I stared at her for a moment, unable to grasp the meaning of her words. God? What was she talking about?
"Within this space, I can do anything. I can create a dimension and erase it just as easily. I can remove the weight from objects, stop time, or carve your bodies into pieces only to restore them. I can turn the air into poison or make water taste like nectar at my whim."
Elsie counted the points off on her fingers as she spoke. Each word took on a sense of lethal reality, like a sharp blade.
"I can read your hearts, erase your memories, and manipulate your emotions as I please. The laws of physics in this space and the very principles of life—all of it can be rewritten by my will."
The moment I truly understood her meaning, the strength drained from my limbs.
I looked back on everything Elsie had done so far. The maid outfits, the lavish mansion, the missions with no clear purpose, the dungeon teeming with monsters, and even the mental resonance—she had been wielding her power with absolute freedom.
"Yes, it seems you finally understand. The very act of trying to defy my will is not permitted here."
Elsie’s voice, thick with certainty, rang out like an absolute truth.
I had <Save & Reset>. But even if I wound back time over and over, it would mean nothing if this entire space was governed by her will.
No, that’s not like me...
I’d been in plenty of pinches before. And every time, I’d challenged them as many times as it took.
Besides, my instincts were telling me something.
This servant of the second prince standing before me...
Compared to the enemies I’d faced in the past—she was small fry.
"Oh? You’re still standing?"
"Unfortunately, I have a stubborn streak."
Despite the sword piercing my chest, my body moved with strange ease.
"Then I shall make it so you cannot stand."
My strength vanished in an instant, and one knee hit the floor.
I looked down to see my right leg turning into a mound of sand. It trickled away, my shoe and sock crumbling into dust right along with the flesh, spreading across the floor.
Fine. I’d just stand on my left leg.
Then, my left leg shattered like cracking concrete.
I couldn't stand like this. Even so, I gripped the hilt of my sword. I wanted to be ready to slit Elsie’s throat the second an opening appeared.
"You really don’t know when to quit, do you? If I felt like it, I could reach in and crush your heart."
Before I realized it, a pulsing heart was resting in Elsie’s right hand. Strangely, the organ was still beating rhythmically, as if it were still alive.
"This belongs to you."
I looked down at my chest. A massive hole gaped there. Clothes, flesh, bone—everything had been cleanly scooped out.
"Agh... Aaaaaaaaagh!!"
The pain arrived a second later, turning my consciousness white. An agonizing surge, unlike anything I’d ever felt, tore through my entire body.
I really can't win this.
The realization finally sank in. Challenging her in this space was like an ant trying to defy a dragon.
But I wasn't giving up. As long as I had <Save & Reset>, I could try again. I’d learn from this despair, and next time—
"N-No! Kiska!"
Ryune’s agonized scream echoed through the room.
She rushed to my side, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed my shoulders with both hands, shaking me desperately with trembling fingers.
"W-Why... Why would you do something so horrible?!"
Ryune looked up, her face wet with tears, and screamed at Elsie.
"Kiskacchi didn't do anything wrong! Why... why would you do this?!"
Her voice broke, her words choked by her weeping.
"Why? I don't need a reason. It’s simply my hobby. I happen to enjoy tormenting others."
Elsie let out a mocking sneer.
"—!"
Ryune stood up and wiped her tears. Then, with trembling hands, she forced her staff—nearly as tall as she was—to point forward.
"Heh. You intend to fight? I'm well aware that you’re a mage who possesses no mana. How exactly do you plan to manage that?"
Ryune didn't lower her staff despite the provocation.
Instead, she called out to me with the voice of her heart.
(Kiskacchi, I'm sorry... If I use magic, I won't be myself anymore. But even so, if it's to protect Kiska—!)
What was she planning to do?
Anxiety gnawed at me, but I couldn't even move my body. All I could do was watch.
"N-No! Kiska!"
Ryune’s agonized scream echoed through the room.
She rushed to my side, tears streaming down her face. She grabbed my shoulders with both hands, shaking me desperately with trembling fingers.
"W-Why... Why would you do something so horrible?!"
Ryune looked up, her face wet with tears, and screamed at Elsie.
"Kiskacchi didn't do anything wrong! Why... why would you do this?!"
Her voice broke, her words choked by her weeping.
"Why? I don't need a reason. It’s simply my hobby. I happen to enjoy tormenting others."
Elsie let out a mocking sneer.
"—!"
Ryune stood up and wiped her tears. Then, with trembling hands, she forced her staff—nearly as tall as she was—to point forward.
"Heh. You intend to fight? I'm well aware that you’re a mage who possesses no mana. How exactly do you plan to manage that?"
Ryune didn't lower her staff despite the provocation.
Instead, she called out to me with the voice of her heart.
(Kiskacchi, I'm sorry... If I use magic, I won't be myself anymore. But even so, if it's to protect Kiska—!)
What was she planning to do?
Anxiety gnawed at me, but I couldn't even move my body. All I could do was watch.
"Dark Magic, First Tier—"
The moment Ryune finished the chant, everything changed.
A light like a sinister mana exploded from her body.
"Shadow Blade: Blade."
Ryune’s voice was different—lower, like an abyssal roar echoing from the depths. It thundered through the room.
Suddenly, a black blade tore through the air. Elsie dodged it with ease, but a vortex of sinister dark mana continued to swirl around Ryune.
"This much mana?! Where on earth were you hiding it?!"
Elsie’s voice was trembling now. Even in my condition, I could feel the sheer abnormality of the mana Ryune was emitting. It was palpable.
"Ah... I see. Hehe... Don’t tell me... you’re a member of the Demon Race?"
Elsie’s voice sounded sweet as honey, yet it was laced with poison.
Demon Race? What did she just say?
With my consciousness hazy from the pain, I strained my eyes. I could see Ryune’s back through the gloom. And there, extending from her head, were two horns. Shimmering pitch-black, they were the unmistakable symbols of the Demon Race.