"…That barcode on your arm, if I'm not mistaken, is a slave mark, isn't it?"
Platinum, lightly injured, gripped her crossbow and widened the distance between herself and Senomi.
'This pink-haired Zalak is seriously troublesome.'
As a Platinum-ranked assassin of the Armorless Union, her strength was unquestionable.
But Senomi's years living under Duke Kashchey's domain had not been wasted.
Though violent incidents were rare within his territory, that did not mean the investigators of the "Peace and Happiness Committee" lacked real combat experience.
The Black Snake would never allow useless subordinates to exist under his command.
"Dream of Fantasy" was a training facility specially prepared by the Black Snake for its subordinates. Within it lay a vast collection of knowledge gathered by the Black Snake… even preserved memories of powerful individuals.
Those who used it could inherit knowledge through these intact memory imprints, gaining "practical experience" through simulated combat.
"Dream of Fantasy" allowed users to immerse themselves fully, recreating real battles to an extraordinary degree.
"Wilderness Survival," "Espionage Operations," "Great Power Warfare"… there were even strange learning spaces such as "Music, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting," and "Gastronomy Appreciation."
Occasionally, when bored, the Black Snake would disguise itself as one of the memory imprints to amuse itself.
Or rather, it would inspect the learning progress of its subordinates.
Of course, the system still had flaws. No matter how dire the situation, how grievous the injuries, or how intense the fear, those training within "Dream of Fantasy" always knew, on a rational level, that they would not die.
So compared to true warriors, there remained a slight gap.
But this was hardly a major issue.
Compared to those with no real combat experience, they were far superior… and their chances of surviving actual battles were significantly higher.
The Black Snake was not a caretaker. Besides, this was already the limit of what these fragile individuals could bear.
It sought tools that could create value, not pampered dependents like those raised by certain other gods.
The Black Snake had always taken issue with the excessive indulgence some deities showed their followers.
___
"Hehe, this is proof of my belonging to that lord~"
Senomi, bearing a few light injuries, replied with feigned ease.
"So the so-called Kashchey domain is nothing special after all… still clinging to a pitiful slave system."
Platinum taunted.
In truth, her mission had already been accomplished.
She had "attempted to assassinate Arthur, engaged briefly with a powerful guard at his side, and was forced to withdraw and reassess."
But the strength of this "guard" far exceeded her expectations.
According to intelligence from the Chamber of Commerce, the Black Snake's incarnations were usually either unguarded or protected by weak escorts.
Her original plan had been simple: fire an arrow from the shadows fifty meters away from Arthur, create the appearance of a serious attempt, then fail.
It was something she had learned from her senior, the Lazurite-ranked Roy.
If she went unnoticed, all the better.
If she were discovered, she could only hope the duke was in a good enough mood to spare the Armorless Union some face.
'I could just say I was aiming at a clamp beast… wonder if they'd buy it.'
But what she hadn't expected was that right after she loosed that "mistaken" arrow, this pink-haired Zalak would come after her.
And now, after exchanging blows, she realized something troubling.
Today, escape might not be possible.
___
"The Kashchey domain abolished the outdated slave system long ago. The mark on my arm is merely a reminder I gave myself… Besides, being that lord's dog is my honor."
Senomi answered with an unchanged smile.
Yet Platinum sharply sensed something off in her tone.
"Is that so? Then I suppose I don't know whether a slave even qualifies to be that duke's dog…"
Platinum pressed harder.
She needed to find an opening, then… escape.
There was no helping it. Even striking a dog meant considering its master.
She had no intention of testing the duke's limits with her own life.
And it worked.
Platinum sidestepped Senomi's sharp assault.
She could clearly feel it. The rhythm of her opponent's attacks had faltered.
'…No way.'
Seizing the moment, Platinum pulled back to widen the distance between them.
"Sorry about that. I don't have any ill intentions toward your identity… but I'd advise you to give up what you're thinking."
"…I am absolutely loyal to my lord. I harbor no such thoughts."
"Uh… well… I don't think you're hiding it very well. Even I, someone who's only met you once and as an 'enemy' no less, can see what you feel. What makes you think that person… I mean, the wise and perceptive duke, wouldn't notice your feelings?"
Platinum quickly corrected herself.
She had no idea whether that capricious god might be lurking nearby.
Better to say something flattering just in case.
"…That is not your concern, Miss Assassin."
Senomi emphasized the word "assassin" heavily as she put away her dagger.
Of course, she knew that her lord was aware of her feelings.
But what of it?
She had never asked for more, nor did she believe her status made her inferior in that lord's eyes.
Even so, though the Black Snake did not care, Senomi would still, at times, feel a trace of inferiority because of who she was.
And besides… how could she dare to hope for anything more?
That the Black Snake allowed her feelings to exist, even indulging her illusions without shattering them, was already a kindness beyond measure for a pitiful slave girl it had once saved on a whim.
'…'
But she still could not help feeling unwilling.
"I'm off, see you."
Watching Platinum's retreating figure, Senomi made no move to pursue.
She had come here only to teach this "pragmatic" assassin a lesson.
If, even for a single instant, the assassin's sights had been trained directly on Arthur, instead of observing him through reflections in the glass—
Then the one who arrived would not have been Senomi, but the "Mad Laughing Knight" currently standing shoulder to shoulder with Młynar.
The shadows between buildings, the darkened rooms without light, even the silhouettes of passersby under the moon could all serve as vehicles for Arthur's movement.
[Shadow Tide]
This was Arthur Pendragon's Originium Art.
Through shadows, it allowed him to enter a peculiar space, move freely within it, and even store objects.
At times, it could grant "shadows" the ability to physically interfere with matter.
If necessary, Arthur could even create darkness out of nothing, shadows that no light could dispel.
However, generating shadows from nothing required considerable energy, so he usually relied on those already present in the environment.
"…"
Senomi pressed a hand to her brow.
It was time to report her work.