It's Me

"I don't like that one."

"The young lady didn't mean any harm, I'm sure. Perhaps a touch of mercy wouldn't go amiss..."

"...Hmph!"

Shin Ye-eun. Master of the Baekyang Guild. Twenty-three years old — she'd awakened at nineteen, which made this her fifth year as a hunter. Her specialty was high-speed combat with daggers. Highest record in the Tower: Floor 41.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Because she'd blocked me...!

"Not a single one of them sits right with me. They can't even be bothered to come crawling on their own two feet, drop to their knees, and beg — no, they tell me to sit here and wait because they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have work to do. The sheer audacity...!"

"But my lord, weren't you delighted at the prospect of an outing?"

"...That's a completely different matter!"

Tch.

That Carson. How dare he refuse to take my side without reservation. That Shin Ye-eun girl must have made quite the impression on him.

Then again, setting aside my personal feelings, I did think she'd make the best possible ally. There were outfits like the Haeoreum Guild out there, after all. At least if the one in charge had a functioning brain, they were worth putting some faith in.

But still.

"I put so much effort into writing that message, and then she went and blocked me first..."

The door clicked open.

"S-sorry I'm late...! You've been waiting a long time, haven't you!"

"...!"

"Ah, you've arrived. We just got here ourselves, Hunter."

"Y-you little—!"

"Huh? You're here too? I've got cake — want some? This place is supposedly impossible to get into even if you wait in line. Hehe, the owner said he's a fan of mine and sent it over!"

"..."

Ahem.

People made mistakes sometimes. That was just how it was. Knowing how to show clemency to those who would become your subordinates was a quality a true sovereign ought to possess.

Well then...

"...! It's not too sweet at all. It's delicious!"

"It's good? Eat as much as you want. You can have the whole thing. If you're thirsty, there's milk too."

"By the way, Hunter — didn't you just come from a dungeon?"

"Huh? Oh, yes!"

With that, Ye-eun set her dagger down on the table. I chewed on a mouthful of cake and shot a sidelong glance at Carson beside me.

"...Heh."

He merely smiled, saying nothing. He'd clearly brought that up on purpose, reading the look on my face.

"Our building got wrecked, so we're renting this place temporarily, but this equipment was more than worth it. The Association's covering over eighty percent of the repair costs, too... we're really lucky."

"Hmm, I see. Might I ask what rank of dungeon you just cleared?"

"Rank 4. And I cleared it all by myself, I'll have you know!"

Her eyes sparkled as she said it, clearly thrilled.

Hmm. This was definitely something I'd learned from Chloe.

"Oh-ho... Then it would be fair to say you've jumped from A-rank to S-rank in a single bound?"

Ah. Right. That.

Clearing Floor 40 granted you the qualification to enter Rank 4 dungeons. But a qualification was all it was. A greenhorn who'd just broken through Floor 40 would find it extremely difficult to conquer one of those alone. You needed to be at a level capable of clearing Floor 50 before a solo Rank 4 run was even worth attempting.

Shin Ye-eun's highest record was Floor 41, so without the equipment I'd enhanced for her, today's feat would have been impossible.

Hah. Even I found my ever-growing intellect a little frightening.

"Hunters who clear Floor 40 receive an A-rank license, as I recall. So Floor 50 and above would be S-rank, then?"

"That's right. Look at you, already curious about that kind of thing. Though I haven't actually gone into the Tower yet myself. And I can't really say this was my own skill, either."

"Hmm?"

"If that blacksmith were part of our guild, it might be a different story — but this is just luck that fell into my lap from somewhere. Once this equipment breaks... I'll go right back to where I started."

"Ahem. Ahem."

"...Even I can tell they're an incredible talent. Maybe they've already been scouted by someone else."

She muttered this to herself, lightly tossing and catching the dagger from the table in one hand. She was probably trying to show off a little trick. When I didn't react, she cleared her throat, looking faintly embarrassed.

"Ahem... Anyway, S-rank is a whole different league. I'll try for Floor 50 myself. I am the master of our guild, after all. But..."

"And what if that so-called blacksmith were standing right beside you?"

"Huh?"

"Hypothetically speaking. If a master capable of enhancing you stood at your side, that too would become your asset, would it not? The ability to attract people is a fine virtue in a leader."

"Uh... well, that's true, but. We couldn't find a single trace of them..."

"Carson."

"Yes."

Snap.

Carson flicked his fingers, and every sound around us — save our own — was cut off.

"...!"

Sensing the shift in the air, Ye-eun's eyes flew wide. A basic noise-blocking spell. Mandatory learning for any Demon Lord's butler. Nothing particularly surprising.

I wiped the whipped cream from my mouth with the handkerchief Carson offered, then rose from my seat and casually clasped my hands behind my back.

I may have ended up in this body, but some things simply had to be done properly. When having a conversation like this...

"...Huh?"

"The person you've been looking for. That's me."

You have to look cool.

"I-i-is that really true? The person who enhanced this weapon is your granddaughter?"

"Yes. I can't share every detail, but for now, it is as I've told you."

"...That's impossible."

Carson took over the explanations from there. Keeping it as brief as possible, without revealing that we were demons. We decided to maintain the cover story that I was Carson's granddaughter.

Of course, that guy protested that he'd rather I just kill him — but honestly, how else were we supposed to explain this? As for my way of speaking, she seemed to accept it on her own, figuring that some people changed completely when they awakened.

"B-but why me, of all people?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Honestly, with that kind of skill, you could get treated like royalty by any of the top ten guilds — or even go overseas. I mean, I'm happy about it, but... our guild isn't exactly rolling in money. I couldn't even pay you a decent salary..."

"Hah, what kind of nonsense is that? Why would you be paying me a salary? If anything, I'd be the one taking care of you."

"Uh...?"

"I have but one condition. Do not betray me, and do everything in your power to help me climb the Tower."

Now that I'd said it out loud, that was two conditions. Anyway.

I had my pride. I had no intention of collecting a regular paycheck from a subordinate. Besides, raise one decent person well enough, and they became your fortune. And people always got moved when you put it this way.

"...Are you an angel or something?"

"Heh. I'm a far more wicked being than those buzzing little flies."

Just like now. She had no idea about my wicked scheme to work her until she was the one begging to pay me. Humans really were fools.

Heheheheh.

"Of course, those are my... my granddaughter's conditions. There are a few additional requests I'd like to make, young lady."

"Ah, yes. Please go ahead."

"First, we will not be joining the Baekyang Guild. We'd like to enter into a one-on-one contract with you alone."

"Even so, if it's your request, I shall give it priority."

"Ah... yes! Of course. A condition like that is the least I can do."

"And next..."

Carson continued discussing terms with Ye-eun as he drafted the contract. I didn't know much about modern law, after all, and he seemed to be filling in those parts on his own. Back in the old days, a brand on the forehead would have been the end of it.

"Very well. I believe this should suffice."

"Um... are you sure it's okay to sign a contract with terms like these? No matter how I look at it, this is way too favorable for me..."

"You only nickel-and-dime the terms when you're planning to stab someone in the back later. I've always been generous with my subordinates."

"..."

"You can trust her, young lady. My granddaughter is not one to lie."

"...Alright. Then let's start fulfilling the contract right away."

"You mean climbing the Tower?"

"Yeah. You said you've never been, right?"

Ye-eun held out her hand in front of me. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I placed my hand on hers, and a grin tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Transfer—!"

A flash of light. My vision went white for a moment, and then a chamber of stone materialized before my eyes. Nothing but plain gray walls on every side — a place utterly devoid of any aesthetic sense whatsoever.

And then translucent windows burst into view, one after another, glowing a searing red bright enough to hurt my eyes.

"Uh...? W-what is this."

Ye-eun was nothing short of bewildered.

She knew that party play came with all sorts of restrictions. Difficulty spiked sharply in proportion to the number of people. The Tower measured contribution and ranked members within the party, making so-called "bus play" — getting carried through — impossible. Which was why most combat classes preferred to climb the Tower alone, at the very least.

She knew all of this, and she'd come in anyway. A blacksmith was a classic non-combat class, and even if the difficulty rose, she was an A-rank hunter. Surely she could handle Floor 1.

But why is Hell difficulty showing up here...?!

Hell difficulty was a challenge mode unlocked from Floor 50 onward. Hell Floor 1 was equivalent to Floor 51 of the regular Tower. And with party members tagging along, it would be far more difficult than even that.

Sure enough, countless orcs stood before her, their eyes gleaming with murderous light.

"Grrrrrr..."

A ticking sound began to fill the air. Ye-eun's mind went blank.

But she had people she needed to protect. People who, apparently oblivious to the situation, were casually cracking jokes.

"I didn't even hold your hand, and yet you ended up coming along."

"It would appear I'm being treated as the young miss's summoned creature."

"Ugh. 'Young miss'? Don't call me that. Doesn't it sound weird?"

"Haha, surely you can let this much slide."

"Um, you two."

"Yes?"

"What ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is it?"

"...Please stand behind me."

Ye-eun gripped her dagger's hilt tight. Her highest Tower record was Floor 41, and even that hadn't been a comfortable clear. Of course, the equipment Seo-ha had enhanced performed beyond anything she could have imagined — a Blade Storm that triggered automatically every third attack. For someone whose specialty was one-on-one speed combat, just adding an area skill had made hunting several times more comfortable.

But.

...Can I do this?

Her hands trembled of their own accord, seized by tension and fear. Even so, she had to protect the two people behind her. She was already grateful they'd chosen her — someone insignificant compared to the major guilds. If she failed here, wouldn't that just prove their choice had been wrong?

And if, by some chance... even if she died—

"Ye-eun."

"Yes? Ah, yeah?"

"You seem rather tense. Does the trial before you look too much to bear?"

At first, she'd thought she was just a cute little kid. Pretty as a doll, the way she talked down to people as if she were their lord and master had even seemed rather adorable.

But what was this?

"Don't worry. I won't let you die."

"...Huh?"

"You thought I was merely a blacksmith, didn't you? What this body can enhance isn't limited to lumps of metal."

The child's fingertip touched her forehead.

Whoooosh.

A cool wind swept around her. An enormous quantity of mana coursed through her body. She didn't need the countless message windows flooding her vision to know. This was, without a doubt, power beyond all standards.

"Nngh... I'm a bit tired. I think I'll sleep a little, bleh."

"Oh dear. Do be careful, young miss."

"...What are you people?"

"Hmm. Is that really what matters right now?"

At Ye-eun's question, the old man scooped the sleeping child into his arms and smiled faintly.

"This is your first test, young lady. Show us you can become someone worthy of the young miss."

"..."

"My granddaughter's... no. My master's power is the ability to draw out potential. If the foundation is lacking, the result will be no different."

"..."

"Will ten seconds suffice?"

"...No. That's too much."

She had plenty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of questions swirling in her mind, but none of them mattered right now. If she didn't unleash this overflowing power this instant, she felt like her body would burst.

And then—

Slash———!