I saw a dream of the old days.
Milia was no taller than an adult’s waist when the Assassin Guild first took her in.
She couldn’t remember why it happened. Whether she had been sold by her parents, kidnapped, or something else entirely—it didn't matter. Regardless of the cause, the life of Assassin Milia began at that moment.
She was cast into a facility designed to forge orphans into cold-blooded killers. It was, quite simply, hell.
From dawn until dusk, the techniques of deception and murder were ruthlessly drilled into her. If she was slow to learn, she was met with verbal abuse, followed by blows and kicks. Many children died in that squalid environment, but they were the lucky ones. Those judged to have no potential were assigned a final role: to be killed by the "children with promise."
Milia lost track of how many "friends" she had slaughtered.
Back then, a small part of her still questioned the act of killing.
"Why do we have to kill people?"
The moment she asked the instructor, a heavy fist collided with the side of her face. The instructor straddled her as she collapsed, systematically punching her in the face.
"They die because they are weak. We kill because we are strong. The strong have the right to do as they please with the lives of the weak."
The instructor punctuated each word with another blow, as if physically engraving the philosophy into Milia’s heart and body.
"So, do not let it trouble you. You have merely snapped a life that was yours to dispose of. You’ve done nothing wrong. You have simply done what is natural."
Thanks to that relentless "correction," the philosophy eventually became her own.
I am strong. I hold the lives of others in my hand. Therefore, it is okay to kill.
Before long, the "strongest" version of Milia felt nothing when she took a life. Being the strongest meant being inviolable. That single fact was the only thing that kept her warped, fragile psyche in a state of equilibrium.
And yet, a thought would occasionally cross her mind.
—What would happen to me if a being appeared who could actually defeat me?
The dream faded, and Milia slowly opened her eyes.
She wasn't in the monster-infested schoolyard, but in a closed room.
"...Where am I?"
She understood the moment she spoke. It was one of the training halls on campus. Having already scouted the school, Milia could vividly recall the layout and the location of every room.
She was sitting in a chair, her body bound by Magic Rope. Her injured left arm was wrapped in bandages, the bleeding properly treated. Her sleeves, however, had been shorn off.
It was a sensible precaution. He clearly knew the sleeves served as hidden sheaths for her weapons. For now, she was completely unarmed.
"Finally awake, are you?"
The man with heterochromia stood looking down at her.
Albert von Kronstadt.
The memory of her defeat came rushing back. She had been certain of her victory, only to be struck down by that sudden Red Club and knocked unconscious.
(I lost, didn't I... I guess Milia-chan-sama’s Undefeated Legend ends here...)
She didn't particularly care about winning or losing, but one detail bothered her.
—Why wasn't she dead?
It was only natural for the weak to be killed by the victor.
"I’d appreciate a little gratitude. I carried you all the way here and treated your wounds myself."
"Where did you pull that Red Club from?"
"Think of it as a magic trick. There are plenty of mysteries in this world."
He wasn't going to reveal his hand so easily. It was a strange technique, but given Albert’s sheer power, it wasn't exactly surprising. This man felt like the type of person who possessed a talent for just about anything.
"I see... Okay, next question."
"What?"
"Why haven't you killed me?"
If Albert had any reason to keep her alive—
"Just so you know, if you’re planning to squeeze information about my client out of me, you can give up. Milia-chan-sama is resistant to torture."
"I won't say I'm not curious about your client, but that isn't why I’m keeping you around."
Albert paused for a moment before continuing.
"...Are you aware? Eventually, the Kingdom is going to task you with the 'Assassination of the Demon King.'"
"Assassinating... the Demon King?"
Even with her lack of common sense, Milia knew of the Demon King. A request like that would be brought to her?
"You’re an essential military asset for the future. It would be a problem if you died here."
Milia was confused by a story that felt so utterly divorced from reality, but looking at Albert’s expression, he didn't seem to be lying. Besides, there was no reason for him to make up such a bizarre fabrication. As a high-ranking noble, it wasn't out of the question that he knew of strange rumors.
"Hmm... I see. So that's how it is."
"Therefore, I’ll let you go if you agree to my terms. Give up on assassinating me. Report back to your client and tell them it’s impossible."
Milia laughed inwardly at the absurdity of it. He’ll let me go if I agree to the terms?
—Those aren't the kind of words a "stronger" person should be saying to me.
"Fine. If that’s what Lord Albert wishes, I won't attack Lord Albert anymore."
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"Fine. If that’s what Lord Albert wishes, I won't attack Lord Albert anymore."
...Whew. Stage one: complete.
The only problem was whether she actually meant it. I couldn't rule out the possibility that she’d leap at my throat the second I let her go, shouting something like "I'll take your life now!"
The word of an assassin is usually worth less than the paper it's written on. However, since I didn't have the option of killing her, my path was already set.
It was time for a gamble.
I snapped my fingers.
The magical power of the rope restraining Milia vanished, dissolving like melting snow. With that, Milia was free. She was free to run, or free to try and kill me again.
"Go on. Run wherever you like."
"...Wait, you're really setting me free?!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Milia stood up and lunged at me with incredible speed.
—!?
Damn it, did I lose the gamble?!
Of course, I had anticipated this. A wounded Milia stripped of her weapons didn't have a way to kill me instantly, and I had recovered just enough stamina to deploy a two-second burst of Highly Concentrated Frenzy if needed.
But I didn't have the energy to try and capture her alive again.
Dammit, after all that work, do I really have to kill her?!
As I braced myself for the worst, Milia threw her arms around me in a tight hug.
...A hug?
...Wait, what?
Pressing her forehead against my chest, Milia spoke.
"I wish you wouldn't tell me to go away... My life belongs to the one who is stronger. It belongs to Lord Albert, doesn't it? This is where I belong."
Then, she looked up at me and continued in a sweet, pampered tone.
"I'll be in your care, Lord Albert."
A swarm of question marks flooded my stunned brain.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
No, no, no! You’re supposed to be Leon’s companion! You're the one who assassinates the Demon King!
Why has it turned out like thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis?!