Why did you betray me--Mr. Elena!


    Elena Millwood.


    She roomed with me and I have been living with her for a month since she joined the Order.


    She was a real man, though she had a look that could be mistaken for a woman, but she was a real man.


    Even though he knew he was a man, he sometimes showed gestures and expressions that gave the illusion that he was a woman.


    He was never front and back, always had a cheerful and very likeable personality, and we got along very well.......when we were in the same room.


    That kind of Elena-san is now standing in front of me, her smile that seems to draw people in has disappeared.


    She''s standing in the doorway of the house with no expression on her face, looking at me.


    Our eyes meet, but I can''t sense any emotion in her eyes.


    Why is Elena-san.........!


    You''re the one who sent us the information.


    I ask as I hold my sword at the ready.


    ''''Yeah, that''s right. I was the one who let it slip that the Lindow Empire doesn''t have the strongest soldiers in this country right now, Vice Commander Viviana and Vice Commander Liberto.


    Elena-san speaks nonchalantly and with a blank expression as she lays out the facts.


    Elena-san, who had her usual cheerful and energetic way of speaking, seems to be a lie.


    ''Why did you betray me........!　What the hell is the reason you betrayed me!


    I shout that out loud.


    From outside, I can hear the sounds of fighting and someone screaming.


    But right now it feels quiet, as if only the space here is blocked off.


    The sounds of battle and screams are supposed to be close by, but they sound as if they are far away.


    In that quiet space, Elena-san replies in a small murmur.


    ''''It''s not that I betrayed you,''''


    What do you mean...


    That means I''m not one of you to begin with, Eric.


    So what does that mean...?


    The moment I was about to ask her again, Elena-san closed her eyes.


    Her eyes, which had never turned away until now, closed once, and when we looked at each other once more--there was a pair of bright red eyes.


    --there was a pair of eyes that were dyed bright red.


    When in battle or manipulating magic, the eyes turn red, reminiscent of the color of blood.


    It''s a trait not found in the human race.


    It''s the same as Felix Gladio, whom I killed, and Irene, whom I love, in other words.


    So she''s a demon........!


    ''Yeah, that''s right. So, I''m originally on the side of the Lynda Empire. Well, not exactly.


    We''ve been living together for a month now, and I''ve never noticed it.


    There is no physical difference between the demon race and the human race in the first place.


    The only difference is that their eyes change color, like Elena-san just did.


    ''''Then why are you a soldier in the Begonia Kingdom...!


    I''m a spy. This country was being targeted by many different demon nations, so they sent me to spy on them.


    He chuckles a little as if to remind me of something, and looks away from me and up.


    ''I started out as an apprentice so as not to get suspicious, so I''ve been here for what seems like three years. It seems like it was a long time, a short time... well, I guess it doesn''t matter.


    He huffs and snorts and gives me another blank look.


    ''Because I can finally leave here. That''s the end of a troublesome mission - taking you out of the way.


    When I said that, Elena-san, who hadn''t held anything until just now, had a dagger in her hands.


    She must have planted them in the sleeves of her clothes.


    A lot of things startled me, but I was not at all caught off guard as I observed Elena-san.


    ''I''m sorry, but I''m not going to let you beat me.


    I''ve fought Elena-san in training until now, and I''ve never lost a fight.


    Holding a dagger in both hands means that the way we fight is the same as it was in training.


    The weapons Elena-san and I have are both real weapons with blades, but I can stun them without killing them.


    After receiving my words, Elena-san smiled for the first time here.


    That smile wasn''t the pure one I knew, it was a twisted smile.


    ''Haha, Eric. Did you think I was being serious in my training?


    Huh!


    "I''m sure Eric, who killed Felix Glazio, knows about the demonic traits.


    How does he know that I killed that guy?


    Since he''s a spy for the demon race, should he know that much?


    ''''When they get serious in battle, the demon race gets red eyes - that''s what I''m talking about!


    Elena-san said and jumped in with her bright red eyes.


    --Fast!


    He is surprised at how fast it is faster than he expected and swings his sword.


    But it is swept away by the dagger in Elena-san''s right hand, and she swings the dagger in her reverse hand.


    ''''--Kuch!


    The dagger that was about to stab me in the stomach, I quickly flicked the dagger around Elena-san''s wrist with no hand and deflected the trajectory.


    My clothes were torn and the dagger was snatched from my right side. But the wound is shallow.


    This pause is bad.


    Too close for my sword to swing, and Elena''s dagger will be in its element as much as I want it to be.


    I can''t back up, because Tina is asleep.


    Before Elena can move on to her next attack, I kick her as hard as I can, aiming for her stomach.


    Elena crosses her arms and just barely prevents it, but her momentum sends her back to the doorway of the house.


    This gave me a pause.


    But it was a close call........


    It would have been bad if I had been hit with that kind of momentum.


    Elena-san was right, the speed of the training wasn''t serious after all.


    But that''s all.


    The speed at which they were approaching and the speed at which they wielded their daggers had certainly increased.


    Still, I''m better than you.


    Even if my speed had increased, it wasn''t as fast as Felix''s.


    That guy was faster and more powerful than me.


    He wasn''t so weak that my kick would make him fall back as far as Elena-san now.


    He''s getting stronger, but I''m still stronger than him--?


    As I was thinking this, the scene in front of me suddenly began to distort.


    For some reason, my legs also stop doing what I say, and I fall to my knees, dazed.


    Wha, what...!


    I told you, Eric. I''m not a soldier, I''m an assassin.


    Elena-san is slowly approaching me in front of me.


    This can''t be........


    Doku ka..........!


    ''Yes, the dagger is coated with poison. It''s so deadly poison that if it goes in through the wound, you''ll pass out in seconds.


    Elena''s figure in front of me becomes hazy.


    ''I won, Eric. For the first time, I beat Eric. I''m not particularly happy about it.