"Um… Marcille, could you please lend me some clothes?"
Falin spoke up suddenly, glancing shyly at Rei Ao.
Marcille, only then realizing Falin had been stark naked since her resurrection, panicked. Hadn't she just been seen completely exposed?! Hastily, she draped her robe over Falin.
Noticing Rei Ao's blatantly curious gaze, Marcille pursed her lips in embarrassment:
"Wh-why didn't you turn around?"
"You never told me to."
Rei Ao shrugged.
"Why that look? I'm the one who brought her back to life—can't I, as her creator, appreciate my own handiwork?"
Truth be told, Falin wasn't exactly stunning, but her complexion was lovely, and her figure had a pleasantly soft roundness.
"You!"
Marcille was left speechless. This man was far too brazen!
[Ding! The Trade is complete!]
[Ding! You have acquired "Black Magic," "Elven Magic"… both integrated into "True Demon Aspect." No changes!]
Rei Ao gave a slight smile.
"All right, the deal is done. How do you plan to pay the final part of your fee?"
"…"
Marcille's face went stiff. Falin, now dressed, looked over in puzzlement.
"A deal?"
Before she could ask for details, something sudden happened.
Rumble—!
The entire cavern quaked violently! Lava waves rose in crashing peaks, fragments of rock rained from the ceiling. A cold voice echoed through the chamber:
"Who gave you permission to do as you please with it?!"
Everyone turned to the cavern entrance. Standing there was a short figure, long silver-white hair, pointed ears, and dark skin.
The chat group also saw him.
Akame: "A black-skinned elf?"
Sui: "He's a Dark Elf!"
Frieren: "Hm? I've never seen black-skinned elves before. Do Dark Elves have special traits?"
Sui: "In our world, Dark Elves are a branch of Elves with different magical aptitudes. I don't know about other worlds."
Izawa Shizue: "Anyway, he looks hostile."
Tohru: "Heh, a weakling."
Rei Ao felt no surprise at the Dark Elf's arrival. This was Thistle, the "Mad Mage" and master of the labyrinth—once a court sorcerer of Delgal.
He'd relocated the entire Golden Kingdom into this maze and given its people a twisted immortality, but in time his obsession and mania led him to a tragic end. Rei Ao was aware of this backstory, though neither Marcille nor Falin had any clue.
"A Dark Elf?"
Marcille murmured, confused to see such a being here.
Thistle's pitch-black eyes glittered with icy hostility. To him, these intruders were wrecking his kingdom's property. With each step he took, the ground frosted over:
"You killed the guardian. You must pay the price."
"Heh, and you think I'm going to pay that price? Bold words," Rei Ao said calmly, "but too bad—I don't have time to toy around."
He cast a single glance.
Crack!
The approaching Dark Elf froze, turning into a life-like ice sculpture on the spot.
"Huh…?"
Marcille hadn't even processed what happened.
"He's dead,"
Rei Ao stated nonchalantly. Dealing with someone like that required hardly any effort at all.
As Thistle fell, the entire labyrinth trembled at its master's demise. Rei Ao had no desire to destroy the dungeon, so he solidified it with magical energy to keep it from collapsing. Within seconds, the shaking subsided.
"All right, let's head back. Time to settle your fee."
"???"
…
Back in a dimly lit room, the old oil lamp was replaced by a bright sphere of light, shining on Marcille's flushed cheeks. Only she and Falin were present.
"Marcille, what sort of deal did you make with them?"
Now that Falin was clear-headed, she guessed Marcille's contract had something to do with her resurrection.
"Ugh…"
Marcille was too embarrassed to find the words. How could she explain?
Falin's face grew serious.
"If you won't say, I'll go straight to Rei Ao. I mean, if it's about the cost of reviving me, I can pay that price myself."
She made to stand. Despite her usually spacey demeanor, in matters like this she was determined.
"Wait! I'll tell you!"
Grabbing her arm, Marcille hastily confessed all about the cost required to bring Falin back. At the end, Falin's eyes widened:
"So the price was…you, Marcille?!"
"Mm…"
Marcille lowered her head in shame.
"That's…"
Falin didn't know what to say; an uneasy silence settled over the room.
….
A long moment passed before:
"Rei Ao-san, please come in."
At Falin's request, Rei Ao and Sumika entered.
"Um… Rei Ao-san, thank you for saving me,"
Falin said first, bowing deeply.
"Don't thank me—thank Marcille. Her deal is the only reason I came to help."
Rei Ao spoke plainly.
"…?"
Falin paused, then looked up:
"Rei Ao-san, I already know about the agreement with Marcille. Would you please let me fulfill the contract's condition instead?"
Her voice trembled.
"I'm not as pretty as Marcille, but… but I'll do anything you want!!!"
"F-Falin!"
Marcille gasped. 'Anything' is too extreme! Her own deal was just supposed to be once, after all.
Observing this, Fujimiya Sumika could only click her tongue in awe. So this is how trading works? Seeing it firsthand, she really had no words. But she wasn't about to stop Rei Ao either. Traveling to another world to help a stranger—some form of payment was reasonable, even if that payment was…strange.
Meanwhile, she also wanted to know how Rei Ao would respond. Suddenly, everyone's eyes were on him.
~~~
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