"Mirai, we need to leave this town," Hikari said nervously in the inn's lobby as soon as he saw Mirai that morning. Anxiety clearly marked his features, and sensing his unease, Mirai furrowed her brows slightly, asking seriously, "Why?"

  Hikari replied with evident concern, "That elf… He won't leave you alone. The look he gave you last night wasn't normal. I'm sure he's planning something dangerous."

  Then, in a tense, lowered voice, he added, "You don't know what he's capable of. He could shoot you with a sharp arrow... and if it hits your head, then..."

  She interrupted his anxious words by placing her hand gently on his shoulder. Smiling confidently, her expression exuded reassurance as she said, "Don't worry, Hikari. I'm not so easily killed, and I know exactly what I'm doing."

  Despite her words, Hikari's anxiety remained rooted deep within him. He sighed slowly, conceding, "Alright... let's at least be more cautious."

  Mirai nodded briefly, her eyes wandering through the inn's window toward the distant horizon as if seeing something no one else could.

  After having some food, they left the inn and headed toward the guild.

  Upon arrival, they immediately sensed a tense atmosphere—something had clearly happened.

  The receptionist spoke softly, "The guild master wants to speak with you both."

  Mirai exhaled softly, whispering to herself, "I expected something like this."

  They entered the guild master's office, where Haru stood with a gentle smile masking his thoughts. "Welcome," he said. "I'm Haru, the guild master. Thank you for coming. Please, take a seat."

  As they sat down, Haru’s serious gaze lingered upon them. Then, in a firm voice, he continued, "I wanted to personally apologize for what happened last night. I've been informed of everything."

  Hikari responded calmly but firmly, "No need to apologize, Master Haru; it wasn't your fault. However, there’s something I'd like to discuss. Arnato… intended to do something dangerous. I hope you can assure us he'll keep his distance."

  Haru nodded understandingly and spoke gravely, "Don't worry. It won't happen again—because Arnato was found murdered a few hours ago."

  Hikari’s eyes widened in shock, while Mirai remained completely calm.

  Mirai asked with notable composure, staring into Haru’s eyes, "So? Did you call us here to accuse us because of yesterday's incident?"

  Haru quickly shook his head, clearly worried about being misunderstood. "No, certainly not. We're certain you're both innocent. Arnato was killed by a stab wound to the neck… a known signature of the Assassin Guild."

  A heavy silence filled the room for a few moments.

  Mirai rose slowly, her movements calm yet charged with hidden strength. With a coldness that carried an implicit threat, she said, "Good. It's fortunate you didn't rush to judgment."

  Then, glancing briefly at Hikari, she gestured lightly, "Come, let's go."

  They moved toward the door, their quiet footsteps breaking the room's oppressive silence, Haru’s anxious gaze following them as if expecting something else to happen.

  An explosion shattered the silence.

  The door burst apart.

  Shards flew through the air like knives.

  Standing amid the slowly rising dust was Kazuha, her face twisted in anger, her eyes burning fiercely. Her trembling finger pointed accusingly at Mirai as she screamed, her voice erupting from deep within her chest, "It's her!!! I'm certain she's the one who killed Master Arnato!"

  Haru quickly rose to his feet, speaking firmly, "Calm down, Kazuha. This isn't the time for baseless accusations."

  But Kazuha stubbornly shouted back, her voice trembling with raw emotion, "I won't calm down! Master Arnato said her soul was dark! He was certain of what he saw!"

  Kazuha lunged toward Mirai, her gaze filled with vengeance and eyes glittering with tears.

  Mirai calmly slipped her hand into her left sleeve, but before she could draw her sword, Haru swiftly moved forward, gripping Kazuha with precise yet painful skill, delivering a sharp blow to her neck, causing her to collapse unconscious.

  Haru sighed, giving Mirai and Hikari an apologetic look, his voice heavy with regret, "I'm sorry about this. Kazuha can't think clearly after everything that's happened."

  Hikari nodded seriously, saying, "Master Haru, it seems we can no longer stay here—not just because of Arnato, but also because Kazuha won't relent and will keep pursuing us."

  Haru nodded regretfully, saying, "I understand. Again, my sincerest apologies for all the trouble the guild has caused you."

  After leaving the office and walking down the hallway, Mirai said quietly with a slight smile, "You didn't have to tell Haru we're leaving town."

  Hikari smiled apologetically. "Perhaps, but I don't want any additional trouble. Kazuha won't stop here, and she might gain support from others."

  Mirai stared forward indifferently, calmly saying, "Alright, you're right. Perhaps it's best to leave now. Let's head to the carriage station."

  With each step toward the carriages, shadows of an uncertain future thickened overhead, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike.

  **A few hours ago...**

  "Damn it! I'm certain she pulled some kind of trick!" Arnato shouted angrily.

  Standing in a dark alley, his features tense and eyes blazing with anger, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He tightly grasped his bow, staring at it intently as he whispered, "The moment the arrow touched her body, it vanished suddenly. I'm certain she wasn't hit. I won’t let her go. I’ll shoot another arrow as soon as..."

  "As soon as you see me?"

  Mirai suddenly interrupted him, stepping out from the shadows. Her gaze was ice-cold, and her true sword glimmered in her right hand under the moonlight. Arnato shivered briefly but quickly raised his Bow of Light, aiming it at her swiftly.

  "Your sinister soul is clear to me. I don’t know what trick you used to evade my arrow, but this time, my arrow will erase you from existence!" Arnato threatened furiously.

  Mirai replied calmly, her expression sharp, "Your possession of the Bow of Light has made you arrogant. You are weak and worthless."

  As she slowly advanced toward him, Arnato fired another arrow. Once again, the arrow vanished as soon as it touched her. Shocked and enraged, Arnato began shooting more arrows rapidly, but each one disappeared as before.

  Arnato muttered with restrained anger, "I never wanted to show my true power to a filthy demon like you."

  Suddenly, six magical arms began forming from his back, surrounded by an aura of bright energy. Each arm glowed mysteriously, appearing powerful yet agile. Arnato also summoned three magical bows, each held by one of the magical arms on his right side. The three arms on his left carried magical arrows, each crafted from a different elemental force—fire, water, and lightning.

  Meanwhile, his original hands grasped a fourth arrow and bow made of air, faintly glowing yet radiating immense energy.

  With a confident smile, he declared, "Unfortunately for you, I've never relied solely on the Bow of Light."

  The four arrows—fire, water, lightning, and air—gleamed vibrantly. The three magical arms on the right aimed their bows at Mirai, while those on the left and his original hands prepared to release their arrows.

  "I'm level eleven in fire, water, and lightning magic. As for air, I'm at the twelfth level. You'll be finished in one strike."

  With all his might, Arnato simultaneously released the magical arrows. The arrows shot forth from their bows with a deafening roar, racing toward Mirai filled with destructive power.

  Yet Mirai showed no reaction, indifferent to these attacks. She continued walking forward steadily, her eyes unwavering, confident and serene, as if nothing had occurred.

  The arrows struck her directly. Arnato grinned triumphantly, believing he had won. But his smile faded instantly as Mirai continued walking toward him unharmed.

  The shock overtook his expression, confusion gripping him. He desperately fired multiple magic arrows without pause, draining his magical energy uselessly, as each arrow vanished without harming her.

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  Breathing heavily, fear began to seep into his heart. Mirai steadily drew closer, unaffected, as if invulnerable to everything.

  "What’s going on? What trick are you using?" Arnato gasped, voice shaking, as Mirai stood calmly in front of him.

  "No tricks. It’s simple—I possess immunity to magic," Mirai stated evenly, a terrifying smile appearing on her lips. "Unfortunately for you, my immunity shields me from any magical attack level twelve or below."

  Arnato felt as if time had frozen upon hearing this revelation. His hands trembled, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he struggled to grasp reality. His mind spiraled into panic and confusion.

  He involuntarily stepped backward but stumbled, falling onto the ground. Unable to avert his gaze from Mirai’s cold, merciless eyes, terror overwhelmed him.

  "This is impossible!" Arnato cried out loudly, stammering, "Only three demons have such immunity— the Ancient Demon Kings!"

  Mirai calmly replied, her eyes radiating a deadly glare, "The Ancient Demon Kings… now there are only two."

  She paused momentarily, continuing with an undeniable truth, "Because I killed one of them."

  Arnato’s body shook violently, his mind emptied of all thought. Struggling to speak through his dry throat, he whispered weakly, "That... that can't be..."

  Mirai slowly approached, standing before him. She placed her hand forcefully on his shoulder, compelling him to stare into her crimson eyes that glowed calmly, devoid of mercy.

  Arnato trembled briefly but gritted his teeth, suppressing the fear within. Refusing to let fear paralyze him, he swiftly pulled out a dagger, attempting to attack Mirai.

  Mirai quickly released his shoulder and stepped back with agile speed.

  Arnato stood up, determination returning momentarily, "You won’t defeat me so easily!"

  Magic surged around him. With a quick gesture, he created a sudden explosion of dust and magical energy, forming a small storm that concealed him momentarily.

  Taking advantage of the distraction, Arnato darted swiftly, moving with the agile grace of an elf, desperately seeking escape through the shadows.

  Yet Mirai did not move. Standing calmly amid the storm, her eyes burned with cold menace, indifferent to chasing him. With terrifying composure, she took out a small knife, precisely watching his movements as she stated:

  "I never cared about you. But when I think you nearly killed the only person who could heal me—the only one who's ever given me enjoyable moments... that's something I’ll never forgive."

  The instant Arnato emerged from the swirling dust—

  She hurled the knife. It sliced cleanly through the air, embedding itself directly into his head without giving him a chance to evade.

  Arnato stumbled forward, steps faltering, then fell, lifeless and still.

  Mirai began walking forward, ignoring the lifeless body lying behind her. Her eyes showed no mercy, only reflecting the cold fury and unstoppable power within her.

  **Present Time – Inside Haru’s Office**

  Kazuha’s eyelids flickered, slowly opening as she found herself on the floor inside the guild master’s office. A sharp pain stung her neck, recalling the earlier events. Turning her head, she saw Haru seated calmly behind his desk, with Sai standing beside him. She immediately directed her furious gaze toward Haru.

  "Where are they?" Kazuha demanded, her voice ablaze with anger.

  Haru replied quietly, "They left the city a while ago."

  Her expression erupted with rage. Quickly getting to her feet, she shouted, "Why did you let them escape?! You should have stopped them!"

  Sai approached gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, and spoke softly, "Kazuha, don’t make decisions out of anger. Chasing them now won't help you."

  But Kazuha ignored his words entirely, feeling the boiling rage inside her intensifying. She violently shrugged Sai’s hand off her shoulder, swiftly moving toward the large window overlooking the guild’s outer courtyard.

  Haru and Sai watched as she opened the window. Before either could react, Kazuha leaped out without hesitation. Midair, she quickly retrieved a paper talisman inscribed with a mysterious rune from her pocket, reciting powerful magical incantations loudly and decisively.

  Instantly, a giant bird appeared beneath her, its massive wings unfurling like dark clouds, swiftly catching her before she could hit the ground.

  Standing firmly atop the massive bird, Kazuha’s eyes glowed with unwavering determination. She raised her right hand toward the sky, withdrawing several small talismans hidden within her sleeve. Tossing them into the air, she rapidly chanted a series of magical words. Instantly, the talismans transformed into swift, small birds shimmering with blue light, scattering in every direction like arrows and shooting across the sky at lightning speed.

  From the window, Haru and Sai watched as Kazuha rose higher on the giant bird, sending forth her little messengers on their mission.

  Sai spoke anxiously, "I'll pursue her. She might summon that creature."

  ---

  The carriage slowly moved along the dirt road through the silent forest.

  Inside, Mirai and Hikari sat quietly, swaying gently with every bump in the path.

  Breaking the silence, Hikari finally spoke with a small smile, "Mirai, I suggest we head to the city of Mirandel."

  Mirai glanced at him briefly, replying in a calm, almost indifferent tone, "The place’s name doesn't matter to me… as long as there's something interesting there."

  Hikari smiled and continued eagerly, "Believe me, Mirandel is fascinating! It’s known as a city filled with legends, and a newly discovered dungeon was found there a few months ago."

  Mirai raised her eyebrow slightly, showing mild interest, "A new dungeon, huh?"

  Hikari nodded enthusiastically, "Exactly! A team of adventurers tried conquering it but only reached the fortieth floor. Apparently, the boss on that floor was a fierce dragon they couldn't defeat." He continued excitedly, "I also heard an adventurer found a powerful artifact on the thirty-fifth floor."

  Mirai replied thoughtfully, "Then, if we finish this dungeon, we might find a powerful artifact. Maybe I'll go and slay that dragon to finish the dungeon."

  Hikari chuckled lightly, believing she was joking. "It's not easy to kill a dragon, and we don’t know what we'll encounter in the deeper levels."

  Mirai looked at him seriously, "Dragons aren't as strong as you imagine. There are indeed rare types that are incredibly dangerous, but they're not impossible to kill."

  Then, gazing ahead through the window, she added quietly, "No creature is invincible. Every being has a weakness—you just need to know where to strike."

  Hikari paused, pondering her words, before sincerely complimenting, "Your way of thinking is impressive, just as expected from you."

  Mirai turned toward him as he continued, genuinely amazed, "You're incredible! I never thought you had this mentality. Initially, I assumed you were the type who thinks they're unbeatable. Those are the types who die quickly because their arrogance blinds them to their weaknesses."

  Mirai smiled faintly, admitting, "Actually, I was once exactly like that." She asked, curious, "Have you ever met powerful people who think that way?"

  Hikari pondered briefly, then replied, "Yes." He asked her, "Have you ever heard of a spell called 'Phoenix Wings'?"

  Mirai responded calmly, "Yes. It's among the rarest and strongest Level 13 spells. Anyone who masters it won't easily die."

  Hikari nodded, elaborating, "Exactly. Whoever uses this spell won’t die easily—even if they suffer a fatal injury or are stabbed through the heart. If an arm or leg is severed, their body immediately regenerates. Moreover, the user doesn't feel any pain."

  He continued, "I'll tell you about someone who mastered this spell. Long ago, there was a young man, son of a powerful swordsman and a great sorceress. He learned swordsmanship from his father and magic from his mother. Once he mastered Phoenix Wings and magic perfectly, he thought he was the strongest being in existence."

  "But," Hikari continued, "due to certain circumstances, he was forbidden from leaving his home. This restriction bored him greatly; he craved battle. One day, a huge wave of monsters—high-ranked beasts—appeared. His parents went out to fight and ordered him to stay behind, but he refused. Taking his sword, he rushed into battle, joyfully fighting as if danger didn't exist."

  Hikari took a deep breath, becoming serious,

  "He continued fighting until a mysterious man appeared before him. What happened next? Simply, the man cast a barrier that nullified magic. Suddenly, the young man couldn’t use magic anymore. Surrounded by monsters, he instantly lost courage.

  For the first time, the boy felt true fear—the kind that gnaws at your heart and freezes your limbs.

  And then…"

  Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted as the carriage abruptly halted, accompanied by the sound of massive trees falling.

  "What’s happening!?" Hikari asked worriedly.

  The carriage driver answered nervously, "A giant bird is blocking our way."

  Mirai and Hikari quickly exited the carriage, looking upward to see the massive creature. Kazuha stood atop it, eyes blazing with fury.

  Slowly, she descended from the bird’s back, approaching them with defiant steps and angrily declaring, "I’ll burn you both to ashes."

  Gathering all her magical energy, she felt her body nearly breaking apart, but didn’t hesitate. She began chanting summoning words, the energy rapidly accumulating around her, causing the air itself to tremble violently.

  In an instant, a massive vortex formed in the sky, bathing the area in brilliant light.

  Hikari watched in horror, hardly believing his eyes, anxiously warning, "Mirai, be careful! She’s summoning something extremely dangerous!"

  Mirai, however, remained indifferent, simply watching the unfolding scene.

  Suddenly, an enormous being emerged from the swirling vortex above—the legendary dragon, Bahamut, a colossal and terrifying beast with immense strength.

  Bahamut crashed to the earth with thunderous force, shattering everything around him. Flames erupted from his mouth, increasing the terror of the scene. His eyes blazed with fury and dominance as he unleashed an earth-shaking roar.

  Kazuha declared threateningly, "Let fear fill your hearts! Bahamut is among the strongest dragons in this world. Even Demon Kings become mere ash before his flames."

  As Kazuha boasted about Bahamut’s strength, Mirai sighed disappointedly, seemingly expecting a greater challenge.

  Hikari warned urgently, "Mirai, be careful! Bahamut isn’t an easy opponent..."

  Yet Mirai ignored him, boredom apparent in her expression. She calmly advanced toward Kazuha, searching for excitement.

  Mirai gripped her sword hilt, gathering all her power, and slowly drew her sword silently, as if waiting for this very challenge.

  Kazuha, thinking she'd already won, screamed fiercely, "Prepare to die!" Commanding Bahamut, she shouted, "Bahamut, incinerate her!"

  As Bahamut unleashed flames, Mirai did not retreat but steadily advanced, eyes glittering dangerously.

  With terrifying calmness, she raised her sword, channeling all her spiritual and physical energy into a single attack. Her sword flashed brilliantly as she smiled briefly, muttering, "Well, at least I'll test this technique."

  Then she swung her sword with such force, the bones in her right arm audibly shattered.

  Her body recoiled violently from the impact, yet she persisted.

  The air split before her sword, and the strike cleanly sliced through Bahamut's massive neck, severing it effortlessly.

  Bahamut’s head fell instantly, his colossal body collapsing beside Kazuha, dissolving into nothingness.

  Stunned, Kazuha stood frozen in horror, stammering, "Impossible... Bahamut… the invincible legendary creature… vanished with a single strike?"

  Fear overtook her entirely as Mirai calmly approached. Reaching Kazuha without hesitation, Mirai drove her sword deeply into Kazuha’s abdomen.

  Blood poured from Kazuha’s mouth and wound, pooling beneath her. Strength drained from her body as she crumpled lifelessly to the ground.

  Mirai coldly turned away, leaving Kazuha dying behind her.

  Facing Hikari, Mirai stated simply, "My right arm is completely shattered. Can you heal it?"

  Still shocked, Hikari hesitated, "Um… yes… right away."

  He cast healing magic, swiftly restoring Mirai’s shattered arm. She flexed it in amazement, "Incredible!"

  At that moment, Hikari felt immense internal pain, realizing he had depleted most of his magic. Yet, he concealed his exhaustion.

  "This is really bad... I've lost two-thirds of my energy," he thought silently.

  Mirai entered the carriage, smiling lightly, "Let's go."

  After a moment’s pause, Hikari silently joined her, and the carriage continued onward, leaving Kazuha’s corpse behind.

  As night fell hours later, Mirai gazed quietly out the window. Hikari softly remarked, "Honestly… I’m amazed you defeated Bahamut so easily."

  Mirai smiled faintly, replying quietly, "Bahamut looked impressive, but he was actually weak for me. Honestly, I'd hoped for something more thrilling."

  Then she admitted, "I used all my power in that strike. Had it failed, we both would’ve likely died."

  Hikari murmured in wonder, "I didn’t realize Bahamut had such a weakness."

  Mirai replied serenely, "It's not a true weakness; it just requires sufficient force. Compared to the Four Seasonal Dragons or the Calamity Dragon, Bahamut was ordinary."

  A quiet, confident smile lingered on her lips as she awaited her next exhilarating challenge.

  - - End of Chapter - -