woman) exists. It’s totally not real, and honestly gachi (for real) creepy.”

“Ca, Caaaw!”

“Sparkling romance~? Heart-throbbing youth~? Shouldn’t you graduate from that already? Reading that stuff makes even me embarrassed—”

“Caaaw! Caaaw!”

“──Hey, that crow is annoying! Shut it up quickly—!”

“………………………Unforgivable.”

“Heh?”

“Unforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivableunforgivable… ABSOLUTELY UNFORGIVABLE.”

──In an instant, for the first time, Carla is clad in killing intent.

And an abnormal amount at that.

Like a demon or vengeful spirit──no, dark, black killing intent that would make even those cry and run away.

Pebbles rolling at Carla’s feet tremble katakata, and the surrounding air becomes damp.

She moves her bloodshot eyes gyorori, glaring at Peroni from the gaps of her hair as if looking down.

“How dare you… how dare you, how dare you, how dare you insult a maiden’s longing…! Only you… I won’t forgive even if you cry and apologize…!”

“Umm, wait…!?”

“Realize just how terrifying… an Assassin who loves maiden content is!!!”